Patent Application
20070095112
The present invention relates to a device for accommodating a padlock, and in particular the body of such a padlock.
When used out of doors, padlocks are frequently exposed to the elements, including rain, snow, dust, and other dirt and contamination. Under such adverse conditions, the body of the padlock, be it a key or combination padlock, can become clogged, rusty or otherwise inoperable.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a device for protecting the padlock from the elements.
This object, and other objects and advantages of the present application, will appear more clearly from the following specification in conjunction with the accompanying schematic drawings, in which:
FIGS. 3 to 5 show the padlock in an open position, a partially closed or open position, and a closed position;
The padlock accommodating device of the present application comprises first and second halves, each having a cavity, with the halves being interconnected such that they are movable between an open position and a closed position, wherein in the closed position the first and second cavities mate to form an enclosure for accommodating a padlock. At least one of the halves has a cutout for receiving the shank of the padlock. Furthermore, means are provided to latch the two halves together in the closed position to contain the padlock body within the enclosure.
The padlock accommodating device of the present application provides protection for the body of a padlock after the padlock has been attached to a hasp, chain, etc. by isolating the body of the padlock from the portion of the shank that is passed through the hasp or chain. In particular, the two halves of the device, which form a slot through which the shank of the padlock is passed, isolate the body of the lock from the outside, thus protecting the padlock body from the elements. The padlock accommodating device can be open or closed frequently, so that it can be used on locks that have to be frequently accessed. However, the padlock accommodating device of the present application also protects infrequently accessed padlocks for an extended period of time. Thus, the device of the present application protects the operability of a padlock that is left unattended in a harmful environment.
Further specific features of the present application will be described in detail subsequently.
Referring now to the drawings in detail, the drawings show one exemplary embodiment of the padlock accommodating device of this application, with this device being designated generally by the reference numeral 20.
The padlock accommodating device 20 comprises a first half 21 and a second half 22, which are interconnected by a hinge 23. Although any suitable hinge means can be used to interconnect the first half 21 and the second half 22, in the illustrated embodiment the hinge 23 is a thin flexible strip, in particular made of the same plastic material as are the first and second halves 21 and 22, but merely much thinner in order to provide the necessary flexibility in order to effect a hinged connection between the first and second halves. The functioning of the hinge 23 can be seen in FIGS. 3 to 5, wherein
As can be seen best in
Although the configuration of recess 29 and projecting lip 31 may by itself be sufficient to protect the enclosure formed by the cavities 25 and 26 from the elements, a seal or gasket 33 can be disposed in the recess 29. To prevent the gasket 33 from accidentally falling out of the recess 29, it could be glued into the recess. In addition, to maximize the sealing effect of the gasket 33, the thickness of the gasket can be slightly greater than the gap between the recess 29 and the projecting lip 31 so that when the padlock accommodating device 20 is closed, the projecting lip 31 will compress the gasket 33 in the recess 29 (see
To accommodate the arms of the shank of a padlock placed into the enclosure formed by the cavities 25 and 26 when the padlock accommodating device 20 is closed, a first cutout 35 is provided on that side 36 of the first half 21 that is opposite the hinge 23, and a second cutout 37 is provided on that side 38 of the second half 22 that is opposite the hinge 23. When the padlock accommodating device 20 is closed, the first and second cutouts 35 and 37 provide a slot through which the arms of the shank of the padlock can pass.
It should also be noted that whereas in the illustrated embodiment each of the first and second halves 21 and 22 are provided with respective cutouts 35 and 37 that mate together to form a slot, such a slot could be provided in just one of the halves 21 and 22. In such a case, that half 21 or 22 that is provided with the slot would be larger, and hence have a larger cavity, than would the other half.
Again, in order to protect the enclosure formed by the cavities 25 and 26 from the elements, the cutouts 35 and 37 could each be provided with a respective seal 40, such as a closed-cell foam seal. The seals 40 can be secured in their cutouts 35 or 37 by being glued therein. The seals 40 completely fill their respective cutouts, and could even be slightly larger, so that when the padlock accommodating device 20 is closed, the seals 40 are compressed against one another to effectuate a tight seal. In either case, the seals 40 are flexible enough to accommodate the arms of the shank 42 of a padlock, as shown in
In order to retain the padlock accommodating device 20 in a closed position, latching means are provided, with an enlarged view of an exemplary latching means being shown in
Although the gasket 33 has been illustrated as being disposed in the recess 29, with a corresponding projecting lip 31 mating therewith to effectuate a seal, it is to be understood that the gasket 33 could also project beyond the surface in which it is disposed and extend into a corresponding recess provided in the other half of the padlock accommodating device 20.
The first half 21, the second half 22, including the tabs 44, and the hinge 23 can all be injection molded as a single monolithic piece.
The present invention is, of course, in no way restricted to the specific disclosure of the specification and drawings, but also encompasses any modifications within the scope of the appended claims.
