WO1986003248A1

WO1986003248A1 - Padlock

Info

Publication number: WO1986003248A1
Application number: PCT/AU1985/000291
Authority: WO
Inventors: Gareth Patrick Hogan
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1984-11-26
Filing date: 1985-11-25
Publication date: 1986-06-05
Anticipated expiration: 1987-05-26
Also published as: EP0203115A1

Abstract

This new shaped two piece padlock hoop employs the same kind of padlock body with its inbuilt locking mechanisms that is seen in general use around the world, employing the familiar one piece "U" shaped hoop. The new shaped hoop described here consists of two pieces, one piece (C) resembles the letter "C" and is pivoted e.g. inside the upper left hand side of the padlock body by means of a protrusion (J) attached to the lower left hand side of this "C" shape, and the lower right hand end (F) of this "C" shape is shaped downwards to lock into the locking mechanisms within the padlock body. The upper right hand end (L) of the "C" shape, when closed, engages and retains itself onto a fixed tongue (D) that extends from and is fixed within the padlock body, immediately to the right of the point where the lower right end of the "C" shape piece locks within the padlock body; thus in the closed position, the object being secured is completely surrounded by purposely hardened steel.

Description

PADLOCK

This invention relates to an easier to use Padlock,

with the conventional design of Padlock hoop fig . 5x, engaging the Padlock is mostly a two handed task, one hand holds the body of the Padlock, and the body of the Padlock is turned somewhat at right angles to the hoop which is threaded over the object it is to secure, the other hand aligns the open end of the hoop over the receiving hole in the Padlock body and then pushes the hoop into the locked position .

Effect of this new design of Padlock hoop Fig .3c is that only one finger andthumb of one hand only, is ever required in order to engage and lock the Padlock onto an object to be secured , the fingers are not required to touch the hoop at all , lock or unlock sequence. With the conventional design of hoop Fig.5x, after turning the key to unlock the Padlock, the Padlock body is then turned somewhat at right angles to the hoop, the hoop is then unthreaded from the object it was securing. With the new design hoop, merely upon the turning of the key to unlock, causes the Padlock to become physically disengaged from the object it was securing . Fig 7a shows Padlock with key in ready to unlock. Fig.7b shows the relationship of the Padlock with the object it was securing upon only the turning of the key. With the conventional shaped hoop Fig .5x the maximum size of the article that can be secured (per size of Padlock) is limited to the gap between the open end of the Padlock hoop and the Padlock body Fig .6w. With the new hoop design , depending upon the lenght that one chooses for the tongue that extends from the Padlock body Fig .1 d , the opening gap Fig.2p can be substantially wider, per s ize of Padlock, than can be achieved with a same size Padlock body with conventional hoop design . The gap produced by the new design bears a less direct relationship to the lenght of the Padlock body as does the gap available to the conventional hoop des ign

Description of new hoop design. the Padlock hoop design proposed in this invention consists of two pieces , one is of a generally C shape Fig .3c with a pivot hole or the likes in its central to lower central portion

Fig .3u , the pivot hole may be located on a protusion to this central portion . this enables the hoop to pivot from withi nthe Padlock body, Fig.1 j, or be pivoted from a small extention to the Padlock body. The second piece of the hoop extends from the Padlock body Fig.1o, Fig.3d The upper part of the generally C shaped

Hoop, hereinafted called "C hoop", upon closing the Padlock mates with the free end of the second piece of hoop, hereinafter called "Tongue" that extends from the Padlock body Fig.1o. The mating points Fig.1l may be so shaped, to interlock in a positive manner by taking into account the line of arc Fig.2m dictated by the pivot point Fig.1j, Fig.2j. The interlocking of these mating points causes the C hoop and tongue to work together if the Padlock were physically forced. The low er point of the open C hooplocks into the locking mechanisms withinthe Padlock body Fig.2f. An elbow spring inserted within the Padlock body Fig.1i kicks open and holds the C hoop in the open position when the Padlock is unlocked, Fig.2i. The amount of gap Fig.2p is intentionally governed by the shape chosen in the lowest party of the C hoop comming into contact with the Padlock body Fig.2o, and also by the variable choice of lenght decided

for the front tongue. The Padlock with this new design hoop can be engaged and locked upon an object to be secured just by thrusting the Padlock in the direction of the arrow indicated by Fig . 8u . Total time taken from F ig . 8 through to Fig . 10 and finger and thumb "let go" is one second of time or less. The conventional design hoop Fig . 5x cannot allow for an object to be

secured to be completely surroundedby a hoop of hardend steel. The new design hoop completely surrounds an object with hardend steel.

The claims defining the invention are as follows .

Cla im 1. A Padlock hoop design cons isting of two pieces . One piece is of a generally C shape or the likes , with a pivot hole or the likes in its central to lower central portion. This pivot hole may be located on a portion to

its central to lower central portion. This enables the hoop to pivot from within the Padlock body the hoop may be pivoted close to the outs ide of the main area of the Padlock body on a small

extention to the Padlock body. This C shape hoop has means for both ends of the open C to be engageably retained. The second piece cons ists of a tongue that extends from the Padlock body, or may be constructed as an integral part of the Padlock body itself.

Claim 2 . A Padlock hoop design as in claim 1 where the upper end of the open C, whenpushed into the locked pos ition, engages thefree end of the tongue that extends fromthe Padlock body. these points of engage- ment may be shaped in such a manner so that one is within the other by means of male/female slots, cone shapes or the

likes in order that these two points are engaged in a positive manner. A downward protusion close to the lower end of the open C is engaged with the locking mechanisms within the Padlock body at the base or close to the base of the tongue that etends from the Padlock body. Thus the object that is secured by the Padlock is surrounded by the C shaped and tongue hoop.

Claim 3 The hoop as in claim 1 ,2. May be made of hardened material, thus providing the locked object with increased security by completely surrounding it with hardened materials.

Claim 4 A Padlock hoop design as in claim 1 , that may be provided with an elbow spring or the likes to kick open and hold open the C shaped hoop when the Padlock is in the open position .

Claims

Claim 5 A Padlock with a hoop design as

in claims 1 ,2,3,4, that is a self closing Padlock when the body of the Padlock is held by the hand and then may be pushed in one continuous direction causing the hoop to come into contact with the object it is to secure, and the object it is to secure upon contacting the hoop causes the hoop to close to the locked position.

Claim 6 A Padlock, with a hoop design as in claims 1 ,2,3,4, where the lower portion on the C shape may be recessedor partialy recessed into the Padlock bodywhen the hoop is in the closed position to increase overall rigidity.

Claim 7 A Padlock hoop design as in

claims 1 ,2,3,4, where the lower open end of the C shape may have one or more prongs or the likes attack ed to it to minimise the distance between the lower end of the open C and the freeend of the tongue, when in the fully open positon.