High security, dual-mode padlock construction
First Claim
1. A padlock constructed for providing two separate and independent locking means in a single integrated construction, said padlock comprising:
- A. a housing constructed for retaining a combination controlled locking assembly and a key controlled locking assembly in cooperating, controlling relationship with a locking member;
B. a combination controlled locking assembly and a key controlled locking assembly mounted in the housing in coaxial, aligned relationship with each other, thereby establishing a dual mode locking construction configured and contained in a small, compact area;
C. a shackle member mounted in the housing and movable between a first, housing engaged and locked position and a second, housing disengaged and unlocked position, each of said positions being controlled by activation of the combination controlled locking assembly or the key controlled locking assembly;
D. a deadbolt locking member mounted in the housing in cooperating relationship with a control member and at least one end of the shackle member; and
E. a control membera) mounted in the housing for arcuate, pivoting movement therein,b) positioned in cooperative association with the deadbolt locking member for controlling the movement of the deadbolt locking member between a first shackle engaged position and a second shackle released position for causing such shackle member to move between its first housing engaged and locked position and its second, housing disengaged and unlocked position, andc) responsive to the activation of the combination controlled locking assembly and/or the key controlled locking assembly for causing the arcuate, pivoting movement thereof and the controlled movement of the deadbolt locking member with the shackle member;
whereby a padlock construction is attained which achieves a compact construction having a coaxially aligned combination controlled locking assembly and key controlled locking assembly, with both assemblies controlling the movement of a deadbolt locking member for locking and releasing a cooperating shackle member.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
By employing a deadbolt construction for virtually eliminating the ability of the shackle to be removed from the housing by the application of excessive force, an effective, easily produced, padlock is achieved which also incorporates two separate and independent locking systems formed in a single padlock. In the present invention, a single housing and a single shackle assembly are employed and are constructed for enabling the shackle to be released from locked engagement with the housing using either a rotatable dial combination construction or a key activated tumbler construction. Furthermore, the rotatable combination defining dials, which controls the release of the shackle using the preset combination, are coaxially aligned, peripherally surrounding the key controlled tumbler/cylinder. As a result, a compact construction is realized, as well as an efficient and effective release construction which is shared by both the combination controlled section as well as the key controlled section.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A padlock constructed for providing two separate and independent locking means in a single integrated construction, said padlock comprising:
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A. a housing constructed for retaining a combination controlled locking assembly and a key controlled locking assembly in cooperating, controlling relationship with a locking member; B. a combination controlled locking assembly and a key controlled locking assembly mounted in the housing in coaxial, aligned relationship with each other, thereby establishing a dual mode locking construction configured and contained in a small, compact area; C. a shackle member mounted in the housing and movable between a first, housing engaged and locked position and a second, housing disengaged and unlocked position, each of said positions being controlled by activation of the combination controlled locking assembly or the key controlled locking assembly; D. a deadbolt locking member mounted in the housing in cooperating relationship with a control member and at least one end of the shackle member; and E. a control member a) mounted in the housing for arcuate, pivoting movement therein, b) positioned in cooperative association with the deadbolt locking member for controlling the movement of the deadbolt locking member between a first shackle engaged position and a second shackle released position for causing such shackle member to move between its first housing engaged and locked position and its second, housing disengaged and unlocked position, and c) responsive to the activation of the combination controlled locking assembly and/or the key controlled locking assembly for causing the arcuate, pivoting movement thereof and the controlled movement of the deadbolt locking member with the shackle member; whereby a padlock construction is attained which achieves a compact construction having a coaxially aligned combination controlled locking assembly and key controlled locking assembly, with both assemblies controlling the movement of a deadbolt locking member for locking and releasing a cooperating shackle member. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
whereby a padlock construction is attained which achieves a compact construction having a co-axially aligned combination controlled locking assembly and a key controlled locking assembly, with both assemblies separately controlling the movement of control member for locking and releasing the shackle member of the padlock.
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6. The padlock defined in claim 5, wherein said padlock further comprises a flat spring member mounted to the top surface of the control member with a first end of said flat spring member being controllably engaged with said control member and a second end of said flat spring member being affixed to the housing, whereby said flat spring member continuously exerts a rotational biasing force on the control member for attempting to cause said control member to return to its original, shackle locked position.
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7. The padlock defined in claim 6, wherein said flat spring member is further defined as being formed as a continuous, spiral shaped member comprising a plurality of arcuately curved or circular shaped elements, with each successive element peripherally surrounding the previous element and having a greater diameter than the previous element.
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8. The padlock defined in claim 5, wherein said padlock further comprises an enlarged activation button securely affixed to the bottom edge of the sleeve member and constructed for enabling the controlled movement of said sleeve member both vertically and rotationally.
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9. The padlock defined in claim 8, wherein said padlock further comprises a cylindrically shaped blocking member mounted in the lower end of the sleeve member in cooperating relationship with the sleeve member and the activation button, with said blocking member incorporating radially extending posts formed on the outer surface thereof position for cooperating with slots formed on an inside surface of the activation button, whereby axial movement of the sleeve member is capable of being achieved only when the radially extending posts are aligned for passage through the slots of the activation button.
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10. The padlock defined in claim 9, wherein said activation button further comprises a holding ledge formed on an inside surface of the activation button directly adjacent to the slots for enabling the radially extending posts of the blocking member to pass through the slots and be engaged with the holding ledge upon rotation of said activation button, whereby the hollow, cylindrically shaped sleeve member is axially movable in the housing for extending partially outwardly therefrom and pivoted into a position for being retained in the outwardly extending position whenever the preset combination has been entered and the combination is to be changed.
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11. The padlock defined in claim 5, wherein said cylinder assembly of the key controlled locking assembly further comprises an intermediate section positioned between the cylinder and the control member with a first end thereof controllably engaging the control member, and the cylinder comprises an upstanding flange formed on the cylinder end opposite the key receiving slot, and the second end of the intermediate portion comprises a slot formed therein and constructed for mating engagement with the flange of the cylinder assembly thereby causing the intermediate portion to arcuately pivot in response to the arcuate pivoting of the cylinder member whenever the designated key is inserted in the key receiving slot, thereby causing the intermediate section and the control member to move simultaneously for controllably moving the deadbolt locking member.
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12. The padlock defined in claim 5, wherein said padlock further comprises a collar member mounted in the housing in contact with the bottom edge of the sleeve member, with the collar member being cooperatively associated with a coil spring for normally biasing the collar member outwardly, said collar member being further constructed for contacting the lower edge of the sleeve member whenever the collar member is pressed inwardly, causing said sleeve member to move axially in the housing in response to the pre-set combination being employed, thereby causing the shackle to be released.
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13. The padlock defined in claim 3, wherein the deadbolt locking member is further defined as comprising a shape selected from the group consisting of spheres, cylinders, ovals, ellipses, and rectangles.
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14. The padlock defined in claim 5, wherein said control member is further defined as comprising a third cutout zone formed in a portion thereof longitudinally and arcuately spaced from the second cutout zone for providing the deadbolt locking member with two alternate positions for enabling the movement of said deadbolt locking member.
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15. The padlock defined in claim 5, wherein said key controlled locking assembly is constructed to provide a non-key captive capability wherein the designated key can be removed from the cylinder assembly whenever the shackle is in its unlocked position.
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16. The padlock defined in claim 1, wherein said padlock comprises two separate and independent deadbolt locking members mounted in the housing with each deadbolt locking member being positioned for cooperative controlled movement with the control member and locking/unlocking inter-engagement with both ends of the shackle.
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17. A padlock comprising:
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A. a housing constructed for retaining a combination controlled locking assembly in cooperating, controlling relationship with a locking member; B. a combination controlled locking assembly mounted in the housing and comprising a) a plurality of tumbler sleeves, each of said tumbler sleeves being rotationally mounted in the housing, and b) a plurality of dials, each of said dials peripherally surrounding a tumbler sleeve for cooperating therewith and establishing a predesignated combination for enabling activation of said control member; C. a shackle member mounted in the housing and movable between a first, housing engaged and locked position and a second, housing disengaged and unlocked position, each of said positions being controlled by activation of the combination controlled locking assembly; D. a deadbolt locking member mounted in the housing in cooperating relationship with a control member and at least one end of the shackle member; and E. a control member a) mounted in the housing for arcuate, pivoting movement therein, b) positioned in cooperative association with the deadbolt locking member for controlling the movement of the deadbolt locking member between a first shackle engaged position and a second shackle released position for causing such shackle member to move between its first housing engaged and locked position and its second, housing disengaged and unlocked position, and c) responsive to the activation of the combination controlled locking assembly for causing the arcuate, pivoting movement thereof and the controlled movement of the deadbolt locking member with the shackle member; whereby a padlock construction is attained which achieves a compact construction having a combination controlled locking assembly and controlling the movement of a deadbolt locking member for locking and releasing a cooperating shackle member. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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Specification