Combination Padlock

Abstract

A combination padlock of the multiple dial type is constructed so that maulation of the essential shackle enables changing or setting the combination, thereby eliminating additional elements to accomplish this function.

Description

The invention relates to combination padlocks, and is more particularly directed to improvements in combination padlocks of the type including means for setting or changing the combination.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Combination padlocks of the type having means for changing the combination are known. In U.S. Pat. No. 3,386,271, June 4, 1968, a manually operable spring mounted slide member is related to the shackle having sleeves mounted thereon so that by manipulation of the slide member, the shackle may be released to move in an outward direction to disengage the sleeves from the dials, whereby the combination may be changed.

The visible slide member of this prior art device invites tampering. Combination locks tempt persons to manipulate them before becoming familiar with the written instructions which accompany the product. As a result, the combination may be lost, and the product has to be returned to the manufacturer who expends considerable effort in opening the padlock, if possible. Moreover, since the slide member must be manipulated with the fingers, the degree to which this prior art device may be miniaturized is limited. Also, the direction of movement of the shackle to open the device and to set the combination is the same, thereby making it possible for the combination to be changed when it may be desired to merely open the lock.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A combination padlock made in accordance with the invention comprises a body having an internal cavity and a plurality of spaced slots in communication with the cavity. A dial provided with indicia or numbers is positioned in each slot. A shackle of the usual type, or having a long portion and a short portion, is mounted on the body so that the long portion extends into the internal cavity of the body. As usual, the shackle is movable to first open position and a second closed position. One end of the body is provided with means to receive the end of the shackle's short portion in the closed position of the shackle. A sleeve for each of the dials is mounted on the long portion of the shackle with the sleeves in abutting, end to end relation. The sleeves are secured to the shackle so that they cannot move linearly on the shackle. However, the shackle is rotatable with respect to the body, and the sleeves may rotate upon the long portion of the shackle. Each dial and its respective sleeve are provided with cooperable means to separably key the dials and sleeves to one another. Blocking means is provided for cooperation with each sleeve to prevent movement of the shackle, or to maintain the device in locked condition (off combination). The sleeves are provided with means which allows the blocking means to be by-passed (on combination), thereby allowing linear movement of the shackle from open to closed position and vice versa.

With the padlock "on combination," the essential shackle is used to change the combination; no additional parts are required to accomplish this function. The device is constructed to allow the further inward movement of the shackle to a third or combination changing position; that is, movement further inward than to close the padlock. With the shackle in its first or open position, the shackle is rotated about the axis of the shackle's long portion to where the axis of the short portion is located outside the perimeter of the body. With such orientation, the shackle is pressed inwardly so that the sleeves secured to the long portion are unkeyed from the dials. The cavity of the body within which the long portion and the sleeves thereon are positioned is of sufficient length to allow the shackle to be displaced inwardly a greater distance than to the second or closed position. Due to the aforesaid orientation of the shackle, the end of the short portion may move alongside and below the adjoining end of the body. The dials may then be rotated to a combination of one's own choice, following which the sleeves are returned into keyed engagement with the dials.

An object of the invention is to provide a combination padlock which eliminates obtrusive means for changing the combination.

Another object of the invention is to provide a combination padlock having a minimal number of parts considering the fact that the lock also permits setting to a combination of one's own individual choice.

A further object of the invention is to provide a combination padlock including means for changing the combination, the padlock being constructed to permit substantial miniaturization.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a combination padlock wherein the shackle is utilized for the additional function of setting or changing the combination; and further, wherein the shackle is related to its associated parts so that the shackle is moved in an inward rather than an outward direction when changing the combination to thereby reduce the possibility of inadvertently changing the combination when it is desired to simply open the lock.

These, and other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a combination padlock made in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 is a front view of the lock;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged longitudinal cross-sectional view taken approximately in the planes of lines 3--3 of FIG. 2, this view showing the shackle in closed position but with the mechanism "on combination" with the shackle in readiness to be moved to the outward or open position;

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3, this view showing the shackle displaced to open position;

FIG. 5 is a cross-section taken approximately in the planes of lines 5--5 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 5, except that the mechanism is "off combination" and the device is in locked condition;

FIG. 7 is a view showing the relationship of the parts when the shackle is moved to the position to change the combination;

FIG. 7A is an end view as seen from the left of FIG. 7;

FIG. 8 is a transverse cross-sectional view taken approximately in the planes of lines 8--8 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 9 is a transverse cross-sectional view taken approximately in the plane of 9--9 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 10 is a view similar to FIG. 9, this view however, showing a dial and an associated sleeve in the "off combination" relationship of these two components;

FIG. 11 is a transverse cross-sectional view taken approximately in the plane of line 11--11 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 12 is a plan view of the inner side of one of the body or casing halves;

FIG. 13 is a plan view of the other body half;

FIG. 14 is a side elevational view of a dial;

FIG. 15 is an end view of a sleeve; and

FIG. 16 is a side elevational view of the sleeve.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to the drawings, a combination padlock made in accordance with the invention essentially comprises a body A, a shackle B, a plurality of dials C, and a plurality of sleeves D, one for each dial. To furnish controlled rotation of the dials, resilient dial cooperable means E is related to the dials.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated, the combination locking means includes three dials, designated C1, C2 and C3, and the same number of associated sleeves, D1, D2 and D3. With three dials each having 10 indicia or numbers on the circumference thereof, there are 1,000 different possible combinations available. It will be understood that any desired number of dials, and like number of sleeves, may be used to furnish the desired number of available combinations. combinations.

The body A comprises a pair of body members 20 and 22 suitably connected to one another. For convenience of manufacture and to minimize the number of parts, it is preferred that the body members be made by die casting. As shown in FIGS. 12 and 13, one body member is provided with a pair of integral, spaced connecting studs 24 and the other body member is made with a pair of spaced openings 26 through which the connecting studs are extended, following which the ends 28 of the studs are headed over to securely connect the parts to one another (FIG. 8). With the body members 20 and 22 connected to one another, their respective peripheral surfaces 30 and 32 are strongly pressed together. When connected, the body members provide an internal, substantially annular, longitudinally extending cavity 34. The diameter of the cavity is larger than the over-all diameter of a sleeve. The cavity is in communication with an opening 36 in one end 38 of the body A. A plurality of transverse, longitudinally spaced slots 40 is in communication with the cavity 34. The slots each have a dial C positioned therein.

Preferably, and as shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 7A, the body A is in the form of a rectangular parallelepiped, the ends 38 and 42, the sides 44 and 46, and the sides 48 and 49 being rectangular. It will be apparent however, that the body may have any desired outer configuration.

The shackle B has the usual J-shape, and comprises a long portion or leg 50 and a short portion or leg 52 parallel thereto. The legs are connected by a curved or bent portion 51. As shown in FIGS. 3-7, the long portion 50 extends through the opening 36 with a small amount of clearance and into the cavity 34. The body A is provided with a recess 56 to receive the end 58 of the short portion 52 when the shackle is in closed position. The base 60 of the recess serves as a stop to limit the extent that the shackle may be moved inwardly to the closed position shown in FIG. 3.

The sleeves D are mounted on the long portion 50 of the shackle in abutting, end-to-end relation. The sleeves are each provided with a central bore through which the long portion of the shackle extends with a slight amount of clearance. The sleeves are secured to the long portion of the shackle against linear movement. This may be accomplished, as shown in FIGS. 3-7, by securing a washer 62 to the free end of the long portion, as by heading over the end of the shackle against the washer, the opposite side of the washer being forced against a shoulder formed on the part. At the other end of the assembled sleeves, a pair of oppositely extending lugs 64 may be upset from the shackle to abut the edge of the adjoining sleeve D1. The shackle may be rotated with respect to the sleeves and the body. The sleeves are rotatable on the long portion of the shackle, and the sleeves move linearly with the shackle as a unit.

As shown in FIG. 14, each dial C has a central opening extending therethrough, and a plurality of circumferentially spaced grooves 66 on its inner diameter, there being one groove for each number or indicia on the outer circumference of the dial. As shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, notches 68 are spaced around the outer circumference of the dial between adjacent numbers or indicia. The notches on each dial cooperate with a detent 70 on a spring arm 72 which extends from the base portion 73 of the dial cooperable means E. The dial cooperable means is stamped and formed from a metal having spring properties, and the part is made with a number of arms equal to the number of dials. The part is held in place by a holding member 74 which extends from the body member 20, the end of the projection pressing the base portion 73 against the adjoining wall of the opposite body member. This arrangement prevents the dials from spinning freely; the rotation of the dials, and the sleeves, is controlled.

The dials C and the sleeves B are provided with cooperable means to separably key them to one another. As shown in FIGS. 15 and 16, each sleeve has a central bore 76 of a diameter slightly greater than the diameter of the shackle. The outer diameter of the sleeve is provided with a plurality of circumferentially spaced, longitudinally extending teeth 78. The teeth extend longitudinally for a distance less than the length of each sleeve, whereby a shank or base portion 80 of reduced diameter is provided for a portion of the sleeve's length. For a 10 insignia or numbered dial, there are 10 grooves 66. Each sleeve however, is provided with nine teeth. One tooth is omitted to furnish by-pass means 82. The by-pass means comprises a segment in the toothed portion, and has a diameter the same as the diameter of the shank 80.

The body A is provided with means cooperable with each sleeve to prevent movement of the shackle, or to maintain the device in locked condition. For this purpose, the body is provided or cast with a plurality of longitudinally spaced blocking means in the form of projections 84a, 84b and 84c. The blocking projections extend into the cavity 34 for selective cooperation with the teeth 78 and with the by-pass means 82. When, as shown in FIG. 6, a blocking projection is in the path of a tooth on any one of the three sleeves ("off combination"), the device is locked; that is, the shackle cannot be moved from its closed and locked position as shown in FIG. 6 to the open position as shown in FIG. 4.

When the sleeves are all oriented so that the by-pass portions 82 are in alignment with the blocking projections 84, the padlock is "on combination." As a result, the shackle may be moved from the closed position of FIG. 3 to the open position of FIG. 4 and vice versa. In the open position of the shackle, the by-pass portions 82 on each sleeve are astride the blocking projections 84 and the teeth are within the dial grooves 66, as shown in FIG. 9. As a result, the dials cannot be rotated. To limit the extent that the shackle may be moved in an outward direction to open position, the body A is provided with an annular shoulder 86 which is engaged by the teeth 78 of the adjoining sleeve D1, as shown in FIG. 4. As previously indicated, the shackle is limited in its inward movement to the closed position by the engagement of the end 58 of the short portion with the base 60 of the recess 56. In the movement of the shackle from the closed to open position and vice versa, or from the position of FIG. 3 to the position of FIG. 4 and vice versa, the teeth 78 on the sleeves are at all times within the grooves 66 of the dials.

To change or set the device to a combination of one's own choice, the shackle is moved from the open position of FIG. 4 to the third or combination changing position as shown in FIG. 7. In this latter position, the teeth 78 of the sleeves are disengaged from the grooves 66 of the dials, whereby a sleeve-dial relationship may be changed to a new setting.

To enable the shackle to be pushed inwardly to the position of FIG. 7, the shackle is rotated around the axis provided by the long portion 50 to where the axis of the short portion 52 is located outside the perimeter of the adjoining end 38 of the body. Now, when manual pressure is applied to the shackle at the bent portion 51, the end 38 of the body does not obstruct the movement of the shackle, and the end 58 of the short portion 52 may move alongside and below the plane of the end 38 of the body.

In the case of a padlock having three dials, and therefore three sleeves as illustrated, an additional or fourth projection 88 is provided to extend from the body at that end of the cavity 34 which is adjacent to the closed end wall 42. The projection 88 is in alignment with the projections 84. Whereas the projections 84 function both to block movement of the shackle and to allow and guide movement of the shackle when the by-pass portions 82 are aligned therewith, the projection 88 possesses only the latter function. As a result, and since the device is "on combination" when the device is to be set to a new combination, the by-pass portion 82 of the sleeve D3 moves astride the projection 88. The length of the shank portion 80 and the length of the toothed portion of each sleeve are such that upon the inward displacement of the sleeves, the sleeves D1 and D2 move onto the projections 84b and 84a, respectively (FIG. 7). Since the by-pass portions 82 are astride the projections 84a, 84b and 88 with a close fit, the sleeves do not rotate while the combination is being changed. The dials however, are free to rotate, thereby permitting a sleeve-dial relationship to be changed.

While not essential, it is preferred to provide resilient means to urge the sleeves into keyed engagement with the dials. As shown, a leaf spring F has one end thereof hooked about a support 90. By casting the body members 20 and 22, portions of the support may be made as integral parts of each body member. The spring member may be bent at 92 where it engages an adjoining wall portion of the body. A bent portion 94 of the spring is biased against the end of the shackle thereby urging the shackle to the left as shown in FIGS. 3, 5, 6 and 7. Biasing the shackle to the left causes the teeth 78 to be urged into the grooves 66 of the dials.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention, and as illustrated, means is provided to guide the shackle to its innermost position when changing or resetting the combination. Also means is provided for holding the shackle in its innermost position while the user turns the dials to a selected new combination. To accomplish these purposes and functions, the body is provided with a pair of guide notches 100 and 102 in communication with the opening 36. As best shown in FIGS. 7A and 8, the notches on the sides of the opening 36 are in alignment with the recess 56 which receives the end of the short portion 52 of the shackle. The long portion 50 of the shackle is provided with a longitudinally extending rib 104. In the movement of the shackle from the closed position of FIG. 3 to the open position of FIG. 4 and vice versa, the rib 104 rides in the notch 100. When the shackle is to be displaced inwardly to the combination changing position, the shackle is rotated 180.degree.. Then, pressure is applied to the bent portion 51 so that the shackle is in the position (x) shown by the dot-dash lines in FIGS. 7 and 7A. The rib 104 is guided by the notch 102 as the shackle is pushed inwardly against the force of the spring F. In this position of the shackle, the teeth of the sleeves are disengaged from the grooves in the dials thereby enabling one to change the relationship of a dial and sleeve.

To releasably hold the shackle in combination changing position while freeing both hands to hold the padlock and to manipulate the dials, the shackle may be rotated to the position (y) as shown in FIGS. 7 and 7A. In this position, the rib 104, which is within the body A, is urged by the spring F against the wall portion 106 of the body which adjoins the opening 36. After setting the combination, the reverse procedure is followed. The shackle is rotated about the axis provided by the long portion 50 to where the rib 104 is in alignment with the notch 102, whereupon the spring F displaces the shackle to its outermost position. At the same time, the sleeves are keyed to the dials, and now the shackle may be rotated to the position shown in FIG. 4 preliminary to closing and locking the device.

It is believed that the advantages and improved results furnished by the combination padlock of the invention will be apparent from the foregoing description of a preferred embodiment of the invention. Various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as sought to be defined in the following claims.

Claims

We claim:

1. A combination padlock comprising a body having an internal cavity and a plurality of spaced slots in communication with the cavity, a dial positioned in each slot, a shackle movable to a first open position, a second closed position, and a third combination changing position, the shackle having a long portion and a short portion, the long portion extending into said internal cavity, means at one end of the body to receive the end of the short portion in the closed position of the shackle, a sleeve for each dial rotatably mounted on said long portion with the sleeves in abutting, end to end relation, means securing the sleeves against linear movement on said long portion while allowing the shackle to be rotated with respect to the sleeves, cooperable means provided by each dial and its respective sleeve to separably key them to one another, spaced blocking means provided by the body cooperable with each sleeve to prevent movement of the shackle, the sleeves having means for by-passing said blocking means to allow linear movement of the shackle and the sleeves therewith outwardly of the body to said first position; inwardly to said second position, and further inwardly to said third position, the rotation of the shackle about the axis of the long portion to where the axis of the short portion is located outside the perimeter of the body permitting the further inward movement to the third position.

2. A combination padlock according to claim 1 wherein the means provided by each dial and its respective sleeve to separably key them to one another comprises a sleeve having a shank portion and a portion having teeth, the dial having grooves on its internal diameter to receive the teeth, a tooth on a sleeve being cooperable with a blocking means to prevent movement of the shackle.

3. A combination padlock according to claim 2 wherein the means for by-passing said blocking means comprises a by-pass segment within the portion having teeth, the segment having a diameter substantially equal to the diameter of said shank portion.

4. A combination padlock according to claim 3 wherein the spaced blocking means comprises a plurality of projections cooperable with the teeth and the by-pass segments; and wherein an additional projection provided by the body is in alignment with the aforementioned projections and is cooperable with the by-pass segment of the adjoining sleeve.

5. A combination padlock according to claim 1 including a spring member cooperable with the free end of the long portion of the shackle.

6. A combination padlock according to claim 1 wherein the body has an opening in communication with the cavity, a rib on the long portion of the shackle, and a pair of notches in communication with said opening to allow selective passage of the rib in the movement of the shackle from the first open position to the third combination changing position and vice versa, and from the first open position to the second closed position and vice versa.

7. A combination padlock according to claim 1 wherein the means provided by each dial and its respective sleeve to separably key them to one another comprises a sleeve having a shank portion and a portion having teeth, the dial having grooves on its internal diameter to receive the teeth, a tooth on a sleeve being cooperable with a blocking means to prevent movement of the shackle; wherein the means for by-passing said blocking means comprises a by-pass segment within the portion having teeth, the segment having a diameter substantially equal to the diameter of the shank portion; wherein the spaced blocking means comprises a plurality of projections cooperable with the teeth and the by-pass segments; wherein an additional projection provided by the body is in alignment with the aforementioned projections and is cooperable with the by-pass segment of the adjoining sleeve; wherein a spring member is cooperable with the free end of the long portion of the shackle; and wherein the body has an opening in communication with the cavity, a rib is provided on the long portion of the shackle, and a pair of notches are in communication with said opening to allow selective passage of the rib in the movement of the shackle from the first open position to the third combination changing position and vice versa, and from the first open position to the second closed position and vice versa.