Padlock with fully integrated dual locking systems

• US 20050092036A1
• Filed: 05/21/2004
• Published: 05/05/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 11/04/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Sun Lock Company Ltd.
• Original Assignee: The Sun Lock Company Ltd.
• Inventors: Lai, Eric
• Granted Patent: US 7,140,209 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 70/25
• 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 37/0058 by axial disengagement between hub and rim of tumbler discs or rings
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 37/025 in padlocks
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 67/10 with devices for securing the free end of the shackle
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 67/22 Padlocks with sliding shackles, with or without rotary or pivotal movement
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/415 Combination and/or key-controlled
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/424 Sliding
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/7141 Combination and key
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/7345 Removable change element

Abstract

By providing two separate and independent locking systems formed in a single padlock, with both locking systems independently enabling the single shackle to be released and/or lockingly engaged, an effective, easily produced, multi-purpose padlock is achieved. In the preferred embodiment, a single housing and shackle assembly are employed and constructed for enabling the shackle to be released from locked engagement with the housing using either a rotatable dial combination construction or a key activating tumbler construction. In this way, a dual locking and releasing padlock is achieved which virtually eliminates the difficulties typically encountered with known, prior art lock configurations.

Claims

1. A padlock constructed for providing two separate and independent locking means in a single, integrated construction, with a first locking assembly being controlled by a combination and a second locking assembly being key controlled, said padlock comprising:

A. a housing incorporating

1. a first elongated bore, and a second elongated bore,

2. a plurality of dial receiving zones formed in the housing in association with the first elongated bore, and

3. an elongated release channel formed in the first elongated bore and axially extending therewith, said elongated release channel defining a zone for enabling the opening of the combination controlled lock assembly;

B. locking means in the form of a shackle comprising a generally j-shape, incorporating

1. a short leg having a terminating end constructed for cooperative locking and unlocking interengagement with a holding collar mounted in the housing, and

2. a long leg cooperatively mounted in the first elongated bore of the housing for axial movement and pivoting movement relative thereto;

C. a plurality of tumbler sleeves, each of said tumbler sleeves

1. rotationally mounted to the long leg of the shackle for rotational movement about the central axis thereof, and

2. incorporating a radially extending fin formed on the outside surface thereof and constructed for cooperative association with the elongated release channel for preventing axial movement of the long leg of the shackle as well as enabling axial movement thereof when each of said radial fins are positioned in the elongated release channel;

D. a plurality of dials each of said dials

1. mounted in a dial receiving zone of the housing, and

2. peripherally surrounding a tumbler sleeve for cooperating therewith, thereby establishing the combination controlled assembly of the padlock; and

E. a key controlled lock assembly mounted in the second elongated bore of the housing and constructed for being responsive to a designated key member for enabling movement between a first position, wherein the shackle is in locked engagement, and a second position, wherein the shackle is unlocked and movable, said lock assembly comprising;

1. a cylinder assembly

1. mounted in the second elongated bore for controlled rotational movement therein, and

2. incorporating a key receiving slot cooperatively associated with a plurality of tumblers for preventing the rotational movement of said cylinder whenever the designated key member is not present and enabling rotational movement of the cylinder in response to the presence of the designated key member, and

2. a shackle engaging collar cooperatively associated with the terminating end of the short leg of the shackle and responsive to the rotational movement of the cylinder for preventing movement of the shackle when in a first position and enabling movement of the shackle when the cylinder assembly is in a second position.

2. The padlock defined in claim 1, and further comprising a generally U-shaped, upstanding, shackle engaging collar mounted in the second elongated bore of the housing and constructed for peripherally surrounding the terminating end of the short leg of the shackle in its substantial entirety, with one portion of said collar forming an open zone for controlling the arcuate pivoting movement of the shackle about the central axis of the long leg thereof.

3. The padlock defined in claim 1, wherein the cylinder assembly forming a part of key controlled lock assembly thereof is further defined as comprising a first, substantially cylindrically shaped member and a second, substantially cylindrically shaped member, both of which are co-axially mounted in co-operating, interengagement with each other.

4. The padlock defined in claim 3, wherein the first substantially cylindrically shaped member is further defined as incorporating a key receiving slot formed in a first end thereof and an upstanding ridge formed on a second end thereof.

5. The padlock defined in claim 4, wherein the second, substantially cylindrically shaped member is further defined as comprising a slot formed in a first end thereof, said slot being positioned for co-operating, interengaged relationship with the upstanding ridge of the first cylindrically shaped member, whereby rotational movement of the first cylindrically shape member causes rotational movement of the second cylindrically shaped member.

6. The padlock defined in claim 5, wherein the U-shaped, shackle engaging collar is further defined as being integrally formed on a second end of the second cylindrically shaped member for being arcuately pivotable with the movement of the second cylindrically shaped member about it central axis, effectively forming a movable portal for the short leg of the shackle, whereby arcuate pivoting movement of the shackle is blocked when the open zone of the collar is in a first blocking position and enabling arcuate pivoting movement of the shackle when the open zone of the collar is in a second position aligned with the travel path of the shackle leg.

7. The padlock defined in claim 6, wherein the U-shaped shackle engaging collar pivots through an arc of about 90°

in response to the arcuate pivoting movement of the cylinder assembly through an arc of about 90°

, thereby effectively moving the open zone of the U-shaped collar between its two alternate positions, effectively preventing movement of the shackle when the open zone of the collar is in its first position and enabling movement of the shackle when the open zone of the collar is in its second position.

8. The padlock defined in claim 2, and further comprising a plate member cooperatively associated with the open zone of the U-shaped, shackle engaging collar for blocking the open zone when the plate member is in a first position and establishing the open zone when said plate members is in a second position, whereby movement of said plate member effectively blocks pivoting movement of the shackle when in its first position and enables pivoting movement of the shackle when in its second position.

9. The padlock defined in claim 8, wherein the plate member is further defined as being vertically movable relative to the U-shaped, shackle engaging collar in co-operating alignment with the open zone thereof for effectively blocking the movement of the shackle when in a first position and enabling movement of the shackle when in a second position.

10. The padlock defined in claim 9, wherein said plate member is controllably engaged with the second, substantially cylindrically shaped member for being vertically movable in response to the rotational movement of said second cylindrically shaped member.

11. The padlock defined in claim 10, wherein said second, substantially cylindrically shaped member incorporates a cam slot formed therein and said plate member incorporates a radially extending follower pin mounted in said cam slot for effectively causing said plate member to move vertically in response to the rotational movement of said second cylindrical member, whereby said plate member is controllably moved between its first, blocking position in its second, open position.

12. The padlock defined in claim 11, wherein said cam slot is further defined as comprising a first section having as sloped angle relative to the central axis of the second cylindrically shaped member and a second section formed at the upper end of the first section and extending substantially perpendicularly to the central axis of the second cylindrically shaped member.

13. The padlock defined in claim 12, wherein the sloped angle of the first section of the cam slot ranges between about 30°

and 60°

.

14. The padlock defined in claim 11, wherein said plate member is further defined as comprising an arcuately curved wall portion mounted in the second elongated bore between the inside wall of the second elongated bore and the outer surface of the second cylindrically shaped member for vertical movement therebetween.

15. The padlock defined in claim 14, wherein said plate member further comprises a blocking portion affixed to the inside surface of the wall portion and positioned for cooperating movement relative to the open zone formed in the U-shaped shackle engaged collar.

16. The padlock defined in claim 1, wherein said first elongated bore comprises three separate and distinct zones, formed by a lowermost zone, a central zone and an uppermost zone, with each zone comprising different diameters with the lowermost zone comprising the smallest diameter and the uppermost zone comprising the largest diameter.

17. The padlock defined in claim 16, wherein the dials are each further defined as comprising a generally cylindrical shape have a plurality of indicia bearing panels on an outer surface thereof for establishing readily identifiable indicia which define elements usable as the combination for defining the release mode of the first locking means.

18. The padlock defined in claim 17, wherein each of said dials is further defined as comprising a slot formed on the outer surface thereof between each adjacent indicia bearing panel.

19. The padlock defined in claim 18, wherein said housing is further defined as comprising a cavity directly adjacent each dial receiving zone and the first locking means is further defined as comprising a spring and pin member mounted in each cavity for cooperating interengagement withe each dial, providing a indicator for designating the position of the rotating dial and indicating when each panel is in a desired orientation for designating an element of the combination.

20. The padlock defined in claim 19, wherein each of said tumbler sleeves is further defined as being mounted to the long leg of the shackle for rotational movement about the axis of the shackle while being essentially incapable of translational movement along the axis of the long leg of the shackle.