Dual locking padlock

• US 7,765,840 B2
• Filed: 09/26/2007
• Issued: 08/03/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/04/2006
• 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): BARRETT, SUZANNE LALE DINO
• Application Number:
  US11/904,128
• Publication Number:
  US 20080083251A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,042 Days
• Field of Search: 70/21, 70 25- 30, 70/38.A, 70/41, 70 45- 47, 70/50, 70 52- 56, 702/84, 702/85, 704/32
• 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: E05B 39/00 Locks giving indication of authorised or unauthorised unlocking with key identification means E05B35/001; alarm locks E05B45/00
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 67/14 with devices for securing the hinged end of the shackle
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 67/32 Padlocks with pincer- like shackles
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/415 Combination and/or key-controlled
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/424 Sliding
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/433 Swinging detent
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/474 Swinging detent
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/7141 Combination and key
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/8027 Condition indicators

Abstract

By providing a single housing and shackle assembly constructed for enabling the shackle to be opened and/or closed using either a rotatable dial combination construction or a key activating tumbler construction, with the movement of the shackle being controlled by a trigger member, an effective, easily produced, padlock is achieved which incorporates two separate and independent locking systems formed in a single padlock. In addition, the trigger member and shackle each incorporate uniquely constructed, cooperating surfaces, each of which comprise a grooved zone or concave curved zone which is positioned directly adjacent a cooperating convexly curved zone. By employing these two curved surfaces on both the shackle and trigger member, the controlled pivotal movement of the shackle is realized.

Claims

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

A. a housing incorporating a key controlled locking assembly formed therein and a combination controlled locking assembly formed therein and positioned adjacent to the key controlled locking assembly, with each of said locking assemblies being operable independently of the each other;

B. a locking member in the form of a shackle constructed for being movable between a locked position and an unlocked position, said unlocked position being controlled by the activation of either the key controlled locking assembly or the combination controlled locking assembly, and comprising a base

a) formed at one and of the shackle,

b) pivotally mounted to the housing, and

c) incorporating a first curved zone and a second curved zone formed along a side edge of the base and positioned adjacent to each other, said first curved zone comprising a concave shape and said second curved zone comprising a convex shape; and

C. a trigger member

a) pivotally mounted to the housing in cooperating relationship with the base of the locking member,

b) incorporating a first curved zone and a second curved zone formed along a side edge of the trigger member and positioned adjacent to each other, said first curved zone comprising a concave shape and said second curved zone comprising any convex shape,

c) said first curved zone and second curved zone of the trigger member being positioned in controlling, cooperating, aligned relationship with the first curved zone and second curved zone of the base of the locking member for controlling the articulate pivoting movement of said base, and

d) comprising a movement control arm formed thereon and constructed for controllably moving the trigger member relative to the housing in response to the activation of the combination controlled locking assembly or the key controlled locking assembly for positioning the first curved zone and second curved zone thereof in a desired position relative to the first curved zone and second curved zone of the base of the locking member,

whereby activation of either the key controlled locking section or the combination controlled locking section causes the trigger member to move between a shackle locking position and a shackle releasing position.

2. The dual mode locking padlock defined in claim 1, wherein the pivot axis of the base of the shackle and the pivot axis of the trigger member are aligned with each other in juxtaposed, spaced, parallel relationship.

3. The dual mode locking padlock defined in claim 2, wherein the second, convexly shaped, curved zone of the trigger member is positioned in fully engaged, cooperating relationship with the first, concavely shaped, curved zone of the base of the shackle for maintaining the shackle in its closed and locked position.

4. The dual mode locking padlock defined in claim 2, wherein the first, concavely shaped, curved zone of the trigger member is positioned in cooperating relationship with the first, concavely shaped curved zone of the base of the shackle for enabling the shackle to arcuately pivot from its closed and locked position into its open, unlocked position.

5. The dual mode locking padlock defined in claim 4, wherein the arcuate pivoting movement of the base of the shackle causes the second, convexly shaped curved zone of the base of the shackle to move into cooperating, sliding relationship with the second, convexly shaped curved zone of the trigger member.

6. The dual mode locking padlock defined in claim 1, wherein the key controlled locking assembly is further defined as comprising

a) a cylinder assembly mounted in the housing and incorporating a key receiving slot cooperatively associated with a plurality of tumblers for preventing the rotational of said cylinder whenever the designated key member is not present and enabling the rotational movement of the cylinder in response to the presence of the designated key member, and

b) an upstanding flange mounted to the terminating end of said cylinder and positioned in cooperating, movement controlling the relationship with the trigger member for causing the trigger member to arcuately pivot whenever this cylinder is rotated in response to the presence of the designated key member;

whereby the rotation of the cylinder of the key controlled locking assembly causes the trigger member to move from the shackle locked position to the shackle unlocked position.

7. The dual mode locking padlock defined in claim 6, wherein the rotational movement of the cylinder in response to the presence of the designated key member also causes a ring portion mounted to the cylinder adjacent the key receiving slot to arcuately pivot therewith from a first non-alert designating position to a second alert designating position wherein the use of the key controlled locking assembly automatically causes an alert notice to be provided.

8. The dual mode locking padlock defined in claim 1, wherein the combination controlled locking assembly is further defined as comprising

a) a plurality of dials mounted to the housing with each of said dials having a plurality of separate indicia bearing zones formed thereon,

b) each of said dials also incorporating a receiving slot formed therein,

c) a slider cooperatively associated with the plurality of dials and incorporating a plurality of flanges formed thereon and positioned for sliding interengagement into the slots of each of the dials when said dials are in the desired position, and

d) an activating arm mounted to the slider for movement therewith and positioned in cooperating, controlled, movement engaging relationship with the trigger member for causing the trigger member to arcuately pivot whenever the slider is capable of movement due to the position of the plurality of dials.

9. The dual mode locking padlock defined in claim 8, wherein each of the dials are mounted in substantially side to side relationship with each other for rotational movement about cooperating, parallel axes, and said slider incorporates a substantially flat plate.

10. The dual mode locking padlock defined in claim 8, wherein the slider comprises a substantially elongated rod member with the dials mounted for rotational movement about said rod member.

11. The dual mode locking padlock defined in claim 1, wherein the shackle is further defined as comprising an elongated, arcuately curved member formed by a first section fixedly mounted to the housing and a second section mounted to the base for arcuate movement in response to the movement of said base, wherein said shackle is in the open position when the first section and second section are separated from each other and is in the locked position when the first section and second section are in aligned, substantially continuous relationship with each other.

12. The dual mode locking padlock defined in claim 1, wherein the shackle is further defined as comprising a substantially arcuately curved, U-shaped member securely affixed at one end to the base and cooperatively associated with the housing at the opposed end for movement between the locked position in the unlocked position.

13. The dual mode locking padlock defined in claim 1, wherein the concave curved zone of the base of the shackle and the convex curved zone of the trigger member are further defined as comprising substantially equivalent radii of curvatures.

14. The dual mode locking padlock defined in claim 1, wherein the convex curve zone of the base of the shackle and the concave curve zone of the trigger member are further defined as comprising substantially equivalent radii of curvatures.

15. The dual mode locking padlock defined in claim 1, wherein said trigger member is further defined as being spring biased for normally maintaining the shackle in its locked position.

16. The dual mode locking padlock defined in claim 1, wherein said padlock further comprises an activation button cooperatively associated with the trigger member and combination controlled locking assembly for being movable in response to the combination controlled locking assembly being properly activated, thereby enabling the activation button to move the trigger member from the shackle locking position to its shackle release position.

17. The dual mode locking padlock defined in claim 1, wherein the padlock further comprises:

D. an indicator assembly constructed for providing a positive notice to the user whenever the key controlled locking assembly has been used.

18. The dual mode locking padlock defined in claim 17, wherein said key controlled locking assembly comprises a cylinder mounted to the housing and constructed for rotational movement in response to the receipt of a designated key and said indicator assembly is further defined as comprising a ring mounted to the cylinder for rotation therewith from a first non-notice providing position to a second notice providing position in response to the rotational movement of the cylinder.

19. The dual mode locking padlock defined in claim 18, wherein said ring incorporates indicia formed thereon, said indicia comprising at least one selected from the group consisting of letters, numerals, alpha-numeric designations, colors, graphics, and pictures, and said indicia providing the alert signal based upon the position of the indicia relative to the housing.

20. The dual mode locking padlock defined in claim 19, wherein the indicator assembly can be reset whether the combination is in the locked or unlocked position.

21. The dual mode locking padlock defined in claim 19, wherein the indicator assembly contains a reset member.

22. The dual mode locking padlock defined in claim 19, wherein the indicator assembly comprises a first section and a second section, said first section comprising the indicia formed on the movable ring and the second section comprising indicia formed on the housing of the padlock adjacent the ring, whereby movement of the ring causes the first section and second section to be aligned, thereby providing the desired notice.

23. The dual mode locking padlock defined in claim 22, wherein said first section comprises the letters “

ERT” and

the second section comprises the letters “

AL”

, whereby the rotational movement of the ring due to the use of the cylinder automatically causes the word “

ALERT”

to be formed.