Fastening device provided with a combination lock

• US 5,517,836 A
• Filed: 05/12/1995
• Issued: 05/21/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 05/12/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Chih-Cheng Hong
• Original Assignee: Chih-Cheng Hong
• Inventors: Hong, Chih-Cheng
• Primary Examiner(s): Gall, Lloyd A.
• Application Number:
  US08/439,897
• Time in Patent Office: 375 Days
• Field of Search: 70/3-5, 70/57, 70/58, 70/30, 70/312, 70/69-72, 70/74, 292/19, 24/166, 24/625
• US Class Current: 70/30
• CPC Class Codes: A44B 11/266 with at least one push-button acting parallel to the main plane of the buckle and perpendicularly to the direction of the fastening action
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 37/02 with tumbler discs or rings arranged on a single axis, each disc being adjustable independently of the others
• CPC Class Codes: E05C 19/06 in which the securing part if formed or carried by a spring and moves only by distortion of the spring, e.g. snaps
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/435 Flexible shackle
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/50 Special application
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/7305 Manually operable

Abstract

A fastening device comprises a male retainer, a female retainer and a combination lock. The male retainer is made of a plastic material by injection molding and provided at one end thereof with a device engageable with a belt and at another end thereof with two retaining hooks. The female retainer is made of a plastic material by injection molding and provided at one end thereof with a device engageable with the retaining hooks of the male retainer. The female retainer has a hollow interior in which the combination lock is housed. The combination lock is provided with an arresting plate capable of preventing the retaining hooks from moving inwards when the process of locking the combination lock is under way. The arresting plate is provided with an arresting piece located between two retaining hooks and capable of being caused to move up and down by a numbered wheel of the combination lock so as to lock or unlock the fastening device.

Claims

1. A fastening device provided with a combination lock comprising:

a male retainer made integrally of a plastic material and provided at one side thereof with two retaining means having respectively a hooked portion, and

a female retainer made integrally of a plastic material and provided with an upper frame piece, a lower frame piece, and a hollow interior formed between said upper frame piece and said lower frame piece, said female retainer further provided therein with an arresting means engageable with said hooked portions of said two retaining means of said male retainer, said hooked portions being elastically inwardly movable toward one another for releasing the engagement thereof from said arresting means;

wherein said hollow interior of said female retainer is provided with a combination lock comprising a lock seat on which an arresting plate, a shaft, a plurality of numbered wheels, and a plurality of number-changing wheels are mounted, said numbered wheels having respectively a periphery which is emerged via a slot of said upper frame piece of said female retainer to facilitate the turning of said numbered wheels with one'"'"'s finger, said arresting plate being mounted on said lock seat such that said arresting plate is pressed by said numbered wheels and said number-changing wheels, said arresting plate having a retaining piece extending to locate between said hooked portions of said male retainer, said retaining piece capable of being forced to move up and down by a rotational motion of said numbered wheels so as to become engageable with or disengageable from an arresting means of said male retainer.

2. The fastening device as defined in claim 1, wherein said two retaining means of said male retainer are provided respectively and oppositely with an arresting portion;

wherein said retaining piece of said arresting plate has a width which is smaller than a distance separating said two arresting portions of said two retaining means; and

wherein said retaining piece is held securely between said two arresting portions so as to unable said two retaining means to be moved inwardly when said combination lock is in a locking state.

3. The fastening device as defined in claim 1, wherein said male retainer is provided with a retaining frame located between said two retaining means and provided with a retaining hole;

and wherein said retaining piece of said arresting plate is provided at an outermost end thereof with a curved retaining hook engageable with said retaining hole when said combination lock is in a looking state.

4. The fastening device as defined in claim 1, wherein said lower frame piece of said female retainer is provided with an opening through which said combination lock is mounted in said hollow interior of said female retainer, said opening provided with a cover.

5. The fastening device as defined in claim 1, wherein said lock seat of said combination lock is made integrally of a plastic material and provided on a bottom plate thereof with a plurality of resilient elements of a plastic material and with a plurality of frame plates and pivot holes for locating said combination lock.