Combination lock with dual locking means

A combination lock constructed for providing two separate and independent locking means, said combination lock comprising:

• A. a housing incorporating
• a. an elongated bore,
• b. a plurality of dial receiving zones formed in the housing, each of said receiving zones
• 1. extending substantially perpendicularly to the axis of the central bore, and
• 2. defined by two juxtaposed, spaced, parallel facing surfaces, each of said surfaces extending perpendicularly to the central axis of the central bore;
• and
• c. an elongated release channel formed in the elongated bore and axially extending therewith, said elongated release channel defining a zone for enabling the opening of the combination lock;
• B. first locking means in the form of a shackle comprising a generally J-shape, incorporating
• a. a short leg having a terminating end constructed for cooperative locking and unlocking interengagement with the housing, and
• b. a long leg cooperatively mounted in the elongated central bore of the housing for axial movement and pivoting movement relative thereto;
• C. a plurality of tumbler sleeves, each of said tumbler sleeves
• a. rotationally mounted to the long leg of the shackle for rotational movement about the central axis thereof, and
• b. incorporating a radially extending fin formed on the outside surface thereof and constructed for cooperative association with the elongated release channel and the parallel, facing surfaces of the dial-receiving zone for preventing axial movement of the long leg of the shackle as well as enabling axial movement thereof when each of said radial fins are positioned in the elongated release channel;
• D. a plurality of dials each of said dials
• a. mounted in a dial receiving zone of the housing,
• b. peripherally surrounding a tumbler sleeve for cooperating therewith, and
• c. comprising an inside surface formed by the tumbler locking surface and a tumbler release surface;
• and
• E. second locking means in the form of a flexible cable assembly comprising
• a. an elongated, substantially continuous cable member having a first end and a second end,
• b. said first end being securely mountable to the housing, and
• c. said second end being removably lockable to the housing in cooperating relationship with the long leg of the shackle and the axial movement of the shackle relative to the housing,
• whereby a combination lock is attained having two separate and independent locking means with each being securable to the housing whenever desired by the user.

A combination lock constructed for providing two separate and independent locking means, said combination lock comprising:

• A. a housing incorporating
• a. an elongated bore,
• b. a plurality of dial receiving zones formed in the housing, and
• c. an elongated release channel formed in the elongated bore and axially extending therewith, said elongated release channel defining a zone for enabling the opening of the combination lock;
• B. first locking means in the form of a shackle comprising a generally J-shape, incorporating
• a. a short leg having a terminating end constructed for cooperative locking and unlocking interengagement with the housing, and
• b. a long leg cooperatively mounted in the elongated central bore of the housing for axial movement and pivoting movement relative thereto;
• C. a plurality of tumbler sleeves, each of said tumbler sleeves
• a. rotationally mounted to the long leg of the shackle for rotational movement about the central axis thereof, and
• b. incorporating a radially extending fin formed on the outside surface thereof and constructed for cooperative association with the elongated release channel for preventing axial movement of the long leg of the shackle as well as enabling axial movement thereof when each of said radial fins are positioned in the elongated release channel;
• and
• D. a plurality of dials each of said dials
• a. mounted in a dial receiving zone of the housing,
• b. peripherally surrounding a tumbler sleeve for cooperating therewith, and
• c. comprising a generally cylindrical shape having a plurality of enlarged indicia bearing panels on an outer surface thereof and an enlarged indicia formed in each of said panels, each of said enlarged indicia and enlarged panels comprising an overall dimension ranging between about 15% and 50% greater than the dimension of conventional indicia and indicia bearing panels;
• E. second locking means in the form of a flexible cable assembly comprising
• a. an elongated, substantially continuous cable member having a first end and a second end,
• b. said first end being securely mountable to the housing, and
• c. said second end being removably lockable to the housing in cooperating relationship with the long leg of the shackle and the axial movement of the shackled relative to the housing, whereby a combination lock is attained having two separate and independent locking means with each being securable to the housing whenever desired by the user.