Detachable Security Assembly

This relates in general to a detachable security device constructed to secure a plurality of elements latched together with a cable for locking with a retrievable key. More particularly, the invention relates to a portable security device for preventing a cell or animal cage from being opened without the use of an authorized key in possession of an attendant or keeper.

When cages or cells have their doors latched together by padlocks or cables of the usual type, it has been found that intelligent animals, especially primates, are able to reach the locks and manipulate them with their fingers until they are opened; and they are then able to escape from their cage.

It is the principal object of this invention to provide a simple, light-weight latch for securing the door of an animal cage or cell for latching the bars of the cage door in place with a strong cable, the ends of which cannot be reached and manipulated by the incarcerated animal and are only accessible for release by an attendant or keeper with a key.

This and other objects are realized in accordance with the present invention in a device comprising a hollow cylindrical barrel open at one end, and partly closed at the other end to hold in place a cable element, terminating in a stop which is caught in an axially-disposed constriction at the end of the barrel. The other end of the cable takes the form of a loop. Near the cable end of the barrel is a slot cut diagonally to the axis of the barrel and passing into the hollow axial chamber of the barrel. The open end of the barrel is internally screw-threaded to accommodate a screw-threaded arbor stud having a cylindrical nub projecting along the axis towards the cable end of the barrel. The arbor stud is moved longitudinal in the barrel along the internal screw threads by application of a key through the open end of the barrel. The key has a central female slot in the base of its shank which accommodates a boss on the arbor stud and rotates the arbor stud in the barrel when the key is interposed and turned. The cylindrical nub on the inner end of the arbor stud is constructed to penetrate and hold in place the looped end of the cable when the loop is interposed into the cylindrical barrel through the diagonal slot. When the shank of the key has been removed, the screw-threaded arbor stud and the looped end of the cable are secure in the barrel beyond reach of animal or human fingers. Thus, the latch cannot be opened until the key is reapplied through the open end of the barrel to loosen the arbor stud.

Other objects, features and advantages of the detachable security device of my invention will be apparent from a study of the attached drawings with reference to the detailed description hereinafter.

FIG. 1 shows, in perspective, the improved detachable security assembly of the present invention locked to secure the door of a cage or cell in securely latched position.

FIG. 2 shows, in perspective, a key being applied to unlock the detachable security assembly of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 shows the detachable security assembly of FIG. 1 being released after being unlocked by the key as shown in FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is an exploded view of the key and lock assembly of FIGS. 1-3, with the cylindrical barrel of the lock being shown in section.

FIG. 5 is a longitudinal sectional showing of the cylindrical barrel of the lock of FIGS. 1-4.

FIG. 6 is a side elevational view of the screw threaded arbor stud of FIGS. 1-4 which is constructed to be moved lengthwise in the cylindrical barrel of FIGS. 1-5.

FIGS. 7A and 7B, respectively, show the front and side elevation of the key constructed to move the screw threaded arbor stud nub in a longitudinal direction in the cylindrical barrel of FIGS. 1-6.

Referring in detail to the drawings, FIG. 1 shows the latch 1 of the present invention locked in place between the door frame 2 and the door 3 of an animal cage. The lock assembly 1 comprises a stainless steel barrel 4, which, in the present illustration is, for example, about 23/8 inches in overall length, and 0.61 inch in outer diameter, which has been hollowed out internally to have an inner chamber 4a of, say, 0.5 inch diameter running longitudinally 11/2 inches from the open end to an internal shoulder 7/8 inch from the other end. The latter is partially closed, forming a second internal chamber 4b extending 9/16 inch along the axis, and narrowing down to a constricted bore 4d, say, 0.1 inch in diameter, which extends, say, 1/8 inch to the inner end.

The chamber 4a at the outer end is screw threaded along the inner wall for a length, say 11/2 inches. A diaganol cut 4c is made into the lateral wall of the barrel 4 forming an angle of, say, 60 degrees with the longitudinal axis. The cut extends from the outer wall inward, a radial distance of, say, 0.42 inch, and is 3/16 inch wide.

Slideably disposed on the internal end of the barrel 4 is a cable 5. The latter may, for example, take the form of a conventional twist of stainless-steel strands, having an overall diameter of 3/16 inch, which is 36 inches long, terminating at one end in a cylindrical stop member 5a, which is welded or otherwise secured in axial relation to the cable end. Stop member 5a, is, say, 0.4 inch along the inner axis and 0.249 inch in diameter at its inner end so that it fits into and slideably engages the constricted chamber 4b of the barrel 4. The other end 5b of the cable 5 terminates in a loop, the end of which is welded or otherwise secured to itself to form an inner opening about a quarter inch in diameter, the flat loop 5b being shaped to just slip into the slot 4c of the barrel 4, with the opening transverse to the axis.

In order to disengage and engage the lock, a key member 7 of the presently described illustrative embodiment may be also of stainless steel or any similar material. Key 7 comprises shaft, say, 31/2 inches long and comprising an upper shaft member 7b 11/4 inches along its axis, and having a diameter, say, 1/2 inch, and a lower portion 7c extending axially therefrom, which is 2 inches along the axis and has a smaller diameter of 0.45 inch. 7c terminates at the inner end in an internal axial slot 7d which is say 1/4 inch in diameter and 1/4 inch deep. The outer end of the key 7 has an eliptical wing portion 7a which is say 1 inch wide and 2 inches across and which is bolted or otherwise secured to the outer end of shaft 7b to permit the key 7 to be manipulated to rotate with the fingers of the user.

The key 7 is designed, when interposed into the open end of the barrel 4, to rotate and move longitudinally an arbor stud 6. The latter, which is shown in side elevation in FIG. 6 of the drawings, is say 1.1 inches in overall length. It has an axially-projecting boss 6c which is 0.2 inch along the axis which is shaped to exactly fit into and engage the slot 7d in the key 7.

In the present embodiment, the cross-section of boss 6c is in the form of a pentagon which exactly conforms to the fine flat internal surfaces of the slot 7d, which it slideably engages, and a section of which slot also takes the form of a pentagon in the present illustrative embodiment. Actually, the boss 6c and slot 7d, in section, may assume the forms of any matching polygon, so that when boss 6c engages slot 7d, the two lock together and rotate as a unit in a plane normal to the axis of barrel 4.

Thus, when the key 7 is interposed into the opening 4b, the key engages and turns the arbor stud 6 and moves the same in a longitudinal direction in the hollow barrel 4. The arbor stud 6 has a central screw threaded portion 6b which is say 0.56 inch in diameter and is screw threaded for a distance 0.33 inch in an axial direction, and which engages the inner screw threads 4a of the barrel 4. The arbor stud 6 terminates at its inner end in a cylindrical projection 6a which extends 0.475 inch along the axis and is 0.245 inch in diameter, and is dimensioned to just penetrate and engage the loop 5b of the cable 5 when the same is in place in the slot 4c.

Thus referring again to the drawings, FIG. 1 shows the cable 5 with the loop 5b interposed in place in the slot 4c so that the latch is then securely engaged with the key 7, and the internal elements of the lock are completely inaccessible from the open end 4a of the barrel 4. Thus, the incarcerated animal is unable to reach in with his fingers and disengage the latch.

When a keeper or attendant wishes to open the latch, the shaft 7b, 7c of the key 7 is interposed into the open end 4a of the barrel 4 engaging the arbor stud 6. The key 7 is rotated by means of the wing portion 7a so that the arbor stud 6 is moved outward along the axis causing, the projection 6a to become disengaged from the loop 5b. The cable 5 can then be disengaged from the door frame 3 and the latch released.

It will be understood that the invention is not limited to the specific structure or dimensions which are given herein merely by way of example, but may be of different sizes and shapes, the scope of the invention being defined only by the appended claims.