WO2009011649A1

WO2009011649A1 - Padlock device

Info

Publication number: WO2009011649A1
Application number: PCT/SE2008/050812
Authority: WO
Inventors: Mats Agnarson
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2007-07-13
Filing date: 2008-07-01
Publication date: 2009-01-22
Anticipated expiration: 2010-01-13
Also published as: SE0701724L; SE531768C2

Abstract

The present invention relates to a padlock device comprising a housing with at least two shackles each comprising a pair of legs, a locking mechanism inside said housing and an unlocking arrangement wherein said shackles are arranged to be independently locked and unlocked and wherein said shackles are attached on different sides of said housing in relation to each other.

Description

PADLOCK DEVICE

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a padlock device with at least two separately attached shackles provided with locking mechanisms that can be locked and unlocked either by the means of one locking mechanism for each shackle, or by one single locking mechanism for which a control device can be used to activate one shackle at a time.

BACKGROUND ART When chaining a boat to its position often a traditional marine padlock is used. During the procedure in which one unlocks such a marine padlock having a single shackle it might occur that the chain as well as the padlock are dropped into the water, something that could be avoided should the padlock still be attached to the boat, e.g. via a second shackle.

Through patent GB 3375 it is previously known to produce padlocks with dual shackles. In this patent a pair of rotatable ears is arranged on an axle inside a rectangular case. As a key is turned it unfastens cotters and unlocks both shackles in one key-turn. The padlock referred to in this patent comprises a single keyhole and opens both of the shackles at the same time.

The padlock described in patent US 4,183,235 also includes one single keyhole linked to one locking mechanism arranged to unfasten two straight shackles whereupon they can be pulled out from the w-shaped case.

Accordingly there is a need of an improved padlock solving the above problem.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to eliminate, or at least minimise the above mentioned problem, which is accomplished in that the shackles are locked and unlocked independently. This feature is made possible either by multiple locking mechanisms one for each shackle, or by one single locking mechanism for which a control device can be used to activate one shackle at a time.

Thanks to the padlock device with multiple, independent shackles, fastened objects can be released without having to remove the padlock itself. Moreover, the padlock could be provided with one single locking mechanism, or multiple separate ones, where the latter alternative opens for the possibility to have different keys to different locks, e.g. in order to restrict the opening to either of the shackles.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The padlock device will hereinafter be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 illustrates a front view of a padlock with two shackles and two separate combination locks, Fig. 2 illustrates a front view of a padlock with two shackles and two separate combination locks in an unlocked position, Fig. 3 illustrates a front view of a padlock with two shackles and two separate key locks,

Fig. 4 illustrates a front view of a padlock with two shackles and one combination lock able to activate one shackle at a time,

Fig. 5 illustrates a front view of a padlock with two shackles and one key lock able to activate one shackle at a time, Fig. 6 illustrates a front view of a padlock with two shackles and one combination lock able to activate one shackle at a time in an unlocked position, Fig. 7 illustrates a side view of a padlock with two shackles and a key lock.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Said padlock device can be used in different situations, but preferably as a marine lock for private boats considering the mentioned advantages of the padlock within that field. The manufacturing size of the marine padlock can vary depending on the size of the boat intended to be fastened. A suitable size range for the diameter of the shackle legs would be between 3 mm and 30 mm, where 5 mm to 15 mm is more commonly used. The housing and the locking mechanism are further adapted in size to the forces that said padlock is intended to withstand.

Fig. 1 is a front view of a padlock device according to the invention provided with two opposite shackles with 180° angular distance: one upper 3 and one lower 4, attached in a housing 2 of rectangular shape, i.e. having six sides including a front face and a back face. The shackles are unlocked and locked separately by two unlocking arrangements, here in the form of combination locks 5 A, 5B, positioned on the front face of the housing. The padlock includes locking mechanisms 6A, 6B indicated with dotted lines on said housing 2. In accordance with a conventional padlock technique each shackle consists of one shorter and one longer leg 32, 33 where the shorter leg 32 is released from its bore 30 when the locking mechanism is in its unlocked position, while the longer leg 33 is still anchored in its bore 31 in the housing 2. The first combination lock 5A is mechanically coupled to the terminating end of the first leg 32 via a locking mechanism 6A, while the second combination lock 5B is coupled to the terminating end of the second leg 42 via a locking mechanism 6B. The housing 2 is preferably manufactured in a material resistant to corrosion, as are the shackles and the discs belonging to the combination locks.

Fig. 2 illustrates a front view of the same construction as in Fig. 1, here with one shackle 3 in an unlocked position and the other shackle 4 in a locked position. When opening the locking mechanism 6A, a hook is released inside the housing 2 whereupon the shackle 3 slides out from its bores 30, 31. The longer leg 33 of the shackle 3 is mechanically stopped from leaving its connection whereas the shorter leg 32 in an unlocked position is free to pivot around the longer fixed leg 33.

Fig. 3 illustrates a front view of an alternate embodiment according to the invention, where a padlock device is provided with two opposite shackles 3, 4 coupled to a housing 2. The shackles are individually unlocked and locked by two unlocking arrangements, here in the form of key locks 5C, 5D, positioned on the sides of said housing 2. Each of the two shackles is coupled to a locking mechanism 6C, 6D indicated in fig. 3 with dotted lines on said housing 2 . The two locking mechanisms 6C, 6D are independent, and are locked and unlocked one at a time with a respective key. The housing as well as the keys, the shackles and key locks are preferably manufactured in a material resistant to corrosion.

Fig. 4 illustrates a front view of an alternate embodiment according to the invention, where a padlock device is provided with two opposite shackles 3, 4 coupled to a housing 2. Said housing includes a combination lock 5E with a locking mechanism 6E, where said locking mechanism via a control device 7A, 7B can activate one shackle at a time. The locking mechanism 6E is indicated on said housing 2 with dotted lines. The control device includes a regulator 7B, that can slide in a groove 7 A, thus activating the upper 3 or the lower 4 shackle. The housing 2 is preferably manufactured in a material resistant to corrosion, as are the shackles and the discs belonging to the combination lock. Fig. 5 illustrates a front view of an alternate embodiment according to the invention, where a padlock device is provided with two opposite shackles 3, 4 on a housing 2. Said padlock device comprises a key lock 5F associated with a locking mechanism 6F able to activate one shackle at a time via a control device 7B. The locking mechanism 6F is indicated with dotted lines on said housing 2. Said control device comprises a regulator 7B that can slide up or down in a groove 7A thus activating the upper 3 or the lower 4 shackle. The housing 2 is preferably manufactured in material resistant to corrosion, as are the shackles and the key lock.

Fig. 6 illustrates a front view of a padlock device according to the invention, and of the same embodiment as in fig. 5, where said regulator 7B is activating the lower shackle 4, and the key 5F is turned in its lock such that the locking mechanism 6F has opened and the lower shackle is in its unlocked position.

Finally, fig. 7 illustrates an alternate embodiment of the same type as is disclosed in fig. 3 and fig. 5, as seen in a side view, where the side of said padlock is provided with a key lock 5G. According to the invention, when the key is turned in one direction a) the upper shackle 3 will be released from its bore, whereas when the key is turned in the other direction b) the lower shackle 4 will be released from its bore.

The objects of the present invention set forth above, among those made apparent by the detailed description, shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense. It is understood that the design of said padlock device can be varied within the scope of the following claims. The shape of the housing could take any form including circular, square or any other shape than what is specifically described in the description or

The material of choice for manufacturing the padlock as well as the thereto belonging components is preferably of robust and corrosion resistant type, such as stainless steel and/or brass or suitable composite plastics.

The arrangement of said shackles around the housing can be varied: it is e.g. possible to attach more than one shackle at the same side and /or to let the different shackles be arranged at an angle other than 180° in relation to each other. For instance if the housing would comprise a circular shape two shackles could be arranged at 60 °, 90 ° or at any other angle in between wherein a sector will be analogous with a side. Further, it is evident that also the front and/or back face may be used as "sides" to position a shackle. Furthermore, it is possible to provide one padlock device with more than two shackles.

Said locking mechanisms could, as indicated in the detailed description above, be based on mechanical implements. However, a person skilled in the art will realise that electronic alternatives are also to be comprised by the present invention, e.g. an electronic locking mechanism controlled by a code or remote control, where the latter alternative would include electronic keys with signaling function. In the appended figures the padlocks comprising a control device are shown to have one single locking mechanism able to activate one shackle at a time. This does not exclude other solutions for the arrangement. It is for instance possible to provide a padlock with multiple locking mechanisms.

Claims

1. A padlock device (1) comprising a housing (2) with at least two shackles (3, 4) each comprising a pair of legs (32, 33, 42, 43), a locking mechanism (6A - 6F) inside said housing (2) and an unlocking arrangement (5A - 5G), c h arac teriz e d in that said shackles (3, 4) are arranged to be independently locked and unlocked and -in that said shackles are attached on different sides of said housin ¹gO in relation to each other.

2. A padlock device according to claim 1, wherein said unlocking mechanism (5C,

5D, 5F, 5G) comprises at least one key and a locking mechanism (6C, 6D, 6F) pertaining to said key.

3. A padlock device according to claim 2, wherein said unlocking mechanism (5C- 5D) comprises one key and, for each shackle, -one locking mechanism (6C, 6D) pertaining to said key, -and arranged to be independently locked and unlocked.

4. A padlock device according to claim 2, wherein said unlocking mechanism (5F, 5G) comprises a key leading to a locking mechanism (6F) arranged to activate one shackle at a time by a regulating device (7A, 7B).

5. A padlock device according to claim 1, wherein said housing (2) includes at least one unlocking mechanism (5A, 5B, 5E) with a thereto belonging locking mechanism (6 A, 6B, 6E).

6. A padlock device according to claim 5, wherein said housing (2) includes one unlocking mechanism (5A, 5B) per shackle (3, 4) arranged to be independently locked and unlocked by the respective locking mechanism (6A, 6B) of each shackle.

7. A padlock device according to claim 5, wherein said housing (2) includes an unlocking mechanism (5E) and a thereto belonging locking mechanism (6E) arranged via a control device (7A, 7B) to activate one shackle at a time.