Combination lock and padlock combination with mechanism for visually indicating key opening permission

• US 7,155,943 B1
• Filed: 12/22/2005
• Issued: 01/02/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Chu Pao-Feng Lin
• Original Assignee: Chu Pao-Feng Lin
• Inventors: Lin, Chu Pao-Feng
• Primary Examiner(s): Gall; Lloyd A.
• Application Number:
  US11/317,068
• Time in Patent Office: 376 Days
• Field of Search: 70/21, 70/25, 70/26, 70/38.R, 70/38.A, 70/38.B, 702/84, 702/85, 70D/IG.63, 70D/IG.71, 704/31, 704/32, 704/35, 704/37, 704/41
• US Class Current: 70/21
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 37/0031 Locks with both permutation and key actuation E05B17/145 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 37/025 in padlocks
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 41/00 Locks with visible indication as to whether the lock is locked or unlocked indicator lights E05B17/10
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 63/0065 Operating modes; Transformable to different operating modes
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/415 Combination and/or key-controlled
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/424 Sliding
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/7141 Combination and key
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/7147 Combination or key
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/8027 Condition indicators

Abstract

A combination lock and padlock combination for visually indicating a key opening permission being allowed or not is disclosed. A wheel includes two opposite projections on one end surface, spaced protuberances on the other end surface, two opposite key opening marks provided on an outer surface, and an annular flange proximate the protuberances, the flange being partially exposed. In response to turning the wheel to conceal the marks, a co-owner is aware that a key opening mechanism is disabled. Also, forcedly inserting a key into the key opening mechanism for opening the combination will be futile since a downward movement path of a protrusion on a spring biased shuttle assembly is blocked by the lower projection even if an engagement member of the key opening mechanism is aligned with mated bottom legs of the shuttle assembly.

Claims

1. A combination lock and padlock combination for visually indicating a key opening permission being allowed or not, comprising:

a housing including an internal cavity proximate one side having a top opening and a bottom opening respectively, an internal recess provided adjacent the top opening, front and rear openings aligned with the recess, and front and rear slits adjacent the front and the rear openings;

a U-shaped shackle including a long leg, a short leg, and a tab provided on the long leg;

a tumbler wheel assembly rotatably formed on the long leg and including a plurality of tumbler wheels partially projected from the housing, each tumbler wheel having a plurality of indicia formed thereon;

a key opening mechanism provided in the cavity and including a peripheral ridge, a bottom keyhole, a central shaft, and a top engagement member;

a spring biased shuttle assembly including a top bore, an intermediate protrusion, and a projecting bottom member; and

a wheel rotatably provided in the recess and including two opposite projections provided on one end surface, a plurality of equally spaced apart protuberances provided on the other end surface, two opposite key opening marks provided on an outer surface, and an annular flange provided on the outer surface proximate the protuberances, the flange being partially projected from the slits;

wherein in a locked position of the combination with the key opening marks being exposed, an upper portion of the shuttle assembly is projected from a top of the housing, a terminating end of the short leg is fastened in the bore, the projections are disposed in a position other than above or below the protrusion, and the tab is disposed in a position between any two adjacent protuberances;

whereby in response to exposing the key opening marks and the locked position of the combination inserting a key into the keyhole and turning the key to rotate the engagement member until the engagement member and the bottom member are about to matingly engage will suddenly release a stored compression force of the shuttle assembly to push the bottom member downward to matingly engage with the engagement member, move the protrusion downward to pass a virtual line connecting the projections, and dispose a terminating end of the short leg above an opening of the bore by a predetermined distance sufficient to open the combination;

turning the dials until a correct combination of the dials is formed and pulling the terminating end of the short leg out of the bore will open the combination wherein the protrusion is disposed below the projections, the terminating end of the short leg is disposed further above the opening of the bore, and the tab is disposed above a top of the housing for allowing a free turning of the wheel;

in response to an unlocked position of the combination, the terminating end of the short leg disposed further above the opening of the bore, and the tab disposed above the top of the housing turning either flange to dispose the key opening marks in a position from being seen externally of the housing will cause the lower projection to block a downward movement path of the protrusion, pressing the shackle until the terminating end of the short leg is fastened in the bore, and turning the dials to a combination other than the correct one will dispose the tab in a position between any two adjacent protuberances, lock the combination, and disable the key opening mechanism.

2. The combination lock and padlock combination of claim 1, wherein the number of the protuberances is four.