US3395555A - Magnetic padlock - Google Patents

Description

ug- 5 1958 H. HcKMAN 3,395,555

MAGNETIC PADLOCK Filed June 7, 1967 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 ug- 5, 1968 H. HcKMAN 3,395,555

MAGNETIC PADLOCK Filed June '7. 1967 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 United States Patent O "ie 3,395,555 MAGNETIC PADLGCK Henry Hickmar, 1051 3rd St., Hernosa Beach, Calif. 90254 Filed June 7, 1967, Ser. No. 644,315 7 Claims. (Cl. 70-39) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A magnetic pad-lock =has a non-magnetic body provided with a first pair of bores reciprocally receiving the arms of the hasp and `a second pair of fbores receiving cylindrical magnets which are laterally shiftable therein. The magnets carry engaging means for engaging the hasp to keep it in a locke-d position. The magnetic properties of the magnets normally maintain them shifted in their bores to a hasp-looking position. A magnetic key shifts the magnets laterally to an unlocked position.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The background of the invention will be set forth in two parts.

Field o the invention The present invention relates generally to the field of magnetic locks and more particularly to a new and useful magnetic padlock having a non-magnetic body in which permanent magnets are mounted in such a manner that the magnetic properties of the magnets will normally shift them laterally into looking engagement with a hasp.

Description o the pr'oir art Such United States patents as Patent Nos. 428,247; 468,807; 1,686,202; 2,384,208 and 2,966,789 show that it is broadly old to provide magnetic locks. Patent Nos. 468,807 and 2,384,208 also show that it is broadly old to provide magnetic padlocks.

The padlocks disclosed in the patents have the disadvantage that they are comparatively expensive to manufacture because of the number of moving parts employe-d therein.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of the foregoing factors and conditions characteristic of magnetic padlocks, it is a primary object of the present invention to provide a new and useful magnetic padlock not subject to the disadvantages enumerated above and having a minimum number of moving parts.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a new and useful padlock having a non-magnetic body portion in which permanentv magnets are mounted for moving laterally into locked engagement with a padlock hasp by magnetic attraction.

According to the present invention, a magnetic padlock is provided which includes a non-magnetic body portion having a plurality of cylindrical bores provided therein. A U-shaped hasp is operatively associated with the body portion and includes a pair of arms reciprocally mounted in a first pair of bores.

At least one -of the arms on the hasp Ihas a first position where it is seated in an associated bore and a second position where it is removed from the bore for engaging an article to -be locked by the padlock. A pair of permanent magnets are mounted in a second pair of bores which have a diameter exceeding the diameter of the magnets sufliciently -that the magnets are free to shift laterally in their associated bores. In ta first embodiment of the present invention, the magnets are arranged within their associated bores in such a manner that natural attraction 3,395,555 Patented Aug. 6, 1968 of the magnets for each other shifts them laterally into locked engagement with the hasp. In a second embodiment, natural attraction of the magnets for the hasp shifts the magnets in-to locked engagement with the hasp.

In both embodiments of the present invention, means is carried by the magnets for engaging the hasp to prevent its releasable arm from being moved to an unlocked position. A magnetic key is provided for each embodiment which draws the magnets out of locked engagement with the hasp when the key is positioned on the body portion in a predetermined manner.

O The features of the present invention which are believed to be novel are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The present invention, both as to its organization and manner of use, together with further objects and advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which like reference characters refer to like elements in the several views.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a magnetic padlock constituting a first embodiment of the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged, exploded perspective view of the padlock of FIGURE l;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged, vertical cross-sectional view of the padlock of FIGURE l;

FIGURE 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 4-4 of FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 5 is a perspective view of a magnetic padlock constituting a second embodiment of the present invention;

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged, exploded perspective view of the padlock of FIGURE 5; and

FIGURE 7 is an enlarged, vertical cross-sectional view of the padlock of FIGURE 5.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring again to the drawings and more particularly to FIGURES 1-4, a magnetic padlock constituting a first embodiment of the present invention, generally designated 10, includes a non-magnetic body portion 12, a U-shaped hasp 14, a pair of permanent magnets 16, 18, hasp-engaging means 20, 22 and a magnetic key 24.

The non-magnetic body 12 includes a main body portion 26 provided with a pair of cylindrical, hasp- engaging bores 28, 30, a pair of screw-receiving bores 32, 34, a magnet-receiving chamber 36 and a pair of key-receiving recesses 38, 40.

The body 12 also includes first, second, third, fourth and fifth plates 42, 44, 46, 48 and 50, respectively, each having screw-receiving apertures 52, 54 and key-receiving recesses 56, 58 provided therein for forming continuations of the bores 32, 34 and the recesses 38, 40, respectively. The plates 42, 44 and 48 are also provided with apertures 60, 62 forming continuations of the hasp-receiving bores 28, 30, respectively; the plate 46 is provided with an elongated opening 64 accommodating the hasp 14, the magnets 16, 18 and the engaging means 20, 22; the plates 44, 48 are provided with a pair of elongated apertures 66, 68 cooperating with chamber 36 to form cylindrical bores having larger diameters than associated magnets 16, 1-8 permitting lateral shifting of magnets 16, 18 within body 12 and the plates 44, 48 are provided with elongated openings 70 accommodating a pair of links 72, 74 pivotally connecting the engaging means 20, 22 together by associated pins 76, 78, respectively. Plates 42, 44, 46, 48 and 50 and main body portion 26 are connected together by a pair of internally threaded pins `80, 82 and associated screws 84, 86, respectively.

The 'hasp 14 includes a long leg 88, a short leg 90, and a bight portion 92. The long leg 88 is reciprocally mounted in a cylindrical bore formed by the apertures 60y and the cylindrical bore 28 and is biased to an upward position therein by a compression spring 94 having one end 96 bearing against plate 50 and another end 98 bearing against a washer 100 fixed to the lower end 102 of leg 88 by a screw 104. The washer 100 also prevents withdrawal of leg 88 from body 12 by engaging a shoulder 106 formed in a body 12 by counterboring bore 28. The short leg 90 is reciprocally mounted in a cylindrical bore formed by the aperture 62 and the bore 30 and includes a lower end 108 which is elevated above body portion 12 by Spring 94 for engaging an article to be locked by padlock when key 24 is used in a manner to be hereinafter described.

The magnets 16, 18 are laterally shiftably mounted in the cylindrical bores formed by associated elongated apertures 66, 68 and Chamber 36 and have their poles arranged in such a manner that magnets 16, 1'8 will be attracted to each other for bringing an arcuate recess 110, on engaging means 20, and an arcuate recess 112, on the engaging means 22, into engagement with shoulders 114, 116, respectively, provided on long leg 88 for maintaining hasp 14 in a lowered, padlock-locking position.

The key 24 includes a grip portion 118 having a first end 120 and a second end 122 carrying cylindrical magnets 124, 126 respectively. The magnet 124 is adapted to to be engaged in the space formed by recesses 56 and 38; and the magnet 126 is adapted to be placed in the space formed by the recesses 58 and 40 for shifting magnets 16, 18 laterally in the direction of arrows 128, 130, respectively (FIGURE 4) by attracting the magnet 16 to the magnet 124 and the magnet 18 to the magnet 126 for bringing associated engaging means 20, 22 out of enlgagement with associated shoulders 116, 116. Since com- Ipression sping 94 is pushing the shoulders 114, 116 against associated engaging means 20, 22 with some force, the magnetic attraction between magnets 124, 16 and 126, 18 may not be suflicient to move magnets 16, 18 laterally. In this event, hasp 14 may be pressed downwardly camming engaging means 20, 22 outwardly by cam surfaces 128, 130 provided on leg 88 above associated shoulders 114, 116, respectively.

In use, the padlock 10 may be unlocked from the condition shown in FIGURES 1 and 2 by engaging magnet 124 in recesses 38 and 56 while magnet 126 is engaged in recesses 40 'and 58. The magnet 124 attracts magnet 16 shifting it laterally in the direction of arrow 128 freeing engaging means from shoulder 114 and the magnet 126 attracts magnet 18 shifting it laterally in the direction of arrow 130 freeing engaging means 22 from engagement with shoulder 116.

Spring 94 then moves hasp 14 upwardly until lower end 108 is elevated above plate 42 so that hasp 14 may be iswung on leg 88 bringing end 108 away from body 12 for engagement with an article to be locked by padlock 10. After this engagement, body 12 may be swung on leg 88 until leg 90 is aligned with aperture 62 in plate 42 so that hasp 14 may be depressed until shoulders 114, 116 are below engaging means 20, 22. Assuming that key 24 has been removed from body 12, the magnetic attraction between magnets 16 and 18 will move them laterally within t-heir 'associated cylindrical bores formed by chamber 36 and associated elongated apertures 66, 68 until arcuate recesses 110, 112 encompass leg 88 above shoulders 114, 116.

Referring now to FIGURES 5-7, a magnetic padlock lconstituting a second embodiment of the present invention, generally designated 136, includes a non-magnetic body portion 138, a magnetizable, U-shaped hasp 140, a pair of magnets 142, 144, a pair of engaging means 146, 148, carried by by the magnets 142, 144, respectively, and a magnetic key 150.

The body 138 includes a main body portion 152 which is provided with a central, key-receiving, cylindrical bore 154; a pair of hasp-receiving, cylindrical bores 156, 158; a pair of elongated, cylindrical magnet- receiving bores 160, 162 and a pair of cylindrical, -pin-receiving bores 164, 166.

The body 138 also includes first, second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth plates 168, 170, 172, 174, 176 and 178, respectively, all of 'which are provided with hasp-receiving apertures 180, 182 and pin-receiving apertures 184, 186, forming continuations of the bores 156, 158 and 164, 166, respectively, in main body portion 152. The plate 170 is also provided with an elongated slot 188 which communicates with the apertures 180, 182 for accommodating the engaging means 146 and 148. The plates 172, 174 and 176 are also provided with the elongated openings 190, 192 forming continuations of the bores 160, 162, respectively.

The several parts of the body 138 are maintained in assembled relation by a pair of internally threaded pins 194, 196 and associated screws 198, 200, respectively, Which engage the cylindrical bores 184, 164, and 182, 1.66, respectively.

The hasp includes a pair of legs 202, 204 connected together by a bight portion 206 and may be connected to the body 136 by engaging the leg 202 in the bore formed by bore 156 and aperture 180 and by engaging the leg 204 in the bore formed by the bore 158 and the aperture 182 and is maintained in locked engagement therewith by the engaging means 146, 148 each having a wedgeshaped end 208 engaged in one of a plurality of notches 210, 212 and 214 provided in associated legs 202 and 204. The legs 202 and 204 each include a free end 216 which is prevented from extending beyond plate 178 more than a predetermined amount by a suitable fixed pin 218 carried by the leg 202 and engageable with the plate 168.

The magnets 142, 144 are laterally shiftably mounted in associated bores formed by the bores 160, 162 and apertures 190, 192, respectively, with engaging means 146, 148 slidably mounted in opening 188.

The magnetic key includes a permanent magnet 220 which is affixed to a handle 222 and which is insertable through an aperture 224 provided in each of the plates 174, 176 and 17 8 into cylindrical bore 154 between magnets 142 and 144 for attracting them and shifting them laterally within their associated bores -190 and 162-192 so that associated engaging means 146, 148 will move out of engagernent with hasp 140. Since the hasp 140 is made out of a magnetic material, magnet 220 will be oscillated between end 216 of legs 202 and 204 when an attempt is made to insert magnet 220 into aperture 224 if end 216 extends substantially beyond plate 178. Thus, the stop pin 218 is used to prevent undue extension of end 216.

In use, the hasp 140 may be inserted into body 138 and will become automatically locked into position therein by the magnetic attraction of magnets 142 and 144 to associated magnetic legs 202 and 204 shifting magnets 142, 144 laterally so that engaging means 146, 148 will engage associated legs 202, 204, respectively. The padlock 136 may be unlocked by inserting magnetic key 150 into bore 154 attracting magnets 142, 144 so that they move laterally bringing engaging means 146, 148 out of engagement with associated legs 202, 204.

While the particnlar magnetic padlocks herein shown and described in detail are fully capable of attaining the objects and providing the advantages hereinbefore stated, it is to be understood that they are merely illustrative of the presently preferred embodirnents of the invention and that no limitations are intended to the details of construction or design herein shown other than as defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A magnetic padlock, comprising:

a non-magnetic body portion having a plurality of substantially cylindrical bores provided therein;

a hasp operatively associated with said 'body portion, said hasp including a pair of arms reciprocally mounted in a first pair of said bores, .at least one of said arms having a first position where it is seated inan associated bore and a second position where it is removed from said bore for engaging an article to be locked by said padlock;

a pair of padlock magnets mounted in a second pair of said bores, said padlock magnets each having a major axis lying parallel to the major axis of each of said arms, said second pair of bores being of a diameter exceeding the diameter of said padlock magnets sufliciently that said padlock magnets are free to shift laterally in their .associated bores while said major axes of said padlock magnets rem-ain substantially -parallel to the major axes of said arms;

means carried 'by said padlock magnets for engaging said hasp to prevent said one arm from being moved to said second position, said padlock magnets being urranged in said bores in such a manner that the magnetic property of said padlock magnets acting on a body within said padlock normally m-oves said padlock magnets laterally bringing said engaging means into engagement with said hasp; and

magnetic key 'means positionable on said body portion adjacent said pair of padlock magnets for shifting said padlock magnets laterally to a position where said engaging means is free from said hasp.

2. A padlock as stated in claim 1 wherein said padlock magnets attract each other t-o bring said engaging means into engagement With said hasp.

3. A padlock as stated in claim 2 wherein said engaging means includes a first engaging portion having one end carrying one of said padlock magnets and a second engaging portion having one end carrying another of said padlock magnets, each of said engaging portions having a second end physically connected to a link, said engaging portions being pivoted on said link *for engaging opposite sides of one of said legs when said -padlock magnets are attracted to each other.

4. A padlock as stated in claim 3 wherein said key means includes a first key mag-net positionable on one side of said body portion to shift one of said padlock magnets late-rally and a second key magnet positionable on the other side of said body portion to shift the other of said padlock magnets laterally, Whereby the attraction of said padlock magnets for each other is overcorne.

5. A padlock as stated in claim 1 wherein each of said arms is made from a magnetic material for attracting an associated padlock mag-net thereto.

6. A padlock as stated in claim 5 wherein said engaging means include a first engaging portion carried by one of said padlock magnets and having a wedge-shaped end facing one of said legs and a second engaging portion carried by the other of said padlock magnets and having a wedge-shaped end facing the other of said legs, each of said legs having a notch engageable by an associated wedge-shaped end when said magnets are attracted to an associated leg.

7. A padlock as stated in claim 6 wherein said key means includes a single key magnet insertable into a third of said bores located in said body portion between said second pair of bores for attracting said padlock magnets thereto.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2/1892 Kintner 276 9/1945 Stroud 70--276

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