Locking device

Abstract

A barrier locking mechanism having a collared upright stem mounted to a base and a tubular sheath having an open lumen configured to receive the upright stem therein is disclosed. The tubular sheath has an opening through a lateral side of the tubular sheath axially positioned such that, when the upright stem is received within the lumen of the tubular sheath, the opening is positionable between the base and the collar of the upright stem. A threaded lock housing is externally mounted on the lateral side of the tubular sheath at a position coinciding with the opening in the tubular sheath so that a fastener can extend into the lumen of the tubular sheath at least as far as an outer perimeter of the collar.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A barrier locking mechanism comprising:
 at least one upright stem mounted to a base;   a collar disposed on a distal end of the upright stem, the collar having an outer perimeter extending radially outward of the upright stem;   a tubular sheath having an open lumen configured to receive the upright stem therein;   an opening through a lateral side of the tubular sheath axially positioned such that, when the upright stem is received within the lumen of the tubular sheath, the opening is positionable between the base and the collar of the upright stem;   a threaded lock housing externally mounted on the lateral side of the tubular sheath at a position coinciding with the opening in the tubular sheath; and   a fastener having a threaded shaft adapted to threadably engage with the threaded lock housing and pass through the opening of the tubular sheath such that a distal end of the threaded shaft is extendable into the lumen of the tubular sheath at least as far as the outer perimeter of the collar.   
     
     
         2 . The barrier locking mechanism of  claim 1 , wherein a tubular sheath has a U-shape and the threaded lock housing is provided on an inward facing side of the U-shape. 
     
     
         3 . The barrier locking mechanism of  claim 2 , wherein a tubular sheath comprises a second threaded lock housing provided on an opposing inward facing side of the U-shape. 
     
     
         4 . The barrier locking mechanism of  claim 1 , wherein at least a second upright stem is mounted to the base. 
     
     
         5 . The barrier locking mechanism of  claim 1 , wherein the tubular sheath defines a hand-rail. 
     
     
         6 . The barrier locking mechanism of  claim 1 , wherein the distal end of the threaded shaft of the fastener comprises a friction cap. 
     
     
         7 . The barrier locking mechanism of  claim 1 , wherein a proximal end of the threaded shaft of the fastener comprises a handle. 
     
     
         8 . The barrier locking mechanism of  claim 7 , wherein the threaded shaft of the fastener and the handle are of unitary construction. 
     
     
         9 . The barrier locking mechanism of  claim 1 , further comprising a lock-nut disposed on the threaded shaft of the fastener. 
     
     
         10 . The barrier locking mechanism of  claim 1 , wherein the base is selected from the group consisting of a parapet base, an anchor base, a weighted base, a Jersey barrier-mount base and horizontal mount base. 
     
     
         11 . The barrier locking mechanism of  claim 1 , wherein the collar has a circular cross-section. 
     
     
         12 . The barrier locking mechanism of  claim 1 , wherein the distal end of the threaded shaft is extendable into the lumen of the tubular sheath to engage the outer surface of the stem when the barrier locking mechanism is deployed. 
     
     
         13 . The barrier locking mechanism of  claim 1 , wherein the opening through a lateral side of the tubular sheath and the collar of the stem are configured such that, when the barrier locking mechanism is deployed, the distal end of the threaded shaft engages a lower surface of the collar. 
     
     
         14 . The barrier locking mechanism of  claim 2 , further comprising a second base.