Locks – Portable – Padlocks
Reexamination Certificate
2002-09-20
2004-07-27
Knight, Anthony (Department: 3676)
Locks
Portable
Padlocks
C070S026000, C070S03800C, C070S039000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06766673
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is an improved padlock having an improved shackle retainer assembly which greatly eases the replacement of a shackle in a lock. The present invention also is an improved padlock which can be easily converted from a key retaining lock to a key nonretaining lock and vice versa.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Padlocks can have shackles of lengths from ½-inch up to and including 6 inches. Padlocks with even longer shackles, up to almost 20 inches have been prepared. For the lower grades of locks, the locks made with the shackle permanently secured to the lock body it is not possible to change shackles. This requires the locksmith, or store, or manufacturer to carry a large inventory of locks having different shackles. More expensive locks have replacement shackles which normally require at least removal of the locking assembly from the lock to change the shackle. Some locks require removal of a pin from the back of the body to change a shackle.
Some locks are normally made either to retain the key in the lock when the lock is unlocked or open or to permit the key to be removed when the lock is unopened or locked state. Expensive locks can be converted from key retaining to key nonretaining by replacing either the key cylinder assembly or the key cylinder plug, or for some locks, replacing an adapter positioned between the key cylinder assembly and the lock ball retainer.
The present invention provides a cylinder plug which permits the lock to be made key retaining by the insertion of a pin at the driver end of the cylinder plug, or made non-key retaining, i.e. key nonretaining, by removal of a pin from the driver end of the cylinder plug. By key retaining, it is meant that the lock retains the key in the cylinder assembly when the lock is in the unlocked state. By key nonretaining, i.e. non-key retaining, it is meant that the key can be removed from the lock in the unlocked state. By the unlocked state, it is meant that both arms of the shackle are not secured within the lock body by the locking mechanism.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The improved padlock of the present invention has a lock body with first and second shackle bores open to the top of the lock and extending toward the bottom of the body, a lock assembly chamber open to the bottom of the lock body and extending upwardly toward the top of the lock body, a lock ball bore extending from the top portion of the first shackle bore through the top of the lock assembly chamber into the top portion of the second shackle bore, and an access hole extending from the bottom of the lock body into the bottom of the second shackle bore; a generally U-shaped shackle having first and second arms, the first arm adapted to be slidably moved in and out of the first shackle bore and to be lockably engaged in the first shackle bore, the second arm slidably and rotably secured in the second shackle bore and adapted to be lockably engaged in the second shackle bore, the second arm having a threaded bore opening to its end, the first and second arms having notches facing each other to receive lock balls to lockably secure the shackle in the lock body, a torus-shaped retainer adapted to slide and rotate within the second shackle bore, a threaded retaining member having a recessed driver receiver hole in its head securing the retainer into the base of the second arm, the threaded retaining member adapted to be secured and removed from the end of the second arm of the shackle by a driver inserted through the access hole into the recessed driver receiver hole and threaded into or out of the threaded bore in the second arm, first and second lock balls adapted to slide in the lock ball bore to engage the notches in the first and second arms to lock the shackle in the lock body, a lock ball retainer at the top of the lock assembly chamber adapted to rotate therein, the lock ball retainer having a driven end, first and second notches to receive the first and second lock balls, respectively, to unlock the shackle from the lock body, and two lock ball races running between the first and second notches adapted to rollingly engage the lock balls and to push the lock balls into the notches of the first and second arms to lock the shackle in the lock body; a key cylinder assembly having a key cylinder housing and a key cylinder plug, the plug having a key insert end and opposing driver end, the driver end engaging the driven end of the lock ball retainer, the key cylinder plug, when rotated, rotating the lock ball retainer from a locked position to an unlocked position.
The improved padlock of the present invention has a lock body with first and second shackle bores open to the top of the lock body and extending toward the bottom of the body, a lock assembly chamber open to the bottom of the lock body and extending upwardly toward the top of the lock body, a lock ball bore extending from the top portion of the first shackle bore through the top of the lock assembly chamber into the top portion of the second shackle bore, and an access hole extending from the bottom of the lock body into the bottom of the second shackle bore; a generally U-shaped shackle having first and second arms, the first arm adapted to be slidably moved in and out of the first shackle bore and to be lockably engaged in the first shackle bore, the second arm slidably and rotably secured in the second shackle bore and adapted to be lockably engaged in the second shackle bore, the first and second arms having notches facing each other to receive lock balls to lockably secure the shackle in the lock body, first and second lock balls adapted to slide in the lock ball bore to engage the notches in the first and second arms to lock the shackle in the lock body, a lock ball retainer at the top of the lock assembly chamber adapted to rotate therein, the lock ball retainer having a driven end, first and second notches to receive the first and second lock balls, respectively, to unlock the shackle from the lock body, and two lock ball races running between the first and second notches adapted to rollingly engage the lock balls and to push the lock balls into the notches of the first and second arms to lock the shackle in the lock body; a key cylinder assembly having a key cylinder housing and a key cylinder plug, the key cylinder plug having a key insert end and an opposing driver end, the driver end engaging the driven end of the lock ball retainer, the cylinder plug when rotated rotating the lock ball retainer from a locked position to an unlocked position.
In another embodiment, the key cylinder assembly comprising a cylinder body and a cylinder plug which is mounted for rotation within the cylinder body, the cylinder plug having a key entry end to receive a bitted or cut key to rotate the cylinder plug and a driver end having a driver half-round in cross section with a straight driver face; a lock ball retainer mounted for rotation at the top of the lock assembly chamber, the lock ball retainer having two diametrically opposed notches on it cylindrical side and two lock ball races on its cylindrical side connecting the notches, the lock balls adapted the position within the notches when the lock is unlocked and the two balls adapted to rotate on the lock ball races when the lock is in a locked state, the lock ball retainer having on its driven end a quarter-round drive pedestal or step with two perpendicular drive surfaces, the driver surface of the cylinder plug adapted to engage the first drive surface of the lock ball retainer when the cylinder plug is rotated to unlock the lock and to align the notches; a retainer spring connected to the lock ball retainer to bias the retainer from an unlocked state to a locked state. In the unlocked state, the lock balls are free to roll into the lock ball retainer notches freeing the notches on the first and second shackle arm, unlocking the shackle and permitting the shackle to be elevated up from the lock body with the first arm clearing the lock body and the second arm being retained in the lock body for
Gast Robert Lee
Johnson Loring M.
Landrum John Wade
Wilkosz Robert A.
Hampton Products International Corporation
Knight Anthony
Lane William G.
LandOfFree
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