Lock mechanism
OwnerDouglas L. Reiff, Ross A. Weldyinventors
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A lock mechanism for cases or containers which includes engagable lock elements, one of which can be rotatable into a lockable and a non-lockable alignment. The exposed surfaces of the lock elements are flush with surrounding wall surfaces of the case or container when the mechanism is locked. The mechanism can be concealed by matching the exposed surfaces of the lock elements with the surrounding surfaces of the case or container. The mechanism include springs which bias the lock elements. Appropriate spring strengths can be selected to prevent infants and young children from opening the mechanism.
Claims20
A lock mechanism which, when installed, includes exposed opposite ends and an axis, the lock mechanism comprising:
- a first lock element which is movable along the axis and includes an exposed end for pushing the first lock element in a first direction along the axis and at least one lug opposed from the exposed end;
- a spring element which biases the first lock element in a second direction along the axis which is opposite to the first direction;
- a second lock element which is rotatable and movable along the axis and includes an exposed end for pushing the second lock element in the second direction along the axis and at least one lug opposed from the exposed end which is engagable with the at least one lug of the first lock element;
- and
- a spring element which biases the second lock element in the first direction along the axis.
A lock mechanism having an axis and provided in a case having opposed walls which comprises:
- a first lock element provided in a first one of the opposed walls of the case which includes an exposed end for pushing the first lock element into the case and at least one lug opposed from the exposed end, the first lock element being movable along the axis;
- a spring element which biases the first lock element towards the first wall;
- a second lock element provided in a second one of the opposed walls of the case which includes an exposed end for pushing the second lock element into the case and at least one lug opposed from the exposed end, the second lock element being engageable with the at least one lug of the first lock element and rotatable and movable along the axis;
- and
- a spring element which biases the second lock element towards the second wall.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.