Double locking combination lock

• US 4,730,467 A
• Filed: 02/05/1986
• Issued: 03/15/1988
• Est. Priority Date: 02/20/1985
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Master Lock Company (Fortune Brands Innovations, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Master Lock Company (Fortune Brands Innovations, Inc.)
• Inventors: Lebrecht, Horst
• Primary Examiner(s): Wolfe, Robert L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): BARRETT, SUZANNE LALE DINO
• Application Number:
  US06/938,188
• Time in Patent Office: 769 Days
• Field of Search: 70/21, 70/25, 70/38 A, 70/284, 70/285, 70/386
• US Class Current: 70/25
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 37/0034 actuated by either
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 67/00 Padlocks permutation locks E05B37/00; Details thereof
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/415 Combination and/or key-controlled
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/424 Sliding
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/459 Both legs engaged
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/7751 With ball or roller

Abstract

A combination lock having both dial and key locking mechanisms and having long and short shackle legs which lock has a body containing a reciprocal cam plate for moving steel balls into and out of engagement with the shackles from lock to unlock position. An extending arm mounted on the cam plate engages the dial and key control means having a second extending arm is also engageable with the cam plate. The lock includes a spring upset arrangement.

Claims

1. A combination lock including a dial and locking mechanism and a shackle having a long and short leg, the improvement comprising

(a) a lock body;

(b) a lock body cavity with three (3) steel balls therein which balls include end balls and a center ball in general alignment in a first lock position;

(c) a notch in each shackle leg and a steel ball positional in each notch;

(d) a reciprocal cam plate means movable in the body cavity in a direction substantially perpendicular to the axes of the shackle legs to a first lock position to cause the steel end balls to be positioned in the leg notches, and slidable to a second unlock position to permit the center ball to move and with movement of the shackle to cause the steel end balls to exit the leg notches;

(e) an extending arm means mounted on the cam plate means engageable with the dial in the unlocked position so that rotation of the dial with the arm means so engaged causes the cam plate means to reciprocate; and

(f) lock open cam means associated with the cam plate means so that partial removal of a shackle locks the cam plate means in the open position.

2. A combination lock including a dial and locking mechanism and a shackle having a long and short leg, the improvement comprising

(a) a lock body;

(b) a lock body cavity with three (3) steel balls therein which balls include end balls and a center ball in general alignment in a first lock position;

(c) a notch in each shackle leg and a steel ball positional in each notch;

(d) a reciprocal cam plate means movable in the body cavity to a first lock position to cause the steel end balls to be positioned in the leg notches, and slidable to a second unlock position to permit the center ball to move out of said alignment and with movement of the shackle to cause the steel end balls of exit the leg notches;

(e) lever body means mounted on the cam plate means including a first extending arm means engageable with the dial in the unlocked position so that rotation of the dial with the first arm so engaged causes the cam plate means to reciprocate;

(f) lock open cam means associated with the cam plate means so that partial removal of a shackle locks the cam plate means in the open position;

(g) keg control means

(i) engageable with a second extending arm mounted on the cam plate means and

(ii) blocking movement of said first extending arm also mounted on said lever body means to prevent in turn movement of the cam plate means by application of external forces; and

(h) key cam means pivotally connected to the key slide means and connected to the key cylinder to allow movement of the key slide means only when the key cylinder is operated;

whereby the rotation of the key cylinder or rotation of the dial causes the cam plate means to reciprocate to lock or free the shackle.

3. The combination lock of claim 2 in which the second extending arm includes a tubular arm means rotatably engageable with the cam plate means.

4. In a combination lock including a lock body, a dial assembly including combination discs, a shackle having two legs movable out of the lock to an open position and into the lock to a lock position, the improvement comprising

(a) a lock body;

(b) a lock body cavity with a plurality of steel balls therein;

(c) a notch in a shackle leg and a steel ball positional in the notch;

(d) a reciprocal cam plate means movable in the body cavity in a direction substantially perpendicular to the axes of the shackle legs to a first position to cause the steel ball to be positioned in the leg notch, and slidable to a second position to permit the movement of the shackle to cause the steel ball to exit the leg notch;

(e) pivotal arm means mounted on the cam plate means including an arm engageable with the dial in the unlocked position so that rotation of the dial with the arm so engaged causes the cam plate means to reciprocate;

(f) lock open cams means associated with the cam plate means so that partial removal of a shackle locks the cam plate means in the open position;

(g) projection means on a combination disc;

(h) flexible spring means on a shackle leg position to engage such projections means as such leg is moved into and out of the lock body

whereby the spring means flexes to pass the projection means as the leg is moved past the locked disc and whereby the spring means engages and rotates the projection means and its combination disc to upset the combination disc arrangement as and after the disc is unlocked and rotatable.

5. The combination lock of claim 4 in which the spring means includes a plate and a torsion spring mounted on the plate.