Key lock

Abstract

To provide a padlock which can be operated by a cylinder with a key.SOLUTION: The present invention is directed to a padlock having: a shackle which has a short leg part and a long leg part; a lock main body which has a first aperture configured to receive the short leg part of the shackle and a second aperture configured to receive the long leg part of the shackle, and is configured so that the long leg part stays at least partially in the lock main body; a latch which is movable between a first position engaged with the short leg part of the shackle and a second position disengaged from the short leg part of the shackle; a cylinder which is configured to be rotated in the lock main body, and is engaged with the latch so as to be movable; and a sleeve which is configured to control rotational movement of the cylinder. The padlock is in a locking mode when the latch is at the first position, the padlock is in an unlocking mode when the latch is at the second position.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1A

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63 / 418,786, filed October 24, 2022, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

[0002] FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates generally to keyed locks and, more particularly, to keyed padlocks having wafer-type locking systems. [Background technology]

[0003] There are several keyed locks that are constructed using a pin tumbler system. Summary of the Invention

[0004] An exemplary embodiment of the present invention is a key lock designed to incorporate a wafer style lock system having a sleeve to hold and control cylinder rotation and cylinder placement.

[0005] SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a padlock that can be operated by a keyed cylinder.

[0006] Another object of the present invention is to provide a padlock having a keyed cylinder containing one or more wafers that control the operation of said padlock.

[0007] It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a padlock having a sleeve configured to control the rotation of the cylinder.

[0008] It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a wafer slot in the sleeve to control the wafer so that when the correct cutting key is inserted into the padlock, the wafer is pushed downwards allowing the cylinder to rotate within the sleeve.

[0009] It is yet another object of the present invention to provide control edges and corresponding rotational control fingers to limit angular movement of the cylinder within the sleeve so that wafers are aligned with the wafer slots to extend the wafers from the cylinder.

[0010] It is yet another object of the present invention to provide wings extending from the sleeve for engaging sleeve wing slots in the body of the padlock to prevent rotation of the sleeve during locking or unlocking modes of the padlock.

[0011] It is a further object of the present invention to provide a cylinder retaining peg for interacting with a cylinder retaining slot on the sleeve to provide an additional or alternative mechanism for preventing rotation of the sleeve within the padlock.

[0012] It is yet another object of the present invention that the cylinder retention slots interact with the cylinder retention pegs so that the cylinder has rotational movement within the lock body but is prevented from vertical movement.

[0013] Another object of the present invention is to provide an enlarged edge at one end of the cylinder to cover the wafers and prevent lock picking from the outside, and to prevent the sleeve from sliding outside the cylinder.

[0014] It is yet another object of the present invention that the large diameter edge protects the sleeve by allowing the sleeve to engage with the cylinder retaining peg, the cylinder, and the lock body, thus this arrangement prevents the sleeve from falling away from the lock body, and the large diameter edge also protects the wafer from bypass picking from outside the lock, thus the only way to open the lock is with the correct cutting key to open the lock.

[0015] It is yet another object of the present invention to provide an extending pin from the cylinder operatively connected to a control slot in the latch for controlling movement of the latch so that rotational movement of the cylinder may move the latch from a locked mode to an unlocked mode.

[0016] It will therefore be seen that these and other objects can be obtained by a padlock according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention comprising: a shackle having a short leg and a long leg; a lock 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, the long leg being configured to remain at least partially within the lock body; a latch movable between a first position in engagement with the short leg of the shackle and a second position in disengagement from the short leg of the shackle; a cylinder configured for rotational movement within the lock body and operatively engaging the latch; and a sleeve configured to control rotational movement of the cylinder; 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.

[0017] According to this and other exemplary aspects of the invention, the cylinder may include one or more wafers and one or more wafer springs, each of which engages with a corresponding one of the one or more wafers to bias the corresponding wafer in a direction extending from the cylinder, and the sleeve may include a wafer slot configured to receive the one or more wafers when the one or more wafers extend from the cylinder, the wafer slot configured to prevent rotation of the cylinder when the one or more wafers extend from the cylinder.

[0018] According to this and other exemplary aspects of the invention, the cylinder may include a rotation control finger extending therefrom, and the sleeve may include a locking control edge and an unlocking control edge, the locking control edge contacting the rotation control finger of the cylinder during the locking mode to align the one or more wafers with the wafer slots of the sleeve to allow the one or more wafers to extend from the cylinder, and the unlocking control edge contacting the rotation control finger of the cylinder during the unlocking mode to rotate the cylinder between the locking control edge and the unlocking control edge of the sleeve.

[0019] According to this and other exemplary aspects of the invention, the cylinder is configured to receive a correct cutting key such that all of the one or more wafers are drawn into the cylinder with the correct cutting key such that none of the one or more wafers extend into the wafer slots of the sleeve, and the cylinder is configured to rotate within the sleeve when all of the one or more wafers are drawn into the cylinder.

[0020] According to this and other exemplary aspects of the present invention, the lock body may include a cylinder bore formed therein configured to receive the sleeve and the cylinder, the cylinder being at least partially surrounded by the sleeve, and the cylinder bore may include sleeve wing slots configured to receive wings of the sleeve, wherein engagement of the sleeve wing slots with the wings of the sleeve prevents rotation of the sleeve within the lock body.

[0021] According to this and other exemplary aspects of the present invention, the sleeve may include a retention slot and the lock body may include a cylinder retention hole formed therein, the cylinder retention hole configured to receive a cylinder retention peg that is positioned within the retention slot of the sleeve to prevent rotational movement of the sleeve within the lock body.

[0022] According to this and other exemplary aspects of the present invention, the cylinder may include a retention slot and the lock body may include a cylinder retention hole formed therein, the cylinder retention hole configured to receive a cylinder retention peg that is positioned within the retention slot of the cylinder to allow rotational movement of the cylinder within the lock body but prevent linear movement of the cylinder within the lock body.

[0023] According to this and other exemplary aspects of the present invention, the cylinder may include an enlarged edge formed at one end of the cylinder, the enlarged edge having a circumferential dimension greater than a circumferential dimension of the sleeve for retaining the sleeve within the lock body.

[0024] According to this and other exemplary aspects of the invention, the latch may include a control slot, and the cylinder may include an extension pin configured to operably engage the control slot of the latch, wherein the rotational movement of the cylinder causes the extension pin to move the latch between the first position and the second position to operate the padlock between the locking mode and the unlocking mode.

[0025] According to this and other exemplary aspects of the invention, the latch may include a control slot and the cylinder may include an extension pin configured to operably engage the control slot of the latch, wherein the control pin is configured to move the latch from the first position to the second position upon the rotational movement of the cylinder when all of the one or more wafers are drawn into the cylinder by the correct cutting key, thereby operating the padlock from the locked mode to the unlocked mode.

[0026] According to this and other exemplary aspects of the present invention, the sleeve may include a retention slot, and the lock body may include a cylinder retention hole formed therein, the cylinder retention hole configured to receive a cylinder retention peg that is positioned within the retention slot of the sleeve to prevent rotational movement of the sleeve within the lock body.

[0027] According to this and other exemplary aspects of the present invention, the sleeve may include a retention slot, and the cylinder retention peg is positioned within the retention slot of the sleeve to prevent rotational movement of the sleeve within the lock body.

[0028] According to this and other exemplary aspects of the invention, the lock body may include an angled latch hole that intersects with the first hole and has the latch disposed therein, the latch operably connected to a latch spring within the angled latch hole, the latch spring configured to bias the latch to the first position.

[0029] According to this and other exemplary aspects of the present invention, the lock body may include a shackle retaining hole that intersects the second hole and has a shackle retaining peg disposed therein, the long leg of the shackle may include a flat surface and a neck, the shackle retaining peg permitting linear movement of the shackle along the lock body when the shackle retaining peg contacts the flat surface of the long leg and permitting rotational movement of the shackle about the long leg when the shackle retaining peg contacts the neck, and the long leg of the shackle cannot be removed from the lock body unless the shackle retaining peg is first removed.

[0030] According to this and other exemplary aspects of the invention, the latch may include a tip, and the short leg of the shackle may include a latch notch for receiving the tip of the latch when the latch is in the first position, and the rotational movement of the cylinder causes the extension pin to move the latch to disengage the tip of the latch from the latch notch in the short leg of the shackle and allow movement of the short leg of the shackle out of the first hole in the lock body, thereby placing the padlock in the unlock mode.

[0031] According to this and other exemplary aspects of the present invention, the padlock may include a shackle spring located within the second hole of the lock body and operably connected to the long leg of the shackle to bias the shackle away from the lock body, the shackle spring causing the short leg of the shackle to move out of the first hole of the lock body when the latch is in the second position.

[0032] According to this and other exemplary aspects of the present invention, a padlock includes a shackle having a short leg and a long leg, a lock 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, the long leg being configured to remain at least partially within the lock body, and a latch movable between a first position in engagement with the short leg of the shackle and a second position in disengagement from the short leg of the shackle, the latch being configured for rotational movement within the lock body. a padlock including a cylinder operably engaging the latch and a sleeve configured to control rotational movement of the cylinder, wherein the padlock is in a locked mode when the latch is in the first position and in an unlocked mode when the latch is in the second position, the cylinder may include one or more wafers and one or more wafer springs, each of the wafer springs engaging a corresponding one of the one or more wafers to lock the corresponding wafer into position; the sleeve may include a wafer slot configured to receive the one or more wafers when the one or more wafers are extending from the cylinder, the wafer slot configured to prevent rotation of the cylinder when the one or more wafers are extending from the cylinder, the cylinder may include a rotation control finger extending from the cylinder, the sleeve further comprising a locking control edge and an unlocking control edge, the locking control edge contacting the rotation control finger of the cylinder during the locking mode so that the one or more wafers are aligned with the wafer slot of the sleeve to allow the one or more wafers to extend from the cylinder, the unlocking control edge contacting the rotation control finger of the cylinder during the unlocking mode so that the cylinder rotates between the locking control edge and the unlocking control edge of the sleeve, and when all of the one or more wafers are retracted into the cylinder,The cylinder is configured to rotate within the sleeve, and the lock body may include a cylinder bore formed therein configured to receive the sleeve and the cylinder, the cylinder being at least partially surrounded by the sleeve, and the cylinder bore may include sleeve wing slots configured to receive wings of the sleeve, and engagement of the sleeve wing slots with the wings of the sleeve prevents rotation of the sleeve within the lock body, and the sleeve may include retention slots, and the lock body further includes a cylinder retention bore formed therein configured to receive a cylinder retention peg, the cylinder retention peg being located in the retention slot of the sleeve to prevent rotational movement of the sleeve within the lock body. wherein the cylinder may include a retention slot, and the cylinder retention peg is located within the retention slot of the cylinder to allow the cylinder to have rotational movement within the lock body but prevent linear movement of the cylinder within the lock body; the cylinder may include an enlarged edge formed on one end of the cylinder, the enlarged edge having a circumferential dimension larger than a circumferential dimension of the sleeve to retain the sleeve within the lock body; the latch may include a control slot, and the cylinder may include an extension pin configured to operably engage the control slot of the latch, and the rotational movement of the cylinder causes the extension pin to move the latch between the first position and the second position to operate the padlock between the locking mode and the unlocking mode.

[0033] It will be understood that the exemplary embodiments of the invention described are exemplary only, and that the invention is not limited to any particular embodiments or combinations thereof. Rather, the invention encompasses the individual elements of the exemplary embodiments alone and in combination with any other individual elements, whether or not specifically described as an exemplary embodiment.

[0034] For a better understanding of the nature and objects of the present invention, reference should be made to the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0035] [Figure 1A] 1C is a cross-sectional view of an exemplary padlock according to an embodiment of the present invention in a locked mode taken along line AA of FIG. 1B. [Figure 1B] 1B is a cross-sectional view of the exemplary padlock taken along line BB of FIG. 1A. [Figure 1C] 1B is a cross-sectional view of the exemplary padlock taken along line CC of FIG. 1A. [Figure 1D] 1B is a cross-sectional view of the exemplary padlock taken along line DD of FIG. 1A. [Figure 1E] 1B is a cross-sectional view of the exemplary padlock taken along line EE of FIG. 1A. [Figure 1F] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an exemplary padlock with the lock body removed to show exemplary internal components of the padlock. [Figure 1G] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an exemplary padlock with the lock body removed to show exemplary internal components of the padlock. [Figure 2] 1 is a perspective view of an exemplary lock body that may be used with an exemplary padlock according to aspects of the present invention; FIG. [Figure 3] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an exemplary shackle that may be used with an exemplary padlock according to aspects of the present invention. [Figure 4] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an exemplary latch that may be used with an exemplary padlock according to aspects of the present invention. [Figure 5] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an exemplary cylinder that may be used with an exemplary padlock according to aspects of the present invention. [Figure 6A] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an exemplary sleeve that may be used with an exemplary padlock according to aspects of the present invention. [Figure 6B] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an exemplary sleeve. [Figure 7A] 7C is a cross-sectional view of an exemplary padlock according to an embodiment of the present invention in an unlocking mode taken along line AA of FIG. 7B. [Figure 7B] 7B is a cross-sectional view of the exemplary padlock taken along line BB of FIG. 7A. [Figure 7C] 7B is a cross-sectional view of the exemplary padlock taken along line CC of FIG. 7A. [Figure 7D] 7B is a cross-sectional view of the exemplary padlock taken along line DD of FIG. 7A. [Figure 7E] 1B is a cross-sectional view of the exemplary padlock taken along line EE of FIG. 1A. [Figure 7F] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an exemplary padlock with the lock body removed to show exemplary internal components of the padlock. [Figure 7G] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an exemplary padlock with the lock body removed to show exemplary internal components of the padlock. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0036] The present invention will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which exemplary embodiments of the invention are shown. This invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout the specification.

[0037] 1A, 1F, 1G, 2, 7A, 7F, and 7G, shown therein is an exemplary embodiment of a padlock, e.g., a keyed padlock, generally designated by the reference numeral 10, in accordance with one aspect of the present invention. Padlock 10 may include a lock body 20 forming a housing for padlock 10. Lock body 20 may include a short shackle leg hole 21 and a long shackle leg hole 22 formed therein. Lock body 20 of padlock 10 may further include an angled latch hole 23, which may be formed to at least partially intersect either or both of short shackle leg hole 21 and / or long shackle leg hole 22. Lock body 20 may include a cylinder retaining hole 24 and a cylinder hole 27 formed therein, which may be formed to intersect one another. The lock body 20 of the padlock 10 may include a shackle retention hole 25 formed therein that intersects with the shackle leg hole 22. The lock body 20 may further include a straight latch hole 26 located on the periphery of the lock body 20 and at least partially intersecting the angled latch hole 23. The lock body 20 may also include one or more sleeve wing slots 28 formed in the cylinder hole 27.

[0038] 1A, 1F, 1G, 3, 7A, 7F, and 7G, padlock 10 may further include a shackle 30 having a long leg 34 and a short leg 35. The long leg 34 of shackle 30 may include a neck 32 having a diameter smaller than the diameter of the long leg 34. The long leg 34 may include a flat surface 33 formed on a portion of the long leg 34, which may be formed adjacent to the neck 32. The short leg 35 of shackle 30 may include a latch notch 31 formed therein. The long leg 34 of shackle 30 may be configured and dimensioned to be received within shackle long leg hole 22 of lock body 20 of padlock 10, and the short leg 35 of shackle 30 may be configured and dimensioned to be received within shackle short leg hole 21 of lock body 20.

[0039] 1A, 1B, 1D, 1F, 1G, 4, 7A, 7B, 7D, 7F and 7G, padlock 10 may include a latch 40 configured to operably engage latch notch 31 in short leg 35 of shackle 30. Latch 40 may include a tip 41, a control slot 42, and a tail 43.

[0040] 1A, 1F, 1G, 5, 7A, 7F, and 7G, the padlock 10 may further include a cylinder 50 configured and dimensioned to be received within the cylinder bore 27 of the lock body 20. The cylinder 50 may include an extension pin 51 protruding from one end of the cylinder 50 and a retention slot 52 formed in the outer periphery of the cylinder 50. The cylinder 50 may also include a rotation control finger 53 and one or more wafer slots 54 formed in the cylinder 50. The cylinder 50 may further include an enlarged edge 55 extending from the cylinder 50 at an end of the cylinder 50 opposite the end of the enlarged edge extension pin 51. The enlarged edge 55 has an outer circumference that is larger than the outer circumference of the cylinder 50. The enlarged edge 55 of the cylinder 50 prevents the sleeve 60 from falling off the cylinder 50 once the padlock 10 is assembled. The large diameter edge 55 is also configured to prevent an intruder from contacting the wafer 70 using a thin metal layer, such as a shim or knife, thus preventing lock-picking attacks.

[0041] 1A, 1F, 1G, 6A, 6B, 7A, 7F, and 7G, padlock 10 may include a sleeve 60 configured and dimensioned to be received within cylinder bore 27. Sleeve 60 may include one or more wafer slots 61. Sleeve 60 may include a notch at one end having locking and unlocking control edges 62A and 62B. Sleeve 60 may further include wings 63 configured and dimensioned to be received within sleeve wing slots 28 of cylinder bore 27. Wings 63 are incorporated within sleeve wing slots 28 of cylinder bore 27 to prevent rotation of sleeve 60 within cylinder bore 27. The end of sleeve 60 opposite the notch may include a retention slot 64, and sleeve 60 may be configured and dimensioned to receive cylinder 50 within cylinder bore 65 of sleeve 60.

[0042] 1A, 1B, 1F, 1G, 7A, 7B, 7F, and 7G, padlock 10 may be key-operated and configured to contain one or more wafers 70 within a plurality of wafer slots 54 in cylinder 50. Each of the plurality of wafers 70 may engage a wafer spring 130 configured to bias wafer 70 toward one of a plurality of wafer slots 61 in sleeve 60. In this manner, cylinder 50 cannot rotate within padlock 10 unless the correct cutting key 140 is inserted into cylinder 50 to move wafer 70 from wafer slot 61 in sleeve 60. Padlock 10 may include a cylinder retention peg 80 located within cylinder retention bore 24 of lock body 20 and configured to engage retention slot 52 of cylinder 50. Cylinder retention peg 80 may also be configured to engage retention slot 64 of sleeve 60. The retention slot 64 of the sleeve 60 is shaped to receive the cylinder retention peg 80 such that the cylinder retention peg 80 prevents rotation of the sleeve 60 within the cylinder bore 27 of the lock body 20. The retention slot 64 of the sleeve 60 is shaped to receive the cylinder retention peg 80 such that it prevents rotation of the sleeve 60. Thus, advantageously, both the wings 63 and the retention slot 64 limit rotation of the sleeve 60, which further limits rotation of the cylinder 50 when the padlock 10 is in the locked mode with the wafers 70 extending outward and contacting the wafer slot 61 of the sleeve 60. The cylinder retention peg 80 may be installed within the padlock 10 by inserting the cylinder retention peg 80 into the cylinder retention bore 24 of the lock body 20 to engage with the retention slot 52 of the cylinder 50 and the retention slot of the sleeve 60. The cylinder retention peg 80 may be assembled into the retention slot 52 of the cylinder 50. The retention slot 52 is designed to allow the cylinder 50 to rotate a predetermined angle between the locked and unlocked modes of the padlock 10. Additionally, the cylinder retention peg 80 may be further configured to facilitate retention of the cylinder 50 within the cylinder bore 27 once the cylinder retention peg 80 is installed in the retention slot 52 of the cylinder 50.Once the cylinder retention peg 80 is assembled into the retention slot 52 of the cylinder 50 and the retention slot 64 of the sleeve 60, the sleeve 60 cannot rotate and the cylinder 50 cannot move vertically, but will rotate when the correct cutting key 140 is inserted into the padlock 10. Thus, the cylinder retention peg 80 is configured to prevent rotation of the sleeve 60 within the lock body 20, limit rotational movement of the cylinder 50, and retain the cylinder 50 within the lock body 20.

[0043] 1A, 1B, 1F, 1G, 7A, 7B, 7F, and 7G, padlock 10 may further include a shackle retaining peg 90 located within shackle retaining hole 25 of lock body 20 and configured to engage neck 32 and flat surface 33 of long leg 34 of shackle 30. Padlock 10 may also include a latch hole sealing plug 100 located at the open end of straight latch hole 26. Padlock 10 may also include a latch spring 110 located within angled latch hole 23 and configured to bias latch 40 toward short leg 35 of shackle 30 such that tip 41 of latch 40 may engage latch notch 31 when padlock 10 is in the locked mode. Padlock 10 may further include a shackle spring 120 positioned within shackle leg hole 22 and configured to bias long leg 34 of shackle 30 away from lock body 20. Padlock 10 may be operated between a locking mode, e.g., Figures 1A and 1B, and an unlocking mode, e.g., Figures 7A and 7B, with the correct cutting key 140.

[0044] The locking mode of padlock 10 will now be described with reference to Figures 1A-1G, 2-5, and 6A and 6B. Each wafer slot 54 of cylinder 50 is configured to receive a wafer spring 130 and a wafer 70. In the exemplary embodiment of padlock 10 shown, four wafer slots 54 are formed in cylinder 50, with one wafer spring 130 and one wafer 70 disposed in each wafer slot 54, for a total of four wafer springs 130 and four wafers 70. However, it will be understood that the present invention is not limited to any particular number of wafer springs 130 and / or wafers 70, and that any number, including one each of wafer springs 130 and / or wafers 70, may be used. Each wafer spring 130 exerts a force against a corresponding wafer 70, urging the wafer 70 to extend beyond the diameter of the cylinder 50 so that the wafer 70 is configured to extend beyond the cylindrical outer periphery of the cylinder 50. The cylinder 50 is disposed in the cylinder bore 65 of the sleeve 60, and as a result of the wafer springs 130 urging the wafers 70 away from the cylinder 50, one or more of the wafers 70, when extended, may extend into and contact the wafer slots 61 of the sleeve 60 in the locked mode of the padlock 10. Without the correct cutting key 140, one or more of the wafers 70 may extend and contact the wafer slots 61, thereby preventing rotational movement of the cylinder 50 and preventing a user from opening the padlock 10.

[0045] 1A-1G, 2-5, 6A, and 6B, to facilitate proper alignment of the cylinder 50 within the sleeve 60, the cylinder 50 includes a rotation control finger 53 disposed between the locking control edge 62A and the unlocking control edge 62B. Engagement of the rotation control finger 53 between the locking control edge 62A and the unlocking control edge 62B allows the cylinder 50 to rotate in the unlocking direction when the wafers 70 have been drawn into the cylinder 50 by the correct cutting keys 140 and the wafers 70 are no longer engaged with the wafer slots 61, but prevents the cylinder 50 from rotating past the locking control edge 62A and the unlocking control edge 62B to maintain proper alignment of the wafers 70 with the wafer slots 61. The locking side control edge 62A is contacted by the rotation control finger 53 of the cylinder 50 during the locking mode to prevent further rotation of the cylinder 50 during the locking mode so that when the correct cutting key 140 is withdrawn from the cylinder 50, the wafer 70 is aligned with the wafer slot 61 to extend from the cylinder 50 and place it in the locked mode.

[0046] 1A-1G, 2-5, 6A, and 6B, when padlock 10 is in the locked mode, tip 41 of latch 40 is engaged with latch notch 31 in short leg 35 of shackle 30. Latch spring 110 is configured to constantly urge tip 41 toward latch notch 31 in shackle 30. Due to the engagement of at least the substantially flat surfaces of tip 41 and latch notch 31, shackle 30 resists the bias of shackle spring 120, which is compressed by long leg 34 of shackle 30. In this manner, latch 40 is positioned to prevent removal of short leg 35 of shackle 30 from shackle short leg hole 21 in lock body 20, and padlock 10 remains in the locked mode. The latch 40 is located on top of the cylinder 50, and the extending pin 51 of the 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 into the straight latch hole 26 of the lock body 20 to seal the angled latch hole 23 from being exposed.

[0047] 1A-1G, 2-5, 6A, and 6B, the long leg 34 of the shackle 30 may include a flat surface 33 for allowing the long leg 34 of the shackle 30 to move along the shackle retaining peg 90 when the padlock is in the unlocking mode. The shackle retaining peg 90 is positioned between the flat surface 33 and the shackle retaining hole 25 of the lock body 20 in the locked mode. The neck 32 of the long leg 34 of the shackle 30 is configured to capture the shackle retaining peg 90 in the unlocking mode and retain the long leg 34 of the shackle 30 within the shackle long leg hole 22 of the lock body 20.

[0048] 7A-7G, the unlocking mode of the padlock 10 will be described. When the correct cutting key 140 is inserted into the cylinder 50, the wafer 70 is retracted into the cylinder 50, away from the wafer slot 61 of the sleeve 60, so that the wafer 70 no longer extends through the wafer slot 54 and no longer contacts the wafer slot 61 of the sleeve 60. The wafer 70 no longer extends into the wafer slot 61, and the cylinder 50 is free to rotate within the cylinder bore 65 of the sleeve 60. The cylinder 50 can then rotate from a state in which the rotation control finger 53 contacts the locking control edge 62A of the sleeve 60 to a state in which the rotation control finger 53 contacts the unlocking control edge 62B. As the cylinder 50 rotates to move the rotation control finger 53 into contact with the unlocking control edge 62B, the extension pin 51 also moves along the arc of the cylinder 50 and contacts the control slot 42 of the latch 40. As the extension pin 51 moves along the arc of the cylinder 50 due to rotation of the cylinder, the extension pin 51 acts against the control slot 42 of the latch 40, compressing the latch spring 110 and causing movement of the tip 41 of the latch 40 away from the short leg 35 of the shackle 30. This movement of the tip 41 disengages the latch 40 from the latch notch 31 of the shackle 30. Once the tip 41 of the latch 40 disengages from the latch notch 31 of the shackle 30, the shackle spring 120 exerts a force on the long leg 34 of the shackle 30, urging the shackle 30 away from the lock body 20 until the shackle retaining peg 90 contacts the neck 32 of the shackle 30, retaining a portion of the long leg 34 of the shackle 30 within the shackle long leg hole 22 of the lock body 20.

[0049] 7A-7G, in the unlock mode, the wings 63 of the sleeve 60 are still assembled into the sleeve wing slots 28 of the lock body 20. Such an arrangement prevents rotational movement of the sleeve 60 during transition of the padlock 10 from the locked mode to the unlocked mode. The retention slots 64 of the sleeve 60 are further mated with the cylinder retention slots 52 and are together assembled to the cylinder retention peg 80 so that the cylinder 50 rotates in the unlock mode, but the sleeve 60 has no rotational movement. The sleeve 60 still remains positioned between the cylinder retention peg 80 and the large diameter edge 55 of the cylinder 50 throughout movement between and during any of the locked and unlocked modes.

[0050] Thus, from what is apparent from the foregoing description, it will be seen that all matter contained in this disclosure or shown in the accompanying drawings is intended to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense, so that the several objects set forth above are efficiently attained, and that certain changes may be made to the above documents without departing from the scope of the present invention. It is to be understood that the drawings, and the accompanying descriptive discussion of corresponding embodiments, are not intended to be a complete and rigorous treatment of the invention under consideration. It is to be understood that the above-described arrangements are merely illustrative of the application of the principles of the present invention. Numerous modifications and alternative arrangements can be devised by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0051] 10 Padlock 20 tablets 21 Shackle short leg hole 22 Shackle long leg hole 23 Angled latch hole 24 Cylinder holding hole 25 Shackle retention hole 26 Linear latch hole 27 Cylinder hole 28 Sleeve Wing Slots 30 Shackle 31 Latch notch 32 Neck 33 Flat surface 34 Long legs 35 Short leg 40 Latch 41 Tip 42 control slots 43 Tail 50 cylinders 51 Extension pin 52 retention slots 53 Rotation control finger 54 wafer slots 55 Large diameter edge 60 sleeves 61 Wafer slots 62a Locking side control edge 62b Unlocking side control edge 63 Wing 64 retention slots 65 Cylinder hole 70 wafers 80 Cylinder Retaining Peg 90 Shackle Retaining Peg 100 Latch hole sealing plug 110 Latch spring 120 Shackle spring 130 Wafer spring 140 Key

Claims

1. a shackle having a short leg and a long leg; a lock 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, the long leg configured to remain at least partially within the lock body; a latch movable between a first position in engagement with the short leg of the shackle and a second position in disengagement from the short leg of the shackle; a cylinder configured for rotational movement within the lock body and operatively engaging the latch; a sleeve configured to control the rotational movement of the cylinder; A padlock comprising: 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 cylinder includes one or more wafers and one or more wafer springs, each of the wafer springs engaging with a corresponding one of the one or more wafers to urge the corresponding wafer in a direction extending from the cylinder; the sleeve includes a wafer slot configured to receive the one or more wafers when the one or more wafers extend from the cylinder, the wafer slot configured to prevent rotation of the cylinder when the one or more wafers extend from the cylinder; the cylinder further comprising a rotation control finger extending from the cylinder; the sleeve further comprises a locking control edge and an unlocking control edge; the locking control edge contacts the rotation control finger of the cylinder during the locking mode so that the one or more wafers are aligned with the wafer slots of the sleeve to allow the one or more wafers to extend from the cylinder, and the unlocking control edge contacts the rotation control finger of the cylinder during the unlocking mode so that the cylinder rotates between the locking control edge and the unlocking control edge of the sleeve; the cylinder is configured to rotate within the sleeve when all of the one or more wafers are drawn into the cylinder; The lock body further comprises a cylinder hole formed in the lock body configured to receive the sleeve and the cylinder, the cylinder being at least partially surrounded by the sleeve; the cylinder bore includes sleeve wing slots configured to receive wings of the sleeve, and engagement of the sleeve wing slots with the wings of the sleeve prevents rotation of the sleeve within the lock body; the sleeve further comprises a retention slot; The lock body further includes a cylinder retaining hole formed in the lock body, the cylinder retaining hole configured to receive a cylinder retaining peg; the cylinder retention peg is positioned within the retention slot of the sleeve to prevent rotational movement of the sleeve within the lock body; the cylinder further comprising a retention slot; the cylinder retention peg is located within the retention slot of the cylinder to allow the cylinder to have rotational movement within the lock body but prevent linear movement of the cylinder within the lock body; The cylinder further includes an enlarged edge formed at one end of the cylinder, the enlarged edge having a circumferential dimension larger than a circumferential dimension of the sleeve for retaining the sleeve within the lock body; the latch includes a control slot; the cylinder includes an extension pin configured to operably engage the control slot of the latch; The padlock, wherein the rotational movement of the cylinder causes the extension pin to move the latch between the first position and the second position to operate the padlock between the locking mode and the unlocking mode.

2. 2. The padlock of claim 1, wherein the cylinder is configured to receive a correct cutting key that causes all of the one or more wafers to be drawn into the cylinder such that none of the one or more wafers extend into the wafer slots of the sleeve.

3. A padlock as described in claim 2, wherein when all of the one or more wafers are pulled into the cylinder by the correct cutting key, the extension pin is configured to move the latch from the first position to the second position by the rotational movement of the cylinder so as to operate the padlock from the locked mode to the unlocked mode.

4. the lock body further comprises an angled latch hole, the angled latch hole intersecting the first hole and having the latch disposed within the angled latch hole; 2. The padlock of claim 1, wherein the latch is operatively connected to a latch spring within the angled latch hole, the latch spring configured to bias the latch toward the first position.

5. The lock body further includes a shackle retaining hole, the shackle retaining hole intersecting the second hole and having a shackle retaining peg disposed within the shackle retaining hole; the long leg of the shackle has a flat surface and a neck, and the shackle retaining peg allows linear movement of the shackle along the lock body when the shackle retaining peg contacts the flat surface of the long leg, and allows rotational movement of the shackle about the long leg when the shackle retaining peg contacts the neck; 2. The padlock of claim 1, wherein the long leg of the shackle cannot be removed from the lock body unless the shackle retaining peg is first removed.

6. the latch further comprises a tip, and the short leg of the shackle comprises a latch notch for receiving the tip of the latch when the latch is in the first position; 2. The padlock of claim 1, wherein the rotational movement of the cylinder causes the extension pin to move the latch to disengage the tip of the latch from the latch notch in the short leg of the shackle and allow movement of the short leg of the shackle out of the first hole in the lock body, placing the padlock in the unlocked mode.

7. the padlock further comprising a shackle spring located within the second hole of the lock body and operably connected to the long leg of the shackle to bias the shackle away from the lock body; 2. The padlock of claim 1, wherein the shackle spring causes the short leg of the shackle to move out of the first hole in the lock body when the latch is in the second position.

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