Padlock with tamper alarm
First Claim
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1. A padlock with a tamper alarm, said padlock comprising:
- a body;
a shackle having a pair of legs;
means mounting said shackle for reciprocal movement relative to said body between a closed first position and an open second position of the shackle when the shackle is in its closed position;
lock means operable to disengage said latch means from said shackle;
alarm means actuable to sound an alarm;
and means, responsive to the movement of said shackle between its first and second position, for automatically actuating said alarm means momentarily as a test of its operativeness.
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Abstract
A padlock contains a battery connected by electrical circuitry and switches to an alarm sounding device which sounds an alarm when someone attempts to force open or sever the lock shackle or when someone attempts to remove the battery in an unauthorized manner. A test signal of momentary duration is automatically sounded each time the lock is opened or closed in an authorized manner, and this indicates whether the alarm system is operative.
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Citations
36 Claims
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1. A padlock with a tamper alarm, said padlock comprising:
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a body; a shackle having a pair of legs; means mounting said shackle for reciprocal movement relative to said body between a closed first position and an open second position of the shackle when the shackle is in its closed position; lock means operable to disengage said latch means from said shackle; alarm means actuable to sound an alarm; and means, responsive to the movement of said shackle between its first and second position, for automatically actuating said alarm means momentarily as a test of its operativeness. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. A padlock with a tamper alarm, said padlock comprising:
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a body; a shackle having a pair of legs; means mounting said shackle for reciprocal movement relative to said body between a closed first position and an open second position of the shackle; latch means for engaging one leg of said shackle when the shackle is in its closed position; lock means operable to disengage said latch means from said shackle; alarm means actuable to sound an alarm; a compartment in said body for containing a battery to provide energy for said alarm means; an entry to said compartment for gaining access to a battery therein; a removable cap for closing said entry; first contact means between said cap and the location in said compartment for said battery; ring-shaped second contact means between said first contact means and said cap; means for electrically connecting one of said contact means to said battery and the other contact means to said alarm means; means mounting said first contact means for movement between a closed first position, in which the first contact means is in electrical contact with said second contact means for closing a connection between said battery and said alarm means, and an open second position in which said electrical contact is broken; means associated with said cap for displacing the first contact means to its open second position when the cap is closed; and means for urging the first contact means to its closed first position in response to removal of said cap; whereby said alarm means is actuated in response to the removal of said cap when the shackle is in its closed position. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31)
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32. A padlock with a tamper alarm, said padlock comprising:
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a body; a shackle having a pair of legs means mounting said shackle for reciprocal movement relative to said body between a closed first position and an open second position of the shackle; latch means for engaging one leg of said shackle when the shackle is in its closed position; lock means operable to disengage said latch means from said shackle; alarm means actuable to sound an alarm; a compartment in said body for containing a battery to provide energy for said alarm means; an entry to said compartment for gaining access to a battery therein; a removable cap for closing said entry; an electrical circuit comprising a pair of switch means; means for maintaining one of said switch means in an open condition when said cap is unremoved; means for maintaining the other of said switch means in a closed position when said shackle is in its closed position; said electrical circuit comprising means for connecting said battery to said alarm means to actuate the alarm means, when both of said switch means are closed; said one switch means comprising first contact means between said cap and the location in said compartment for said battery; ring-shaped second contact means between said first contact means and said cap; said connecting means comprising means for electrically connecting one of said contact means to said battery and the other contact means to said other switch means; means mounting said first contact means for movement between a closed first position, in which the first contact means is in electrical contact with said second contact means to close the one switch means, and an open second position in which said electrical contact is broken; means associated with said cap for displacing the first contact means to its open second position when the cap is closed; and means for urging the first contact means to its closed first position in response to removal of said cap; whereby said alarm means is actuated in response to the removal of said cap when the shackle is in the closed position. - View Dependent Claims (33, 34)
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35. A padlock with a tamper alarm, said padlock being for use with a battery having a pair of poles each at a respective opposite end of the battery, said padlock comprising:
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a body; a shackle having a pair of legs; means mounting said shackle for reciprocal movement relative to said body between a closed first position and an open second position of the shackle; latch means for engaging one leg of said shackle when the shackle is in its closed position; lock means operable to disengage said latch means from said shackle; alarm means actuable to sound an alarm; a compartment in said body for containing a battery to provide energy for said alarm means; an entry to said compartment for gaining access to a battery therein; a removable cap for closing said entry; means, responsive to the removal of said cap when the shackle is in its closed position, for actuating said alarm means; a pair of movable battery-engaging elements each comprising means for engaging a respective pole of said battery; each of said battery-engaging elements being located adjacent a respective pole of said battery when the battery is in said compartment; means associated with said cap for urging one of said battery-engaging elements toward said battery to maintain the battery in contact with both of said battery-engaging elements when said entry is closed by said cap; means for urging the other of said battery engaging elements toward said battery to maintain the battery in contact with both of said battery-engaging elements when said cap is removed; and means for limiting the movement of said one battery-engaging element away from said battery when the cap is removed; said urging means for said other battery-engaging element comprising means for limiting movement of the other battery-engaging element away from the battery when said one battery engaging element is urged toward the battery.
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36. A padlock with a tamper alarm, said padlock comprising:
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a body; a shackle having a long leg and a short leg having a free end; means mounting said shackle for reciprocal movement relative to said body between a closed first position and an open second position of the shackle; latch means for engaging said long leg of said shackle when the shackle is in its closed position; lock means operable to disengage said latch means from said shackle; alarm means actuable to sound an alarm; means in said body for containing a battery to provide energy for said alarm means; a conductor ring located inwardly of said free end of said short shackle leg; a conductor member located in said body inwardly of said conductor ring; means for electrically connecting one of (a) said conductor ring and (b) said conductor member to a battery contained in said body and the other to said alarm means; means mounting said conductor member for movement toward and away from said conductor ring; means normally urging said conductor member toward said conductor ring for closing a connection between said battery and said alarm means; and a non-conductive stud extending outwardly from said conductor member, through said conductor ring and abutting against the free end of the short shackle leg when the shackle is in its closed position, to hold said conductor member away from said conductor ring when the shackle is closed; the distance between the conductor member and the conductor ring when the shackle is closed being less than the distance traveled in an outward direction by the free end of the short shackle leg when the shackle moves from its closed to its open position; whereby said alarm means is actuated in response to movement of the short leg toward its open position while the long leg is engaged by the latch means.
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Specification