U.S. patent application number 12/879010 was filed with the patent office on 2012-03-15 for lock box assembly.
Invention is credited to Yao Kun YANG.
Application Number | 20120060570 12/879010 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 45805335 |
Filed Date | 2012-03-15 |
United States Patent
Application |
20120060570 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
YANG; Yao Kun |
March 15, 2012 |
LOCK BOX ASSEMBLY
Abstract
A lock box assembly includes a lock box which includes a first
casing and a second casing pivotally coupled to the first casing.
The first casing has a combination lock disposed thereon. A
protective shell is coveringly and detachably assembled with the
first casing. The protective shell includes a cover panel shielding
the first casing. A plurality of side panels extend from the cover
panel for enclosingly forming a receiving space adapted for
accommodating the first casing. At least one buckle is formed on
the plurality of side panels. The cover panel has an opening
defined therein and corresponds to the combination lock of the
first casing. A lid is pivotally hinged to an edge of the opening
for selectively shielding the opening. The protective shell and the
lid protectively prevents the first casing the combination lock
from exposing to weathering.
Inventors: |
YANG; Yao Kun; (Changhua
County, TW) |
Family ID: |
45805335 |
Appl. No.: |
12/879010 |
Filed: |
September 10, 2010 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
70/63 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E05B 67/02 20130101;
Y10T 70/498 20150401; E05B 67/38 20130101; E05B 19/0005 20130101;
Y10T 70/7435 20150401; Y10T 70/5031 20150401; Y10T 70/496 20150401;
E05B 17/002 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
70/63 |
International
Class: |
B65D 55/14 20060101
B65D055/14 |
Claims
1. A lock box assembly, comprising: a lock box including a first
casing and a second casing pivotally coupled to the first casing
such that the first casing is covered/uncovered by pivotally
flipping the second casing, the first casing having a combination
lock disposed thereon; a protective shell coveringly and detachably
assembled with the first casing, the protective shell including a
cover panel shielding the first casing, a plurality of side panels
extending from the cover panel for enclosingly forming a receiving
space adapted for accommodating the first casing; at least one hook
formed on the plurality of side panels for buckling the protective
shell with the first casing; the cover panel having an opening
defined therein and corresponding to the combination lock of the
first casing; and a lid pivotally hinged to an edge of the opening
for selectively shielding the opening such that the combination
lock is selectively prevented from exposing; wherein when the
combination lock is activated, the second casing is refrained from
pivotally flipping opened relative to the first casing; the
protective shell and the lid protectively prevents the first casing
the combination lock from exposing to weathering.
2. The lock box assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at
least one hook is three hooks, each hook inwardly extending from a
ridge of an corresponding side panel for detachably engaging with
an edge of the first casing.
3. The lock box assembly as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a
hook plate disposed on a distal end of the lid adapted for allowing
a user to pivotally flip the lid via the hook plate to
shield/unshield the opening of the first casing, the hook plate
having a protrusion formed on one end thereof for selectively
engaging with the edge of opening.
4. The lock box assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the
protective shell is made of elastic material.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to lock boxes, and more
particularly to a lock box assembly which has a protective shell
for preventing the lock box from exposing to weathering such that
the usage life of the lock box is prolonged.
[0003] 2. Description of Related Art
[0004] Lock boxes are widely used in many households for key
retaining purposes. A conventional lock box comprises a body
adapted for retaining key. A door or a lid movably engages with the
body for shielding the body such that the key retained in the body
is not exposed to the environment. A lock assembly is mounted in
the body. The lock assembly has a key insertion hole defined
therein. A key is inserted into the key insertion and is rotated in
two opposite directions to lock/unlock the door/lid to the
body.
[0005] Despite the effect it provides, the conventional lock box
has the following drawbacks: first of all, the conventional lock
box is locked/unlocked by the key to provide a locking effect, when
the key is lost, it could be very bothersome to find ways to unlock
the lock box.
[0006] Secondly, lock boxes are often exposed to weathering, such
that their usage life is greatly shortened, or become very
difficult to use upon a relative short period of time.
[0007] Furthermore, outer surfaces of the lock boxes are usually
coated with paints for aesthetical purposes. When the lock boxes
are scratched or hit by an external force, the paints may peel off
and ruining the overall aesthetical appearance; structures of the
lock assembly may also be damaged
[0008] The present invention has arisen to obviate/mitigate the
disadvantages of the conventional locking devices.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0009] The present invention relates to a lock box assembly
comprises a lock box which includes a first casing and a second
casing pivotally coupled to the first casing such that the first
casing is covered/uncovered by pivotally flipping the second
casing. The first casing has a combination lock disposed thereon. A
protective shell is coveringly and detachably assembled with the
first casing. The protective shell is made of elastic material. The
protective shell includes a cover panel shielding the first casing.
A plurality of side panels extend from the cover panel for
enclosingly forming a receiving space adapted for accommodating the
first casing. Three buckles are formed on the plurality of side
panels for buckling the protective shell with the first casing.
Each buckle inwardly extend from a ridge of a corresponding side
panel for detachably engaging with an edge of the first casing. The
cover panel has an opening defined therein and corresponds to the
combination lock of the first casing.
[0010] A lid is pivotally hinged to an edge of the opening for
selectively shielding the opening such that the combination lock is
selectively prevented from exposing. A buckle plate is disposed on
a distal end of the lid which is adapted for allowing a user to
pivotally flip the lid via the buckle plate to shield/unshield the
opening of the first casing. The buckle plate has a protrusion
formed on one end thereof for selectively engaging with the edge of
the opening.
[0011] When the combination lock is activated, the second casing is
refrained from pivotally flipping opened relative to the first
casing; the protective shell and the lid protectively prevents the
first casing the combination lock from exposing to weathering.
[0012] The present invention will become more obvious from the
following description when taken in connection with the
accompanying drawings which show, for purposes of illustration
only, a preferred embodiment in accordance with the present
invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0013] FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of the lock box
assembly in accordance with the present invention;
[0014] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a lock box of the lock box
assembly in accordance with the present invention;
[0015] FIG. 3 is an assembled perspective view of the lock box
assembly in accordance with the present invention, wherein a lid
is
[0016] FIG. 4 is another assembled perspective view of the lock box
assembly in accordance with the present invention; wherein the lid
is
[0017] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the lock box assembly in
accordance with the present invention; and
[0018] FIG. 6 is an assembled perspective view of the lock box
assembly in accordance with the present invention showing the
buckles buckling with the first casing.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0019] Referring to the drawings and initially to FIGS. 1-6, a lock
box assembly in accordance with the present invention comprises a
lock box 1 which is adapted for storing small items such as keys
(not shown). The lock box 1 includes a first casing 11 and a second
casing 12 pivotally coupled to the first casing 11 such that the
first casing 11 is covered/uncovered by pivotally flipping the
second casing 12. The first casing 11 has a combination lock 110
disposed thereon. The combination lock 110 has four dial buttons
(not numbered) for providing a locking effect. In the preferred
embodiment, a generally U-shaped shackle 121 is mounted to the
second casing 12 such that the lock box 1 is able to be suspendedly
hanging on a door knob, cabinet handle . . . etc via the shackle
121.
[0020] A protective shell 2 which is integrally made of elastic
material is detachably assembled with the first casing 11. The
protective shell 2 includes a cover panel 21 shielding the first
casing 11. The cover panel 21 has a substantially rectangular shape
for corresponding to the first casing 11. Four side panels 22
respectively extend from the cover panel 21 for enclosingly forming
a receiving space 23 which is adapted for accommodating the first
casing 11. Three buckles 24 are formed on the side panels 22 for
buckling the protective shell 2 with the first casing 11. Each
buckle 24 inwardly extends from a ridge of a corresponding side
panel 22 for detachably engaging with an edge of the first casing
11. Each buckle 24 is elongated shaped for providing a better
securing effect. The cover panel 21 has an opening 211 defined
therein and corresponding to the combination lock 110 of the first
casing 11. The opening 211 is generally rectangular shaped for
corresponding to the combination lock 110. Therefore, when the
protective shell 2 is assembled with the first casing 11, the
combination lock 110 is exposed, such that a user can operate the
combination lock 110 easily without removing the protective shell 2
from the first casing 11. A lid 3 is pivotally mounted to an edge
of the opening 211 for selectively shielding the opening 211 such
that the combination lock 110 is selectively prevented from
exposing (as shown in FIGS. 4-5). A buckle plate 31 is disposed on
a distal end of the lid 3 and is adapted for allowing a user to
pivotally flipping the lid 3 via the buckle plate 31 to shield or
unshield the opening 211 of the first casing 11. The buckle plate
31 has a protrusion 32 formed on one end thereof for selectively
and detachably engaging with the edge of the opening 211. When the
lid 3 is pivotally flipped to shield the opening 211 of the first
casing 11, the protrusion 32 engages with the first casing 11 for
retaining the lid 3 such that the opening 211 is remained shielded.
As shown in FIGS. 1, 3-4, a plurality of elongated-shaped anti-slip
members 32 are disposed on the buckle plate 31 for providing an
anti-slip effect such that the user is able to flip the lid 3 via
the buckle plate 31 easily and conveniently.
[0021] When the combination lock 110 is activated, the second
casing 12 is refrained from pivotally flipping opened relative to
the first casing 11. The protective shell 2 and the lid 3
protectively prevents the first casing 11 the combination lock 110
unit from exposing to weathering.
[0022] In view of the above descriptions, it can be concluded that
the lock box 1 assembly in accordance with the present invention
has the following advantages:
[0023] First of all, the protective shell 2 assembled with the
first casing 11 covers up most of the lock box 1, such that the
lock box 1 is not exposed environments, hence prevents the lock box
1 from weathering. A usage life of the lock box 1 is prolonged.
[0024] Secondly, the protective shell 2 prevents the lock box 1
from being scratched, such that an aesthetical appearance of the
lock box 1 is maintained.
[0025] Moreover, the protective shell 2 is made of elastic
material, therefore, when the lock box 1 is hit by an external
force, the protective shell 2 provides a shock-absorbing effect,
preventing the lock box 1 (especially the combination lock 110
disposed on the first casing 11 of the lock box 1) from being
damaged.
[0026] Although the invention has been explained in relations to
its preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that many other
possible modifications and variations can be made without departing
from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter
claimed.
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