Patent Publication Number: US-2004040348-A1

Title: Padlock with identification means

Description:
FIELD OF INVENTION  
       [0001] This invention is related to a padlock with identification means, in particular to one have an identification means that is detachable from the padlock, at desire, such that the identification means may serve to assist a user in identifying the article that the padlock is shackled to.  
       BACKGROUND OF INVENTION  
       [0002] Once a plurality of identical padlocks each equipped with a shackle having one long leg and one short leg are shackled to a plurality of identical or similar articles, it is relatively difficult for the user to identify a specific article among the plurality of identical articles. Further, it is sometimes necessary to use padlocks each of a certain appearance to distinguish a group of articles from another group.  
       [0003] One may to distinguish the different padlocks is to use different padlocks, such as of different, innate configurations or appearance. However, it may be complicated for the user if padlocks of different specifications are used.  
       SUMMARY OF INVENTION  
       [0004] It is therefore among the objects of the invention to provide a padlock with identification means, such that in applications, the identification means serves to assist a user in identifying the article which the padlock is shackled to.  
       [0005] According to an embodiment of this invention, the identification means may be easily viewed by the user and is detachable from the padlock such that a single padlock may be used repetitively to serve different identification purposes.  
       [0006] With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in the construction, arrangement, and combination of the various parts of the device, whereby the objects contemplated are attained, as hereinafter set forth, pointed out in the appended claims and illustrated in the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
    
     IN THE DRAWINGS  
     [0007]FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of this invention;  
     [0008]FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the embodiment of FIG. 1;  
     [0009]FIG. 3 is an elevational view of a padlock of this invention partially broken away to show an embodiment of the fastening and mating means;  
     [0010]FIG. 4 is an elevational view of a padlock of this invention partially broken away to show an alternative embodiment of the fastening and mating means;  
     [0011]FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing an alternative embodiment of this invention;  
     [0012]FIG. 6 is an exploded view of the embodiment of FIG. 5;  
     [0013]FIG. 7 is an elevational view of a padlock of this invention partially broken away to show an embodiment of the fastening and mating means in the padlock of FIG. 5;  
     [0014]FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing a further embodiment of this invention;  
     [0015]FIG. 9 is an exploded view of the embodiment of FIG. 8; and  
     [0016]FIG. 10 is an elevational view of a padlock of this invention partially broken away to show an embodiment of the fastening and mating means in the padlock of FIG. 8. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTIONS OF EMBODIMENTS  
     [0017] To achieve the intended objects of this invention, an embodiment for a padlock with an identification means is disclosed in FIGS. 1 and 2, in which the padlock comprises a padlock body  1  and a shackle  2 . The padlock body  1  has a visible surface  10  and a fastening means  13  provided on the visible surface  10 .  
     [0018] To feature the padlock with Identification function, this invention provides an identification means  3  that is configured to conform to the visible surface  10  of the padlock body  1  and includes a mating means  32  for detachably mating with the fastening means  13  of the padlock body  1 , wherein the identification means  3  stretches over at least part of the visible surface  10 .  
     [0019] In this embodiment where the padlock body  1  being a rectangular shape, the visible surface  10  is constructed of a plurality of sub-faces, including two main surfaces  11  (one of them not shown) opposing one another, and a peripheral surface  12  bordering the main surfaces  11 . The peripheral surface  19  includes a top, a bottom, and two opposing sides. The shackle  2  is provided on the top to be selectively locked to or unlocked from the padlock body  1 , and the identification means  3  at least stretches from one of the main surfaces  11  to the other main surface by continuing through the peripheral surface  12 .  
     [0020] The visible surface  10  may also be constructed of difference sub-faces depending on the shape of the padlock body  1 . For example, in the case where the padlock body  1  is of a sphere, the visible surface  10  will then be an integral spherical surface; in case the padlock body  1  of a pyramid, the visible surface will then be four adjacent triangular face placed on a top of a rectangular face.  
     [0021] Regardless of the shape, the identification means  3  is preferably conformed to the visible surface  10  of the padlock body  1 , such that after the identification means  3  may be easily attached to the padlock body  1 . Further, the identification means  3  is preferably visible from different viewing angles once it is attached to the padlock body  1  to ensure the visibility of the identification means  3  such that the user may easily view the identification means  3  from a distance.  
     [0022] Based on the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2, to conform to the rectangular shape of the padlock body  1 , the identification means  3  includes a generally U-shaped block having a base  31 , two flanges  33  protruding form the base  31 , and an inner face  35  facing the padlock body  1 . The U-shaped block is attached to the padlock body  1  with the base  31  urging against the peripheral surface  12  and the flanges  33  each covering part of the main surfaces  11 .  
     [0023] In an alternative embodiment as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, two types of identification means  3  are illustrated. One of the identification means  3  includes an O-shaped block  34  having an inner face  35  facing the padlock body  1 . Another identification means  3  includes an O-shaped block  36  further provided with a protruding ledge  37  protruding from the block  36  in addition to an inner face  38  facing the padlock body  1 .  
     [0024] Both types of identification means  3  are attached to the padlock body  1  with the block  34 ,  36  urging against the peripheral surface  12 , and the block  34 ,  36  and/or the protruding ledge  37  covering part of the main surfaces  11 . Noting that only one type of identification means  3  is required to be attached to the padlock body  1  so as to feature the padlock body  1  with the intended identification purpose.  
     [0025] According to the embodiment shown in FIGS. 3 and 7, the fastening means  13  includes notches  133  formed on each of the main surfaces  11  of the padlock body  1 , and the mating means  32  includes lips  321  complimentary to the notches  133  and protruding from the inner face  35  of the identification means  3  at locations corresponding to the notches  133  of the fastening means  13 .  
     [0026] The complimentary structure of notches and lips may be reversed such that the lips protrude from each of the main surfaces, and the notches are formed on the inner face of the identification means at locations corresponding to the lips.  
     [0027] In a further embodiment shown in FIG. 4, the fastening means  13  includes holes  134  formed an each of the main surfaces  11  of the padlock body  1 , and the mating means  32  includes holes  324  formed on the identification means  3  at locations corresponding to the holes  134  of the fastening means  13 , and pegs  322  inserting through the holes  134 ,  324  of the identification means  13  and the fastening means  32 .  
     [0028] In these embodiments, the identification means  31  is preferably made of resilient materials such that it may be expanded and then snap to fit the padlock body  1  by engaging the fastening means  13  to the mating means  32 .  
     [0029] In a further embodiment shown in FIGS.  8 - 10 , the fastening means  13  includes a pair of dovetail grooves  136  formed at least one of the main surfaces  11  of the padlock body  1 , and the mating means  32  includes dovetail edges  323  complimentary to the dovetail grooves  136  and formed along the identification means  31 .  
     [0030] In this embodiment, the identification means  13  may be slid unto the padlock body  1  by engaging the dovetail edges  323  to the dovetail groove  136 .  
     [0031] In any of the above embodiments, the notches, lips, holes, dovetail grooves may only be formed on one of the sub-faces of the visible surface  10 , according to the desired appearance of the padlock.  
     [0032] It should also be noted that, a great variety of fastening and mating means might be adopted, in addition to those that have been described above, so long as they may provide the desired detachable function.  
     [0033] To further enhance the diversity of the padlock, one padlock may be sold with a number of identification means having various colors, such that the user may replace the identification means at desire.  
     [0034] Aforementioned explanation is directed to the description of the preferred embodiment according to the present invention. Various changes and implementations can be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the technical concept of the present invention. Since the present invention is not limited to the specific details described in connection with the preferred embodiment except those that may be within the scope of the appended claims, changes to certain features of the preferred embodiment without altering the overall basic function of the invention are contemplated.  
                               LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS                                        1   padlock body       2   shackle       3   identification means       10   visible surface       11   main surfaces       13   fastening means       31   base       32   mating means       33   flanges       34   O-shaped block       35   inner face       36   O-shaped block       37   protruding ledge       38   inner face       133   notches       134   holes       136   dovetail grooves       321   lips       322   pegs       323   dovetail edges       324   holes