Padlock with fully integrated dual locking systems

• US 7,562,545 B2
• Filed: 04/06/2006
• Issued: 07/21/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 04/29/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Sun Lock Company Ltd.
• Original Assignee: The Sun Lock Company Ltd.
• Inventors: Lai, Karl, Lai, Eric
• Primary Examiner(s): Gall; Lloyd A
• Application Number:
  US11/399,139
• Publication Number:
  US 20060243005A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,202 Days
• Field of Search: 70/21, 70/25, 70/26, 70/30, 70/49, 70/38.A, 70/38.B, 70/38.C, 702/84, 702/85, 70D/IG.63, 70D/IG.71
• 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 37/0058 by axial disengagement between hub and rim of tumbler discs or rings
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 37/14 in padlocks
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/415 Combination and/or key-controlled
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/424 Sliding
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/461 Short leg engaged
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/463 Long leg engaged
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/7141 Combination and key
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/7147 Combination or key

Abstract

By providing two separate and independent locking systems formed in a single padlock, with both locking systems independently enabling a single shackle latching member to be controllably activated for allowing the single shackle to be released and/or lockingly engaged, an effective, easily produced, multi-purpose padlock is achieved. In the preferred embodiment, a single housing and shackle assembly are employed and constructed for enabling the shackle to be released from locked engagement with the shackle latching member by using either a rotatable dial combination construction or a key activating tumbler construction. In this way, a dual locking and releasing padlock is achieved which virtually eliminates the difficulties typically encountered with known, prior art lock configurations.

Claims

1. A padlock constructed for providing two separate and independent locking means in a single, integrated construction, said padlock comprising:

A. a housing incorporating a first locking section constructed for being controlled by a combination and a second locking section constructed for being controlled by a key;

B. a shackle mounted in the housing and constructed for being movable between a first housing engaged and locked position and a second housing disengaged and open position and comprising two cooperating leg members interconnected by an arcuately curved intermediate section, with one of said leg members incorporating a notched zone;

C. a control assembly

a. incorporating a shackle latching member mounted in the housing for movement between locking and holding engagement with the shackle when in a first position and disengagement and release of the shackle when in a second position,

b. responsive to an activation force for moving the shackle latching member between its two positions, said activation force being provided by use of either the key controlled locking section or the combination controlled locking section; and

c. said shackle latching member comprising a locking finger constructed for engaging with the notched zone of the leg member and being cooperatingly associated with a spring member positioned for normally biasing the locking finger of the latching member into engagement with the notched zone of the shackle leg for normally maintaining the shackle in its housing engaged and locked position; and

D. said first combination controlled locking section comprising

a. a plurality of dial members mounted to the housing for rotational movement relative thereto, with each of said dial members comprising an upstanding boss or clutch ring having a diameter smaller than the diameter of the dial member with each boss/clutch ring incorporating a receiving slot formed therein with said slot extending inwardly from the outer surface of the boss/clutch ring, with each of said slots being positioned for cooperating alignment with slot engaging members of a movable plate member, and

b. the movable plate member mounted in the housing in cooperating relationship with the dial members and the shackle latching member, said movable plate member being movable between a first dial disengaged position and a second dial engaged position and incorporating

1. a plurality of slot engaging members formed thereon and positioned in aligned relationship with the receiving slots of the dial members for movement between a slot disengaged position when in its first position and a slot engaged position when in its second position, and

2. an engagement member extending from the movable plate and positioned in movement controlling relationship with the shackle latching member for enabling the shackle latching member to remain engaged with the notched zone of the shackle whenever said movable plate member is in its first position and enabling the shackle latching member to become disengaged from the notched zone of the shackle when the movable plate member is in its second position, thereby causing the locking finger of the shackle latching member to be disengaged from the notched zone of the shackle for enabling the shackle to move into its open and disengaged position;

whereby both separate and independent locking sections are capable of releasing the shackle by disengaging the same latching member.

2. The padlock defined in claim 1, wherein said key controlled locking section is further defined as comprising a cylinder assembly mounted in the housing and incorporating a cylinder member constructed for being rotationally movable in response to the insertion of a designated key member and comprising an upstanding flange mounted to the distal end of the cylinder member for arcuate movement with the movement of the cylinder member and positioned for cooperating engagement with the shackle latching member for causing the shackle latching member to move from its first position to its second position whenever the cylinder member is rotated, thereby causing the locking finger of the shackle latching member to be disengaged from the notched zone of the shackle.

3. The padlock defined in claim 1, wherein said engagement member is further defined as extending from the movable plate and terminating with a ramped, sloping end surface with said ramped, sloping end surface contacting a cooperating ramped camming surface formed on the shackle latching member, whereby movement of the movable plate causes a camming action between said ramped surfaces, forcing the shackle latching member to move away from the movable plate for disengaging the locking finger thereof from the notched zone of the shackle.

4. The padlock defined in claim 1, wherein each of said dial members is further defined as comprising a plurality of indicia formed on a larger diameter dial portion thereof, each of said indicia representing various positions of the rotatable dial member with at least one of said positions being consistent with the aligned position of the slot with the associated slot engaging member of said movable plate member, with the indicia designating the aligned position representing one component of the predetermined combination.

5. The padlock defined in claim 4, wherein each upstanding boss/clutch ring of each rotatable dial member is independently rotatable relative to the dial portion, enabling the user to position the slot formed in the boss/clutch ring in any desired position relative to the indicia formed on said dial portion, thereby allowing the user to develop any desired customized combination of indicia for releasing the shackle from locked engagement with the latching member.

6. The padlock defined in claim 5, wherein each of the slot engaging members of the movable plate member is further defined as comprising an elongated finger positioned for cooperative aligned engagement in a slot of a boss/clutch ring of the dial members.

7. The padlock defined in claim 6, wherein the movable plate member is further defined as being vertically movable relative to the dial members for enabling the fingers formed thereon to enter the aligned slots of the dial members by the application of an activating force on the plate member.

8. The padlock defined in claim 6, wherein the movable plate member is further defined as being horizontally movable relative to the rotatable dials members for enabling the fingers formed thereon to enter the aligned slots of the rotatable dials by the application of an activating force on the plate member.

9. The padlock defined in claim 6, wherein each of the slot engaging members of the movable plate member is further defined as comprising an upstanding ridge or wall formed on the plate member and positioned for cooperative aligned engagement in a slot of a boss/clutch ring of the dial members.

10. The padlock defined in claim 9, wherein the movable plate member is further defined as being moved in its entirety by an activating force for causing the upstanding ridges or walls to move between the slot disengaged position and the slot engaged position.

11. The padlock defined in claim 2, wherein the combination controlled locking section of the housing is further defined as comprising

a control arm or pushbutton cooperatively associated with the movable plate member for moving the plate member between its two alternate positions while simultaneously moving the shackle latching member between its engaged position and its disengaged position with the notched zone of the shackle.