Abstract:
A combination lock having a combination lock mechanism and a key lock mechanism. The combination lock mechanism is able to unlock and lock the combination lock by switching a plurality of dials exposed on the surface of the combination lock, while the key lock mechanism allows the user to unlock the combination lock with a key.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION  
       [0001]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0002]     The present invention relates to a combination lock having a second lock mechanism, and more particularly, to a combination lock combining a combination lock mechanism with a key lock mechanism for securing a zipper.  
         [0003]     2. Description of the Prior Art  
         [0004]     In U.S. Pat. No. 5,557,954, a zipper lock positioned on one side of a zipper for locking a pull tab of the zipper is disclosed. The above-mentioned zipper lock has a combination lock mechanism. The combination lock mechanism includes a plurality of dials exposed on one side of the zipper lock. By switching the dials, the combination lock mechanism is therefore locked or unlocked. The advantage of the combination lock is that the user can unlock it without any special tools or keys as long as he remember the combination code. However, if the user forgets the combination code, the zipper lock can only be unlocked through trial and error, or by destructive means.  
         [0005]     It can be seen that the combination lock mechanism is convenient. However, it is also annoying if the user forgets the combination code.  
       SUMMARY OF INVENTION  
       [0006]     It is therefore a primary objective of the claimed invention to improve the disadvantage of the combination lock mechanism.  
         [0007]     According to the claimed invention, a combination lock having a second lock mechanism is disclosed. The combination lock of the present invention combines a combination lock mechanism with a key lock mechanism. The combination lock mechanism is able to unlock and lock the combination lock, while the key lock mechanism allows the user to unlock the combination lock with a key.  
         [0008]     These and other objectives of the present invention will no doubt become obvious to those of ordinary skill in the art after having read the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment that is illustrated in the various figures and drawings.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS  
       [0009]      FIG. 1  is a schematic diagram illustrating a lock of the present invention.  
         [0010]      FIG. 2  and  FIG. 3  are exploded views of the lock shown in  FIG. 1 .  
         [0011]      FIG. 4  is an exploded view of a sleeve and a lock housing shown in  FIG. 1 .  
         [0012]      FIG. 5  to  FIG. 18  are schematic diagrams illustrating different embodiments of the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0013]     Please refer to  FIG. 1  to  FIG. 3 .  FIG. 1  is a schematic diagram illustrating a lock of the present invention;  FIG. 2  and  FIG. 3  are exploded views of the lock shown in  FIG. 1 . As shown in  FIG. 1  to  FIG. 3 , the lock includes a lock body  10 , a first lock mechanism  20  and a second lock mechanism  30 . The first lock mechanism  20  is a combination lock mechanism, while the second lock mechanism  30  is a key lock mechanism.  
         [0014]     The lock body  10  includes a lock housing  11 , two push-buttons  12 , and a lock tongue  13 . The push-buttons  12  and the lock tongue  13  are in relation with each other and are positioned in the lock housing  11 . The push-buttons  12  can be depressed by a force, such as by fingers, so that the lock tongue  13  is shifted to a locking position (as shown in  FIG. 2 ) or a releasing position (as shown in  FIG. 3 ).  
         [0015]     In addition, the lock body  10  further includes a stopping member  14 . The stopping member  14  can make a linear movement or a rotary movement relative to the lock housing  11 . The stopping member  14  can be shifted to a first position for constraining the lock tongue  13  in the locking position (as shown in  FIG. 3 ), or the stopping member  14  can be shifted to a second position for releasing the constraint of the lock tongue  13  (as shown in  FIG. 2 ).  
         [0016]     The first lock mechanism  20  is a combination lock mechanism including a plurality of dials  21  and a shifting plate  22  positioned in the lock body  10 . The shifting plate  22  can be shifted to an unlocking position (as shown in  FIG. 2 ) or a locking position (as shown in  FIG. 3 ) by switching the plurality of dials  21 . The shifting plate  22  and the stopping member  14  operate interactively. When the shifting plate  22  is shifted toward the locking position, the stopping member  14  will be moved correspondingly to the first position so that the lock tongue  13  is constrained. On the other hand, when the shifting plate  22  is shifted back to the unlocking position, the stopping member  14  will be moved correspondingly to release the constraint of the lock tongue  13 .  
         [0017]     Since the technology of combination lock mechanism is well known, further details are not repeated here. Comparing to the conventional combination lock, the present invention includes a second lock mechanism  30 . The second lock mechanism  30  allows the lock of the present invention to be unlocked in an alternative way. In such case, the lock of the present invention can be locked by the first lock mechanism  20 , but can be unlocked by both the first lock mechanism  20  and the second lock mechanism  30 .  
         [0018]     The second lock mechanism  30  includes a sleeve  31  and a linking member  32  in relation with each other. The sleeve  31  further includes a keyhole  311  for allowing a key “K” to be inserted and for being rotated by the key “K” such that the linking member  32  is shifted and forces the stopping member  14  to change positions.  
         [0019]     When the key “K” is not inserted into the keyhole  311 , the sleeve  31  and the lock housing  11  are not allowed to move. Once the key “K” is inserted into the keyhole  311 , the sleeve  31  is free to rotate relative to the lock housing  11 . Please refer to  FIG. 4 .  FIG. 4  is an exploded view of the sleeve  31  and the lock housing  11 . The sleeve  31  includes a plurality of discs  312  which protrude out of the sleeve  31  in normal condition. Accordingly, the lock housing  11  includes a cavity  111  having a groove  112  for containing the discs  312 . In such case, the sleeve  31  is not free to rotate since the discs  312  are inserted into the groove  112 . When the key “K” is inserted into the keyhole  311 , the discs  312  are drawn back, and the sleeve  31  is free to rotate relative to the lock housing  11 .  
         [0020]     The sleeve  31  further includes a protrusion  313 , while the linking member  32  includes a long hole  321  for receiving the protrusion  313 . Please refer to  FIG. 5  and  FIG. 6 .  FIG. 5  and  FIG. 6  are schematic diagrams showing how the sleeve  31  and the linking member  32  interact. As shown in  FIG. 5  and  FIG. 6 , the protrusion  313  is in an eccentric position of the long hole  321  such that the linking member  32  will move linearly when the sleeve  31  rotates. When the stopping member  14  is driven by the shifting plate  22  to shift to the first position, the linking member  32  is able to shift the stopping member  14  to the second position so that the constraint of the lock tongue  13  is released.  
         [0021]     Therefore, the unlocking action of the lock can be performed by utilizing either the combination lock mechanism or the key lock mechanism.  
         [0022]     Please refer to  FIG. 7  and  FIG. 8 .  FIG. 7  and  FIG. 8  are schematic diagrams illustrating another embodiment of the present invention. As shown in  FIG. 7  and  FIG. 8 , the sleeve  31  and the linking member  32  respectively have gears  314  and  322  meshing with each other. Therefore, the sleeve  31  and the linking member  32  operate by means of mesh transmission.  
         [0023]     Please refer to  FIG. 9  and  FIG. 10 .  FIG. 9  and  FIG. 10  are schematic diagrams illustrating another embodiment of the present invention. As shown in  FIG. 9  and  FIG. 10 , the sleeve  31  has a cam  315  connected to the linking member  32  so that the sleeve  31  and the linking member  32  are operated correspondingly. In this embodiment, the linking member  32  further includes a resilient member  33  for providing the linking member  32  with a recovering ability such that the linking member  32  and the cam  315  remain in contact.  
         [0024]     Please refer to  FIG. 11  to  FIG. 12 .  FIG. 11  and  FIG. 12  are schematic diagrams illustrating another embodiment of the present invention. As shown in  FIG. 11  and  FIG. 12 , the linking member  32  is pivotally connected to the lock housing  11 , and the sleeve  31  includes a lever  316 . The lever  316  triggers one end of the linking member  32 , and thereby the opposite end of the linking member  32  forces the stopping member  14  to the second position. It is worth noticing that the linking member  32  and the stopping member  14  can be connected to each other. For example, as shown in  FIG. 11  and  FIG. 12 , the linking member  32  is connected to the eccentric position of the stopping member  14 .  
         [0025]     Please refer to  FIG. 13  and  FIG. 14 .  FIG. 13  and  FIG. 14  are schematic diagrams illustrating another embodiment of the present invention. As shown in  FIG. 13  and  FIG. 14 , the sleeve  31  and the stopping member  14  can be connected by means of a flexible transmission member  40 . The flexible transmission member  40  is a circular member, such as a belt, a rack, or a chain, connected to both the sleeve  31  and the stopping member  14 . Therefore, the sleeve  31  and the stopping member  14  are moved by frictional force. In addition, if the sleeve  31 , the stopping member  14 , and the flexible transmission member  40  include respective gears  317 ,  141 , and  41 , then the sleeve  31  and the stopping member  14  can be moved by means of mesh transmission. Further, the flexible transmission member  40  can be modulated by a tension modulator  42  for adjusting the tightness.  
         [0026]     Please refer to  FIG. 15  and  FIG. 16 .  FIG. 15  and  FIG. 16  are schematic diagrams illustrating another embodiment of the present invention. As shown in  FIG. 15  and  FIG. 16 , the flexible transmission member  40  can also be a linear belt connected to both the sleeve  31  and the stopping member  14 .  
         [0027]     Please refer to  FIG. 17  and  FIG. 18 .  FIG. 17  and  FIG. 18  are schematic diagrams illustrating another embodiment of the present invention. Differing from the other embodiments, the stopping member  14  is triggered directly by the sleeve  31  in this embodiment. As shown in  FIG. 17  and  FIG. 18 , the sleeve  31  includes an extension part  318  rotating simultaneously with the sleeve  31  and triggering the stopping member  14 . For example, the extension part  318  and the stopping member  14  include respective gears  319  and  142 , so that the sleeve  31  and the stopping member  14  are transmitted by means of mesh transmission.  
         [0028]     In conclusion, the present invention provides a lock combining a combination lock mechanism with the key lock mechanism. Therefore, instead of only being unlocked by the combination lock mechanism, the lock of the present invention can also be unlocked by the key lock mechanism.  
         [0029]     Those skilled in the art will readily observe that numerous modifications and alterations of the device may be made while retaining the teachings of the invention. Accordingly, the above disclosure should be construed as limited only by the metes and bounds of the appended claims.