Brady Worldwide Corp.

Strattec Security Corporation

Jack Christopher Melkovitz

Larry R Grimmer

Scott M Town

A padlock with an associated locking mechanism is configured for use in a lock configured to be locked and unlocked by a key. The locking mechanism includes a lock cylinder with a key-receiving end configured to interface with the key and further includes a cam positioned at an axial end of the lock cylinder opposite the key-receiving end thereof. The cam is integrally connected thereto thereby restricting axial and rotational motion of the cam with respect to the lock cylinder and can be used to retain components of the locking mechanism (such as tumblers and springs) in the lock cylinder.

Lock with integrated cam

A padlock is configured to be locked and unlocked by a key and includes a lock body having an internal cavity with a locking mechanism and a keyway extending through the lock body into the internal cavity to provide access to the locking mechanism by the key. The locking mechanism is configured to be selectively moved over a range of positions when the key is received therein to lock and unlock the padlock. The keyway has an eccentric profile that permits the key to be removed from the locking mechanism in only a single position of the range of positions.

Padlock with integrated keyway

A padlock configured to be locked and unlocked by a key can an internal biasing element that establishes a position of the locking mechanism within an internal cavity of the lock body of the padlock. The locking mechanism can be a linear lock configured to receive the key along an axial direction from the key-receiving axial end of the locking mechanism and internal cavity. The locking mechanism can include at least a lock cylinder (and sometimes other components) and having an axial length that is less than an axial distance between a pair of axial ends of the internal cavity. Notably, the padlock includes a biasing element received in the internal cavity of the lock body that biases the lock cylinder along the axial direction to maintain a key stop distance from a key stop on the lock cylinder to the key-receiving axial end of internal cavity.

Padlock with locking mechanism biasing device

A linearly-actuated lock including a housing, a lock case received within the housing along an axis, and a lock barrel rotatable relative to the lock case between a locked state and an unlocked state. The lock barrel includes tumblers and tumbler springs. The lock further includes a key insertable into the lock barrel to displace the tumblers relative to the lock barrel in a direction parallel to the axis and a sidebar extending through apertures of the lock barrel. The sidebar is engageable with a notch of the tumblers when the sidebar moves radially inward relative to the axis. The sidebar includes a cam surface slidable against at least one of the housing and the lock case when the lock barrel rotates. The sidebar also includes a projection having a single-ramped surface received within the notch of each tumbler when the lock barrel is in the unlocked state.

Growing community of inventors

Wauwatosa, WI, United States of America

Jack Christopher Melkovitz