Resettable combination lock mechanism

A resettable combination lock mechanism, comprising:

• a shaft;
• a plurality of inner lock dials disposed on the shaft;
• a plurality of outer lock dials disposed radially outward of the inner lock dials, wherein the outer lock dials and inner lock dials are configured to engage and lock to each other rotationally when in a first relative axial position;
• and wherein the outer lock dials and inner lock dials are configured to disengage and unlock from each other and permit relative rotation therebetween when in a second relative axial position;
• and
• a visual indicator, wherein the resettable combination lock mechanism is configured to perform one of exposing and hiding at least a part of the visual indicator to or from the view of an observer viewing the resettable combination lock mechanism when the outer lock dials and inner lock dials are in the second relative axial position;
• and wherein the resettable combination lock mechanism is configured to perform the other of exposing and hiding the visual indicator to or from the view of the observer viewing the resettable combination lock mechanism when the outer lock dials and inner lock dials are in the first relative axial position;
• a first component disposed about the shaft;
• wherein the first component is configured to be axially restrained on the shaft;
• and wherein the first component is configured to rotate about the shaft;
• and
• a second component disposed about the shaft;
• wherein the second component is configured to be rotationally restrained about the shaft;
• and wherein the second component is configured for axial displacement along the shaft,
• wherein the first component is configured, upon a rotational displacement of the first component, to generate and/or enable a relative axial displacement as between the outer lock dials and the inner lock dials.

A resettable combination lock mechanism, comprising:

• a male locking post;
• a female locking post configured to receive the male locking post;
• a plurality of inner lock dials received onto the female locking post;
• a plurality of outer lock dials, wherein the outer lock dials and the inner lock dials are configured to rotationally engage and lock to each other when displaced in a first axial direction relative to each other;
• and wherein the outer lock dials and inner lock dials are configured to disengage and unlock from each other and permit relative rotation therebetween when displaced in a second axial direction relative to each other opposite to the first axial direction;
• a reset knob disposed about the female locking post and configured to be rotated by hand;
• wherein the reset knob is configured to be axially restrained on the female locking post;
• and
• a visual indicator,
• wherein the resettable combination lock mechanism is configured to one of hide and expose at least a part of the visual indicator from or to the view of an observer viewing the resettable combination lock mechanism when the outer lock dials or inner lock dials are moved axially toward axial alignment with each other and engagement with each other;
• and
• wherein the resettable combination lock mechanism is configured to the other of hide and expose the visual indicator relative from or to the view of the observer when the outer lock dials or inner lock dials are moved axially away from axial alignment and toward disengagement with each other;
• and
• wherein hiding and exposing the at least a part of the visual indicator directly results from axial displacement of at least one of the inner lock dials and the outer lock dials in the first and second axial directions.

A resettable combination lock mechanism, comprising:

• a male locking post;
• a female locking post configured to receive the male locking post;
• a plurality of inner lock dials received onto the female locking post;
• a plurality of outer lock dials, wherein the outer lock dials and the inner lock dials are configured to rotationally engage and lock to each other when displaced in a first axial direction relative to each other;
• and wherein the outer lock dials and inner lock dials are configured to disengage and unlock from each other and permit relative rotation therebetween when displaced in a second axial direction relative to each other opposite to the first axial direction;
• a reset knob disposed about the female locking post and configured to be rotated by hand;
• wherein the reset knob is configured to be axially restrained on the female locking post;
• and
• a visual indicator,
• wherein the resettable combination lock mechanism is configured to one of hide and expose at least a part of the visual indicator from or to the view of an observer viewing the resettable combination lock mechanism when the outer lock dials or inner lock dials are moved axially toward axial alignment with each other and engagement with each other;
• and wherein the resettable combination lock mechanism is configured to the other of hide and expose the visual indicator relative from or to the view of the observer when the outer lock dials or inner lock dials are moved axially away from axial alignment and toward disengagement with each other;
• and
• a knob spacer disposed about the female locking post between the inner lock dials and the reset knob;
• wherein the knob spacer has a window therein;
• and wherein the visual indicator is configured to be viewed through the window in the knob spacer to expose the at least the part of the visual indicator to the view of the observer.

A lock assembly comprising:

• a female locking post having a first end and a second end;
• a plurality of inner lock dials disposed about the female locking post between the first end and the second end;
• a plurality of outer lock dials disposed about the inner lock dials between the first end and the second end;
• a reset knob rotationally secured to the female locking post at the first end, wherein the reset knob has a first rotational position and a second rotational position;
• a lock body disposed at the second end;
• a visual indicator;
• and
• a spring biased between the lock body and the inner lock dials;
• wherein when the reset knob is in the second rotational position, the lock assembly is in a reset mode and the visual indicator is in a visible state;
• and
• wherein when the reset knob is in the first rotational position, the lock assembly is in a normal-use mode and the visual indicator is in a non-visible state;
• and
• wherein the visible and non-visible states of the visual indicator directly result from axial displacement of at least one of the inner lock dials and the outer lock dials.