Patent · US Expired

Freewheeling lock apparatus and method

US6978645B2 · kind B2 · utility

20Cited by
52References
34Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateJun 23, 2003
Grant dateDec 27, 2005
Priority date
Expiry dateJul 10, 2023

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY10T70/7949
  • WIPO fieldCivil engineering
  • WIPO sectorOther fields

Abstract

In some embodiments of the present invention, a freewheeling lock apparatus and method are provided in which the freewheeling lock affords actuation of a device only in response to the use of an appropriate key. The locking mechanism can include a housing, a sleeve received at least partially within the housing, a lock cylinder received at least partially within the sleeve and having a locked configuration and an unlocked configuration, a guide engagable with the sleeve and with one or more tumblers or other projecting elements of the lock cylinder, and an actuator engaged with the lock cylinder for rotation therewith when the lock cylinder is rotated in the unlocked configuration, and moved by the sleeve to a position disengaged from the lock cylinder when the lock cylinder is rotated in the locked configuration.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.