Lock condition indicator device

• US 5,595,080 A
• Filed: 09/05/1995
• Issued: 01/21/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Mark J. Whinton
• Original Assignee: Mark J. Whinton
• Inventors: Whinton, Mark J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Meyers, Steven N.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lecher, Donald J.
• Application Number:
  US08/523,645
• Time in Patent Office: 504 Days
• Field of Search: 70/432, 70/395, 70/401, 70/436, 70/438, 70/439, 70/441, 411/349, 411/550, 411/551, 411/552, 411/553
• US Class Current: 70/432
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 19/22 Keys with devices for indicating whether the last operation was locking or unlocking
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/7802 Multi-part structures
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/8027 Condition indicators
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/8189 Contactual feeler

Abstract

A lock condition indicator device which is adapted for affixation to a key for a cylinder lock has a substantially circular movable means adapted to be retained in juxtaposition to a head portion of the key, but rotatable about a longitudinal axis of the key when an engaging means on the circumference of the movable means encounters an obstructing means on an outer surface of the lock, resulting in the movable means being rotated into one of a plurality of indicator positions.

Claims

1. A lock condition indicator device for use with a corresponding cylinder lock, said lock having a pin projecting therefrom, said device comprising:

a key head and a shank extending from said head, said head having an outer disc with a flat surface perpendicular to said shank and an inner disc extending outwardly from said flat surface;

a disc rotatably mounted around said inner disc, said rotatable disc having engaging means on its circumference for engaging said pin extending from said lock, such that said rotatable disc is rotated into one of a plurality of indicator positions as said key head is turned in said lock permitting the status of the lock to be ascertained from said key.

2. A lock condition indicator device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said engaging means comprises two projections from the circumference of said rotatable disc.

3. A lock condition indicator device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said engaging means comprises a recessed area along a portion of the circumference of said rotatable disc.

4. A lock condition indicator device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the head comprises at least one projection and at least one detent provided on opposing surfaces of said outer disc and said rotatable disc being capable of interacting to retain said rotating disc in an appropriate indicator position after rotation thereto by operation of said key in said lock.

5. A lock condition indicator device as claimed in claim 4, wherein said outer disc comprises an aperture, and said rotatable disc has on a planar surface adjacent to said outer disc an indicator means comprising an indicator portion able to be marked with any suitable colors or symbols to correspond to different conditions of said lock, located so as to be visible through said aperture.

6. A lock condition indicator device as claimed in claim 1, where said rotatable disk is rotatably mounted around said inner disk by virtue of one having an annular concave surface, engaging an annular convex surface in the other.

7. A lock condition indicator device as claimed in claim 5, where said rotatable disk is rotatably mounted around said inner disk by virtue of one having an annular concave surface, engaging an annular convex surface in the other.