Abstract:
By providing a magnifying member which is securely affixed to the housing of a combination padlock in cooperating association with the rotating dials thereof, an easily produced, combination padlock is achieved which provides a display zone for the pre-set combination wherein the indicia formed on each of the dials is easily seen and readily visible for any user. By positioning the magnifying member in overlying, aligned relationship with the rotatable dials, the visibility of the indicia formed on each dial is greatly enhanced. As a result, any user is able to immediately determine and recognize the different indicia formed on each rotatable dial, and quickly position the combination of indicia which represent the preselected combination for releasing the shackle from locked engagement with the housing.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
   This invention relates to padlocks and lock systems and, more particularly, to combination padlocks constructed for enabling the combination position identifiers to be easily seen by the user. 
   BACKGROUND ART 
   Numerous padlock constructions have been developed and are widely employed by individuals to prevent unauthorized persons from gaining access to any particular item or area which has been closed and locked. Although many locks are constructed to be opened by a key, numerous combination lock constructions have been developed which are opened by knowledge of a particular combination. 
   One particular type of combination lock that has become very popular due to its ease and convenience of use is a combination lock which employs a plurality of rotatable independent dials, each of which forms one of the indicia, usually numerals or letters, which comprise the combination for releasing the lock. Typically, the combination lock has one mode or position in which the user is able to set or reset the desired combination sequence. Although locks of this general nature have been available for several decades, these prior art combination lock constructions suffer from common deficiencies which have not been successfully overcome. 
   Although many manufacturers have attempted to solve the problems associated with rotatable dial or combination locks, one principal difficulty and drawback these prior art constructions have been unable to overcome is a construction which provides an easily seen visual display to the user when the desired combination is being entered. In such instances when the known combination is not easily seen and properly entered, the entire combination lock is incapable of being opened, since the user is unable to release the shackle from locked engagement with the housing. 
   In addition, although key operated locks do not suffer from the difficulty of having the combination changed or altered without the user&#39;s knowledge, users are frequently incapable of using key operated locks, due to the key being lost or misplaced. As a result, prior art key operated locks are also frequently discarded due to the user&#39;s inability to find a particular key for operating the lock. 
   Another common problem which has consistently plagued prior art constructions is the cost of construction for producing and assembling prior art padlocks, whether the padlock is key operated or combination operated. In order to attain a padlock which provides all of the features desired by consumers, prior art constructions typically incorporate numerous small components, each of which require expensive assembly procedures to produce the final product. As a result, these prior art lock constructions are expensive to produce, thereby reducing the ability of these locks to reach a broad base of consumers. 
   Another problem commonly found with prior art padlocks is the inability of these prior art constructions to prevent contaminants from reaching the rotatable, internal component of the lock, thereby causing damage to these components or interfering with the ease of operating the lock by an individual who either knows the actual combination or has the activating key. Although numerous attempts have been made to reduce the adverse effects caused by contaminants reaching these components, such attempts have been incapable of completely eliminating in this problem. 
   A final, still further difficulty, which has recently arisen and affects both combination locks and key operated locks, is a requirement that all secured locks must be broken by Customs officers, and/or inspection or security personnel in order to gain access to luggage which is deemed suspicious. Under new security regulations that is being implemented, all luggage must be scanned or inspected to prevent the transportation of potentially dangerous items or products which are deemed to be undesirable. In those instances when luggage is scanned and further visual inspection is required, the inspectors have the authority to open the luggage for visual inspection, including physically breaking any lock which may be on the luggage. 
   Consequently, with these new regulations presently implemented, all prior art lock systems which are incapable of being opened by inspectors and/or security personnel are subject to be physically broken, in order to gain access to any luggage which needs to be visually inspected. As a result, consumers will now be faced with the possibility that any lock system employed to protect the contents of a suitcase can be physically removed by security personnel, leaving the luggage completely unprotected during the remainder of the trip. 
   Therefore, it is a principal object of the present invention to provide a combination padlock construction which enables the indicia formed on the rotatable dials to be easily seen and be highly visible. 
   Another object of the present invention is to provide a combination lock construction having the characteristic features described above wherein the combination defining zone is prominently displayed in an easily seen and readily recognized position. 
   Another object of the present invention is to provide a combination padlock construction having the characteristic features described above which employs a minimum number of components and is quickly and easily assembled, thereby providing a combination lock capable of being constructed at competitive prices. 
   Another object of the present invention is to provide a combination lock construction having the characteristic features described above which effectively seals the rotating components from external contamination and effectively prevents any external contaminants from reaching the rotating components thereof. 
   Another object of the present invention is to provide a combination padlock construction having a characteristic features described above which also incorporates a key operated section for enabling all of the requirements of customs officers and/or inspection or security personnel to be met while also enabling the user to completely control the combination section of the lock independently of the key controlled section. 
   Other and more specific objects will in part be obvious and will in part appear hereinafter. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   By employing the present invention all of the difficulties and drawbacks of the prior are are virtually eliminated and an effective, easily produced, combination padlock is achieved which provides a display zone for the pre-set combination wherein the indicia formed on each of the dials is easily seen and readily visible for any user. In this way, any user is able to immediately recognize each of the indicia formed on each rotatable dial and position the precise combination of preselected indicia in the designated zone for enabling the shackle to be released from locked engagement with the housing. In this way, any and all users are able to employ the combination padlock of the present invention with assurance that whenever the secured lock is to be opened and released, the pre-established combination will be easily and accurately inputted on the lock, enabling its release and allowing the user to gain access to the container or suitcase on which the lock had been secured. 
   In the preferred construction of the present invention, a single housing and shackle assembly are employed and constructed for enabling the shackle to be released from locked engagement with the housing using either a rotatable dial combination construction or a key-activated tumbler construction. In this way, a dual locking and releasing padlock is achieved which satisfies all of the new requirements for padlocks being used for travel wherein customs officers and/or security personnel are required to inspect the suitcase or other container. 
   In the preferred construction or the present invention, a generally conventional J-shaped shackle is employed with one portion of the housing cooperatively associated with the longer leg of the shackle. In addition, this portion of the housing is also constructed with rotatable, combination defining dials which control the axial movement of the longer leg of the shackle. In this way, the axial movement of the shackle in the housing is completely controlled by the rotatable, combination defining dials, enabling the locking and releasing of the shackle relative to the housing to be easily achieved by employing the known combination. 
   In addition, in accordance with the teaching of the present invention, a magnifying member is securely affixed to the housing in cooperating association with the rotating dials thereof. By positioning the magnifying member in overlying, aligned relationship with the rotatable dials, the visibility of the indicia formed on each dial is greatly enhanced. As a result, any user is able to immediately determine and recognize the different indicia formed on each rotatable dial, and quickly position the combination of indicia which represent the preselected combination for releasing the shackle from locked engagement with the housing. 
   Although the magnifying member of the present invention can be constructed in a wide variety of alternate configurations, without departing from the scope of the present invention, it has been found that a simple, easily constructed and easily secured magnifying member is able to achieve all of the desired results, without adding any substantial cost or assembly difficulties. In this regard, in the preferred construction, a single elongated strip of material is formed having an overall length slightly greater than the overall length of the rotatable dials mounted to the housing. In addition, in this preferred embodiment, the elongated strip of material comprises a width substantially equal to or slightly greater than the width of one indicia bearing panel. In this way, a minimum amount of material is required, while each of the panels of each rotatable dial is effectively magnified as the panel is rotated into the designated combination defining zone. 
   Although the entire strip of material forming the magnifying member of the present invention may be constructed in a manner which assures magnification of the elements positioned below the entire strip, the preferred embodiment of the present invention incorporates a plurality of separate and distinct magnification zones formed along the strip, with each of the magnification zones being constructed for being positioned in overlying, aligned relationship with the indicia of each of the rotatable dials. In this way, assurance is provided that each of the indicia formed on each rotatable dial is magnified as that indicia is placed in aligned relationship with the magnification zone. As a result, ease of readability of each indicia is realized in a cost effective and highly efficient construction. 
   In addition, in the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the magnifying member incorporates a plurality of locking fingers extending from the elongated strip of material, with the locking fingers being constructed for peripherally surrounding and lockingly engaging a portion of the housing forming the padlock. In this way, the magnifying member is quickly and easily securely affixed to the housing forming the padlock, with the magnifying member being placed in the precisely desired location. As a result, assembly ease is provided, as well as assurance that the magnifying member will be retained in the precisely desired position. 
   Although the construction detailed above represents the preferred embodiment of the present invention, alternate constructions can be employed without departing from the scope of this invention. In this regard, the magnifying member of the present invention can be mounted to the housing in aligned relationship with a plurality of the panels of the rotatable dials for enabling several adjacent panels to be simultaneously magnified for enhanced visibility. Furthermore, the magnifying member of the present invention can be permanently affixed to the housing, effectively becoming an integral component thereof. Although these alternate constructions and configurations, as well as numerous other alternate constructions and configurations can be implemented, these variations are intended to be included within the scope of the present invention. 
   The invention accordingly comprises an article of manufacture possessing the features, properties, and relation of elements which will be exemplified in the article hereinafter described, and the scope of the invention will be indiciated in the claims. 

   
     THE DRAWINGS 
     For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of the invention, reference should be had to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
       FIG. 1  is a rear perspective view of the preferred embodiment of a removable magnifying member made in accordance with the present invention; 
       FIG. 2  is a rear elevation view of the magnifying member of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 3  is a side elevation view of the magnifying member of  FIG. 2 ; 
       FIG. 4  is a top plan view of the magnifying member of  FIG. 2 ; 
       FIG. 5  is a front elevation view depicting the preferred embodiment of the magnifying member of the present invention securely mounted to a padlock in cooperating relationship with the rotatable dials thereof; 
       FIG. 6  is a left side elevation view of the magnifying member and padlock of  FIG. 5 ; and 
       FIG. 7  is a right side elevation view of the magnifying member and padlock of  FIG. 5 . 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
   By referring to  FIGS. 1-7 , along with the following detailed disclosure, the construction and operation of the preferred embodiment of the magnifying member of the present invention can best be understood. As will be evident from this disclosure, numerous alternate constructions and configurations of the magnifying member can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. Consequently, it is to be understood that this disclosure is intended for exemplary purposes only, and is not intended as a limitation of the present invention. 
   In  FIGS. 1-4  magnifying member  20  of the present invention is depicted in its-preferred embodiment as a removable component capable of being quickly and easily mounted to a desired padlock  21 , as shown in  FIGS. 5-7 . As discussed above, if desired, magnifying member  20  may be constructed permanently attached to padlock  21 , in order to form a single, fully integrated construction. However, in the preferred embodiment, magnifying member  20  is constructed as a removable component, which may be securely mounted to padlock  21  and, if desired, removed therefrom. 
   In this preferred construction, magnifying member  20  comprises elongated, central body portion  24  with upper clamping or clip portion  25  integrally affixed to one end of central body portion  24  while lower clamping or clip portion  26  is integrally affixed to the opposed end of central body portion  24 . In addition, both upper clamping/clip portion  25  and lower clamping/clip portion  26  incorporate a generally U-shaped configuration which comprises arm members  27  and  28 , which are interconnected by connecting portion  29 . Furthermore, each arm member  27  and  28  incorporates inwardly extending finger section  30 . 
   In completing the preferred construction of magnification member  20 , central body portion  24  incorporates a plurality of magnification zones or panels. In accordance with the teaching of this invention, central body portion  24  incorporates a separate and independent magnification zone/panel for each rotating dial incorporated on the associated padlock. In the embodiment depicted herein, three rotatable dials are employed on padlock  21  and, as a result, central body portion  24  incorporates three magnification zones/panels  35 ,  36 , and  37 . In addition, as depicted, in the preferred embodiment, each magnification zone/panel is separated by an inwardly extending support wall, resulting in central body portion  24  incorporating support walls  38  and  39 . 
   Each magnifying zone/panel  35 ,  36 , and  37  is constructed using known forming technology to comprise a magnification lens element which enables the indicia formed on at least one panel of each of the rotating dials of padlock  21  to visually appear to the eye of the user as an enlarged virtual image. In this way, as is fully detailed below, by constructing magnification zones/panels  35 ,  36 , and  37  of central body portion  24  to comprise the combination defining zone, the user is able to easily see and select the precise indicia which have been preselected to create the desired combination. As a result, the user is able to quickly and easily open padlock  20 , whenever desired. 
   In order to obtain the desired magnification or virtual enlargement of the indicia formed on at least one panel of each of the rotating dials of padlock  20 , it is important to position magnification zones/panels  35 ,  36 , and  37  at a precisely spaced distance from the surface of the panel of the rotating dial being magnified. As is more fully detailed below, in order to achieve this result, support walls  38  and  39  are employed and are constructed for contacting the outer surface of padlock  21 , establishing the required spacing between the surface of each panel of each rotatable dial and its associated magnification zone/panels  35 ,  36 , or  37 . 
   As shown in  FIGS. 5-7 , in the preferred embodiment of the present invention, magnifying member  20  is securely mounted to padlock  21  for providing the enhancements detailed herein. In this preferred construction, padlock  21  comprises a dual locking mode padlock incorporating housing  45  and J-shaped shackle  46 , with shackle  46  being lockingly engageable and disengageable with housing  45  in order to achieve the desired operation. In addition, in this preferred construction, housing  45  incorporates a combination controlled locking section  47  formed on one side thereof and a key controlled locking section  48  formed on the opposed side thereof. Regardless of the section used by an individual to lock and unlock padlock  21 , the cooperative engagement of shackle  46  with housing  45  is employed. 
   In the preferred operation, the long leg of J-shaped shackle  46  is cooperatively associated with combination controlled locking section  47  for being axially movable in response to the position of the rotatable dials forming a part of combination controlled locking section  47 . Once the preselected combination has been entered on the rotatable dials, shackle  46  is able to be axially moved relative to housing  45 , thereby releasing the short leg from engagement with housing  45 . 
   In addition, the short leg of J-shaped shackle  46  is able to be released from locked engagement with housing  45  by employing key controlled locking section  48 . In this regard, by inserting an appropriate key  49  into the associated locking cylinders contained in key controlled locking section  48  and pivoting key  49  in the locking cylinders, locking wall  59  of padlock  21  is removed from blocking relationship with the short leg of shackle  46 , enabling shackle  46  to arcuately pivot about the central axis of the long leg, effectively releasing shackle  46  from locked engagement with housing  45 . 
   In order to more fully understand the construction and operation of dual locking mode padlock  21 , reference should be made to U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2005/0092036,the relevant portions of which are hereby incorporated by reference. However, the disclosure contained herein details the construction of the relevant portions of padlock  21  which are required for achieving the goals and objectives of the present invention. 
   In order to enable combination controlled locking section  47  of padlock  21  to operate in the desired manner, padlock  21  incorporates a plurality of circular shaped rotatable dials. In the embodiment depicted, three separate independent rotatable dials are employed, depicted as dials  50 ,  51 , and  52 . In addition, each rotatable dial  50 ,  51 , and  52  comprises a plurality of panels  53  formed thereon, with each panel  53  incorporating indicia  54  formed therein. In the preferred construction, one of the indicia  54  of each rotatable dial  50 ,  51 , and  52  is selected by the user to represent one component of the combination for releasing shackle  46  from locked engagement with housing  45 . Once one desired indicia  54  is selected from each rotatable dial  50 ,  51  and  52 , a unique user determined combination is established and is employed for releasing shackle  46  whenever desired. 
   Although any desired indicia  54  can be employed and formed in panels  53 , numerals or letters are typically employed in most constructions. In the present invention, each rotatable dial  50 ,  51 , and  52  comprises an outer surface on which ten panels  53  are formed, with one numeral ranging from 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8,and 9 being formed on each panel  53 . By selecting one numeral from each panel  53  of each dial  50 ,  51 , and  52 , the desired unique combination for padlock  21  is achieved. 
   As clearly depicted in  FIGS. 5-7 , magnifying member  20  is securely affixed to padlock  21  in cooperating relationship with rotatable dials  50 ,  51 , and  52 . In this regard, arm members  27  and  28  of upper clamp/clip portion  25  and lower clamp/clip portion  26  are positioned in peripheral, surrounding engagement with the outside surface of forward section  55  of housing  45  of padlock  21 . In addition, when placed in the desired position, central body portion  24  of magnifying member  20  is vertically aligned in overlying relationship with rotatable dials  50 ,  51 , and  52 . Furthermore, magnification zone/panel  35  is placed in overlying aligned relationship with rotatable dial  50 , while magnification zone/panel  36  is in overlying aligned relationship with rotatable dial  51 , while magnification zone/panel  37  is in overlying, aligned relationship with rotatable dial  52 . 
   In order to assure that magnification member  20  is securely affixed in locked interengagement with housing  45  of padlock  21  in the precisely desired position, housing  45  of padlock  21  incorporates cavities  56  formed in the outer surface thereof, in position for cooperating engagement with finger sections  30  of arm members  27  and  28 . For exemplary purposes,  FIG. 6  clearly depicts cavity  56  formed in housing  45  in the desired position. By incorporating the plurality of cavities  56  in housing  45  in the desired position for interengagement with finger sections  30  of arm members  27  and  28 , the desired secure, locked engagement of magnifying member  20  with padlock  21  is assured. 
   Furthermore, by constructing forward section  55  of housing  45  with an overall width which is slightly greater than the normal, relaxed, spaced distance between arm members  27  and  28 , arm members  27  and  28  are forced apart relative to each other in order to surround forward section  55 . As a result, assurance is provided that finger sections  30  are maintained in secure, biased, locked interengagement in cavities  56 , and magnifying member  20  is mounted to padlock  20  in affixed interengagement therewith. 
   In addition, magnification zones/panels  35 ,  36  and  37  are maintained in the precisely desired spaced distance from rotatable dials  50 ,  51 , and  52  due to the incorporation of support walls  38  and  39 . As best seen in  FIGS. 6 and 7 , support walls  38  and  39  are placed in contact with the outer surface of housing  45  of padlock  21 , directly between rotatable dials  35 ,  36 , and  37 . In this way, magnification zone/panels  35 ,  36 , and  31  are positioned in the precisely desired location for assuring that the desired magnification of indicia  54  of each panel  53  of each rotatable dial  50 ,  51 , and  52  is attained as each indicia is placed in cooperating alignment with magnification zone/panels  35 ,  36 , and  37 . 
   As clearly depicted in  FIG. 5 , indicia  54  of rotatable dial  50  is positioned in alignment with magnification zone  35  of central body portion  24  of magnifying member  20 . Once in this position, indicia  54 , depicted as the numeral “0”, is magnified or virtually enlarged by the operation of the lens construction formed as an integral component of magnification zone/panel  35 . As a result, indicia  54  is able to be viewed by any observer or user as a substantially enlarged numeral, thereby enabling indicia  54  to be easily seen and understood. 
   Similarly, indicia  54  of rotatable dial  51  is positioned in alignment with magnification zone  36 , while indicia  54  of rotatable dial  52  is positioned in alignment with magnification zone  37 . In each of these instances, each indicia  54  appears to the user as a substantially enlarged numeral, enabling each indicia  54  to be easily seen and understood. As a result, the user of padlock  21  is able to rotate dials  50 ,  51 , and  52  relative to magnifying member  20  and quickly and easily see a substantially enlarged image of each indicia  54  as indicia  54  of each rotatable dial is placed in the combination designating zone. In this way, each of the preselected indicia forming the desired combination is quickly and easily identified and placed in the required combination designating zone for enabling padlock  20  to be opened whenever desired, without any difficulty and without any entry errors. 
   It will thus be seen that the object set forth above, among those made apparent from the preceding description, are efficiently attained and, since certain changes may be made in the above product without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense. 
   It is also to be understood that the following claims are intended to cover all of the generic and specific features of the invention herein described, and all statements of the scope of the invention which, as a matter of language, might be said to fall therebetween.