Patent ID: 6408661
Filing Date: 2002-06-25
Classification: E05B,Y10T

Abstract:
A padlock assembly comprising:(a) a first lock casing part having a hollow lock core mounting portion with front and rear end surfaces that are spaced apart from each other in a longitudinal direction, said lock core mounting portion being formed with a core receiving space that extends in the longitudinal direction through said front and rear end surfaces, and a first shackle mounting portion that extends in a first transverse direction relative to the longitudinal direction from one side of said lock core mounting portion; (b) a key-operated lock mechanism including a cylindrical lock core formed with a key hole and disposed in said core receiving space, said lock core being adapted to be rotated inside said core receiving space upon insertion of a corresponding key into said key hole, said lock core having one end adjacent to said rear end surface of said lock core mounting portion, and a latch member connected to said one end of said lock core and disposed outwardly of said core receiving space; (c) a second lock casing part having a latch engaging portion with front and rear ends, said latch engaging portion being formed with a latch recess that extends from said front end toward said rear end, and a latch retainer disposed inside said latch recess to partition said latch recess into a latch entrance portion proximate to said front end of said latch engaging portion, and a latch retention portion proximate to said rear end of said latch engaging portion, said latch member being extendible into said latch retention portion through said latch entrance portion and being rotatable inside said latch retention portion between locking and unlocking positions, said latch retainer engaging said latch member when said latch member is disposed in said latch retention portion to prevent removal of said latch member from said latch retention portion in a direction away from said rear end of said latch engaging portion, and a second shackle mounting portion that extends in a second transverse direction parallel to the first transverse direction from one side of said latch engaging portion; and (d) a shackle bar extending between said first and second shackle mounting portions, said shackle bar having opposite first and second ends, at least one of which is connected removably to a respective one of said first and second shackle mounting portions; and said latch member including a latch base coupled to said one end of said lock core and formed with a slide passage that extends in a third transverse direction relative to the longitudinal direction; and a spring-loaded latch body mounted on said latch base inside said slide passage, said latch body being biased to extend outwardly of said slide passage so as to project in the third transverse direction relative to said lock core mounting portion.