Dual-mode lock with a combination identification function

• US 7,370,499 B1
• Filed: 03/16/2007
• Issued: 05/13/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 01/05/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Aba Ufo International Corp.
• Original Assignee: Aba Ufo International Corp.
• Inventors: Lee, Miko
• Primary Examiner(s): Barrett; Suzanne Dino
• Application Number:
  US11/723,032
• Time in Patent Office: 424 Days
• Field of Search: 70/14, 70/18, 70/57, 70/58, 70/30, 70/49, 702/84, 702/85, 70/21
• US Class Current: 70/58
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 37/0034 actuated by either
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 37/025 in padlocks
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 73/0005 using chains, cables or the like chain- or cable-locks of the padlock type E05B67/003; lockable clothing hangers or hanger racks E05B69/006
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 73/0082 for office machines, e.g. PC's, portable computers, typewriters, calculators
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/40 Portable
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/5009 For portable articles
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/7141 Combination and key
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/7147 Combination or key

Abstract

A dual-mode lock with a combination identification function has a combination mechanism and a cylinder mechanism. The combination mechanism has multiple wheel assemblies. Each wheel assembly has an identification notch formed at a specific position corresponding to a combination number of the wheel assembly. The cylinder mechanism has an actuating shaft that is unlocked and rotated by an operating key. Additionally, the actuating shaft moves an access panel that has multiple aligning holes to align the aligning holes respectively with the identification notches. Consequently, a user can easily identify the combination of the dual-mode lock by insertion of a simple detecting tool.

Claims

1. A dual-mode lock comprising

a housing including two halves attaching to each other to form the housing, and each half having an outer surface and the housing having

a front;

a rear;

an outer surface;

a latching assembly being mounted in the housing and comprising

a latch being mounted rotatably in the front end of a holding bracket and protruding from the front of the housing; and

an actuating element being mounted movably in a holding space and having two actuating rods to actuate the latch when the actuating element being moved;

a combination mechanism being mounted in the housing and comprising

a pintle;

multiple wheel assemblies being mounted rotatably on the pintle respectively, and each wheel assembly including

a wheel having

an outer edge;

multiple numbers formed around the outer edge;

a central hole being formed through the wheel and having an outer edge;

a wheel bracket being tubular and being mounted rotatably on the pintle, the wheel brackets corresponding respectively to and holding the wheels, and each wheel bracket having

a bottom;

an identification notch being formed in the bottom of the wheel bracket at a specific position relative to the number on the outer edge of the wheel; and

a combination notch corresponding to the number on the outer edge of the wheel;

a latching bar latch being mounted slidably in the housing and moving longitudinally relative to the wheel assemblies and having

a top;

multiple cutouts being formed through the latching bar latch, corresponding respectively to the wheels and allowing the wheels to protrude through latching bar latch respectively, and each cutout having a top edge;

multiple locking protrusions being formed respectively on and protruding down from the top edges of the cutouts of the latching bar latch, pressing against the wheel bracket and holding the latching bar latch up unless all the combination notches are aligned; and

a latching arm being formed at and protruding transversely from the top of the latching bar latch; and

a cylinder mechanism being mounted in the housing and comprising

a pull knob being hollow and being slidably mounted in the housing and having

an outer end,

a keyhole being formed in the outer end of the pull knob; and

a receiving space being formed inside the pull knob;

a stationary cylinder being hollow, being mounted securely inside the pull knob and having a center hole being defined longitudinally through the stationary cylinder;

an actuating shaft being mounted rotatably inside the pull knob, extending through the center hole in the stationary cylinder and comprising

an outer end;

a rotating cylinder being formed radially on the outer end of the actuating shaft, being coaxial with and cooperating with the stationary cylinder to provide a lock function and comprising

two ends; and

a connecting rod being coaxially on and protruding from the one of the ends of the rotating cylinder and having an end;

an eccentric segment being formed eccentrically on the end of the connecting rod and having an end;

a concentric segment being formed on and protruding longitudinally from the inner end of the eccentric segment coaxial with rotating cylinder and having

a bottom surface,

a side,

a latching recess being formed in the bottom surface and being engaged by the latching arm of the latching bar latch when the latching bar latch moves upward; and

a longitudinal flat being formed in the side of the concentric segment, communicating with the latching recess and allowing the actuating shaft to slide out; and

an inner connector being formed coaxially on and protruding from the concentric segment and engaging the actuating element; and

an access panel being mounted slidably in the housing and having

a top end;

multiple aligning holes being formed through the access panel and selectively aligning respectively with the identification notches; and

a connecting notch being formed in the top end of the access panel, engaging the eccentric segment of the actuating shaft and causing the access panel to move when the actuating shaft is rotated.

2. The dual-mode lock as claimed in claim 1, wherein

the housing further has

a latch chamber having

an inner surface;

and

a rear end;

a wheel chamber in the halves of the housing and having multiple wheel recesses; and

a cylinder recess being formed on the rear of the housing in line with the latch chamber;

the latching assembly is mounted in the latch chamber of the housing;

the pintle of the combination mechanism being securely mounted longitudinally in the wheel chamber of the housing;

the wheel assemblies of the combination mechanism being respectively in the wheel recesses,

the latching bar latch being mounted slidably in the wheel chamber of the housing; and

the pull knob being slidably mounted in the cylinder recess.

3. The dual-mode lock as claimed in claim 2, wherein

each wheel further has multiple teeth being formed on and protruding in from the inner edge of the central hole;

and

each wheel bracket further has

a top;

a flange being formed on and protrudes radially out from the top of the wheel bracket and being mounted in the central hole in the wheel on the teeth; and

multiple retaining teeth being formed around the wheel bracket below the flange and engaging the teeth in the central hole of the wheel.

4. The dual-mode lock as claimed in claim 2, wherein

each wheel further has multiple flutes being formed around the outer edge of the wheel and dividing the outer edge into equal segments, each segment having a unique number;

and

the combination mechanism further has multiple resilient detents being mounted securely in the wheel chamber of the housing adjacent respectively to the wheels and each resilient detent having an inner end abutting and sliding on the outer edge of the wheel and engaging the flutes to hold the wheels in position.

5. The dual-mode lock as claimed in claim 4, wherein

the housing further has

multiple openings formed through the outer surface;

and

multiple identification holes being formed through the rear of the housing in a line;

the wheel recesses aligning and communicating with the openings and the identification holes in the halves of the housing; and

the wheel assemblies corresponding respectively to the openings of the housing.

6. The dual-mode lock as claimed in claim 2, further comprises a detecting rod used to identify the combination of the dual-mode lock and having

an outer end;

a knob formed on the outer end; and

an inner end.