Combination lock and padlock combination

• US 7,047,773 B1
• Filed: 06/07/2005
• Issued: 05/23/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/07/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Fu Chuan Lin
• Original Assignee: Fu Chuan Lin
• Inventors: Lin, Fu Chuan
• Primary Examiner(s): Glessner, Brian E.
• Assistant Examiner(s): SCHRODE, WILLIAM THOMAS
• Application Number:
  US11/147,095
• Time in Patent Office: 350 Days
• Field of Search: 70/25, 70/21, 703/19, 702/84, 70D/IG.71, 70 22- 24, 70 26- 49, 702/85, 70D/IG.63, 703/04, 703/08, 703/09, 703/11, 703/12
• US Class Current: 70/25
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 37/0034 actuated by either
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 37/025 in padlocks
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 39/00 Locks giving indication of authorised or unauthorised unlocking with key identification means E05B35/001; alarm locks E05B45/00
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 67/24 with built- in cylinder locks
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/424 Sliding
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/7407 Operating indicators
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/8027 Condition indicators

Abstract

Provided is a combination lock and padlock combination comprising a housing include a window; a tumbler wheel assembly; a cylindrical moveable bar inserted through the tumbler wheels; a locking mechanism including a U-shaped member fixed at the bar, a rectangular shuttle member having a central opening, a projection at one side, a spring biased extension at the other side inserted through the shuttle member, and an arcuate recess at an end of the extension, and a parallelepiped indicator assembly fitted in a cavity proximate a shackle receiving hole and including a latch, an internal spring having one end urged against a wall of the cavity, and an indicating face on its top; a U-shaped shackle having an annular groove proximate one end being in contact with the recess; and a cylindrical key turning assembly co-acted with the shuttle member.

Claims

1. A combination lock and padlock combination as a lock comprising:

a housing comprising a cover including a window proximate edge and a plurality of wheel openings, and a base including a first shackle receiving hole, a second shackle receiving hole parallel and opposing the first shackle receiving hole, and a cavity proximate the second shackle receiving hole;

a tumbler wheel assembly disposed in the base and comprising a plurality of tumbler wheels each partially projected from the wheel opening and having a plurality of slots along its inner surface, a cylindrical moveable bar inserted through the tumbler wheels, the bar including a forward extension, and a plurality of lengthwise locking fins on its surface, the locking fins being aligned, snugly fitted in the slots and interlocked engaged therewith;

a locking mechanism disposed in the base and comprising a U-shaped member fixedly connected to the forward extension of the bar, the U-shaped member including two rectangular channels on both sides, a rectangular shuttle member including a central opening, a projection at one side, a spring biased extension at the other side, the extension being inserted through the channels until being stopped by a shoulder between itself and the shuttle member with the spring of the extension being biased between both sides of the U-shaped member, and an arcuate recess formed at an end of the extension, and a parallelepiped indicator assembly fitted in the cavity and including a latch at one side proximate the projection, an internal spring having one end urged against a wall of the cavity, and a knurled indicating face on its top;

a U-shaped shackle comprising one leg received in the second shackle receiving hole in a locked position, the other leg having an annular groove proximate a terminating end thereof and received in the first shackle receiving hole, the groove being in contact with the recess, and a spring depressible detent being pressed into the housing in a locked position; and

a cylindrical key turning assembly disposed in the base and comprising a rectangular side ridge, a keyhole, and a forward bar-shaped protrusion having half of its forward portion being cut, the forward portion of the protrusion inserted through the central opening until a shoulder between itself and a rear portion thereof is stopped,

whereby turning the tumbler wheels will turn the locking fins until a correct combination is shown on the wheel openings wherein the bar moves forward to push the U-shaped member and the shuttle member forward, and the groove moves toward a mouth of the first shackle receiving hole until being stopped with a terminating end of one leg cleared the second shackle receiving hole such that turning one leg about the other leg will open the lock;

inserting a key into the keyhole to clockwise turn the key turning assembly about 180 degrees will move the shuttle member leftward for causing the projection to press and flatten the latch with the recess cleared the groove and the spring expanded to push the indicator assembly until being stopped such that pulling the shackle upward until the other leg is stopped will cause the terminating end of one leg to clear the second shackle receiving hole and pivoting one leg about the other leg will open the lock;

continuously turning the tumbler wheels until the tumbler wheels has turned to a second combination such that turning one leg about the other leg about 180 degrees, pressing the shackle to move the groove along the first shackle receiving hole and move the bar toward a bottom of the housing for disengaging the locking fins from the slots and enabling a selection of the second combination to represent the combination for opening the lock, and pulling the shackle upward to engage the locking fins with the slots different from before; and

inserting a master key into the keyhole to clockwise turn the key turning assembly about 180 degrees will move the shuttle member leftward for causing the projection to press and flatten the latch with the recess cleared the groove and the spring expanded to push the indicator assembly until being stopped such that pulling the shackle upward until the other leg is stopped will cause the terminating end of one leg to clear the second shackle receiving hole, pivoting one leg about the other leg will open the lock with the indicating face aligned with the window, counterclockwise turning the key turning assembly about 180 degrees will move the shuttle member rightward for disengaging the projection from the latch and engaging the recess with the groove, pushing the shackle downward until the other leg is stopped with the terminating end of one leg received in the second shackle receiving hole and the lock locked wherein the indicating face aligned with the window is maintained so as to indicate that the lock has been opened previously by viewing the indicating face through the window.