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Padlock

 Christopher Rohde et al
A padlock includes a lock body, a shackle, and a sleeve. The lock body includes opposed front and rear longitudinally extending side walls terminating at first and second end portions. The shackle extends from the first end portion of the lock body. The sleeve covers at least a portion of each of...
Inventors: Christopher Rohde, John Blomstrom, John Weber, Robert Rice
Assignee: Master Lock Company LLC
Primary Examiner: Suzanne D Barrett
Attorneys: Calfee, Halter & Griswold LLP

U.S. Classification
70/52; 70/55; 70/56; 70/38/B

View patent at USPTO

Citations

Patent NumberTitleIssue date
1016455(unknown)Feb 1912
3548486(unknown)Dec 1970
3835676(unknown)Sep 1974
3848440(unknown)Nov 1974
3983725Padlock caseOct 5, 1976
4224813Padlock cover and shackle seal thereforSep 30, 1980
4317344Protective two-piece cover boots for padlocksMar 2, 1982
4793644Security seal with dyeDec 27, 1988
6705134Padlock assemblyMar 16, 2004

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A padlock comprising:

a lock body comprising opposed front and rear longitudinally extending side walls terminating at first and second end portions;

a shackle extending from the first end portion of the lock body; and

a sleeve covering at least a portion of each of the longitudinally extending side walls, wherein an internal surface of the sleeve comprises at least one longitudinally extending rib contacting a planar surface of at least one of the front and rear longitudinally extending side walls to define gaps between the sleeve and the lock body on each side of the at least one rib.

2. The padlock of claim 1, wherein the front and rear side walls comprise substantially flat parallel surfaces, and at least a portion of the sleeve covering at least one of the front and rear side walls comprises outer surfaces disposed at an angle with respect to the covered portion of the at least one of the flat front and rear side wall surfaces.

3. The padlock of claim 1, further comprising at least one fastener assembled with the lock body such that a side portion of the at least one fastener is exposed on one of the front and rear side wall surfaces, wherein the at least one longitudinally extending rib engages the exposed portion of the at least one fastener to support the at least one fastener.

4. The padlock of claim 3, wherein the lock body comprises a plurality of stacked plates, and the at least one fastener is assembled through the plurality of stacked plates.

5. The padlock of claim 4, wherein at least one of the plurality of stacked plates comprises at least one nib for interlocking with a recess in an adjacent plate.

6. The padlock of claim 1, wherein the gap between the sleeve and the lock body contains a sealant.

7. The padlock of claim 1, wherein the gap between the sleeve and the lock body contains a tamper indication fluid.

8. The padlock of claim 1, further comprising an end cap assembled over one of the first and second end portions of the lock body.

9. The padlock of claim 8, wherein one of the end cap and the sleeve overlaps a portion of the other of the end cap and the sleeve.

10. The padlock of claim 9, further comprising a bumper positioned to cover an overlapping edge of the one of the end cap and the sleeve.

11. The padlock of claim 8, wherein the end cap is integral with the sleeve.

12. The padlock of claim 8, wherein the end cap is riveted to the lock body.

13. A padlock comprising:

a lock body comprising opposed front and rear longitudinally extending side walls terminating at first and second end portions;

a shackle extending from the first end portion of the lock body; and

at least one longitudinally extending fastener assembled with the lock body such that a side portion of a stem portion of the at least one fastener is exposed along one of the front and rear side wall surfaces.

14. The padlock of claim 13, further comprising a sleeve covering at least a portion of each of the longitudinally extending side walls, wherein an internal surface of the sleeve engages the exposed portion of the at least one fastener to support the at least one fastener.

15. The padlock of claim 14, wherein the internal surface of the sleeve comprises at least one protrusion for supporting the at least one fastener.

16. The padlock of claim 15, wherein the at least one protrusion comprises a longitudinally extending rib aligned with the at least one fastener.

17. The padlock of claim 13, wherein the at least one fastener is retained in a longitudinally extending aperture along the one of the front and rear side wall surfaces.

18. The padlock of claim 17, wherein the aperture surrounds more than 180° of a circumference of the at least one fastener.

19. The padlock of claim 17, wherein the longitudinally extending aperture defines an opening in the one of the front and rear side wall surfaces, the opening having a width less than a diameter of the at least one fastener.

20. The padlock of claim 13, wherein the at least one fastener comprises a rivet having a head portion with a flat end surface surrounded by a chamfered edge.

21. A padlock comprising:

a lock body comprising a stack of plates defining opposed front and rear longitudinally extending side walls terminating at first and second end portions;

at least one longitudinally extending fastener assembled with the stack of plates of the lock body;

a shackle extending from the first end portion of the lock body;

a sleeve covering at least a portion of each of the longitudinally extending side walls;
a first end cap portion assembled over the first end portion of the lock body; and
a second end cap portion assembled over the second end portion of the lock body;
wherein at least one of the first and second end cap portions is secured to the lock body by the at least one fastener.

22. The padlock of claim 21, wherein at least one of the first and second end cap portions is integral with the sleeve.

Drawings