US20090206050A1

US20090206050A1 - Lock for preventing unintentional removal of a cap from a bottle by utilizing a conventional padlock

Info

Publication number: US20090206050A1
Application number: US12/070,136
Authority: US
Inventors: Christopher Bruce Perry; James Christopher Rogerson
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2008-02-15
Filing date: 2008-02-15
Publication date: 2009-08-20

Abstract

A lock for preventing unintentional removal of a cap from a bottle by utilizing a conventional padlock. The lock includes a stationary portion and a movable portion. The movable portion is hingedly attached to the stationary portion, and has an open position and a closed position. The movable portion is pivoted away from the stationary portion when the movable portion is in the open positioned thereof allowing the cap of the bottle to be nestled against the stationary portion. The movable portion is pivoted from the open position thereof to engagement against the stationary portion forming a hollow and generally cylindrical-shape therewith when the movable portion is in the closed positioned thereof allowing the cap of the bottle to be captured between both the stationary portion and the movable portion and be maintained thereat by the padlock being operatively connected to both the stationary portion and the movable portion, thereby preventing the unintentional removal of the cap from the bottle.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a lock for preventing unintentional removal of a cap from a bottle, and more particularly, the present invention relates to a lock for preventing unintentional removal of a cap from a bottle by utilizing a conventional padlock.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Numerous innovations for bottle cap locks have been provided in the prior art that will be described. Even though these innovations may be suitable for the specific individual purposes to which they address, however, they differ from the present invention in that they do not teach a lock for preventing unintentional removal of a cap from a bottle by utilizing a conventional padlock.
FOR EXAMPLE, U.S. Pat. No. 2,820,565 issued to Oberle on Jan. 21, 1958 in class 215 and subclass 98 teaches a container having a neck portion and a closure cap applicable to the container neck portion. The container neck portion and cap have cooperative apparatus operative by rotation of the latter relative to the former whereby to join the cap in closed relation to the container. Apparatus releasably secures the thus joined cap against unauthorized removal from the container, including an axially moveable bolt piece having a bolt tongue dependent therefrom, a guide for the bolt piece fixed within the cap. The guide includes a bottom wall through which the bolt tongue can be projected. The bolt piece has an upstanding cam member. A key acutable lock includes a housing affixed to the cap above the bolt piece. A key barrel is rotatably supported by the housing. A bolt piece operating apparatus is connected with the key barrel to rotate therewith and includes a radial thrust arm to operatively engage the cam member. A spring is interposed between the guide bottom wall and the bolt piece to urge the latter and its cam member toward the thrust arm for operative engagement thereby. The container neck portion has apparatus to receive the bolt tongue when the bolt piece is downwardly moved to locking position.
ANOTHER EXAMPLE, U.S. Pat. No. 3,343,697 issued to Roberts et al. on Sep. 26, 1967 in class 215 and subclass 9 teaches a safety cap for bottles and the like, having an inner member and an outer member rotatably mounted on the inner member with a clutch drive on one member and a clutch driven on the other member. A spring between the inner and outer members normally moves the outer member apart from the inner member to release the clutch drive from the clutch driven. The clutch drive and driven includes torque-limiting to permit the outer member to over-ride the inner member when the inner member is sufficiently tight on the bottle.
STILL ANOTHER EXAMPLE, U.S. Pat. No. 3,426,932 issued to Rouse in class 215 and subclass 9 teaches a safety closure is adapted for use on a bottle containing poisonous drugs. An inner screw cap is shielded within the confines of a larger outer protective cap and is swivelly mounted on a journal to guard against unauthorized use. This journal has a keyhole slot for a key in the hand of an authorized user. The journal not only couples the caps, it operates concealed apparatus between the caps and converts rotary into reciprocatory motion imparted to an unscrewing rib atop the inner cap.
YET ANOTHER EXAMPLE, U.S. Pat. No. 3,930,388 issued to Barras on Jan. 6, 1976 in class 70 and subclass 159 teaches a locking apparatus including a housing having an internal chamber. A first opening and a second opening are formed within the housing providing access into the chamber. A cover is mounted by a hinge to the housing and is movable between a closed position and an open position. The cover is capable of closing the first opening when the cover is in the closed position. The open position provides access into the chamber. A latching catch is attached to the cover. A split band is adapted to surround a gas filler pipe. The band is adjustable to different diameters. The band includes tightening apparatus. A connecting flange attached to the band. The connecting flange is attachable by fastening apparatus to the housing about the second opening. A latching pawl is pivotally mounted within the housing and is movable between a latch position and an unlatch position. First biasing apparatus is attached to the latching pawl exerting a continuous bias tending to locate the pawl in the latched position, with the pawl in the latched position the pawl connects with the latching catch. A key actuated lock is mounted within the housing. The lock includes structure capable of moving the pawl to the unlatched position.
STILL YET ANOTHER EXAMPLE, U.S. Pat. No. 4,775,061 issued to Coote on Oct. 4, 1988 in class 215 and subclass 215 teaches a screw top closure provided with a freely rotating ring surrounding its periphery thus preventing the user from rotating the closure by gripping the periphery. The ring is captivated on the closure and cannot easily be removed. The closure is provided with a key way on its upper surface, which the user can engage with a key that is accessible only to authorized users.
YET STILL ANOTHER EXAMPLE, U.S. Pat. No. 4,984,698 issued to Stuckey on Jan. 15, 1991 in class 215 and subclass 207 teaches a lockable closure cap assembly including a closure cap having a threaded bore for threadable engagement with the threads of a container neck, an annular shell surrounding the closure cap, and a mechanism for selectively engaging and disengaging the closure cap with the annular shell to permit rotation of the closure cap with the annular shell and free rotation of the annular shell with respect to the closure cap, respectively. The mechanism includes at least one projection on the closure cap. A lock assembly is mounted in a bore in the annular shell. The lock assembly has a cam operating member. The closure cap has an upper surface. A clutch shoe carrier is rotatably nested on the upper surface of the closure cap. At least one clutch shoe is slidably mounted in the clutch shoe carrier. An arcuate cam surface is formed in a least one the clutch shoe and is operatively engaged with the cam operating member so that the clutch shoe is moved to and from engagement with the at least one projection on the closure cap solely by rotation of the cam.
STILL YET ANOTHER EXAMPLE, U.S. Pat. No. 5,464,109 issued to Greenwald on Nov. 7, 1995 in class 215 and subclass 207 teaches a device to prevent the unauthorized removal of a closure from the mouth of a bottle having an annular ring adjacent to the mouth about the bottle neck. A cap portion fits over the end of the bottle neck and receives within it the annular ring, the bottle mouth and the closure. A locking mechanism housing is formed adjacent the cap and communicates with the bore in the cap by way of a slot. In a first embodiment, a pawl is pivotally mounted in the housing and is spring biased to extend through the slot into the bore. A second embodiment uses a cam-controlled spring mechanism to slideably position the pawl in the cap portion or withdraw it therefrom. A tapered leading edge of the pawl causes the pawl to be displaced into the housing as the annular ring of the bottle passes the pawl. The spring forces the pawl in behind the ring to prevent removal of the cap. A third embodiment uses a sliding grip device in the cap to engage or withdraw locking fingers whose positions are determined by the relative positions of the grip device and the cap.
It is apparent that numerous innovations for bottle cap locks have been provided in the prior art that are adapted to be used. Furthermore, even though these innovations may be suitable for the specific individual purposes to which they address, however, they would not be suitable for the purposes of the present invention as heretofore described, namely, a lock for preventing unintentional removal of a cap from a bottle by utilizing a conventional padlock.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

ACCORDINGLY, AN OBJECT of the present invention is to provide a lock for a lock for preventing unintentional removal of a cap from a bottle by utilizing a conventional padlock that avoids the disadvantages of the prior art.
BRIEFLY STATED, ANOTHER OBJECT of the present invention is to provide a lock for preventing unintentional removal of a cap from a bottle by utilizing a conventional padlock. The lock includes a stationary portion and a movable portion. The movable portion is hingedly attached to the stationary portion, and has an open position and a closed position. The movable portion is pivoted away from the stationary portion when the movable portion is in the open positioned thereof allowing the cap of the bottle to be nestled against the stationary portion. The movable portion is pivoted from the open position thereof to engagement against the stationary portion forming a hollow and generally cylindrical-shape therewith when the movable portion is in the closed positioned thereof allowing the cap of the bottle to be captured between both the stationary portion and the movable portion and be maintained thereat by the padlock being operatively connected to both the stationary portion and the movable portion, thereby preventing the unintentional removal of the cap from the bottle.
The novel features which are considered characteristic of the present invention are set forth in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its construction and its method of operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will be best understood from the following description of the specific embodiments when read and understood in connection with the accompanying drawing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The figures of the drawing are briefly described as follows:

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic side elevational view, partially broken away, of the lock of the present invention for preventing unintentional removal of a cap from a bottle by utilizing a conventional padlock and being in the closed position;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged diagrammatic perspective view of the lock of the present invention identified by ARROW 2 in FIG. 1 but in the open position;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged diagrammatic top plan view taken generally in the direction of ARROW 3 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged diagrammatic bottom plan view taken generally in the direction of ARROW 4 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged diagrammatic top plan view taken generally in the direction of ARROW 5 in FIG. 2; and

FIG. 6 is an enlarged diagrammatic bottom plan view taken generally in the direction of ARROW 6 in FIG. 2.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS UTILIZED IN THE DRAWING

10 lock of present invention for preventing unintentional removal of cap 12 from bottle 14 by utilizing conventional padlock 16
12 cap of bottle 14
14 bottle
16 conventional padlock
17 neck of bottle 14
18 stationary portion
20 movable portion
22 side wall of stationary portion 18
24 top of stationary portion 18
26 bottom of stationary portion 18
28 top of side wall 22 of stationary portion 18
30 bottom of side wall 22 of stationary portion 18
32 pair of free edges of side wall 22 of stationary portion 18
34 hinge part of stationary portion 18
36 latch of stationary portion 18
38 side wall of movable portion 20
40 bottom of stationary portion 18
42 top of side wall 38 of movable portion 20
44 bottom of side wall 38 of movable portion 20
46 pair of free edges of side wall 38 of movable portion 20
48 hinge part of movable portion 20
50 latch of movable portion 20

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring now to the figures, in which like numerals indicate like parts, and particularly to FIG. 1, which is a diagrammatic side elevational view, partially broken away, of the lock of the present invention for preventing unintentional removal of a cap from a bottle by utilizing a conventional padlock and being in the closed position, the lock of the present invention is shown generally at 10 for preventing unintentional removal of a cap 12 from a bottle 14 by utilizing a conventional padlock 16, wherein the bottle 14 has a neck 17.
The configuration of the lock 10 can best be seen in FIGS. 2-6, which are, respectively, an enlarged diagrammatic perspective view of the lock of the present invention identified by ARROW 2 in FIG. 1 but in the open position, an enlarged diagrammatic top plan view taken generally in the direction of ARROW 3 in FIG. 1, an enlarged diagrammatic bottom plan view taken generally in the direction of ARROW 4 in FIG. 1, an enlarged diagrammatic top plan view taken generally in the direction of ARROW 5 in FIG. 2, and an enlarged diagrammatic bottom plan view taken generally in the direction of ARROW 6 in FIG. 2, and as such, will be discussed with reference thereto.
The lock 10 comprises a stationary portion 18 and a movable portion 20. The movable portion 20 is hingedly attached to the stationary portion 18, and has an open position and a closed position. The movable portion 20 is pivoted away from the stationary portion 18 when the movable portion 20 is in the open positioned thereof for allowing the cap 12 of the bottle 14 to be nestled against the stationary portion 18. The movable portion 20 is pivoted from the open position thereof to engagement against the stationary portion 18 forming a hollow and generally cylindrical-shape therewith when the movable portion 20 is in the closed positioned thereof for allowing the cap 12 of the bottle 14 to be captured between both the stationary portion 18 and the movable portion 20 and be maintained thereat by the padlock 16 being operatively connected to both the stationary portion 18 and the movable portion 20, thereby preventing the unintentional removal of the cap 12 from the bottle 14.
The stationary portion 18 has a side wall 22, a top 24, and a bottom 26. The side wall 22 of the stationary portion 18 is generally vertically-oriented, generally semi-cylindrical-shaped, and has a top 28, a bottom 30, and a pair of free edges 32. The top 24 of the stationary portion 18 is generally horizontally-oriented, generally disk-shaped, and extends radially inwardly from the top 28 of the side wall 22 of the stationary portion 18. The bottom 26 of the stationary portion 18 is generally horizontally-oriented, generally semi-ring-shaped, and extends radially inwardly from the bottom 30 of the side wall 22 of the stationary portion 18 in a same direction as that of the top 24 of the stationary portion 18.
The stationary portion 18 further has a hinge part 34 and a latch 36. The hinge part 34 of the stationary portion 18 extends radially outwardly from one free edge 32 of the side wall 22 of the stationary portion 18. The latch 36 of the stationary portion 18 extends radially outwardly from the other free edge 32 of the side wall 22 of the stationary portion 18.
The movable portion 20 has a side wall 38 and a bottom 40. The side wall 38 of the movable portion 20 is generally vertically-oriented, generally semi-cylindrical-shaped, and has a top 42, a bottom 44, and a pair of free edges 46. The top 42 of the movable portion 20 engages under the top 24 of the stationary portion 18 when the movable portion 20 is in the closed portion thereof. The bottom 40 of the movable portion 20 is generally horizontally-oriented, generally semi-ring-shaped, and extends radially inwardly from the bottom 44 of the side wall 38 of the movable portion 20 to engagement against the bottom 26 of the stationary portion 18 to form a ring-shape when the movable portion 20 is in the closed portion thereof for capturing the neck of the bottle 14.
The movable portion 20 further has a hinge part 48 and a latch 50. The hinge part 48 of the movable portion 20 extends radially outwardly from one free edge 46 of the side wall 38 of the movable portion 20 to overlapping engagement with the hinge part 34 of the stationary portion 18 and is pivotally attached thereto. The latch 50 of the movable portion 20 extends radially outwardly from the other free edge 46 of the side wall 38 of the movable portion 20 to overlapping engagement with the latch 36 of the stationary portion 18 and together with the latch 36 of the stationary portion 18 are for receiving the padlock 16.
It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or more together, may also find a useful application in other types of constructions differing from the types described above.
While the invention has been illustrated and described as embodied in a lock for preventing unintentional removal of a cap from a bottle by utilizing a conventional padlock, however, it is not limited to the details shown, since it will be understood that various omissions, modifications, substitutions and changes in the forms and details of the device illustrated and its operation can be made by those skilled in the art without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention.
Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the present invention that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features that, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this invention.

Claims

1. A lock for preventing unintentional removal of a cap from a bottle by utilizing a conventional padlock, wherein the bottle has a neck, said lock comprising:

a) a stationary portion; and

b) a movable portion;

wherein said movable portion is hingedly attached to said stationary portion;

wherein said movable portion has an open position;

wherein said movable portion has a closed position;

wherein said movable portion is pivoted away from said stationary portion when said movable portion is in said open positioned thereof for allowing the cap of the bottle to be nestled against said stationary portion; and

wherein said movable portion is pivoted from said open position thereof to engagement against said stationary portion forming a hollow and generally cylindrical-shape therewith when said movable portion is in said closed positioned thereof for allowing the cap of the bottle to be captured between both said stationary portion and said movable portion and be maintained thereat by the padlock being operatively connected to both said stationary portion and said movable portion, thereby preventing the unintentional removal of the cap from the bottle.

2. The lock of claim 1, wherein said stationary portion has a side wall;

wherein said stationary portion has a top;

wherein said stationary portion has a bottom;

wherein said side wall of said stationary portion is generally vertically-oriented;

wherein said side wall of said stationary portion is generally semi-cylindrical-shaped;

wherein said side wall of said stationary portion has a top;

wherein said side wall of said stationary portion has a bottom;

wherein said side wall of said stationary portion has a pair of free edges;

wherein said top of said stationary portion is generally horizontally-oriented;

wherein said top of said stationary portion is generally disk-shaped;

wherein said top of said stationary portion extends radially inwardly from said top of said side wall of said stationary portion;

wherein said bottom of said stationary portion is generally horizontally-oriented;

wherein said bottom of said stationary portion is generally semi-ring-shaped; and

wherein said bottom of said stationary portion extends radially inwardly from said bottom of said side wall of said stationary portion in a same direction as said top of said stationary portion.

3. The lock of claim 2, wherein said stationary portion has a hinge part;

wherein said stationary portion has a latch;

wherein said hinge part of said stationary portion extends radially outwardly from one free edge of said side wall of said stationary portion; and

wherein said latch of said stationary portion extends radially outwardly from the other free edge of said side wall of said stationary portion.

4. The lock of claim 3, wherein said movable portion has a side wall;

wherein said movable portion has a bottom;

wherein said side wall of said movable portion is generally vertically-oriented;

wherein said side wall of said movable portion is generally semi-cylindrical-shaped;

wherein said side wall of said movable portion has a top;

wherein said side wall of said movable portion has a bottom;

wherein said side wall of said movable portion has a pair of free edges;

wherein said top of said movable portion engages under said top of said stationary portion when said movable portion is in said closed portion thereof;

wherein said bottom of said movable portion is generally horizontally-oriented;

wherein said bottom of said movable portion is generally semi-ring-shaped; and

wherein said bottom of said movable portion extends radially inwardly from said bottom of said side wall of said movable portion to engagement against said bottom of said stationary portion when said movable portion is in said closed portion thereof for capturing the neck of the bottle.

5. The lock of claim 4, wherein said movable portion has a hinge part;

wherein said movable portion has a latch;

wherein said hinge part of said movable portion extends radially outwardly from one free edge of said side wall of said movable portion to overlapping engagement with said hinge part of said stationary portion;

wherein said hinge part of said movable portion is pivotally attached to said hinge part of said stationary portion;

wherein said latch of said movable portion extends radially outwardly from the other free edge of said side wall of said movable portion to overlapping engagement with said latch of said stationary portion and together with said latch of said stationary portion are for receiving the padlock.