EP4317634A1 - Padlock with replaceable striker - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a padlock with a lock body, a U-shaped lock shackle with a circular cross section, which is held on the lock body so that it can be moved between a closed position and an open position and has a first shackle leg and a second shackle leg which is longer than the first shackle leg, and a locking device in the lock body for locking the lock bracket in its closed position on the lock body. The locking device comprises at least one locking element and is adjustable between a locking position in which the locking element engages in an engagement recess in the closed position of the lock bracket, which is formed in a flank of the second bracket leg facing the first bracket leg, and an unlocking position in which the locking element is is located outside the intervention recess. A circumferential groove is formed in the second bracket leg, which is located closer to the free end of the second bracket leg than the engagement recess and into which the locking element engages in the open position of the lock bracket. The second shackle leg has a passage which extends between the free end of the second shackle leg and the circumferential groove and which has a surface that is set back from the circular cross section of the lock shackle. The second bracket leg accommodates a blocking element between its free end and the circumferential groove, which projects beyond the recessed surface of the passage in order to prevent the locking element from passing through the passage starting from the circumferential groove in the open position of the lock bracket.

Description

The present invention relates to a padlock whose lock shackle can be replaced by another lock shackle if necessary, for example by a shorter or a longer lock shackle or by a lock shackle made of a different material.

With conventional padlocks, replacing the lock shackle is relatively difficult because, among other things, the lock cylinder has to be removed. A padlock can comprise a lock body and a U-shaped lock bracket which is held thereon and can be moved between a closed position and an open position. The lock shackle has a generally circular cross section - apart from depressions and flats - and has two shackle legs of different lengths. The padlock can have a locking device in the lock body, by means of which the lock bracket can be locked in its closed position on the lock body. The locking device comprises, for example, two locking elements in the form of two blocking balls and can be adjusted, for example by means of a locking cylinder, between a locking position in which the locking elements in the closed position of the lock bracket engage in respective engagement recesses which are formed in the two bracket legs, and an unlocking position which the locking elements are located outside the respective engagement recess. In the open position of the lock shackle, the locking element assigned to the second shackle leg can engage in a circumferential groove of the second shackle leg in order to secure the lock shackle to the lock body, However, the lock shackle can be freely rotated about the longitudinal axis of the longer shackle leg.

As an alternative to a purely mechanical locking cylinder, the locking device can also have an electromechanical actuator (for example electric motor or electromagnet).

In order to be able to remove the lock shackle from a conventional padlock, it may be necessary for certain lock types to first remove the locking cylinder or the electromechanical actuator and then the locking device including its locking elements. After another lock bracket has been inserted, it is then first necessary to reinstall the locking device including its locking elements before the locking cylinder or the electromechanical actuator is then inserted and the lock body of the padlock can be closed again, if necessary, using a cover on the bottom. This procedure is not only complex but also relatively difficult for untrained people to carry out.

The invention is therefore based on the object of further developing a padlock of the type described above in such a way that the lock bracket can be carried out more easily and, in particular, by untrained people.

This object is achieved with a padlock with the features of claim 1 and in particular in that the second or the longer bracket leg has a passage which extends between the free end of the second bracket leg and the circumferential channel and a cross-section opposite the generally circular cross section of the lock shackle has a recessed surface, with the second shackle leg between its free end and the circumferential one Gutter accommodates a blocking element that protrudes beyond the recessed surface of the passage in order to prevent the locking element from passing through the passage starting from the circumferential channel in the open position of the lock bracket.

So if the lock shackle is in its open position, in which the locking element engages in the groove which is formed all around in the second shackle leg near the free end thereof, the shackle leg cannot be unintentionally removed from this open position or even fall out of the lock body , since the passage is blocked by the blocking element, which can be, for example, a screw, in particular a screw with a defined screw head or also a grub screw, which is screwed into a hole formed in the second bracket leg it can in particular be a blind hole. If, on the other hand, it is desired to specifically replace the lock bracket with another lock bracket, the blocking element can be removed from the passage for this purpose. The passage is therefore no longer blocked by the blocking element, so that the locking element can pass through the passage.

Since the passage extends between the free end of the second bracket leg and the circumferential groove, the free end of the second lock bracket can be guided past the locking element without essential components of the lock such as the locking unit and in the manner described above the lock cylinder must be removed. Replacing the lock bracket is therefore very easy and can be carried out, especially by untrained people.

Further embodiments of the padlock according to the invention will now be discussed below, with further embodiments also being discussed the dependent claims, the description of the figures and the figures themselves.

According to one embodiment, it can be provided that a through opening is formed in the lock body, in particular in a narrow side of the lock body, through which the blocking element is accessible from outside the lock body. In order to gain access to the blocking element, no components or groups of the padlock need to be dismantled, which makes replacing the lock shackle particularly easy.

So that the padlock cannot be manipulated by an unauthorized group of people, according to a further embodiment, the through opening can be formed in the lock body at a location that is located so that the blocking element is not aligned with the through opening in the closed position of the lock bracket, ie not aligned with the through opening. In particular, the through opening in the lock body can be formed at a location that is located such that the blocking element is aligned with the through opening when the lock bracket transitions from its closed position to its open position before the lock bracket reaches the open position. In order to gain access to the blocking element through the passage opening, the padlock must be opened or the lock bracket must be moved towards its open position, which is only possible for authorized persons since the key of the locking cylinder is required for this. However, even when the lock bracket is open, the padlock and in particular the blocking element cannot be easily manipulated, since in the open position the passage opening is not aligned with the blocking element. In order to gain access to the blocking element through the through opening, the lock bracket must first be moved from its open position just a little in the direction of its closed position, so that the through opening aligned with the blocking element. This requires precise knowledge of how the padlock works, so that it is not easily possible to manipulate the padlock in its open position. However, in other embodiments, the through opening may be formed in the lock body at a location that is located such that the blocking element is aligned with the through opening in the open position of the lock shackle.

According to a further embodiment, it can be provided that the passage is designed as a flat area on the lock bracket. The flattening in question is therefore a surface set back from the generally circular cross section of the lock shackle, which allows the locking element to pass starting from the circumferential channel.

Alternatively, the passage can be designed as a channel, in particular a concavely curved channel, in the lock shackle, which enables the locking element to emerge from the circumferential channel on the second shackle leg and pass through the passage to the free end of the second lock shackle. The design of the passage as a concave groove proves to be advantageous in that the lock bracket is guided through the concave shape of the groove when it is pulled out of the lock body. The lock shackle cannot therefore tilt, which would otherwise make it more difficult to dismantle the lock shackle from the lock body.

According to a further embodiment, it can be provided that the passage is formed on a flank of the second bracket leg facing away from the first bracket leg. After the blocking element has been removed through the through opening formed in the lock body, the lock bracket must first be rotated through 180° to allow the passage with the locking element align so that it can then pass through the passage to the free end of the second bracket leg.

Because the passage is provided on the flank of the second bracket leg facing away from the first bracket leg, a defined rotational position of the lock bracket is specified in which it can be removed. The corresponding rotational position of the lock shackle does not have to be laboriously felt; Rather, once the blocking element has been removed, it is only necessary to rotate the lock bracket by 180° in order to be able to remove it from the lock body. Likewise, the location of the passage on the flank of the second bracket leg facing away from the first bracket leg increases the security against manipulation of the padlock, since in order to remove the lock bracket it is necessary to have precise knowledge of the rotational position of the lock bracket, which requires it to be removed from the lock body allows.

The location of the passage on the flank of the second bracket leg facing away from the first bracket leg also proves to be advantageous because this can ensure that after the blocking element has been removed, the lock bracket cannot be easily pulled out of the lock body or even falls out of the lock body , as could be the case if the passage were provided on the flank of the second bracket leg facing the first bracket leg. In this case, the locking element could easily pass through the passage when the lock shackle is in the open position. In order to prevent this, the passage is preferably provided on the flank of the second bow leg facing away from the first bow leg, since in this case the bow leg must first be rotated by 180° in order to be able to remove it from the lock body.

Since dismantling the lock shackle in the manner described above is only possible for authorized persons, if necessary, the padlock can be further dismantled after the lock shackle has been dismantled. The interior of the lock body can thus be closed by a cover provided on the underside of the lock body, which is fastened to the lock body by means of a screw which has a screw head located in the interior of the lock body and which is in an axial continuation of the second bracket leg at its free end located. In particular, it can be provided that a quiver is formed on the lid on its side facing the interior, into which the screw is screwed. In order to be able to remove the cover, the lock bracket must first be removed in the manner described above in order to gain access to the screw head of the screw in question. After the screw has been removed, the cover can be removed and the padlock can then be further disassembled, for example by removing the locking cylinder and the locking device.

In order to be able to secure the cover particularly reliably to the lock body, according to a further embodiment, the cover can have a recess in its interior in the axial continuation of the first bracket leg, which positively accommodates a section of the cover, such as a nose protruding from the cover. An undercut is thus formed which prevents the cover from unintentionally coming loose and falling down after the screw securing the cover to the lock body has been loosened.

In order to be able to make the best possible use of the installation space available within the lock body, a lock cylinder provided for actuating the locking device can be arranged off-center and obliquely within the lock body. In particular, it can be provided that the Lock cylinder has a main extension plane which is tilted relative to a plane defined by the two bracket legs, the lock cylinder being arranged off-center with respect to an axis defined centrally between the two lock brackets.

Fig. 1

eine perspektivische Darstellung eines erfindungsgemäßen Hangschlosses zeigt; und

Fig. 2

eine teilweise aufgelöste perspektivische Darstellung des Hangschlosses der Fig. 1 mit entferntem Schlosskörper zeigt.

The invention will now be explained purely by way of example with reference to the figures, in which:

Fig. 1

shows a perspective view of a padlock according to the invention; and

Fig. 2

a partially exploded perspective view of the padlock Fig. 1 with the lock body removed.

Again Fig. 1 can be removed, the padlock 10 according to the invention has a lock body 14 and a U-shaped lock bracket 12 with a generally circular cross section, which can be moved in a conventional manner on the lock body 14 between a closed position and an open position, whereby it can be rotated in the open position with respect to the padlock 10. The lock body 14 and the lock bracket 12 can be made of a metallic material; Alternatively, however, it can also be provided that the lock bracket 12 and/or the lock body 14 are made of a plastic material.

The lock bracket 12 has a first bracket leg 16 and a second bracket leg 18, which is longer than the first bracket leg 16. In the in the Fig. 1 In the closed position of the lock bracket 12 shown, the first bracket leg 16 is received by a first receiving channel (not visible) formed in the lock body 14 and in a corresponding manner the second bracket leg 18 is received by a second receiving channel formed in the lock body 14.

Around the lock bracket 12 in the Fig. 2 In order to be able to secure the closed position shown on the lock body 14, a locking device 32 is provided inside the lock body 14, which includes a rotary bolt 34 and two locking elements in the form of two blocking balls 36. The rotary latch 34 is rotatably mounted in the lock body 14 between the two receiving channels, namely about an axis of rotation that is aligned parallel to the longitudinal extent of the two receiving channels.

The rotating latch 34 is a substantially cylindrical body, in the circumferential surface of which, however, two diametrically opposed release sections 38 are formed in the form of two concave recesses, of which in the Fig. 2 Due to the currently shown rotational position of the rotary latch 34, only one can be seen. The recess-free peripheral sections of the rotary lock 34, which are formed between the two release sections 38, however, form locking sections 40 of the rotary lock 34, the function of which will be discussed in more detail below.

The release sections 38, which are set back radially relative to the locking sections 40, serve to accommodate the two blocking balls 36 in the release position of the rotary bolt 34 (not shown), in which the lock bracket 12 can be freely moved back and forth between its closed position and its open position. If, on the other hand, the rotating latch 34 is rotated about its axis of rotation, the blocking balls 36 are pushed radially outwards along the concave surfaces of the release sections 38 until they are radially aligned with the locking sections 40, as shown in FIG Fig. 2 is shown. In this locking position of the rotary latch 34, the two blocking balls 36 engage in respective engagement recesses 42, which are on the inside of the first and second second bracket legs 16, 18 are formed, whereby the lock bracket 12 is firmly locked to the lock body 14, see the Fig. 2 .

Depending on the rotational position of the rotary bolt 34, the two blocking balls 36 are pushed or released radially outwards into the engagement recesses 42 of the two bracket legs 16, 18, so that they can move radially inwards to release the lock bracket 12. In some embodiments, the rotating latch 34 can be biased towards its locking position by means of a torsion spring so that it automatically returns to its locking position from its release position. However, in the embodiment shown, such a torsion spring is not provided, since the key of the lock cylinder 20 should only be able to be removed in the locking position of the rotary bolt 34.

In the embodiment shown here, the rotary latch 34 is actuated via a locking cylinder 20 using an associated key, for which purpose the cylinder core of the locking cylinder 20 is positively connected to the rotary latch 34.

Alternatively, the rotary latch 34 can also be driven by means of an electromechanical actuator, for example an electric motor, for which purpose the drive shaft of the electric motor can be coupled to the rotary latch 34 in a driving manner (for example directly or via a gear). In contrast to the purely mechanical design of the padlock shown here, it can also have an electromechanical locking mechanism.

Like the representation of the Fig. 2 can also be removed, a circumferential groove 24 is formed near the free end 22 of the second bracket leg 18, which can also be referred to as an annular groove. The surrounding gutter 24 is located closer to the free end 22 of the second bracket leg 18 than the engagement recess 42, which is formed on the second bracket leg 18 and into which the blocking ball 36 assigned to the second bracket leg 18 is in the Fig. 2 shown closed position of the lock bracket 12 engages.

Even if this is the representation of the Fig. 2 cannot be removed, the engagement recess 42 on the edge of the second bracket leg 18 facing the first bracket leg passes over an axially extending flattening 26 in a manner known per se, which is set back from the circular cross section of the lock bracket by an amount that is less than that Depth of the engagement recess 42. At the end opposite the engagement recess 42 in the axial direction, the flattening 26 merges into the circumferential groove 24, the depth of which essentially corresponds to the extent by which the flattening 26 is set back relative to the circular cross section of the lock bracket 12.

This circumferential channel 24 is adjoined in the axial direction by a substantially cylindrical end section 28 of the second bracket leg 18, which prevents the lock bracket 12 from being unintentionally removed from the lock body 14. If the lock bracket 12 is based on the one in the Fig. 2 shown closed position is transferred to its open position, for which the rotating latch 34 must first be rotated so that the blocking balls 36 can enter its release sections 38, the blocking ball 36 assigned to the second bracket leg 18 can pass through the flattening 26 and reach the circumferential groove 24, in which it is caught by the end section 28.

In order to be able to remove the lock bracket 12 from the lock body 14 if necessary, in the essentially cylindrical end section 28 of the second bracket leg 18 between the free end 22 of the second bracket leg 18 and the circumferential groove 24 on or in the one facing away from the first bracket leg 16 Flank of the second bracket leg 18 a passage 30 is formed, which has a surface 44 set back from the circular cross section of the lock bracket 12. In the embodiment shown here, the passage 30 is designed as a concave groove. Alternatively, the passage 30 can also be a simple flattening of the lock bracket 12, which defines a substantially flat surface that is set back from the circular cross section of the lock bracket 12. The passage 30 runs in the axial direction, i.e. along the longitudinal axis of the second bracket leg 18.

Again Fig. 2 can also be removed, in the passage 30 there is an optionally releasable blocking element 46 in the form of a screw, which can be, for example, a screw with a defined screw head or also a grub screw which is inserted into one in the second bracket leg 18 trained blind hole is screwed in and protrudes with its screw head over the recessed surface of the passage 30. In other words, in the embodiment shown here, the screw head is located in the passage 30 designed as a concave groove. The passage 30 is thus blocked by the blocking element 46 in the form of the screw in question, so that the blocking ball 36 assigned to the second bracket leg 18 starts out the circumferential channel 24 cannot pass through the passage 30 after the lock bracket 12 starts from the in the Fig. 2 shown rotation position has been rotated by 180°. The blocking element 46 can in particular be aligned radially to the longitudinal axis of the second bracket leg 18.

If, on the other hand, it is desired to remove the lock bracket 12 in order to replace it, for example, with another lock bracket, the blocking element 46 can be removed through a through opening 48 formed in the narrow side 50 of the lock body 12, for example with the help of a screwdriver or an Allen key , who deals with the Screw head of the blocking element 46 designed as a grub screw can be brought into engagement. If the blocking element 46 is released in this way and removed through the through opening 48 of the lock body 14, the blocking ball 36 assigned to the second bracket leg 18 can pass through the passage 30, for which purpose the lock bracket 12 is opposite that in the Fig. 2 The rotation position shown must be rotated by 180 °, since the passage 30 is located on the edge of the second bracket leg 18 facing away from the first bracket leg 16. Since the blocking ball 36 assigned to the second bracket leg 18 can therefore pass through the passage 30 after the lock bracket 12 has been rotated 180 °, the lock bracket 12 can be removed from the lock body 14 in the desired manner if necessary.

The through opening 48 is formed in the lock body 14 at a location that is localized so that the blocking element 46 moves from its position during a transition of the lock bracket 12 Fig. 2 shown closed position in its open position, in which the blocking ball 36 assigned to the second bracket leg 18 is located in the circumferential groove 24, is aligned with the through opening 48 before the lock bracket 12 reaches the open position. So if the lock bracket 12 starts from the one in the Fig. 2 shown closed position is transferred towards its open position, the blocking element 46 first passes through the through opening 48 before the blocking ball 36 assigned to the second bracket leg 18 reaches the circumferential groove 24 in the open position of the lock bracket 12.

Again Fig. 2 can also be seen, the lock body 14 has an opening 52 on its underside, through which the interior of the lock body 14 is accessible. This opening 52 is closed by a cover 54 which is fastened to the lock body 14 by means of a screw 56, the screw head 64 of which is located in the interior of the lock body 14. More precisely, the screw head 64 of the screw 56 is located in an axial continuation of the second bracket leg 18 at its free end, the shaft of the screw 56 being screwed into a quiver 58 which is formed on the side of the cover 54 facing the interior of the lock body 14.

In some embodiments, an ejector spring can be provided between the free end 22 of the second bracket leg 18 and the screw head 64 of the screw 56, through which the lock bracket 12 is biased into its open position. In the embodiment of the padlock 10 described here, however, the lock bracket 12 was not biased towards its open position by means of a corresponding ejection spring.

Since the screw head of the screw 56 is only accessible after the lock bracket 12 has been dismantled, the cover 54 can only be removed from the lock body 14 by authorized persons. In order to be able to secure the cover 54 particularly reliably on the lock body 14, a slot-shaped recess 60 is provided in the interior of the lock body 14 in the axial continuation of the first bracket leg 16, which positively receives a nose 62 protruding from the cover 54. The nose 62 thus engages behind the lower end of the lock body 14, so that it is particularly reliably secured to the lock body 14 by means of the screw 56 after screwing.

Reference symbol list

10

Padlock

12

Lock shackle

14

Lock body

16

first bracket leg

18

second bracket leg

20

Lock cylinder

22

free ending

24

circumferential gutter

26

flattening

28

End section

30

passage

32

Locking device

34

Rotary latch

36

Locking elements/blocking balls

38

Release sections

40

Locking sections

42

Deepening of intervention

44

recessed surface

46

Blocking element

48

Passage opening

50

narrow side

52

opening

54

Lid

56

screw

58

quiver

60

recess

62

Nose

64

screw head

Claims (10)

Padlock (10) with: a lock body (14), a U-shaped lock bracket (12) with a generally circular cross section, which is held on the lock body (14) so that it can be moved between a closed position and an open position and has a first bracket leg (16) and a second bracket leg (18) which is longer than that is the first bracket leg (16), and a locking device (32) in the lock body (14) for locking the lock bracket (12) in its closed position on the lock body (14), wherein the locking device (32) comprises at least one locking element (36) and between a locking position in which the locking element (36) in the closed position of the lock bracket (12) engages in an engagement recess (42) which is in one of the first bracket legs (16). facing flank of the second bracket leg (18), and is adjustable to an unlocking position in which the locking element (36) is located outside the engagement recess (42), wherein a circumferential groove (24) is formed in the second bracket leg (18), which is located closer to the free end (22) of the second bracket leg (18) than the engagement recess (42) and into which the locking element (36) is in the open position the lock bracket (12) engages, wherein the second bracket leg (18) has a passage (30) which extends between the free end (22) of the second bracket leg (18) and the circumferential channel (24) and the one opposite the generally circular cross section of the lock shackle (12) has a recessed surface, and wherein the second bracket leg (18) accommodates a blocking element (46) between its free end (22) and the circumferential channel (24), which projects beyond the recessed surface of the passage (30) in order to insert the lock bracket (12) into the open position To prevent the locking element (36) from passing from the circumferential channel (24) through the passage (30). Padlock (10) according to claim 1,
wherein the passage (30) is designed as a flat on the lock bracket (12) or as a concave groove (24) in the lock bracket (12). Padlock (10) according to claim 1 or 2,
wherein the passage (30) is formed on a flank of the second bracket leg (18) facing away from the first bracket leg (16). Padlock (10) according to one of the preceding claims,
wherein the blocking element (46) is a screw, in particular a screw with a defined screw head or a grub screw, which is screwed into a hole formed in the second bracket leg (18), in particular a blind hole. Padlock (10) according to one of the preceding claims,
wherein a through opening (48) is formed in the lock body (14), through which the blocking element (46) is accessible from outside the lock body (14). Padlock (10) according to claim 5,
wherein the through opening (48) is formed in a narrow side (50) of the lock body (14). Padlock (10) according to claim 5 or 6,
wherein the through opening (48) is formed in the lock body (14) at a location that is located so that the blocking element (46) comes into contact with the through opening (48) when the lock bracket (12) transitions from its closed position to its open position. is aligned before the lock bracket (12) reaches the open position. Padlock (10) according to one of the preceding claims,
wherein the lock body (14) forms an interior space which is closed on the underside of the lock body (14) by a cover (54) which is fastened to the lock body (14) by means of a screw (56) which has a screw head located in the interior space (64), which is located in the axial continuation of the second bracket leg (18) at its free end (22), it being in particular provided that the cover (54) has a quiver (58) on its side facing the interior, into which the screw (56) is screwed. Padlock (10) according to claim 8,
wherein the lock body (14) has a recess (60) in its interior in an axial continuation of the first bracket leg (16), which positively locks a section of the cover (54), in particular a nose (62) protruding from the cover (54). absorbs. Padlock (10) according to one of the preceding claims,
in order to operate the locking device (32), a locking cylinder (20) is provided in the lock body (14), which has a main extension plane which is tilted relative to a plane defined by the two bracket legs (16, 18) and which is arranged off-center with respect to an axis defined centrally between the two lock brackets (16, 18).

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