Lock subassembly

• US 8,850,858 B2
• Filed: 03/12/2013
• Issued: 10/07/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/06/2012
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Master Lock Company LLC (Fortune Brands Innovations, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Master Lock Company LLC (Fortune Brands Innovations, Inc.)
• Inventors: Nave, Zachery T.
• Primary Examiner(s): BOSWELL, CHRISTOPHER J
• Application Number:
  US13/795,670
• Publication Number:
  US 20140157838A1
• Time in Patent Office: 574 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 70/279.1
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 2047/0024 Cams
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 2047/0058 by batteries
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 2047/0094 Mechanical aspects of remotely controlled locks electronic locks G07C9/00
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 47/0012 with rotary electromotors actuators with rotary electromotors per se H02K7/06, H02K23/68
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 47/06 Controlling mechanically-operated bolts by electro-magnetically-operated detents
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 67/02 Cases
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 67/18 with devices for securing both ends of the shackle
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 67/22 Padlocks with sliding shackles, with or without rotary or pivotal movement
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49117 Conductor or circuit manufacturing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/415 Combination and/or key-controlled
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/459 Both legs engaged
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/489 Housings
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/491 Shackles
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/7068 Actuated after correct combination recognized [e.g., numerical, alphabetical, or magnet[s] pattern]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/7107 And alternately mechanically actuated by a key, dial, etc.

Abstract

A lock subassembly for a padlock includes a housing, a locking element, and a locking mechanism. The housing defines an internal cavity and at least one shackle bore isolated from the internal cavity. The locking element is disposed in a first portion of the internal cavity and extends beyond an upper surface of the housing. The locking element is movable between a locked position for interlocking engagement with a shackle and an unlocked position for releasing the shackle. The locking mechanism is disposed in a second portion of the internal cavity and is operable between a locking condition securing the locking element in the locked position and an unlocking condition permitting movement of the locking element to the unlocked position.

Claims

1. A lock subassembly for assembly within a lock body of a padlock, the lock subassembly comprising:

a housing defining an internal cavity and at least one shackle bore isolated from the internal cavity, such that contaminants entering the at least one shackle bore are prevented from entering the internal cavity;

a locking element disposed in a first portion of the internal cavity and extending above an uppermost surface of the housing, the locking element being movable between a locked position for interlocking engagement with a shackle and an unlocked position for releasing the shackle; and

a locking mechanism disposed in a second portion of the internal cavity and operable between a locking condition securing the locking element in the locked position and an unlocking condition permitting movement of the locking element to the unlocked position.

2. The lock subassembly of claim 1, wherein the locking mechanism comprises an electromechanical locking mechanism.

3. The lock subassembly of claim 1, further comprising an annular seal member disposed between the locking element and an internal surface of the first portion of the lock cavity.

4. The lock subassembly of claim 1, wherein the locking element comprises a blocker slideable in a vertical direction between the locked position and the unlocked position.

5. The lock subassembly of claim 4, wherein the blocker is spring biased toward the locked position.

6. The lock subassembly of claim 4, wherein the locking mechanism comprises a latch member, wherein when the locking mechanism is in the locking condition, a portion of the latch member aligns with an adjacent portion of the blocker to block movement of the blocker from the locked position to the unlocked position, and when the locking mechanism is in the unlocking condition, the portion of the latch member is misaligned with the adjacent portion of the blocker to permit movement of the blocker from the locked position to the unlocked position.

7. The lock subassembly of claim 6, wherein the locking mechanism further comprises a motor operable to move the latch member from the locking condition to the unlocking condition.

8. The lock subassembly of claim 1, wherein the at least one shackle bore includes first and second shackle bores isolated from the lock cavity.

9. The lock subassembly of claim 1, wherein the housing includes a housing body defining the internal cavity and an end plate assembled to the housing body and enclosing the second portion of the internal cavity.

10. A padlock comprising:

a lock body;

a shackle having long and short legs receivable in corresponding first and second shackle openings in the lock body, the shackle being moveable in an axial direction between a refracted position and an extended position, the short leg being withdrawn from the lock body in the extended position;

a locking member disposed in the lock body and engageable with the shackle to secure the shackle in the retracted position; and

a lock subassembly disposed within the lock body, the lock subassembly comprising;

a housing defining an internal cavity;

a blocker disposed in a first portion of the internal cavity and extending beyond an upper surface of the housing, the blocker being movable between a locked position securing the locking member in interlocking engagement with the shackle and an unlocked position permitting disengagement of the locking member from the shackle; and

a locking mechanism disposed in a second portion of the internal cavity and operable between a locking condition securing the blocker in the locked position and an unlocking condition permitting movement of the blocker to the unlocked position.

11. The padlock of claim 10, wherein one of the long shackle leg and the short shackle leg extends into a shackle bore in the lock subassembly housing, the shackle bore being isolated from the internal cavity to preventingress of contaminants into the internal cavity from the shackle bore.

12. The padlock of claim 10, wherein the long shackle leg and the short shackle leg extend into corresponding first and second shackle bores in the lock subassembly housing, the first and second shackle bores being isolated from the internal cavity to prevent ingress of contaminants entering the lock subassembly housing through the shackle bore.

13. The padlock of claim 10, wherein the blocker is slideable in a vertical direction between the locked position and the unlocked position.

14. The padlock of claim 13, wherein the blocker is spring biased toward the locked position, wherein when the locking mechanism is in the unlocked condition and the shackle is pulled in the vertical direction, the shackle forces the locking member against a tapered camming surface of the blocker to move the blocker to the unlocked position.

21. The padlock of claim 10, wherein the internal cavity is sealed against ingress of contaminants entering the lock body through the first and second shackle openings.

15. A method of assembling a padlock, the method comprising:

providing a lock body including an upper wall defining first and second shackle openings, a lower wall, and a side wall extending between the upper wall and the lower wall and defining a side opening in the lock body;

providing a lock subassembly disposed within the lock body, the lock subassembly comprising a housing defining an internal cavity and a shackle bore isolated from the internal cavity, a blocker extending from the internal cavity beyond an upper surface of the housing, and a locking mechanism disposed in the internal cavity;

inserting the lock subassembly into the lock body through the side opening, such that the shackle bore aligns with the first shackle opening;

installing a shackle leg of a shackle through the first shackle opening and through the shackle bore; and

inserting a locking member vertically between the upper surface of the lock subassembly housing and the upper wall of the lock body, and laterally between the blocker and the shackle.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising securing the lock subassembly to the upper wall of the lock body.

17. The method of claim 15, further comprising electrically connecting the locking mechanism to a battery retained by the lock body external to the lock subassembly.

18. The method of claim 15, further comprising electrically connecting the locking mechanism to a transmitter retained by the lock body external to the lock subassembly.

19. The method of claim 15, further comprising electrically connecting the locking mechanism to an electronic lock interface and assembling the electronic lock interface to the side opening of the lock body.

20. The method of claim 15, further comprising securing the shackle leg within the shackle bore to prevent separation of the shackle from the lock subassembly.