Padlock

• US 20050252257A1
• Filed: 05/12/2005
• Published: 11/17/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/12/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Derek R. Woods, Joe T. Burns
• Original Assignee: Derek R. Woods, Joe T. Burns
• Inventors: Woods, Derek R., Burns, Joe T.
• Application Number:
  US11/128,651
• Publication Number:
  US 20050252257A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 70/33
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 15/16 Use of special materials for parts of locks
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 67/04 Armoured cases parts of the casing protecting the shackle E05B67/38
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 67/36 Padlocks with closing means other than shackles ; Removable locks, the lock body itself being the locking element; Padlocks consisting of two separable halves or cooperating with a stud
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 67/38 Auxiliary or protective devices weather protection E05B17/002; armoured cases E05B67/04
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/441 Housing extension and cooperating detent
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/443 Single stem or shank
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/498 Shields or canopies

Abstract

A tamper resistant padlock. The padlock includes a hasp receiving opening through which passes an extendable and rotatable lock shaft which secures the hasp or other lockable article. A shield is provided adjacent the bottom bore to protect the lock mechanism. The shield may be provided in a magnetic material to strongly attract ball bearings which protect the padlock against metal cutting drill bits.

Claims

1. A padlock, comprising:

a lock body, said lock body comprising

a tamper resistant outer shell,

a base, said base having a receiving bore therein, said receiving bore extending to an end wall having an undercut toe portion extending into said body to form a recessed chamber portion therein, said receiving bore defined by sidewalls having an interior surface, said receiving bore sized and shaped for receipt of a lockable structure therein for secure locking engagement of said lockable structure with said padlock,

a shield plate, said shield plate affixed to said end wall of said receiving bore in said base, said shield plate comprising a capture plate portion extending into said recessed chamber portion of said receiving body,

a lock housing, said lock housing defined by at least one sidewall extending from said outer shell into said base,

a lock mechanism, said lock mechanism operably secured in said lock housing, said lock mechanism comprising a key mechanism and a moveable lock shaft.

2. The padlock as set forth in claim 1, further comprising a plurality of hardened ball bearings, said hardened ball bearings rotatably secured by said capture plate portion of said shield plate.

3. The padlock as set forth in claim 2, wherein said shield plate is magnetic, and wherein said hardened ball bearings are magnetically attractable.

4. The padlock as set forth in claim 2, wherein said plurality of ball bearings comprises at least one row of ball bearings.

5. The padlock as set forth in claim 1, wherein said shield plate is sized, shaped, and located to shield said lock mechanism against destructive intrusion such as by action of a drill bit.

6. The padlock as set forth in claim 1, wherein said sidewall defining said lock housing comprises a first sidewall portion substantially cylindrical in shape, and wherein said key mechanism comprises a key cylinder.

7. The padlock as set forth in claim 6, wherein said lock housing further comprises a second sidewall portion substantially cylindrical in shape, and wherein said lock mechanism further comprises

a bible extending from said key cylinder, and

a bible housing,

and wherein said bible housing is slidably secured within said second sidewall portion of said lock housing.

8. The padlock as set forth in claim 7, wherein said bible housing further comprises a registration slot, and wherein said lock body further comprises (a) a registration accepting passageway defined by interior sidewally portions, and (b) a registration tool securely affixed within said registration accepting passageway.

9. The padlock as set forth in claim 8, wherein said registration accepting passageway comprises a threaded passageway, and wherein said registration tool comprises a threaded fastener, said threaded fastener having an end portion sized and shaped for registration engagement with said registration slot in said bible housing.

10. The padlock as set forth in claim 1, wherein a lock shaft receiving bore is located within said body, and wherein said lock shaft receiving bore is defined by lock shaft receiving bore sidewalls and extends from a mouth to a bottom, and wherein said moveable lock shaft is sized and shaped for extension into and retraction out of said lock shaft receiving bore mouth as said padlock is moved from a locked to an unlocked position, respectively.

11. The padlock as set forth in claim 10, further comprising, adjacent said lock shaft receiving bore mouth, one or more locking flange receiving features.

12. The padlock as set forth in claim 11, wherein said moveable lock shaft comprises a rotatable lock shaft, and wherein said rotatable lock shaft comprises a distal end portion comprising locking flanges, said locking flanges sized and shaped for locking engagement with said locking flange receiving features.

13. The padlock as set forth in claim 11, wherein said locking flange receiving features comprise one or more cylindrical posts securely affixed to said body adjacent said mouth.

14. The padlock as set forth in claim 13, wherein a pair of cylindrical posts are provided in parallel at opposing sides of said mouth.

15. The padlock as set forth in claim 13, wherein each of said one or more cylindrical posts are threadably inserted into threaded receivers.

16. The padlock as set forth in claim 1, wherein said lock housing further comprises an inwardly sloped flange.

17. The padlock as set forth in claim 1, wherein the outer shell has a generally domed shaped upper portion

18. The padlock as set forth in claim 1, wherein the outer shell has a generally hemispherical shaped upper portion.

19. The padlock as set forth in claim 1, wherein the outer shell has generally cylindrically shaped lower portion.

20. The padlock as set forth in claim 7, wherein said bible housing comprises a tubular shell and interior sidewalls defining a bible receiver slot, and wherein said bible housing is removable from said bible.

21. The padlock as set forth in claim 1, wherein said base comprises a receiving portion and a land portion, and wherein said land portion protrudes outward from said body with respect to said receiving portion.

22. The padlock as set forth in claim 1, wherein said outer shell comprises a surface portion having a Rockwell hardness of at least 59.

23. The padlock as set forth in claim 1, wherein said outer shell comprises a generally domed shaped structure.

24. The padlock as set forth in claim 1, wherein said outer shell comprises a generally hemi-spherical shaped upper portion.

25. The padlock as set forth in claim 1, wherein said outer shell comprises a generally cylindrical shaped lower portion.

26. The padlock as set forth in claim 1, wherein said lock shaft has a length of greater than one inch.

27. The padlock as set forth in claim 1, wherein said lock shaft has a diameter of one-half inch or more.