AU2021203264A1 - Padlock - Google Patents

Abstract

ABUS August Bremicker S6hne KG A12024PAU - Ov/Dm Abstract A padlock comprises a lock body and a hoop having a first limb and a second limb, 5 wherein the lock body has a first introduction passage for the first limb and a second introduction passage, extending in parallel with said first introduction passage, for the second limb and accommodates a combination locking mechanism that comprises a plurality of rotatable code rings, a first blocking element for securing the first limb, a second blocking element for securing the 10 second limb, and an operating bar that extends between the first introduction passage and the second introduction passage in parallel with them along an axis of operation. The operating bar, starting from a locking angular position in which the first blocking element and the second blocking element are urged radially outwardly into the first introduction passage or the second introduction passage, is 15 rotatable about the axis of operation into an unlocking angular position in which the blocking elements are released for a radially inward movement, wherein the operating bar can only be brought into the unlocking angular position when a secret code is set at the code rings. 1/22 1AJ r), D 4 43 43 AP s 1

Description

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ABUS August Bremicker S6hne KG A12024PAU - Ov/Dm

Padlock This application claims priority from German application No. 102020114042.8 filed on 26 May 2020, the contents of which are to be taken as incorporated herein by this reference.

The invention relates to a padlock comprising a lock body and a hoop, e.g. a rigid and substantially U-shaped U hoop, wherein the hoop has a first limb and a second limb; and wherein the lock body has a first introduction passage for the introduction of the first limb and a second introduction passage, extending in parallel with the first introduction passage, for the introduction of the second limb of the hoop.

Such padlocks may, for example, be used to secure a door leaf to a door frame to be able to prevent an unauthorized opening of the door and to block access to a building or a room. For this purpose, the hoop of a padlock may, for example, be guided through the eyelet of a hasp and may then be locked to the lock body after an introduction of the limbs into the introduction passages so that a pivot movement or sliding movement for opening the door may be blocked. Padlocks may also be provided for a mobile use, e.g. for securing objects as required. For example, padlocks may serve to securely block container doors or tailgates of trucks or to store objects in lockers in a manner secure against access for a limited period of time. Furthermore, padlocks may also be used to securely connect two links of a chain to one another that are released from one another and to close the chain in order, for example, to securely connect a two-wheeler via the chain to a stationary object such as a bicycle stand or a lantern.

However, particularly in the case of padlocks that are used in a mobile manner and that may frequently be used in different locations and under different external conditions, the problem results that a padlock is usually not suitable for each of the applications desired by a user. Thus, the diameter of a hoop of a padlock may, for example, prove to be too large for locking a locker, for example in a sports facility, under certain circumstances so that a user cannot use the respective padlock for this purpose. Conversely, a hoop that is too thin may not provide the necessary or desired security for certain applications. Furthermore, in particular in the case of padlocks that are frequently used, that are transported between different locations of use, and that accordingly have to be regularly opened and locked, it is necessary to provide a comfortable and simple operability for the user.

A further problem with padlocks comprising lock cylinders is that a key associated with the lock cylinder may be lost and the padlock may then no longer be opened by the owner.

It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a padlock that enables a flexible use for numerous applications with a high security and simple operability.

This object is satisfied by a padlock comprising a lock body and a hoop, e.g. a rigid and substantially U-shaped U hoop, wherein the hoop has a first limb and a second limb; wherein the lock body has a first introduction passage for introducing the first limb and a second introduction passage, extending in parallel with the first introduction passage, for introducing the second limb of the hoop; wherein the lock body accommodates a combination locking mechanism, wherein the combination locking mechanism comprises a plurality of rotatable code rings, a first blocking element for securing the first limb in the first introduction passage and a second blocking element for securing the second limb in the second introduction passage, and an operating bar that extends between the first introduction passage and the second introduction passage in parallel with the first introduction passage and the second introduction passage along an axis of operation; wherein the operating bar, starting from a locking angular position in which the first blocking element and the second blocking element are urged radially outwardly with respect to the axis of operation into the first introduction passage and the second introduction passage, respectively, is rotatable about the axis of operation along a direction of rotation into an unlocking angular position in which the first blocking element and the second blocking element are released for a radially inward movement; wherein the operating bar may only be brought into the unlocking angular position when a secret code is set at the code rings.

The operating bar in this respect serves to be able to actuate the padlock and to be able to selectively open or lock it by selectively locking the limbs of the hoop to the lock body. Due to the outward urging of the blocking elements in a radial manner with respect to the axis of operation, the blocking elements may engage into the introduction passages in the locking angular position to lock the introduced limbs of the hoop to the lock body and to block an axial movement of the hoop along the axis of operation out of the introduction passages. For this purpose, in the locking angular position of the operating bar, the blocking elements may in particular engage into respective holding recesses formed at the limbs and may thereby axially fix or hold the limbs in the introduction passages. If, in contrast, the operating bar is transferred into the unlocking angular position so that the blocking elements are released for a radially inward movement, the limbs may also be released for an axial movement out of the introduction passages to be able to release the hoop at least partly from the lock body. Since the operating bar is rotatable between the locking angular position and the unlocking angular position, the respective position of the blocking elements may be particularly securely set with respect to violent manipulation attempts and it is even possible to set additional angular positions (e.g. a release angular position), as will be explained in the following.

Provision may be made in this respect that, in the unlocking angular position, the operating bar only releases the blocking elements for a radially inward movement, without this movement of the blocking elements already taking place through the rotation of the operating bar. Rather, the blocking elements may in particular be configured to be urged radially inward with respect to the axis of operation by the limbs of the hoop moved out of the respective introduction passages, such that the blocking elements may be moved radially inwardly in the unlocking angular position of the operating bar by pulling at the hoop in order to clear a path of the limbs out of the introduction passages. For this purpose, the operating bar may, for example, have a cam or be coupled to a cam that extends further radially outwardly in the locking angular position than in the unlocking angular position to urge the blocking elements radially outwardly with respect to the axis of operation into the introduction passages or to release them for a radially inward movement.

The operating bar may, for example, be arranged approximately centrally between the first introduction passage and the second introduction passage to urge the first blocking element and the second blocking element radially outwardly into the first introduction passage or the second introduction passage. Furthermore, the axis of operation may be aligned coaxially to an axis of rotation of the code rings so that the axis of rotation of the code rings may also be provided centrally between the two introduction passages and the code rings may be arranged axially along the axis of operation. The code rings may accordingly be rotatable about the axis of operation. The first blocking element and the second blocking element may each be in one part or in multiple parts; for example, the first blocking element and the second blocking element may each comprise one or two blocking ball(s) or other blocking bodies (e.g. rounded, elongate blocking bodies) supported in a guide passage of the lock body.

A rotational movement of the operating bar from the locking angular position into the unlocking angular position may further be selectively released or blocked

(directly or indirectly, as will be explained in the following) by means of the combination locking mechanism by setting a secret code at the code rings or disarranging the code rings. It is thus necessary to set the secret code to be able to rotationally actuate the operating bar, whereas the padlock may be secured against an unauthorized opening by disarranging the secret code at the code rings. The code rings may in this respect in particular be labeled with numbers to be able to set or disarrange a predetermined sequence of numbers as a secret code by rotating the code rings. Alternatively thereto, the code rings may also exhibit different shapes or color codings, for example.

Due to the design of the padlock with a combination locking mechanism, the padlock may be operated without keys so that the risk of no longer being able to actuate the padlock in the event of the loss of a key may be excluded, said risk in particular existing with padlocks that are frequently used at different locations and that are regularly transported. Furthermore, the operation of the padlock, which merely requires a setting of the code rings, may also be made easier compared to an actuation with a key and may be made more comfortable for a user.

If the secret code is set at the code rings, the operating bar may be brought from the locking angular position into the unlocking angular position by rotating the operating bar (in particular after a thus released axial movement, as will be explained in the following) about the axis of operation along a direction of rotation. It is consequently necessary to first set the secret code to release the operating bar for a rotation and to be able to reach the unlocking angular position. In this respect, provision may, for example, be made that a U hoop is completely releasable from the lock body as a result of a movement of the operating bar into the unlocking angular position, wherein the limbs of the U hoop may in particular be of substantially equal length. However, in some embodiments, such a U hoop may have a short limb and a long limb, as will be explained in the following, wherein only the short limb may be completely released from the corresponding introduction passage in the unlocking angular position of the operating bar, while the long limb partly remains in the lock body or in the associated introduction passage. For this purpose, in the unlocking angular position, the first blocking element may, for example, be released for a less far-reaching radially inward movement than the second blocking element to be able to hold a long limb of a U hoop in the lock body in the unlocking angular position and to be able to pivot the released second limb around the long limb, for example.

If, in contrast, the secret code is not set, the operating bar is blocked in the locking angular position at least with respect to rotations up to and into the unlocking angular position and the blocking elements are urged radially outwardly into the respective introduction passage to lock the introduced limbs of the hoop. When the secret code is not set, the operating bar may in particular at least be blocked with respect to rotations into those angular positions in which the blocking elements are released for a sufficient radially inward movement to be able to release the first limb and/or the second limb from the respective introduction passage. If the secret code is not set, the operating bar is thus at most rotatable about the axis of operation between such angular positions in which the blocking elements engage sufficiently into the introduction passages to prevent a release of the limbs. When the secret code is not set, the operating bar may in particular, apart from possible production tolerances, be rotationally fixed in the locking angular position with respect to rotations about the axis of operation.

Provision may be made that, after the setting of the secret code, at least one further action and/or one further movement of the operating bar is required to be able to rotate the operating bar into the unlocking angular position. For example, as a result of a setting of the secret code, the operating bar may be released for an axial movement with respect to the axis of operation, in particular out of the lock body, and may only be rotatable into the unlocking angular position after such an axial movement. Such an axial movement of the operating bar may also be blocked when the secret code is not set. Provision may furthermore be made that, after the setting of the secret code, the operating bar has to be released for such an axial movement by an additional action of the user or the axial movement has to be actively performed or initiated before the operating bar may be rotated into the unlocking angular position.

In this respect, the setting of the secret code may represent a necessary condition, but it does not necessarily have to represent a sufficient condition to be able to rotate the operating bar into the unlocking angular position. It is, however, generally conceivable that the operating bar may be brought into the unlocking angular position solely by setting the secret code, wherein, in this respect, the rotational movement of the operating bar into the unlocking angular position may in particular have an axial component and may, for example, take place by an axial preload of the operating bar and via a slot guide.

Within the framework of the present disclosure, all the indications of direction related to an axis or described rotations, in particular the designations radial and axial, are generally to be understood as related to the axis of operation unless another axis is explicitly indicated as the reference axis.

Further embodiments of the invention can be seen from the dependent claims, from the description, and from the drawings.

In some embodiments, the operating bar may have a cam or be coupled to a cam that cooperates with the first blocking element and the second blocking element.

Such a cam may also be designated as a rotary latch and may be shaped as an eccentric element with respect to the axis of operation. The cam serves to urge the blocking elements radially outwardly differently far in different rotational positions of the operating bar or of the cam and thereby to selectively lock the limbs of the hoop introduced into the introduction passages of the lock body or to release them for a release from the lock body. For this purpose, the cam may have a plurality of sections along the direction of rotation that differ in their radial extent with respect to the axis of operation. The cam may in particular have a first drive section that extends radially outwardly such that the first blocking element is urged into the first introduction passage when the operating bar or the cam is brought into the locking angular position and the first drive section is oriented in the direction of the first blocking element or of the first introduction passage. The cam may further have a first release section that extends less far radially outwardly in comparison with the first drive section so that the first blocking element is released for a radially inward movement when the cam or the operating bar is brought into the unlocking angular position and the first release section is oriented in the direction of the first blocking element or of the first introduction passage. Similarly, the cam may have a second drive section to urge the second blocking element radially outwardly into the second introduction passage in the locking angular position and a second release section to release the second blocking element for a radially inward movement in the unlocking angular position.

In some embodiments, the cam may be rotationally effectively connected to the operating bar, as will be explained in more detail in the following. In this respect, the operating bar may in particular be movable relative to the cam in an axial manner with respect to the axis of operation, wherein the rotationally effective coupling to the cam may exist or remain in different axial positions of the operating bar. Alternatively to a two-part design in the event of a rotationally effective coupling, the cam may also be formed in one part with the operating bar, wherein the cam may in this respect in particular have a sufficient axial extent along the axis of operation to be able to cooperate with the blocking elements in different axial positions of the operating bar. For example, provision may be made that the operating bar is movable axially with respect to the axis of operation as a result of a setting of the secret code, wherein the cam may have a sufficient extent in the axial direction to be able to contact the axially unmoved blocking elements in all the axial positions of the operating bar and to be able to drive or release them in dependence on the angular position of the operating bar.

In some embodiments, in the locking angular position of the operating bar, the first blocking element and the second blocking element may be blocked by the cam against a radially inward movement with respect to the axis of operation and, in the unlocking angular position of the operating bar, the first blocking element and the second blocking element may be released by the cam for a radially inward movement with respect to the axis of operation. In this respect, the cam may be movable together with the operating bar into the respective angular position and, depending on the angular position, may have different radial extents in the direction of the first introduction passage and of the second introduction passage to block a radially inward movement of the blocking elements in the locking angular position and to release such a movement in the unlocking angular position.

Provision may be made that the operating bar is rotationally fixedly, but axially displaceably coupled to the cam. The operating bar may in particular be axially movable relative to the cam in the course of the operation the padlock, but may remain coupled to the cam in a rotationally fixed manner (i.e. fixed in a rotary manner) irrespective of the axial positions arising during operation to be able to take along the cam during a movement from the locking angular position into the unlocking angular position, and in particular also vice versa.

In some embodiments, in the unlocking angular position, the cam may extend further in the direction of the first introduction passage than in the direction of the second introduction passage. Consequently, in the unlocking angular position, the first blocking element may be movable less far radially inwardly than the second blocking element due to an earlier contact with the cam regarding a radial movement. For example, such a design of the cam may make it possible to release a relatively shorter second limb of a U hoop from the lock body or to remove it from the second introduction passage in the unlocking angular position, whereas a relatively longer first limb of the U hoop may be partly held in the second introduction passage, in particular at a lower end section, by the second blocking element in the unlocking angular position, said second blocking element projecting radially into the second introduction passage, albeit less far than in the locking angular position. In this respect, in the unlocking angular position, the first blocking body may, for example, engage into a holding section of the first limb that may in particular be configured as a peripheral groove to be able to pivot the U hoop or the second limb, which is released from the lock body, around the first limb in the unlocking angular position. Starting from the released second limb, the hoop may thereby, for example, be comfortably guided through the eyelet of a hasp to block the hasp by a subsequent introduction of the second limb into the second introduction passage. The operating bar is then transferred into the locking angular position and the secret code is disarranged at the code rings.

In the unlocking angular position, the first blocking element may be movable less far radially inwardly than the second blocking element. As explained above, this may enable a comfortable use of the padlock in that, for example, a U hoop may also be held at the lock body in the unlocking angular position and the hoop thus does not have to be separated from the lock body in order to connect the lock to an object to be secured, for example.

In this respect, provision may be made that the first limb of the hoop is longer than the second limb and has a holding section, wherein the second limb may be able to be led out of the second introduction passage in the unlocking angular position of the operating bar, and wherein the first limb may be held at the lock body in the unlocking angular position of the operating bar by an engagement of the first blocking element into the holding section. In this respect, the holding section may in particular be configured as a peripheral groove so that, when the second limb is released, the hoop may be pivotable around the second limb held in the second introduction passage, wherein the hoop may in particular be configured as a U hoop.

In some embodiments, the operating bar may be rotatable in the direction of rotation from the unlocking angular position into a release angular position in which the first blocking element is released for a further radially inward movement. In this respect, the operating bar may in particular be rotationally effectively coupled to the already mentioned cam, wherein the cam may have a smaller radial extent with respect to the axis of operation in the direction of the first introduction passage in the release angular position than in the unlocking angular position. The cam may thus in particular have a correspondingly formed third release section. Consequently, the first blocking element may come into contact with the cam disposed further radially inwardly in the release angular position than in the unlocking angular position so that the first blocking element may be movable further radially inwardly.

Provision may in particular be made that, on a norming of the locking angular position to 00, the unlocking angular position is reached on a rotation of the operating bar about the axis of operation by approximately 900 and/or that the release angular position is reached on a rotation by approximately 1350.

The hoop may be completely releasable from the lock body in the release angular position in some embodiments. Since the hoop is completely releasable from the lock body in the release angular position, whereas in particular the first limb may be held at the lock body in the unlocking angular position, the hoop may be deliberately and selectively separated from the lock body. In contrast, an opening and locking and thus a use of the padlock may take place comfortably and without separating the hoop and the lock body. The possibility of being able to selectively release the hoop from the lock body in particular provides an additional flexibility in the use of the lock in that, for example, differently configured hoops may be selectively connected to the lock body and locked to the lock body to be able to make optimum use of the lock for a large number of applications. For example, U hoops of different diameters, in particular with respect to a section of the hoop that is also arranged outside the lock body in the state of the limbs of the hoop completely introduced into the introduction passages, may thus be selectively connected to the lock body depending on the application to be able to use the padlock as required. Furthermore, different kinds of hoops may generally also be connected to the lock body depending on the application and in a flexible manner, for example, as an alternative to U hoops, also rope hoops or chain hoops at whose ends bolts may be formed that may be introduced into the introduction passages ofthe lock body.

In some embodiments, the first blocking element and the second blocking element may be spherical. Such a spherical design may in particular enable a smooth radially inward displacement of the blocking elements on an axial pulling out of the limbs from the introduction passages when the operating bar is in the unlocking angular position. A rotation of the operating bar, in particular from the unlocking angular position into the locking angular position, in the course of which the blocking elements are urged radially outward, may thereby also take place smoothly and comfortably. In general, the blocking elements may, however, also have different kinds of shapes (e.g. elongate, in particular cone-shaped, with a longitudinal axis oriented radially with respect to the axis of operation) and/or may be formed in multiple parts, as already explained.

The operating bar may be blocked against a rotation from the locking angular position into the unlocking angular position when the secret code is not set at the code rings. The setting of the secret code may thus represent a necessary condition to be able to transfer the operating bar into the unlocking angular position and to be able to open the lock. The operating bar may in particular be substantially, apart from possible production tolerances, rotationally fixedly held in the lock body when the secret code is not set at the code rings.

In some embodiments, the operating bar may be movable axially with respect to the axis of operation between a blocking position and an operating position. Provision may in particular be made that the operating bar is only axially movable from the locking position into the operating position when the secret code is set. If, in contrast, the secret code is not set at the code rings, the operating bar may be blocked in the blocking position or an axial movement of the operating bar may be prevented before reaching the operating position, such that the operating position, starting from the blocking position, may only be reachable when the secret code is set.

In some embodiments, in the (axial) operating position, the operating bar may be rotatable from the locking angular position into the unlocking angular position when the secret code - as explained - is set at the code rings, wherein the operating bar is, however, still not rotatable in the (axial) blocking position, but is blocked against a rotation from the locking angular position into the unlocking angular position even when the secret code is set at the code rings. Provision may in particular be made that the operating bar may only be able to be brought into the unlocking angular position in the operating position. In this respect, in addition to the setting of the secret code at the code rings, it may first be necessary to transfer the operating bar from the blocking position into the (axial) operating position to subsequently be able to rotate the operating bar from the locking angular position into the unlocking angular position. In such embodiments, provision may furthermore be made that the operating bar is also blocked against a rotation from the locking angular position into the unlocking angular position in axial positions between the locking position and the operating position.

Thus, provision may be made in such embodiments that the operating bar is movable from the blocking position into the operating position when the secret code is set at the code rings, wherein an axial movement of the operating bar into the operating position may be blocked when the secret code is not set. The operating bar may in particular be fixed in the blocking position when the secret code is not set or an axial movement of the operating bar in the direction of the operating position may be prevented before reaching the operating position when the secret code is not set at the code rings. Furthermore, the operating bar may only be rotatable into the unlocking angular position when the operating bar is in the operating position, such that a rotation of the operating bar into the unlocking angular position, and accordingly a release of the blocking elements for a radially inward movement, may also be blocked by the blocking of the axial movement of the operating bar when the secret code is not set. In this respect, provision may be made that the operating bar may be directly or automatically transferrable into the operating position by setting the secret code at the code rings, while provision may also be made that a further action of the user is necessary in addition to or after the setting of the secret code in order to transfer the operating bar from the blocking position into the operating position. Again, the setting of the secret code may consequently be a necessary condition, but it does not necessarily have to be a sufficient condition for transferring the operating bar into the operating position.

The explained two-step movement or the additional axial movement of the operating bar enables advantageous operating concepts, for example, by receiving the operating bar, when the padlock is closed and the combination locking mechanism is locked, in a protecting manner within the lock body or completely within a housing of the lock body through an axial movement of the operating bar into the blocking position serving as a position of rest, or by enabling an actuation of the blocking elements by the authorized user through an axial extension movement of the operating bar out of the lock body into the operating position.

In some embodiments, the code rings may be rotationally fixedly connected to a respective transmission ring that has a retaining web extending at an inner periphery in a peripheral direction, wherein the retaining webs of the transmission rings may be interrupted by a respective unlocking recess, and wherein the operating bar may have a number of radially outwardly projecting elevated locking portions that correspond to the number of transmission rings and that are aligned with the retaining web of an associated transmission ring or with the unlocking recess of the associated transmission ring in dependence on the angular position of the code rings.

In this respect, the transmission rings may in particular have at least one respective radially outwardly extending elevated coupling portion that engages into a coupling recess formed at an inner periphery of the code rings to couple the transmission rings to the code rings in a rotationally fixed manner. The transmission rings may accordingly be rotated together with the code rings to orient either the retaining web or the unlocking recess of a respective transmission ring in alignment with the corresponding elevated locking portion of the operating bar.

The retaining webs may in this respect be interrupted solely by the respective unlocking recess and may be continuous in the peripheral direction, apart from the unlocking recess. However, the retaining webs may generally also be formed by different sections that may, for example, be separated from one another by small or narrow interruptions.

In some embodiments, the unlocking recesses of all the transmission rings may be aligned with one another to allow the elevated locking portions of the operating bar to pass axially when the secret code is set at the code rings.

If the secret code is set at the code rings, a movement of the operating bar may thus in particular take place axially from said blocking position into said operating position, with the elevated locking portions being able to be guided through the respective unlocking recesses during this movement. Accordingly, the unlocking recesses may be oriented by setting the secret code such that all the elevated locking portions of the operating bar are oriented in alignment with the unlocking recess of the associated transmission ring. In this respect, the locking recesses may in particular be oriented in alignment with one another so that the unlocking recesses of the transmission rings may also be brought into a mutually aligned orientation with one another by setting the secret code. In general, however, a different orientation of the elevated locking portions may also be provided, wherein the orientation of the unlocking recesses may be coordinated with the orientation of the associated elevated locking portions such that the elevated locking portions are arranged in alignment with the unlocking recesses when the secret code is set at the code rings.

If the secret code is, in contrast, not set, at least one of the elevated unlocking portions may be oriented out of alignment with the associated elevated locking portion of the operating bar so that the elevated locking portion is arranged in alignment with the corresponding retaining web. An axial movement of the operating bar into the operating position may thus be blocked by the cooperation of this elevated locking portion with the retaining web so that the operating position cannot be reached when the secret code is not set.

At least one of the retaining webs of the transmission rings may block an axial movement of the operating bar from the blocking position into the operating position by means of a contact with the associated elevated locking portion when the secret code is not set at the code rings. At least one of the retaining webs may thus be arranged in alignment with the associated elevated locking portion of the operating bar when the secret code is not set at the code rings.

In addition to the elevated locking portions, the operating bar may have further radial elevated portions, in particular for blocking the rotation into the unlocking angular position when the secret code is not set or in an axial position of the operating bar that differs from the operating position. The operating bar may also have a radial elevated portion for coupling to the already mentioned cam.

In some embodiments, the retaining webs may have separation elements extending axially with respect to the axis of operation in the direction of the blocking position, wherein an engagement of the respective elevated locking portion into an intermediate space between two separation elements of the associated retaining web in axial positions between the blocking position and the operating position may block a rotational movement of the code ring connected to the respective transmission ring relative to the operating bar.

For example, provision may be made that the operating bar is movable in the direction of the operating position by an action of a user, but the movement is prevented by at least one retaining web before reaching the operating position when the secret code is not set at the code rings. Due to the secret code that is not set or to the axial position that differs from the operating position, the operating bar may be secured against a rotation and may be rotationally fixedly held in the lock body. Since the elevated locking portions of the operating bar may engage into respective intermediate spaces between two separation elements in such axial positions, the transmission rings and accordingly the code rings rotationally fixedly connected to the transmission rings may also be blocked against a rotation about the axis of operation that may in particular correspond to their axis of rotation. A successive setting of the secret code, in particular by an unauthorized person, may thereby be prevented.

Consequently, when the secret code is not set and on the attempt to transfer the operating bar, in particular in an unauthorized manner, into the operating position, an axial movement of the operating bar may be prevented before reaching the operating position and a setting of the secret code in such intermediate positions may be prevented. The secret code may thus solely be settable in the blocking position and/or in the operating position.

In some embodiments, the operating bar may be axially movable in the direction of the blocking position in the unlocking angular position. This may in particular make it possible to change the secret code. In the unlocking angular position, the operating bar and, together with it, also its elevated locking portions are rotated with respect to the locking angular position in which the movement of the operating bar from the blocking position into the operating position takes place. Consequently, in the unlocking angular position, the elevated locking portions may be arranged out of alignment with the respective unlocking recesses of the transmission rings, and instead in alignment with the corresponding retaining webs so that an axial movement of the operating bar in the direction of the blocking position may be transmitted to the transmission rings via the respective retaining webs.

In this respect, provision may be made in some embodiments that the transmission rings are axially movable into a decoupling position relative to the code rings by a cooperation of the elevated locking portions of the operating bar with the retaining webs of the transmission rings during the movement of the operating bar from the operating position in the direction of the blocking position, wherein the rotationally fixed connection of the transmission rings to the code rings may be dissolved in the decoupling position.

Provision may consequently be made that an axial movement of the operating bar in the unlocking angular position may be transmitted to the transmission rings to be able to move them axially with respect to the axis of operation relative to the code rings. For example, respective elevated coupling portions arranged at the outer peripheries of the transmission rings may thereby be brought out of engagement with coupling recesses that are arranged at the inner peripheries of the associated code rings. Due to the canceling of the rotationally fixed connection, the code rings may be rotatable relative to the transmission rings about their axis of rotation or the axis of operation in the decoupling position. After the rotation of the code rings, the transmission rings together with the operating bar may again be moved axially in the direction of the operating position and may thereby be brought into a rotationally fixed coupling with the code rings, wherein in particular said elevated coupling portions may now engage into a respective coupling recess at a different position of the code rings. The operating bar may then again be in the operating position and the unlocking angular position, with the code rings indicating the changed secret code. A number of coupling recesses corresponding to the number of numbers or symbols presented on the code rings for forming the secret code may in particular be formed at the code rings, with an elevated coupling portion of the respective transmission ring being able to engage into said elevated coupling portions in dependence on the relative rotational position of the code rings with respect to the transmission rings.

In some embodiments, the transmission rings may be preloaded axially with respect to their axis of rotation, which may in particular correspond to the axis of operation, against the movement into the decoupling position. On an axial moving back of the operating bar in the direction of the operating position, the transmission rings may thereby be automatically moved back into an axial position in which the transmission rings are rotationally fixedly coupled to the code rings. Due to the contact of the elevated locking portions with the retaining webs of the transmission rings by the preload of the transmission rings, the operating bar may also be preloaded in the direction of the operating position in the unlocking angular position so that the operating bar may be automatically moved back in the direction of the operating position when a user releases this movement, starting from the decoupling position of the transmission rings. Furthermore, the operating bar may also itself, independently of the transmission rings, be preloaded in the direction of the operating position.

In some embodiments, the operating bar may at least sectionally be guided in a compulsory manner with respect to its axial movability and its rotational movability, in particular by a compulsory guidance (e.g. a slot guide) in cooperation with the lock body. A rotation of the operating bar into the unlocking angular position may thereby in particular be blocked when the secret code is not set at the code rings and/or when the operating bar is not in the intended axial position (in particular in said operating position).

In some embodiments, the operating bar may have an elevated guide portion that projects radially outward with respect to the axis of operation and that, in the blocking position of the operating bar, engages into a guide passage of the lock body extending axially with respect to the axis of operation, wherein a rotation of the operating bar about the axis of operation may be blocked by the engagement of the elevated guide portion into the guide passage. In this respect, walls of the guide passage extending axially with respect to the axis of operation may in particular block a rotational movement of the elevated guide portion, and thus of the operating bar, when the operating bar is in the blocking position. The elevated guide portions may in particular also engage into the guide passage in axial positions between the blocking position and the operating position so that a rotation of the operating bar about the axis of operation may be blocked in such axial positions. In this respect, a rotation in the direction of rotation or from the locking angular position into the unlocking angular position may be blocked by the engagement of the elevated guide portion into the guide passage, whereas the operating bar may also, apart from any production tolerances, be completely rotationally fixedly held in the lock body by this engagement.

In some embodiments, the guide passage may lead into a rotary guide passage of the lock body extending in the direction of rotation, wherein the elevated guide portion may be movable through the rotary guide passage in the operating position of the operating bar. In this respect, the rotary guide passage may be open toward one side so that the elevated guide portion does not necessarily have to be guided at two sides by the rotary guide passage during a rotation of the operating bar. For example, the rotary guide passage may be arranged at a lower side of the lock body opposite the hoop and may be open toward this side. During a rotation of the operating bar, the elevated guide portion may thus substantially be guided in a recess that is formed at the lower side of the lock body and that forms the rotary guide passage.

During an axial movement of the operating bar from the blocking position into the operating position, the elevated guide portion may be guided through the guide passage extending in the axial direction so that rotations of the operating bar in axial positions between the blocking position and the operating position may be blocked by an engagement of the elevated guide portion into the guide passage. The elevated guide portion may only be axially arranged in the rotary guide passage, and may thus be guided through the rotary guide passage, on the reaching of the operating position in order to enable a rotation of the operating bar into the unlocking angular position.

In some embodiments, the rotary guide passage may form an abutment for the elevated guide portion in the locking angular position. On a rotating back of the operating bar from the unlocking angular position into the locking angular position, the reaching of said locking angular position may in particular thereby be clearly detected so that the rotary guide passage may act as an operating aid and an overrotation beyond the locking angular position may be prevented. Furthermore, the rotary guide passage may also form an abutment for the elevated guide portion in the aforementioned release angular position so that the reaching of this angular position may be haptically detected by a user.

In some embodiments, the guide passage may be formed at a guide ring of the lock body that may in particular be inserted as a separate element into a housing of the lock body. The guide ring may in this respect in particular be hollow cylindrical and may be fixedly held in the lock body. Furthermore, the rotary guide passage, into which the guide passage may transition in some embodiments, may also be formed at the guide ring. The guide ring may in particular be arranged or inserted at a lower side of a housing of the padlock axially opposite to the hoop with respect to the axis of operation, wherein the rotary guide passage may in particular be open toward this side.

Provision may be made in some embodiments that the lock body has a housing, wherein, in the operating position, the operating bar may project axially with respect to the axis of operation at a lower side of the housing, wherein the lower side of the housing is axially opposite to respective introduction openings for the introduction of the first limb into the first introduction passage and of the second limb into the second introduction passage. The operating bar may thereby be easily reached by a user in the operating position for the rotation into the unlocking angular position without the hoop (arranged at the other end of the housing) making the reachability of the operating bar more difficult.

In such embodiments, provision may also be made that the operating bar is completely or substantially completely received in the housing of the lock body in the (axial) blocking position and is hereby protected.

Furthermore, the operating bar may be axially preloaded in the direction of the operating position in some embodiments.

In this respect, the lock body may have an operation blocking detent that is releasable by the user and that blocks a movement of the operating bar due to its axial preload. Accordingly, even when the secret code is set, the operating bar may first remain in the blocking position and have to be released for an axial movement into the operating position by releasing the operation blocking detent. Furthermore, the operating bar may be held in the blocking position by the operation blocking detent in order, for example, to be able to rotate the code rings and to set or disarrange the secret code. Transmission rings that are also rotationally fixedly connected to the code rings may thereby be rotatable relative to the operating bar, whereas such rotational movements may be blocked in positions of the operating bar between the blocking position and the operating position, in particular as explained above.

In some embodiments, the operation blocking detent may have a blocking part that is preloaded radially inwardly with respect to the axis of operation and that engages into a holding recess formed at the operating bar in the blocking position of the operating bar. Due to this radial engagement, the operating bar may be held in the blocking position against its axial preload, in particular also when the secret code is set.

Furthermore, in some embodiments, the operation blocking detent may have an operating element by which the blocking part may be moved against the radial preload and may be brought out of engagement with the holding cut-out. The operating bar may thereby also be released for an axial movement into the operating position which, when the secret code is set, the operating bar may perform due to its axial preload and may in particular perform automatically as a result of a removal of the blocking part from the holding cut-out. The operating element may in particular be arranged at a lower side of a housing of the padlock that is axially opposite to the hoop.

In some embodiments, the blocking part may engage into a blocking passage of the operating bar, which extends in the direction of rotation, during a transfer of the operating bar from the locking angular position into the unlocking angular position. The blocking part may in particular come into engagement with the blocking passage, which extends in the direction of rotation, as a result of an axial movement of the operating bar into the operating position.

In this respect, in some embodiments, the blocking passage may form an abutment for the blocking part in the unlocking angular position of the operating bar. The blocking passage may be formed as a recess at the operating bar which extends in the direction of rotation and into which the blocking part engages due to its radial preload after a transfer of the operating bar into the operating position and during a rotation of the operating bar into the unlocking angular position. In this respect, the blocking passage may extend such that, on a reaching of the unlocking angular position, the blocking part engaging into the blocking passage abuts an end of the blocking passage and blocks a rotation of the operating bar beyond the unlocking angular position. Accordingly, the blocking part may in particular act as an operating aid to indicate the reaching of the unlocking angular position to a user and to facilitate its exact control. However, provision may be made to be able to deliberately bring the blocking part out of engagement with the blocking passage in the unlocking angular position by means of the operating element in order, for example, to be able to move the operating bar further in the direction of rotation and in particular to be able to transfer it into said release angular position.

In some embodiments, the blocking passage may merge into a decoupling passage extending axially with respect to the axis of operation in the direction of the operating position, wherein the blocking part may engage into the decoupling passage in the unlocking angular position of the operating bar. In this respect, the blocking passage and the decoupling passage may form respective sides of an L- shaped passage. The engagement of the blocking part into the decoupling passage in the unlocking angular position of the operating bar may in particular make it possible to move the operating bar axially in the direction of the blocking position in the unlocking angular position to be able to transfer the transmission rings relative to the code rings into a decoupling position and to be able to change the secret code, as explained above.

The invention will be explained in the following purely by way of example with reference to embodiments and to the drawings. There are shown:

Figs. 1A to 1C respective perspective views of a padlock with an operating bar that is movable axially with respect to an axis of operation between a blocking position and an operating position;

Fig. 2 a perspective view of the padlock with the housing removed;

Figs. 3A to 3D a perspective view and respective top plan views of a cam rotationally effectively coupled to the operating bar in different rotational positions of the operating bar;

Figs. 4A to 4E respective perspective views of the operating bar and transmission rings that cooperate therewith and that are coupled or couplable to respective code rings for setting and/or disarranging a secret code;

Figs. 5A to 5C a perspective side view, a top plan view, and a perspective bottom view of a guide ring for the operating bar;

Fig. 6 a bottom view of the operating bar arranged within the guide ring and of an operation blocking detent axially blocking the operating bar;

Fig. 7 a perspective view of a blocking part of the operation blocking detent engaging into a holding recess of the operating bar when the guide ring is removed;

Fig. 8 a perspective bottom view of the operating bar arranged within the guide ring in the operating position; and

Figs. 9A to 9C respective perspective views of the operating bar in the operating position in which the blocking part of the operation blocking detent engages into a blocking passage of the operating bar.

Figs. 1A to 1C show a padlock 11 that comprises a lock body 13 and a substantially U-shaped hoop 15 having a first limb 17 and a second limb 19, wherein the first limb 17 is connected to the second limb 19 via a connection section 21. The first limb 17 of the hoop 15 is introduced into a first introduction passage 23 and the second limb 19 of the hoop 15 is introduced into a second introduction passage 25 extending in parallel with the first introduction passage 23 to be selectively locked to the lock body 13 or to be released for a release from the lock body 13. The introduction passages 23 and 25 in this respect extend into a housing 79 of the lock body 13 so that the sections of the limbs 17 and 19 introduced into the introduction passages 23 and 25 are secured against external access.

To be able to lock the limbs 17 and 19 in the lock body 13 or block the padlock 11, the lock body 13 accommodates a combination locking mechanism 27 that has code rings 29 that are accessible to a user from the outside and that are rotatable about an axis of rotation D. Further, as in particular Fig. 2 shows, the combination locking mechanism 27 comprises a first blocking element 31 for securing the first limb 17 in the first introduction passage 23 and a second blocking element 33 for securing the second limb 19 in the second introduction passage 25. For this purpose, as shown in Fig. 2, in a locking angular position R1 of an operating bar 35 coupled to a cam 39, the blocking elements 31 and 33 are urged radially outward with respect to an axis of operation B, along which the operating bar 35 extends, into respective holding recesses 115 of the first limb 17 and the second limb 19 to lock the limbs 17 and 19 in the lock body 13 and to block them against a removal from the introduction passages 23 and 25. The axis of operation B is in this respect oriented coaxially to the axis of rotation D of the code rings 29. Due to a rotation about the axis of operation B along a direction of rotation R, the operating bar 35 may be brought into an unlocking angular position R2 in which the cam 39 releases the first blocking element 31 and the second blocking element 33 for a radially inward movement with respect to the axis of operation B and the limbs 17 and 19 may be moved out of the respective introduction passages 23 and 25 (cf. in particular Fig. 3C).

The code rings 29 of the combination locking mechanism 27 in particular allow setting a secret code that in this embodiment comprises a sequence of five numbers, or disarranging the secret code by setting a different configuration of the code rings 29. In this respect, it is necessary that the secret code is set at the code rings 29 to be able to bring the operating bar 35 into the unlocking angular position R2 and to enable an axial movement of the limbs 17 and 19 out of the introduction passages 23 and 25. If, in contrast, the secret code is not set, the hoop 15 introduced into the lock body 13 is locked to the lock body 13 and in particular the operating bar 35 is blocked in the locking angular position R1 already mentioned (cf. Figs. 2, 3A, and 3B).

To facilitate the setting of a number combination at the code rings 29, a marking pin 99 that is preloaded radially inwardly with respect to the axis of rotation D of the code rings 29 by means of a respective spring 101 is provided for each of the code rings 29 (cf. Fig. 2). These marking pins 99 are briefly urged radially outwardly against the preload on a rotation of the code rings 29 to be able to snap back into a recess formed between the numbers presented on the code rings 29 on a reaching of a number newly set as part of the sequence of numbers so that the user may haptically detect the setting of the numbers.

It can be seen from Fig. 1A that the code rings 29 are accessible through windows 129 of the housing 79, wherein the lateral boundaries 179 of the windows 129 formed by the housing 79 closely abut the code rings 29. It is prevented by this close enclosure that thin tools are inserted through the windows 129, for instance, to probe the secret code.

As Figs. 1A to 1C further show, the operating bar 35 is accessible at a lower side 81 of the housing 79 and extends centrally between the introduction passages 23 and 25 along the axis of operation B that is aligned in parallel with the introduction passages 23 and 25 (cf. also Fig. 2). In this respect, the axis of operation B extends coaxially to the axis of rotation D of the code rings 29 so that the code rings 29 are rotatable about the axis of operation B and are axially arranged along the axis of operation B.

The operating bar 35 is movable axially with respect to the axis of operation B between a blocking position S1 shown in Fig. 1A, in which the operating bar 35 is arranged within the lock body 13, and an operating position S2 shown in Figs. 1B and 1C, wherein a user may actuate the operating bar 35 in the operating position S2 and may in particular bring it into the unlocking angular position R2. In the operating position S2, the operating bar 35 projects at the lower side 81 of the housing 79 so that the operating bar 35 may be comfortably reached by the user.

The operating bar 35 in particular serves to be able to rotate the cam 39 to selectively lock the limbs 17 and 19 of the hoop 15 in the introduction passages 23 and 25 of the lock body 13 or to release them for a release from the lock body 13. For this purpose, the operating bar 35 is rotationally fixedly connected to the cam 39 and may be transferrable from the locking angular position R1 (cf. Figs. 3A and 3B) along the direction of rotation R into the unlocking angular position R2 (cf. Fig. 3C) to urge the blocking elements 31 and 33 radially outward with respect to the axis of operation B into the introduction passages 23 and 25 in the locking angular position R1 and to release them for a radially inwardly directed movement in the unlocking angular position R2. At its lower end projecting from the housing 79, the operating bar 35 has a grip section 36 to facilitate the actuation or rotation of the operating bar 35 for a user. Furthermore, an operating element 90 of an operation blocking detent 89 is accessible at the lower side 81 of the housing 79, with the user having to actuate the operating element 90 to transfer the operating bar 35 into the operating position S2, as will be explained in more detail in the following (cf. also Figs. 6 and 7 in this respect).

To be able to transmit a rotation of the operating bar 35 to the cam 39, the cam 39 has a coupling section 59 which extends in a channel-like manner in the axial direction with respect to the axis of operation B and into which a coupling section 57 of the operating bar 35 engages that projects radially away from the operating bar 35 with respect to the axis of operation B (cf. also Figs. 4A to 4D). Due to the rotation of the operating bar 35, the cam 39 may thereby also be transferred into different angular positions so that the cam 39 may act as a rotary latch and may urge the blocking elements 31 and 33 into the introduction passages 23 and 25 or release them for a movement that is directed radially inward with respect to the axis of operation B. In this respect, the channel-like formation of the coupling section 59 of the cam 39 makes it possible to move the operating bar 35 axially with respect to the axis of operation B relative to the cam 39, wherein the rotationally effective coupling remains.

As Figs. 3A and 3B show, the cam is oriented in the locking angular position R1 of the operating bar 35 such that a first drive section 105 faces in the direction of the first blocking element 31 and a second drive section 109 faces in the direction of the second blocking element 33. Due to the contact of the drive sections 105 and 109, the blocking elements 31 and 33 are urged radially outward with respect to the axis of operation B in the locking angular position R1 to engage into the holding recesses 115 of the limbs 17 and 19 and to lock the hoop 15 to the lock body 13 (cf. also Fig. 2).

If the operating bar 35 is, in contrast, moved into the unlocking angular position R2 shown in Fig. 3C, the cam 39 is moved into a position in which a first release section 107 is oriented in the direction of the first introduction passage 23 and thus of the first blocking element 31 and in which a second release section 111 is oriented in the direction of the second introduction passage 25 and of the second blocking element 33. In the unlocking angular position R2, the first blocking element 31 and the second blocking element 33 are therefore released for a radially inward movement with respect to the axis of operation B. By pulling at the hoop 15, the blocking elements 31 and 33 may be urged radially inwardly and out of a path of the limbs 17 and 19 by the limbs 17 and 19 of the hoop 15 so that the limbs 17 and 19 may be guided out of the introduction passages 23 and 25. The spherical design of the blocking elements 31 and 33 in this respect enables their smooth radially inward displacement.

However, the cam 39 is here configured such that, in the unlocking angular position R2, the cam 39 extends further, in a radial manner with respect to the axis of operation B, in the direction of the first blocking element 31 than in the direction of the second blocking element 33. Accordingly, in the unlocking angular position

R2, the first blocking element 31 is released for a less far radially inward movement with respect to the axis of operation B than the second blocking element 33. The second limb 19 of the hoop 15, which is shorter here, may thereby be completely released from the lock body 13 in the unlocking angular position R2, whereas, as a result of a pulling out of the hoop 15, the first blocking element 31 comes into engagement with a holding section 37 formed at a lower section of the longer first limb 17 and holds the first limb 17 in the first introduction passage 23 (cf. also Fig. 2). The hoop 15 may thus continue to be held, via the first limb 17, at the lock body 13 in the unlocking angular position R2 and may be pivoted around the limb 17 due to the formation of the holding section 37 as a peripheral groove so that the short second limb 19 may, for example, be comfortably guided through the eyelet of a hasp and the hasp may be blocked by a subsequent introduction of the second limb 19 into the second introduction passage 25.

As Fig. 3D shows, the operating bar 35 and, together with the operating bar 35, also the cam 39 may furthermore be transferred into a release angular position R3 that, starting from the release angular position R2, may be reached by a further rotation in the direction of rotation R. In this release angular position R3, a third release section 113 of the cam 39 is oriented in the direction of the first blocking element 31 so that the first blocking element 31 is released for a further radially inward movement with respect to the axis of operation B in comparison with the release angular position R2. In the release angular position R3, the first blocking element 31 may thereby also be urged radially inward with respect to the axis of operation B out of the holding section 37 of the first limb 17 and the hoop 15 may be completely released from the lock body 13. This makes it possible to replace the hoop 15 and to connect hoops configured in different ways to the lock body 13 as required. For example, U hoops 15 of different shapes and/or different dimensions may be selectively used. However, the hoop 15 is held at the lock body 13 during a use or an opening and a locking of the padlock 11 so that a comfortable and simple actuation of the padlock 11 may be made possible.

As already mentioned above, it is necessary that the secret code is set at the code rings 29 to be able to transfer the operating bar 35 from the locking angular position R1 into the unlocking angular position R2. Furthermore, such an actuation of the operating bar 35, however, also requires that the operating bar 35 is in the operating position S2 illustrated in Figs. 1B and 1C in which the operating bar 35 projects axially with respect to the axis of operation B from the lower side 81 of the housing 79 of the padlock 11 (cf. also Fig. 8). In the blocking position S1 and in axial positions of the operating bar 35 between the blocking position S1 and the operating position S2, a rotational movement of the operating bar 35 is, in contrast, blocked by a slot guide that is formed at a hollow cylindrical guide ring 73 that is inserted at the lower side 81 of the housing 79 and that is rotationally fixedly arranged with respect to the lock body 13 (cf. Figs. 5A to 5C and Figs. 6 and 8).

This guide ring 73 has a guide passage 71 which extends in the axial direction and into which an elevated guide portion 69 projecting radially away from the operating bar 35 with respect to the axis of operation B engages in the blocking position S1 and in axial positions of the operating bar 35 between the blocking position S1 and the operating position S2 (cf. Figs. 5A to 5C and Fig. 6). Due to this engagement of the elevated guide portion 69 into the guide passage 71, rotational movements of the operating bar 35 about the axis of operation B in said axial positions are blocked, whereas the elevated guide portion 69 may be moved axially with respect to the axis of operation B through the guide passage 71 to transfer the operating bar 35 into the operating position S2.

In the direction of the lower side 81 of the housing 79, the guide passage 71 merges into a rotary guide passage 75 into which the elevated guide portion 69 moves by transferring the operating bar 35 into the operating position S2 and which extends in the peripheral direction along the direction of rotation R. The rotary guide passage 75 is in this respect open in the direction of the lower side 81 and is in this regard formed as a recess extending in the direction of rotation R at the lower side 81, in which recess the elevated guide portion 69 is arranged in the operating position S2 of the operating bar 35. In the operating position S2 of the operating bar 35, the elevated guide portion 69 is thus released for a rotational movement in the direction of rotation R and is guidable through the rotary guide passage 75 during such a movement so that the operating bar 35 may be brought into the unlocking angular position R2 in the operating position S2 (cf. in particular also Fig. 8).

Furthermore, the rotary guide passage 75 forms an abutment 77 for the elevated guide portion 69 in the locking angular position R1 of the operating bar 35 (cf. in particular Fig. 5C). Due to this abutment 77, an overrotation of the operating bar 35 on a moving back from the unlocking angular position R2 into the locking angular position R1 may in particular be prevented and the reaching of the correct locking angular position R1 may be detectable for the user. However, with respect to the unlocking angular position R2, the rotary guide passage 75 extends further in the direction of rotation R up to the release angular position R3 so that the elevated guide portion 69 may be guided through the rotary guide passage 75 up to a reaching of the release angular position R3. The rotary guide passage 75 also forms an abutment 78 in the release angular position R3 to be able to indicate the reaching of the release angular position R3 to the user.

In the axial operating position S2, the operating bar 35 may thus be rotated into the unlocking angular position R2 to release the blocking elements 31 and 33 for a radially inward movement with respect to the axis of operation B and to be able to release the limbs 17 and 19 of the hoop 15 from the introduction passages 23 and 25. However, to be able to transfer the operating bar 35 into the operating position S2, it is necessary that the secret code is set at the code rings 29. In this respect, the operating bar 35 may also only be brought into the unlocking angular position R2 when the secret code is set at the code rings 29. Otherwise, in axial positions of the operating bar 35 differing from the operating position S2, rotational movements of the operating bar 35 are blocked by the engagement of the elevated guide portion 69 into the guide passage 71 and the limbs 15 and 17 of the hoop 15 introduced into the introduction passages 23 and 25 are securely locked to the lock body 13. This will be explained in the following with reference to Figs. 4A to 4E.

As can in particular be seen from Figs. 4A and 4B, the padlock 11 comprises a number of transmission rings 41 corresponding to the number of code rings 29, wherein each of the transmission rings 41 is rotationally fixedly coupled or couplable to a respective code ring 29. For this purpose, the transmission rings 41 have respective elevated coupling portions 51 that project away radially outwardly and that engage into coupling recesses 49 formed at an inner periphery 53 of the code rings 29 to rotationally fixedly connect the respective transmission ring 41 to the code ring 29. A rotation of the code rings 29 about the axis of rotation D or the axis of operation B for setting or disarranging the secret code may thereby be directly transmitted to the transmission rings 41.

The transmission rings 41 in this respect have a respective retaining web 45 at their inner peripheries 43 that extends in the peripheral direction and that is only interrupted by an unlocking recess 47 (cf. in particular Figs. 4A to 4C). As in particular Fig. 4C shows, a number of elevated locking portions 55 are formed at the operating bar 35 that correspond to the number of transmission rings 41, that project radially outwardly with respect to the axis of operation B, and that are arranged in alignment with one another.

By setting the secret code at the code rings 29, the transmission rings 41 may now be arranged such that the unlocking recesses 47 are also in alignment with one another and in alignment with the elevated locking portions 55 of the operating bar 35 that is in the locking angular position R2. The unlocking recesses 47 are thereby aligned to allow the elevated locking portions 55 of the operating bar 35 to pass axially with respect to the axis of operation B and the operating bar 35 may in particular be transferred axially from the blocking position S1 into the operating position S2 (cf. also Figs. 1A to 1C and Fig. 8).

If the secret code is, in contrast, not set at the code rings 29, in at least one of the transmission rings 41 it is not the respective unlocking recess 47, but rather the retaining web 45 that is arranged in alignment with the associated elevated locking portion 55 of the operating bar 35. An axial movement of the operating bar 35 in the direction of the operating position S2 is thus blocked by the cooperation of the respective retaining web 45 with the associated elevated locking portion 55. Therefore, when the secret code is not set, the operating bar 35 cannot reach the operating position S2 so that the operating bar 35 also cannot be brought into the unlocking angular position R2 when the secret code is not set, but is rather blocked with respect to rotations about the axis of operation B by the engagement of the elevated guide portion 69 into the guide passage 71 of the guide ring 73 (cf. Figs. 5A to 5C and Fig. 6).

A plurality of separation elements 61 extending in the direction of the blocking position S1 are furthermore arranged at the retaining webs 45 in the peripheral direction, wherein the elevated locking portions 55 move into a respective intermediate space 63 between two separation elements 61 when the operating bar 35, on an attempt of the transfer into the operating position S2 when the secret code is not set, is blocked by one of the retaining webs 45 in an axial position between the blocking position S1 and the operating position S2. Due to the operating bar 35 being held rotationally fixedly in the lock body 13 between the blocking position S1 and the operating position S2, a rotation of the code rings 29 about the axis of rotation D or the axis of operation B may be prevented by this engagement of the elevated locking portions 55 into a respective one of the intermediate spaces 63 so that a successive setting or sensing of the secret code may be counteracted.

The secret code thus has to be set in the blocking position S1 of the operating bar 35, whereupon the operating bar 35 may be transferred into the operating position S2 by an axial movement and may then be brought into the unlocking angular position R2 by a rotation to be able to release the second limb 19 from the second introduction passage 25. Furthermore, it is possible in the unlocking angular position R2 to change the secret code and to set a desired number combination as the secret code.

In the unlocking angular position R2, the elevated locking portions 55 are no longer arranged in alignment with the unlocking recesses 47, but rather in alignment with the retaining webs 45 (cf. in particular Fig. 4E), due to the rotational movement that has taken place about the axis of operation B in comparison with the locking angular position R1 in which the transfer of the operating bar 35 from the blocking position S1 into the operating position S2 takes place. Furthermore, due to the passing of the unlocking recesses 47, the elevated locking portions 55 are arranged offset axially in the direction of the lower side 81 with respect to the retaining webs 45 of the respective associated transmission ring 41 in the operating position S2.

Due to this orientation of the operating bar 35, the transmission rings 41 may be axially moved into a decoupling position E relative to the code rings 29 by a cooperation of the elevated locking portions 55 with the retaining webs 45 in the course of an axial movement of the operating bar 35 in the direction of the blocking position S1. In this respect, the elevated locking portions 55 come into contact with the retaining web 45 of the associated transmission ring 41 at a respective point of engagement 48 and push the transmission ring 41 in the direction of the blocking position S1, as is illustrated in Fig. 4E by way of example for one of the elevated locking portions 55 and the associated transmission ring 41. To enable this axial movement of the operating bar 35 in the unlocking angular position R2, the guide ring 73 has a decoupling passage 97 which extends in the axial direction and through which the elevated guide portion 69 may be guided in the unlocking angular position R2 of the operating bar 35 (cf. Figs. 5A to 5C).

As Fig. 4D shows, the elevated coupling portions 51 of the transmission rings 41 may be brought out of engagement with the coupling recesses 49 of the code rings 29 by this axial movement so that the code rings 29 may be rotated relative to the transmission rings 41 about their axis of rotation D or the axis of operation B in the decoupling position E of the transmission rings 41. If, after such a rotation of the code rings 29, the transmission rings 41 are now again brought out of the decoupling position E and into a rotationally fixed coupling with the code rings 29, the elevated coupling portions 51 of the transmission rings 41 come into engagement with a different one of the coupling recesses 49 of the associated code ring 29 than before the rotation so that the secret code is changed.

In this respect, the transmission rings 41 are preloaded by means of a spring 65 against a movement into the decoupling position E so that the transmission rings 41 are automatically brought into engagement with the code rings 29 if no force is applied to the transmission rings 41 via the operating bar 35 in the direction of the locking position S2. Due to the cooperation of the elevated locking portions 55 with the retaining webs 45, the operating bar 35 may also automatically move back into the operating position S2 again after a change to the secret code, wherein the operating bar 35 is also itself preloaded in the direction of the operating position S2 via a further spring 67.

However, the already mentioned operation blocking detent 89 is provided to prevent an unwanted axial movement of the operating bar 35 due to the preload of the spring 67. Accordingly, the elevated locking portions 55 are kept outside the intermediate spaces 63 of the retaining webs 45 in particular in the blocking position S1 so that the code rings 29 may be rotated to set the secret code or to disarrange the code rings 29. It has a blocking part 85 that engages through an engagement opening 103 formed at the guide ring 73 and that, as Fig. 7 shows, engages into a holding cut-out 91 formed at the operating bar 35 in the blocking position S1 of the operating bar 35 (cf. also Figs. 5A and 6). A movement of the operating bar 35 into or in the direction of the operating position S2 is blocked by this engagement, wherein the blocking part 85 is preloaded radially inwardly with respect to the axis of operation B by means of a spring 87 and is thus preloaded into engagement with the holding cut-out 91.

In order to release the operating bar 35 for a movement into the operating position S2, it is therefore necessary, in addition to the setting of the secret code, that the user brings the blocking part 85 out of engagement with the holding section 91 against the preload by means of the operating element 90. Thereupon, the operating bar 35 may be automatically transferred into the operating position S2 due to the preload 77 generated by the spring 67 (cf. also Fig. 7). As a result of such a movement of the operating bar 35 into the operating position S2, the blocking part 85 comes into engagement with a blocking passage 93 which is formed at the operating bar 35, which extends in the direction of rotation R, and in which the operating element 90 is correspondingly guided during a rotational movement of the operating bar 35 into the unlocking angular position R2 (cf. Figs. 9A to 9C).

In the unlocking angular position R2, the blocking passage 93 merges into a decoupling passage 97 extending axially with respect to the axis of operation B so that the blocking part 85 engages into the decoupling passage 97 in the unlocking angular position R2. The blocking passage 93 and the decoupling passage 97 in this respect form respective sides of an L-shaped passage, wherein, during a movement of the operating bar 35 in the direction of the locking position S2 for changing the secret code, the blocking part 85 is guided through the decoupling passage 97 in the above-explained manner in order to enable this movement.

The blocking passage 93 further forms an abutment 95 by which the reaching of the unlocking angular position R2 is detectable for a user and it may be ensured that the operating bar 35 is not rotated beyond the unlocking angular position R2 in an unwanted manner. An unwanted release of the hoop 15 from the lock body 13 may thus also be prevented. If, in contrast, the operating bar 35 is to be transferred into the release angular position R3 (cf. Fig. 3D) to be able to completely release the hoop 15 from the lock body 13 in a deliberate manner, a user may first again bring the blocking part 85 out of engagement with the blocking passage 93 by means of the operating element 90. Thereupon, the operating bar 35 may be moved further in the direction of rotation R up to the reaching of the abutment 78, formed by the rotary guide passage 75, for the elevated guide portion 69 and into the release angular position R3.

The padlock 11 shown here consequently enables a very flexible use with a simple and comfortable operability. Due to the possibility of selectively being able to release the hoop 15 from the lock body 13, different hoops may be connected to the lock body 13 as required and in an application-related manner. During a use of the padlock 11 or a blocking or an opening, the hoop 15 is, in contrast, held at the lock body 13 so that the padlock 11 may be comfortably operated. A very secure locking of the hoop 15 to the lock body 13 may furthermore be achieved by the blocking of both an axial movement of the operating bar 35 and a rotational movement of the operating bar 35 when the secret code is not set. Since the operating bar 35 is rotatable, the respective position of the blocking elements 31, 33 may be set particularly precisely and securely, wherein a plurality of angular positions R1, R2, R3 may be set as explained. The axial movability of the operating bar 35 makes it possible to receive the operating bar 35 within the lock body 13 or the housing 79 when the padlock 11 is closed and the combination locking mechanism 27 is disarranged and hereby to largely protect said operating bar 35 against break-open attempts or manipulation attempts.

The term "comprising" as used in this specification and claims means "consisting at least in part of'. When interpreting statements in this specification and claims which include the term "comprising", other features besides the features prefaced by this term in each statement can also be present.

The term "in particular" as used in this specification and claims denotes an optional feature.

List of reference signs

11 padlock 13 lock body 15 hoop 17 first limb of the hoop 19 second limb of the hoop 21 connection section 23 first introduction passage 25 second introduction passage 27 combination locking mechanism 29 code ring 31 first blocking element 33 second blocking element 35 operating bar 36 grip section 37 holding section of the first limb 39 cam 41 transmission ring 43 inner periphery of the transmission ring 45 retaining web 47 unlocking recess 48 point of engagement 49 coupling recess 51 elevated coupling portion 53 inner periphery of the code ring 55 elevated locking portion of the operating bar 57 coupling section of the operating bar 59 coupling section of the cam 61 separation element 63 intermediate space 65 spring 67 spring 69 elevated guide portion 71 guide passage 73 guide ring 75 rotary guide passage 77 abutment 78 abutment 79 housing 81 lower side 83 spring 85 blocking part 87 spring

89 operation blocking detent 90 operating element 91 holding cut-out 93 blocking passage 95 abutment 97 decoupling passage 99 marking pin 101 spring 103 engagement opening 105 first drive section 107 first release section 109 second drive section 111 second release section 113 third release section 115 holding recess 129 window 179 lateral boundary

B axis of operation D axis of rotation E decoupling position R direction of rotation R1 locking angular position R2 unlocking angular position R3 release angular position S1 blocking position S2 operating position

Claims (33)

ABUS August Bremicker S6hne KG A12024PAU - Ov/Dm Claims

1. A padlock, comprising a lock body and a hoop, in particular a rigid and substantially U-shaped U hoop, wherein the hoop has a first limb and a second limb; wherein the lock body has a first introduction passage for introducing the first limb and a second introduction passage, extending in parallel with the first introduction passage, for introducing the second limb of the hoop; wherein the lock body accommodates a combination locking mechanism, wherein the combination locking mechanism comprises a plurality of rotatable code rings, a first blocking element for securing the first limb in the first introduction passage and a second blocking element for securing the second limb in the second introduction passage, and an operating bar that extends between the first introduction passage and the second introduction passage in parallel with the first introduction passage and the second introduction passage along an axis of operation; wherein the operating bar, starting from a locking angular position in which the first blocking element and the second blocking element are urged radially outwardly with respect to the axis of operation into the first introduction passage and the second introduction passage, respectively, is rotatable about the axis of operation along a direction of rotation into an unlocking angular position in which the first blocking element and the second blocking element are released for a radially inward movement, wherein the operating bar can only be brought into the unlocking angular position when a secret code is set at the code rings.

2. A padlock in accordance with claim 1, wherein the operating bar has a cam or is coupled to a cam that cooperates with the first blocking element and the second blocking element.

3. A padlock in accordance with claim 2, wherein, in the locking angular position of the operating bar, the first blocking element and the second blocking element are blocked by the cam against a radially inward movement with respect to the axis of operation, and wherein, in the unlocking angular position of the operating bar, the first blocking element and the second blocking element are released by the cam for a radially inward movement with respect to the axis of operation.

4. A padlock in accordance with claim 2 or claim 3, wherein, in the unlocking angular position, the cam extends further in the direction of the first introduction passage than in the direction of the second introduction passage.

5. A padlock in accordance with any one of the claims 2 to 4, wherein the operating bar is rotationally fixedly, but axially displaceably coupled to the cam.

6. A padlock in accordance with any one of the preceding claims, wherein, in the unlocking angular position, the first blocking element is movable less far radially inwardly than the second blocking element.

7. A padlock in accordance with any one of the preceding claims, wherein the first limb of the hoop is longer than the second limb and has a holding section, wherein the second limb can be led out of the second introduction passage in the unlocking angular position of the operating bar, and wherein the first limb is held at the lock body in the unlocking angular position of the operating bar by an engagement of the first blocking element into the holding section.

8. A padlock in accordance with any one of the preceding claims, wherein the operating bar is rotatable in the direction of rotation from the unlocking angular position into a release angular position in which the first blocking element is released for a further radially inward movement.

9. A padlock in accordance with claim 8, wherein the hoop is completely releasable from the lock body in the release angular position.

10. A padlock in accordance with any one of the preceding claims, wherein the first blocking element and the second blocking element are spherical or cone-shaped.

11. A padlock in accordance with any one of the preceding claims, wherein the operating bar is blocked against a rotation from the locking angular position into the unlocking angular position when the secret code is not set at the code rings.

12. A padlock in accordance with any one of the preceding claims, wherein the operating bar is movable axially with respect to the axis of operation between a blocking position and an operating position.

13. A padlock in accordance with claim 12, wherein, in the operating position, the operating bar is rotatable from the locking angular position into the unlocking angular position, and wherein, in the blocking position, the operating bar is blocked against a rotation from the locking angular position into the unlocking angular position.

14. A padlock in accordance with claim 12 or claim 13, wherein the operating bar is movable from the blocking position into the operating position when the secret code is set at the code rings, and wherein an axial movement of the operating bar into the operating position is blocked when the secret code is not set.

15. A padlock in accordance with any one of the claims 12 to 14, wherein the code rings are rotationally fixedly connected to a respective transmission ring that has a retaining web extending at an inner periphery in a peripheral direction, wherein the retaining webs of the transmission rings are interrupted by a respective unlocking recess, and wherein the operating bar has a number of radially outwardly projecting elevated locking portions that correspond to the number of transmission rings and that are in alignment with the retaining web of an associated transmission ring or with the unlocking recess of the associated transmission ring in dependence on the angular position of the code rings.

16. A padlock in accordance with claim 15, wherein the unlocking recesses of all the transmission rings are aligned with one another to allow the elevated locking portions of the operating bar to pass axially when the secret code is set at the code rings.

17. A padlock in accordance with claim 15 or claim 16, wherein at least one of the retaining webs of the transmission rings blocks an axial movement of the operating bar from the blocking position into the operating position by means of a contact with the associated elevated locking portion when the secret code is not set at the code rings.

18. A padlock in accordance with any one of the claims 15 to 17, wherein the retaining webs have separation elements extending axially with respect to the axis of operation in the direction of the blocking position, wherein an engagement of the respective elevated locking portion into an intermediate space between two separation elements of the associated retaining web in axial positions between the blocking position and the operating position blocks a rotational movement of the code ring connected to the respective transmission ring relative to the operating bar.

19. A padlock in accordance with any one of the claims 12 to 18, wherein the operating bar is axially movable in the direction of the blocking position in the unlocking angular position.

20. A padlock in accordance with any one of the claims 15 to 18 and claim 19, wherein the transmission rings are movable into a decoupling position relative to the code rings by a cooperation of the elevated locking portions of the operating bar with the retaining webs of the transmission rings during the movement of the operating bar from the operating position in the direction of the blocking position, wherein the rotationally fixed connection of the transmission rings to the code rings is canceled in the decoupling position.

21. A padlock in accordance with claim 20, wherein the transmission rings are preloaded axially with respect to their axis of rotation against the movement into the decoupling position.

22. A padlock in accordance with any one of the claims 12 to 21, wherein the operating bar has an elevated guide portion that projects radially outward with respect to the axis of operation and that, in the blocking position (S1) of the operating bar, engages into a guide passage of the lock body extending axially with respect to the axis of operation, wherein a rotation of the operating bar about the axis of operation is blocked by the engagement of the elevated guide portion into the guide passage.

23. A padlock in accordance with claim 22, wherein the guide passage leads into a rotary guide passage of the lock body extending in the direction of rotation, wherein the elevated guide portion is movable through the rotary guide passage in the operating position of the operating bar.

24. A padlock in accordance with claim 23, wherein the rotary guide passage forms an abutment for the elevated guide portion in the locking angular position.

25. A padlock in accordance with any one of the claims 22 to 24, wherein the guide passage is formed at a guide ring of the lock body.

26. A padlock in accordance with any one of the claims 12 to 25, wherein the lock body has a housing, wherein, in the operating position, the operating bar projects axially with respect to the axis of operation at a lower side of the housing, wherein the lower side of the housing is axially opposite to respective introduction openings for the introduction of the first limb into the first introduction passage and of the second limb into the second introduction passage.

27. A padlock in accordance with any one of the claims 12 to 26, wherein the operating bar is axially preloaded in the direction of the operating position.

28. A padlock in accordance with claim 27, wherein the lock body has a releasable operation blocking detent that blocks a movement of the operating bar due to its axial preload.

29. A padlock in accordance with claim 28, wherein the operation blocking detent has a blocking part that is preloaded radially inwardly with respect to the axis of operation and that engages into a holding cut-out formed at the operating bar in the blocking position of the operating bar.

30. A padlock in accordance with claim 29, wherein the operation blocking detent has an operating element by which the blocking part can be moved against the radial preload and can be brought out of engagement with the holding cut-out of the operating bar.

31. A padlock in accordance with claim 29 or claim 30, wherein the blocking part engages into a blocking passage of the operating bar, which extends in the direction of rotation, during a transfer of the operating bar from the locking angular position into the unlocking angular position.

32. A padlock in accordance with claim 31, wherein the blocking passage forms an abutment for the blocking part in the unlocking angular position of the operating bar.

33. A padlock in accordance with claim 31 or claim 32, wherein the blocking passage merges into a decoupling passage extending axially with respect to the axis of operation in the direction of the operating position, wherein the blocking part engages into the decoupling passage in the unlocking angular position of the operating bar.