MULTIFUNCTION LOCK WITH INDICATOR AND MECHANISM FOR RELOCKING WITHOUT KEY
First Claim
1. A lock comprising:
- a housing;
a key lock mechanism having a locked state and an unlocked state, wherein at least a portion of the key lock mechanism is located within the housing and the key lock comprises a key way for receiving a key;
a second lock mechanism having a locked state and an unlocked state, wherein at least a portion of the second lock mechanism is located within the housing;
at least one engaging member for lockably engaging at least one complementary article, the at least one engaging member operatively associated with the key lock mechanism and the second lock mechanism such that the at least one engaging member is moveable away from a locked position upon unlocking at least one of the key lock mechanism and the second lock mechanism to release the at least one complementary article; and
wherein, when the key lock is unlocked by operation of a key positioned in the key way, the at least one engaging member may lockably engage the at least one complementary article with the key removed from the key way.
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Accused Products
Abstract
In accordance with at least one embodiment of the present disclosure, a lock is provided with a key lock mechanism and the lock has the ability to be relocked after the key lock mechanism has been opened and the key withdrawn from the key lock. Embodiments of the present disclosure may include a zipper lock with lock tongues that engage openings in zipper pulls of an article to be locked, a padlock, a strap lock, and a hard luggage lock. Embodiments of the present disclosure may also include an indicator for signaling that the key lock mechanism has been opened by a key. Embodiments of the disclosure may also include indicia for signaling that the lock is of the type which allows the lock to be relocked with the key removed from the key way of the key lock. Alternatively, embodiments of the disclosure may include a retaining function for retaining the key in the lock until the key lock mechanism is returned to a locked state.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A lock comprising:
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a housing; a key lock mechanism having a locked state and an unlocked state, wherein at least a portion of the key lock mechanism is located within the housing and the key lock comprises a key way for receiving a key; a second lock mechanism having a locked state and an unlocked state, wherein at least a portion of the second lock mechanism is located within the housing; at least one engaging member for lockably engaging at least one complementary article, the at least one engaging member operatively associated with the key lock mechanism and the second lock mechanism such that the at least one engaging member is moveable away from a locked position upon unlocking at least one of the key lock mechanism and the second lock mechanism to release the at least one complementary article; and wherein, when the key lock is unlocked by operation of a key positioned in the key way, the at least one engaging member may lockably engage the at least one complementary article with the key removed from the key way. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. In a lock having a housing, a key lock mechanism, wherein the key lock mechanism includes a key way, and the key lock mechanism has a locked position and an unlocked position, and an engaging member having a locked position and an unlocked position, for lockably engaging a complementary article when the engaging member is in the locked position, the engaging member operatively associated with the key lock mechanism and movable away from the locked position to the unlocked position when the key lock mechanism is in the unlocked position, the improvement comprising:
the engaging member being made from a flexible material such that the engaging member deflects to lockably engage the complementary article when the engaging member is in the locked position. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method for operating a lock to secure a complementary article, the lock including a first key operated locking mechanism, a second lock mechanism and a latch having a first position where the latch engages a complementary article, and a second position where the latch is disengaged from the complementary article, comprising the steps of:
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opening the first key operated locking mechanism using a key; moving the latch to the second position to disengage the complementary article; and moving the latch to the first position to engage the complementary article by motion of the complementary article. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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Specification