Universal adjustable security lock for truck tailgates and other clamping applications

A security lock for clamping a structure, comprising:

• a lock housing;
• said housing having a barrel portion that is formed with a channel;
• said channel being open to one side and one end of said barrel portion and mounting an adjustable band-type clamp;
• said clamp being adjustable using a lock screw that is rotatable in a bore of said housing that intersects said channel, said lock screw extending through a base of said clamp that is disposed in said channel and having threads that continuously adjustably engage a ridged thread pattern on a band of said clamp;
• said lock screw having a lock screw head with a security lock pattern comprising a curvilinear formation that requires a matching security key to rotate said lock screw;
• and
• said housing further having an elongated rigid arm integral with and extending from said barrel portion, said rigid arm having a rigid arm base end attached to said barrel portion at a location that is proximate to an entrance to said bore and spaced from said channel in a first direction that parallels a principal axis of said barrel portion, a rigid arm free end that is spaced from said clamp base generally across from an opening defined by said clamp band, and a rigid arm intermediate portion that extends from said rigid arm base end in a second direction that is generally transverse to said first direction and follows along a length of said clamp band to said rigid arm free end in order to protect said length of said clamp band from unauthorized tampering.

A security lock for clamping a structure, comprising:

• a lock housing;
• said housing having a barrel portion that is formed with a channel;
• said channel being open to one side and one end of said barrel portion and mounting an adjustable band-type clamp;
• said clamp being adjustable using a lock screw that is rotatable in a bore of said housing that intersects said channel, said lock screw extending through a base of said clamp that is disposed in said channel and having threads that continuously adjustably engage a ridged thread pattern on a band of said clamp;
• said lock screw having a lock screw head with a security lock pattern comprising a curvilinear formation that requires a matching security key to rotate said lock screw;
• said housing bore having an entrance that forms a guideway in which said lock screw head is recessed, said lock screw head being sized to fit with minimal clearance in said guideway for added security;
• said housing further having an elongated rigid arm integral with and extending from said barrel portion, said rigid arm having a rigid arm base end attached to said barrel portion at a location that is proximate an entrance to said bore and spaced from said channel in a first direction that parallels a principal axis of said barrel portion, a rigid arm free end that is spaced from said clamp base generally across from an opening defined by said clamp band, and a rigid arm intermediate portion that extends from said rigid arm base end in a second direction that is generally transverse to said first direction and follows along a length of said clamp band to said rigid arm free end in order to protect said length of said clamp band from unauthorized tampering;
• a housing insert mounted in an open end portion of said channel and operable to help retain said lock screw in said housing;
• a lock liner on said housing that extends along an inside surface of said clamp band for a selected distance;
• said lock liner including a base portion mounted in a portion of said housing channel that is adjacent to said clamp base, said lock liner further having a free end portion that extends toward a free end of said clamp band;
• a portion of said lock liner defining a channel that slidably captures said clamp band;
• said lock liner being arranged so that when said lock is installed on a structure to be locked, said lock liner will be disposed between said clamp band and said structure;
• and
• said lock liner comprising graduated markings and associated sizing numerals to assist in trimming said lock liner when said security lock is mounted on a small structure.