Locking system with multiple latches

A barrier system including a barrier portion having a passage therethrough and a pivotably mounted closure member sized and arranged to selectively close off at least a part of the passage, the closure member being provided with a locking system to latch and selectively lock the closure member into place relative to the passage,

• wherein the locking system comprises:
• a central actuation mechanism;
• and
• a plurality of latch mechanisms each individually and operably connected to the central actuation mechanism via a respective flexible connector, each latch mechanism comprising an elongate latching member constructed and arranged to be selectively extended along a direction of extension of the elongate latching member into a latching position and retracted into a release position and in correspondence with an operation of the central actuation mechanism;
• wherein each respective flexible connector comprises an inner flexible cable slidably disposed within an outer flexible tubular sheath, wherein a first end of the inner cable is connected with an end of the corresponding latching member and a second end of the inner cable is operably connected with the central actuation mechanism, such that extension and retraction of the latching member corresponds with extension and retraction of the inner cable within the outer sheath obtained by operation of the central actuation mechanism;
• wherein each one of the latch mechanisms can be operably located relative to the central actuation mechanism independent of the location of any of the others of the latch mechanisms;
• wherein the central actuation mechanism comprises:
• a base plate;
• a drive member rotatably mounted on the base plate;
• and
• a cable pull member pivotably connected to a peripheral portion of the drive member, the cable pull member including an engaging portion for engaging respective second ends of the inner cables of the flexible connectors opposite the first ends of the inner cables connected to the respective latching members;
• wherein the drive member is rotatable between a latching position in which the latching members are extended and a release position in which the latching members are retracted, wherein the release position of the drive member is located such that it causes the cable pull member connected thereto to move in a direction that pulls the inner cables engaged by the engaging portion;
• wherein the central actuation mechanism is selectively lockable in a state in which the plurality of latch mechanisms and the drive member are in the latching position.

A portable lockbox system including a lockbox adapted to be locked closed and secured to an underlying base, the system comprising:

• a lockbox including a box body and a cover for closing the box, and
• a base having a recess sized and configured to receive a lower portion of the lockbox, to which the lockbox can be securely fixed,
• wherein the cover comprises at least one locking tab extending therefrom in a location and direction that disposes the at least one locking tab within an interior of the box body when the cover is situated to close the box body, the at least one locking tab having a bore formed therethrough at a distal end thereof,
• wherein the cover further comprises a rotatable handle connected to a correspondingly rotatable shaft extending into the interior of the box body,
• wherein the box body comprises sidewalls and a bottom and includes a corresponding at least one bore formed through a sidewall at a location corresponding to the bore formed through the at least one locking tab of the cover when the cover is situated to close the box body,
• wherein the recess comprises sidewalls and a bottom in a configuration corresponding to the sidewalls and bottom of the box body, wherein the recess is provided with a locking system for lockingly retaining the lockbox in the recess,
• wherein the locking system comprises:
• a central actuation mechanism;
• and
• at least one latch mechanism corresponding to the number of locking tabs associated with the cover and operably connected to the central actuation mechanism via a respective flexible connector, the at least one latch mechanism comprising an elongate latching member constructed and arranged to be selectively extended along a direction of extension of the elongate latching member into a latching position and retracted into a release position and in correspondence with an operation of the central actuation mechanism, wherein the latch mechanism is located adjacent to a sidewall of the recess in a location corresponding to the bore formed through the sidewall of the box bottom, the sidewall of the recess having a bore formed therethrough permitting the latching member of the at least one latching mechanism to be selectively extended and retracted therethrough so that the latching member further extends and retracts through the at least one bore formed in the box body sidewall and the bore formed in the at least one locking tab, thereby retaining the box body relative to the recess and the cover relative to box body;
• wherein each respective flexible connector comprises an inner flexible cable slidably disposed within an outer flexible tubular sheath, wherein a first end of the inner cable is connected with an end of the corresponding latching member and a second end of the inner cable is operably connected with the central actuation mechanism, such that extension and retraction of the latching member corresponds with extension and retraction of the inner cable within the outer sheath obtained by operation of the central actuation mechanism;
• wherein the central actuation mechanism comprises:
• a base plate;
• a drive member rotatably mounted on the base plate, the drive member being operably engageable with the rotatable shaft of the cover when the cover is situated to close off the box body;
• and
• a cable pull member pivotably connected to a peripheral portion of the drive member, the cable pull member including an engaging portion for engaging respective second ends of the inner cables of the flexible connectors opposite the first ends of the inner cables connected to the respective latching members;
• wherein the drive member is rotatable between a latching position in which the latching members are extended and a release position in which the latching members are retracted, wherein the release position of the drive member is located such that it causes the cable pull member connected thereto to move in a direction that pulls the inner cables engaged by the engaging portion;
• wherein the central actuation mechanism is selectively lockable in a state in which the plurality of latch mechanisms and the drive member are in the latching position.