LOCK CYLINDER REPLACEABLE PADLOCK

Abstract

 A padlock includes a housing in which a reception member and a locking cylinder are located. A positioning recess is defined in the inside of the housing. An installation hole is located beneath one of the two insertion holes of the housing. The reception member has a connection hole and an access hole which communicates with the connection hole. The connection hole is located corresponding to the positioning recess of the housing. The access hole is located corresponding to the installation hole. The connection hole has a resilient member and a pin located therein. The pin has a groove. A stop is located in the installation hole and the access hole. The stop is engaged with the groove of the pin when the pin is engaged with the positioning recess. The stop is removed from the housing when the padlock is unlocked so as to replace the lock cylinder.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Fields of the invention

[0001] The present invention relates to a padlock, and more particularly, to a padlock whose lock cylinder is replaceable and the lock cylinder is well secured.

2. Descriptions of Related Art

[0002] Some of the conventional padlocks have the function of replacement of the lock cylinder so that the housing and the shackle can be used repeatedly, also provide higher security feature.

[0003] U.S. Patent No. 8,245,547 discloses a padlock which includes a lock housing, a U-shaped lock hoop and a lock cylinder in order selectively to lock the lock hoop to the lock housing. The lock cylinder has a cylinder axis and is secured to the lock housing by means of a securing element. The securing element is displaceably supported at the lock cylinder and is resiliently supported transversely to the cylinder axis. The securing element engages into a securing opening at an inner side of the lock housing to secure the lock cylinder to the lock housing.

[0004] However, when the lock hoop is located at the locked position, if an unauthorized person hits the left side of the padlock as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 of the U.S. Patent No. 8,245,547, the securing element is shifted to compress the spring to allow the securing element to be disengaged from the securing opening, and the lock cylinder can be easily removed from the housing and the rotational bolt can be rotated to unlock the padlock without using the key.

[0005] Besides, the spring of the padlock of U.S. Patent No. 8,245,547 has one ned contacting an abutment element so as to be movably supported a the lock cylinder. The abutment element is engaged with the cylinder core of the core reception section so as to restrict the rotational angle of the cylinder core relative to the cylinder housing.

[0006] Nevertheless, when the housing is hit, the securing element and the abutment element both compress the spring which may be tilted so that the abutment element may be disengaged from the core reception section. The function of restricting the rotational angle of the cylinder core is then failed.

[0007] The present invention intends to provide a padlock to eliminate the shortcomings mentioned above.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0008] The present invention relates to a padlock and comprises a housing having a space defined therein. Two insertion holes are defined through the wall of the housing. A positioning recess is defined in the inside of the housing. An installation hole is defined in the housing and located beneath one of the two insertion holes. A reception member is located in the space and has a connection hole and an access hole which communicates with the connection hole. The connection hole is located corresponding to the positioning recess of the housing. The access hole is located corresponding to the installation hole. The connection hole has a resilient member and a pin located therein. The pin is biased by the resilient member so as to be resiliently engaged with the positioning recess. When the resilient member is compressed, the pin is disengaged from the positioning recess. The pin has a groove defined transversely in the outer surface thereof. The groove is located corresponding to the access hole. A stop is located in the installation hole and the access hole. The stop is engaged with the groove of the pin when the pin is engaged with the positioning recess.

[0009] Preferably, the access hole communicates with the connection hole perpendicularly.

[0010] Preferably, the pin has a protrusion extending axially from one end thereof, and the resilient member is mounted onto the protrusion.

[0011] Preferably, the installation hole is a threaded hole. The stop has a threaded portion formed on the outer surface thereof. The stop is threadedly engaged with the installation hole.

[0012] Preferably, the padlock further comprises a lock cylinder and a positioning plate, wherein the lock cylinder is located in the reception member and has a top piece. The positioning plate is located in the space and has a guide hole in which the top piece is located so that the rotational angle of the lock cylinder is restricted by the guide hole.

[0013] Preferably, the top piece is a semi-circular piece and the guide hole is a fan-like hole.

[0014] Preferably, the positioning plate has a lug extends radially from outside thereof.

[0015] Preferably, the padlock further comprises a shackle and a locking unit, wherein the shackle is a U-shaped shackle and has a long end and a short end. The long end is inserted into the insertion hole that does not have the installation hole located therebeneath. The short end is inserted into the insertion hole that has the installation hole located therebeneath. Each of the long end and the short end has a notch. The locking unit is located in the space. The housing has a passage which is located corresponding to the locking unit and communicates with the insertion hole and the space. The top piece of the lock cylinder is connected to the locking unit. When the locking unit is located at the locked status, the locking unit is engaged with the notches via the passage. When the locking unit is located at the unlocked status, the short end is disengaged from the insertion hole that has the installation hole located therebeneath.

[0016] Preferably, the locking unit has a driving member which has a flange and a block on two ends thereof. The flange is located corresponding to the top piece. The block is located corresponding to the notches of the shackle.

[0017] Preferably, the padlock further comprises a ring and a torsion spring, wherein the ring is mounted to the driving member and has a first securing portion. The block has a second securing portion. The torsion spring has two ends which are respectively connected to the first and second securing portions.

[0018] Preferably, the block has two recessed faces on two opposite sides thereof. The recessed faces are located in the passage. Two engaging members are respectively located in the passage and located between the two recessed faces and the notches.

[0019] The pin cannot be shifted when the housing is hit when the stop is engaged with the groove, so that the lock cylinder cannot be easily pulled out from the housing. When replacing the lock cylinder, the stop is removed via the insertion hole when the padlock is in unlocked status, the pin can be moved from the positioning recess, and the lock cylinder can be replaced.

[0020] The rotational angle of the lock cylinder can be restricted by the guide hole of the positioning plate, so that the lock cylinder can be rotated to a correct unlocked position. The positioning plate is not moved even when the housing is hit.

[0021] The present invention will become more obvious from the following description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings which show, for purposes of illustration only, a preferred embodiment in accordance with the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0022] 

Fig. 1 is a perspective view to show the padlock of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is an exploded view of the padlock of the present invention;

Fig. 3 is a cross sectional view, taken along line A-A in Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a cross sectional view, wherein the padlock is in the unlocked status, and the stop is removed;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view to show the locking unit of the present invention;

Fig. 6 shows that the positioning plate is located in the space 11 of the padlock, wherein the housing is removed, and

Fig. 7 shows that the top piece of the lock cylinder is inserted in the guide hole of the positioning plate.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0023] Referring to Figs. 1 to7, the padlock of the present invention comprises a housing 1 having a space 11 defined therein, and two insertion holes 12 are defined through the top wall of the housing 1. A positioning recess 13 is defined in the inside of the housing 1. An installation hole 14 is defined in the housing 1 and located beneath one of the two insertion holes 12.

[0024] A reception member 2 is located in the space 11 and has a connection hole 21 and an access hole 22 which communicates with the connection hole 21 perpendicularly. The connection hole 21 is located corresponding to the positioning recess 13 of the housing 1, and the access hole 22 is located corresponding to the installation hole 14. The connection hole 21 has a resilient member 211 and a pin 212 located therein. The pin 212 has a protrusion 2121 extending axially from one end thereof, and the resilient member 211 is mounted onto the protrusion 2121. The pin 212 is biased by the resilient member 211 so as to be resiliently engaged with the positioning recess 13. When the resilient member 211 is compressed, the pin 212 is disengaged from the positioning recess 13. The pin 212 has a groove 2122 defined transversely in the outer surface thereof. The groove 2122 is located corresponding to the access hole 22.

[0025] A stop 3 is located in the installation hole 14 and the access hole 22. The installation hole 14 is a threaded hole, and the stop 3 has a threaded portion 31 formed on the outer surface thereof. The stop 3 is threadedly engaged with the installation hole 14. The stop 3 is engaged with the groove 2122 of the pin 212 when the pin 212 is engaged with the positioning recess 13.

[0026] The padlock further comprises a lock cylinder 4 and a positioning plate 5, wherein the lock cylinder 4 is located in the reception member 2 and has a top piece 41. The positioning plate 5 is located in the space 11 and has a guide hole 52 in which the top piece 41 is located so that the rotational angle of the lock cylinder 4 is restricted by the guide hole 52. The top piece 41 is a semi-circular piece, and the guide hole 52 is a fan-like hole which is larger than the top piece 41. The positioning plate 5 has a lug 51 extends radially from outside thereof so as to be positioned in the space 11.

[0027] The padlock further comprises a shackle 6 and a locking unit 7, wherein the shackle 6 is a U-shaped shackle and has a long end 61 and a short end 62. The long end 61 is inserted into the insertion hole 12 that does not have the installation hole 14 located therebeneath, and the short end 62 is inserted into the insertion hole 12 that has the installation hole 14 located therebeneath. Each of the long end 61 and the short end 62 has a notch 63. The locking unit 7 is located in the space 11. The housing 1 has a passage 15 which is located corresponding to the locking unit 7 and communicates with the insertion hole 12 with the locking unit 7, and the space 11. The top piece 41 of the lock cylinder 4 is connected to the locking unit 7. The locking unit 7 has a driving member 71 which has a flange 711 and a block 712 on two ends thereof. The flange 711 is located corresponding to the top piece 41, and the block 712 is located corresponding to the notches 63 of the shackle 6. A ring 72 is mounted to the driving member 71 and has a first securing portion 721. The block 712 has a second securing portion 7121. A torsion spring 73 has two ends which are respectively connected to the first and second securing portions 721, 7121. The block 712 has two recessed faces 7122 on two opposite sides thereof. The recessed faces 7122 are located in the passage 15. Two engaging members 74 are respectively located in the passage 15 and located between the two recessed faces 7122 and the notches 63.

[0028] When the locking unit 7 is located at a locked status, the locking unit 7 is engaged with the notches 63 via the passage 15. When the locking unit 7 is located at an unlocked status, the short end 62 is disengaged from the insertion hole 12 that has the installation hole 14 located therebeneath.

[0029] As shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the pin 212 is biased by the resilient member 211 so as to be engaged with the positioning recess 13, therefore, the pin 212 is positioned by the positioning recess 13 and the connection hole 21, and the reception member 2 cannot be removed out from the housing 1. The stop 3 extends through the installation hole 14 and the access hole 22 and is engaged with the groove 2122 of the pin 212, so that even if the padlock is hit, the pin 212 is not moved, and the resilient member 211 is not compressed. In other words, the pin 212 is not shifted so that the lock cylinder 4 cannot be removed out from the padlock.

[0030] When replacing the lock cylinder 4, as shown in Fig. 4, a key is used to unlock the padlock, and the short end 62 of the shackle 6 is removed from the insertion hole 12. The stop 3 is seen and accessible. By using a hand tool, the stop 3 can be threadedly removed from the installation hole 14. An elongate tool is inserted into the installation hole 14 and the access hole 22 to be engaged with the groove 2122 of the pin 212, so that the pin 212 can be moved to compress the resilient member 211. Therefore, the pin 212 is disengaged from the positioning recess 13, so the lock cylinder 4 and the reception member 2 can be removed out from the padlock and replaced with new ones.

[0031] After the new lock cylinder 4 and the reception member 2 are installed into the padlock, the pin 212 and the resilient member 211 are installed in the connection hole 21 of the new lock cylinder 4 and the reception member 2. When the pin 212 is engaged with the positioning recess 13, the resilient member 211 pushes the pin 212 at the position. The stop 3 is installed again into the installation hole 14 and engaged with the groove 2122 of the pin 212 to finish the replacement procedures.

[0032] As shown in Figs. 2 to 7, when inserting the key into the keyhole 42 of the lock cylinder 4, rotating the key to drive the lock cylinder 4 whose top piece 41 drives the flange 711 of the locking unit 7. The first and second securing portions 7121, 721 are rotated by the driving member 71 and compress the torsion spring 73. When the recessed faces 7122 of the driving member 71 are rotated to the passage 15, the engaging members 74 are moved to the recessed faces 7122 and removed from the notches 63, so that the shackle 6 is moved upward. The short end 62 is completely removed from the insertion hole 12 and the shackle 6 is rotatable to allow the user to see the stop 3. When the user does not apply force continuously to the key, the torsion spring 73 returns and the driving member 71 is rotated in the opposite direction, so that the recessed faces 7122 of the driving member 71 are rotated away from the passage 15, and the engaging members 74 protrude into the insertion holes 12. The flange 711 of the driving member 71 pushes the top piece 41 to return the lock cylinder 4 back to its initial position.

[0033] It is noted that the lock cylinder 4 has to be rotated to a position where the recessed faces 7122 face the passage 15 to allow the padlock to be unlocked. When the recessed faces 7122 do not face the passage 15, the padlock is locked. Therefore, the position of the lock cylinder 4 has to be precisely restricted. As shown in Fig. 6, usually, the space 11 is in a shape of a narrow area and a wide area, the lug 51 restricts the positioning plate 5 from rotating by the specific shape of the space 11. As shown in Fig. 7, the top piece 41 of the lock cylinder 4 is inserted in the guide hole 52 of the positioning plate 5 to restrict the rotational angle of the lock cylinder 4. In one embodiment, the top piece 41 is a semi-circular piece, and the guide hole 52 is a fan-like hole which is larger than the top piece 41 so as to precisely set the rotational positions of the top piece 41 of the lock cylinder 4. Of course, other shape may also be used to obtain the same function.

[0034] While we have shown and described the embodiment in accordance with the present invention, it should be clear to those skilled in the art that further embodiments may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A padlock comprising:

a housing (1) having a space (11) defined therein, two insertion holes (12) defined through a wall of the housing (1), a positioning recess (13) defined in an inside of the housing (1), an installation hole (14) defined in the housing (1) and located beneath one of the two insertion holes (12);

a reception member (2) located in the space (11) and having a connection hole (21) and an access hole (22) which communicates with the connection hole (21), the connection hole (21) located corresponding to the positioning recess (13) of the housing (1), the access hole (22) located corresponding to the installation hole (14), the connection hole (21) having a resilient member (211) and a pin (212) located therein, the pin (212) being biased by the resilient member (211) so as to be resiliently engaged with the positioning recess (13), when the resilient member (211) is compressed, the pin (212) is disengaged from the positioning recess (13), the pin (212) having a groove (2122) defined transversely in an outer surface thereof, the groove (2122) located corresponding to the access hole (22), and

a stop (3) located in the installation hole (14) and the access hole (22), the stop (3) being engaged with the groove (2122) of the pin (212) when the pin (212) is engaged with the positioning recess (13).

2. The padlock as claimed in claim 1, wherein the access hole (22) communicates with the connection hole (21) perpendicularly.

3. The padlock as claimed in claim 1, wherein the pin (212) has a protrusion (2121) extending axially from one end thereof, the resilient member (211) is mounted onto the protrusion (2121).

4. The padlock as claimed in claim 1, wherein the installation hole (14) is a threaded hole, the stop (3) has a threaded portion (31) formed on an outer surface thereof, the stop (3) is threadedly engaged with the installation hole (14).

5. The padlock as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a lock cylinder (4) and a positioning plate (5), the lock cylinder (4) located in the reception member (2) and having a top piece (41), the positioning plate (5) located in the space (11) and having a guide hole (52) in which the top piece (41) is located so that a rotational angle of the lock cylinder (4) is restricted by the guide hole (52).

6. The padlock as claimed in claim 5, wherein the top piece (41) is a semi-circular piece, the guide hole (52) is a fan-like hole.

7. The padlock as claimed in claim 5, wherein the positioning plate (5) has a lug (51) extends radially from outside thereof.

8. The padlock as claimed in claim 5 further comprising a shackle (6) and a locking unit (7), the shackle (6) being a U-shaped shackle and having a long end (61) and a short end (62), the long end (61) inserted into the insertion hole (12) that does not have the installation hole (14) located therebeneath, the short end (62) inserted into the insertion hole (12) that has the installation hole (14) located therebeneath, each of the long end (61) and the short end (62) having a notch (63), the locking unit (7) located in the space (11), the housing (1) having a passage (15) which is located corresponding to the locking unit (7) and communicates with the insertion hole (12) with the locking unit (7), and the space (11), the top piece (41) of the lock cylinder (4) being connected to the locking unit (7), when the locking unit (7) is located at a locked status, the locking unit (7) is engaged with the notches (63) via the passage (15), when the locking unit (7) is located at an unlocked status, the short end (62) is disengaged from the insertion hole (12) that has the installation hole (14) located therebeneath.

9. The padlock as claimed in claim 8, wherein the locking unit (7) has a driving member (71) which has a flange (711) and a block (712) on two ends thereof, the flange (711) is located corresponding to the top piece (41), the block (712) is located corresponding to the notches (63) of the shackle (6).

10. The padlock as claimed in claim 9 further comprising a ring (72) and a torsion spring (73), the ring (72) is mounted to the driving member (71) and having a first securing portion (721), the block (712) having a second securing portion (7121), the torsion spring (73) having two ends which are respectively connected to the first and second securing portions (721, 7121).

11. The padlock as claimed in claim 10, wherein the block (712) has two recessed faces (7122) on two opposite sides thereof, the recessed faces (7122) are located in the passage (15), two engaging members (74) are respectively located in the passage (15) and located between the two recessed faces (7122) and the notches (63).

Drawing