Padlock with a status indicator

• US 20050262903A1
• Filed: 05/23/2005
• Published: 12/01/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/27/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sinox Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Sinox Company Limited
• Inventors: Ling, Renny Tse-Haw, Kuo, Yung-Li
• Granted Patent: US 7,216,517 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 70/21
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 37/0034 actuated by either
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 37/025 in padlocks
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 67/14 with devices for securing the hinged end of the shackle
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/415 Combination and/or key-controlled
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/43 Sliding detent
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/433 Swinging detent
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/472 Pivoted end only engaged
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/478 Pivoted end only engaged
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/7141 Combination and key
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/7147 Combination or key
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/8027 Condition indicators

Abstract

A padlock with a status indicator includes two locking units. The two locking units operate independently to execute locking and unlocking operations. The lock has a body that contains an indicator in the lock underneath. After the execution of the unlocking operation has been done sequentially, the indicator switches from an indication position to the other indication position. Thus through the window, which is formed on the body surface and corresponding to the indicator location, the indication positions of the indicator may be recognized.

Claims

1. A padlock with a status indicator, comprising:

a body;

an indicator located in the body having recognition marks that are switchable to a first indication position and a second indication position;

a first locking unit located on the body operable and swtichable between a unlocking condition and a locking condition;

a pushbutton lockable by the first locking unit to move the indicator to the first indication position when the first locking unit is in the unlocking condition;

a second locking unit located on the body to be actuated independently and switched to a unlocking position and a locking position, and to move the indicator in the same direction as the first locking unit to the second indication position during moving between the unlocking position and the locking position; and

a shackle lockable of the first locking unit or the second locking unit to form a closed space with the body, and being movable relative to the body when the locking condition or the locking position of the first locking unit or the second locking unit respectively is released, to form a gap in the closed space.

2. The padlock with a status indicator of claim 1, wherein the second locking unit has an actuation strut to move the indicator.

3. The padlock with a status indicator of claim 1, wherein the shackle includes two latch arms, one latch arm lockable by the first locking unit, other latch arm lockable by the second locking unit.

4. The padlock with a status indicator of claim 3, wherein the latch arm lockable by the first locking unit is coupled with the pushbutton and moved therewith synchronously.

5. The padlock with a status indicator of claim 3, wherein the second locking unit is coupled with the other latch arm lockable by the second locking unit, and moved therewith synchronously.

6. The padlock with a status indicator of claim 1, wherein the shackle is formed in one piece.

7. The padlock with a status indicator of claim 1, wherein the recognition marks are graphics.

8. The padlock with a status indicator of claim 1, wherein the recognition marks are characters.

9. The padlock with a status indicator of claim 1, wherein the recognition marks are color patches.

10. The padlock with a status indicator of claim 1, wherein the body has a window on the surface for seeing through the interior thereof, and the recognition marks corresponds to the window.

11. A padlock with a status indicator, comprising:

a body which has a window on the surface for seeing through the interior thereof,

an indicator located in the body having recognition marks corresponding to the window that are switchable to a first indication position and a second indication position;

a first locking unit and a second locking unit that are located on the body and operable and swtichable independently between different unlocking positions and different locking positions, and move the indicator to the first indication position and the second indication position during switching between the unlocking position and the locking position; and

a shackle lockable by at least one of the first locking unit and the second locking unit to form a closed space with the body, and being movable relative to the body when one of the locking positions of the first locking unit or the second locking unit respectively is released to form a gap in the closed space.

12. The padlock with a status indicator of claim 11, wherein the first locking unit and the second locking unit have respectively an actuation strut to move the indicator.

13. The padlock with a status indicator of claim 11, wherein the shackle includes a first latch arm and a second latch arm, the first latch arm lockable by the first locking unit, the second latch arm lockable by the second locking unit.

14. The padlock with a status indicator of claim 13, wherein the first latch arm is coupled with the first locking unit and moved therewith synchronously.

15. The padlock with a status indicator of claim 13, wherein the second latch arm is coupled with the second locking unit and moved therewith synchronously.

16. The padlock with a status indicator of claim 13, wherein the shackle is formed in one piece.

17. The padlock with a status indicator of claim 11, wherein the recognition marks are graphics.

18. The padlock with a status indicator of claim 11, wherein the recognition marks are characters.

19. The padlock with a status indicator of claim 11, wherein the recognition marks are color patches.

20. A padlock with a status indicator, comprising:

a body which has a window on the surface for seeing through the interior thereof;

an indicator located in the body having recognition marks corresponding to the window that are switchable to a first indication position and a second indication position;

a first locking unit and a second locking unit that are located on the body and operable and swtichable between different unlocking conditions and different locking conditions;

a first pushbutton lockable by the first locking unit and moving the indicator to the first indication position when the first locking unit is in the unlocking condition;

a second pushbutton lockable by the second locking unit and moving the indicator in the same direction as the first locking unit to the second indication position when the second locking unit is in the unlocking condition; and

a shackle lockable by at least one of the first locking unit and the second locking unit to form a closed space with the body, and being movable relative to the body when one of the locking conditions of the first locking unit or the second locking unit respectively is released to form a gap in the closed space.

21. The padlock with a status indicator of claim 20, wherein the shackle includes a first latch arm and a second latch arm, the first latch arm lockable by the first locking unit, the second latch arm lockable by the second locking unit.

22. The padlock with a status indicator of claim 21, wherein the first latch arm is coupled with the first pushbutton and moved synchronously therewith.

23. The padlock with a status indicator of claim 21, wherein the second latch arm is coupled with the second pushbutton and moved synchronously therewith.

24. The padlock with a status indicator of claim 20, wherein the shackle is formed in one piece.

25. The padlock with a status indicator of claim 20, wherein the recognition marks are graphics.

26. The padlock with a status indicator of claim 20, wherein the recognition marks are characters.

27. The padlock with a status indicator of claim 20, wherein the recognition marks are color patches.