US 4,317,344 AGranted

Protective two-piece cover boots for padlocks

OwnerRobert L. Barnardinventor

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Abstract

A pair of anti-dust and anti-moisture protective cover boots fabricated of a resilient and pliable soft molded material such as polyurethane plastic, or the like, to respectively fit snugly over the shackle bight, shackle legs and adjacent top end of a padlock case, and also to fit over the cylinder/key end or lower end of the case. The top cover boot for the shackle end is provided with spaced holes to snugly accommodate the legs of the shackle, and has a self-closing slit interconnecting the spaced holes to permit the boot to be yieldingly slipped snugly over the shackle and onto the adjacent end of the case. The other generally similar bottom boot has a shorter, angularly disposed self-closing slit provided generally centrally in its end wall to provide key access. The plane of the slit is disposed obliquely relative to the inner and outer surfaces of the end wall to reduce likelihood of entry of moisture and dust. The boot material is sufficiently resilient to permit both key turning therein and to be self-closing after removal of the key.

Claims13

Dependent claims

Protective cover means for key-actuated, shackle type padlock casings wherein the padlock includes a bighted shackle having shackle legs operable at a top end, and having a key-operated locking mechanism housed within a casing, and an exposed key entrance in a lower end of a padlock casing, said cover means comprising

top and bottom resilient cover boots adapted respectively to pass over and fit snugly around the shackle legs and over respective top and bottom end portions of a padlock case;
the top and bottom cover boots each comprising a pliable planar end panel having a shape corresponding to that of the respective top and bottom ends of the padlock casing, and each panel having an integrally formed marginal flange projecting generally perpendicular from said panel for snugly embracing the related end portion of said padlock casing;
and
said top cover boot's end panel having a pair of apertures of a size slightly smaller than the cross-sectional shape and area of the shackle legs, said apertures being spaced apart a distance corresponding to that between the shackle legs, and said end panel further having a self-closing slit interconnecting said spaced-apart apertures to facilitate application of the pliable boot over the shackle and onto the top end of said padlock casing.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.