Padlock having an identification function

• US 20060107710A1
• Filed: 01/11/2005
• Published: 05/25/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/23/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Chun Te Yu
• Original Assignee: Chun Te Yu
• Inventors: Yu, Chun Te
• Granted Patent: US 7,100,401 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 70/25
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 37/025 in padlocks
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/415 Combination and/or key-controlled
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/424 Sliding
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/8108 Padlock
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/8162 Padlock

Abstract

A padlock includes a housing, a shackle, a number lock mechanism, a key lock mechanism, a movable block, and an identification member. Thus, the identification member is exposed outward from the window of the limit knob after the padlock has been unlocked by an inspector of the customs for checking the luggage so as to remind a user to inspect if contents of the luggage that has been opened and checked are missed or lost.

Claims

1. A padlock, comprising:

a housing;

a shackle mounted on the housing and having a first end formed with a pivot shaft movably mounted in the housing and a second end formed with a locking portion moved with the pivot shaft and extended outward from the housing;

a number lock mechanism mounted in the housing to lock and unlock the pivot shaft of the shackle;

a key lock mechanism mounted on the housing and including a lock core rotatably mounted in the housing, and a limit knob located outside of the housing and rotated by rotation of the lock core, wherein the limit knob has a window;

a movable block movably mounted in the limit knob of the key lock mechanism, wherein when the limit knob is moved away to release the locking portion of the shackle, the movable block is moved to an identification position synchronously;

an identification member mounted on the movable block and directed toward the window of the limit knob, wherein when the movable block is moved to the identification position thereof, the identification member is aligned with and exposed outward from the window of the limit knob.

2. The padlock in accordance with claim 1, wherein the identification member is selectively chosen from the group of a color, a character, a number and a pattern.

3. The padlock in accordance with claim 1, wherein the limit knob of the key lock mechanism has a receiving recess to receive a distal end of the locking portion of the shackle.

4. The padlock in accordance with claim 1, wherein the limit knob is formed with a chamber facing the housing to receive the movable block.

5. The padlock in accordance with claim 4, wherein:

the limit knob has a shaft hole connected to the chamber;

the movable block has a first side provided with a protruding shaft bolt extended into the shaft hole of the limit knob and a second side provided with a guide portion formed with a first ramp;

the housing is formed with a second ramp complementarily touchable with the first ramp of the guide portion of the movable block.

6. The padlock in accordance with claim 4, wherein:

the limit knob has an arc-shaped guide slot connected to the chamber;

the housing is formed with a limit slot;

the movable block has a first side provided with a first protruding post slidably mounted in the guide slot of the limit knob and a second side provided with a second protruding post slidably mounted in the limit slot of the housing and rested on a terminal side of the limit slot of the housing.

7. A padlock, comprising:

a housing;

a shackle mounted on the housing and having a first end formed with a pivot shaft movably mounted in the housing and a second end formed with a locking portion moved with the pivot shaft and extended outward from the housing, wherein a gap is defined between a distal end of the locking portion of the shackle and the housing;

a number lock mechanism mounted in the housing to lock and unlock the pivot shaft of the shackle;

a key lock mechanism mounted on the housing and including a lock core rotatably mounted in the housing, and a limit knob located outside of the housing and moved by rotation of the lock core, wherein the limit knob has a window and detachably received in the gap;

a movable block movably mounted in the limit knob of the key lock mechanism, wherein when the limit knob is moved away from the gap, the movable block is moved to an identification position synchronously;

an identification member mounted on the movable block and directed toward the window of the limit knob, wherein when the movable block is moved to the identification position thereof, the identification member is aligned with and exposed outward from the window of the limit knob.

8. The padlock in accordance with claim 7, wherein the identification member is selectively chosen from the group of a color, a character, a number and a pattern.