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US 2004/0037637 A1Published application
Lock with internal retainer
AssigneeESCO Corporation
InventorsAaron B. Lian, Christopher M. Carpenter, Emory D. Hungerford, Ray J. Morris
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A locking assembly has two members which are moveable into coupling engagement with one another. The two members have lock engaging walls, and one of the members has an opening between the lock engaging walls for receiving a lock. The lock comprises a lock body and a retainer. The lock body has a channel for receiving a portion of the retainer. An end of the retainer extends underneath a retainer engaging wall, thus resisting movement of the lock out of the opening.
Claims45
A method for locking a first member to a second member, said first member and said second member being moveable longitudinally into coupling engagement, comprising:
- (a) providing a lock comprised of a lock body and a retainer;
- (b) providing said first member and said second member with respective engaging surfaces to resist transverse movement of said first member and said second member with respect to one another when said first member and said second member are in coupling engagement;
- (c) providing said first member and said second member each with a lock engaging wall, and defining in said second member an opening between said lock engaging wall of said first member and said lock engaging wall of said second member when said first member and said second member are in coupling engagement for receiving said lock to resist longitudinal movement of said first member with respect to said second member;
- (d) defining a channel in said lock body in communication with a side of said lock body;
- (e) inserting said lock body into said opening;
- and
- (f) inserting said retainer into said channel of said lock body so that a portion of said retainer extends beyond said side of said lock body and interferes with removal of said lock out of said opening.
4 more elements
A lock, comprising:
- (a) a rigid, substantially incompressible lock body, said lock body being generally block-shaped, and said lock body defining an opening and a pair of channels in communication with said opening and in communication with opposite sides of said lock body;
- (b) a retainer having a hinge portion and a pair of legs terminating in respective ends, said hinge portion being receivable within said opening and each of said pair of legs being receivable within a respective one of said pair of channels, and said ends of said legs extending beyond said sides of said lock body;
- and
- (c) said lock body having a recess in communication with said opening for prying said retainer out of said lock body.
1 more element
A lock, comprising:
- (a) a rigid, substantially incompressible lock body, said lock body being generally block-shaped, and said lock body defining an opening and a pair of channels in communication with said opening and in communication with opposite sides of said lock body;
- (b) a retainer having a hinge portion and a pair of legs terminating in respective ends, said hinge portion being receivable within said opening and each of said pair of legs being receivable within a respective one of said pair of channels, and said ends of said legs extending beyond said sides of said lock body;
- and
- (c) said lock body having a longitudinal take-up member.
1 more element
A lock, comprising:
- (a) a rigid, substantially incompressible lock body, said lock body being generally block-shaped, and said lock body defining an opening and a pair of channels in communication with said opening and in communication with opposite sides of said lock body;
- (b) a retainer having a hinge portion and a pair of legs terminating in respective ends, said hinge portion being receivable within said opening and each of said pair of legs being receivable within a respective one of said pair of channels, and said ends of said legs extending beyond said sides of said lock body;
- and
- (c) said lock body further comprising a pry ledge for receiving a pry tool.
1 more element
A lock assembly, comprising:
- (a) a first member, a second member, and a lock;
- (b) said first member and said second member being movable longitudinally with respect to one another into coupling engagement, and said first member and said second member having respective engaging surfaces to resist transverse movement of said first member and said second member with respect to one another when said first member and said second member are in coupling engagement;
- (c) said first member and said second member each having a lock-engaging wall, and said second member defining an opening between said lock-engaging wall of said first member and said lock-engaging wall of said second member, said lock being receivable through said opening when said first member and said second member are in said coupling engagement to resist relative longitudinal movement between said first member and said second member;
- (d) said lock comprising a lock body and a retainer, said lock body defining a channel having an outer end in communication with a side of said lock body;
- (e) said retainer being receivable at least partially within said channel, so that a portion of said retainer is selectively extensible to an interfering position beyond said side so as to interfere with removal of said lock body from said opening;
- and
- (f) said lock body defining an external opening separate from said outer end of said channel communicating with said channel internally of said lock body, said retainer being movable internally of said lock body in a direction toward said external opening so as to retract said portion of said retainer from said interfering position when said first member and said second member are in said coupling engagement.
4 more elements
A lock assembly, comprising:
- (a) a first member, a second member, and a lock;
- (b) said first member and said second member being movable longitudinally with respect to one another into coupling engagement, and said first member and said second member having respective engaging surfaces to resist transverse movement of said first member and said second member with respect to one another when said first member and said second member are in coupling engagement;
- (c) said first member and said second member each having a lock-engaging wall, and said second member defining an opening between said lock-engaging wall of said first member and said lock-engaging wall of said second member, said lock being receivable through said opening when said first member and said second member are in said coupling engagement to resist relative longitudinal movement between said first member and said second member;
- (d) said lock comprising a lock body and a retainer, said lock body defining a channel in communication with a side of said lock body;
- (e) said retainer being receivable at least partially within said channel, so that a portion of said retainer is selectively extensible to an interfering position beyond said side so as to interfere with removal of said lock body from said opening;
- and
- (f) said portion of said retainer being retractable from said interfering position in response to a pulling force exerted on said portion of said retainer through said opening when said first member and said second member are in said coupling engagement.
4 more elements
A lock assembly, comprising:
- (a) a first member, a second member, and a lock;
- (b) said first member and said second member being movable longitudinally with respect to one another into coupling engagement, and said first member and said second member having respective engaging surfaces to resist transverse movement of said first member and said second member with respect to one another when said first member and said second member are in coupling engagement;
- (c) said first member and said second member each having a lock-engaging wall, and said second member defining an opening between said lock-engaging wall of said first member and said lock-engaging wall of said second member, said lock being receivable through said opening when said first member and said second member are in said coupling engagement to resist relative longitudinal movement between said first member and said second member;
- (d) said lock comprising a lock body and a retainer, said lock body defining a channel in communication with a side of said lock body;
- and
- (e) said retainer being receivable at least partially within said channel, so that a portion of said retainer is selectively extensible beyond said side so as to interfere with removal of said lock body from said opening;
- (f) said retainer not being elastically movable to enable said removal of said lock body in response to forces applied to said retainer by said lock body.
4 more elements
A lock assembly, comprising:
- (a) a first member, a second member, and a lock;
- (b) said first member and said second member being movable longitudinally with respect to one another into coupling engagement, and said first member and said second member having respective engaging surfaces to resist transverse movement of said first member and said second member with respect to one another when said first member and said second member are in coupling engagement;
- (c) said first member and said second member each having a lock-engaging wall, and said second member defining an opening between said lock-engaging wall of said first member and said lock-engaging wall of said second member, said lock being receivable through said opening when said first member and said second member are in said coupling engagement to resist relative longitudinal movement between said first member and said second member;
- (d) said lock comprising a lock body and a retainer, said lock body defining a channel in communication with a side of said lock body;
- (e) said retainer being receivable at least partially within said channel, so that a portion of said retainer is selectively extensible beyond said side so as to interfere with removal of said lock body from said opening;
- and
- (f) both said retainer and said lock body being removable from said first member and said second member through said opening in said second member when said first member and said second member are in said coupling engagement.
4 more elements
A lock assembly, comprising:
- (a) a first member, a second member, and a lock;
- (b) said first member and said second member being movable longitudinally with respect to one another into coupling engagement, and said first member and said second member having respective engaging surfaces to resist transverse movement of said first member and said second member with respect to one another when said first member and said second member are in coupling engagement;
- (c) said first member and said second member each having a lock-engaging wall, and said second member defining an opening between said lock-engaging wall of said first member and said lock-engaging wall of said second member, said lock being receivable through said opening when said first member and said second member are in said coupling engagement to resist relative longitudinal movement between said first member and said second member;
- (d) said lock comprising a lock body and a retainer, said lock body defining a channel in communication with a side of said lock body;
- (e) said retainer being receivable at least partially within said channel, so that a portion of said retainer is selectively extensible beyond said side so as to interfere with removal of said lock body from said opening;
- and
- (f) both said retainer and said lock body being removable from said first member and said second member in a substantially common direction when said first member and said second member are in said coupling engagement.
4 more elements
A lock, comprising:
- (a) a rigid, substantially incompressible lock body selectively receivable into a member to be locked, said lock body defining an external opening and a channel communicating internally with said external opening and having an outer end separate from said external opening and communicating with a side of said lock body;
- (b) a retainer including a plurality of separate members receivable through said external opening and at least partially within said channel so that a portion of said retainer is selectively extensible to an interfering position beyond said side of said lock body so as to interfere with removal of said lock body from said member;
- and
- (c) said retainer being movable internally of said lock body in a direction toward said external opening so as to retract said portion of said retainer from said interfering position when said lock body is within said member.
1 more element
A lock, comprising:
- (a) a rigid, substantially incompressible lock body selectively receivable into a member to be locked, said lock body defining an external opening and a channel communicating internally with said opening and with a side of said lock body;
- (b) a retainer including a plurality of separate members receivable through said external opening and at least partially within said channel so that a portion of said retainer is selectively extensible to an interfering position beyond said side of said lock body so as to interfere with removal of said lock body from said member;
- and
- (c) said portion of said retainer being retractable from said interfering position in response to a pulling force exerted on said portion of said retainer through said external opening when said lock body is within said member.
1 more element
A lock, comprising:
- (a) a rigid, substantially incompressible lock body selectively receivable into a member to be locked, said lock body defining an external opening and a channel communicating internally with said opening and with a side of said lock body;
- (b) a retainer including a plurality of separate members receivable through said external opening and at least partially within said channel so that a portion of said retainer is selectively extensible beyond said side of said lock body so as to interfere with removal of said lock body from said member;
- and
- (c) said retainer not being elastically movable to enable said removal of said lock body in response to forces applied thereto by said lock body.
1 more element
A lock, comprising:
- (a) a rigid, substantially incompressible lock body selectively receivable into a member to be locked, said lock body defining an external opening and a channel communicating internally with said external opening and having an outer end separate from said external opening communicating with a side of said lock body;
- (b) a retainer at least partially formed from an elastomer and receivable through said external opening and at least partially within said channel so that a portion of said retainer is selectively extensible to an interfering position beyond said side of said lock body so as to interfere with removal of said lock body from said member;
- and
- (c) said retainer being movable internally of said lock body in a direction toward said external opening so as to retract said portion of said retainer from said interfering position when said lock body is within said member.
1 more element
A lock, comprising:
- (a) a rigid, substantially incompressible lock body selectively receivable into a member to be locked, said lock body defining an external opening and a channel communicating internally with said opening and with a side of said lock body;
- (b) a retainer at least partially formed from an elastomer and receivable through said external opening and at least partially within said channel so that a portion of said retainer is selectively extensible to an interfering position beyond said side of said lock body so as to interfere with removal of said lock body from said member;
- and
- (c) said portion of said retainer being retractable from said interfering position in response to a pulling force exerted on said portion of said retainer through said external opening when said lock body is within said member.
1 more element
A lock, comprising:
- (a) a rigid, substantially incompressible lock body selectively receivable into a member to be locked, said lock body defining an external opening and a channel communicating internally with said opening and with a side of said lock body;
- (b) a retainer at least partially formed from an elastomer and receivable through said external opening and at least partially within said channel so that a portion of said retainer is selectively extensible beyond said side of said lock body so as to interfere with removal of said lock body from said member;
- and
- (c) said retainer not being elastically movable to enable said removal of said lock body in response to forces applied thereto by said lock body.
1 more element
A lock, comprising:
- (a) a rigid, substantially incompressible lock body selectively receivable into a member to be locked, said lock body defining an external opening and a channel communicating internally with said external opening and having an outer end separate from said external opening communicating with a side of said lock body;
- (b) an elastically deformable retainer receivable through said external opening and at least partially within said channel so that a portion of said retainer is selectively extensible to an interfering position beyond said side of said lock body so as to interfere with removal of said lock body from said member, said retainer becoming more relaxed as it is received into said lock body;
- and
- (c) said retainer being movable internally of said lock body in a direction toward said external opening so as to retract said portion of said retainer from said interfering position when said lock body is within said member.
1 more element
A lock, comprising:
- (a) a rigid, substantially incompressible lock body selectively receivable into a member to be locked, said lock body defining an external opening and a channel communicating internally with said opening and with a side of said lock body;
- (b) an elastically deformable retainer receivable through said external opening and at least partially within said channel so that a portion of said retainer is selectively extensible to an interfering position beyond said side of said lock body so as to interfere with removal of said lock body from said member, said retainer becoming more relaxed as it is received into said lock body;
- and
- (c) said portion of said retainer being retractable from said interfering position in response to a pulling force exerted on said portion of said retainer through said external opening when said lock body is within said member.
1 more element
A lock, comprising:
- (a) a rigid, substantially incompressible lock body selectively receivable into a member to be locked, said lock body defining an external opening and a channel communicating internally with said opening and with a side of said lock body;
- (b) an elastically deformable retainer receivable through said external opening and at least partially within said channel so that a portion of said retainer is selectively extensible beyond said side of said lock body so as to interfere with removal of said lock body from said member, said retainer becoming more relaxed as it is received into said lock body;
- and
- (c) said retainer not being elastically movable to enable said removal of said lock body in response to forces applied thereto by said lock body.
1 more element
A lock, comprising:
- (a) a rigid, substantially incompressible lock body selectively receivable into a member to be locked, said lock body defining an external opening and a pair of channels communicating internally with said external opening and having outer ends separate from said external opening communicating with opposite sides of said lock body;
- (b) a retainer receivable through said external opening having a hinge portion at least partially receivable within said external opening and a pair of legs, each receivable within a respective one of said pair of channels and selectively extensible and retractable with respect thereto so that a portion of said retainer is selectively extensible to an interfering position beyond a respective one of said opposite sides of said lock body so as to interfere with removal of said lock body from said member;
- and
- (c) said retainer being movable internally of said lock body in a direction toward said external opening so as to retract said portion of said retainer from said interfering position when said lock body is within said member.
1 more element
A lock, comprising:
- (a) a rigid, substantially incompressible lock body selectively receivable into a member to be locked, said lock body defining an external opening and a pair of channels communicating internally with said opening and with opposite sides of said lock body;
- (b) a retainer receivable through said external opening, said retainer having a hinge portion at least partially receivable within said external opening and a pair of legs, each receivable within a respective one of said pair of channels and selectively extensible and retractable with respect thereto to an interfering position beyond a respective one of said opposite sides of said lock body so as to interfere with removal of said lock body from said member;
- and
- (c) said portion of said retainer being retractable from said interfering position in response to a pulling force exerted on said portion of said retainer through said external opening when said lock body is within said member.
1 more element
A lock, comprising:
- (a) a rigid, substantially incompressible lock body selectively receivable into a member to be locked, said lock body defining an external opening and a pair of channels communicating internally with said opening and with opposite sides of said lock body;
- (b) a retainer receivable through said external opening, said retainer having a hinge portion at least partially receivable within said external opening and a pair of legs, each receivable within a respective one of said pair of channels and selectively extensible and retractable with respect thereto beyond a respective one of said opposite sides of said lock body so as to interfere with removal of said lock body from said member;
- and
- (c) said retainer not being elastically movable to enable said removal of said lock body in response to forces applied thereto by said lock body.
1 more element
A lock, comprising:
- (a) a rigid, substantially incompressible lock body selectively receivable into a member to be locked, said lock body defining an external opening and a channel communicating internally with said external opening and having an outer end separate from said external opening communicating with a side of said lock body;
- (b) a retainer receivable through said external opening and at least partially within said channel so that a portion of said retainer is selectively extensible to an interfering position extending beyond said side of said lock body so as to interfere with removal of said lock body from said member;
- and
- (c) said retainer being movable internally of said lock body in a direction toward said external opening so as to retract said portion of said retainer from said interfering position when said lock body is within said member.
1 more element
A lock, comprising:
- (a) a rigid, substantially incompressible lock is body selectively receivable into a member to be locked, said lock body defining an external opening and a channel communicating internally with said opening and with a side of said lock body;
- (b) a retainer receivable through said external opening and at least partially within said channel so that a portion of said retainer is selectively extensible to an interfering position extending beyond said side of said lock body so as to interfere with removal of said lock body from said member;
- and
- (c) said portion of said retainer being retractable from said interfering position in response to a pulling force exerted on said portion of said retainer through said external opening when said lock body is within said member.
1 more element
A lock, comprising:
- (a) a rigid, substantially incompressible lock body selectively receivable into a member to be locked, said lock body defining an external opening and a channel communicating internally with said opening and with a side of said lock body;
- (b) a retainer receivable through said external opening and at least partially within said channel so that a portion of said retainer is selectively extensible to a position extending beyond said side of said lock body so as to interfere with removal of said lock body from said member;
- and
- (c) said retainer not being elastically movable to enable said removal of said lock body in response to forces applied thereto by said lock body.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.