Padlock body for engaging with a replaceable locking cylinder

1 . A padlock body ( 10 ) engaged with a replaceable locking cylinder ( 20 ) and comprising:

an actuator ( 30 ) comprising a groove ( 32 ), the actuator ( 30 ) being rotatable about a vertical axis (X) between a locked position and an unlocked position, the actuator ( 30 ) further comprising a first end and a second end opposed to the first end, the first end comprising the groove ( 32 ) and the second end being operatively connectable to the replaceable locking cylinder ( 20 );

a shackle ( 12 ) comprising a first end ( 13 ) and a second end ( 14 ), the first end ( 13 ) being attached to said padlock body ( 10 ), the second end ( 14 ) being movable for engaging with the groove ( 32 ) of the actuator ( 30 ); and

at least one fastener ( 40 ) for securing the padlock body ( 10 ) to the replaceable locking cylinder ( 20 ),

wherein:

in the unlocked position, the actuator ( 30 ) is rotated about the vertical axis (X) such that the groove ( 32 ) of the actuator ( 30 ) is positioned for engaging with the second end ( 14 ) of the shackle ( 12 );

in the locked position, the actuator ( 30 ) is rotated about the vertical axis (X) such that, when the second end ( 14 ) of the shackle ( 12 ) is engaged with the groove ( 32 ) of the actuator ( 30 ), the second end ( 14 ) of the shackle ( 12 ) is restrained within the groove ( 32 ) of the actuator ( 30 );

the padlock body ( 10 ) further comprises a first blocking element ( 55 ) and a first lateral hole ( 50 ) for receiving the first blocking element ( 55 ), the first lateral hole ( 50 ) intersecting a fastening direction of the fastener ( 40 ), such that removal of the fastener ( 40 ) is hindered by the first blocking element ( 55 );

the first end ( 13 ) of the shackle ( 12 ) further comprises a first recess ( 15 ), the first recess ( 15 ) radially enclosing part of the first lateral hole ( 50 ) when the second end ( 14 ) of the shackle ( 12 ) is disengaged with the groove ( 32 ) of the actuator ( 30 );

in the unlocked position, the first recess ( 15 ) and the first lateral hole ( 50 ) are aligned in a same plane, thereby exposing the first blocking element ( 55 ) inserted therein; and

in the locked position, the first recess ( 15 ) is moved away from the radially enclosing position, such that the first end ( 13 ) of the shackle ( 12 ) hinders access to the first blocking element ( 55 ) inserted therein.

2 . The padlock body ( 10 ) according to claim 1 , further comprising an indentation ( 11 ), said indentation ( 11 ) being aligned with the groove ( 32 ) of the actuator ( 30 ) in the unlocked position.

3 . The padlock body ( 10 ) according to claim 2 , wherein the first end ( 13 ) of the shackle ( 12 ) rotates about a vertical axis which is parallel to the vertical axis (X) of the actuator ( 30 ).

4 . The padlock body ( 10 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the first end ( 13 ) of the shackle ( 12 ) rotates about a vertical axis which is parallel to the vertical axis (X) of the actuator ( 30 ).

5 . The padlock body ( 10 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the second end ( 14 ) of the shackle ( 12 ) comprises a depression adapted to interlock with the groove ( 32 ) of the actuator ( 30 ).

6 . The padlock body ( 10 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the actuator ( 30 ) rotates about 90 degrees between the unlocked position and the locked position.

7 . The padlock body ( 10 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the fastener ( 40 ) comprises at least one screw or bolt, each of the at least one screw or bolt being releasably fixed into a hole extending through part of the padlock body ( 10 ) and part of the replaceable locking cylinder ( 20 ).

8 . The padlock body ( 10 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the first blocking element ( 55 ) is a screw or a bolt.

9 . The padlock body ( 10 ) according to claim 1 , wherein:

the padlock body ( 10 ) further comprises a second blocking element ( 65 ) and a second lateral hole ( 60 ) for receiving the second blocking element ( 65 ), the second lateral hole ( 60 ) being substantially perpendicular to a fastening direction of the fastener ( 40 );

the first end ( 13 ) of the shackle ( 12 ) further comprises a second recess ( 16 ); and

the second recess ( 16 ) radially enclosing part of the second lateral hole ( 60 ), such that the second blocking element ( 65 ) inserted into the second lateral hole ( 60 ) engages with the second recess ( 16 ), thereby fixing the first end ( 13 ) of the shackle ( 12 ) to the padlock body ( 10 ) and hindering axial movements of the first end ( 13 ) of the shackle ( 12 ).

10 . The padlock body ( 10 ) according to claim 9 , wherein the second blocking element ( 65 ) is a pin or a rod.

11 . The padlock body ( 10 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the padlock body ( 10 ) is adapted for engaging with an oval replaceable locking cylinder ( 20 ).

12 . A padlock ( 1 ) comprising:

the padlock body ( 10 ) of claim 1 ; and

a replaceable locking cylinder ( 20 ).

13 . The padlock ( 1 ) according to claim 12 , wherein the replaceable locking cylinder ( 20 ) is an oval replaceable locking cylinder ( 20 ).

14 . A method of replacing a replaceable locking cylinder ( 20 ) from a padlock ( 1 ), the method comprising the steps of:

providing a padlock ( 1 ) having a padlock body ( 10 ) and a replaceable locking cylinder ( 20 ), the padlock body ( 10 ) comprising: an actuator ( 30 ) comprising a groove ( 32 ), the actuator ( 30 ) being rotatable about a vertical axis (X) between a locked position and an unlocked position; the actuator ( 30 ) further comprising a first end and a second end opposed to the first end, the first end comprising the groove ( 32 ) and the second end being operatively connectable to the replaceable locking cylinder ( 20 ); a shackle ( 12 ) comprising a first end ( 13 ) and a second end ( 14 ), the first end ( 13 ) being attached to said padlock body ( 10 ), the second end ( 14 ) being movable for engaging with the groove ( 32 ) of the actuator ( 30 ); at least one fastener ( 40 ) securing the padlock body ( 10 ) to the replaceable locking cylinder ( 20 ); and a first blocking element ( 55 ) and a first lateral hole ( 50 ) for receiving the first blocking element ( 55 ), the first lateral hole ( 50 ) intersecting a fastening direction of the fastener ( 40 ), such that removal of the fastener ( 40 ) is hindered by the first blocking element ( 55 ), wherein the first end ( 13 ) of the shackle ( 12 ) further comprises a first recess ( 15 ), the first recess ( 15 ) radially enclosing part of the first lateral hole ( 50 ) when the second end ( 14 ) of the shackle ( 12 ) is disengaged with the groove ( 32 ) of the actuator ( 30 );

positioning the padlock ( 1 ) into an unlocked position, whereby the first recess ( 15 ) and the first lateral hole ( 50 ) are aligned in a same plane, thereby exposing the first blocking element ( 55 ) inserted therein;

removing the first blocking element ( 55 ) from the first lateral hole ( 50 ), thereby exposing the at least one fastener ( 40 );

removing the at least one fastener ( 40 ) attaching the padlock body ( 10 ) to the replaceable locking cylinder ( 20 ); and

replacing the replaceable locking cylinder ( 20 ).