Combination lock with dual locking means

• US 6,474,116 B1
• Filed: 01/26/2000
• Issued: 11/05/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: The Sun Lock Company Ltd.
• Original Assignee: The Sun Lock Company Ltd.
• Inventors: Lai, Eric
• Primary Examiner(s): Knight, Anthony
• Assistant Examiner(s): Walsh, John B.
• Application Number:
  US09/492,022
• Time in Patent Office: 1,014 Days
• Field of Search: 70/25, 702/33, 703/12, 703/15
• US Class Current: 70/25
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 17/002 Weather or dirt protection E05B15/029, E05B17/14 take precedence; for vehicle locks E05B77/34
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 37/025 in padlocks
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 67/003 Chain, wire or cable locks alarms therefor E05B45/005; E05B69/006 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 67/06 Shackles; Arrangement of the shackle
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 67/22 Padlocks with sliding shackles, with or without rotary or pivotal movement
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/424 Sliding
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/5872 For cycles

Abstract

By employing the present invention, a combination lock is achieved which provides two separate and independent locking members formed in a single combination lock. Preferably, the combination lock of the present invention incorporates, either independently or in combination with a visual indicator, two separate and independent locking members, such as a shackle and/or flexible cable member. In the preferred construction, the elongated flexible cable member is anchored at one end thereof to the housing of the padlock, with the opposed end being removably lockable to the housing. By employing a portion of the shackle as a locking component for the elongated flexible cable, the rotatable dials associated with the combination lock are employed for locking and unlocking both the shackle and the flexible cable. By achieving a combination lock having this unique, dual locking member, the user is provided with a greater sense of security and enhanced protection.

Claims

1. A combination lock constructed for providing two separate and independent locking means, said combination lock comprising:

A. a housing incorporating

a. an elongated bore,

b. a plurality of dial receiving zones formed in the housing, and

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

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

a. a short leg having a terminating end constructed for cooperative locking and unlocking interengagement with the housing, and

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

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

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

b. 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

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

b. peripherally surrounding a tumbler sleeve for cooperating therewith; and

E. second locking means in the form of a flexible cable assembly comprising

a. an elongated, substantially continuous cable member having a first end and a second end,

b. said first end being securely mountable to the housing, and

c. said second end being removably lockable to the housing in cooperating relationship with the long leg of the shackle and the axial movement of the shackle relative to the housing,

whereby a combination lock is attained having two separate and independent locking means with each being securable to the housing whenever desired by the user.

2. A combination lock constructed for providing two separate and independent locking means, said combination lock comprising:

A. a housing incorporating

a. an elongated bore,

b. a plurality of dial receiving zones formed in the housing, each of said receiving zones

1. extending substantially perpendicularly to the axis of the central bore, and

2. defined by two juxtaposed, spaced, parallel facing surfaces, each of said surfaces extending perpendicularly to the central axis of the central bore; and

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

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

a. a short leg having a terminating end constructed for cooperative locking and unlocking interengagement with the housing, and

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

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

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

b. incorporating a radially extending fin formed on the outside surface thereof and constructed for cooperative association with the elongated release channel and the parallel, facing surfaces of the dial-receiving zone 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

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

b. peripherally surrounding a tumbler sleeve for cooperating therewith, and

c. comprising an inside surface formed by the tumbler locking surface and a tumbler release surface; and

E. second locking means in the form of a flexible cable assembly comprising

a. an elongated, substantially continuous cable member having a first end and a second end,

b. said first end being securely mountable to the housing, and

c. said second end being removably lockable to the housing in cooperating relationship with the long leg of the shackle and the axial movement of the shackle relative to the housing,

whereby a combination lock is attained having two separate and independent locking means with each being securable to the housing whenever desired by the user.

3. The combination lock defined in claim 2, wherein said cable member is further defined as comprising material resistant to being broken or severed.

4. The combination lock defined in claim 3, wherein said cable member is further defined as being formed from braided or woven wire fibers.

5. The combination lock defined in claim 2, wherein said first end is further defined as means securely anchored to the housing.

6. The combination lock defined in claim 5, wherein said housing is further defined as comprising a first end receiving bore for securely holding and affixing the first end of the flexible cable assembly therein.

7. The combination lock defined in claim 6, wherein anchor means are mounted between the housing and the first end of the flexible cable assembly in cooperating association with the first end receiving bore for securely maintaining and affixing the first end of the flexible cable assembly to the housing.

8. The combination lock defined in claim 5, wherein the long leg of the shackle comprises a terminating end and is positioned in the elongated bore for controlled axial movement therein between a first unlocked, raised position and a second, locked, lowered position.

9. The combination lock defined in claim 8, wherein the housing further comprises a second end receiving bore formed therein in cooperating relationship with the central bore of the housing, said second end receiving bore being positioned for enabling the axial movement of the shackle to cooperate therewith.

10. The combination lock defined in claim 9, wherein the second end of the flexible cable assembly is further defined as comprising a body portion securely affixed to the second end of the cable assembly and incorporating a reduced width zone formed therein along the length thereof.

11. The combination lock defined in claim 10, wherein the second end receiving bore is further defined as being formed perpendicularly to the elongated bore and intersecting therewith, enabling the second end of the flexible cable assembly to enter the second end receiving bore with the reduced thickness zone aligned with the elongated bore, positioned for mating, locking interengagement with the terminating end of the long leg of the shackle, whereby movement of the shackle into its second position securely locks the second end of the flexible cable assembly in the second end receiving bore, while movement of the shackle into its first position enables the second end of the flexible cable assembly to be telescopically inserted and withdrawn from the second end receiving bore.

12. The combination lock defined in claim 10, wherein the second end receiving bore is further defined as being formed in the base of the housing coaxially aligned with the elongated bore and cooperatively associated with a slot formed in the base of the housing diametrically extending from the second end receiving bore and comprising a width greater than the width of the reduced width zone of the second end but less than the width of the body portion of the second end, with said housing also incorporating an enlarged cavity formed above said slot and communicating with said second end receiving bore, whereby the second end of the flexible cable assembly is able to telescopically enter the second end receiving bore when the shaft is in its first, unlocked raised position and move therefrom into cooperating engagement with the slot and enlarged cavity, while also being lockingly captured in said slot and enlarged cavity whenever the end of the long leg of the shackle is moved into its second, locked position, effectively blocking the enlarged cavity and capturing the second end therein.

13. The combination lock defined in claim 10, wherein said second end receiving bore is further defined as being formed in the base of the housing with its longitudinal axis being offset and parallel to the elongated axis of the housing, and said housing also incorporates an interconnecting zone extending between and communicating with said second end receiving zone and said elongated bore, and further comprising a locking member mounted in said interconnecting zone and movable between said elongated bore and said second end receiving bore in response to the movement of the long leg of the shackle between its first unlocked position and its second locked position.

14. The combination lock defined in claim 10, wherein said housing further comprises a T-shaped holding zone formed along the bottom surface of the housing in cooperating relationship with the elongated bore of the housing for enabling the terminating end of the long leg of the shackle to move into and out of blocking engagement of said holding zone in response to the movement of the shackle between its first unlocked position and its second locked position, and said T-shaped holding zone being dimensioned for receiving and holdingly capturing the reduced width zone of the second end of the flexible cable assembly and securely maintaining the second end of the cable assembly therein whenever the shackle is in its second locked position.

15. The combination lock defined in claim 14, wherein both the first end and the second end of the flexible cable assembly are slidingly engaged and lockingly retained in said T-shaped holding zone in response to movement of the shackle between its two alternate positions.

16. The combination lock defined in claim 2, wherein the dial is further defined as comprising a generally cylindrical shape having 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 lock.

17. The combination lock defined in claim 16, wherein each of the dials are further defined as comprising substantially enlarged indicia bearing panels and substantially enlarged indicia formed thereon, enabling individuals with vision impairments to easily see the indicia on said indicia bearing panels.

18. The combination lock defined in claim 17, wherein each indicia bearing panel and each indicia formed therein comprises an overall dimension ranging between about 15% and 40% greater than the like dimension of conventional indicia and indicia bearing panels.

19. A combination lock constructed for providing two separate and independent locking means, said combination lock comprising:

A. a housing incorporating

a. an elongated bore,

b. a plurality of dial receiving zones formed in the housing, and

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

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

a. a short leg having a terminating end constructed for cooperative locking and unlocking interengagement with the housing, and

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

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

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

b. 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; and

D. a plurality of dials each of said dials

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

b. peripherally surrounding a tumbler sleeve for cooperating therewith, and

c. comprising a generally cylindrical shape having a plurality of enlarged indicia bearing panels on an outer surface thereof and an enlarged indicia formed in each of said panels, each of said enlarged indicia and enlarged panels comprising an overall dimension ranging between about 15% and 50% greater than the dimension of conventional indicia and indicia bearing panels;

E. second locking means in the form of a flexible cable assembly comprising

a. an elongated, substantially continuous cable member having a first end and a second end,

b. said first end being securely mountable to the housing, and

c. said second end being removably lockable to the housing in cooperating relationship with the long leg of the shackle and the axial movement of the shackled relative to the housing, whereby a combination lock is attained having two separate and independent locking means with each being securable to the housing whenever desired by the user.