Lock box with obstruction free interior and improved method of locking

Abstract

A lock box with an obstruction free interior is provided that comprises a locking mechanism that has all of its internal moving components attached solely to the lid, making it easy for the user to put items into or take items out of the box. Furthermore, the locking mechanism is constructed so that locking and unlocking the box requires only the simple step of locking or unlocking the padlock.

1 . A lock box with an interior and exterior comprising: 
 a lid;    a side panel; and    a locking mechanism that has all of its internal moving components attached solely to the lid, allowing a user to easily access the interior of the lock box when the box is open.    
   
   
       2 . The lock box of  claim 1  wherein the locking mechanism further comprises a padlock that is also only attached to the lid, said padlock being substantially inaccessible from the exterior of the box when the box is closed and locked, preventing someone from tampering with the locking mechanism.  
   
   
       3 . A lock box comprising: 
 a lid, a bottom panel, a front panel, a right side panel, a left side panel, a back panel, which all define an exterior and an interior of the box; and    a locking mechanism that includes a padlock and internal moving components that are all attached solely to the lid, allowing a user to easily access the interior of the lock box when the box is open.    
   
   
       4 . The lock box of  claim 3  wherein the internal moving components of the locking mechanism comprise a connecting rod that is attached to the underside of the lid and at least one locking tang that is attached to the connecting rod and that can be engaged by the padlock, allowing the user to lock the padlock which, in turn, causes the locking tang to engage one of the panels of the lock box, locking the box.  
   
   
       5 . The lock box of  claim 4  wherein the front panel of the lock box includes a lip near its top portion and the locking tang includes a push tab portion above its attachment to the connecting rod and a hook portion located below its attachment to the connecting rod, said padlock being capable of engaging the push tab portion of the locking tang, causing the locking tang to rotate about its attachment to the connecting rod until the hook portion engages the underside of the lip of the front panel, locking the box.  
   
   
       6 . The lock box of  claim 5  wherein the padlock includes a body and a shank, and the push tab portion of the locking tang is located between the body of the padlock and the shank so that when the padlock is locked, the body of the padlock pushes against the push tab portion of the locking tang, causing the hook portion to engage the front lip of the front panel of the lock box.  
   
   
       7 . The lock box of  claim 6  wherein the hook portion of the locking tang is substantially heavier than the push tab portion of the locking tang so that when a user unlocks the padlock, the weight of the hook portion of the locking tang causes the locking tang to rotate until the push tab portion follows the movement of the body of the padlock and the hook portion of the locking tang no longer engages the front lip of the lock box, causing the lock box to be unlocked.  
   
   
       8 . The lock box of  claim 7  wherein the attachment of the locking tang is fixed with respect to the connecting rod, which is rotatively attached to the lid, and wherein the locking mechanism further comprises at least one more locking tang that is also fixedly attached to the connecting rod at a predetermined distance away from the first locking tang, said additional locking tang being substantially in alignment with the first locking tang so that the second locking tang will engage the front lip of the front panel at substantially the same time as the first locking tang.  
   
   
       9 . The lock box of  claim 8  which further comprises a shroud that is fixedly attached to the front portion of the lid, said shroud having an opening on its bottom, and a keep which can be inserted through the bottom of the shroud and fastened thereto, whereby a user can insert a padlock through the front of the shroud until its shank bottoms out against the rear of the shroud and can insert the keep so that the keep captures the inside surface of the shank and holds the shank in a fixed position.  
   
   
       10 . The lock box of  claim 9  wherein the shroud further comprises a slot on its bottom through which the first locking tang extends and two holes on either of the shroud through which the connecting rod extends, allowing the first locking tang to rotate with the connecting rod while its push tab portion is located between the shank and body of the padlock.  
   
   
       11 . The lock box of  claim 10  wherein the locking mechanism further comprises a third locking tang that is fixedly attached to the connecting rod at a predetermined distance away from the first locking tang, said third locking tang being in substantial alignment with the first locking tang so that the third locking tang will engage the lip of the front panel at substantially the same time as the first locking tang.  
   
   
       12 . The lock box of  claim 11  wherein the locking mechanism further comprises a flange that is fastened to the underside of the lid and through which the connecting rod passes, said flange being located between the first and second locking tangs and helping to support the weight of the locking mechanism.  
   
   
       13 . The lock box of  claim 12  wherein the locking mechanism further comprises a second flange that is fastened to the underside of the lid and through which the connecting rod passes, said flange being located between the first and third locking tangs and helping to support the weight of the locking mechanism.  
   
   
       14 . The lock box of  claim 13  which further includes a resilient member underneath the lip of the front panel, eliminating any slop between the lip and any locking tang that is caused by manufacturing tolerances.  
   
   
       15 . The method of using a lock box, which includes a lid and a locking mechanism having a padlock, comprising the following steps: 
 unlocking the padlock which causes the lock mechanism to be unlocked without having to remove the padlock from the lock box or move another member that is part of the locking mechanism; and    pulling up on the lid so that the interior of the box can be accessed.    
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 14  further comprising the step of putting an object into or taking an object out of the lock box.  
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 15  further comprising the following steps: 
 pushing on the lid until the lid is closed; and    pushing on the padlock until the padlock and the locking mechanism of the box are locked without having to move another member of the locking mechanism or put the padlock back onto the box.