PADLOCK ASSEMBLY

• US 20130276487A1
• Filed: 03/15/2013
• Published: 10/24/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 04/19/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Master Lock Company LLC (Fortune Brands Innovations, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Master Lock Company LLC (Fortune Brands Innovations, Inc.)
• Inventors: Burmesch, Gary R., Gronland, Elliot
• Granted Patent: US 8,806,905 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 70/42
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 17/0004 Lock assembling or manufacturing making locksmith's goods of sheet metal B21D53/38; assembling in general B23P21/00
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 63/0056 Locks with adjustable or exchangeable lock parts adjustable strikers E05B15/024; adjustable to different keys E05B35/083; adjustable bolt or backset E05B63/06; adjustable coupling means for bars, rods, cables E05C9/20
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 67/063 Padlocks with removable shackles
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 67/18 with devices for securing both ends of the shackle
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 67/24 with built- in cylinder locks
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 9/084 Fastening of lock cylinders, plugs or cores
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49815 Disassembling
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/4984 Retaining clearance for motion between assembled parts
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/454 Removable
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/459 Both legs engaged
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/467 Sliding detent
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/487 Parts, accessories, attachments and adjuncts
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/489 Housings
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/491 Shackles
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/7661 Detachable or removable cylinder

Abstract

A padlock includes a lock body, a shackle assembled with the lock body, a lock subassembly disposed in a cavity in the lock body, and a shackle retainer assembled with the lock body. The lock subassembly is operable between a locked position securing the shackle in a closed position and an unlocked position permitting movement of the shackle to an open position. The shackle retainer extends into a first shackle bore and is received in a recess in a first leg of the shackle. When the shackle is in the open position, the lock subassembly is manipulable to be moved from a first position to a second position to generate a space in the cavity aligned with the shackle retainer, such that the shackle retainer is extendable into the space for disengagement of the shackle retainer from the first shackle leg recess.

Claims

1. A padlock comprising:

a lock body;

a shackle assembled with the lock body;

a lock subassembly disposed in a cavity in the lock body and operable between a locked position securing the shackle in a closed position and an unlocked position permitting movement of the shackle to an open position; and

a shackle retainer assembled with the lock body, the shackle retainer extending into a first shackle bore and received in a recess in a first leg of the shackle disposed within the first shackle bore;

wherein when the shackle is in the open position, the lock subassembly is manipulable to be moved from a first position to a second position to align an empty portion of the cavity with the shackle retainer, such that the shackle retainer is extendable into the empty portion of the cavity for disengagement of the shackle retainer from the first shackle leg recess, thereby permitting removal of the shackle from the lock body.

2. The padlock of claim 1, wherein the lock subassembly is secured to the lock body by a fastener accessible through a second shackle bore when the shackle is in the open position, wherein the lock subassembly is manipulable to be moved from the first position to the second position by loosening the fastener.

3. The padlock of claim 1, wherein the lock subassembly comprises a key cylinder lock.

4. The padlock of claim 3, wherein the key cylinder lock includes a cylinder retainer assembled with the cylinder, wherein the cylinder retainer is secured to the lock body by a fastener.

5. The padlock of claim 1, wherein the lock subassembly is at least partially withdrawn from the lock body in the second position.

6. The padlock of claim 1, wherein a portion of the lock subassembly blocks extension of the shackle retainer into the cavity when the lock subassembly is in the first position.

7. The padlock of claim 1, further comprising a locking member that engages a notch in the first shackle leg when the lock subassembly is in the locked position, the locking member being disengageable from the notch when the lock subassembly is in the unlocked position.

8. The padlock of claim 7, wherein the recess is spaced apart from the notch around a circumference of the first shackle leg.

9. The padlock of claim 7, wherein the recess is spaced apart from the notch along a length of the first shackle leg.

10. The padlock of claim 1, wherein the shackle retainer comprises a pin disposed in a cross-bore in the lock body, the cross-bore intersecting the first shackle bore and the cavity.

11. The padlock of claim 10, wherein the pin includes an enlarged head portion that abuts a shoulder surface in the cross-bore when the pin is in a fully extended position, thereby preventing the pin from disengaging from the cross-bore.

12. The padlock of claim 1, wherein the shackle retainer is accessible from an external surface of the lock body.

13. A method of removing a shackle from a lock body of a padlock, the method comprising:

moving a shackle within a first shackle bore of the lock body to an open position;

moving a lock subassembly disposed in a cavity in the lock body from a first position to a second position to generate a space in the cavity in alignment with a shackle retainer at least partially disposed in the first shackle bore and within a recess in a first shackle leg disposed within the first shackle bore;

moving the shackle retainer into the cavity space, thereby disengaging the shackle retainer from the recess in the first shackle leg; and

withdrawing the first shackle leg from the first shackle bore to remove the shackle from the lock body.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein moving the lock subassembly from the first position to the second position comprises removing the lock subassembly from the lock body cavity.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein moving the shackle to an open position comprises withdrawing a short leg of the shackle from a second shackle bore in the lock body.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein moving the lock subassembly from the first position to the second position comprises loosening a fastener securing the lock subassembly within the lock body, the fastener being accessible through the second shackle bore.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein moving the shackle to the open position comprises operating the lock subassembly to move a blocker disposed within the lock body from a locked position, holding first and second locking members in locking engagement with first and second notches in the first and short shackle legs, to an unlocked position permitting disengagement of the first and second locking members from the first and second notches.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising, after withdrawing the short shackle leg from the second shackle bore, inserting a tool in the second shackle bore to secure the blocker in the unlocked position when the shackle is removed from the lock body.

19. The method of claim 13, wherein moving the shackle retainer into the cavity space comprises accessing the shackle retainer through an external opening in the lock body.

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

providing a lock body defining first and second shackle bores and an internal cavity;

positioning a shackle retainer to extend through a cross-bore in the lock body and into the cavity;

inserting a long leg of a shackle into the first shackle bore to align a first end of a recess in the long shackle leg with the cross-bore;

moving the shackle retainer from the cavity further into the cross-bore and within the long shackle leg recess;

inserting a lock subassembly into the cavity; and

securing the lock subassembly to the lock body.

21. The method of claim 20, further comprising positioning a blocker within the cavity in an unlocked position configured to permit withdrawal of first and second locking members from the first and second shackle bores, the blocker being movable to a locked position configured to hold the first and second locking members in the first and second shackle bores.

22. The method of claim 21, further comprising, prior to inserting the long shackle leg into the first shackle bore, inserting a tool into the second shackle bore to prevent movement of the second locking member into the second shackle bore, thereby securing the blocker in the unlocked position.

23. The method of claim 20, wherein securing the lock subassembly to the lock body comprises installing a fastener in a mounting hole disposed within the one of the first and second shackle bores and into threaded engagement with the lock subassembly.