Padlock with fully integrated dual locking system with indicator/signal assembly

• US 20060150690A1
• Filed: 10/06/2005
• Published: 07/13/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/04/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Sun Lock Company Ltd.
• Original Assignee: The Sun Lock Company Ltd.
• Inventors: Lai, Karl, Lai, Eric
• Granted Patent: US 7,225,648 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 70/21
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 17/002 Weather or dirt protection E05B15/029, E05B17/14 take precedence; for vehicle locks E05B77/34
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 35/105 Locks allowing opening by official authorities, e.g. master key opening of luggage locks by customs officials
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 37/0034 actuated by either
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 37/0058 by axial disengagement between hub and rim of tumbler discs or rings
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 37/025 in padlocks
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 39/00 Locks giving indication of authorised or unauthorised unlocking with key identification means E05B35/001; alarm locks E05B45/00
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 67/10 with devices for securing the free end of the shackle
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 67/22 Padlocks with sliding shackles, with or without rotary or pivotal movement
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/415 Combination and/or key-controlled
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/424 Sliding

Abstract

By providing two separate and independent locking systems formed in a single padlock, with both locking systems independently enabling the single shackle to be released and/or lockingly engaged, in combination with a signal/indicator system constructed to provide a positive notification when one of said systems is employed, an effective, easily produced, multi-purpose signal providing padlock is achieved. In the preferred embodiment, a single housing and shackle assembly are employed and constructed for enabling the shackle to be released from locked engagement with the housing using either a rotatable dial combination construction or a key activating tumbler construction. In addition, a signal/indicator is activated whenever the key controlled locking section is employed with the signal/indicator being locked in position, for resetting by only the user/owner.

Claims

1. A padlock constructed for providing two separate and independent locking means in a single, integrated construction, with a first locking assembly being controlled by a combination and a second locking assembly being key controlled, said padlock comprising:

A. a housing incorporating a combination controlled locking section and a key controlled locking section;

B. locking means in the form of a shackle cooperatively associated with the housing and movable between a first lockingly engaged position and a second unlocked, released position, wherein said second position is attainable using either the combination controlled section or the key controlled section; and

C. a signal/indicator system

a) mounted in the housing in cooperating relationship with the key controlled section and responsive to the use of the key controlled section for activation thereof, and

b) comprising an alert-providing indicator member movable between a first non-alert position and a second alert-providing position wherein at least a portion of said indicator member extends outwardly from the housing for providing positive notice that the key controlled locking section was used.

2. The padlock defined in claim 1, wherein said alert-providing indicator member is further defined as being locked in its second alert-providing position after activation, requiring the use of a reset key for returning said alert-providing indicator member to its first position

3. The padlock defined in claim 2, wherein the housing further comprises an aperture or slot formed therein and positioned in cooperating association with the alert-providing indicator member for enabling said member to extend through said aperture/slot for providing the positive notice that the key controlled section has been employed.

4. The padlock defined in claim 3, wherein said housing comprises an enlarged viewing zone associated with the aperture/slot for assuring that the alert providing indicator member is highly visible and easily seen.

5. The padlock defined in claim 4, wherein said alert-providing indicator member is further defined as comprising indicia formed thereon for enhancing the alert notification provided thereby, said indicia comprising at least one selected from the group consisting of alphanumeric designations, colors, and symbols.

6. A padlock constructed for providing two separate and independent locking means in a single, integrated construction, with a first locking assembly being controlled by a combination and a second locking assembly being key controlled, said padlock comprising:

A. a housing incorporating a combination controlled locking section and a key controlled locking section;

B. locking means in the form of a shackle cooperatively associated with the housing and movable between a first lockingly engaged position and a second unlocked, released position, wherein said second position is attainable using either the combination controlled section or the key controlled section;

C. a signal/indicator assembly mounted in the housing in cooperating relationship with the key controlled section and responsive to the use of the key controlled section for being movable from a first non-alert position to a second alert-providing position in response to the use of the key controlled locking section for opening the padlock; and

D. a reset key cooperatively associated with the padlock for being inserted into the housing after movement of the signal/indicator assembly into its second position and arcuately pivoting therein for causing the signal/indicator assembly to be returned to its first position.

7. The padlock defined in claim 6, wherein the reset key can be employed for returning the signal/indicator assembly from its second position to its first position when the padlock and shackle are in locked engagement with each other.

8. The padlock defined in claim 7, wherein they key controlled locking section of the housing is further defined as comprising at least one cylinder mounted therein for arcuate pivoting movement relative to the housing in response to the receipt and use of an activating key, with the arcuate pivoting movement of said cylinder being constructed for releasing the shackle from locked engagement with the housing.

9. The padlock defined in claim 8, wherein said signal/indicator assembly is further defined as comprising an elongated shaft or rod axially movable from a first position, wherein said shaft/rod is fully retained within the housing, to a second position wherein at least a portion of said shaft/rod extends outwardly from the housing, for providing the desired alert notification that the key controlled locking section had been employed.

10. The padlock defined in claim 9, wherein said shaft/rod is further defined as being cooperatively associated with a spring member for causing said shaft/rod to move from its first position to its second position, and said signal/indicator assembly is further defined as comprising a movable plate constructed for retaining the shaft/rod in its first position and being movable into a second, shaft/rod releasing position in response to the arcuate pivoting movement of said cylinder.

11. The padlock defined in claim 10, wherein said signal/indicator assembly is further defined as comprising a locking plate for maintaining the shaft/rod in its second position after activation, with said locking plate being responsive to the use of a reset key for disengaging from the shaft/rod and enabling the shaft/rod to be returned to its first position.

12. The padlock defined in claim 8, wherein said signal/indicator assembly is further defined as comprising a substantially cylindrically shaped indicator member incorporating alert-providing indicia formed thereon and being movable between a first non-alert providing position and a second alert-providing position wherein said indicia is readily visible, said indicator member being mounted in the housing and constructed for being arcuately pivotable about its central axis in response to the arcuate movement of said cylinder, said arcuate pivoting movement causing said indicator member to pivot into its second position for displaying said alert-proving indicia.

13. The padlock defined in claim 12, wherein said cylindrically shaped indicator member is further defined as comprising a radially extending arm mounted for cooperative engagement with said cylinder, with said arm being constructed for controlled movement with the arcuate pivoting movement of said cylinder, thereby causing said indicator member to arcuately pivot simultaneously therewith.

14. The padlock defined in claim 13, wherein said signal/indicator assembly further comprises locking means for maintaining the indicator member in its second alert-providing position, said locking means being responsive to the use of a reset key for enabling the indicator member to be replaced in its first non-alert position.

15. The padlock defined in claim 8, wherein said signal/indicator assembly is further defined as comprising a substantially flat indicator member pivotally mounted in the housing for movement between a first non-alert-providing position and a second alert-providing position, said indicator member incorporating a control arm cooperatively associated with the cylinder for causing the indicator member to arcuately pivot in response to the arcuate pivoting movement of said cylinder.

16. The padlock defined in claim 15, wherein said indicator member comprises an enlarged alert providing display zone integrally associated therewith, said display zone constructed for being fully retained in the housing when in its first non-alert position and for extending outwardly from the housing when in its second alert-providing position.

17. The padlock defined in claim 16, wherein said signal/indicator assembly further comprises locking means for maintaining the indicator member in its second alert-providing position, said locking means being responsive to the use of a reset key for enabling the indicator member to return to its non-alert position.

18. The padlock defined in claim 16, wherein said locking means is further defined as comprising an axially movable, spring biased shaft mounted in an elongated cavity formed in said housing, with first end of said shaft being in contact with the indicator member and in juxtaposed relationship with a shaft receiving zone formed in the indicator member, whereby movement of the indicator member from its first position to its second position causes the shaft receiving zone to be axially aligned with the spring biased shaft, for enabling the shaft to move into locking engagement with the receiving zone.

19. The padlock defined in claim 16, wherein the indicator member is further defined as comprising a slot formed therein and said locking means is further defined as comprising a spring member mounted to the housing in cooperating association with the indicator member and constructed for lockingly engaging the slot of the indicator member when the indicator member is moved into its second, alert-providing position, thereby assuring that the indicator member is secured in its second, alert-providing position when activated.

20. The padlock defined in claim 19, wherein the locking means is further defined as comprising a returning spring member cooperatively associated with the indicator member for automatically returning the indicator member to its first position whenever the reset key is employed to disengage the spring member from the slot.

21. The padlock defined in claim 8, wherein said signal/indicator assembly is further defined as comprising an elongated rod or shaft constructed for arcuate pivoting movement about its central axis in response to the use of the key controlled section and incorporating a portion thereof extending outwardly from the housing and forming an alert providing indicator and being movable between a first non-alert providing position and a second alert-providing position.

22. The padlock defined in claim 21, wherein said elongated rod/shaft is further defined as comprising a radially extending arm mounted for cooperative engagement with said rod/shaft, with said arm being constructed for controlled movement with the arcuate pivoting movement of said cylinder, thereby causing said rod/shaft to arcuately pivot simultaneously therewith.

23. The padlock defined in claim 22, wherein said signal/indicator assembly further comprises locking means for maintaining the indicator member in its second alert-providing position, said locking means being responsive to the use of a reset key for enabling the indicator member to be replaced in its first non-alert position.

24. The padlock defined in claim 23, wherein said signal/indicator assembly is further defined as comprising a locking plate mounted to the rod/shaft and pivotally movable in the housing in response to the arcuate pivoting movement of said radially extending arm.

25. The padlock defined in claim 24, wherein said locking means is further defined as comprising an axially movable, spring biased shaft mounted in an elongated cavity formed in said housing, with first end of said shaft being in contact with the locking plate and in juxtaposed relationship with a shaft receiving zone formed in the locking plate, whereby movement of the indicator member from its first position to its second position causes the shaft receiving zone to be axially aligned with the spring biased shaft, for enabling the shaft to move into locking engagement with the receiving zone, thereby assuring that the indicator member is secured in its second, alert-providing position when activated.

26. The padlock defined in claim 25, wherein the signal/indicator assembly is further defined as comprising a returning spring member cooperatively associated with the indicator member for automatically returning the indicator member to its first position whenever the reset key is employed to disengage the shaft from the shaft receiving zone of the locking plate.

27. The padlock defined in claim 21, wherein the outwardly extending portion of the rod/shaft is further defined as being cooperatively associated with a display area formed on a surface of the housing and constructed for providing a non-alert signal and an alert signal in response to the arcuate movement of said rod/shaft.

28. The padlock defined in claim 27, wherein the display area formed on the surface of the housing comprises indicia for designating a non-alert condition and an alert condition and the outwardly extending portion of the rod/shaft comprises a condition indicator or pointer movable between the non-alert condition indicia when in its first position and the alert condition indicia when in its second position, thereby providing the desired readily seen, highly visible notification.

29. A padlock constructed for providing two separate and independent locking means in a single, integrated construction, with a first locking assembly being controlled by a combination and a second locking assembly being key controlled, said padlock comprising:

A. a housing incorporating

a. a first elongated bore, and a second elongated bore,

b. plurality of dial receiving zones formed in the housing in association with the first elongated bore, and

c. an elongated release channel formed in the first elongated bore and axially extending therewith, said elongated release channel defining a zone for enabling the opening of the combination controlled lock assembly;

B. locking means in the form of a shackle comprising a generally J-shape, incorporating

a. a short leg having a terminating end constructed for cooperative locking and unlocking interengagement with a holding collar mounted in the housing, and

b. a long leg cooperatively mounted in the first elongated bore of the housing for axial movement and pivoting movement relative thereto;

C. a key controlled lock assembly mounted in the second elongated bore of the housing and constructed for being responsive to a designated key member for enabling movement between a first position, wherein the shackle is in locked engagement, and a second position, wherein the shackle is unlocked and movable, said lock assembly comprising;

a. a cylinder assembly

1. mounted in the second elongated bore for controlled rotational movement therein, and

2. incorporating a key receiving slot cooperatively associated with a plurality of tumblers for preventing the rotational movement of said cylinder whenever the designated key member is not present and enabling rotational movement of the cylinder in response to the presence of the designated key member, and

b. a shackle engaging collar cooperatively associated with the terminating end of the short leg of the shackle and responsive to the rotational movement of the cylinder for preventing movement of the shackle when in a first position and enabling movement of the shackle when the cylinder assembly is in a second position;

D. a signal/indicator system

a. mounted in the housing in cooperating relationship with the key controlled section and responsive to the use of the key controlled section for activation thereof, and

b. comprising an alert-providing indicator member movable between a first non-alert position, and a second alert-providing position wherein a portion of said indicator member extends outwardly from the housing for providing positive notice that the key controlled locking section was used.

30. The padlock defined in claim 29, wherein said alert-providing indicator member is further defined as being locked in its second alert-providing position after activation, requiring the use of a reset key for returning said alert-providing indicator member to its first position