Attack resistant inserts for padlocks, and combination operated padlocks with attack resistant inserts
AssigneeThe Eastern Company
InventorMichael O. Misner
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A combination operated padlock has indicia carrying dials that are turned to set a combination for unlocking a shackle of the padlock. Operating components of the padlock are carried by or within a housing-enclosed frame of the padlock. A strong, corrosion resistant insert, preferably formed from brass of uniform thickness, is configured to fit cleverly around and among the movable operating components to strengthen the padlock and to prevent operating component manipulation if an unauthorized unlocking of the padlock is attempted. In a preferred embodiment, the insert has two substantially identical question-mark-shaped tines configured to extend toward and between different adjacent pairs of the dials that are turned to set a combination.
Claims20
A combination operated padlock comprising a plurality of indicia-carrying dials that are turnable on a shaft to set a combination that unlocks a metal shackle from a metal housing of the padlock, with the padlock having a stamped metal frame protectively enclosed by the housing and supporting the shaft, having a blocking member movable within the frame to unlock the shackle in response to setting a correct combination by turning the dials, and having a one-piece stamped metal insert carried within the frame that defines two substantially question-mark-shaped tines, a portion of each of which projects toward and extends between a different pair of the plurality of dials.
A combination operated padlock comprising a metal housing, a generally U-shaped metal shackle lockable to and unlockable from the housing, with a metal frame of generally lidless-boxlike configuration shrouded by the housing, with movable operating components carried by the frame including four shaft-supported indicia carrying dials that can be turned to set a combination that will unlock the shackle from the housing, and with a one-piece stamped metal insert carried within the frame that is configured to extend closely along two adjacent, substantially perpendicularly extending walls of the frame, and having two substantially identical question-mark-shaped tines, a portion of each of which projects toward and extends between a different adjacent pair of the four dials.
A padlock having a one-piece metal frame housed by a case and having a shackle latched to the case until a blocking member of the padlock movable within a frame-defined space releases the shackle for movement relative to the case in response to a combination being set by turning four indicia carrying dials on a frame-carried shaft, and having a one-piece insert formed by folding an elongate piece of brass of uniform thickness installed in the frame-defined space, with the insert having two identical substantially question-mark-shaped tines a portion of each of which extends between different adjacent pairs of the dials.
A one-piece insert configured to fit into a space defined by a housing-shrouded box-like frame of a padlock that is unlocked by turning four shaft-carried dials to set a combination, wherein the insert is formed from brass of substantially uniform thickness and configured to extend closely about, without engaging, operating components of the padlock that are movable within the frame, with the configuration of the insert including two substantially identical question-mark-shaped tines, a portion of each of which is extensible toward and between different adjacent pairs of the four dials.
A one-piece attack resistant insert positionable within a housing-shrouded box-like frame-defined space of a combination operated padlock having four indicia-bearing dials that are turnable on a frame-supported shaft to set a combination that will unlock a shackle from the housing of the padlock, with the insert being formed from brass of substantially uniform thickness, having two substantially flat, substantially perpendicularly extending walls of the substantially uniform thickness configured to extend closely along two substantially perpendicularly extending walls of the frame, and having two substantially question-mark-shaped tines, portions of each of which are configured to extend toward and between different adjacent pairs of the four dials.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.