Error-proofing combination padlock

• US 7,146,830 B2
• Filed: 11/03/2004
• Issued: 12/12/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/03/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Chien-Yung Huang
• Original Assignee: Chien-Yung Huang
• Inventors: Huang, Chien-Yung
• Primary Examiner(s): BARRETT, SUZANNE LALE DINO
• Application Number:
  US10/979,132
• Publication Number:
  US 20060090526A1
• Time in Patent Office: 769 Days
• Field of Search: 70/21, 70/22, 70 25- 30, 702/33, 703/12, 70315-318, 70323-326, 703/29, 703/32
• US Class Current: 70/25
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 37/025 in padlocks
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/417 Combination-controlled
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/424 Sliding
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/7305 Manually operable
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/7322 Permutation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/7367 Tumbler structure and position
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/7384 Mounts

Abstract

An error-proofing combination padlock has a casing assembly, multiple dials, multiple sleeves, a shackle, a locking bolt and a spring. The dials are mounted rotatably inside the casing assembly. The sleeves are mounted rotatably and respectively inside the dials. The shackle is mounted retractably and pivotally on the casing assembly. A locking bolt is mounted slidably through the sleeves. The error-proofing combination padlock prevents dials from rotating except when the shackle is located in the locking (first) position or the combination-resetting (third) position and avoids a new and unintended unlocking combination arising during a resetting operation of the combination.

Claims

1. An error-proofing combination padlock comprising:

a casing assembly having

a top casing half;

a bottom casing half mounted on the top casing half;

a top;

a bottom;

a front;

a back;

two sides;

an inner chamber;

an inner surface;

multiple transverse slots defined respectively through the top and bottom casing halves and arranged longitudinally at intervals;

a through hole defined through the back of the casing assembly and near one of the sides of the casing assembly;

a locking socket defined in the back of the casing assembly and near the other side of the casing assembly, to be opposite the through hole;

a cavity defined in the bottom casing half;

a notch defined in the bottom casing half;

multiple transverse inner flanges formed on the inner surface and arranged longitudinally at intervals;

multiple transverse circular recesses defined in the inner surface and arranged longitudinally at intervals, wherein adjacent transverse circular recesses are separated by the transverse inner flange; and

a mounting recess defined in the bottom casing;

multiple dials rotatably and respectively mounted in the transverse circular recesses and extending respectively through the transverse slots and each having

an inner surface;

an outer surface;

multiple inner keys formed on the inner surface of each dial and arranged at intervals;

multiple keyways defined respectively between adjacent inner keys; and

multiple numerals formed on the outer surface of each dial and corresponding to the keyways;

multiple sleeves correspond to the dials, mounted rotatably and respectively inside the dials and arranged longitudinally adjacent to each other and each having

a front end;

a back end;

an outer surface;

an inner surface;

multiple outer keys formed on the outer surface of each sleeve, and corresponding to the keyways of the dial; and

an inner flange formed on the inner surface of the sleeve and having a front, a back and a gap defined on the inner flange;

a shackle mounted retractably and pivotally on the casing and having

a circular cross-section;

a longitudinal shaft section mounted slidably and rotatably through the sleeves, extending through the through hole in the casing assembly, corresponding to the gaps respectively of the inner flanges and having a front end and back end;

a hook section formed on the back end of the longitudinal shaft section and having a locking end corresponding to the locking socket;

multiple transverse sockets defined on the longitudinal shaft section and corresponding to the inner flanges respectively of the sleeves;

a push block formed on the longitudinal shaft section and close to the back end of the longitudinal shaft section; and

a shackle-retaining block formed on the longitudinal shaft section close to the front end and aligned with the push block;

a locking bolt mounted slidably through the sleeves inside the casing assembly and having

an inner curved surface;

an outer curved surface;

a front end;

a back end;

a longitudinal protrusion formed on the back end of the locking bolt;

a transverse protrusion formed on the outer curved surface close to the back end of the locking bolt and abutting against a surface of the inner flange of the sleeve closest to the back of the casing assembly;

a front board formed on the front end of the locking bolt and having a front surface and a back surface abutting against the front end of the sleeve closest to the front of the casing assembly;

a through hole defined through the front board and near the inner curved surface and corresponding to the longitudinal shaft section of the shackle; and

a notch defined through the front board and under the through hole, communicated with the front hole and corresponding to the shackle-retaining block; and

a spring mounted against the surface of the front board inside the mounting recess in the bottom casing half.

2. The error-proofing combination padlock as claimed in claim 1, wherein each dial has multiple indents defined in the outer surface of the dial and respectively between adjacent numerals.

3. The error-proofing combination padlock as claimed in claim 2 further comprising a flexible tab mounted on the inner surface in the bottom casing half of the casing assembly and having

multiple legs corresponding to and respectively pressing against the dials and each leg having

a talon formed on the distal end and corresponding to one of the indents of a corresponding one of the dials.

4. The error-proofing combination padlock as claimed in claim 3, wherein the locking bolt further comprises a mounting cylinder formed on the front surface of the front board and extending into the spring.