BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to locking devices. In one form, the invention is a locking device useful for locking dangerous household wares such as lighters and the tops of bottles. In another form, the invention is a locking device useful in locking the trigger on guns.

2. Description of the Prior Art

In recent years, dangerous household wares like lighters, knives, guns, electric ovens, gas stoves, bottles containing pills, poisons, and harmful materials, etc., have posed an increasing threat to children. It is impossible to avoid children obtaining such items absolutely.

Many devices have been designed in an attempt to solve this problem. U.S. Patent Nos. 4,496,309 and 4,509,916 disclose a child guard device in lighters. Although children can not use the device in the beginning, they are curious to try it again and again and pay attention to the adults using it. Eventually, some older children discover how to use the device, rendering the lock inefficient.

Another simple and direct way to keep the item out of reach of children is to lock the dangerous household wares in a separate location (such as in a locked cabinet) . This is an effect way to protect children, but is inconvenient, and not always possible for items such as stove burners.

There is presently no simple uniform method to lock every dangerous household ware. In fact, most of such items can not be locked or can hardly be locked.

A gun is a different item when considering the issue of safety. Guns must not only be kept from children, but also from criminals. Society is extremely concerned that guns which are lost or stolen will fall into the hands of criminals who will use them. Currently, all the trigger locks on guns are easily unlocked by criminals or locksmiths, or are easily destroyed and removed by electric drills and saws.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the present invention, a household safety lock is provided for locking household wares. The household safety lock includes a regular lock hingedly connected to a screw thread connecting part, having the form of a ring which is internally threaded. The safety lock is for use in locking a selected portion of a household ware (such as the top of a lighter, the trigger of a gun, the top of a bottle, etc.) which is positioned within a connecting part on the ware. In particular, the ware includes a connecting part in the form of a ring or sleeve having external threads which extends upwardly around the portion of the ware to be locked.

A user threads the connecting part of the lock onto the connecting part of the ware. A bar is passed through aligned slots in the threads of the connecting parts to prevent removal of the lock from the ware. The user then closes the standard lock over the otherwise open end of the safety lock, enclosing a portion of the ware inside of the connecting parts. The

standard lock engages a rod extending upwardly from the connecting part, locking it in a closed position.

The locked portion of the household ware is only accessible by unlocking the standard lock and rotating it open on its hinge. The entire safety lock can be removed from the ware, however, by unlocking the standard lock, removing the bar, and unthreading the connecting parts from one another. Connection and removal of the household safety lock to the ware is accomplished without the need of a separate tool.

As a second aspect of the present invention, a gun lock is provided for locking the trigger of a gun. The gun lock is an additional device to the standard trigger lock of a gun, and includes a large holed screw passing through the gun, a rod controlled by a key operated lock for moving the rod in or out of the screw hole to lock or unlock the trigger and prevent removal of the screw from the gun, and two bars for engagement with cogs on the rod which are connected to strings operated by the key operated lock.

The two strings are connected to the key lock by two pieces of springs. When the key operated lock is locked, the springs relax the pressure on the strings, and the bars are spring biased into engagement with the cogs on the rod, preventing movement of the rod away from its locked position against the trigger. Advantageously, tampering with the key operated lock causes the strings to be released, allowing the bars to be permanently spring-biased into engagement with the rod, maintaining the trigger in a locked position.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGURES 1A and IB are perspective views (from different directions) of a household safety lock of the present invention for connection to a screw thread connecting part located on a household ware;

FIGURES 1C to IF are perspective views and vertical cross- sectional views separately showing the household safety lock engaging a household ware;

FIGURES 2A to 2C are perspective views showing the household safety lock used to lock a lighter;

FIGURES 3A and 3B are perspective views showing the household safety lock used in conjunction with a bottle;

FIGURES 4A and 4B are perspective views showing the household safety lock used to lock a switch button;

FIGURES 5A to 5F are perspective views showing the household safety lock used to lock a gun;

FIGURE 6 is a perspective view of a hand gun in two pieces, showing the gun lock of the present invention;

FIGURES 7A, 7B and FIG. 7H to 7J are schemata and perspective views cut away partially, showing the regular trigger lock section shown in Figure 6;

FIGURES 7C and 7D schematically show the permanent lock section shown in Figure 6; and

FIGURES 7E to 7G and FIGURES 7K and 7L are vertical cross-sectional views and perspective views cut away partially, showing the parts of the gun lock working with a regular lock. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The preferred embodiments of the present invention are described as follows:

Figures 1A and IB are perspective views (viewed from different directions) of the household safety lock of the present invention for connection to a screw thread connecting part on a household ware. The household safety lock includes any kind regular lock 1, a connecting part 2 and a bar 7. The connecting part 2 is preferably ring-shaped, having an interior surface and exterior surface. There are the screw threads 5 and a ditch or slot 6 on the interior face of the connecting part 2 for connection of the household safety lock to a household ware.

The connecting part 2 of the household safety lock is connected to the lock l with a hinge 4. A locking rod 8 extends upwardly from the connecting part 2 for engagement with a hole 9 in the lock 1. Thus, the lock 1 can be rotated from a first position in which the interior of the connecting part is accessible, to a second position in which the lock 1 is locked to the connected part and obscures the open end of the connecting part.

The household safety lock engages a connecting part 3 on the household ware 10 (a partial view of a household ware 10 is illustrated in Figures 1A and IB) . This connecting part 3 has a number of screw threads 5 and a ditch or slot 6 on the exterior face of thereof. It is understood that the connecting part 3 on the ware 10 surrounds the portion of the ware to be locked, so that when the household safety lock is connected thereto, the item to be locked (such as the "lighting" end of a lighter or the capped end of a bottle, as described below) is housed within the enclosure formed by the mating connecting parts and the standard

lock 1 locked over the top of the connecting part on the safety lock.

Figures 1C to IF are perspective views and vertical cross- sectional views separately showing the household safety lock of the present invention as used to engage a household ware 10. To use the lock, the user screws the connecting part 2 of the lock onto the threads of the connecting part 3 on the ware until the slots or ditches 6 are aligned. The user then inserts the bar 7 into the ditches 6, thus fixing the safety lock to the household ware 10. The user then rotates the standard lock 1 down until it engages the rod 8, closing off the open top surface of the connecting part, and locking a portion of the ware underneath the lock 1.

A user easily unlocks the device by unlocking the lock 1 and rotating the lock 1 from the rod 8. At this point, the portion of the household ware within the connecting part 3 thereon is accessible. Further, the user can remove the entire household safety lock 1 from the ware 10 by removing the bar 7.

Figures 2A to 2C are perspective views showing the household safety lock as used in conjunction with a lighter to seal or lock the top or "lighting" portion of the lighters. The figures show the connecting parts 3 on two different types of lighters l0a,b, one for cigarette lighting, one for stove firing. The household safety lock is easily fixed to lighters 10a,b and locked, preventing access to that portion of the lighter with the lock. The lock is also easily transferred to a new device when an old one runs out of fuel.

Figures 3A and 3B are perspective views showing the household safety lock as connected to a bottle lOc. The connecting part 3 of the lock is connected to the bottle 10c below its cover lOe, so that when locked, the lock 1 covers the bottle with its cap thereon.

Figures 4A and 4B are perspective views showing the household safety lock used to lock a switch button. In this embodiment, a hole 11 is preferably located in bottom surface of the connecting part 3 for fixing it under the switch button lOf. The connecting part 3 is installed by pulling the button lOf off the switch rod, pushing the switch rod through the hole 11, and then pushing the button lOf back onto the switch rod to fix it in place. The household safety lock is then ready for use by screwing on the connecting part 2 and locking the lock 1.

Figures 5A to 5F are perspective views showing the household safety lock as used to lock a gun lOg. In a first form, the household safety lock obscures the end of a gun barrel, as illustrated in Figure 5A. In this form, the connecting part 3 is located on the end of the gun barrel. The household safety lock described above is then screwed onto the barrel and locked. This embodiment is useful for BB or spray guns.

Figures 5B to 5F show use of the household safety lock in three other positions on a gun lOg for locking the trigger thereof. In the first form, illustrated in Figures 5C and 5D, a regular lock bar 12 obstructs movement of the trigger. The household safety lock then covers the lock bar 12, preventing its removal and actuation of the trigger.

The household safety lock can lock every item which has a connecting part 3 surrounding it and which can fit inside of the connecting part 2 as covered by the lock 1. If numerous items must be locked in a house, for ease of memory and use, all of the locks 1 can includes the same code (for digital locks) , same combination (for combination locks) , or require the same key (for key operated locks) .

Figure 6 is a perspective view of a hand gun separated into two halves, illustrating a gun lock of the present invention. The gun lock of the present invention includes a regular trigger lock section and a permanent lock section. The regular trigger lock section includes a regular lock 14, a locking rod 15 and a large screw 17. The regular lock 14 is preferably a key-lock or digital code-lock positioned on the gun.

There is a trigger lock bar 16 on the rod 15 to lock the trigger 13. Cogs or teeth 25 are positioned on one end of the rod 15 for permanent locking (discussed below in conjunction with the "permanent lock section) . The other side of the rod 15 passes through and is controlled by the lock 14. In particular, unlocking and locking of the lock 14 causes the rod 15 to move back and forth.

A bore or hole 18 is located in the screw 17, through which the rod 15 can pass. When constructing the gun (such as by connecting the two halves) , the screw 17 passes through a screw hole 19,20 in each half of the gun. Then, the hole 18 in the screw 17 is aligned with the end of the rod 15.

Figures 7A, 7B, 7H, 71 and 7J are schemata and perspective views cut away partially, showing the regular trigger lock

section working. When the user turns the key of lock 14 for locking, the rod 15 moves forward into the hole 18 in the screw 17. At the same time, the trigger lock bar 16 moves forward to lock the trigger 13 (See Figure 7B) . In this position, the screw 17 can not be removed, because of the rod 15 passing through it. When the user turns the key back to unlock the lock, the trigger lock bar 16 moves back, allowing movement of the trigger 13,! and at the same time, the rod 15 moves out of the hole 18, allowing the screw 17 to be removed so that the gun can be disassembled for repair or cleaning or the like.

As illustrated in Figure 7J, instead of using a screw 17, two bars 27 & 28 can be located on opposite side of the gun, whereby when the two bars 27,28 are aligned, holes 18 therethrough align for passage therethrough of the rod.

The permanent lock section includes two bars 21 & 29, a spring 22, two strings or wires 23 & 30, and two pieces of springs (see Figure 7E) inside the lock 14. The bars 21 and 29 are rotatably connected to the gun near the hole 20 about a first end. The spring 22 connects the bars 21,29, biasing them towards one another and the rod 15 therebetween.

The free ends of the bars 21 and 29, which include one or more cogs or teeth, are each connected to a string 23 and 30 (such that they look like an open crocodile's mouth) . The strings 23 and 30 pass through or over pulleys 24 and are fixed to the lock 14 by two springs.

Figures 7C and 7D schematically show the permanent lock section of the gun lock working. When lock 14 is locked and rod 15 is engaging the screw 17, the springs inside lock 14 relax,

and the spring 22 pulls the bars 21 and 29 (as connected to the strings) until their ends engage the cogs or teeth on the rod 15. When the lock 14 is unlocked, springs pull the strings toward the lock, lifting the bars 21, 29 from engagement with the rod 15.

Figures 7E, 7F, 7G, 7K, and 7L are vertical cross-sectional views and perspective views cut away partially of the lock 14, showing how the parts of the permanent lock section inside lock 14 work. There are two pieces of plates 31 inside the lock 14, and two pieces of springs 26 located above plates 31 which press on them. The strings 23 and 30 are separately pressed between the plates 31 and the springs 26.

If a user attempts to unlock the device with a counterfeit key 32 pushed into the keyhole, it will hit one or both springs 26 and one or both strings 23 or 30 will be pulled out of the lock 14, allowing the spring 22 to pull the bars 21,29 into the rod 15. Alternatively, if a user attempts to disable the lock with a drill 33 or other tool, the plates 31 will be destroyed too, and the strings 23 and 30 are again pulled from the lock 14 and the bars 21,29 engage the rod 15, locking the device.

As has been described above, according to the present invention, every dangerous household ware can be easily locked and unlocked, with the lock easily transferred from one item to another. Thus, the problems with protecting children are solved. Further, attaching the lock to a gun prevents use of the trigger, thus preventing both children and criminals from using the gun. The gun lock makes it more difficult for a criminal to unlock the gun than to simply obtain a different gun, almost guaranteeing the use of the gun by only the owner.