Resettable combination lock mechanism

摘要

A resettable combination lock mechanism includes a plurality of outer lock dials and a plurality of inner lock dials. The rotation of a reset feature changes the relative axial position between the outer lock dials and the inner lock dials, allowing the combination of the lock mechanism to be reset. In one aspect, the outer lock dials are axially displaced upon rotation of the reset feature, exposing a visual indicator that is configured to indicate whether the lock is in a combination reset mode or is in a normal mode. The reset mode allows the combination to be changed. The normal mode allows the lock mechanism to be locked or unlocked to secure or release a desired item. In another aspect, the rotation of the reset feature rotates a visual indicator into alignment with a window to indicate that the lock is the reset mode or the normal mode.

主权项

1. 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; and wherein the exposing and hiding of the visual indicator directly results from axial displacement of at least one of the inner lock dials and the outer lock dials between the first and second relative axial positions.