Padlock with integrated keyway

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11346133-B2
Application number	US-201916269228-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 6, 2019
Priority date	Feb 6, 2019
Publication date	May 31, 2022
Grant date	May 31, 2022

Abstract

A padlock is configured to be locked and unlocked by a key and includes a lock body having an internal cavity with a locking mechanism and a keyway extending through the lock body into the internal cavity to provide access to the locking mechanism by the key. The locking mechanism is configured to be selectively moved over a range of positions when the key is received therein to lock and unlock the padlock. The keyway has an eccentric profile that permits the key to be removed from the locking mechanism in only a single position of the range of positions.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A padlock configured to be locked and unlocked by a key, the padlock comprising:
a lock body having an internal cavity with an locking mechanism configured to be selectively moved over a range of positions when the key is received therein to lock and unlock the padlock; and
a keyway extending through the lock body into the internal cavity to provide access to the locking mechanism by the key, the keyway having an eccentric profile that permits the key to be removed from the locking mechanism in only a single position of the range of positions and wherein, when the key is fully inserted into the locking mechanism, an opening forming the eccentric profile of the keyway of the lock body provides both a rotational stop and an axial stop for engagement with the key.

2. The padlock of claim 1 , wherein the eccentric profile of the keyway is configured to retain the key in the lock body in all but one rotational position of the key.

3. The padlock of claim 1 , wherein the single position of the range of positions in which the key is permitted to be removed is a locked position of the locking mechanism.

4. The padlock of claim 1 , wherein the locking mechanism includes a keyhole through which the key is received and the keyway includes a slot positioned in axial alignment with the keyhole as well as an asymmetric notch extending from one side of the slot, the slot and the asymmetric notch collectively defining the eccentric profile.

5. The padlock of claim 4 , wherein the key is configured to be inserted through the slot and the asymmetric notch allows the key to be rotated in one direction after the key is received through the slot.

6. The padlock of claim 5 , wherein the asymmetric notch includes a stop edge configured to limit the range of rotation of the key in the lock body.

7. The padlock of claim 1 , wherein the rotational stop defines one of the rotational limits of the key.

8. The padlock of claim 7 , wherein the rotational stop corresponds to an unlocked position of the locking mechanism.

9. The padlock of claim 1 , wherein the lock body provides the axial stop in the form of an inside axial wall of the keyway that prevents the key from being withdrawn in all but the single position.

10. The padlock of claim 9 , wherein the padlock is a linear lock in which the key is configured to engage with tumbles of the padlock which are parallel with a direction of key insertion and which provide an ejection force opposite to the direction of key insertion and further wherein the axial stop is configured to prevent the key from being ejected out of the keyway by a biasing force applied to the tumblers.

11. The padlock of claim 1 , wherein the eccentric profile extends a portion of the way through the lock body.

12. The padlock of claim 1 , wherein the internal cavity extends away from the keyway along a central axis and wherein the eccentric profile is asymmetrically formed relative to the central axis.

13. The padlock of claim 1 , wherein the eccentric profile of the keyway is smaller than a profile of the internal cavity.

14. The padlock of claim 1 , wherein the lock body is formed by a plurality of components, and wherein one of the plurality of components comprises the keyway.

15. The padlock of claim 1 , wherein the eccentric profile of the keyway is defined by a keyway slot and an asymmetric notch extending from one side of the keyway slot in which the asymmetric notch of the keyway defines a swept edge extending in a continuous curve from a first end on the edge of the keyway slot to a key-stop edge that serves as the rotational stop.

Assignees

• Brady Worldwide Inc

Inventors

• Melkovitz Jack C
• Grimmer Larry R

Classifications

• E05B27/0003

  Details · CPC title

• E05B19/0052

  Rectangular flat keys · CPC title

• E05B63/003

  with key ejection means · CPC title

• E05B27/086

  of the bar-tumbler type, the bars having slots or protrusions in alignment upon opening the lock · CPC title

• E05B67/02

  Cases · CPC title