Lock

Abstract

An improved locking means, such as a combination padlock, is disclosed in which the re-coding thereof can be carried out in a convenient and/or efficient manner. A locking means comprising a body including a plurality of dials disposed to surround a lock member in an axially spaced relationship therealong is disclosed. Relative axial sliding movement is possible between the dials and the lock member between a locked position and a release position and the lock member has at least one generally radially extending exterior locking configuration. This locking configuration is received in a corresponding first location at one side of a dial in said locked position, and in a corresponding second location within a dial in said release position, each dial, in said release position, being angularly movable relative to said at least one locking configuration so as to allow re-coding the dial.

Description

The invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a front view of a combination padlock of the invention, in its locked state,

FIGS. 2 to 4 are respectively a top plan view, an underneath plan view and a side view of the padlock of FIG. 1,

FIG. 5 is a longitudinal internal sectional view of the padlock of FIGS. 1 to 4,

FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of the padlock of FIGS. 1 to 5,

FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view of a cycle lock of the invention, and

FIG. 8 is a side view of the cycle lock in its assembled state.

Claims

1. A locking means comprising a body including a plurality of dials disposed to surround a lock member in an axially spaced relationship therealong, relative axial sliding movement being possible between the dials and the lock member between a locked position and a release position, the lock member having at least one generally radially extending exterior locking configuration, said at least one locking configuration being received in a corresponding at least one first location at one side of a dial in said locked position, and in a corresponding at least one second location within a dial in said release position, each dial, in said release position, being angularly movable relative to said at least one locking configuration so as to allow re-coding the dial.

2. A locking means according to claim 1 wherein the lock member is a shaft having a latch pin at a free end thereof for engagement with a shackle, the body being slidable along the shaft such that in the locked position part of the body encompasses the latch pin and engaged shackle to prevent disengagement, whilst in the unlocked position said part of the body is clear of the latch pin to allow such disengagement.

3. A locking means according to claim 2, wherein the locking means is part of a bicycle locking arrangement with the locking means and locking member at one end of a cable and the shackle at the other end, to complete a locking loop in the locked position.

4. A combination padlock comprising a body in which is slidably arranged a shackle, which is biased to an open position relative to the body and is movable against said bias to a locked position in which it is retained by locking means, an operating member axially movable in the body between a locking position, in which it actuates said locking means to cause the shackle to be held retained thereby in its locked position, and a release position, in which the shackle can release from said locking means and move to its open position, a plurality of dials disposed to surround the operating member in an axially spaced apart relationship therealong, the operating member having at least one generally radially extending exterior locking configuration, said at least one locking configuration being received in a corresponding at least one first location at one side of a dial when the operating member is in its locked position, and in a corresponding at least one second location within a dial when the operating member is in its release position, each dial, when the operating member is in its release position, being angularly movable relative to said at least one locking configuration so as to allow re-coding the dial.

5. A combination padlock according to claim 4, wherein the at least one locking configuration is a radial projection and the first and second locations are respective release channels formed as slots or grooves.

6. A combination padlock according to claim 5, wherein the at least one second location is a release channel which is formed in an inner member of a dial assembly, of which said dial is the outer member thereof, a clutch between the inner and outer members allowing the inner and outer member to move angularly together when the operating member is in its locked position, and allowing the outer member to move angularly around the inner member, when the operating member is in its release position.

7. A combination padlock according to claim 6, wherein the clutch is formed by a yieldable member between the inner and outer members.

8. A combination padlock according to claim 7, wherein the yieldable member is of plastics material or of rubber material.

9. A combination padlock according to claim 6, wherein the inner and outer members are of metal.

10. A combination padlock according to claim 7, wherein the inner and outer members are of metal.

11. A combination padlock according to claim 8, wherein the inner and outer members are of metal.

12. A combination padlock according to claim 6, wherein the clutch is defined between the inner member, which is of metal, and the outer member which is of rubber or plastics material.

13. A combination padlock according to claim 5, wherein the operating member is a cylindrical spindle having on its exterior surface a number of sets of said radially extending locking projections, the sets being equally axially spaced along the spindle, and desirably each set comprises three fins arranged at arcuate spaced apart distances, at least one of which is not equal to the other two distances.

14. A combination padlock according to claim 13, wherein two fins are spaced from each other by 144° and each from the third fin by 108°.

15. A combination padlock according to claim 6, wherein inner member of each dial assembly is formed internally with a form of release channels or slots identical with the fin arrangement of the spindle.

16. A combination padlock according to claim 6, wherein the outer surface of the inner member is arranged to be keyed to an inner surface of the clutch member so that the members rotate together with the dial when the operating member is in its locked position, and stay stationary together when the operating member is in its release position and the dial is turned to re-code the lock dials.

17. A combination padlock according to claim 16, wherein the inner member is arranged to be keyed to an inner surface of the clutch member by arcuate projections on the inner member being received in corresponding arcuate slots of the clutch member.

18. A combination padlock according to claim 6, wherein the inner surface of the dial has angularly spaced apart ribs which are received in correspondingly angularly spaced grooves in a or the deformable outer surface of the clutch member, to provide a positive indication when a re-coded dial number has been reached upon dial rotation.