Combination and key operated locks with indicators

• US 20080295548A1
• Filed: 10/27/2007
• Published: 12/04/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/05/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Eastern Company The
• Original Assignee: Eastern Company The
• Inventors: Misner, Michael O., Lu, Jian-Bing
• Granted Patent: US 7,832,238 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 70/21
• 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 65/5261 with simultaneously operating double bolts
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/415 Combination and/or key-controlled
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/424 Sliding
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/5031 Receptacle
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/7141 Combination and key
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/7147 Combination or key
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/7153 Combination
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/8027 Condition indicators
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/8459 Housings

Abstract

Locks for luggage, travelcases, briefcases and the like that can be operated by setting a combination or by using a key include an indicator to provide a signal in response to use of the key. The locks retain relatively movable components in latched engagement when locked, and permit relative movement of the components when unlocked. In some embodiments, the indicator provides a visual signal if an associated travelcase has been opened for inspection by unlocking the associated lock using a key; and, in some embodiments, the indicator can be reset upon entry of a proper combination.

Claims

1. A visual signal indicator movable where installed on a portable travel receptacle to provide a visual signal in response to a key being used in a key opening of the receptacle and being resettable only after a combination has been set on the receptacle, wherein relatively movable portions of the receptacle are released from a condition of locked engagement by setting the combination, and, alternatively, by using the key in the key opening.

2. A travel receptacle having a combination mechanism and a key mechanism each being independently capable of unlocking the receptacle, and having a member that moves in response to the use of the key mechanism to alter the visual appearance of the receptacle, with the member being resettable to restore the appearance of the receptacle after use of the combination mechanism.

3. An indicator on a lock of a travel receptacle to signal visually in response to the use of a key in a key opening of the lock, and being resettable once a combination is set on the lock, wherein the receptacle is adapted to release from a locked condition in response to the use of the key and, alternatively, in response to the setting of the combination.

4. A portable travel receptacle having first and second parts releasably connectable by a lock having a first assembly on the first part and a second assembly on the second part releasable from latched engagement in a first way by using a key with the first assembly and in a second way by setting a combination with the second assembly, wherein the lock provides a signal in response to the use of a key.

5. The portable travel receptacle of claim 4 wherein the signal is a visual signal that can be reset after setting the combination.

6. The portable travel receptacle of claim 4 wherein the signal is provided by the second assembly.

7. The portable travel receptacle of claim 4 wherein the lock includes a reset member usable to reset the signal and to change the combination.

8. The portable travel receptacle of claim 4 wherein the first assembly includes a keyhole into which the key is inserted to use the key with the first assembly.

9. The portable travel receptacle of claim 8 wherein the second assembly includes at least one dial that can be turned to set the combination, and an indicator that moves to provide the signal.

10. The portable travel receptacle of claim 9 wherein a shaft that supports the dial is movable to reset the signal.

11. A portable travel receptacle that can be opened by setting a combination, having a signal surface that becomes visible once a key is used to open the receptacle, and having a reset member that can be grasped and moved to reset the signal surface when the receptacle is open.

12. The portable travel receptacle of claim 11 including a combination operated mechanism that has at least one dial turnable about a shaft to set the combination, and wherein the reset member includes the shaft.

13. The portable travel receptacle of claim 11 including a key operated assembly with which the key can be used to open the receptacle, and a separate combination operated assembly on which the combination can be set to open the receptacle, wherein the key operated assembly and the combination operated assembly latchingly engage when the receptacle is closed.

14. A portable travel receptacle lockable by first and second components that can be released from latched engagement in a first way by use of a key with a key mechanism and in a second way by setting a combination with a combination mechanism, wherein the use of the key causes a visual signal to be set that can be reset by moving a component of the combination mechanism.

15. The portable travel receptacle of claim 14 wherein the key mechanism and the combination mechanism are installed on relatively movable parts of the receptacle that can be separated to open a compartment of the receptacle when the latched engagement is released, and wherein the visual signal is provided by an indicator that moves between two positions and is releasably retained in at least one of the two positions.

16. A lock having a first assembly and a second assembly mountable on separate relatively movable hardcase structures that can be held in latched engagement by the lock and can be released from latched engagement by setting a combination on the first assembly and, alternatively, by using a key with the second assembly, and having a resettable indicator that provides a key usage responsive signal.

17. The lock of claim 16 wherein the second assembly defines a pair of arms that can latchingly engage a latch bolt of the first assembly, wherein the arms can be oppositely pivoted between first and second positions in response to a key cylinder of the second assembly being turned by a key inserted therein.

18. The lock of claim 17 wherein portions of the arms that can latchingly engage the latch bolt are of hook shaped configuration, and the arms are biased toward a selected one of the first and second positions.

19. The lock of claim 17 wherein the latch bolt moves between a position wherein the latch bolt is able to latchingly engage the pair of arms and a position wherein the latch bolt is not able to latchingly engage the pair of arms, and movement of the latch bolt between said positions is a result of setting and not setting the combination.

20. The lock of claim 19 wherein the latch bolt is biased toward a selected one of said positions.

21. The lock of claim 16 wherein at least one of the first and second assemblies has front unit and rear unit components that can be moved toward each other during installation of the lock on the hardcase structures to clamp hardcase structure portions therebetween.

23. The lock of claim 21 wherein the indicator is connected to the combination operated assembly and can be reset by moving a component of the combination operated assembly that also can be moved to change the combination that operates the combination operated assembly.

22. A lock comprising a combination operated assembly connectable to one of two relatively movable devices and operable to unlock the lock from latching together the two devices, a key operated assembly connectable to the other of the devices and operable to unlock the lock, wherein the key operated assembly has a pair of arms that can be oppositely moved by use of a key with the key operated assembly from a position of engagement with a latch bolt of the combination operated assembly, wherein the latch bolt can be moved from the position of engagement by setting a combination, and wherein the lock has a key usage responsive indicator connected to a selected one of the combination operated assembly and the key operated assembly.

24. A padlock having a housing that shields from access a location within the housing where first and second components can latchingly engage to lock relatively movable members of the padlock, wherein the first component can be moved from the location by use of a key to unlock the lock, wherein the second component can be moved from the location by setting a combination to unlock the lock, and wherein the housing also protectively encloses a movable indicator that changes position to provide a signal through an opening of the housing in response to the movement of the first component by the use of the key.

25. The padlock of claim 24 wherein the first and second components are capable of establishing a plurality of latched engagements at the location, and all of the established latched engagements are released when the key is used and when the combination is set.

26. A lock having a combination mechanism extending along a first axis that can be used to open the lock by turning at least one dial of the combination mechanism about the first axis to set a combination, a key mechanism extending along a second axis that can be used to open the lock by turning at least one member of the key mechanism about the second axis, and an indicator extending along a third axis that can turn relative to the third axis to provide a visual signal in response to use of the key.

27. A lock having a plurality of relatively movable latching components movable relative to a housing of the lock into and out of latched engagement, a key operated mechanism and a combination operated mechanism each being usable to move different ones of the latching components to release the latched engagement, and a resettable indicator that provides a visual signal in response to use of the key operated mechanism.

28. A combination operable lock that provides a signal that is visible once a key has been used to release a locked condition of the lock, wherein the signal emanates from an electrically powered device.

29. The lock of claim 28 wherein the signal can be reset once a combination is set that unlocks the lock.

30. A lock having a first locking member and a second locking member capable of latchingly engaging at a location within a housing of the lock, wherein the latching engagement can be released by using a key to move the first locking member and alternatively by setting a combination to move the second locking member, and the lock provides a visual signal in response to using the key.

31. The lock of claim 30 wherein the first and second locking members comprise elements of separate assemblies each installed on a different hardcase structure.

32. The lock of claim 30 wherein the visual signal is provided by a movable indicator connected to a selected one of the hardcase structures.

33. A lock having first and second housings, a key operable mechanism connected to the first housing, a combination operated mechanism connected to the second housing, a first latching element that projects from one of the first and second housings for extending into an opening defined by the other of the first and second housings to engage a second latching element carried within said other of the housings, and wherein the key operated mechanism and the combination operated mechanism each can release a latched engagement of the first and second latching elements by moving a different one of the first and second latching elements.

34. The lock of claim 33 additionally including an indicator that responds to use of a key with the key operated mechanism.

35. A lock operable by setting a combination and having a signal surface that becomes visible once a key is used to release a locked condition of the lock, and having a reset member movable to reset the signal surface once a combination is set.

36. The lock of claim 35 wherein the reset member extends through a housing opening of the lock and can be manually moved to reset the signal surface.

37. The lock of claim 35 including a key operated assembly with which the key can be used to release the locked condition of the lock, and a separate combination operated assembly on which a combination can be set to release the locked condition of the lock, wherein the assemblies latchingly engage when the lock is in the locked condition, and the lock has a resettable key usage responsive indicator.

38. A combination operable lock having a pair of components that latchingly engage when the lock is locked, one of which can be moved by the use of the key to unlock the lock, and the other of which can be moved by setting a combination to unlock the lock, and having a reset member that can be grasped and moved to reset an indicator that provides a signal in response to the use of the key.

39. The lock of claim 38 wherein the reset member also can be moved to change the combination.

40. The lock of claim 38 wherein the key mechanism and the combination mechanism constitute elements of separate assemblies that disconnect when the latched engagement of the pair of components is released.

41. The lock of claim 38 wherein the indicator is carried by a selected one of the separate assemblies that also carries the combination mechanism.

42. A lock having a combination mechanism and a key mechanism each capable of moving different components of the lock to unlock the lock, and providing a signal in response to use of a key in the key mechanism, wherein the signal can be reset by moving a reset element of the lock relative to a housing of the lock at a time when the lock is unlocked.

43. The lock of claim 42 wherein the different components that can be moved by the combination mechanism and the key mechanism are elements of separate assemblies that can be releasably retained in latched engagement by the lock.

44. The lock of claim 43 wherein the separate assemblies are connectable to separate hardcase structures that can be moved apart from each other, and the separate assemblies can couple the hardcase structures when in said latched engagement.

45. The lock of claim 42 wherein the different components are movable toward each other in one manner to establish latched engagement therebetween, and are movable in a different manner to release the latched engagement.

46. A lock having first and second latchingly engageable members releasable from latched engagement by using a key to move the first member in a first manner and, alternatively, by setting a combination to move the second member in a second manner, and providing a visual signal in response to the first manner of movement of the first member.

47. The lock of claim 46 wherein an indicator is movable between first position to provide a specific visual signal and a second position to cease providing the specific visual signal.

48. The lock of claim 47 wherein the indicator is biased toward at least a selected one of the first and second positions when near the selected one of the first and second positions.

49. The lock of claim 47 wherein the indicator is biased toward the first position when near the first position, and toward the second position when near the second position.

50. A lock having a key mechanism and a combination mechanism each usable separately from the other to unlock the lock, and having a key use responsive indicator that alters the appearance of the lock in a way that can be reversed by moving a reset element of the lock relative to a housing of the lock.

51. The lock of claim 50 wherein a graspable portion of the reset element extends through an opening of a housing of the lock.

52. A combination lock installable on a hardcase to lock and unlock the hardcase and having both a combination mechanism and a key mechanism each being usable independently to unlock the hardcase, and having a color indicator that visibly alters the appearance of the lock once the lock has been unlocked by the key mechanism.