Patent Publication Number: US-6705134-B2

Title: Padlock assembly

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) to U.S. provisional patent application Serial No. 60/367,531, filed Mar. 26, 2002. 
    
    
     SUMMARY 
     An embodiment of the present invention relates to a padlock assembly that includes a padlock including a lock body and a shackle. The lock body has a top surface and a bottom surface and at least one body pin having a longitudinal dimension and extending through the lock body and beyond the top surface and the bottom surface. The shackle is fixedly attachable to the lock body through the top surface. The padlock assembly also includes a jacket comprising a hollow member shaped to receive the lock body and fixedly attached to the lock body. The jacket has a length at least as great as the longitudinal dimension of the at least one body pin, and the jacket is disposed on the lock body to extend beyond the top surface and the bottom surface coextensive with the at least one body pin. 
     Another embodiment of the present invention relates to a padlock that includes a lock body and a shackle fixedly attachable to the lock body. The lock body has a surface that includes a perimeter flange having an edge. At least one body pin extends through the lock body and beyond the surface but not beyond the edge of the perimeter flange. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
     For the present invention to be understood clearly and readily practiced, the present invention will be described in conjunction with the following figures, wherein: 
     FIG. 1 is an isometric diagram that illustrates a padlock with a security jacket partially removed according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is an isometric diagram that illustrates the bottom face of the padlock with the security jacket in place according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 3 is an isometric diagram that illustrates the top face of the padlock with the security jacket in place according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 4 is an isometric illustration of a sleeve that covers the jacket according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 5 is a front view of a sleeve that covers the jacket according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 6 is a top view of a sleeve that covers the jacket according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 7 is a vertical cross section of a padlock according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 8 is a vertical cross section of a padlock according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 9 is an isometric diagram that illustrates the bottom face of the padlock with countersunk body pins according to an embodiment of the present invention; and 
     FIG. 10 is an isometric diagram of the padlock assembly, similar to that shown in FIG. 2, with countersunk body pins according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 11 illustrates a padlock having a bottom face according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION 
     The present invention relates to a padlock assembly. The invention includes a security jacket made, e.g., from hardened steel, for protecting a shackle or flexible cable padlock and, more particularly, for preventing access to the body pins of the padlock. The term “shackle,” as used herein, refers to any flexible cable, chain or U-shaped member known in the art. According to one embodiment, the security jacket fits over the body portion of the padlock and extends beyond the top and/or bottom faces of the padlock body to prevent access to the body pins. 
     FIG. 1 illustrates a padlock  10  with a security jacket  12  partially removed. The padlock  10  includes a shackle or flexible cable  14 , shown partially obstructed, a locking cavity  15 , and a padlock body portion  16  that has a top face  22  (not visible) and a bottom face  23 . Locking cavity  15  is a prefabricated recess on the surface of body portion  16  that may be used to permanently secure jacket  12  to padlock  10  either alone or in combination with other securing means. In particular, jacket  12  may be crimped or punched inwardly when jacket  12  is in place on padlock  10 , causing swaged metal of the jacket to flow or move into locking cavity  15 . Body portion  16  includes of a plurality of body plates  18  secured by a plurality of cylindrical body pins  20  that penetrate and extend through body plates  18 . Body pins  20  have a longitudinal dimension or length that corresponds to the longitudinal dimension of the padlock between the top and bottom faces. Body pins  20  have proximal ends  24  that extend slightly beyond top face  22  and distal ends  26  that extend slightly beyond bottom face  23 . 
     Jacket  12  is constructed of a high impact material, e.g., hardened steel, to suitably protect body plates  18  and body pins  20 , which otherwise may be vulnerable to a forced attack. Accordingly, jacket  12  is sized and shaped to slide over body portion  16  and to form a snug fit with respect to body portion  16 . 
     FIG. 2 shows padlock  10  with jacket  12  in place. As shown, jacket  12  extends beyond distal ends  26  to protect body pins  20  from a forced attack on distal ends  26 . Similarly, FIG. 3 shows jacket  12  extending beyond proximal ends  24  to protect body pins  20  from a forced attack on proximal ends  24 . 
     FIG. 4 is an isometric illustration of a sleeve  300  that covers jacket  12  according to an embodiment of the present invention. Sleeve  300  may be an endless strip of flexible material, such as vinyl, nylon, or plastic, which slips over and snugly envelopes jacket  12 . A method for manufacturing the sleeve may include, for example, cutting the sleeve from an extruded tube of such a flexible material. According to another embodiment, the sleeve may exhibit an imprint  310  thereon, such as by hot stamping, that, for example, deters tampering or identifies an individual having responsibility for padlock  10 . FIG.  5  and FIG. 6 show front and top views, respectively, of sleeve  300  according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 7 illustrates a padlock  400  according to another embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 7 is a vertical cross section of padlock  400  that includes a body pin  410  having a shaft  415  and an enlarged head  420 , a top surface  440 , an opening  450 , and a countersink area  430  in top surface  440 . Countersink  430  is adapted to receive enlarged head  420 . More specifically, countersink  430  has a diameter greater than the diameter of enlarged head  420  at its widest point. According to this embodiment, countersink  430  has a rectangular cross-section and is adapted to be engaged by enlarged head  420  of body pin  410  such that head  420  projects partially above top surface  440  to protect padlock  400  from attack. Other embodiments may incorporate a full circle countersink, such as for padlocks constructed of steel, but the enlarged head need not be recessed entirely to protect the body pins from attack. 
     FIG. 8 illustrates a padlock  500  according to another embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 8 is a vertical cross section of padlock  500  that includes a body pin  510  having a shaft  515  and an enlarged head  520 , a countersink  530 , a top surface  540 , and an opening  550 . Padlock  500  is similar to padlock  400  illustrated in FIG. 7 except that countersink  530  is conically tapered to be engaged by enlarged head  520 . In general, body pin  510  may geometrically complement countersink  530 . Like padlock  400 , enlarged head  520  projects partially above top surface  540  to protect padlock  500  from attack. FIG. 9 is a pictorial view of a padlock  600  according to another embodiment of the present invention. Padlock  600  is similar to padlock  400  illustrated in FIG. 7 except that body pins  610  have flat heads. FIG. 10 shows another embodiment of the present invention in which a padlock assembly  700  having a jacket  712 , similar to that shown in FIG. 2, also includes the use of countersinks  730  to protect body pins  710 . 
     Those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that other countersink cross-sections may be used without departing from the principles of the present invention. Those of ordinary skill in the art will also appreciate that principles described with respect to protecting top surface  440  of padlock  400 , shown in FIG. 7, are equally applicable to a bottom surface with respect to penetrating body pins. 
     FIG. 11 illustrates a padlock  80  that includes a padlock body portion  82  having a top face  84  (not visible) and a bottom face  86  according to an embodiment of the present invention. According to such an embodiment, padlock body portion  82  is comprised of a plurality of body plates, including a top plate  88  and a bottom plate  90 . Cylindrical body pins  92  may penetrate and extend through top and bottom plates  88  and  90  to secure the body plates. Bottom face  86  may include a flange  93  having an edge  96  around its perimeter to prevent access to body pins  92 . Although not shown, top plate  88  can include a similar flange arrangement. 
     It can thus be appreciated that while the invention has been particularly shown and described with respect to preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention.