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

• US 7,155,944 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:
  US11/317,069
• 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 by forming two opposite marks on a wheel is disclosed. 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 for disengaging with an indentation of the wheel is blocked by either recessed portion of the wheel 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, and front and rear openings aligned with the recess;

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 a lower portion, an upper portion, a shoulder groove formed between the lower and the upper portions, an indentation provided on the shoulder groove, two opposite recessed portions provided on the lower portion, a plurality of equally spaced apart wells provided on the upper portion, and two opposite key opening marks each provided between the shoulder groove and one of the wells;

wherein in a locked position of the combination with the 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 protrusion is disposed in the indentation, and the tab is disposed in a well;

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, cause the protrusion to clear the indentation by moving downward by passing a recessed portion, 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 in the indentation, the terminating end of the short leg is disposed further above the opening of the bore, and the tab clears the well; and

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 cleared the well turning the wheel to dispose the key opening marks in a position from being seen externally of the housing will dispose either recessed portion downward of the protrusion and dispose the protrusion in the indentation, pressing the shackle until the terminating end of the short leg is fastened in the bore and the tab is disposed in the well, and turning the dials to a combination other than the correct one will lock the combination and disable the key opening mechanism.

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