Security device and methodology

• US 20060213243A1
• Filed: 03/24/2005
• Published: 09/28/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/24/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sandford Bosin
• Original Assignee: Sandford Bosin
• Inventors: Bosin, Sandford
• Granted Patent: US 7,594,416 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 70/432
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 37/0068 in padlocks E05B37/025, E05B37/10 and E05B37/14 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 41/00 Locks with visible indication as to whether the lock is locked or unlocked indicator lights E05B17/10
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/417 Combination-controlled
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/422 Rigid shackle
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/437 Key-controlled
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/7153 Combination
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/7441 Key
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/8027 Condition indicators
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/8108 Padlock
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/827 Attention-directing

Abstract

A lock having a body, a face, a shackle and an audio and/or a visual system. The audio system includes a speaker system and a controller, and the visual system includes an indicator light and a controller. The systems also employ a battery and a battery indicator light, e.g., an LED, indicating when the battery needs to be replaced. The audio system emits an audible sequence and the visual system emits a light sequence when the lock is unlocked, reminding a user to lock the lock.

Claims

1. A lock comprising:

a locking mechanism; and

an indicator, said indicator being activated when said locking mechanism is unlocked, and said indicator being deactivated when said locking mechanism is locked, wherein a user of said lock is alerted to the unlocked status of said locking mechanism by a signal from said indicator, and wherein the continued unlocked status of said locking mechanism causes generation, by said indicator, of a second signal.

2. The lock according to claim 1, wherein said indicator is an audio system, wherein said indicator emits an audible signal when said locking mechanism is unlocked, and said audible signal is deactivated when said locking mechanism is locked.

3. The lock according to claim 2, wherein said audio system comprises:

a speaker; and

a controller,

wherein said speaker emits said audible signal when said locking mechanism is unlocked, and, upon locking of the locking mechanism, said controller instructs said speaker to cease said audible signal.

4. The lock according to claim 2, wherein said audible signal is a tone.

5. The lock according to claim 4, wherein said audible signal comprises a plurality of tones, said plurality of tones capable of differing from each other.

6. The lock according to claim 2, wherein said audible signal is repeated periodically.

7. The lock according to claim 2, wherein the volume of said audible signal varies.

8. The lock according to claim 7, wherein the volume of said audible signal increases as long as the locking mechanism is unlocked.

9. The lock according to claim 1, wherein said indicator is a light system, wherein said indicator emits a visual signal when said locking mechanism is unlocked, and said visual signal is deactivated when said locking mechanism is locked.

10. The lock according to claim 9, wherein said light system comprises:

an indicator light; and

a controller,

wherein said indicator light emits said visual signal when said locking mechanism is unlocked, and, upon locking of the locking mechanism, said controller instructs said indicator light to cease said visual signal.

11. The lock according to claim 9, wherein said visual signal is a continuous light.

12. The lock according to claim 9, wherein said visual signal comprises a flashing signal repeated periodically.

13. The lock according to claim 9, wherein the intensity of said visual signal varies.

14. The lock according to claim 13, wherein the intensity of said visual signal increases as long as the locking mechanism is unlocked.

15. The lock according to claim 9, wherein said visual signal comprises a plurality of lights.

16. The lock according to claim 15, wherein said plurality of lights emit respective visual signals, said respective visual signals capable of differing in color or intensity.

17. The lock according to claim 9, wherein said visual signal comprises a light varying in color or intensity.

18. The lock according to claim 1, wherein said indicator is a vibratory device.

19. The lock according to claim 1, wherein said lock is a combination lock.

20. A method for securing an object for a user comprising:

locking said object using a lock, said lock including an indicator;

alerting said user, by a first signal from said indicator upon said lock being unlocked, of the unlocked status of said lock, said indicator being disabled upon said lock then being locked, wherein the user of said object is alerted to the unlocked status of the object by said first signal from said indicator, and

further alerting said user, by a second signal from said indicator after said first signal, of the unlocked status of said object.