Key lock

Abstract

The present invention relates to a padlock comprising a shackle, a body, a shackle, a cylinder, a sleeve; the shackle having a short leg and a long leg; the body having a first hole configured to receive the short leg of the shackle and a second hole configured to receive the long leg of the shackle, wherein the long leg is configured to be at least partially retained within the body; the shackle being movable between a first position, wherein the shackle engages the short leg of the shackle, and a second position, wherein the shackle is disengaged from the short leg of the shackle; the cylinder being configured for rotational movement within the body and operatively engaging the shackle; the sleeve being configured to control the rotational movement of the cylinder; and wherein the padlock is in a locked mode when the shackle is in the first position and the padlock is in an unlocked mode when the shackle is in the second position.

Description

[0001] Cross-references to related applications

[0002] This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 63 / 418,786, filed on October 24, 2022, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. Technical Field

[0003] The present invention relates generally to key-type locks, and more specifically, to key-type padlocks with a contact locking system. Background Technology

[0004] There are key-type locks that utilize a pin tumbler system. Summary of the Invention

[0005] An exemplary embodiment of the present invention is a key lock designed to incorporate a wafer locking system having a sleeve to retain and control the rotation and placement of the cylinder.

[0006] The objective of this invention is to provide a padlock operable by a key-operated lock cylinder.

[0007] Another objective of the present invention is to provide a padlock having a key-type lock cylinder, the key-type lock cylinder including one or more contacts that control the operation of the padlock.

[0008] Another object of the present invention is to provide a padlock having a sleeve configured to control the rotation of the lock cylinder.

[0009] Another objective of the present invention is to provide a contact slot within a sleeve for controlling a contact, such that when a cut key is inserted into a padlock, the contact will be pushed downward to allow the lock cylinder to rotate within the sleeve.

[0010] Another objective of the present invention is to provide a control edge and a corresponding rotation control finger to limit the angular movement of the lock cylinder within the sleeve, such that the contact plate will align with the contact plate slot so that the contact plate extends away from the lock cylinder.

[0011] Another object of the present invention is to provide a wing that extends from a sleeve for engaging a sleeve wing slot within the body of a padlock, such that the sleeve does not rotate during the locking or unlocking mode of the padlock.

[0012] Another objective of the present invention is to provide a cylinder retainer (peg) for interaction with a cylinder retainer slot on the sleeve, to provide an additional or alternative mechanism for preventing the sleeve from rotating within the padlock.

[0013] Another objective of the present invention is to provide a retaining slot for the lock cylinder to interact with the lock cylinder retaining bolt, such that the lock cylinder will have rotational movement within the lock body, but no vertical movement.

[0014] Another objective of the present invention is to provide a larger radius edge at one end of the lock cylinder to cover the contact plate to prevent the lock from being pried open from the outside and to prevent the sleeve from sliding outside the lock cylinder.

[0015] Another objective of the invention is that the larger radius edge protects the sleeve by allowing engagement between the sleeve and the lock cylinder retainer, the lock cylinder and the lock body, such an arrangement prevents the sleeve from falling off the lock body; and the larger radius edge also protects the contacts from being pried open from the outside of the lock, and makes the only way to open the lock is by providing the correct type of key.

[0016] Another object of the present invention is to provide an extension pin for a lock cylinder, which is operatively coupled to a control slot in a latch to control the movement of the latch, such that the latch can be moved from a locked mode to an unlocked mode by rotational movement of the lock cylinder.

[0017] It will thus be apparent that these and other objectives can be achieved by a padlock according to an exemplary aspect of the invention, the padlock comprising a shackle, a lock body, a latch, a lock cylinder, and a sleeve; the shackle having a short leg and a long leg; the lock body having a first hole and a second hole, the first hole being configured to receive the short leg of the shackle, the second hole being configured to receive the long leg of the shackle, wherein the long leg is configured to be at least partially retained within the lock body; the latch being movable between a first position and a second position, the first position engaging the short leg of the shackle, the second position disengaging the short leg of the shackle; the lock cylinder being configured for rotational movement within the lock body and operatively engaging the latch; the sleeve being configured to control the rotational movement of the lock cylinder; and wherein when the latch is in the first position, the padlock is in a locked mode, and when the latch is in the second position, the padlock is in an unlocked mode.

[0018] According to this and other exemplary aspects of the invention, the lock cylinder may include one or more contact plates and one or more contact plate springs, wherein each contact plate spring engages a corresponding contact plate of the one or more contact plates to push the corresponding contact plate in a certain direction to extend away from the lock cylinder, and wherein the sleeve may include a contact plate slot configured to receive the one or more contact plates when the one or more contact plates extend away from the lock cylinder, and the contact plate slot is configured to inhibit rotation of the lock cylinder when the one or more contact plates extend away from the lock cylinder.

[0019] According to this and other exemplary aspects of the invention, the lock cylinder may further include rotation control fingers extending from the lock cylinder, and the sleeve may further include a control edge locking side and a control edge opening side, the control edge locking side contacting the rotation control fingers of the lock cylinder during a locked mode such that one or more contacts will align with contact slots of the sleeve to allow one or more contacts to extend away from the lock cylinder, and the control edge opening side contacting the rotation control fingers of the lock cylinder during an unlocked mode such that the lock cylinder will rotate between the control edge locking side and the control edge opening side of the sleeve.

[0020] According to this and other exemplary aspects of the invention, the lock cylinder is configured to receive a correct-pattern key that causes one or more contacts to retract fully into the lock cylinder such that none of the contacts extend into the contact slots of the sleeve, and the lock cylinder is configured to rotate within the sleeve when the one or more contacts are fully retracted into the lock cylinder.

[0021] According to this and other exemplary aspects of the invention, the lock body may further include a lock cylinder hole formed therein, the lock cylinder hole being configured to receive a sleeve and a lock cylinder at least partially surrounded by the sleeve, and the lock cylinder hole may include a sleeve wing slot configured to receive a wing of the sleeve, wherein engagement of the sleeve wing slot with the wing of the sleeve prevents rotation of the sleeve within the lock body.

[0022] According to this and other exemplary aspects of the invention, the sleeve may further include a retaining slot, and the lock body may further include a lock cylinder retaining hole formed therein, the lock cylinder retaining hole being configured to receive a lock cylinder retaining bolt, and the lock cylinder retaining bolt being located within the retaining slot of the sleeve and preventing rotational movement of the sleeve within the lock body.

[0023] According to this and other exemplary aspects of the invention, the lock cylinder may include a retaining slot, and the lock body may include a lock cylinder retaining hole formed therein, the lock cylinder retaining hole being configured to receive a lock cylinder retaining bolt, and the lock cylinder retaining bolt being located within the retaining slot of the lock cylinder to allow rotational movement of the lock cylinder within the lock body but to prevent linear movement of the lock cylinder within the lock body.

[0024] According to this and other exemplary aspects of the invention, the lock cylinder may further include a larger radius edge formed at one end of the lock cylinder, wherein the circumferential dimension of the larger radius edge is larger than the circumferential dimension of the sleeve to retain the sleeve within the lock body.

[0025] According to this and other exemplary aspects of the invention, the latch may include a control slot; the lock cylinder may include an extension pin configured to operatively engage the control slot of the latch; and by rotational movement of the lock cylinder, the extension pin is configured to move the latch between a first position and a second position to operate the padlock between a locked mode and an unlocked mode.

[0026] According to this and other exemplary aspects of the invention, the latch may include a control slot; the lock cylinder may include an extension pin configured to operatively engage the control slot of the latch; and by rotational movement of the lock cylinder, when one or more contacts are fully retracted into the lock cylinder by a correctly styled key, the control pin is configured to move the latch from a first position to a second position to operate the padlock from a locked mode to an unlocked mode.

[0027] According to this and other exemplary aspects of the invention, the sleeve may include a retaining slot, and the lock body may include a lock cylinder retaining hole formed therein, the lock cylinder retaining hole being configured to receive a lock cylinder retaining bolt, and the lock cylinder retaining bolt being located within the retaining slot of the sleeve and preventing rotational movement of the sleeve within the lock body.

[0028] According to this and other exemplary aspects of the invention, the sleeve may include a retaining slot, and a lock cylinder retaining bolt is located within the retaining slot of the sleeve and prevents rotational movement of the sleeve within the lock body.

[0029] According to this and other exemplary aspects of the invention, the lock body may include an angled latch hole that intersects with a first hole and has a latch disposed therein; and the latch is operatively connected to a latch spring in the angled latch hole, the latch spring being configured to push the latch to a first position.

[0030] According to this and other exemplary aspects of the invention, the lock body may include a ring retaining hole that intersects with a second hole and has a ring retaining bolt disposed therein; the long leg of the ring may include a flat surface and a neck bar; when the ring retaining bolt contacts the flat surface of the long leg, the ring retaining bolt allows the ring to move linearly along the lock body, and when the ring retaining bolt contacts the neck bar, it allows the ring to rotate around the long leg; and the long leg of the ring cannot be removed from the lock body without first removing the ring retaining bolt.

[0031] According to this and other exemplary aspects of the invention, the latch may include an end; and when the latch is in the first position, the short leg of the ring may include a latch notch for receiving the end of the latch; rotational movement of the lock cylinder causes an extension pin to move the latch so that the end of the latch disengages from the latch notch of the short leg of the ring and allows the short leg of the ring to move away from the first hole in the lock body, such that the padlock is in the unlocked mode.

[0032] According to this and other exemplary aspects of the invention, the padlock may further include a locking spring disposed in a second hole of the lock body and operatively coupled to a long leg of the locking ring to push the locking ring away from the lock body; when the latch is in the second position, the latch spring causes the short leg of the locking ring to move away from the first hole of the lock body.

[0033] According to this and other exemplary aspects of the invention, a padlock may include a lock ring, a lock body, a latch, a lock cylinder, and a sleeve; the lock ring has a short leg and a long leg; the lock body has a first hole and a second hole, the first hole being configured to receive the short leg of the lock ring, the second hole being configured to receive the long leg of the lock ring, the long leg being configured to be at least partially retained within the lock body; the latch is movable between a first position and a second position, the first position engaging the short leg of the lock ring, the second position disengaging the short leg of the lock ring; the lock cylinder is configured for rotational movement within the lock body and operatively engaging the latch; the sleeve is configured to control the rotational movement of the lock cylinder; when the latch is in the first position, the padlock is in a locked mode, and when the latch is in the second position, the padlock is in an unlocked mode; the lock cylinder may also... The sleeve includes one or more contact plates and one or more contact plate springs, each contact plate spring engaging a corresponding contact plate of the one or more contact plates to push the corresponding contact plate in a certain direction to extend away from the lock cylinder; the sleeve may include a contact plate slot configured to receive one or more contact plates when the one or more contact plates extend away from the lock cylinder, the contact plate slot being configured to inhibit rotation of the lock cylinder when the one or more contact plates extend away from the lock cylinder; the lock cylinder may also include rotation control fingers extending from the lock cylinder; the sleeve also includes a control edge locking side and a control edge opening side; the control edge locking side contacts the rotation control fingers of the lock cylinder during a locked mode, such that one or more contact plates will align with the contact plate slot of the sleeve to allow one or more contact plates to extend away from the lock cylinder; Furthermore, the control edge opening side contacts the rotation control fingers of the lock cylinder during the unlocking mode, causing the lock cylinder to rotate between the control edge locking side and the control edge opening side of the sleeve; the lock cylinder is configured to rotate within the sleeve when one or more contacts are fully retracted into the lock cylinder; the lock body may also include a lock cylinder bore formed therein, configured to receive the sleeve and the lock cylinder; the lock cylinder is at least partially surrounded by the sleeve; the lock cylinder bore may include a sleeve wing slot configured to receive a wing of the sleeve; the engagement of the sleeve wing slot with the wing of the sleeve prevents rotation of the sleeve within the lock body, the sleeve may also include a retaining slot; the lock body also includes a lock cylinder retaining hole formed therein, configured to receive a lock cylinder retaining pin. The retaining bolt is located within the retaining slot of the sleeve and prevents rotational movement of the sleeve within the lock body; the lock cylinder may also include a retaining slot, within which the retaining bolt is located to allow rotational movement of the lock cylinder within the lock body but prevent linear movement of the lock cylinder within the lock body; the lock cylinder may also include a larger radius edge formed at one end of the lock cylinder, the circumference of which is larger than the circumference of the sleeve to retain the sleeve within the lock body; the latch may include a control slot, and the lock cylinder may include an extension pin configured to operatively engage the control slot of the latch; and by rotational movement of the lock cylinder, the extension pin is configured to move the latch between a first position and a second position to operate the padlock between a locked mode and an unlocked mode.

[0034] The exemplary aspects of the invention discussed are merely illustrative, and it should be understood that the invention is not limited to any particular aspect or combination thereof. Rather, the invention encompasses individual elements of a single exemplary aspect as well as combinations thereof with any other individual elements, whether or not specifically described as exemplary aspects.

[0035] The reference numerals and corresponding component descriptions are as follows:

[0036] 10 Padlocks

[0037] 20 Lock body

[0038] 21 Short-leg locking ring hole

[0039] 22 Long-legged locking ring holes

[0040] 23 Angular Latch Hole

[0041] 24 Lock cylinder retaining hole

[0042] 25 Locking ring retaining hole

[0043] 26 Straight latch holes

[0044] 27 Lock cylinder hole

[0045] 28 Sleeve wing slot

[0046] 30 Locking Ring

[0047] 31. Latch cut

[0048] 32 neck bar

[0049] 33 Flat surface

[0050] 34 Long legs

[0051] 35 Short legs

[0052] 40. Latch

[0053] 41 End

[0054] 42 Control slot

[0055] 43 Tail

[0056] 50 lock cylinders

[0057] 51 Extension pin

[0058] 52. Maintain the narrow slot

[0059] 53 Rotation control fingers

[0060] 54 Contact slots

[0061] 55 Larger radius edge

[0062] 60 sleeve

[0063] 61 Contact slot

[0064] 62a Control edge locking side

[0065] 62b Control edge opening side

[0066] 63 Wings

[0067] 64. Maintain the narrow slot

[0068] 65 Lock cylinder hole

[0069] 70 contact pads

[0070] 80 Lock cylinder retaining bolt

[0071] 90 Locking Ring Retaining Bolt

[0072] 100 Latch Hole Sealing Plug

[0073] 110 Latch Spring

[0074] 120 Locking Ring Spring

[0075] 130 contact spring

[0076] 140 keys Attached Figure Description

[0077] For a more complete understanding of the nature and objectives of the present invention, reference should be made to the following specific embodiments in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

[0078] Figure 1A For along Figure 1B A cross-sectional view of an exemplary padlock according to one aspect of the present invention, taken by line AA in locked mode;

[0079] Figure 1B For along Figure 1A A cross-sectional view of an exemplary padlock taken by line BB;

[0080] Figure 1C For along Figure 1A A cross-sectional view of an exemplary padlock taken by line CC;

[0081] Figure 1D For along Figure 1A A cross-sectional view of an exemplary padlock taken by line DD;

[0082] Figure 1E For along Figure 1A A cross-sectional view of an exemplary padlock taken by line EE;

[0083] Figure 1FThis is a perspective view of an exemplary padlock, with the lock body removed to show exemplary internal components of the padlock;

[0084] Figure 1G This is a perspective view of an exemplary padlock, with the lock body removed to show exemplary internal components of the padlock;

[0085] Figure 2 This is a perspective view of an exemplary lock body, which can be used with an exemplary padlock according to one aspect of the present invention;

[0086] Figure 3 This is a perspective view of an exemplary locking ring, which can be used with an exemplary padlock according to one aspect of the invention;

[0087] Figure 4 This is a perspective view of an exemplary latch, which can be used with an exemplary padlock according to one aspect of the invention;

[0088] Figure 5 This is a perspective view of an exemplary lock cylinder that can be used with an exemplary padlock according to one aspect of the invention;

[0089] Figure 6A This is a perspective view of an exemplary sleeve that can be used with an exemplary padlock according to one aspect of the invention;

[0090] Figure 6B A perspective view of an exemplary sleeve;

[0091] Figure 7A For along Figure 7B A cross-sectional view of an exemplary padlock according to one aspect of the present invention, taken by line AA in unlocked mode;

[0092] Figure 7B For along Figure 7A A cross-sectional view of an exemplary padlock taken by line BB;

[0093] Figure 7C For along Figure 7A A cross-sectional view of an exemplary padlock taken by line CC;

[0094] Figure 7D For along Figure 7A A cross-sectional view of an exemplary padlock taken by line DD;

[0095] Figure 7E For along Figure 1A A cross-sectional view of an exemplary padlock taken by line EE;

[0096] Figure 7F This is a perspective view of an exemplary padlock, with the lock body removed to show exemplary internal components of the padlock; and

[0097] Figure 7G This is a perspective view of an exemplary padlock, with the lock body removed to show exemplary internal components of the padlock. Detailed Implementation

[0098] The present invention will now be described more fully below with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which exemplary embodiments of the invention are illustrated. However, the invention may be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Similar reference numerals refer to similar elements throughout the text.

[0099] refer to Figure 1A , Figure 1F , Figure 1G , Figure 2 , Figure 7A , Figure 7F and Figure 7G Exemplary embodiments of a padlock, such as a key-type padlock, are shown according to one aspect of the present invention, generally indicated by reference numeral 10. The padlock 10 may include a lock body 20, which forms the outer shell of the padlock 10. The lock body 20 may include a short-legged ring hole 21 and a long-legged ring hole 22 formed therein. The lock body 20 of the padlock 10 may also include an angled latch hole 23, which may be formed to at least partially intersect with either or both of the short-legged ring hole 21 and / or the long-legged ring hole 22. The lock body 20 may also include a lock cylinder retaining hole 24 and a lock cylinder hole 27 formed therein, wherein the lock cylinder retaining hole 24 and the lock cylinder hole 27 may be formed within the lock body 20 to intersect each other. The lock body 20 of the padlock 10 may also include a ring retaining hole 25, which is formed within the lock body 20 to intersect with the long-legged ring hole 22. The lock body 20 may also include a straight latch hole 26 located on the periphery of the lock body and at least partially intersecting with an angled latch hole 23. The lock body 20 may also include one or more sleeve wing slots 28 formed in the lock cylinder hole 27.

[0100] For reference Figure 1A , Figure 1F , Figure 1G , Figure 3 , Figure 7A , Figure 7F and Figure 7GThe padlock 10 may also include a ring 30 having a long leg 34 and a short leg 35. The long leg 34 of the ring 30 may include a neck bar 32 having a smaller diameter than the diameter of the long leg 34. The long leg 34 may also include a flat surface 33 formed on a portion of the long leg 34, the flat surface 33 being formed adjacent to the neck bar 32. The short leg 35 of the ring 30 may include a latch cutout 31 formed therein. The long leg 34 of the ring 30 may be configured and sized to receive in a long leg ring hole 22 of the lock body 20 of the padlock 10, and the short leg 35 of the ring 30 may be configured and sized to receive in a short leg ring hole 21 of the lock body 20.

[0101] For reference Figure 1A , Figure 1B , Figure 1D , Figure 1F , Figure 1G , Figure 4 , Figure 7A , Figure 7B , Figure 7D , Figure 7F and Figure 7G The padlock 10 may also include a latch 40 configured with a latch notch 31 for operatively engaging the short leg 35 of the padlock 30. The latch 40 may include an end 41, a control slot 42, and a tail 43.

[0102] For reference Figure 1A , Figure 1F , Figure 1G , Figure 5 , Figure 7A , Figure 7F and Figure 7G The padlock 10 may also include a lock cylinder 50 configured and sized to be received within a lock cylinder bore 27 of the lock body 20. The lock cylinder 50 may include an extension pin 51 and a retaining slot 52; the extension pin 51 protrudes from one end of the lock cylinder 50; the retaining slot 52 is formed in the periphery of the lock cylinder. The lock cylinder 50 may also include rotation control fingers 53 and one or more contact slots 54 formed therein. The lock cylinder 50 may also have a larger radius edge 55 extending from the lock cylinder 50 at an end of the lock cylinder 50 opposite the end of the extension pin 51. The perimeter of the larger radius edge 55 is greater than the perimeter of the lock cylinder 50. Once the padlock 10 is assembled, the larger radius edge 55 of the lock cylinder 50 prevents the sleeve 60 from disengaging from the lock cylinder 50. The larger radius edge 55 is also configured to deter an intruder from using a thin layer of metal (e.g., a washer or a knife) to contact the contact 70, thereby preventing lock picking.

[0103] For reference Figure 1A , Figure 1F , Figure 1G , Figure 6A , Figure 6B , Figure 7A , Figure 7F and Figure 7G The padlock 10 may further include a sleeve 60 configured and sized to be received within a lock cylinder bore 27. The sleeve 60 may include one or more contact slots 61. The sleeve 60 may also include a notch at one end having a control edge locking side 62A and a control edge opening side 62B. The sleeve 60 may also include a wing 63 configured and sized to be received within a sleeve wing slot 28 of the lock cylinder bore 27. The wing 63 is fitted into the sleeve wing slot 28 of the lock cylinder bore 27 to prevent rotation of 60 within the lock cylinder bore 27. The end of the sleeve 60 opposite the notch may include a retaining slot 64, and the sleeve 60 may be configured and sized to receive the lock cylinder 50 within a lock cylinder bore 65 of the sleeve 60.

[0104] For reference Figure 1A , Figure 1B , Figure 1F , Figure 1G , Figure 7A , Figure 7B , Figure 7F and Figure 7GThe padlock 10 is configurable to be operated by a key and includes one or more contacts 70 within a contact slot 54 of the lock cylinder 50. Each contact 70 engages a contact spring 130 configured to press the contact 70 toward one of the contact slots 61 in the sleeve 60. Thus, the lock cylinder 50 cannot rotate within the padlock 10 until the correct key 140 is inserted into the lock cylinder 50 to move the contact 70 away from the contact slot 61 of the sleeve 60. The padlock 10 may also include a lock cylinder retainer 80 located within a lock cylinder retainer hole 24 of the lock body 20 and configured to engage a retainer slot 52 of the lock cylinder 50. The lock cylinder retainer 80 may also be configured to engage a retainer slot 64 of the sleeve 60. The retaining slot 64 of the sleeve 60 has a shape configured to receive the cylinder retaining bolt 80, such that the cylinder retaining bolt 80 prevents the sleeve 60 from rotating within the cylinder bore 27 of the lock body 20. The retaining slot 64 of the sleeve 60 has a shape that receives the cylinder retaining bolt 80, such that this shape prevents the sleeve 60 from rotating. Therefore, advantageously, when the contact plate 70 extends outward to contact the contact plate slot 61 of the sleeve 60, when the padlock 10 is in the locked mode, the wing 63 and the retaining slot 64 restrict the rotation of the sleeve 60, which also restricts the rotation of the cylinder 50. The cylinder retaining bolt 80 can be installed in the padlock 10 by inserting it into the cylinder retaining hole 24 of the lock body 20 to engage the retaining slot 52 of the cylinder 50 and the retaining slot of the sleeve 60. The cylinder retaining bolt 80 can also be assembled into the retaining slot 52 of the cylinder 50. The retaining slot 52 is designed to allow the lock cylinder 50 to rotate a certain angle between the locked and unlocked modes of the padlock 10. Furthermore, once the lock cylinder retaining bolt 80 is installed in the retaining slot 52 of the lock cylinder 50, the lock cylinder retaining bolt 80 can also be configured to facilitate retaining the lock cylinder 50 within the lock cylinder bore 27. Once the lock cylinder retaining bolt 80 is assembled into the retaining slot 52 of the lock cylinder 50 and the retaining slot 64 of the sleeve 60, the sleeve 60 will not be able to rotate, and the lock cylinder 50 will not have vertical movement, but rotational movement will exist when the correct key 140 is inserted into the padlock 10. Therefore, the lock cylinder retaining bolt 80 is configured to prevent rotation of the sleeve 60 within the lock body 20, limit rotational movement of the lock cylinder 50, and retain the lock cylinder 50 within the lock body 20.

[0105] Still referencing Figure 1A , Figure 1B , Figure 1F , Figure 1G , Figure 7A , Figure 7B , Figure 7F and Figure 7GThe padlock 10 may further include a ring retainer 90, which is located within a ring retainer hole 25 of the lock body 20 and configured to engage the neck 32 and flat surface 33 of the long leg 34 of the ring 30. The padlock 10 may also include a latch hole seal 100, which is located at the end opening of a straight latch hole 26. The padlock 10 may further include a latch spring 110, which is located within an angled latch hole 23 and configured to push the latch 40 toward the short leg 35 of the ring 30 in a certain direction, such that the end 41 of the latch 40 engages the latch notch 31 when the padlock 10 is in the locked mode. The padlock 10 may also include a ring spring 120, which is located within a long leg ring hole 22 and configured to push the long leg 34 of the ring 30 away from the lock body 20 in a certain direction. Padlock 10 can be locked in the correct style key 140 (e.g., Figure 1A and Figure 1B ) and unlock mode (e.g., Figure 7A and Figure 7B Operate between )

[0106] The locking modes of padlock 10 will now be referenced. Figures 1A to 1G , Figures 2 to 5 as well as Figure 6A and Figure 6B The following discussion will be conducted. Each contact slot 54 of the lock cylinder 50 is configured to receive a contact spring 130 and a contact piece 70. In the exemplary embodiment of the padlock 10 shown, four contact slots 54 are formed in the lock cylinder 50; and one contact spring 130 and one contact piece 70 are placed in each contact slot 54, for a total of four contact springs 130 and four contact pieces 70. However, it should be understood that the invention is not limited to any specific number of contact springs 130 and / or contact pieces 70; and any number of contact springs 130 and / or contact pieces 70 (including each of them) can be used. Each of the contact springs 130 applies a force to the corresponding contact piece 70 to push the contact piece 70 to extend through the diameter of the lock cylinder 50; such that the contact piece 70 is configured to extend beyond the cylindrical periphery of the lock cylinder 50. In the locked mode of the padlock 10, the lock cylinder 50 is located in the lock cylinder hole 65 of the sleeve 60, and because the contact spring 130 pushes the contact piece 70 away from the lock cylinder 50, one or more of the contact pieces 70 can extend into and contact the contact piece slot 61 of the sleeve 60 when extended. Without the correct key 140, the user cannot open the padlock 10 because one or more of the contact pieces 70 extend away from and contact the contact piece slot 61, thereby inhibiting the rotational movement of the lock cylinder 50.

[0107] Still referencing Figures 1A to 1G , Figures 2 to 5 as well as Figure 6A and Figure 6BTo facilitate proper alignment of the lock cylinder 50 within the sleeve 60, the lock cylinder 50 includes a rotation control finger 53 disposed between the control edge locking side 62A and the control edge opening side 62B. When the contact plate 70 is retracted into the lock cylinder 50 via the correct-style key 140, the engagement of the rotation control finger 53 between the control edge locking side 62A and the control edge opening side 62B allows the lock cylinder 50 to rotate in the opening direction, and the contact plate 70 no longer engages the contact plate slot 61 but inhibits rotation of the lock cylinder 50 through the control edge locking side 62A and the control edge opening side 62B, thereby maintaining proper alignment of the contact plate 70 with the contact plate slot 61. When the correct key 140 has been withdrawn from the lock cylinder 50, the control edge locking side 62A contacts the rotation control finger 53 of the lock cylinder 50 during the locking mode, so that the lock cylinder 50 will not rotate further in the locking mode, so that the contact plate 70 will align with the contact plate slot 61 to extend the contact plate 70 away from the lock cylinder 50 to put it into the locking mode.

[0108] Still referencing Figures 1A to 1G , Figures 2 to 5 as well as Figure 6A and Figure 6B In the locked mode of the padlock 10, the end 41 of the latch 40 engages the latch notch 31 of the short leg 35 of the ring 30. The latch spring 110 is configured to always push the end 41 in the direction of the latch notch 31 of the ring 30. Due to the at least substantially engagement of the flat surface of the end 41 and the latch notch 31, the ring 30 prevents the ring spring 120 from being pushed, which is compressed by the long leg 34 of the ring 30. Thus, the latch 40 is positioned to prevent the short leg 35 of the ring 30 from being removed from the short leg ring hole 21 of the lock body 20, and the padlock 10 remains in the locked mode. The latch 40 is located on top of the lock cylinder 50, and the extension pin of the lock cylinder 50 extends into the control slot 42 of the latch 40. The latch 40 is located in the angled latch hole 23, and the latch hole sealing plug 100 is assembled to the straight latch hole 26 of the lock body 20 to seal the angled latch hole 23 from exposure.

[0109] Still referencing Figures 1A to 1G , Figures 2 to 5 as well as Figure 6A and Figure 6B When the padlock is in the unlocked mode, the long leg 34 of the lock ring 30 may include a flat surface 33 to allow the long leg 34 of the lock ring 30 to move along the lock ring retainer 90. The lock ring retainer 90 is positioned between the flat surface 33 and the lock ring retainer hole 25 of the lock body 20 in the locked mode. The neck 32 of the long leg 34 of the lock ring 30 is configured to capture the lock ring retainer 90 in the unlocked mode to retain the long leg 34 of the lock ring 30 in the long leg lock ring hole 22 of the lock body 20.

[0110] For reference Figures 7A to 7GThe unlocking mode of the padlock 10 will now be discussed. When the correct key 140 is inserted into the lock cylinder 50, the contact piece 70 retracts from the contact piece slot 61 of the sleeve 60 within the lock cylinder 50, so that the contact piece 70 does not extend out of the contact piece slot 54 and does not contact the contact piece slot 61 of the sleeve 60. The contact piece 70 will no longer extend into the contact piece slot 61, and the lock cylinder 50 will rotate freely within the lock cylinder hole 65 of the sleeve 60. The lock cylinder 50 can now be rotated from the rotation control finger 53 to the control edge opening side 62B of the sleeve 60, where the rotation control finger 53 contacts the control edge locking side 62A. As the lock cylinder 50 rotates to move the rotation control finger 53 to contact the control edge opening side 62B, the extension pin 51 will also move along the arc of the lock cylinder 50 to contact the control slot 42 of the latch 40. As the extension pin 51 moves along the arc of the lock cylinder 50 (caused by the rotation of the lock cylinder), the extension pin 51 acts on the control slot 42 of the latch 40 to compress the latch spring 110, and causes the end 41 of the latch 40 to move away from the short leg 35 of the ring 30. This movement of the end 41 causes the latch 40 to disengage from the latch notch 31 of the ring 30. As the end 41 of the latch 40 disengages from the latch notch 31 of the ring 30, the ring spring 120 applies force to the long leg 34 of the ring 30 to push the ring 30 away from the lock body 20 until the ring retainer 90 contacts the neck 32 of the ring 30, which causes a portion of the long leg 34 of the ring 30 to be retained inside the long leg ring hole 22 of the lock body 20.

[0111] Still referencing Figures 7A to 7G In the unlocked mode, the wing 63 of the sleeve 60 remains assembled in the sleeve wing slot 28 of the lock body 20. This arrangement inhibits rotational movement of the sleeve 60 during the transition of the padlock 10 from the locked mode to the unlocked mode. The retaining slot 64 of the sleeve 60 is also assembled with the cylinder retaining slot 52 and together with the cylinder retaining bolt 80, such that the cylinder 50 rotates in the unlocked mode, but the sleeve 60 will not experience any rotational movement. During any movement between and in the lock and unlocked modes, the sleeve 60 remains positioned between the cylinder retaining bolt 80 and the larger radius edge 55 of the cylinder 60.

[0112] Therefore, it can be seen that the objectives set forth above, as well as those obvious from the foregoing description, are effectively achieved; and because certain modifications can be made to the foregoing without departing from the scope of the invention, it is contemplated that all content included in this disclosure or shown in the accompanying drawings should be interpreted as illustrative and not as limiting. It should be understood that all accompanying drawings and the accompanying descriptive discussions of corresponding embodiments do not support a fully rigorous discussion of the invention as conceived. It should be understood that the arrangements described above are merely illustrative of the application of the principles of the invention. Various modifications and alternative arrangements can be conceived by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A padlock, comprising: Locking ring, the locking ring having short legs and long legs; A lock body having a first hole and a second hole, the first hole being configured to receive the short leg of the lock ring, and the second hole being configured to receive the long leg of the lock ring, wherein the long leg is configured to be at least partially retained within the lock body; A latch, movable between a first position engaged with the short leg of the locking ring and a second position disengaged from the short leg of the locking ring; A lock cylinder configured for rotational movement within the lock body and operatively engaging the latch; and A sleeve, the sleeve being configured to control the rotational movement of the lock cylinder; When the latch is in the first position, the padlock is in a locked mode, and when the latch is in the second position, the padlock is in an unlocked mode. The lock cylinder includes one or more contact pieces and one or more contact piece springs, wherein each contact piece spring engages a corresponding contact piece of the one or more contact pieces to push the corresponding contact piece in a certain direction to extend away from the lock cylinder; and The sleeve includes a contact slot configured to receive the one or more contacts when the contacts extend away from the lock cylinder, and wherein the contact slot is configured to inhibit rotation of the lock cylinder when the one or more contacts extend away from the lock cylinder; The lock cylinder further includes rotation control fingers extending from the lock cylinder; The sleeve further includes a control edge locking side and a control edge opening side; and The control edge locking side contacts the rotation control fingers of the lock cylinder during the locking mode, such that the one or more contacts align with the contact slots of the sleeve to allow the one or more contacts to extend away from the lock cylinder, and the control edge opening side contacts the rotation control fingers of the lock cylinder during the unlocking mode, such that the lock cylinder rotates between the control edge locking side and the control edge opening side of the sleeve.

2. The padlock of claim 1, wherein the lock cylinder is configured to receive a correct-pattern key, wherein the correct-pattern key causes all one or more contacts to retract into the lock cylinder such that none of the one or more contacts extend into the contact slot of the sleeve; and When all one or more contact pieces are retracted into the lock cylinder, the lock cylinder is configured to rotate within the sleeve.

3. The padlock of claim 1, wherein the lock body further includes a lock cylinder hole formed therein, the lock cylinder hole being configured to receive the sleeve and the lock cylinder, wherein the lock cylinder is at least partially surrounded by the sleeve; and The lock cylinder hole includes a sleeve wing slot configured to receive a wing of the sleeve, wherein engagement between the sleeve wing slot and the wing of the sleeve prevents rotation of the sleeve within the lock body.

4. The padlock of claim 1, wherein the sleeve further includes a retaining slot; The lock body further includes a lock cylinder retaining hole formed therein, wherein the lock cylinder retaining hole is configured to receive a lock cylinder retaining bolt; and The lock cylinder retaining bolt is located within the retaining slot of the sleeve and prevents the sleeve from rotating within the lock body.

5. The padlock of claim 1, wherein the lock cylinder further includes a retaining slot; The lock body further includes a lock cylinder retaining hole formed therein, wherein the lock cylinder retaining hole is configured to receive a lock cylinder retaining bolt; and The lock cylinder retaining bolt is located within the retaining slot of the lock cylinder to allow rotational movement of the lock cylinder within the lock body, but to prevent linear movement of the lock cylinder within the lock body.

6. The padlock of claim 1, wherein the lock cylinder further comprises a larger radius edge formed at one end of the lock cylinder, wherein the circumferential dimension of the larger radius edge is larger than the circumferential dimension of the sleeve to retain the sleeve within the lock body.

7. The padlock of claim 1, wherein the latch includes a control slot; The lock cylinder includes an extension pin configured to operatively engage the control slot of the latch; The extension pin is configured to move the latch between the first position and the second position by means of the rotational movement of the lock cylinder to operate the padlock between the locked mode and the unlocked mode.

8. The padlock of claim 2, wherein the latch includes a control slot; The lock cylinder includes an extension pin configured to operatively engage the control slot of the latch; During the rotational movement of the lock cylinder, when all one or more contact plates are retracted into the lock cylinder by the correct-style key, the extension pin is configured to move the latch from the first position to the second position to operate the padlock from the locked mode to the unlocked mode.

9. The padlock of claim 3, wherein the sleeve further includes a retaining slot; The lock body further includes a lock cylinder retaining hole formed therein, wherein the lock cylinder retaining hole is configured to receive a lock cylinder retaining bolt; and The lock cylinder retaining bolt is located within the retaining slot of the sleeve and prevents the sleeve from rotating within the lock body.

10. The padlock of claim 5, wherein the sleeve further includes a retaining slot; and The lock cylinder retaining bolt is located within the retaining slot of the sleeve and prevents the sleeve from rotating within the lock body.

11. The padlock of claim 1, wherein the lock body further comprises an angled latch hole intersecting the first hole and having the latch disposed therein; and The latch is operatively connected to a latch spring in the angular latch hole, the latch spring being configured to push the latch to the first position.

12. The padlock according to claim 1, wherein the lock body further includes a lock ring retaining hole, the lock ring retaining hole intersecting the second hole and having a lock ring retaining bolt disposed therein; The long leg of the locking ring includes a flat surface and a neck bar, wherein when the locking ring retainer contacts the flat surface of the long leg, the locking ring retainer allows the locking ring to move linearly along the lock body, and when the locking ring retainer contacts the neck bar, it allows the lock to rotate about the long leg; and Without first removing the retaining bolt of the locking ring, the long leg of the locking ring cannot be removed from the lock body.

13. The padlock of claim 7, wherein the latch further includes an end, and the short leg of the locking ring includes a latch cutout for receiving the end of the latch when the latch is in the first position; The rotational movement of the lock cylinder causes the extension pin to move the latch so that the end of the latch disengages from the latch notch of the short leg of the lock ring and allows the short leg of the lock ring to move away from the first hole in the lock body, thereby placing the padlock in the unlocked mode.

14. The padlock according to claim 1 further includes a lock ring spring, the lock ring spring being disposed in the second hole of the lock body and operatively connected to the long leg of the lock ring to push the lock ring away from the lock body; When the latch is in the second position, the lock ring spring causes the short leg of the lock ring to move away from the first hole in the lock body.

15. A padlock, comprising: Locking ring, the locking ring having short legs and long legs; A lock body having a first hole and a second hole, the first hole being configured to receive the short leg of the lock ring, and the second hole being configured to receive the long leg of the lock ring, wherein the long leg is configured to be at least partially retained within the lock body; A latch, movable between a first position engaged with the short leg of the locking ring and a second position disengaged from the short leg of the locking ring; A lock cylinder configured for rotational movement within the lock body and operatively engaging the latch; and A sleeve, the sleeve being configured to control the rotational movement of the lock cylinder; When the latch is in the first position, the padlock is in a locked mode, and when the latch is in the second position, the padlock is in an unlocked mode. The lock cylinder includes one or more contact plates and one or more contact plate springs, wherein each contact plate spring engages a corresponding contact plate of the one or more contact plates to push the corresponding contact plate in a certain direction to extend away from the lock cylinder; The sleeve includes a contact slot configured to receive the one or more contacts when the contacts extend away from the lock cylinder, and wherein the contact slot is configured to inhibit rotation of the lock cylinder when the one or more contacts extend away from the lock cylinder; The lock cylinder further includes a rotation control finger extending from the lock cylinder, and the sleeve further includes a control edge locking side and a control edge opening side; The control edge locking side contacts the rotation control fingers of the lock cylinder during the locking mode, such that the one or more contacts align with the contact slots of the sleeve to allow the one or more contacts to extend away from the lock cylinder, and the control edge opening side contacts the rotation control fingers of the lock cylinder during the unlocking mode, such that the lock cylinder rotates between the control edge locking side and the control edge opening side of the sleeve. When all one or more contact pieces are retracted into the lock cylinder, the lock cylinder is configured to rotate within the sleeve; The lock body further includes a lock cylinder hole formed therein, the lock cylinder hole being configured to receive the sleeve and the lock cylinder, wherein the lock cylinder is at least partially surrounded by the sleeve; The lock cylinder hole includes a sleeve wing slot configured to receive a wing of the sleeve, wherein engagement between the sleeve wing slot and the wing of the sleeve prevents rotation of the sleeve within the lock body. The sleeve further includes a retaining slot; The lock body further includes a lock cylinder retaining hole formed therein, wherein the lock cylinder retaining hole is configured to receive a lock cylinder retaining bolt; The lock cylinder retaining bolt is located within the retaining slot of the sleeve and prevents the sleeve from rotating within the lock body; The lock cylinder also includes a retaining slot; The lock cylinder retaining bolt is located within the retaining slot of the lock cylinder to allow rotational movement of the lock cylinder within the lock body, but to prevent linear movement of the lock cylinder within the lock body. The lock cylinder further includes a larger radius edge formed at one end of the lock cylinder, wherein the circumferential dimension of the larger radius edge is larger than the circumferential dimension of the sleeve to retain the sleeve within the lock body; The latch includes a control slot; The lock cylinder includes an extension pin configured to operatively engage the control slot of the latch; and The extension pin is configured to move the latch between the first position and the second position by means of the rotational movement of the lock cylinder to operate the padlock between the locked mode and the unlocked mode.

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