Wire lock

#The present invention relates to embodiments of a wire lock. In the prior art, it is known to provide a locking mechanism including a casing containing a drum on which a length of cable or chain is wound, which device allows the cable or chain to be unreeled from the casing extended about an object and latched. Such devices are often unreliable in operation, are easily broken due to their manufacture from unhardened materials, and have short useful lives.

#The following prior art is known to Applicant:

#U.S. Pat. No. 2,574,967 to Gossner discloses a flexible shackle padlock having a drum carrying a flexible steel tape or chain wound thereon and which may be unwound, wrapped about an object and fastened to the casing. A key is positively coupled to the drum and may be rotated to either wind up the flexible tape or chain or unwind it. The present invention differs from the teachings of Gossner as including a winding knob that must be reciprocated into a coupled position before it may be used to rotate a drum. Furthermore, the present invention contemplates a mechanism that simultaneously locks the end of a wire cable in the casing while preventing drum rotation.

#The invention will be described in the following by way of one embodiment with reference to the accompanying drawings.

#FIG. 1 shows a wire lock in a longitudinal sectional view through a shaft of a wire drum forming part of the device.

#FIG. 2 illustrates the wire lock device in accordance with FIG. 1 as seen in the axial direction of the wire drum.

#The wire lock device illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 comprises a lock casing 1 essentially of prisma configuration, in which casing a wire drum 2 is rotatably mounted about a sleeve-shaped stub axle 3 projecting from the bottom 1.2 in the lock casing 1.

#The sleeve-shaped stub axle 3, illustrated in a longitudinal, sectional view in FIG. 1, serves as a means of attachment for the inner end of a band spring 4 the outer end of which is attached to the wire drum 2. In the retracted position, a wire 5 is wound around the wire drum 2 by means of the band spring 4, the latter being tightened as the wire 5 is being extracted out of the casing 1 while being unreeled from the wire drum 2. The wire 5 is intended to be applied around or through an object to be locked e.g. to a stationary building component or the like, and to be reinserted into the lock casing 1. For this purpose, its free end is formed with an end piece 6 adapted to be introduced into the lock casing wherein it is locked by means of a lock known per se after the wire having been drawn in the desired manner.

#In the embodiment illustrated, the lock 7 is of combination-lock type which may be opened from a locked position in response to the setting of a predetermined combination of numbers. The lock 7 is connected to a locking arm 7.1 which is arranged on the bottom face of the lock and which is rotatable about a shaft extending perpendicularly through the upper face of the lock casing 1, upon rotation of a grip member 7.2 on the lock 7 between an opened position, wherein the locking arm 7.1 is turned outwards towards one of the long sides of the lock casing 1 as illustrated by dash-and-dot lines in FIG. 1, and a locked position, wherein the locking arm 7.1 is turned forwards, towards the opening or slot of insertion of the end piece 6 on the wire 5, and is introduced into a groove 6.1 formed in the part of the end piece 6 projecting inwards through the end wall of the lock casing 1, as illustrated in FIG. 1.