Barrel lock
AssigneeKlondike Cheese Co.
InventorsRonald A. Buholzer, Steve J. Buholzer
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Provided is a barrel lock that can be used to securely lock a barrel opening, and in particular, a barrel pump positioned in a barrel opening. The barrel lock has a lock body, a closure mechanism, a locking mechanism, and is secured by a locking means. The lock body is capable of assuming an open position and a closed position for locking about the barrel pump. In a closed position, the locking mechanism is used to secure the lock body in a closed position and to secure the closure mechanism in engagement with the lock body, to thereby secure the barrel pump from use.
Claims20
A barrel lock comprising:
- a substantially tubular lock body having an open top end and an open bottom end, said bottom end being sized and configured for placement about at least one of the following:
- a barrel opening, a bung stopper, and a pump apparatus positioned in said barrel opening;
- said tubular lock body capable of assuming at least an open position and a closed position, wherein in said closed position, said tubular lock body extends about a lock body axis and forms a lock body opening extending through said open top end and said open bottom end;
- a closure mechanism sized and configured to be removably engaged with said lock body, wherein when said closure mechanism is engaged with said lock body, said closure mechanism at least partially covers said top end and said lock body opening;
- a locking mechanism on said lock body configured to retain said lock body in said closed position and to retain said closure mechanism in engagement with said lock body.
A method of using a barrel lock comprising the steps of:
- providing a barrel lock, said barrel lock comprising:
- a substantially tubular lock body having an open top end and an open bottom end;
- said tubular lock body capable of assuming at least an open position and a closed position, wherein in said closed position, said tubular lock body extends about a lock body axis and forms a lock body opening extending through said open top end and said open bottom end;
- a closure mechanism sized and configured to be removably engaged with said lock body;
- a locking mechanism on said lock body;
- positioning said lock body open bottom end over at least one of the following barrel features:
- a barrel opening, a bung stopper, and a pump apparatus positioned in said barrel opening;
- engaging said closure mechanism with said lock body;
- arranging said lock body into said closed position to substantially surround said barrel feature;
- and
- using said locking mechanism to lock said lock body in said closed position and to retain said closure mechanism in engagement with said lock body;
- wherein in said closed position, when said closure mechanism is engaged with said lock body, said closure mechanism at least partially covers said lock body opening.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.