Lock for preventing unintentional removal of a cap from a bottle by utilizing a conventional padlock

Abstract

A lock for preventing unintentional removal of a cap from a bottle by utilizing a conventional padlock. The lock includes a stationary portion and a movable portion. The movable portion is hingedly attached to the stationary portion, and has an open position and a closed position. The movable portion is pivoted away from the stationary portion when the movable portion is in the open positioned thereof allowing the cap of the bottle to be nestled against the stationary portion. The movable portion is pivoted from the open position thereof to engagement against the stationary portion forming a hollow and generally cylindrical-shape therewith when the movable portion is in the closed positioned thereof allowing the cap of the bottle to be captured between both the stationary portion and the movable portion and be maintained thereat by the padlock being operatively connected to both the stationary portion and the movable portion, thereby preventing the unintentional removal of the cap from the bottle.

1 . A lock for preventing unintentional removal of a cap from a bottle by utilizing a conventional padlock, wherein the bottle has a neck, said lock comprising:
 a) a stationary portion; and   b) a movable portion;   wherein said movable portion is hingedly attached to said stationary portion;   wherein said movable portion has an open position;   wherein said movable portion has a closed position;   wherein said movable portion is pivoted away from said stationary portion when said movable portion is in said open positioned thereof for allowing the cap of the bottle to be nestled against said stationary portion; and   wherein said movable portion is pivoted from said open position thereof to engagement against said stationary portion forming a hollow and generally cylindrical-shape therewith when said movable portion is in said closed positioned thereof for allowing the cap of the bottle to be captured between both said stationary portion and said movable portion and be maintained thereat by the padlock being operatively connected to both said stationary portion and said movable portion, thereby preventing the unintentional removal of the cap from the bottle.   
   
   
       2 . The lock of  claim 1 , wherein said stationary portion has a side wall;
 wherein said stationary portion has a top;   wherein said stationary portion has a bottom;   wherein said side wall of said stationary portion is generally vertically-oriented;   wherein said side wall of said stationary portion is generally semi-cylindrical-shaped;   wherein said side wall of said stationary portion has a top;   wherein said side wall of said stationary portion has a bottom;   wherein said side wall of said stationary portion has a pair of free edges;   wherein said top of said stationary portion is generally horizontally-oriented;   wherein said top of said stationary portion is generally disk-shaped;   wherein said top of said stationary portion extends radially inwardly from said top of said side wall of said stationary portion;   wherein said bottom of said stationary portion is generally horizontally-oriented;   wherein said bottom of said stationary portion is generally semi-ring-shaped; and   wherein said bottom of said stationary portion extends radially inwardly from said bottom of said side wall of said stationary portion in a same direction as said top of said stationary portion.   
   
   
       3 . The lock of  claim 2 , wherein said stationary portion has a hinge part;
 wherein said stationary portion has a latch;   wherein said hinge part of said stationary portion extends radially outwardly from one free edge of said side wall of said stationary portion; and   wherein said latch of said stationary portion extends radially outwardly from the other free edge of said side wall of said stationary portion.   
   
   
       4 . The lock of  claim 3 , wherein said movable portion has a side wall;
 wherein said movable portion has a bottom;   wherein said side wall of said movable portion is generally vertically-oriented;   wherein said side wall of said movable portion is generally semi-cylindrical-shaped;   wherein said side wall of said movable portion has a top;   wherein said side wall of said movable portion has a bottom;   wherein said side wall of said movable portion has a pair of free edges;   wherein said top of said movable portion engages under said top of said stationary portion when said movable portion is in said closed portion thereof;   wherein said bottom of said movable portion is generally horizontally-oriented;   wherein said bottom of said movable portion is generally semi-ring-shaped; and   wherein said bottom of said movable portion extends radially inwardly from said bottom of said side wall of said movable portion to engagement against said bottom of said stationary portion when said movable portion is in said closed portion thereof for capturing the neck of the bottle.   
   
   
       5 . The lock of  claim 4 , wherein said movable portion has a hinge part;
 wherein said movable portion has a latch;   wherein said hinge part of said movable portion extends radially outwardly from one free edge of said side wall of said movable portion to overlapping engagement with said hinge part of said stationary portion;   wherein said hinge part of said movable portion is pivotally attached to said hinge part of said stationary portion;   wherein said latch of said movable portion extends radially outwardly from the other free edge of said side wall of said movable portion to overlapping engagement with said latch of said stationary portion and together with said latch of said stationary portion are for receiving the padlock.