Illuminating Mechanism For A Lock

• US 20050201076A1
• Filed: 03/10/2005
• Published: 09/15/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/11/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Master Lock Company LLC (Fortune Brands Innovations, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Master Lock Company (Fortune Brands Innovations, Inc.)
• Inventors: Marcelle, Jesse, Leslie, Vince, Meekma, Glenn, Rohde, Christopher
• Granted Patent: US 7,367,683 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 362/23
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 17/10 Illuminating devices on or for locks or keys; Transparent or translucent lock parts; Indicator lights
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 37/10 in padlocks

Abstract

A lock including an illuminating device which is actuated by the rotation of a lock dial produces an illumination event. The illumination event provides sufficient light on the lock such as to allow easier operation of the lock in areas of inadequate light. The lock may include a piezo device which creates electrical current to light one or more light emitting diodes for a predetermined duration of time.

Claims

1. A lock comprising:

a lock body;

a lock dial coupled to said lock body; and

an illuminating mechanism disposed within said lock dial.

2. The lock of claim 1, wherein said lock dial is comprised of an opaque material and one or more semi-transparent materials.

3. The lock of claim 2, wherein said lock dial includes numbers and number markings comprised of said one or more semi-transparent materials.

4. The lock of claim 1, wherein said illuminating mechanism includes one or more light emitting diodes.

5. The lock of claim 1 further comprising a reflective surface located such that one or more light emitting diodes are located between the reflective surface and an inner surface of said lock dial.

6. The lock of claim 1, wherein said illuminating mechanism includes a piezo device.

7. The lock of claim 6, wherein said piezo device produces a charge when said lock dial is rotated relative to said lock body.

8. The lock of claim 1, wherein said illuminating mechanism includes one or more field effect transistors, one or more resistors and one or more capacitors.

9. The lock of claim 8, wherein said one or more resistors determine the rate of discharge of one or more of said capacitors, thereby determining the duration of an illumination event.

10. A lock comprising:

a lock body;

a lock dial coupled to said lock body; and

a piezo device that generates electrical current that is used to light one or more light emitting diodes when said lock dial is rotated relative to said lock body.

11. The lock of claim 10 further comprising at least one piezo wiper which includes one or more piezo wiper springs that brush against said piezo device to produce a voltage signal.

12. The lock of claim 10 wherein said lock dial is comprised of an opaque material and one or more semi-transparent materials.

13. The lock of claim 12, wherein said lock dial includes numbers and number markings comprised of said one or more semi-transparent materials.

14. The lock of claim 10 further comprising a reflective surface located such that said one or more light emitting diodes are located between the reflective surface and an inner surface of said lock dial.

15. The lock of claim 10 wherein said one or more light emitting diodes produce an illumination event during rotation of said lock dial and for a predetermined period of time after rotation of the lock dial has stopped.

16. The lock of claim 10 further comprising one or more batteries.

17. A lock comprising:

a lock body including a locking mechanism;

a lock dial coupled to said lock body;

a piezo device connected to a dial body;

a piezo wiper including one or more piezo washer springs; and

one or more light emitting diodes;

wherein rotation of the lock dial produces an illumination event, wherein said one or more light emitting diodes illuminate a portion of said lock.

18. The lock of claim 17, wherein said lock dial comprises an opaque material and one or more semi-transparent materials, and wherein said one or more light emitting diodes create said illumination event by emitting light through said one or more semi-transparent materials.

19. The lock of claim 17 further comprising a means for predetermining the duration of said illumination event.

20. The lock of claim 17 wherein said piezo device, said piezo wiper and said one or more light emitting diodes are disposed within said lock dial.

21. A lock dial comprising:

an opaque outer material;

a semi-transparent inner material; and

an illuminating mechanism disposed within said lock dial;

wherein light from said illuminating mechanism emits through said semi-transparent inner material.