Padlock by combining key-operated lock and combination lock

• US 6,539,761 B2
• Filed: 06/28/2001
• Issued: 04/01/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/28/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Jin Tay Industries Co.
• Original Assignee: Kuo-Tsung Yang
• Inventors: Yang, Kuo-Tsung
• Primary Examiner(s): Gall, Lloyd A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Kyle, Michael J.
• Application Number:
  US09/897,650
• Publication Number:
  US 20030000264A1
• Time in Patent Office: 642 Days
• Field of Search: 702/84, 702/85, 70/38.C, 70/25, 70/26, 70/27, 70/28, 70/21
• US Class Current: 70/284
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 37/0034 actuated by either
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 37/025 in padlocks
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/415 Combination and/or key-controlled
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/424 Sliding
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/426 Removable
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/43 Sliding detent
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/463 Long leg engaged
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/7141 Combination and key
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/7147 Combination or key

Abstract

A padlock includes: a lock body; a shackle operatively locked in or unlocked from the lock body; a key-operated locking device formed in the lock body for operatively unlocking the shackle for unlocking the padlock by using a key, and a combination locking device juxtapositionally formed in the lock body for operatively unlocking the shackle for unlocking the padlock merely by dialing the combination to an unlocking number.

Claims

1. A padlock comprising:

a lock body;

a shackle operatively locking in or unlocking from said lock body;

a key-operated locking means formed in said lock body for unlocking said shackle from said lock body by a key for unlocking the padlock; and

a combination locking means juxtapositionally formed in said lock body for unlocking said shackle from said lock body by dialing an unlocking combination of said combination locking means;

said shackle, generally U shaped, including a short rod engaging with a first rod hole in said lock body;

a long rod engaging with a second rod hole in said lock body;

said long rod having a core rod protruding downwardly from said long rod and slidably engaging a sleeve rod which is slidably held in a sleeve rod hole formed in said lock body positioned under and communicated with said second rod hole.

2. A padlock according to claim 1, wherein said core rod includes a flange circumferentially formed on said core rod for limiting an upward and downward movement of said core rod in the sleeve rod hole in said lock body;

an arcuate recess recessed in said core rod to engage a locking ball of said key-operated locking means;

with said core rod slidably engaging a core-rod hole longitudinally formed in said sleeve rod.

3. A padlock according to claim 2, wherein said key-operated locking means includes:

a locking core rotatably mounted in a cylinder formed in the lock body, a locking tongue connected to the locking core and resiliently protruding outwardly adapted for locking the shackle, a control member formed in the lock body and said locking ball operatively engaging the core rod of the shackle when locking said padlock; and

said locking ball operatively slid along a side ball hole transversely formed in the sleeve rod when unlocking the padlock.

4. A padlock according to claim 3, wherein said control member is a biasing member which includes a pivot for pivotally mounting said biasing member in said lock body;

a depression portion formed on said biasing member to be depressed by said locking tongue of said key-operated locking means; and

an end hook portion formed on a bottom end of said biasing member for retarding and locking said locking ball when said depression portion is depressed by said locking tongue when locking said padlock.

5. A padlock according to claim 1, wherein said combination locking means includes:

a locking bolt held in the lock body and having a V-shaped locking head formed on an end portion of the locking bolt to be engaged with a V-shaped recess as recessed in said sleeve rod of the shackle;

a plurality of sleeves and dials with each said sleeve engaging with each said dial and rotatably disposed about the locking bolt; and

a tension spring resiliently retained between the sleeves and the locking head for normally urging the locking head to be engaged with the V-shaped recess of the sleeve rod for locking the shackle in the lock body;

each said sleeve including;

a central hole rotatably engageable with the locking bolt, a retaining ring annularly formed in each of the sleeves for retarding at least a projection formed on the locking bolt for locking the locking bolt and the shackle, and at least a slot longitudinally formed in the retaining ring for retracting the projection of the locking bolt when unlocking the combination locking means by upwardly pulling the shackle.

6. A padlock according to claim 5, wherein said combination locking means further includes a combination changing device which is formed as an end sleeve slidably held in a side portion of the lock body opposite to a locking head of the locking bolt to be circumferentially contacted with one of the sleeves, whereby upon unlocking of the combination locking means to engage the projection on the locking bolt with the slot in the sleeve and upon an inward pushing to disengage the sleeves from the dials, the dials will be free rotated for re-setting a new combination.