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US 6,550,293 B1Granted
Garment lock
OwnerDavid A. Delegato, Regina D. Delegatoinventors
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A garment lock has a casing, a spool, two springs, and a member, flexible long and thin. The casing has a first side with a post and a second side with tabs, both joined by a rim. The casing attaches to a garment with a pin. The spool rotates upon the post within the casing. The springs resist rotation and movement of the spool. The member as wire, chain, or tape, winds upon the spool. Upon reaching the desired length of the member, the casing removably locks the spool. After use, the flexible thin member retracts into the casing.
Claims15
A garment lock comprising:
- a casing having a first side, a second side, a rim joining said first side and said second side, an exit within said rim, and a means to attach said casing to a garment;
- a post, with a base, centered within said first side of said casing and a free end, that projects into said casing but short of said second side of said casing;
- a spool with a centered button, mounted upon said post for rotation within said casing;
- a first spring connected to said post and said spool for resiliently opposing rotation of said spool in one direction about said post;
- a second spring between said spool and said first side of said casing for resiliently opposing movement of said spool towards the base of said post;
- a member, flexible long and thin, having a first end with a linking means and a second end fixed to said spool, wound upon said spool in a plurality of turns, and said member passes through said exit in said rim;
- a means to secure said first end of said member, said means fixed to said rim of said casing;
- a means that removably secures said spool, depending into said casing from said second side of said casing;
- and said member being retractable into said casing so that said garment lock fits into a pocket of a garment.
6 more elements
A method for deterring theft of garments, the steps comprising:
- extending a member, flexible long and thin, from within a casing;
- threading said member through a first sleeve of said garment;
- securing said casing to the inside of said garment;
- passing said member around a solid object;
- threading said member through a second sleeve of said garment;
- then securing said flexible member to said casing.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.