GB2293196A - Cable lock - Google Patents

Abstract

A steel cable lock 10 comprises a lock seat 12, a steel cable 14, a locking apparatus 16, a locating pin 18, a retrieving spring 20 and an elastic retaining member 22. The lock seat 12 is provided with an insertion hole 26 and a receiving hole 30. A locating bolt of the locking apparatus 16 is received in the receiving hole 30 of the lock seat 12. The receiving hole 30 is provided with a through hole 32 in communication with the insertion hole 26. An extension portion 60 of the locking apparatus 16 is received in the through hole 32 such that one end of the extension portion 60 is located in the insertion hole 26 to confine a locking portion 40 partially located in the insertion hole 26. The extension portion 60 is provided with a retaining recess 64 capable of holding securely the elastic retaining member 22. <IMAGE>

Description

STEEL CABLE LOCK YIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates generally to a lock, and more particularly to a steel cable lock which is simple in construction.

BACKGROUND OF TRE INVENTION As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a steel cable lock 1 of the prior art comprises a hollow lock housing 6 in which a volute spring-2, a retaining body 3, a revolving block 4 and a ring lock head 5 are housed in that order. The lock housing 6 is provided with a through hole 8 into which an insertion pin 7 fastened to free end of the steel cable is inserted such that the insertion pin 7 is held by the retainrg body 3.

Such a prior art steel cable lock as described above is inherently defective in design in that it can not be made easily and economically, and that the component parts housed in the hollow lock housing 6 can be caused to displace easily by an external force which hits the lock housing 6, and further that the steel cable lock can be easily tampered with a wire, which is inserted into the lock housing 6 through the gap between the insertion pin 7 and the wall of the through hole 8 so as to cause the retaining body 3 to disengage the insertion pin 7.

SUMMARY OF TRE INVENTION It is therefore the primary objective of the present invention to provide a steel cable lock which is simple in construction and can be therefore made economically.

It is another objective of the present invention to provide a steel cable lock which can not be easily tampered with.

In keeping with the principle of the present invention, the foregoing objectives of the present invention are accomplished by a steel cable lock, which comprises a lock seat, a steel cable, a locking apparatus, a locating lock, a retrieving spring and an elastic retaining member. The lock seat is provided with an insertion hole and a receiving hole, which are perpendicular to each other. A locating bolt of the locking apparatus is received in the receiving hole of the lock seat. The receiving hole is provided with a through hole in communication with the insertion hole. An extension portion of the locking apparatus is received in the through hole such that one end of the extension portion is located in the insertion hole to confine a locking portion located in the insertion hole.The extension portion is provided with a retaining recess capable of retaining securely the elastic retaining. member.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 shows an exploded view of a steel cable lock of the prior art.

FIG. 2 shows a sectional view of the steel cable lock of the prior art.

FIG. 3 shows an exploded view of a first preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of the first preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 shows a sectional view of the first preferred embodiment of the present invention, with the locking apparatus being located at an unlocking position.

FIG. 6 shows a sectional view of the first preferred embodiment of the present invention, with the locking apparatus being located at a locking position.

FIG. 7 shows a sectional view of a second preferred embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION As shown in FIGS. 3-6, a steel cable lock 10 of the first preferred embodiment of- the present invention comprises a lock seat 12, a steel cable 14, a locking apparatus 16, a locating pin 18, a retrieving spring 20, and an elastic retaining member 22.

The lock seat 12 has a side surface 24 provided with an insertion hole 26 and further has one end 28 provided axially with a receiving hole 30 which is in turn provided coaxially with a through hole 32, which is in communication with and perpendicular to the insertion hole 26. The through hole 32 is smaller in diameter than the receiving hole 30.

The side surface 24 of the lock seat 12 is provided with a locating hole 34 and a retaining hole 36. The locating hole 34 is in communication with the receiving hole 30. The retaining hole 36 is perpendicular to and in communication with the through hole 32.

The steel cable 14 has a cable body 38 and a locking portion 40 fastened securely to one end of the cable body 38. A fixing portion 4g is fastened to another end of the cable body 38 and another end 44 of the lock seat 12. The locking portion 40 has an- upper portion 46 and a lower portion 48 which is provided peripherally with a ring recess 50. The upper portion 46 has an outer diameter which is greater than the outer diameter of the lower portion 48. The upper portion 46 is provided around the lower end thereof with a shoulder 52 capable of covering the outer edge 54 of the insertion hole 26, thereby -preventing the steel cable lock 10 from being tampered with through the insertion hole 26.

The locking apparatus 16 has a lock housing 56 of a cylindrical construction and is received in the receiving hole 30 such that the lock housing 56 can be caused to slide axially. Pivoted to the interior of the lock housing 56 is a lock core 58 rotatable by a key. The lock core 58 is provided at one end thereof with an extension portion 60, which is received in the through hole 32 such that the free end of the extension portion 60 is corresponding in location to the ring recess 50. The lock housing 56 is provided peripherally with a strip hole 62 of a predetermined length and extendihg axially, The extension portion 60 is provided with a retaining recess 64.

The locating pin 18 is provided with a flange dimensioned to be retained securely in the locating hole 34 while the lower end of the locating pin 18 is received in the strip hole 62 so as to confine the lock housing 56 to slide back and forth within the range of the length of the strip hole 62.

The retrieving spring 20 is fitted over the extension portion 60 such that both ends of the spring 20 urge respectively the inner end of the receiving hole 30 and the inner end of the lock housing 56. The spring 20 is intended to provide an el-astic force enabling the locking apparatus 16 to move outwards to rema-in in the unlocking position.

The elastic retaining member 22 has a retaining spring 66 and a retaining bolt 68, which are received in the retaining hole 36. The retaining bolt 68 is provided axially at one end thereof with a blind hole 70. Another end of the retaining bolt 68 is contiguous to the extension portion 60.

Both e'nds of the retaining spring 66 urge respectively the bottoms of the retaining hole 36 and the blind hole 70 for causing the retaining bolt 68 to engage the retaining recess 64 so as to confine the locking apparatus 16 to the locking position and to cause the end of the extension portion 60 to engage securely the ring recess 50 to bring about a locking effect. The retaining hole 36 is sealed off by a sealing bolt 72.

In operation, the locking portion 40 is inserted into the inserton hole 26. In the meantime, the locking apparatus 16 is pressed to move from the unlocking position to the locking position, thereby resulting in the elastic retaining member 22 to be retained by the retaining recess 64 so as to cause the extension portion 60 to be retained by the ring recess 50 of the locking portion 40. The locked steel cable lock 10 of the present invention can be unlocked by turning the extension portion 60 by a key. As a result, the elastic retaining member 22 is caused to disengage the retaining recess 64. In the meantime, the locking apparatus 16 is pushed outwards by the elastic force of the retrieving spring 20 to remain in the unlocking position.

As shown in FIG. 7, a steel cable lock of the second preferred embodiment of the present invention comprises a steel cable 14 having a cable body 38. Another end 43 of the cable body 38 is provided with a pivoting portion 74, which is pivoted to a pivoting hole 76 of another end 44 of the lock seat 12. The pivoting hole 76 is provided in the inner wall thereof with a circular groove 78 corresponding in location to a circular projection 80 of the pivoting portion 74. As a result, the lock seat 12 can be so rotated as to engage the locking portion 40 of the steel cable 14.

Claims (5)

1. A steel cable lock comprising: a lock seat provided with a first receiving hole, a second receiving hole, a through hole, a retaining hole, and a locating hole, said first receiving hole having a hole axis perpendicular to a hole axis of said second receiving hole, said through hole extending coaxially from a bottom end of said first receiving hole to be in communication with said second- receiving hole, said retaining hole being perpendicular to the wall of said through hole, said locating hole being perpendicular to the wal of said first receiving hole; a steel cable having a cable body provided at one end thereof with a locking portion;; a locking apparatus having a lock housing of a cylindrical construction and disposed pivotally in said first receiving hole such that said locking apparatus can be caused to slide axially, said lock housing containing therein a lock core capable of being turned by a key inserted thereinto, said locking apparatus further having an extension portion which extends verti-cally from one end of the lock core to pass said through hole, said extension portion having a free end capable of engaging vertically said locking portion at the time when said locking apparatus is located at a locking position, said lock housing provided peripherally with a strip hole extending axially and having a predetermined length, said extension portion provided with a retaining recess;; a locating pin disposed in said locating hole such that one end of said locating pin is received in said strip hole for confining said locking apparatus to move back and forth within the range of the length of said strip hole; a retrieving spring fitted over said extension portion such that both ends of said spring urge respectively a bottom of said first receiving hole and an inner side of said lock housing; and a retaining spring and a retaining bolt received in said retaining hole such that a free end of said retaining bolt is corresponding in location to said extension portion, said retaining spring capable of causing said retaining bolt to engage said retaining recess so as to cause said locking apparatus to locate at a locking position.

2. The steel cable lock according to claim 1 wherein said locking portion is of a cylindrical construction and provided with a ring recess engageable with one end of said extension portion.

3. The steel cable lock according to claim 2 wherein said locking portion is provided with a shoulder dimensioned to cover the hole edge of said second receiving hole.

4. The steel cable lock according to claim 1 wherein said cable body is fastened pivotally at one end thereof with said lock seat to facilitate said lock seat to be turned for coupling said second receiving hole with said locking portion.

5. A steel cable lock substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 3 to 6 or Figure 7 of the accompanying drawings.