Patent ID: 6029481
Filing Date: 2000-02-29
Classification: E05B,Y10T

Abstract:
A combination lock constructed for ease of use, while also substantially eliminating the ability of unauthorized persons from opening the lock without knowledge of the combination, said combination lock comprising:(A.) a housing incorporatinga first elongated bore,a plurality of dial receiving zones formed in the housing, with each of said receiving zones extending substantially perpendicularly to the axis of the first bore,an elongated release channel formed in the first bore and axially extending therewith, said elongated release channel defining a zone for enabling the opening of the combination lock, anda holding cavity cooperatively associated with the first bore;(B.) a shackle cooperatively associated with the housing and comprising a locking notch formed at one terminating end of the shackle and constructed for cooperative locking and unlocking interengagement with a movable shackle release member;(C.) an elongated shaftmounted in the elongated bore, andaxially movable between a first position wherein a first end portion of the shaft extends outwardly from the bore into the holding cavity, and an end position wherein the first end portion is contained within the first bore;(D.) a plurality of tumbler sleeves, each of said tumbler sleevesrotationally mounted to the shaft for rotational movement about the central axis thereof, andincorporating a radially extending fin formed on the outside surface thereof and constructed for cooperative association with the elongated release channel for preventing axial movement of the shaft as well as enabling axial movement thereof when each of said radial fins are positioned in the elongated release channel;(E.) a plurality of dials each of said dialsmounted in a dial receiving zone of the housing,peripherally surrounding a tumbler sleeve for cooperating therewith, andcomprising an inside surface formed by a tumbler locking surface and a tumbler release surface; and(F.) a shackle release member movably mounted in the holding cavity of the housing and comprisinga shaft interfacing zone constructed for receiving and retaining the first end of the shaft when the shaft is in its first position and controllably moving the shaft into its second position, andlocking means constructed for engaging the notch of the shackle and maintaining the shackle in a locked position when desired and disengaging from said notch for unlocking the shackle when desired.