U-lock with strength enhancing header extensions
OwnerRichard H. Byrd, Jr.inventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A U-lock includes a detachable header with extensions that fit around the arms of the U-bar and extend along the length of those arms to provide strength to the U-lock. The header can be used so that its base is locked at the end of the arms of the U-shaped bar or it can be inverted when locking smaller objects so that its base is locked along the lengths of the arms taking up some of the gap between the locked object and the base of the header. The header is locked to the arms of the U-shaped bar by a locking mechanism which secures the header to the arms of the U-shaped bar in four different places, two on each arm. The U-lock and header with extensions can also be used in combination with security spacers for further security.
Claims15
A locking apparatus for locking a first object to a second object, the apparatus comprising:
- a. a U-shaped bar having two spaced apart, substantially straight and parallel arms with a space therebetween, the arms coupled together by a curved bow;
- and
- b. a detachable header having a base and two extension arms, the base having a first dimension parallel to the substantially straight and parallel arms and the extension arms having a second dimension parallel to the first dimension, wherein the second dimension is at least twice the first dimension, each extension arm having an enclosed, hollow, circular cylinder for receiving one of the substantially straight and parallel arms, either in a first regular position with the base of the header at the end of the parallel arms and the extension arms positioned between the base of the header and the curved bow or in a second inverted position with the base of the header secured between the ends of the parallel arms and the curved bow and the extension arms positioned between the base of the header and the ends of the parallel arms
- the header comprising a locking mechanism having a key receiving hole and two L-shaped bars for securing the header by locking to each of the substantially straight and parallel arms of the U-shaped bar.
A U-lock apparatus comprising a U-shaped shackle with two substantially straight and parallel shackle arms coupled to one another by a curved bow wherein the substantially straight and parallel arms may be longer than an object being locked therein and a detachable header having a first dimension parallel to the shackle arms and the detachable header comprises a base and two extension arms wherein the extension arms have a second dimension parallel to the shackle arms and are at least twice the first dimension, the extension arms for accepting and sliding onto and surrounding the shackle arms when locking the shackle to the header for providing additional strength to the shackle arms for resisting breaking under application of lateral forces, and further wherein the header can be attached to the U-shaped shackle either in a first regular position with the base of the header at the end of the parallel shackle arms and the extension arms positioned between the base of the header and the curved bow or in a second inverted position with the base of the header secured between the ends of the parallel shackle arms and the curved bow and the extension arms positioned between the base of the header and the ends of the parallel shackle arms and the header comprises a locking mechanism and is locked to each arm of the U-shaped shackle in either the first regular position or in the second inverted position.
A locking apparatus comprising:
- a. a U-shaped bar having two spaced apart, substantially straight and parallel arms with a space therebetween and a curved bow coupling the two substantially straight and parallel arms to each other;
- and
- b. a detachable header having a base and two extension arms, the base having a first dimension parallel to the extension arms and the extension arms having a second dimension which is parallel to the substantially straight and parallel arms, wherein the second dimension is at least twice the first dimension, each extension arm having a self-enclosed cylinder for receiving one of the substantially straight and parallel arms
- the header comprising means for locking the header to the U-shaped bar, wherein the header can be attached to the U-shaped bar either in a first regular position with the base of the header at the end of the parallel arms and the extension arms positioned between the base of the header and the curved bow or in a second inverted position with the base of the header secured between the ends of the parallel arms and the curved bow and the extension arms positioned between the base of the header and the ends of the parallel shackle arms and the header is locked to each arm of the U-shaped shackle in either the first regular position or in the second inverted position.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.