Alarm padlock

• US 5,727,405 A
• Filed: 02/03/1997
• Issued: 03/17/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 02/03/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Daryl Cromwell
• Original Assignee: Daryl Cromwell
• Inventors: Cromwell, Daryl
• Primary Examiner(s): Gall, Lloyd A.
• Application Number:
  US08/794,180
• Time in Patent Office: 407 Days
• Field of Search: 70/18, 70/30, 70/49, 70/25, 70/51, 70/52, 70/38 R, 70/38 A, 70/38 B, 70/38 C, 70/39, 70/53, 70/435, 70/439, 70/DIG. 49, 70/233, 340/427, 340/432, 340/542, 340/543
• US Class Current: 70/38.00B
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 45/005 Chain-locks, cable-locks or padlocks with alarms
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 70/49 with alarm
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/461 Short leg engaged
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/489 Housings
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/491 Shackles
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/8216 Tampering detector

Abstract

An alarm padlock (10) comprising a shackle (12) having a long leg (14) and a short leg (16). A body (18) is provided. A facility (20) in the body (18) is for mounting the shackle (12) in a reciprocal movement between a closed position and an extended open position, in which the short leg (16) of the shackle (12) is outside of the body (18) and the long leg (14) of the shackle (12) can swivel within the body (18). A latch mechanism (22) in the body (18) engages with the short leg (16) of the shackle (12), when the shackle (12) is in it'"'"'s closed position. A lock mechanism (24) in the body (18) is operable to disengage the latch mechanism (22) from the short leg (16) of the shackle (12). An alarm circuit (26) in the body (18) actuates to emit a warning signal when an unauthorized person violates and tampers with the shackle (12) and the body (18).

Claims

1. An alarm padlock comprising:

a) a shackle having a long leg and a short leg;

b) a body;

c) means in said body for mounting said shackle in a reciprocal movement between a closed position and an extended open position, in which said short leg of said shackle is outside of said body and said long leg of said shackle can swivel within said body;

d) a latch mechanism in said body to engage with said short leg of said shackle, when said shackle is in it'"'"'s closed position;

e) a lock mechanism in said body operable to disengage said latch mechanism from said short leg of said shackle;

f) an alarm circuit in said body actuates to emit a warning signal when an unauthorized person violates and tampers with said shackle and said body;

said alarm circuit further includes an insulated loop trip wire within said shackle extending between said long leg and said short leg, so that if said insulated loop trip wire in said alarm circuit is broken, said audible alarm will emit the warning signal;

a first insulated contact ring about said long leg of said shackle and electrically connected to a first end of said insulated loop trip wire; and

a first contact member in a first channel of said body to electrically connect with said first insulated contact ring.

2. An alarm padlock as recited in claim 1, wherein said mounting means includes:

a) said body having said first channel therein to receive said long leg of said shackle; and

b) said body having a second channel therein to receive said short leg of said shackle.

3. An alarm padlock as recited in claim 2, further including an expansion spring in a bottom end of said first channel to normally urge said long leg upwardly, so that said shackle will go into the extended open position.

4. An alarm padlock as recited in claim 2, wherein said alarm circuit includes:

a) a battery;

b) an audible alarm; and

c) a normally opened relay electrically connected between said battery and said audible alarm, so that if said alarm circuit is broken to said normally opened relay, said normally opened relay will close to connect said battery to said audible alarm and operate said audible alarm.

5. An alarm padlock as recited in claim 4, wherein said alarm circuit further includes a light-emitting diode electrically connected between said battery and said normally opened relay, as to visually indicate that said alarm circuit is in it'"'"'s operating mode.

6. An alarm padlock as recited in claim 3, further including:

a) a flange on a bottom end of said long leg of said shackle; and

b) a stop structure in said first channel of said body above said flange, so that said flange will engage with said stop structure, when said expansion spring urges said long leg upwardly and said shackle goes into the extended open position.

7. An alarm padlock as recited in claim 1, wherein said latch mechanism includes:

a) said short leg of said shackle having a side notch therein;

b) a latch bar carried within said body; and

c) a coil spring in said body to urge said latch bar towards said short leg of said shackle, so that an end of said latch bar will engage with said side notch on said short leg of said shackle, when said shackle is in it'"'"'s closed position.

8. An alarm padlock as recited in claim 1, wherein said lock mechanism includes:

a) a cylinder having an outer end with a key slot to receive a key, to operate said cylinder; and

b) an arm extending from said cylinder to engage with and operate said latch mechanism.

9. An alarm padlock as recited in claim 1, wherein said alarm circuit further includes:

a) a second insulated contact ring about said long leg of said shackle and electrically connected to a second end of said insulated loop trip wire; and

b) a second contact member in said first channel of said body to electrically connect with said second insulated contact ring, so that said long leg of said shackle can swivel within said first channel of said body and allow said insulated loop trip wire to maintain electrical contact with said alarm circuit.

10. An alarm padlock comprising:

a) a shackle having a long leg and a short leg;

b) a body;

c) means in said body for mounting said shackle in a reciprocal movement between a closed position and an extended open position, in which said short leg of said shackle is outside of said body and said long leg of said shackle can swivel within said body, wherein said mounting means includes said body having a first channel therein to receive said long leg of said shackle and said body having a second channel therein to receive said short leg of said shackle;

d) a latch mechanism in said body to engage with said short leg of said shackle, when said shackle is in it'"'"'s closed position;

e) a lock mechanism in said body operable to disengage said latch mechanism from said short leg of said shackle;

f) an alarm circuit in said body actuates to emit a warning signal when an unauthorized person violates and tampers with said shackle and said body;

said alarm circuit further includes an insulated loop trip wire within said shackle extending between said long leg and said short leg, so that if said insulated loop trip wire in said alarm circuit is broken, said audible alarm will emit the warning signal;

a first insulated contact ring about said long leg of said shackle and electrically connected to a first end of said insulated loop trip wire; and

a first contact member in said first channel of said body to electrically connect with said first insulated contact ring.

11. An alarm padlock as recited in claim 10, wherein said latch mechanism includes:

a) said short leg of said shackle having a side notch therein;

b) a latch bar carried within said body; and

c) a coil spring in said body to urge said latch bar towards said short leg of said shackle, so that an end of said latch bar will engage with said side notch on said short leg of said shackle, when said shackle is in it'"'"'s closed position.

12. An alarm padlock as recited in claim 11, wherein said lock mechanism includes:

a) a cylinder having an outer end with a key slot to receive a key, to operate said cylinder; and

b) an arm extending from said cylinder to engage with and operate said latch mechanism.

13. An alarm padlock as recited in claim 12, further including an expansion spring in a bottom end of said first channel to normally urge said long leg upwardly, so that said shackle will go into the extended open position.

14. An alarm padlock as recited in claim 13, wherein said alarm circuit includes:

a) a battery;

b) an audible alarm; and

c) a normally opened relay electrically connected between said battery and said audible alarm, so that if said alarm circuit is broken to said normally opened relay, said normally opened relay will close to connect said battery to said audible alarm and operate said audible alarm.

15. An alarm padlock as recited in claim 14, wherein said alarm circuit further includes a light-emitting diode electrically connected between said battery and said normally opened relay, as to visually indicate that said alarm circuit is in it'"'"'s operating mode.

16. An alarm padlock as recited in claim 10, wherein said alarm circuit further includes:

a) a second insulated contact ring about said long leg of said shackle and electrically connected to a second end of said insulated loop trip wire; and

b) a second contact member in said first channel of said body to electrically connect with said second insulated contact ring, so that said long leg of said shackle can swivel within said first channel of said body and allow said insulated loop trip wire to maintain electrical contact with said alarm circuit.

17. An alarm padlock as recited in claim 16, further including:

a) a flange on a bottom end of said long leg of said shackle; and

b) a stop structure in said first channel of said body above said flange, so that said flange will engage with said stop structure, when said expansion spring urges said long leg upwardly and said shackle goes into the extended open position.