Multifunctional padlock having shackle limit knob

• US 7,370,497 B2
• Filed: 06/27/2006
• Issued: 05/13/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 01/11/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Chun Te Yu
• Original Assignee: Chun Te Yu
• Inventors: Yu, Chun Te
• Primary Examiner(s): Gall; Lloyd A.
• Application Number:
  US11/474,936
• Publication Number:
  US 20060236731A1
• Time in Patent Office: 686 Days
• Field of Search: 70/21, 70/25, 70/26, 702/84, 702/85, 704/32, 704/35, 704/37, 704/41, 70D/IG.63, 70D/IG.71, 70/38.R, 70/38.A, 70/38.B, 70/38.C
• US Class Current: 70/21
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 35/105 Locks allowing opening by official authorities, e.g. master key opening of luggage locks by customs officials
• 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 70/7141 Combination and key
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/7147 Combination or key
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/8027 Condition indicators

Abstract

A padlock includes a housing, a shackle, a limit knob, a movable member and a first locking mechanism. The shackle is movably mounted on the housing and has a root section extended into the housing and a free section having a first end extended from the root section and a second end extended outside of the housing. The limit knob is movably mounted on the housing to control movement of the free section of the shackle. The movable member is movably mounted in the limit knob. Additionally, the first locking mechanism is mounted in the housing to control movement of the limit knob and the movable member.

Claims

1. A padlock, comprising:

a housing;

a shackle movably mounted on the housing and having a root section extended into the housing and a free section having a first end extended from the root section and a second end extended outside of the housing;

a limit knob movably mounted on the housing to control movement of the free section of the shackle;

a movable member movably mounted in the limit knob; and

a first locking mechanism mounted in the housing and comprising a key lock unit and a movable shaft mounted on the key lock unit wherein the key lock unit is configured to control movement of the limit knob and has a key hole to receive a matching key; and

the movable shaft is driven to move the movable member when the key or an insert is inserted into the key hole of the key lock unit;

wherein the limit knob includes a knob body rotatably mounted on the housing and having an outer portion formed with a receiving recess to receive the free section of the shackle and an inner portion formed with a receiving chamber to receive the movable member, and a base portion extended from the knob body into the housing to connect the key lock unit, wherein the receiving recess has a central portion formed with a first opening and a peripheral wall formed with a second opening connected to the first opening.

2. The padlock in accordance with claim 1, wherein:

when the key or an insert is inserted into the key hole, the movable shaft is driven to move the movable member between a first position and a second position;

the movable member has an extension;

when the movable member is movable to the first position, the extension of the movable member blocks the second opening;

when the movable member is movable to the second position, the extension of the movable member is detached from the second opening.

3. The padlock in accordance with claim 1, wherein:

when the key or an insert is inserted into the key hole, the movable shaft is driven to move the movable member between a first position and a second position;

the movable member has an extension;

the limit knob has a peep hole;

when the movable member is movable to the first position, the extension of the movable member is exposed from the peep hole of the limit knob;

when the movable member is movable to the second position, the extension of the movable member is detached from the peep hole of the limit knob.

4. The padlock in accordance with claim 3, wherein:

the movable member has a side wall formed with a helical guide groove;

the movable shaft is partially extended into the movable member and provided with a guide rod movably mounted in the guide groove of the movable member;

when the movable shaft of the first locking mechanism is moved upward to a determined position, the guide rod of the movable shaft is lifted in the guide groove of the movable member to drive the movable member to rotate relative to the limit knob.

5. The padlock in accordance with claim 4, wherein the guide groove of the movable member has a top end formed with a positioning cavity to position the guide rod of the movable shaft.

6. The padlock in accordance with claim 5, wherein the limit knob further includes an elastic member biased between the knob body and the extension of the movable member, wherein when the guide rod of the movable shaft is positioned in the positioning cavity of the guide groove, the elastic member is pressed by the extension of the movable member.

7. The padlock in accordance with claim 6, wherein the key lock unit includes a mandrel having an inner portion formed with a through bore which has a first end to allow insertion of the key or an insert and a second end to receive the movable shaft, so that the movable shaft is directly driven by the key or an insert.

8. The padlock in accordance with claim 7, wherein a passage is defined between the mandrel and the limit knob to allow movement of the movable shaft and is connected to the receiving recess of the limit knob, so that the movable shaft is movable by pushing of the free section of the shackle.

9. The padlock in accordance with claim 8, wherein when the movable shaft is pushed by the free section of the shackle, the guide rod of the movable shaft is detached from the positioning cavity of the guide groove.

10. The padlock in accordance with claim 9, wherein the mandrel has one end formed with a control portion engaging the base portion of the limit knob.

11. The padlock in accordance with claim 10, wherein the control portion of the mandrel has an upper end formed with a square recess, and the base portion of the limit knob has a lower end formed with a square plug inserted into the square recess of the mandrel.

12. A padlock comprising:

a housing;

a shackle movably mounted on the housing and having a root section extended into the housing and a free section having a first end extended from the root section and a second end extended outside of the housing;

a limit knob comprising a knob body and a base portion extended from the knob body into the housing;

the knob body being movably disposed on the outside of the housing to control movement of the free section of the shackle and defining a receiving recess therein to receive the free section of the shackle;

a movable member capable of moving on the limit knob; and

a first locking mechanism comprising a key lock unit mounted in the housing and a movable shaft mounted on the key lock unit;

the key lock unit being connected with the base portion to control movement of the knob body of the limit knob and having a key hole to receive a matching key; and

the movable shaft being driven to move the movable member to an indicative position which is on the knob body of the limit knob when the key or an insert is inserted into the key hole of the key lock unit.

13. The padlock in accordance with claim 12, wherein the knob body of the limit knob further defines a receiving chamber therein to receive the movable member.

14. The padlock in accordance with claim 12, wherein the receiving recess of the knob body includes a first opening defined in a central portion of the knob body and a second opening defined in a peripheral wall of the knob body, and the first and second openings are in communication with each other.

15. The padlock in accordance with claim 12, further comprising a second locking mechanism disposed in the housing to control upward and downward movement of the root section of the shackle.

16. The padlock in accordance with claim 15, wherein the second locking mechanism includes a number lock module, wherein when the number lock module is disposed at an unlocked state, the root section of the shackle is released, and when the number lock module is disposed at a locked state, the root section of the shackle is locked.