AU2015417647B2

AU2015417647B2 - Padlock

Info

Publication number: AU2015417647B2
Application number: AU2015417647A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Shigeki Azuma
Original assignee: Assa Abloy Japan Co Ltd
Current assignee: Assa Abloy Japan Co Ltd
Priority date: 2015-12-15
Filing date: 2015-12-15
Publication date: 2021-08-26
Anticipated expiration: 2035-12-15
Also published as: JPWO2017103989A1; JP6599476B2; DE112015007187T5; WO2017103989A1; PH12018501192A1; AU2015417647A1; PH12018501192B1

Abstract

According to the present invention, a slide pin (50) and an elastic member (56) which urges the slide pin (50) upward are incorporated in a lower end portion of a leg-part insertion hole (7) into which a short leg part (10) of a U-shaped latch (9) is inserted, and one end portion of a cylinder cap (52) is fixed at a lower end portion, of the slide pin (50), which is positioned outside the leg-part insertion hole (7). A keyhole (19) of a lock cylinder (16) incorporated in a lock hole (6) is exposed to the outside by the cylinder cap (52) being pulled down and by rotation around the slide pin (50), and the lock cylinder (16) is locked by an operation of an operation key (20) which is inserted into the keyhole (19). Thereafter, the cylinder cap (52) is brought into close contact with the lower end surface of a lock body (1) by the elastic force of the elastic member (56) so as to cover the keyhole (19), so that foreign matter is prevented from entering the inside through the keyhole (19).

Description

PADLOCK TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001]

The present invention relates to a padlock including a square or rectangular lock body, and a U-shaped latch protruding beyond the top surface of the lock body, and configured to be hooked to an object to be locked, thereby locking the object.

BACKGROUND ART

[0002]

The discussion of the background to the invention that follows is intended to facilitate an understanding of the invention. However, it should be appreciated that the discussion is not an acknowledgement or admission that any aspect of the discussion was part of the common general knowledge as at the priority date of the application.

[0002a]

As disclosed in the below-identified Patent document 1, padlocks are well known each including a lock body having a pair of leg inserting holes, and a lock hole formed between the pair of leg inserting holes; a U-shaped latch having a pair of legs different in length from each other, and configured to be slidably inserted into the respective leg inserting holes; a cylinder lock assembly having a key hole, and inserted in the lock hole, the cylinder lock being configured to be operated by inserting an operation key into the key hole, and turning the operation key; and a locking mechanism configured to be operated by the cylinder lock assembly, thereby locking the latch at its locked position.

[0003]

In the above padlocks, pin tumbler locks have been mainly used as the cylinder lock assemblies, but might be unlocked due to mischief. Therefore, cylinder lock assemblies each including electronic components in its interior tend to be used in recent years. Any cylinder lock assembly is inserted in the lock hole such that the key hole, into which an operation key is insertable, is exposed at the bottom surface of the lock body.

PRIOR ART DOCUMENTS PATENT DOCUMENTS

[0004]

Patent document 1: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application

Publication (Translation of PCT Application) No. 2001-526337

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005]

Since each padlock has a key hole exposed at the bottom surface of the lock body as described above, if the padlock is used outdoors, rainwater and/or dust might enter the cylinder lock assembly from the key hole, so that the cylinder lock assembly might malfunction.

[0006]

It is desirable to provide a padlock capable of reliably preventing water and foreign matter such as dust from entering the cylinder lock assembly from its key hole.

[0007]

According to the present invention there is provided a padlock comprising a lock body having a top surface, a bottom surface, two side surfaces, a lock hole disposed in a central portion of the lock body between the two side surfaces, and extending from the top surface to the bottom surface such that the lock hole defines a bottom opening in the bottom surface of the lock body, and first and second leg inserting holes disposed on respective sides of the lock hole; a U-shaped latch including a long leg and a short leg shorter in length than the long leg, the long leg and the short leg being configured to be slidably inserted into the second and first leg inserting holes, respectively; a cylinder lock assembly having a key hole configured such that an operation key is insertable in the key hole, and inserted in the lock hole such that the key hole is exposed at the bottom surface of the lock body, the cylinder lock assembly being configured to be operated by the operation key when the operation key is inserted into the key hole; and a locking mechanism mounted on top of the cylinder lock assembly, and configured to be operated by the cylinder lock assembly so as to lock the U-shaped latch, wherein the padlock further comprises a slide pin mounted in the first leg inserting hole and having a protruding bottom end protruding beyond a bottom opening of the first leg inserting hole and exposed to an outside of the lock body; an elastic member mounted in the first leg inserting hole, and configured to bias the slide pin upwardly; and a cylinder cap mounted to the protruding bottom end of the slide pin so as to be kept in close contact with the bottom surface of the lock body by an elastic force of the elastic member, thereby covering the bottom opening of the lock hole, wherein the locking mechanism includes a tail piece configured to be rotated by the cylinder lock assembly; a columnar locking piece configured to be rotated together with the tail piece when the tail piece is rotated; and a ball received in a pocket through which the lock hole communicates with the first leg inserting hole, wherein the short leg has a cutout, and the ball is capable of engaging in and disengaging from the cutout of the short leg, wherein the locking piece has a cylindrical retaining surface having a small diameter, and configured to prevent, with the ball fitted in the cutout, the ball from moving in a disengagement direction, in which the ball is disengaged from the cutout; and an axial groove configured to allow the ball to move in the disengagement direction, wherein the tail piece has a small diameter cylindrical surface on an upper portion of the tail piece, and an O-ring is fitted on the small diameter cylindrical surface so as to seal a space between the small diameter cylindrical surface and an inner diameter surface of the lock hole, and wherein the padlock further comprises an anti-pull-out plate fitted on an upper portion of the lock hole so as to prevent the locking piece from being pulled out of the lock hole through an upper opening of the lock hole; and a protective plate attached to the top surface of the lock body, and including a tubular portion fitted in the first leg inserting hole, the tubular portion having a ball hole in which the ball is received.

[0008]

The above padlock is configured such that, by inserting the operation key in the key hole and turning the operation key, the locking mechanism operates to unlock the latch, and such that, by pulling the unlocked latch outwardly, the short leg is pulled out of the first leg inserting holes, thereby making it possible to hook the latch to an object to be locked, or remove the latch from the object.

[0009]

After hooking the latch to an object to be locked, and aligning the short leg with the first leg inserting hole of the latch, when the latch is pushed in, the short leg is inserted into the first leg inserting hole. Thereafter, when the operation key is turned in one direction, the locking mechanism operates to lock the latch, and the locking of the object to be locked is completed by pulling the operation key from the key hole.

[0010]

The above padlock is configured such that an object is locked and unlocked by opening the cylinder cap such that the key hole of the cylinder lock assembly is exposed, at the surface of the lock body, to the outside of the lock body, and inserting the operation key into the key hole. In order to open the cylinder cap, the cylinder cap is first pulled downwardly against the elastic force of the elastic member so as to be separated from the bottom surface of the lock body. Then, while keeping the cylinder cap separated from the lock body, the cylinder cap is pivoted about the slide pin such that the portion of the cylinder cap between its remote end and the slide pin is circumferentially moved away from the position at which this portion of the cylinder cap is opposed to the lock hole, so that the key hole of the cylinder lock assembly is exposed to the outside.

[0011]

After an object to be locked is locked, the cylinder cap is pivoted until the portion of the cylinder cap between its remote end and the slide pin is opposed to the lock hole; and the cylinder cap is brought into close contact with the bottom surface of the lock body by the elastic restoring force of the elastic member such that the portion of the cylinder cap between its remote end and the slide pin covers the key hole, thereby preventing water and foreign matter such as dust from entering the key hole.

[0012]

Preferably, the cylinder cap includes a cap seal made of rubber, and

configured to be kept in close contact with the bottom surface of the lock

body along a circle larger in diameter than the bottom opening of the lock

hole. By mounting the cap seal to the cylinder cap, it is possible to ensure

excellent seal performance at the position of the cap seal, and thus to

effectively prevent foreign matter from entering the key hole.

[0013]

The padlock may be configured such that the locking mechanism

includes a tail piece configured to be rotated by the cylinder lock assembly;

a columnar locking piece configured to be rotated together with the tail

piece when the tail piece is rotated; and a ball received in a pocket through

which the lock hole communicates with the first leg inserting hole, wherein

the short leg has a cutout, and the ball is capable of engaging in and

disengaging from the cutout of the short leg, and wherein the locking piece

has: a cylindrical retaining surface having a small diameter, and configured

to prevent, with the ball fitted in the cutout, the ball from moving in an

disengagement direction, in which the ball is disengaged from the cutout;

and an axial groove configured to allow the ball to move in the

disengagement direction.

[00141

Preferably, the above padlock is configured such that the tail piece

has a small diameter cylindrical surface on an upper portion of the tail piece, and an O-ring is fitted on the small diameter cylindrical surface so as to seal a space between the small diameter cylindrical surface and an inner diameter surface of the lock hole.

[0015]

By sealing the space between the small diameter cylindrical surface of the tail piece and the inner diameter surface of the lock hole by use of the O-ring as described above, even if foreign matter enters the lock hole from its top opening, the O-ring will prevent the foreign matter from moving to the cylinder lock assembly, and thus no foreign matter will enter the cylinder lock assembly from its top side.

[0016]

Preferably, the lock body has water passage holes disposed in lower end portions of the lock body such that lower portions of the first and second leg inserting holes communicate with the outside through the respective water passage holes. By disposing water passage holes, even if water such as rainwater enters the first and second leg inserting holes, the water can be naturally discharged through the water passage holes to the outside. As a result thereof, it is possible to prevent the occurrence of rust due to the contact of the legs of the latch with the lock hole, thereby enabling the latch to be inserted into and removed from the lock hole in a smooth manner, and maintaining excellent operability for a long period of time.

[0017]

Since the padlock of the present invention is configured such that, as described above, the cylinder cap is brought into close contact with the bottom surface of the lock body by the elastic force of the elastic member so as to cover the bottom end opening of the lock hole in which the cylinder lock assembly is inserted, even if the padlock is used outdoors, i.e., under the situation in which the padlock is exposed to rain and wind, it is possible to reliably prevent water and foreign matter such as dust from entering the cylinder lock assembly from the key hole.

[0018]

With the padlock of the present invention, it is also possible to open and close (expose and hide) the key hole very easily. Specifically, when the cylinder cap is pulled downwardly, and pivoted about the slide pin until the portion of the cylinder cap between its remote end and the slide pin is moved away from the opposed position where it is opposed to the bottom end opening of the lock hole, the key hole is exposed to the outside, whereas when the cylinder cap in its opened state is returned to the above opposed position, and the cylinder cap is released, the cylinder cap is pulled upwardly by the elastic force of the elastic member so as to be brought into close contact with the bottom surface of the lock body, thereby closing (hiding) the key hole.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0019]

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a padlock according to the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view of the padlock illustrated in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the padlock with its cylinder cap opened.

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the padlock illustrated in Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a bottom view of the padlock illustrated in Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is a sectional view of the padlock with its locking mechanism unlocked.

Fig. 7 is an exploded perspective view of the padlock illustrated in Fig. 2.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

[0020]

A padlock embodying the present invention is now described with reference to the drawings. As illustrated in Fig. 1, the padlock of the present invention includes a lock body 1 and a U-shaped latch 9.

[0021]

As illustrated in Figs. 1 to 5, the lock body 1 is a square or rectangular member having a rectangular, plate fitting recess 2 in its top surface; a round protrusion 3 on the center of its bottom surface; and a bulge 4 on one end of its bottom surface. The bulge 4 has an inner side surface 5 comprising a circular arc shaped surface opposed to the protrusion 3 and having a center at the protrusion 3.

[0022]

The lock body 1 has a lock hole 6 extending from the bottom surface of the plate fitting recess 2 to the undersurface of the protrusion 3; and a pair of leg inserting holes 7 and 8 on both sides of the lock hole 6. The U-shaped latch 9 has, at both ends thereof, a pair of legs 10 and 11 different in length from each other, and configured to be slidably inserted into the respective leg inserting holes 7 and 8.

[0023]

The leg 10 is shorter than the leg 11 (thus, the leg 10 is hereinafter referred to as "the short leg 10", while the leg 11 is referred to as "the long leg 11"). The leg inserting hole 7, into which the short leg 10 is inserted, comprises a stepped hole having a diameter decreasing in a stepwise manner toward its bottom end to define, on its inner periphery, a first step

12, a second step 13, and a medium diameter hole portion 7a between the

first step 12 and the second step 13. The medium diameter hole portion 7a

communicates, at its lower end portion, with the outside of the lock body 1

through a water passage hole 14 opening to the side surface of the lock body

1 at its lower portion.

[0024]

The bottom end of the leg inserting hole 8, into which the long leg 11

is inserted, communicates with the outside through a water passage hole 15

opening to the bottom surface of the bulge 4.

[0025]

A cylinder lock assembly 16 is inserted in the lock hole 6. The

cylinder lock assembly 16 comprises a pin tumbler lock including an outer

tube 17, and an inner tube 18 having a key hole 19, and inserted in the

outer tube 17, the pin tumbler lock being configured such that the inner

tube 18 is rotatable relative to the outer tube 17 by inserting an operation

key 20 into the key hole 19, and turning the operation key 20. Since this pin

tumbler lock is a conventional one disclosed in prior art documents, its

details are not shown. However, it is to be understood that the cylinder lock

assembly 16 is not limited to a pin tumbler lock, and may be any other lock

assembly having a key hole, and configured to be locked and unlocked by

inserting an operation key into the key hole, and turning it.

[0026]

The cylinder lock assembly 16 is inserted in the lock hole 6 with the

key hole 19 directed downwardly such that the outer tube 17 is rotationally fixed to the lock body 1, and an inwardly extending flange 3a on the bottom end of the lock hole 6 prevents the outer tube 17 from being pulled out of the lock hole 6.

[0027]

A locking mechanism 21 is mounted in the lock hole 6 so as to be located above the cylinder lock assembly 16, and configured to be operated by the cylinder lock assembly 16, thereby locking the latch 9.

[0028]

As illustrated in. Figs. 2 and 7, the locking mechanism 21 includes a tail piece 22 configured to be rotated by the cylinder lock assembly 16; a round stopper plate 23 mounted on the top of the tail piece 22 along the outer edge of the tail piece 22; a columnar locking piece 24 mounted on the top of the stopper piece 23; and balls 25 disposed between the locking piece 24 and the respective legs 10 and 11 of the latch 9.

[0029]

The tail piece 22 is fitted to the top end of the inner tube 18 of the cylinder lock assembly 16 so as to be rotationally fixed to the inner tube 18 and rotatable together with the inner tube 18. The tail piece 22 has, on its top surface, a key 26 extending in a diametrical direction, and having a rectangular section. The key 26 is rotatable in a hole 27 formed in the stopper plate 23. The tail piece 22 has a small diameter cylindrical surface 28 on the outer periphery of the tail piece 22 at its upper portion. An O-ring 29 is fitted on the small diameter cylindrical surface 28 while kept in elastic contact with the small diameter cylindrical surface 28 and the inner diameter surface of the lock hole 6, thereby sealing the space between the small diameter cylindrical surface 28 and the inner diameter surface of the lock hole 6.

[0030]

The stopper plate 23 has a pair of protruding pieces 30 formed on its

outer periphery at opposite positions thereof. The lock hole 6 has vertical

grooves 31 formed in its inner periphery at opposite positions thereof. The

protruding pieces 30 are fitted in the respective vertical grooves 31 to

rotationally fix the stopper plate 23 relative to the lock hole 6. The stopper

plate 23 has a pair of protrusions 32 formed on the inner periphery of the

hole 27 at opposite positions thereof. The protrusions 32 and the keys 26

are configured to restrict the rotational angle of the tail piece 22 and the

inner tube 18 by the abutment of the key 26 against the protrusions 32. In

the embodiment, this rotational angle is restricted to 90 degrees.

[0031]

The locking piece 24 has, in its bottom surface, a key hole 33

extending in a diametrical direction. The key 26 is fitted in the key hole 33

so that the locking piece 24 rotates together with the tail piece 22.

[0032]

The locking piece 24 also has a cylindrical retaining surface 34 on

the outer periphery of the locking piece 24 at its upper portion; and a pair of

axial grooves 35 in the outer periphery of the locking piece 24 at opposite

positions thereof. When the cylindrical retaining surface 34 is opposed to

the balls 25 with the balls 25 at engaged positions, the cylindrical retaining

surface 34 prevents the inward movements of the balls 25, and retains the

balls 25 at the engaged positions. The "engaged positions"" mean, as

described below, the positions of the balls 25 at which the balls 25 are fitted

in cutouts 38 formed in the respective legs 10 and 11 of the latch 9.

[0033]

The axial grooves 35 have depths predetermined such that the outer peripheries of the balls 25 can be partially received in the respective axial grooves 35, and thus allow the balls 25 at the engaged positions to move in the direction in which the balls 25 are disengaged.

[0034]

As illustrated in Fig. 2, the balls 25 are received, respectively, in a

pair of pockets 36 and 37 through which the lock hole 6 communicates with

the pair of leg inserting holes 7 and 8 such that the balls 25 are engageable

in and disengageable from the cutouts 38, which are formed in the inner

peripheries of the respective legs 10 and 11 of the latch 9 at opposite

positions thereof.

[0035]

The long leg 11 has an axially elongated thinned portion 11a

extending downward from the cutout 38 of the long leg 11; and a step 11b

formed on the bottom end of the thinned portion 11a, and configured to

engage with the corresponding ball 25, thereby preventing the long leg 11

from being pulled out of the leg inserting hole 8. The latch 9 is configured

such that, with the step 11b engaging with the ball 25 and preventing the

long leg 11 from being pulled out of the leg inserting hole 8, the short leg 10

is out of the leg inserting hole 7.

[0036]

An anti-pull-out plate 39 is fitted on the upper portion of the lock

hole 6 so as to prevent the locking piece 24 from being pulled out of the lock

hole 6 through its upper opening. A snap ring 40 is mounted to the upper

portion of the inner wall of the hole 6 so as to prevent the separation of the

anti-pull-out plate 39.

[0037]

An upper protective plate 41 and a lower protective plate 42 comprising a pair of thin metal plates are fitted in the plate fitting recess 2, which is formed in the top surface of the lock body 1. As illustrated in Figs.

2 and 7, the lower protective plate 42 has a hole 43 in one end thereof, and

the upper protective plate 41 has, at one end thereof, a tubular portion 44

fitted in the leg inserting hole 7 through the hole 43 of the lower protective

plate 42. The tubular portion 44 has a ball hole 45 opposed to the pocket 36,

and the corresponding ball 25 is received in the ball hole 45.

[0038]

The upper protective plate 41 has a hole 46 at the other end thereof,

and the lower protective plate 42 also has a hole 46 at the other end thereof.

The long leg 11 of the latch 9 is inserted through the holes 46 of the

protective plates 41 and 42.

[0039]

As illustrated in Fig. 2, a slide pin 50 is inserted in the leg inserting

hole 7 of the lock body 1, into which the short leg 10 is inserted. The slide

pin 50 includes, at its top end, a head 51 vertically opposed to the first step

12, and configured to abut against the first step 12, thereby preventing the

slide pin 50 from being pulled out of the leg inserting hole 7 through its

bottom end. In the embodiment, the head 51 is constituted by a screw

having a head, and screwed into the end surface of the body of the slide pin

50.

[0040]

The padlock further includes a cylinder cap 52 which is fixed at one

end thereof to the bottom end portion of the slide pin 50 protruding

downwardly beyond the bottom end opening of the leg inserting hole 7 such

that the cylinder cap 52 is pivotable about the slide pin 50. The cylinder cap

52 has the same shape and size as the portion of the bottom surface of the lock body 1 that does not include the bulge 4. The side surface 53 of the cylinder cap 52, i.e., its side surface at its remote end remote from the slide pin 50 comprises a circular arc-shaped convex curved surface complementary in shape to the inner side surface 5 of the bulge 4.

[0041]

The cylinder cap 52 has a recess 54 formed in the top surface of the cylinder cap 52 between the remote end and the slide pin 50, and opposed to the round protrusion 3 on the bottom surface of the lock body 1. A cap seal 55 comprising an elastic member made of e.g., rubber is fitted in the recess 54, and fixedly attached to the recess 54 by, for example, bonding.

[0042]

The cap seal 55 has a cylindrical peripheral wall 55a large enough to be capable of receiving the round protrusion 3 of the lock body 1. The peripheral wall a has an axial length allowing the open end of the peripheral wall 55a to protrude slightly upward beyond the top surface of the cylinder cap 52.

[0043]

An elastic member 56 comprising a coil spring is mounted between the head 51 of the slide pin 50 and the second step 13 of the leg inserting hole 7, and biases the cylinder cap 52 upwardly to keep the open end surface of the peripheral wall 55a of the cap seal 55 in close contact with the bottom surface of the lock body 1, and thus hermetically seals the key groove 19 of the cylinder lock assembly 16, thereby preventing the entry of water and foreign matter such as dust.

[0044]

Fig. 2 illustrates the locked position of the padlock, in which the balls 25 are engaged in the respective cutouts 38 of the legs 10 and 11 of the latch 9, and are retained at the engaged positions by the cylindrical retaining surface 34 of the locking piece 24, so that the latch 9 is locked.

[0045]

In Fig. 2, the cylinder cap 52 is retained at the closing position

where the cylinder cap 52 is superposed on the bottom surface of the lock

body 1, so that the key hole 19 of the cylinder lock assembly 16 is closed by

the cylinder cap 52.

[0046]

In order to lock an object to be locked located outdoors by use of the

padlock of the present invention, the cylinder cap 52 is opened; the

operation key 20 is inserted into the key hole 19 of the cylinder lock

assembly 16, which is now exposed at the bottom surface of the protrusion 3

of the lock body 1; the latch 9 is unlocked by turning the operation key 20;

the short leg 10 is pulled out of the leg inserting hole 7 by pulling the latch

9; and the object tobe lockedislocked by the latch9.

[0047]

In order to open the cylinder cap 52, the cylinder cap 52 is first

pulled downwardly against the elastic force of the elastic member 56 so as

to be separated from the bottom surface of the lock body 1 as illustrated by

the dashed line Pi in Fig. 2. Then, while keeping the cylinder cap 52

separated from the lock body 1, the cylinder cap 52 is pivoted

circumferentially about the slide pin 50 by 180 degrees such that, as

illustrated in the dashed line P 2 in Fig. 3, the portion of the cylinder cap 52

between its remote end and the slide pin 50 is circumferentially moved

away from the protrusion 3. In this state, the cylinder cap 52 is released to

allow the cylinder cap 52 to be pulled upwardly.

[0048]

By, as described above, pivoting the cylinder cap 52 by 180 degrees

such that the portion of the cylinder cap 52 between its remote end and the

slide pin 50 is moved away from the protrusion 3, the key hole 19 of the

cylinder lock assembly 16 is exposed to the outside as illustrated in Fig. 5.

After pivoting the cylinder cap 52 in this way, by releasing the cylinder cap

52, the cylinder cap 52 is pulled upwardly by the elastic force of the elastic

member 56, so that the end of the cylinder cap 52 at which the cylinder cap

52 is attached to the slide pin 50 is brought into abutment with the

protrusion 3, and kept at this position as illustrated in Fig. 3.

[0049]

With the key hole 19 opened (exposed) as illustrated in Fig. 3, by

inserting the operation key 20 into the key hole 19, and turning the

operation key 20, the inner tube 18 is rotated, and the rotation of the inner

tube 18 is transmitted through the tail piece 22 to the locking piece 24,

thereby rotating the locking piece 24. When the locking piece 24 is rotated

by 90 degrees, the axial grooves 35 of the locking piece 24 are opposed to the

respective balls 25, and the balls 25 are unlocked.

[0050]

By pulling the latch 9 in this state, as illustrated in Fig. 6, the balls

are moved out of the cutouts 38, and fitted in the axial grooves 35 of the

locking piece 24, and the short leg 10 is pulled out of the leg inserting hole 7.

In this state, it is possible to hook the latch 9 to an object to be locked, or

remove the latch 9 from the object.

[0051]

In order to lock an object to be locked by use of the padlock of the

present invention, in the state of Fig. 6, the latch 9 is hooked to the object,

the short leg 10 of the latch 9 is aligned with the leg inserting hole 7, and the latch 9 is pushed in to insert the short leg 10 into the leg inserting hole

7. Thereafter, the operation key 20 is turned in one direction to rotate the

locking piece 24 so that the balls 25 are pushed outwardly by the edges of

the openings of the axial grooves 35, and fitted into the cutouts 38 of the

legs 10 and 11, and then, the cylindrical retaining surface 34 is opposed to

the balls 25 to retain the balls 25 at the engaged positions. This locks the

latch 9, and thus the object to be locked.

[0052]

After locking the object to be locked, the cylinder cap 52 in the state

of Fig. 6 is pulled downwardly to the position of the dashed line P 2 in Fig. 3.

In this state, the cylinder cap 52 is pivoted about the slide pin 50, and

moved to the position of the dashed line Pi in Fig. 2. Thereafter, the cylinder

cap 52 is released to allow it to be moved toward the bottom surface of the

lock body 1 by the elastic restoring force of the elastic member 56 until the

peripheral wall 55a of the cap seal 55 is brought into close contact with the

bottom surface of the lock body 1 and the key hole 19 is covered by the cap

seal 55, thereby preventing water and foreign matter such as dust from

entering the key hole 19.

[0053]

With the padlock of the embodiment, it is possible to open and close

(expose and hide) the key hole 19 very easily. In particular, simply by

pulling the cylinder cap 52 downwardly, and pivoting it about the slide pin

until the portion between the remote end of the cylinder cap 52 and the

slide pin 50 is moved away from the opposed position where it is opposed to

the bottom end opening of the lock hole 6, the key hole 19 is exposed to the

outside, whereas simply by pulling down the cylinder cap 52 in its opened

state, returning it to the above opposed position, and releasing it, the cylinder cap 52 is pulled upwardly by the elastic force of the elastic member 56 such that the peripheral wall 55a of the cap seal 55 is brought into close contact with the bottom surface of the lock body 1, thereby closing (hiding) the key hole 19.

[0054]

It is also possible to ensure excellent seal performance in the padlock of the embodiment, because the peripheral wall 55a of the cap seal 55 can be brought into close contact with the bottom surface of the lock body 1 by the elastic force of the elastic member 56.

[0055]

Where any or all of the terms "comprise", "comprises", "comprised" or "comprising" are used in this specification (including the claims) they are to be interpreted as specifying the presence of the stated features, integers, steps or components, but not precluding the presence of one or more other features, integers, steps or components.

DESCRIPTION OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

[0056]

1: lock body

6: lock hole

7, 8: leg inserting hole

9: latch

: short leg

11: long leg

14, 15: water passage hole

16: cylinder lock assembly

19: key hole

: operation key

21: locking mechanism

22: tail piece

24: locking piece

: ball

34: retaining surface

: axial groove

36, 37: pocket

: slide pin

52: cylinder cap

: cap seal

56: elastic member

Claims

THE CLAIMS DEFINING THE INVENTION ARE AS FOLLOWS:

1. A padlock comprising: a lock body having a top surface, a bottom surface, two side surfaces, a lock hole disposed in a central portion of the lock body between the two side surfaces, and extending from the top surface to the bottom surface such that the lock hole defines a bottom opening in the bottom surface of the lock body, and first and second leg inserting holes disposed on respective sides of the lock hole; a U-shaped latch including a long leg and a short leg shorter in length than the long leg, the long leg and the short leg being configured to be slidably inserted into the second and first leg inserting holes, respectively; a cylinder lock assembly having a key hole configured such that an operation key is insertable in the key hole, and inserted in the lock hole such that the key hole is exposed at the bottom surface of the lock body, the cylinder lock assembly being configured to be operated by the operation key when the operation key is inserted into the key hole; and a locking mechanism mounted on top of the cylinder lock assembly, and configured to be operated by the cylinder lock assembly so as to lock the U-shaped latch, wherein the padlock further comprises: a slide pin mounted in the first leg inserting hole and having a protruding bottom end protruding beyond a bottom opening of the first leg inserting hole and exposed to an outside of the lock body; an elastic member mounted in the first leg inserting hole, and configured to bias the slide pin upwardly; and a cylinder cap mounted to the protruding bottom end of the slide pin so as to be kept in close contact with the bottom surface of the lock body by an elastic force of the elastic member, thereby covering the bottom opening of the lock hole, wherein the locking mechanism includes a tail piece configured to be rotated by the cylinder lock assembly; a columnar locking piece configured to be rotated together with the tail piece when the tail piece is rotated; and a ball received in a pocket through which the lock hole communicates with the first leg inserting hole, wherein the short leg has a cutout, and the ball is capable of engaging in and disengaging from the cutout of the short leg, wherein the locking piece has: a cylindrical retaining surface having a small diameter, and configured to prevent, with the ball fitted in the cutout, the ball from moving in a disengagement direction, in which the ball is disengaged from the cutout; and an axial groove configured to allow the ball to move in the disengagement direction, wherein the tail piece has a small diameter cylindrical surface on an upper portion of the tail piece, and an O-ring isfitted on the small diameter cylindrical surface so as to seal a space between the small diameter cylindrical surface and an inner diameter surface of the lock hole, and wherein the padlock further comprises: an anti-pull-out plate fitted on an upper portion of the lock hole so as to prevent the locking piece from being pulled out of the lock hole through an upper opening of the lock hole; and a protective plate attached to the top surface of the lock body, and including a tubular portion fitted in the first leg inserting hole, the tubular portion having a ball hole in which the ball is received.

2. The padlock according to claim 1, wherein the cylinder cap includes a cap seal made of rubber, and configured to be kept in close contact with the bottom surface of the lock body along a circle larger in diameter than the bottom opening of the lock hole.

3. The padlock according claim 1 or 2, wherein the lock body has water passage holes disposed in lower end portions of the lock body such that lower portions of the first and second leg inserting holes communicate with the outside through the respective water passage holes.