Lock status indicator

• US 20040080403A1
• Filed: 11/07/2002
• Published: 04/29/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/27/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Meir Eshel
• Original Assignee: Meir Eshel
• Inventors: Eshel, Meir
• Application Number:
  US10/289,262
• Publication Number:
  US 20040080403A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/425.5
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 19/22 Keys with devices for indicating whether the last operation was locking or unlocking
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00944 Details of construction or manufacture

Abstract

Apparatus comprising a key ring fob comprising a lock status indicator able to indicate if a lock is locked or unlocked. The lock status indicator may indicate if the last action performed on the lock was a locking or an unlocking action. A time indicating device may indicate when the last action performed on the lock was performed

Claims

1. Apparatus comprising:

a key ring fob comprising a lock status indicator able to indicate if a lock is locked or unlocked.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said lock status indicator is able to indicate if the last action performed on the lock was a locking or an unlocking action.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said lock status indicator comprises a time indicating device able to indicate when the last action performed on the lock was performed.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said lock status indicator comprises a visual indicator.

5. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said visual indicator comprises at least one of a light with an illumination code and an alphanumeric display.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said lock status indicator comprises an audible indicator.

7. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said key ring fob further comprises a remote control to lock or unlock a lock.

8. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said lock status indicator comprises a remote control to lock or unlock a lock, said remote control comprising a two-state switch that is movable between a first position that generates a signal to lock the lock and a second position that generates a signal to unlock the lock, said first position comprising character markings that indicate a locked status of the lock and said second position comprising character markings that indicate an unlocked status of the lock.

9. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said time indicating device comprises at least one of a time indication of the current time, an alarm clock, a timer and an elapsed time display.

10. A method for indicating lock status, comprising:

providing a lock status indicator, able to indicate if a lock is locked or unlocked, on a key ring fob.

11. The method according to claim 10, further comprising using said lock status indicator to indicate if the last action performed on the lock was a locking or an unlocking action.

12. The method according to claim 10, further comprising using said lock status indicator to indicate when the last action performed on the lock was performed.

13. A system comprising:

a lock; and

a key ring fob comprising a lock status indicator communicable with said lock and able to indicate if said lock is locked or unlocked.

14. The system according to claim 13, wherein said lock status indicator is able to indicate if the last action performed on said lock was a locking or an unlocking action.

15. The system according to claim 13, wherein said lock status indicator comprises a time indicating device able to indicate when the last action performed on said lock was performed.