Patent ID: 6453706
Filing Date: 2002-09-24
Classification: E05B,Y10T

Abstract:
A padlock comprising:(a) lock casing having first and second end surfaces which are opposite to each other in a longitudinal direction, and including: a lock core mounting portion adjacent to said first end surface and formed with a core receiving space that extends in the longitudinal direction from said first end surface toward said second end surface, a latch receiving portion adjacent to said second end surface and formed with a latch recess communicated with said core receiving space, a first shackle mounting portion that extends from said lock core mounting portion in a first transverse direction transverse to the longitudinal direction and that is formed with a first shackle insert hole, and a second shackle mounting portion that extends from said latch receiving portion in the first transverse direction and that is opposite to said first shackle mounting portion, said second shackle mounting portion being formed with a second shackle insert hole that is aligned with said first shackle insert hole in the longitudinal direction, said second shackle mounting portion being further formed with a slide channel that extends in the first transverse direction to communicate said second shackle insert hole with said latch recess; (b) a key-operated lock core unit including a cylindrical lock core formed with a keyhole 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 keyhole, said lock core having one end disposed adjacent to said latch recess, and a latch member connected to said one end of said lock core and extending into said latch recess, said latch member being rotatable inside said latch recess between locking and unlocking positions when the corresponding key is operated; (c) a shackle bar having a first end extending into said first said shackle insert hole, and a second end extending into said second shackle insert hole, at least one of said first and second ends being removable from a corresponding one of said first and second shackle insert holes; and (d) a catch member disposed slidably in said latch recess and having a first abutment wall which is formed with a shackle engaging projection that extends into said slide channel, a second abutment wall spaced apart from said first abutment wall in the first transverse direction, and a latch cavity defined between said first and second abutment walls for extension of said latch member thereinto, said latch member pushing said first abutment wall of said catch member for moving said catch member in the first transverse direction toward said second shackle mounting portion so as to enable said shackle engaging projection to project into said second shackle insert hole for engaging said shackle bar when said latch member is disposed in the locking position, said latch member pushing said second abutment wall of said catch member for moving said catch member in a direction opposite to the first transverse direction away from said second shackle mounting portion so as to enable said shackle engaging portion to retract into said slide channel for disengaging from said shackle bar when said latch member is disposed in the unlocking position; wherein said catch member includes a first catch body formed with said first abutment wall, and a second catch body connected to said first catch body and formed with said second abutment wall, said second abutment wall being parallel to and being spaced apart from said first abutment wall.