Lock with dual locking system

• US 8,931,313 B2
• Filed: 06/21/2012
• Issued: 01/13/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 07/25/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Sun Lock Company Ltd.
• Original Assignee: The Sun Lock Company Ltd.
• Inventors: Lai, Karl
• Primary Examiner(s): Barrett, Suzanne
• Application Number:
  US13/529,082
• Publication Number:
  US 20130025333A1
• Time in Patent Office: 936 Days
• Field of Search: 70/21, 70 24- 29, 702/84, 702/85
• 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 70/422 Rigid shackle
• 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

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a padlock that includes a body and a shackle that has a toe portion and a heel portion. The shackle can be released from the body from a locked mode to a lock opened mode by upward movement of the shackle away from the body. The padlock also includes a combination locking mechanism configured to control the heel portion of the shackle when a correct combination is arranged on the combination locking mechanism. The combination locking mechanism may be reconfigured so that a new combination is entered for the combination locking mechanism. The padlock also includes a key locking mechanism that includes a cylinder operatively connected to a cam for controlling movement of the cam. The padlock may be placed in the lock opened mode by either the combination locking mechanism or the key locking mechanism.

Claims

1. A lock configured for operation between a locked configuration and an open configuration, comprising:

a body comprising a first surface with a toe receiving hole formed in the first surface;

a shackle comprising a toe and a heel having a longitudinal axis and extending into and retained within the body;

a first locking mechanism comprising a latch plate operatively connected to the shackle, wherein the first locking mechanism is configured for operation between a locked position in which the latch plate restricts rectilinear movement of the shackle along the longitudinal axis of the heel of the shackle, and an unlocked position in which the latch plate is spaced away from the shackle to permit rectilinear movement of the shackle along the longitudinal axis of the heel of the shackle; and

a second locking mechanism comprising at least one clutch operatively connected to the shackle and configured for operation between a closed position in which the at least one clutch restricts rectilinear movement of the shackle along the longitudinal axis of the heel of the shackle, and an open position in which the least one clutch is positioned so as to permit rectilinear movement of the shackle along the longitudinal axis of the heel of the shackle;

wherein the at least one clutch comprises a substantially cylindrical member having a longitudinal axis and a bore through the longitudinal axis divided into a lock-open zone and a locking zone by a blocking ring extending from an interior surface of the at least one clutch;

wherein at least a portion of the heel of the shackle is positioned through the bore of the at least one clutch;

wherein the lock is configured to be in the open configuration as a result of rectilinear movement of the shackle along the longitudinal axis of the heel of the shackle when the first locking mechanism is in the unlocked position;

wherein the lock is configured to be in the open configuration as a result of rectilinear movement of the shackle along the longitudinal axis of the heel of the shackle when the second locking mechanism is in the open position;

wherein the lock is configured to be in the open configuration when either of the first locking mechanism is in the unlocked position or the second locking mechanism is in the open position and the shackle is moved rectilinearly along the longitudinal axis of the heel of the shackle; and

wherein at least a portion of the toe is at least partially surrounded by the toe receiving hole when the lock is in the locked configuration.

2. The lock according to claim 1, wherein the latch plate is movable between a first position in which the latch plate restricts rectilinear movement of the shackle and a second position in which the latch plate is spaced away from the shackle, and wherein the first locking mechanism is in the locked position when the latch plate is in the first position and is in the unlocked position when the latch plate is in the second position.

3. The lock according to claim 1, wherein the at least one clutch is operatively connected to a spring positioned within the body of the lock, and wherein the spring is configured to urge the at least one clutch in a direction towards the latch plate along the longitudinal axis of the heel of the shackle.

4. The lock according to claim 3,

wherein the heel comprises at least one protrusion extending substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the heel;

and

wherein the blocking ring is operatively engaged with the at least one protrusion so as to restrict movement of the heel in at least a first direction along the longitudinal axis of the heel.

5. The lock according to claim 4, wherein when the latch plate is in the second position the spring is configured to move the at least one clutch along the longitudinal axis of the heel so that the blocking ring is positioned in a substantially spaced apart relationship from the at least one protrusion and the shackle is free to move rectilinearly along the longitudinal axis of the heel so that the toe of the shackle may be removed from the toe receiving hole.

6. The lock according to claim 2, wherein the first locking mechanism further includes a cam operatively connected to the latch plate and configured to move the latch plate between the first position and the second position.

7. The lock according to claim 6, wherein the cam is operatively connected to a key actuated cylinder configured to cause angular movement of the cam.

8. The lock according to claim 7, wherein the key actuated cylinder comprises a disc tumbler cylinder and at least one disc, and wherein the cam is operatively connected to the disc tumbler cylinder.

9. The lock according to claim 1, wherein the heel of the shackle comprises at least one protrusion extending from the heel, and wherein the blocking ring comprises an opening gap defined therein and dimensioned so as to allow movement of the at least one protrusion between the locking zone and the lock-open zone.

10. The lock according to claim 9, wherein the second locking mechanism is in the closed position when the at least one protrusion is positioned in the locking zone and in the open position when the at least one protrusion is positioned in the lock-open zone.

11. The lock according to claim 9, wherein the second locking mechanism comprises at least one dial positioned in the body and operatively connected to the at least one clutch, wherein the at least one dial is configured to rotate the at least one clutch about the longitudinal axis of the heel.

12. The lock according to claim 11, wherein the at least one dial is configured to rotate the at least one clutch about the longitudinal axis of the heel so that the opening gap in the blocking ring is positioned in an aligned relationship to the at least one protrusion so as to allow rectilinear movement of the shackle along the longitudinal axis of the heel.

13. The lock according to claim 12, wherein the rectilinear movement of the heel along the longitudinal axis permits removal of the toe from the toe receiving hole in the body so that the lock is in the open configuration, and wherein when the lock is in the open configuration the shackle is configured to rotate about the longitudinal axis of the heel.

14. The lock according to claim 11, wherein the at least one clutch comprises an extended fin, and the at least one dial comprises at least one tooth configured to operatively engage the extended fin of the at least one clutch so that rotational movement of the at least one dial is imparted to the at least one clutch.

15. The lock according to claim 14, wherein the second locking mechanism is configured to be reconfigurable by disengaging the extended fin of the at least one clutch from the at least one tooth of the at least one dial so that the at least one dial is free to rotate without imparting rotational movement to the at least one clutch.

16. The lock according to claim 15, wherein when the lock is in the open configuration the shackle is configured to rotate about the longitudinal axis of the heel and configured to disengage the extended fin of the at least one clutch from the at least one tooth of the at least one dial when moved in a direction towards the body of the lock.

17. A lock configured for operation between a locked configuration and an open configuration, comprising:

a body comprising a first surface with a toe receiving hole formed in the first surface;

a shackle comprising a toe and a heel having a longitudinal axis and least one protrusion extending substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the heel, wherein the heel extends into and is retained within the body;

a first locking mechanism comprising a latch plate operatively connected to the shackle, wherein the first locking mechanism is configured for operation between a locked position in which the latch plate restricts rectilinear movement of the shackle along the longitudinal axis of the heel of the shackle, and an unlocked position in which the latch plate is spaced away from the shackle to permit rectilinear movement of the shackle along the longitudinal axis of the heel of the shackle;

a second locking mechanism comprising at least one clutch operatively connected to the shackle and configured for operation between a closed position in which the at least one clutch restricts rectilinear movement of the shackle along the longitudinal axis of the heel of the shackle, and an open position in which the least one clutch is positioned so as to permit rectilinear movement of the shackle along the longitudinal axis of the heel of the shackle; and

a spring positioned within the body of the lock, and configured to urge the at least one clutch in a direction towards the latch plate along the longitudinal axis of the heel of the shackle;

wherein the at least one clutch comprises a blocking ring extending from an interior surface of the at least one clutch and operatively engaged with the at least one protrusion so as to restrict movement of the heel in at least a first direction along the longitudinal axis of the heel;

wherein the lock is configured to be in the open configuration as a result of rectilinear movement of the shackle along the longitudinal axis of the heel of the shackle when the first locking mechanism is in the unlocked position;

wherein the lock is configured to be in the open configuration as a result of rectilinear movement of the shackle along the longitudinal axis of the heel of the shackle when the second locking mechanism is in the open position;

wherein the lock is configured to be in the open configuration when either of the first locking mechanism is in the unlocked position or the second locking mechanism is in the open position and the shackle is moved rectilinearly along the longitudinal axis of the heel of the shackle; and

wherein at least a portion of the toe is at least partially surrounded by the toe receiving hole when the lock is in the locked configuration.

18. The lock according to claim 17, wherein when the latch plate is in the second position the spring is configured to move the at least one clutch along the longitudinal axis of the heel so that the blocking ring is positioned in a substantially spaced apart relationship from the at least one protrusion and the shackle is free to move rectilinearly along the longitudinal axis of the heel so that the toe of the shackle may be removed from the toe receiving hole.

19. The lock according to claim 17, wherein the latch plate is movable between a first position in which the latch plate restricts rectilinear movement of the shackle and a second position in which the latch plate is spaced away from the shackle, and wherein the first locking mechanism is in the locked position when the latch plate is in the first position and is in the unlocked position when the latch plate is in the second position.

20. The lock according to claim 19, wherein the first locking mechanism further includes a cam operatively connected to the latch plate and configured to move the latch plate between the first position and the second position.