Dual unlocking mode padlock

• US 10,443,272 B2
• Filed: 02/06/2018
• Issued: 10/15/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 05/04/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Sun Lock Company Ltd.
• Original Assignee: The Sun Lock Company Ltd.
• Inventors: Lai, Karl
• Primary Examiner(s): Barrett, Suzanne L
• Application Number:
  US15/889,364
• Publication Number:
  US 20180320416A1
• Time in Patent Office: 616 Days
• Field of Search: 70 21, 70 25, 70284, 70285
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 35/105 Locks allowing opening by official authorities, e.g. master key opening of luggage locks by customs officials
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 37/0034 actuated by either
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 37/0068 in padlocks E05B37/025, E05B37/10 and E05B37/14 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 37/025 in padlocks
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 65/52 Other locks for chests, boxes, trunks, baskets, travelling bags, or the like
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 67/24 with built- in cylinder locks

Abstract

A padlock has a shackle having a long leg and a short leg, and a spindle with an extended member, the extended member engaged with the long leg of the shackle for movement together. The padlock also has a cylinder to receive a key for key operation, a stack of clutches and a plurality of dials engageable with the clutches to form a combination code, each clutch having an opening to receive the spindle. When the padlock is unlocked by the combination code, the spindle is engaged with the clutch stack for movement together along with the shackle. When the padlock is unlocked by the key operation, the spindle is disengaged with the clutch stack, allowing the spindle and the shackle to move upward relative to the clutch stack.

Claims

1. A padlock operable in a locked mode, and an opened mode, said padlock comprising:

a shackle comprising a heel and a toe,

a lock body comprising a first side, an opposing second side, a toe hole on the first side, the toe hole dimensioned to receive the toe, and a heel channel dimensioned for placement of the heel;

a spindle located inside the lock body, spaced from the heel channel, the spindle movable along a first direction substantially parallel to the heel channel,

an extended member comprising a first member end fixedly connected to the spindle, and a second member end having a receiving hole dimensioned to receive the heel of the shackle, the extended member configured to link the spindle connected to and the heel of the shackle for movement together in the first direction relative to the lock body, wherein the shackle is rotatable relative to the extended member and the heel is movable in the heel channel along the first direction;

a plurality of clutches arranged to form a clutch stack, each of the clutches having an opening dimensioned to receive the spindle;

a plurality of dials engageable with the plurality of clutches to form a combination code; and

a cylinder arranged for a key operation, the cylinder having a cylinder wall arranged to contact the clutch stack when the padlock is operated in the locked mode, and the opened mode, wherein the lock body further comprises a cylinder hole located on the second side of the lock body and a body chamber located near the cylinder hole, the cylinder hole dimensioned to receive the cylinder so as to allow the cylinder to move along the first direction, the body chamber dimensioned for placement of the clutch stack, and wherein the padlock can be unlocked to change from the locked mode to the opened mode by the combination code or by the key operation, and

wherein, when the padlock is unlocked by the combination code, the spindle is engaged with the clutch stack for movement together along the first direction, and

wherein, when the padlock is unlocked by the key operation, the spindle is disengaged from the clutch stack, allowing the spindle to move in the first direction relative to the clutch stack.

2. The padlock according to claim 1, wherein each of the dials is arranged to engage with a different one of the clutches to form a dial-clutch pair, and each of the clutches comprises a cylindrical surface and a plurality of protrusions around the cylindrical surface, and each of the dials comprises a plurality of teeth dimensioned to receive the protrusions of the clutch in the dial-clutch pair, wherein when the padlock is operated in the locked mode and in the opened mode, the teeth of the dial are arranged to engage with the protrusions of the clutch in the dial-clutch pair, preventing the dial from rotation relative to the clutch in the dial-clutch pair.

3. The padlock according to claim 2, wherein the body chamber comprises a plurality of blocking edges, each blocking edge corresponding to a different one of the clutches, and wherein each of the clutches further comprises an opening slot on the cylindrical surface, the opening slot dimensioned to receive the corresponding blocking edge, wherein when the opening slot is misaligned with the blocking edge, the clutch is prevented from moving in the first direction, and when the padlock is unlocked by the combination codes, the opening slot of each of the clutches is aligned with the corresponding blocking edge, allowing the clutch stack to move in the first direction along with the spindle to change the padlock from the unlocked mode to the opened mode.

4. The padlock according to claim 3, wherein the spindle comprises a first spindle end and an opposing second spindle end, the first spindle end adjacent to the first side of the lock body.

6. The padlock according to claim 4, wherein when the padlock is operated in the locked mode, the toe of the shackle is engaged with the toe hole of the lock body, preventing the heel of the shackle from rotating relative to the lock body, and when the spindle is moved in the first direction toward the first side of the lock body together with the heel of the shackle to change the padlock from the locked mode to the opened mode, the toe of the shackle is disengaged from the toe hole of the lock body, allowing the shackle to rotate relative to the lock body.

5. A padlock operable in a locked mode, an opened mode and a reset mode, said padlock comprising:

a shackle comprising a heel and a toe,

a lock body comprising a first side, an opposing second side, a toe hole on the first side, the toe hole dimensioned to receive the toe, and a heel channel dimensioned for placement of the heel;

a spindle located inside the lock body, movable along a first direction substantially parallel to the heel channel, the spindle connected to the heel of the shackle for movement together in the first direction relative to the lock body;

a plurality of clutches arranged to form a clutch stack, each of the clutches having an opening dimensioned to receive the spindle;

a plurality of dials engageable with the plurality of clutches to form a combination code; and

a cylinder arranged for a key operation, the cylinder having a cylinder wall arranged to contact the clutch stack when the padlock is operated in the locked mode and the opened mode, wherein the lock body further comprises a cylinder hole located on the second side of the lock body and a body chamber located near the cylinder hole, the cylinder hole dimensioned to receive the cylinder so as to allow the cylinder to move along the first direction, the body chamber dimensioned for placement of the clutch stack, and wherein the padlock can be unlocked to change from the locked mode to the opened mode by the combination code or by the key operation, and

wherein, when the padlock is unlocked by the combination code, the spindle is engaged with the clutch stack for movement together along the first direction, and

wherein, when the padlock is unlocked by the key operation, the spindle is disengaged from the clutch stack, allowing the spindle to move in the first direction relative to the clutch stack, wherein each of the dials is arranged to engage with a different one of the clutches to form a dial-clutch pair, and each of the clutches comprises a cylindrical surface and a plurality of protrusions around the cylindrical surface, and each of the dials comprises a plurality of teeth dimensioned to receive the protrusions of the clutch in the dial-clutch pair, wherein when the padlock is operated in the locked mode and in the opened mode, the teeth of the dial are arranged to engage with the protrusions of the clutch in the dial-clutch pair, preventing the dial from rotation relative to the clutch in the dial-clutch pair, wherein the body chamber comprises a plurality of blocking edges, each blocking edge corresponding to a different one of the clutches, and wherein each of the clutches further comprises an opening slot on the cylindrical surface, the opening slot dimensioned to receive the corresponding blocking edge, wherein when the opening slot is misaligned with the blocking edge, the clutch is prevented from moving in the first direction, and when the padlock is unlocked by the combination codes, the opening slot of each of the clutches is aligned with the corresponding blocking edge, allowing the clutch stack to move in the first direction along with the spindle to change the padlock from the unlocked mode to the opened mode, and wherein the spindle comprises a first spindle end and an opposing second spindle end, the first spindle end adjacent to the first side of the lock body, the spindle further comprising an extended member at the first spindle end, the extended member connected to the heel of the shackle for the movement together in the first direction, while allowing the heel to rotate in the heel channel relative to the extended member, and, wherein the spindle further comprises a spindle protrusion at the second spindle end, the spindle protrusion arranged to engage with the cylinder for causing the clutch stack to move together with the spindle and the cylinder in the first direction when the padlock is unlocked by the combination code, and when the padlock is unlocked by the key operation, the spindle protrusion is disengaged from the cylinder, allowing the spindle to move in the first direction relative to the clutch stack.

11. The padlock according to claim 5, wherein the cylinder comprises a first cylinder end and an opposing second cylinder end, the second cylinder located near the second side of the lock body, the first cylinder end comprising the cylinder wall and a tip extended from the cylinder wall, the tip arranged to engage with the spindle protrusion when the padlock is operated in the locked mode, wherein the cylinder further comprises a key slot at the second cylinder end, the key slot dimensioned to receive a key to rotate the cylinder in the cylinder hole relative to the lock body so as to disengage the tip from the spindle to unlock the padlock by the key operation.

12. The padlock according to claim 11, wherein the cylinder further comprises a pointer and the cylinder hole comprises an edge-groove arranged to receive the pointer for rotation therein when the cylinder is caused to rotate relative to the lock body.

13. The padlock according to claim 12, wherein the cylinder hole further comprises a track in communication with the edge-groove, the track arranged to receive the pointer when the cylinder is caused to move in the first direction along with the spindle when the padlock is unlocked by the combination code to change the padlock from the locked mode to the opened mode and wherein when the pointer is located in the track, the cylinder is prevented from rotation relative to the lock body.

14. The padlock according to claim 13, further comprising a latch and an indicator member, the latch having a latch opening and a latch fork adjacent to the latch opening, the indicator member having an indicator end and a cutout section positioned in relationship to the latch, and the lock body further comprises a latch slot and an indicator chamber, the latch slot made in the cylinder hole, the indicator chamber dimensioned for placement of the indicator member, the indicator chamber having a chamber hole extended to the second side of the lock body, wherein when the padlock is operated in the locked mode, the cutout section of the latch is located in the latch fork, preventing the indicator end from moving outside the lock body through the chamber hole.

15. The padlock according to claim 14, wherein when the cylinder is caused to rotate relative to the lock body to unlock the padlock by the key operation, the pointer is arranged to move the latch toward the indicator member, causing the cutout section of the indicator member to move out of the latch fork into the latch opening, wherein when the cutout section of the indicator member is moved out of the latch fork into the latch opening, the indicator end of the indicator member is allowed to move outside the lock body through the chamber hole.

7. A padlock operable in a locked mode, an opened mode and a reset mode, said padlock comprising:

a shackle comprising a heel and a toe,

a lock body comprising a first side, an opposing second side, a toe hole on the first side, the toe hole dimensioned to receive the toe, and a heel channel dimensioned for placement of the heel;

a spindle located inside the lock body, movable along a first direction substantially parallel to the heel channel, the spindle connected to the heel of the shackle for movement together in the first direction relative to the lock body;

a plurality of clutches arranged to form a clutch stack, each of the clutches having an opening dimensioned to receive the spindle;

a plurality of dials engageable with the plurality of clutches to form a combination code; and

a cylinder arranged for a key operation, the cylinder having a cylinder wall arranged to contact the clutch stack when the padlock is operated in the locked mode and the opened mode, wherein the lock body further comprises a cylinder hole located on the second side of the lock body and a body chamber located near the cylinder hole, the cylinder hole dimensioned to receive the cylinder so as to allow the cylinder to move along the first direction, the body chamber dimensioned for placement of the clutch stack, and wherein the padlock can be unlocked to change from the locked mode to the opened mode by the combination code or by the key operation, and

wherein, when the padlock is unlocked by the combination code, the spindle is engaged with the clutch stack for movement together along the first direction, and

wherein, when the padlock is unlocked by the key operation, the spindle is disengaged from the clutch stack, allowing the spindle to move in the first direction relative to the clutch stack, wherein each of the dials is arranged to engage with a different one of the clutches to form a dial-clutch pair, and each of the clutches comprises a cylindrical surface and a plurality of protrusions around the cylindrical surface, and each of the dials comprises a plurality of teeth dimensioned to receive the protrusions of the clutch in the dial-clutch pair, wherein when the padlock is operated in the locked mode and in the opened mode, the teeth of the dial are arranged to engage with the protrusions of the clutch in the dial-clutch pair, preventing the dial from rotation relative to the clutch in the dial-clutch pair, wherein the body chamber comprises a plurality of blocking edges, each blocking edge corresponding to a different one of the clutches, and wherein each of the clutches further comprises an opening slot on the cylindrical surface, the opening slot dimensioned to receive the corresponding blocking edge, wherein when the opening slot is misaligned with the blocking edge, the clutch is prevented from moving in the first direction, and when the padlock is unlocked by the combination codes, the opening slot of each of the clutches is aligned with the corresponding blocking edge, allowing the clutch stack to move in the first direction along with the spindle to change the padlock from the unlocked mode to the opened mode, and wherein the spindle comprises a first spindle end and an opposing second spindle end, the first spindle end adjacent to the first side of the lock body, the spindle further comprising an extended member at the first spindle end, the extended member connected to the heel of the shackle for the movement together in the first direction, while allowing the heel to rotate in the heel channel relative to the extended member, and wherein when the padlock is operated in the locked mode, the toe of the shackle is engaged with the toe hole of the lock body, preventing the heel of the shackle from rotating relative to the lock body, and when the spindle is moved in the first direction toward the first side of the lock body together with the heel of the shackle to change the padlock from the locked mode to the opened mode, the toe of the shackle is disengaged from the toe hole of the lock body, allowing the shackle to rotate relative to the lock body, wherein the heel channel comprises a passage slot and a reset slot on the first side of the lock body, and the heel of the shackle comprises a reset notch located near the first side of the lock body, wherein when the padlock is operated in the locked mode, the reset notch is located inside the lock body between the passage slot and the extended member of the spindle, and when the padlock is unlocked by the combination code or by the key operation, the heel of the shackle can be caused to move in the first direction and the reset notch is moved through the passage slot to locate outside the lock body to change the padlock from the locked mode to the opened mode.

8. The padlock according to claim 7, wherein when the padlock is operated in the opened mode and the reset notch of the heel is aligned with the passage slot of the heel channel, the shackle can be caused to move in a second direction opposite to the first direction to engage the toe of the shackle with the toe hole for changing the padlock from the opened mode to the locked mode.

9. The padlock according to claim 7, wherein the cylindrical surface of each of the clutches has a surface portion for disposing the plurality of protrusions, wherein when the padlock is operated in the locked mode and in the opened mode, each of the dials is located adjacent to the surface portion of the clutch in the dial-clutch pair and the teeth of each of the dials are engaged with the protrusions of the clutch in the dial-clutch pair, and wherein when the padlock is operated in the opened mode and the shackle has been rotated to cause the reset notch on the heel to align with the reset slot of the heel channel, the shackle can be caused to move together with the spindle, the clutch stack and the cylinder in a second direction opposite to the first direction for relocating each of the dials away from the surface portion of the clutch in the dial-clutch pair so as to disengage the teeth from the protrusions in the dial-clutch pair.

10. The padlock according to claim 9, wherein when the teeth of the dial in each of the dial-clutch pairs is disengaged with the protrusion of the clutch in each of the dial-clutch pairs, the dial can be rotated relative to the clutch in the dial-clutch pair for changing the combination code.