Padlock

• US 5,490,402 A
• Filed: 10/22/1993
• Issued: 02/13/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 10/22/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Jin-Ren Shieh
• Original Assignee: Jin-Ren Shieh
• Inventors: Shieh, Jin-Ren
• Primary Examiner(s): Meyers, Steven N.
• Assistant Examiner(s): ESTREMSKY, GARY WAYNE
• Application Number:
  US08/139,731
• Time in Patent Office: 844 Days
• Field of Search: 70/39, 70/38 C, 70/38 R, 70/38 B, 70/28, 70/46, 70/233, 70/DIG. 20, 70/367, 70/360, 70/42, 70/43
• US Class Current: 70/39
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 67/00 Padlocks permutation locks E05B37/00; Details thereof
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 67/063 Padlocks with removable shackles
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/454 Removable
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/47 Free end only engaged

Abstract

A padlock has a lock body, a shackle, a lock bolt, and a lock bolt control mechanism. The shackle comprises two parallel arms capable of being retained and locked respectively in two receptacles of the lock body. One of the two arms can be drawn to become detached from the lock body. The lock bolt is caused to move to join with the end portion of one of the two arms at the time when the end portions of both arms are retained and locked in the two receptacles. The lock bolt control mechanism is housed in the lock body and is connected with the lock bolt. The lock bolt control mechanism can be caused by a key to move from a locking state corresponding to a connecting position of the lock bolt to an unlocking state in which the lock bolt is caused to move axially from the connecting position to a disconnecting position which is not corresponding to a bolt connecting portion of the shackle arm.

Claims

1. A padlock comprising:

a lock body having a central portion;

a cross-section through said central portion being uniformly solid through the longitudinal length of said central portion;

a first recess and a second recess respectively located at opposite ends of said central portion;

a shackle having a first arm and a second arm which are parallel to each other;

a first end of said first arm and a second end of said second arm being respectively insertable into said first recess and said second recess into a locking position;

said second end and said second recess having engagement means for engaging the second end to the second recess when in the locking position;

said engagement means preventing said second end from being disengaged from said second recess when in the locking position;

a bolt moveable in said lock body to engage said first end when in the locking position;

a lock bolt control mechanism operated by a key and housed in said lock body;

said lock bolt control mechanism being coupled with said lock bolt to control engagement and disengagement of the lock bolt with the first end when the lock bolt mechanism is turned by the key;

said engagement means permitting the first end to be disengaged from said lock bolt and detached from said first recess before the second end can be disengaged from said second recess;

wherein said lock body has a longitudinal axis;

said lock bolt moving along an axial line of said longitudinal axis between being engaged or disengaged from said first end, said axial line being substantially perpendicular to said first end and second end when in the locking position,

wherein said lock bolt control mechanism comprises

a lock cylinder housing coaxially fixed at an end of said lock body;

a lock cylinder coaxially slidable in said lock cylinder housing;

a locating pin limiting axial movement of said lock cylinder;

a lock cylinder core coaxially fixed to said lock bolt;

said lock cylinder core being engaged to said first end when said key is turned in a first direction and removed from said lock bolt control mechanism;

a restraining pin holding said lock cylinder core in engagement with said first end when said key is removed;

said lock cylinder core being disengaged from said first end when said key is inserted and turned in a second direction in said lock bolt control mechanism,

wherein said lock bolt is provided with a U-shaped end and wherein said first end is formed with an annular waist portion which engages in said U-shaped end when the key is turned in the first direction and the key removed.

2. The padlock of claim 1 wherein said lock bolt is provided with a recess which receives said lock cylinder core.

3. The padlock of claim 1 wherein a coil spring is engaged within said U-shaped end.