US 5,235,830 AGranted

Locking device for openable containers

OwnerJames A. Bengeinventor

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Abstract

A locking device for a storage container such as a tool box in which a hinged lid includes a pair of spaced detents depending to a latching configuration at their distal ends. Cooperating with the detents is a tubular conduit slidably displaceable and including slots in an upper surface in which to receive and secure the distal ends of the detents. A padlock for unlocking the box is received within a recess of the tool box providing exterior exposure to only the key end of the lock. Opening the padlock causes the lock body to eject partially outward of the tool box while forming a gap between the latching end of the lock shackle and the lock body. Secured to the conduit in the plane of the gap is a manually displaceable wing which when the lock is opened can be displaced into the gap to in turn displace the conduit and enable release of the detents.

Claims13

Dependent claims

A locking device for an enclosed tool box having a lid/door providing for closable access to the interior of said tool box and a recess defined in a wall thereof, said locking device comprising:

a plurality of longitudinally spaced elongated detents secured from an interior face of said lid/door and extending to a distal end having a latching configuration;
an elongated tubular member interior of said tool box having slots in which to receive the distal end of said detents in a latching relation to within the interior open tube passage thereof;
said member being supported for slidable displacement from a first position latching said detents against removal and a second position in which said detents are released for removal to enable said lid/door to be opened;
a padlock having a key end and secured in said recess in a manner generally limiting exterior access of said padlock to said key end and operable from the exterior of said tool box between a locked and unlocked relation;
a wing secured to said member for displacement therewith between said positions when said padlock is in its unlocked relation and prevented therewith against displacement when said padlock is in said locked relation;
and
displacement means accessible from the exterior of said tool box enabling manual displacement of said member with said wing between said first and second positions when said padlock is in its unlocked relation.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.