IL105305A - Shackle lock - Google Patents

Description

105,305/2 SHACKLE LOCK MUL-T-LOCK LTD.

C: 15458 15458KAV.III ΗΒ-9304 4/4/93 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 manu actured in a number of different configurations , all of which are relatively expensive due to the large number of parts and complicated assembly involved.

DE 31 11 066 describes a padlock comprising a tempered steel housing including holes to accept the legs of a shackle and openings at either end of the housing, a soft metal core slidable into the housing, wherein the core includes bores corresponding to the holes in the housing to accept the shackle legs, and a locking mechanism to lock the shackle into the padlock core . Tempered steel spacers are included in the bores . The spacers, however, are positioned to face the open ends of the housing and they function to secure the core in the housing and protect against attack.

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 pre'ferred 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 the 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 oni 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 .

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 ope'nings, 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.

In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention the shackle may be a shackle assembly comprising a shim insertable in a transverse opening extending transversely to the elongate bore such that the diameter of the transverse opening is decreased, and a shackle insertable therethrough .

The shim may be mounted to the lock body and may be registered in a desired position in the lock body. The thickness of the shim and of the shackle can be varied therebetween provided that the diameter of the shackle assembly generally fits the diameter of the transverse opening.

In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention the shackle assembly may include more than one shim and the lock body may include more than one transverse opening .

There is also provided in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention a shackle lock including a lock body having formed therein a locking assembly arranged to selectably lock a shackle, the lock body including at least one opening for receiving the shackle; and a shackle assembly comprising a shackle and at least one shim mountable in the at least one transverse opening such that the effective diameter of the at least one transverse opening is decreased, whereby shackles of various diameters can be employed with the lock body having at least one shackle opening of a given size.

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 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.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The present invention will more fully understood and appreciated from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the drawings 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 respective pictorial and planar sectional illustrations of the1' 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 illustrations 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 along lines IX - IX in Fig. 8 showing the locking bar in respec- tive 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; 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; Fig. 13 is an exploded view illustration of a shackle-type lock constructed and operative in accordance with yet another preferred embodiment of the present invention; and Fig. 14 is an exploded view illustration of the locking bar assembly of the lock of Fig. 13; Fig. 15 is an exploded view illustration of a shackle-type lock constructed and operative in accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention; Figs. 16A and 16B are respective pictorial and planar, sectional illustrations of the lock body and the shim of the lock of Fig. 15·; Fig. 17 is an illustration corresponding to Fig. 15 but showing the shackle assembly seated but not locked in the lock body; Fig. 18 is a side view illustration of the engagement between the shackle and the lock body of Figs. 3 and 17.

Figs. 19A and 19B are sectional illustrations, taken along lines X - X in Fig. 18 showing the locking bar in respective unlocked and locked engagement with the shackle assembly. 105305/2 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.

A hardened, tamper resistant protective plate 21 is preferably disposed alongside cylinder 18 and between cylinder 18 and the locking bar 20. The protective plate 21 is typically formed of hardened metal so as to be resistant to drilling. As illustrated in the embodiment of Figs. 1 - 3 and 4 - 6, the protective plate 21 is formed in the general configuration of the cylinder it is intended to protect and is located alongside the end of the cylinder opposite from the keyway entry. Preferably it is arranged so that it cannot be readily displaced or rotated from its intended location, but does not impede rotation of the locking bar 20.

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 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 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-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 64 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 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 .

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. 12A and 12B.

The structure of Figs. 10 - 12B is particularly suit- able 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.

Reference is now made to Figs. 13 and 14 which illustrate a lock of the general type described hereinabove in connection with Figs. 10 and 11 but having a different locking bar assembly 120. As seen in Figs. 13 and 14, the locking bar assembly 120 includes a nearly cylindrical but actually conical bar element 122 which is formed with a pair of transverse grooves 124 and 126 and an end protrusion 127.

The conical bar element 122 is seated in a corresponding conical bore 128 in a collar member 130, thus restricting insertion and removal of the bar element 122 from the collar member 130 to a single side thereof, adjacent the cylinder 108, notwithstanding that an opening may also be formed at the opposite end of collar member 130 from cylinder 108. The collar member 130 is provided with a pair of bores 132 and 134 for accepting the legs of the shackle and permitting them to be locked into engagement with grooves 124 and 126 of the locking bar element 122.

It is to be appreciated that end protrusions 107 and 127 may be replaced by corresponding recesses, provided that suitable protrusions are formed on the cylinders which cooperate therewith .

Reference is now made to Figs. 15 - 16B, which illustrate a shackle lock which is similar to the lock of Figs, l 3 but employs a shackle assembly instead of a shackle. 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. 15 - 16B, the shackle assembly 200 includes two shims 201, each of which is insertable into one of the transverse openings 23 and 25 of the lock body 10, and a U-shaped shackle 202 having two legs which are insert-able through the shims. It is noted that the number of shims is typically identical to the number of legs of the shackle, but need not be so.

It is a particular feature of the present invention that the diameter of the shim 201 and the shackle 202 can be varied therebetween according to a desired diameter of the shackle leg, provided that the diameter of the shackle assembly generally fits the diameter of the transverse opening.

The position of shim 201 in the lock body is determined with any suitable registration device such as a registration pin 204. Pin 204 fits in a cavity 206 in the lock body, thereby to minimize lateral movement of the shim.

The inserted shim is screwed into an appropriate thread 210 in the lock body with a screw 212. Alternatively, the inserted shim can be engaged to the lock body with any other suitable engagement device such as a pin.

It is a particular feature of the present invention that once the shim is screwed to the lock body, it can not fall out even when the shackle is not inserted therein.

The operation of the lock of Figs. 15 - 16B will be appreciated from a consideration of Figs. 17, 18, 19A and 19B, which illustrate the locking engagement of the shackle 22 with the locking bar 20. Fig. 19A illustrates unlocked engagement, while Fig. 19B illustrates locking engagement.

It is noted that the shackle assembly of Figs. 15 through 19B can be employed not only in conjunction with the shackle lock presented in Figs. 1 - 3 as presented hereinabove, but with any of the locks presented in any of the preferred embodiments of the present invention and with any other suitable type of lock.

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 (9)

1. A shackle lock comprising: a lock body having formed therein a locking assembly arranged to selectably lock a shackle, the lock body including at least one opening for receiving the shackle; and a shackle assembly comprising a shackle and at least one shim mountable in said at least one opening such that the effective diameter of said at least one opening is decreased, whereby shackles of various diameters can be employed with the lock body having at least one shackle opening of a given size; further characterized in that said lock body has formed therein a bore having first and second end openings and at least one transverse opening, said at least one transverse opening extending transversely to said bore, and wherein said at least one shim is insertable in said at least one transverse opening such that the diameter of said at least one transverse opening is decreased, said at least one shim being mountable in said lock body; and further comprising a lock cylinder disposed in the bore adjacent the first end opening thereof; and a locking bar disposed in the bore having a longitudinal axis parallel to that of the bore and operated by the cylinder for rotation into and out of locking engagement with the shackle assembly.

2. A shackle lock according to claim 1 wherein the thickness of said at least one shim and of said shackle can be varied therebetween provided that the diameter of said shackle assembly generally fits the diameter of said at least one transverse opening.

3. A shackle lock according to any of the preceding claims and including means for registering said at least one shim in a desired position in said lock body.

4. A shackle lock according to claim 1 wherein said first opening is 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, 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 ^ 105305/6 tampering with the cylinder via the second end opening is resisted by the locked-in-place presence of the locking bar; and further comprising a tamper-resistant plate disposed adjacent the lock cylinder.

5. A shackle lock according to claim 1, 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.

6. A shackle lock according to any of claims 1, 2, 4 or 5 and wherein said locking bar is non-cylindrical.

7. A shackle lock according to any of claims 1, 2, 4 or 5 and wherein said locking bar is conical.

8. A shackle lock according to any of the preceding claims and substantially as shown and described hereinabove.

9. A shackle lock according to any of the preceding claims and substantially as in any of the drawings. For the Applicants, Sanford T. Colb & Co. Advocates & Patent Attorneys C: 15458