Locking mechanisms and storage devices for use therewith

Abstract

A locking mechanism having a male locking pin and a mating female locking slot is disclosed. Once the male locking pin and female locking slot are engaged with one another, they may not be separated without damage. The locking mechanism may be incorporated into a secure storage container, and storage container kits.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A locking mechanism comprising:
 a male locking mechanism component comprising a locking pin having a shaft extending in an axial direction and a tapered head disposed at a distal end of the shaft, wherein the tapered head includes an angled base extending outward from the shaft at an acute angle relative to the shaft axial direction; and   a female locking mechanism component comprising a locking slot having an inner ridge adapted to engage the angled base of the tapered head, wherein the male and female locking mechanism components are configured such that, once the male and female locking mechanism components are engaged with one another, the male and female locking mechanism components cannot be separated without damaging the components.   
     
     
         2 . The locking mechanism according to  claim 1 , wherein the locking slot inner ridge is set at an angle complimentary to that of the angled base of the tapered head. 
     
     
         3 . The locking mechanism according to  claim 2 , wherein the tapered head comprises a first sidewall extending away from the angled base towards an apex of the tapered head, and a second sidewall extending away from the first sidewall to the apex of the tapered head, and wherein the first sidewall and the second sidewall form an obtuse angle along a line of intersection. 
     
     
         4 . The locking mechanism according to  claim 3 , further comprising a notch extending into the tapered head of the locking pin along the axial direction of the shaft. 
     
     
         5 . The locking mechanism according to  claim 4 , wherein the locking slot is defined by walls adapted to deform inwardly as the result of the angled base of the locking pin engaging the inner ridge of the locking slot during an attempt to separate the male and female locking mechanism components. 
     
     
         6 . The locking mechanism according to  claim 2 , wherein the locking slot is defined by walls adapted to deform outwardly as a result of the locking pin tapered head passing through the locking slot. 
     
     
         7 . The locking mechanism according to  claim 1 , wherein the tapered head comprises a first sidewall extending away from the angled base towards an appex of the tapered head, and a second sidewall extending away from the first sidewall to the apex of the tapered head, and wherein the first sidewall and the second sidewall form an obtuse angle along a line of intersection. 
     
     
         8 . The locking mechanism according to  claim 7 , wherein the tapered head has a pointed apex, a flat apex, a rounded apex, or a notched apex. 
     
     
         9 . The locking mechanism according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a storage device having first and second shells, wherein the male locking mechanism component is attached to or integrated into the first shell and the female locking mechanism component is attached to or integrated into the second shell.   
     
     
         10 . The locking mechanism according to  claim 9 , wherein the first and second shells include sidewalls having crenellations extending therefrom, said crenellations extending from the first shell sidewall being adapted to interlock with the crenellations extending from the second shell sidewall. 
     
     
         11 . The locking mechanism according to  claim 10 , wherein the sidewalls are crenellated in one or more corners of the storage device. 
     
     
         12 . A storage device comprising:
 a first shell having a base portion, outer sidewalls extending from the base portion, and interior walls extending from the base portion;   a plurality of openings provided in the first shell base portion, each said opening including an area of increased diameter and having a shoulder;   a second shell adapted to mate with the first shell, said second shell having a base portion, outer sidewalls extending from the base portion, and interior walls extending from the base portion, wherein the second shell interior walls and the first shell interior walls define a storage cavity when the first and second shells are mated;   a plurality of openings provided in the second shell base portion, each said opening including an area of increased diameter and having a shoulder and being adapted to axially align with one of said plurality of openings provided in the first shell base portion;   a male locking mechanism component comprising a plug , a tapered head, and a shaft extending in an axial direction from the plug to the tapered head, wherein the male locking mechanism component plug defines a shoulder adapted to engage the shoulder in one of the plurality of openings provided in the first shell base portion when the male locking mechanism component is received in one of the plurality of openings provided in the first shell base portion;   a female locking mechanism component comprising a plug and a locking slot having an inner ridge adapted to engage the tapered head of the male locking mechanism component, wherein the female locking mechanism component plug defines a shoulder adapted to engage the shoulder in one of the plurality of openings provided in the second shell base portion when the female locking mechanism component is inserted into one of the plurality of openings provided in the second shell base portion, and   wherein the male and female locking mechanism components are configured such that, once the male and female locking mechanism components are engaged with one another, the male and female locking mechanism components cannot be separated without damaging the components.   
     
     
         13 . The storage device according to  claim 12 , wherein the tapered head includes an angled base extending outward from the shaft at an acute angle relative to the shaft axial direction. 
     
     
         14 . The storage device according to  claim 13 , wherein the locking slot inner ridge is set at an angle complimentary to that of the angled base of the tapered head. 
     
     
         15 . The storage device according to  claim 12 , wherein the tapered head comprises a first sidewall extending away from the angled base towards an apex of the tapered head, and a second sidewall extending away from the first sidewall to the apex of the tapered head, and wherein the first sidewall and the second sidewall form an obtuse angle along a line of intersection. 
     
     
         16 . The storage device according to  claim 12 , wherein the tapered head has a pointed apex, a flat apex, a rounded apex, or a notched apex. 
     
     
         17 . The storage device according to  claim 12 , wherein the locking slot is defined by walls adapted to deform inwardly as the result of the angled base of the locking pin engaging the inner ridge of the locking slot during an attempt to separate the male and female locking mechanism components. 
     
     
         18 . The locking mechanism according to  claim 12 , wherein the locking slot is defined by walls adapted to deform outwardly as a result of the locking pin tapered head passing through the locking slot. 
     
     
         19 . The storage device according to  claim 12 , wherein the first and second shell outer sidewalls have crenellations extending therefrom, said crenellations extending from the first shell outer sidewall being adapted to interlock with the crenellations extending from the second shell outer sidewall. 
     
     
         20 . The storage device according to  claim 12 , further comprising:
 an intermediate tray adapted to be positioned between the first shell and second shell, said intermediate tray having a plurality of openings, wherein each of the plurality of intermediate tray openings is positioned to be axially aligned with one of the plurality of openings provided in the first shell base portion and one of the plurality of openings provided in the second shell base portion.   
     
     
         21 . The storage device according to  claim 12 , further comprising:
 a plurality of removable male locking mechanism components each comprising a plug, a head portion, and a shaft extending in an axial direction from the plug to the head portion, wherein each removable male locking mechanism component plug defines a shoulder adapted to engage a shoulder in one of the plurality of openings provided in the first shell base portion when the removable male locking mechanism component is received in one of the plurality of openings provided in the first shell base portion; and   a plurality of removable female locking mechanism components adapted to removably engage each of the removable male locking mechanism component head portions.   
     
     
         22 . The storage device according to  claim 21 , further comprising:
 an intermediate tray adapted to be positioned between the first shell and second shell, said intermediate tray having a plurality of openings, wherein each of the plurality of intermediate tray openings is positioned to be axially aligned with one of the plurality of openings provided in the first shell base portion and one of the plurality of openings provided in the second shell base portion.   
     
     
         23 . A storage device kit comprising:
 a first shell having a base portion, outer sidewalls extending from the base portion, and interior walls extending from the base portion;   a plurality of openings provided in the first shell base portion, each said opening having an area of increased diameter and a shoulder;   a second shell adapted to mate with the first shell, said second shell having a base portion, outer sidewalls extending from the base portion, and interior walls extending from the base portion, wherein the second shell interior walls and the first shell interior walls define a storage cavity when the first and second shells are mated;   a plurality of openings provided in the second shell base portion, each said opening having an area of increased diameter and a shoulder and being adapted to axially align with one of said plurality of openings provided in the first shell base portion;   a plurality of male locking mechanism components each comprising a plug, a tapered head, and a shaft extending in an axial direction from the plug to the tapered head, wherein each male locking mechanism component plug defines a shoulder adapted to engage a shoulder in one of the plurality of openings provided in the first shell base portion when the first locking mechanism component is received in one of the plurality of openings provided in the first shell base portion;   a plurality of female locking mechanism components each comprising a plug and a locking slot having an inner ridge adapted to engage the tapered head of one of the plurality of male locking mechanism components, wherein each female locking mechanism component plug defines a shoulder adapted to engage a shoulder in one of the plurality of openings provided in the second shell base portion when the female locking mechanism component is received in one of the plurality of openings provided in the second shell base portion,   a plurality of removable male locking mechanism components each comprising a plug, a head portion, and a shaft extending in an axial direction from the plug to the head portion, wherein each removable male locking mechanism component plug defines a shoulder adapted to engage a shoulder in one of the plurality of openings provided in the first shell base portion when the removable male locking mechanism component is received in one of the plurality of openings provided in the first shell base portion; and   a plurality of removable female locking mechanism components adapted to removably engage each of the removable male locking mechanism component head portions,   wherein the male and female locking mechanism components are configured such that, once the male and female locking mechanism components are engaged with one another, the male and female locking mechanism components cannot be separated without damaging the components, and   wherein the removable male and removable female locking mechanism components are configured such that, once the removable male and removable female locking mechanism components are engaged with one another, the removable male and removable female locking mechanism components can be separated without damaging the components.   
     
     
         24 . The kit according to  claim 23 , wherein the tapered head includes an angled base extending outward from the shaft at an acute angle relative to the shaft axial direction. 
     
     
         25 . The kit according to  claim 24 , wherein the locking slot inner ridge is set at an angle complimentary to that of the angled base of the tapered head. 
     
     
         26 . The kit according to  claim 23 , wherein the tapered head comprises a first sidewall extending away from the angled base towards an apex of the tapered head, and a second sidewall extending away from the first sidewall to the apex of the tapered head, and wherein the first sidewall and the second sidewall form an obtuse angle along a line of intersection. 
     
     
         27 . The kit according to  claim 23 , wherein the tapered head has a pointed apex, a flat apex, a rounded apex, or a notched apex. 
     
     
         28 . The kit according to  claim 23 , wherein the locking slot is defined by walls adapted to deform inwardly as the result of the angled base of the male locking pin engaging the inner ridge of the locking slot during an attempt to separate the male and female locking mechanism components. 
     
     
         29 . The locking mechanism according to  claim 23 , wherein the locking slot is defined by walls adapted to deform outwardly as a result of the locking pin tapered head passing through the locking slot. 
     
     
         30 . The storage device according to  claim 23 , further comprising:
 an intermediate tray adapted to be positioned between the first shell and second shell, said intermediate tray having a plurality of openings, wherein each of the plurality of intermediate tray openings is positioned to be axially aligned with one of the plurality of openings provided in the first shell base portion and one of the plurality of openings provided in the second shell base portion.   
     
     
         31 . The kit according to  claim 30  wherein two or more of the plurality of removable male locking mechanism components have shafts of different lengths. 
     
     
         32 . A storage device comprising:
 a first shell having a base portion, outer sidewalls extending from the base portion, and interior walls extending from the base portion;   a plurality of openings provided in the first shell base portion, each said opening including an area of increased diameter and having a shoulder,   a second shell adapted to mate with the first shell, said second shell having a base portion, outer sidewalls extending from the base portion, and interior walls extending from the base portion, wherein the second shell interior walls and the first shell interior walls define a storage cavity when the first and second shells are mated;   a plurality of openings provided in the second shell base portion, each said opening including an area of increased diameter and having a shoulder and being adapted to axially align with one of said plurality of openings provided in the first shell base portion;   a plurality of removable male locking mechanism components each comprising a plug, a head portion, and a shaft extending in an axial direction from the plug to the head portion, wherein each removable male locking mechanism component plug defines a shoulder adapted to engage a shoulder in one of the plurality of openings provided in the first shell base portion when the removable male locking mechanism component is received in one of the plurality of openings provided in the first shell base portion; and   a plurality of removable female locking mechanism components adapted to removably engage each of the removable male locking mechanism component head portions,   wherein the removable male and removable female locking mechanism components are configured such that, once the removable male and removable female locking mechanism components are engaged with one another, the removable male and removable female locking mechanism components can be separated without damaging the components.   
     
     
         33 . The storage device according to  claim 32 , further comprising:
 an intermediate tray adapted to be positioned between the first shell and second shell, said intermediate tray having a plurality of openings, wherein each of the plurality of intermediate tray openings is positioned to be axially aligned with one of the plurality of openings provided in the first shell base portion and one of the plurality of openings provided in the second shell base portion.