Patent ID: 12258783

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF VARIOUS EMBODIMENTS

The following text is a detailed description of the invention.

A method according to the present invention is used for protecting a padlock1from the environment. The method is designed for a padlock1comprising a padlock body2.

The padlock body2comprises a cavity3, and an opening5. The cavity3is holding a lock cylinder4when the padlock is equipped for working. The opening5is provided in a first end6aof the padlock body2and is connecting the cavity3with the environment. The lock cylinder4is inserted through the opening5and into the cavity3. SeeFIG.1.

A shackle7is attached to the padlock body2, in a second end6bof the padlock body2, opposite the first end6a. The shackle7is of ordinary type having one end7amovable attached to the padlock body2and another end7bto be cooperating with the lock cylinder4for locking the shackle7and the padlock body2to each other, representing a working position of the padlock1.

One common construction of a lock cylinder and a shackle is that a first construction, for example a plug, within the lock cylinder that, with a correct key construction, turns and allows a locking mechanism of the lock cylinder to retract from a second construction, for example notches cut into the shackle. This locking mechanism is not part of the invention and therefore not shown in any picture.

The method comprises covering the first end6aof the padlock body2by using a covering device8. SeeFIGS.1and2. The covering device8comprises a sealing device9and a locking device10. By placing the sealing device9against the first end6aof the padlock body2, placing the locking device10to cover the sealing device9, and bringing the locking device10into locking cooperation with the padlock body2, the covering device8is firmly and safely connected to the padlock1. The covering is made by pivoting the sealing device9in correlation to and towards the padlock body2and by pivoting the locking device10in correlation to the sealing device9and pushing the locking device10towards the sealing device9and towards the padlock body2.

The pivoting of the sealing device9is made possible by use of a first axis of rotation A being a part of, or connected to, the padlock body2. The first axis A is part of a connecting device B firmly attached to the padlock body2. In the construction of the padlock1and the covering device8, shown inFIG.2, the connecting device B is attached to the first side6aof padlock body2. The connecting device B comprises the first axle A and the sealing device9comprises a recess C receiving the first axis A in a way allowing the sealing device9to pivote, rotate, turn around the first axis A. SeeFIG.3.

The pivoting of the locking device10is made possible by use of a second axis of rotation D being a part of, or connected to, the sealing device9or the locking device10. The sealing device9comprises a recess E receiving the second axis of rotation D in a way allowing the locking device10to pivote, rotate, turn around the second axis D.

By pivoting the locking device10against the sealing device9and the padlock body2, a locking function is activated between first and second parts11aand11bbeing parts of the locking device10and the padlock body2. The first parts11aand the second parts11bare brought into cooperation with each other and get into cooperation by the pivoting of the locking device10when the sealing device9is in contact with the first side6aof the padlock body2. The first parts11aare parts of the locking device10and each first part11ahas a hook11a1that, when the locking part10is pivoted, will be hooked into the second parts11b, being part of the padlock body2, having a notch11b1designed for receiving the first part11a, the hook11a1. By pivoting the locking device10against the sealing device9it is also possible to activate a snap/grip function between cooperating parts12aand12bof the sealing device9and the locking device10.

A padlock body2according to the present invention comprises a cavity3and an opening5at first end6aof the padlock body2, through which opening a lock cylinder4is to be inserted when forming a working padlock1. Through the opening5the cavity3is in communication with the outside, the environment.

The padlock body2comprises a covering device8, attached to the padlock body2to cover the first end6aof the padlock body2comprising the opening5.

The covering device8comprises a sealing device9and a locking device10. The sealing device9is adapted to be placed and held against the first end6aof the padlock body2by the locking device10. The sealing device9is pivotally attached to the padlock body2and the locking device10is pivotally attached to the sealing device9.

Two cooperating first parts11aand11bof the locking device10and the padlock body2activates a locking function between the locking device10and the padlock body2.

The padlock body2comprises cooperating second parts12aand12bof the sealing device9and the locking device10activating a snap/grip function between the sealing device9and the locking device10holding and gripping the locking device10against the sealing device9.

The sealing device9comprises a support part13onto which a resilient material device14is attached and the support part13of the sealing device9is attached to the padlock body2. The resilient material device14is facing and pushed against the first end6aof the padlock body2by the locking device10. The resilient material device14comprises an elevated formation15extending around, along the sides of, the resilient material device14, and in the form of the opening5or more, wider. The elevated formation15is placed on the area16of the resilient material device14, aimed at the first end6aof the padlock body2. The sealing function is not dependent om the size of the opening5and not on the size of the lock cylinder4to be used. And any kind of lock cylinder4can be placed in the cavity3, one having for example an oval or round end form. The sealing function is at place as the elevated formation15is pushed and locked against the first end6aof the padlock body2. SeeFIG.4.

A padlock1according to the present invention comprises a padlock body2as described above and a shackle7, attached to the padlock body2and locked in working position by using the lock cylinder4.

A cover device8according to the present invention is to be attached to a padlock1or a padlock body2not yet mounted into a padlock construction. The cover device8will be mounted for covering a first end6aof a padlock body2. The first end6acomprises an opening5into a cavity3inside the padlock body2designed for receiving a lock cylinder4. The cover device8comprises a sealing device9and a locking device10. The sealing device9is adapted, placed and held, against the first end6aof the padlock body2, covering the opening5, by the help of the locking device10. The sealing device9is pivotally attached to the padlock body2and the locking device10is pivotally attached to the sealing device9. The pivotation makes it possible to pivote, rotate, swing, move the sealing device9and the locking device10to a position where the cover device8is covering the first end6aof the padlock body2and the opening5. The intention is to cover the full area of the first end6a. The cover device8is made to be usable on different kinds of padlocks/padlock bodies having different sizes on the opening5.

Such a cover device8can be directly connected to the padlock body2, by use of second parts11bon the padlock body2, first parts11aon the locking device10and the connecting device B, or by use of a superstructure attached to the padlock body2. A superstructure is then attached to the padlock body2and comprises parts to be placed on the padlock body2and/or the cover device8to represent and give the functions needed as earlier described.

This is a description of one embodiment of the invention. The invention shall not be limited by this description but understood by the claims. Modifications, equivalents, and improvements may be included without departing from the spirit or scope of the present inventive concept as defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.