Padlock

• US 10,458,153 B2
• Filed: 07/08/2016
• Issued: 10/29/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 07/09/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rynan Technologies Pte. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Rynan Technologies Pte. Ltd.
• Inventors: Nguyen, My T., Hong, Cuong Q., Truong, Luong V., Nguyen, Hien H., Nguyen, Brian D., Nguyen, Christina M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gall, Lloyd A
• Application Number:
  US15/205,627
• Publication Number:
  US 20170009491A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,208 Days
• Field of Search: 70 20, 70 21, 70 38 B, 70277, 702781, 702787, 702791, 70233, 702782, 702783, 70280-283, 702831
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 2047/0058 by batteries
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 2047/0067 Monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 2047/0069 bolt position
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 2047/0095 Mechanical aspects of locks controlled by telephone signals, e.g. by mobile phones electronic locks G07C9/00
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 39/005 Locks with means for tracking the location of locked items, e.g. freight containers
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 47/0003 having a movable core
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 47/0012 with rotary electromotors actuators with rotary electromotors per se H02K7/06, H02K23/68
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 67/10 with devices for securing the free end of the shackle
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00642 by battery
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/0092 for cargo, freight or shipping containers and applications therefore in general
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00563 using personal physical data of the operator, e.g. finger prints, retinal images, voicepatterns
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00944 Details of construction or manufacture
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/02 using a radio link

Abstract

A padlock is disclosed comprising an electronic circuitry and such that the padlock may be opened via a near field communication network such as Bluetooth™ or via other electronic interfaces such as an integrated fingerprint scanner. In one embodiment the padlock is capable of receiving and transmitting radio frequency signals from nearby sensor nodes containing information regarding temperature, humidity, moisture, speed, vibration, liquid level, concentration of gases and other sensing devices for use in a system for monitoring, tracking, tracing, alarms, access management, access recording, authenticity and integrity of goods, documents or other valued objects in storage or transit.

Claims

1. A padlock comprising:

a shackle comprising a heel end pivotally attached to a padlock body for rotation about a first axis perpendicular to a plane and a toe end opposite said heel end and moveable in said plane between a first position wherein said toe end is away from said body, and a second position wherein said toe end is received within a detent in said body;

a detent mechanism comprising a stop defining a hollow for receiving said toe end and an actuator for moving said hollow in a direction parallel to said axis between a locked position wherein said toe end is received within said hollow securing said toe end within said detent and an unlocked position wherein said toe end is no longer received within said hollow;

an electronic circuit comprising at least one user input for controlling said actuator such that said hollow is moved between said locked position and said unlocked position; and

a battery for powering said electronic circuit and said actuator.

2. The padlock of claim 1, wherein said at least one user input comprises a fingerprint sensor and such that identification of an authorized fingerprint activates said actuator such that said hollow is moved between said locked position and said unlocked position.

3. The padlock of claim 1, wherein said at least one user input comprises a wireless receiver and such that reception of a wireless control signal from an authorized wireless control device activates said actuator such that said hollow is moved between said locked position and said unlocked position.

4. The padlock of claim 1, wherein shackle is elongate and u-shaped.

5. The padlock of claim 1, wherein said body defines a threaded bore about a second axis parallel to said first axis, said second axis aligned with a center of said toe end when in said locked position, wherein said actuator comprises a stepper motor and said stop comprises a threaded locking cylinder defining said hollow and mounted within said threaded bore and attached to a shaft of said stepper motor for rotation therewith and further wherein rotation of said stepper motor and said locking cylinder in a first direction moves said locking cylinder and said hollow toward said toe end and rotation of said stepper motor and said locking cylinder in a second direction moves said locking cylinder and said hollow away from said toe end.

6. The padlock of claim 1, wherein said detent comprises a ridge for engaging a circumferential groove in said toe end when said toe end is in said locked position, thereby preventing said toe end from moving vertically.

7. The padlock of claim 1, wherein said shackle is dimensioned to fit a bicycle.

8. A padlock comprising:

a shackle comprising a heel end pivotally attached to a padlock body for rotation about a first axis perpendicular to a plane and a toe end opposite said heel end and moveable in said plane between a first position wherein said toe end is away from said body, and a second position wherein said toe end is received within a detent in said body, said toe end comprising an axial bore therein;

a detent mechanism comprising a locking pin and an actuator for moving said locking pin in a direction parallel to said axis between a locked position wherein said locking pin is received within said axial bore thereby securing said toe end within said detent and an unlocked position wherein said locking pin is no longer received within said axial bore;

an electronic circuit comprising at least one user input for controlling said actuator such that said locking pin is moved between said locked position and said unlocked position; and

a battery for powering said electronic circuit and said actuator.

9. The padlock of claim 8, wherein said at least one user input comprises a fingerprint sensor and such that identification of an authorized fingerprint activates said actuator such that said locking pin is moved between said locked position and said unlocked position.

10. The padlock of claim 8, wherein said at least one user input comprises a wireless receiver and such that reception of a wireless control signal from an authorized wireless control device activates said actuator such that said locking pin is moved between said locked position and said unlocked position.

11. The padlock of claim 8, wherein shackle is elongate and u-shaped.

12. The padlock of claim 8, wherein said body defines a bore about a second axis parallel to said first axis, said second axis aligned with a center of said toe end when in said locked position, wherein said actuator comprises a solenoid, said locking pin attached to a shaft of said solenoid for movement therewith along said second axis and further wherein said solenoid is normally biased towards said toe end such that actuation of said solenoid moves said locking pin away from said toe end.

13. The padlock of claim 8, wherein said detent comprises a ridge for engaging a circumferential groove in said toe end when said toe end is in said locked position, thereby preventing said toe end from moving vertically.

14. The padlock of claim 8, wherein said shackle is dimensioned to fit a bicycle.