IL101856A - Shackle lock - Google Patents

Description

101,856/2 \ SHACKLE LOCK MUL-T-LOCK LTD.

C: 14497 14497ka3.1ok 11.6.97 101,856/3 FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to locks generally and more particularly to cylinder-type locks.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION A great variety of cylinder type locks is known. One type of cylinder lock, the high security padlock, or more generally, shackle type lock, is presently manufactured in a number of different configurations, all of which are relatively expensive due to the large number of parts and complicated assembly involved.

UK Patent 2,243,866 describes a lock assembly comprising a sleeve element disposed in a lock body and designed to ensure central displacement of a locking bar therein. When locking bar is in locking engagement, shackle cannot be removed in the conventional matter. However should the end plates be removed, it would be possible to slide locking bar out through the end of the lock body, and thus free shackle from locking engagement. The sleeve element would not prevent such removal because it is not attached to locking bar.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention seeks to provide a shackle type lock which provides enhanced security and a relatively low manufacturing cost.

There is thus provided in accordance with a preferred 101,856/2 embodiment of the present invention a shackle lock including a shackle, a lock body having formed therein an elongate bore having first and second end openings, a lock cylinder disposed in the elongate bore adjacent the first end opening thereof and an elongate locking bar disposed in the bore with its longitudinal axis generally parallel to that of the bore and operated by the cylinder for rotation into and out of locking engagement with the shackle, the first end opening being sufficiently large to permit the insertion of a key therethrough into the cylinder and rotation of the key in the cylinder but not sufficiently large to permit passage of the cylinder therethrough and the second end opening being large enough to permit introduction of the cylinder and the locking bar therethrough, and said locking bar being disposed in the bore between the cylinder and the second opening such that, when the locking bar is in locking engagement with the shackle, removal or tampering with the cylinder via the second end opening is resisted by the locked-in-place presence of the locking bar.

In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the lock is characterized in that the locking bar is formed to have a first portion of a first thickness in which at least one transverse groove is formed to accommodate the shackle and a second portion of a second thickness, greater than the first thickness, the second portion being disposed so as to enhance resistance to removal of the locking bar along the bore through the second end opening when the. shackle is locked in place . 101,856/2 Additionally in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention there is provided a shackle lock including a shackle, a lock body having formed therein an elongate bore having first and second end openings, a lock cylinder disposed in the elongate bore adjacent the first end opening thereof and a locking bar disposed in the bore and operated by the cylinder for rotation into and out of locking engagement with the shackle, the lock being characterized in that the locking bar is formed to have a first portion of a first thickness in which at least one transverse groove is formed to accommodate the shackle and a second portion of a second thickness, greater than the first thickness, the second portion being disposed so as to enhance the resistance to axial removal of the locking bar along the bore through the second end opening when the shackle is locked in place .

In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, the locking bar may be formed of a single piece of material having first and second radii at the first and second portions. Alternatively, the locking bar may comprise an assembly including a generally cylindrical portion, a collar portion and a retaining element for providing engagement between the cylindrical portion and the collar portion.

The term "shackle" is used throughout the specification and claims to refer to a lock shackle having either one or two legs or even more. Thus a "shackle-type" lock includes conventional padlocks having a U-shaped shackle as well as locks having a single pin shackle or other types of shackles, including 101,856/3 shackles formed of more than one piece, such as articulated shackles.

The term "cylinder" is used throughout the specification and claims to refer to a key-operated locking device, which may include but need not necessarily include pins or discs.

It should be pointed out that the drawback of the cited art, overcome by the invention, is that if the end plates are removed, it then becomes possible to slide locking bar out through the end of the lock body and thereby free the shackle from locking engagement. 101,856/2 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The present invention will be more fully understood and appreciated from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the drawing in which: Fig. 1 is an exploded view illustration of a shackle-type lock constructed and operative in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention; Figs. 2A and 2B are pictorial sectional illustrations of the lock body of the lock of Fig. 1, taken in opposite directions ; Fig. 3 is an illustration corresponding to Fig. 2A, but showing the lock components, other than the shackle, assembled within the lock body; Fig. 4 is an exploded view illustration of a shackle-type lock constructed and operative in accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention; Figs. 5A and 5B are respective pictorial and planar, sectional illustration of the lock body of the lock of Fig. 4; Fig. 6 is an illustration corresponding to Fig. 5A, but showing the lock components, other than the shackle, assembled within the lock body; Fig. 7 is an illustration corresponding to Fig. 3 but showing the shackle seated but not locked in the lock body; Fig. 8 is a side view illustration of the engagement between the shackle and the lock body of Figs. 3 and 7.

Figs. 9A and 9B are sectional illustrations, taken 101,856/2 along lines IX - IX in Fig. 8 showing the locking bar in respective unlocked and locked engagement with the shackle; Fig. 10 is an exploded view illustration of a shackle-type lock constructed and operative in accordance with still another preferred embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 11 is an exploded view illustration of the locking bar assembly of the lock of Fig. 10; and Figs. 12A and 12B are sectional illustrations, taken along lines XII - XII in Fig. 10 showing the locking bar in respective unlocked and locked engagement with the shackle. 101,856/2 DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Reference is now made to Figs. 1 - 3, which illustrate a shackle lock constructed and operative in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention. The lock comprises a preferably elongate lock body 10 which is formed with an elongate bore 12 having first and second end openings 14 and 16. Bore 12 has a longitudinal axis which is typically parallel to that of the lock body, but need not be so.

A lock cylinder 18 is disposed in the elongate bore 12 adjacent the second end opening 16. A locking bar 20 is disposed in the bore 12 and operated by the cylinder 18 for rotation into and out of locking engagement with a shackle 22, which is insert-able through transverse openings 23 and 25 in the lock body 10. The locking bar 20 is preferably elongate having a longitudinal axis which extends parallel to that of the bore 12. The two axes may be identical.

The lock of Figs. 1 - 3 is characterized in that the second end opening 16 is sufficiently large to permit the insertion of a key 24 therethrough into the cylinder 18 and rotation of the key 24 in the cylinder 18 but not sufficiently large to permit passage of the cylinder 18 therethrough. The first opening 14 is large enough to permit introduction of the cylinder 18 and the locking bar 20 therethrough.

The end wall 26 of the bore 12 adjacent the second end opening 16 is thick enough to defeat any attempt to remove or render inoperative the cylinder 18. Additional elements, such as hardened steel pins or disks may be provided in association with 101,856/2 end wall 26 to resist tampering with the cylinder 18.

It is a particular feature of the present invention that the locking bar 20 is disposed in the bore 12 between the cylinder 18 and the first opening 14 such that, when the locking bar 20 is in locking engagement with the shackle 22, removal or tampering with the cylinder 18 via the first end opening 14 is resisted by the locked-in-place presence of the locking bar 20.

It is also a particular feature of the present invention that the locking bar 20 is formed to have end portions 30 and 32 of a first thickness in which respective transverse grooves 34 and 36 are formed to accommodate the shackle 22 and a central portion 38 of a second thickness, greater than the first thickness, the central portion 38 being disposed so as to prevent the axial removal of the locking bar 20 along the bore 12 through the first end opening 14 when the shackle 22 is locked in place. It is appreciated that central portion 38 is operative to prevent axial removal of the locking bar 20 along bore 12 also when the shackle 22 is seated in place but not locked.

It is noted that axially outwardly of the grooved end portions 30 and 32 there may be provided termination portions, one of which may operatively engage the cylinder 18 for being rotated thereby and whose radius may be any suitable radius which fits within the bore.

In the illustrated embodiment of Figs. 1 - 3, the locking bar 20 comprises a single elongate piece of material which is rotationally symmetric about its longitudinal axis except for grooves 34 and 36. The end portions 30 and 32 have a 101,856/2 first relatively small radius, while the central portion 38 has a second relatively larger radius, which is preferably substantially larger than that of end portions 30 and 32 and typically about twice the radius of the end portions.

An end cap 40 is provided for threaded or other suitable engagement with the first end opening 14. It is appreciated that in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, removal of the end cap 40 does not enable removal of the locking bar 20 when the shackle 22 is in locking engagement therewith and does not permit access to the cylinder through the first end opening 14. The end cap 40 may also serve to retain the locking bar 20 in position when the shackle is not engaged thereby.

The operation of the lock of Figs. 1 - 3 will be appreciated from a consideration of Figs. 7, 8, 9A and 9B, which illustrate the locking engagement of the shackle 22 with the locking bar 20. Fig. 9A illustrates unlocked engagement, while Fig. 9B illustrates locking engagement.

It is a particular feature of the present invention that any desired commercially available cylinder having the requisite outer dimensions can be employed in the lock.

It is a further particular feature of the present invention that assembly and disassembly of the lock is extremely simple and straightforward, due both to the small number of parts and to the mutual axial orientation of the components.

Reference is now made to Figs. 4 - 6, which illustrate a shackle lock which is similar to the lock of Figs. 1 - 3 but employs a single shaft shackle instead of a double shaft, U- 101,856/3 shaped shackle 22 as in the embodiment of Figs. 1 - 3.

As in the embodiment of Figs. 1 - 3, the lock shown in Figs. 4 - 6 comprises a lock body 60 which is formed with an elongate bore 62 having first and second end openings 64 and 66. A lock cylinder 68 is disposed in the elongate bore 62 adjacent the second end opening 66. A locking bar 70 is disposed in the bore 62 and operated by the cylinder 68 for rotation into and out of locking engagement with shackle 50, which is insertable through a transverse opening 73 in the lock body 60.

The lock of Figs. 4 - 6 is also characterized in that the second end opening 66 is sufficiently large to permit the insertion of a key 74 therethrough into the cylinder 68 and rotation of the key 74 in the cylinder 68 but not sufficiently large to permit passage of the cylinder 68 therethrough. The first opening 64 is large enough to permit introduction of the cylinder 68 and the locking bar 70 therethrough.

The end wall 76 of the bore 62 adjacent the second end opening 66 is thick enough to defeat any attempt to remove or render inoperative the cylinder 68. The locking bar 70 is disposed in the bore 62 between the cylinder 68 and the first opening 64 such that, when the locking bar 70 is in locking engagement with the shackle 50, removal or tampering with the cylinder 68 via the first end opening 64 is resisted by the locked-in-place presence of the locking bar 70.

In the embodiment of Figs. 4 - 6 the locking bar 70 is formed to have a central portion 80 of a first thickness in which a transverse groove 84 is formed to accommodate the shackle 101,856/2 50 and an end portion 88 of a second thickness, greater than the first thickness, the end portion 88 being disposed so as to prevent the axial removal of the locking bar 70 along the bore 62 through the first end opening when the shackle 50 is locked in place.

In the illustrated embodiment of Figs. 4 - 6, the locking bar 70 comprises a single elongate piece of metal which is rotationally symmetric about its longitudinal axis except for groove 84. The central portion 80 has a first relatively small radius, while the end portion 88 has a second relatively larger radius, typically about twice the radius of the central portion 80.

It is appreciated that the increased radius portions of locking bars 20 and 70 described above also may serve to center the locking bars in their respective bores and thus enhance ease of rotation thereof.

An end cap 90 is provided for threaded engagement with the first end opening 64. It is appreciated that in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, removal of the end cap 90 does not enable removal of the locking bar 70 when the shackle 50 is in locking engagement therewith and does not permit access to the cylinder through the first end opening 64.

As in the embodiment of Figs. 1 - 3 any desired commercially available cylinder having the requisite outer dimensions can be employed in the lock and assembly and disassembly of the lock is extremely simple and straightforward, due both to the small number of parts and to the mutual axial orientation of the components . 101,856/2 Reference is now made to Figs. 10 - 12B, which illustrate a shackle lock which is similar to the lock of Figs. 1 3 but employs a locking bar assembly 100 instead of a unitary locking bar. The remainder of the lock and its operation may be identical to that of the lock of Figs. 1 - 3. Identical reference numerals are used for corresponding parts.

In the embodiment of Figs. 10 - 12B, the locking bar assembly 100 includes a generally cylindrical bar element 102 which is formed with transverse grooves 104 and 106 and an end protrusion 107 for engagement with a corresponding recess in a lock cylinder 108. A retaining protrusion such as a pin 110 is partially seated in a recess 112 in bar element 102 and extends inside a transverse slot 114 in a collar member 116, such that pin 110 is free to rotate therein, together with bar element 102, as shown in Figs. 15A and 15B.

The structure of Figs. 10 - 12B is particularly suitable for an off-axis arrangement of the locking bar relative to the bore axis and to enable convenient rotatable mounting of a relatively small diameter locking bar in a larger diameter bore via the collar member. This arrangement is not limited to bores of circular cross section.

It is appreciated that the cylinder may include a pin housing which is integrally formed with the lock body.

It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that the present invention is not limited by what has been particularly shown and described hereinabove. Rather the scope of the present invention is defined only by the claims which follow:

Claims (8)

101,856/3 C L A I M S

1. A shackle lock comprising: a shackle; a lock body having formed therein an elongate bore having first and second end openings; a lock cylinder disposed in the elongate bore adjacent the second end opening thereof; and an elongate locking bar disposed in the bore with its longitudinal axis parallel to that of the bore and operated by the cylinder for rotation into and out of locking engagement with the shackle, said second end opening being sufficiently large to permit the insertion of a key therethrough into the cylinder and rotation of the key in the cylinder but not sufficiently large to permit passage of the cylinder therethrough and the first end opening being large enough to permit introduction of the cylinder and the locking bar therethrough, said locking bar being disposed in the bore between the cylinder and the first opening such that, when the locking bar is in locking engagement with the shackle, removal or tampering with the cylinder via the first end opening is resisted by the locked-in-place presence of the locking bar.

2. A shackle lock comprising: a shackle; a lock body having formed therein an elongate bore having first and second end openings; 101,856/3 a lock cylinder disposed in the elongate bore adjacent the second end opening thereof; and a locking bar disposed in the bore and operated by the cylinder for rotation into and out of locking engagement with the shackle, the lock being characterized in that the locking bar is formed to have a first portion of a first thickness in which at least one transverse groove is formed to accommodate the shackle and a second portion of a second thickness, greater than the first thickness, the second portion being disposed so as to enhance resistance to axial removal of the locking bar along the bore through the second end opening when the shackle is locked in place .

3. A shackle lock according to claim 1 and also characterized in that the locking bar is formed to have a first portion of a first thickness in which at least one transverse groove is formed to accommodate the shackle and a second portion of a second thickness, greater than the first thickness, the second portion being disposed so as to enhance to axial removal of the locking bar along the bore through the second end opening when the shackle is locked in place.

4. A shackle lock according to either of the preceding claims 2 and 3 and wherein said locking bar is formed of a single piece of metal having first and second radii at the first and 101,856/3 second portions.

5. A shackle lock according to any of the preceding claims and wherein said locking bar comprises an assembly including a generally cylindrical portion, a collar portion and a retaining element for providing rotational engagement between the cylindrical portion and the collar portion.

6. A shackle lock according to any of the preceding claims and wherein said lock body also includes at least one shackle bore extending transverse to said elongate bore for accommodating a shackle in locking engagement with said locking bar.

7. A shackle lock substantially as shown and described hereinabove .

8. A shackle lock substantially as illustrated in any of the drawings. For the Applicants, Sanford T. Colb & Co. Advocates & Patent Attorneys C:14497 HB-3