Padlock with fully integrated dual locking system with indicator/signal assembly

• US 7,225,648 B2
• Filed: 10/06/2005
• Issued: 06/05/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 11/04/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Sun Lock Company Ltd.
• Original Assignee: The Sun Lock Company Ltd.
• Inventors: Lai, Karl, Lai, Eric
• Primary Examiner(s): Glessner; Brian E.
• Assistant Examiner(s): FULTON, KRISTINA ROSE
• Application Number:
  US11/244,685
• Publication Number:
  US 20060150690A1
• Time in Patent Office: 607 Days
• Field of Search: 70 20- 48, 70284-285, 704/32, 704/35, 704/37, 70439-441
• US Class Current: 70/21
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 17/002 Weather or dirt protection E05B15/029, E05B17/14 take precedence; for vehicle locks E05B77/34
• 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 67/10 with devices for securing the free end of the shackle
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 67/22 Padlocks with sliding shackles, with or without rotary or pivotal movement
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/415 Combination and/or key-controlled
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/424 Sliding

Abstract

By providing two separate and independent locking systems formed in a single padlock, with both locking systems independently enabling the single shackle to be released and/or lockingly engaged, in combination with a signal/indicator system constructed to provide a positive notification when one of said systems is employed, an effective, easily produced, multi-purpose signal providing padlock is achieved. In the preferred embodiment, a single housing and shackle assembly are employed and constructed for enabling the shackle to be released from locked engagement with the housing using either a rotatable dial combination construction or a key activating tumbler construction. In addition, a signal/indicator is activated whenever the key controlled locking section is employed with the signal/indicator being locked in position, for resetting by only the user/owner.

Claims

1. A padlock constructed for providing two separate and independent locking means in a single, integrated construction, with a first locking assembly being controlled by a combination and a second locking assembly being key controlled, said padlock comprising:

A. a housing or cover incorporating a combination controlled locking section and a key controlled locking section said key controlled locking section being further defined as comprising at least one cylinder mounted therein for arcuate pivoting movement relative to the housing/cover in response to the receipt and use of an activating key, with the arcuate pivoting movement of said cylinder being constructed for releasing a shackle from locked engagement with the housing/cover;

B. said shackle cooperatively associated with the housing/cover and movable between a first lockingly engaged position and a second unlocked, released position, wherein said second position is attainable using either the combination controlled section or the key controlled section;

C. a signal/indicator assembly

a. mounted in the housing/cover in cooperating relationship with the key controlled section and responsive to the use of the key controlled section for being movable from a first non-alert position to a second alert-providing position in response to the use of the key controlled locking section for opening the padlock, and

b. comprising an elongated rod or shaft

1. mounted in the housing/cover in juxtaposed, adjacent, spaced, axial relationship to the cylinder,

2. extending outwardly from the housing/cover a fixed axial distance, defining an outwardly extending portion and forming an alert providing indicator,

3. constructed for arcuate pivoting movement about its central axis in response to the use of the key controlled section, and movable between a first non-alert providing position and a second alert-providing position without being axially movable, and

4. comprising a radially extending arm mounted for cooperative engagement with said rod/shaft, with said arm being constructed for controlled movement with the arcuate pivoting movement of said cylinder, thereby causing said rod/shaft to arcuately pivot simultaneously therewith; and

c. comprising locking means for maintaining the indicator member in its second alert-providing position, said locking means being responsive to the use of a reset key for enabling the indicator member to be replaced in its first non-alert position; and

1. comprising a locking plate mounted to the rod/shaft and pivotally movable in the housing/cover in response to the arcuate pivoting movement of said radially extending arm; and

2. cooperating with an axially movable, spring biased shaft mounted in an elongated cavity formed in said housing/cover, with the first end of said shaft being in contact with the locking plate and in juxtaposed relationship with a shaft receiving zone formed in the locking plate, whereby movement of the indicator member from its first position to its second position causes the shaft receiving zone to be axially aligned with the spring biased shaft, for enabling the shaft to move into locking engagement with the receiving zone, thereby assuring that the indicator member is secured in its second, alert-providing position when activated; and

D. a reset key cooperatively associated with the padlock for being inserted into the housing/cover after movement of the signal/indicator assembly into its second position and arcuately pivoting therein for causing the signal/indicator assembly to be returned to its first position.

2. The padlock defined in claim 1, wherein the reset key can be employed for returning the signal/indicator assembly from its second position to its first position when the padlock and shackle are in locked engagement with each other.

3. The padlock defined in claim 1, wherein said signal/indicator assembly is further defined as comprising a substantially cylindrically shaped indicator member incorporating alert-providing indicia formed thereon and being movable between a first non-alert providing position and a second alert-providing position wherein said indicia is readily visible, said indicator member being mounted outwardly from the housing/cover and constructed for being arcuately pivotable about its central axis in response to the arcuate movement of said cylinder, said arcuate pivoting movement causing said indicator member to pivot into its second position for displaying said alert-proving indicia.

4. The padlock defined in claim 3, wherein said cylindrically shaped indicator member is further defined as comprising a radially extending arm mounted for cooperative engagement with said cylinder, with said arm being constructed for controlled movement with the arcuate pivoting movement of said cylinder, thereby causing said indicator member to arcuately pivot simultaneously therewith.

5. The padlock defined in claim 4, wherein said signal/indicator assembly further comprises locking means for maintaining the indicator member in its second alert-providing position, said locking means being responsive to the use of a reset key for enabling the indicator member to be replaced in its first non-alert position.

6. The padlock defined in claim 5, wherein the signal/indicator assembly is further defined as comprising a returning spring member cooperatively associated with the indicator member for automatically returning the indicator member to its first position whenever the reset key is employed to disengage the shaft from the shaft receiving zone of the locking plate.

7. The padlock defined in claim 1, wherein the outwardly extending portion of the rod/shaft is further defined as being cooperatively associated with a display area formed on a surface of the housing/cover and constructed for providing a non-alert signal and an alert signal in response to the arcuate movement of said rod/shaft.

8. The padlock defined in claim 7, wherein the display area formed on the surface of the housing/cover comprises indicia for designating a non-alert condition and an alert condition and the outwardly extending portion of the rod/shaft comprises a condition indicator or pointer movable between the non-alert condition indicia when in its first position and the alert condition indicia when in its second position, thereby providing the desired readily seen, highly visible notification.

9. A padlock constructed for providing two separate and independent locking means in a single, integrated construction, with a first locking assembly being controlled by a combination and a second locking assembly being key controlled, said padlock comprising:

A. a housing or cover incorporating

a. a first elongated bore, and a second elongated bore,

b. plurality of dial receiving zones formed in the housing/cover in association with the first elongated bore, and

c. an elongated release channel formed in the first elongated bore and axially extending therewith, said elongated release channel defining a zone for enabling the opening of the combination controlled lock assembly;

B. said shackle comprising a generally j-shape, incorporating

a. a short leg having a terminating end constructed for cooperative locking and unlocking interengagement with a holding collar mounted in the housing/cover, and

b. a long leg cooperatively mounted in the first elongated bore of the housing/cover for axial movement and pivoting movement relative thereto;

C. a key controlled lock assembly mounted in the second elongated bore of the housing/cover and constructed for being responsive to a designated key member for enabling movement between a first position, wherein the shackle is in locked engagement, and a second position, wherein the shackle is unlocked and movable, said lock assembly comprising;

a. a cylinder assembly

1. mounted in the second elongated bore for controlled rotational movement therein, and

2. incorporating a key receiving slot cooperatively associated with a plurality of tumblers for preventing the rotational movement of said cylinder whenever the designated key member is not present and enabling rotational movement of the cylinder in response to the presence of the designated key member, and

b. a shackle engaging collar cooperatively associated with the terminating end of the short leg of the shackle and responsive to the rotational movement of the cylinder for preventing movement of the shackle when in a first position and enabling movement of the shackle when the cylinder assembly is in a second position;

D. a signal/indicator system

a. mounted in the housing/cover in cooperating relationship with the key controlled section and responsive to the use of the key controlled section for activation thereof,

b. comprising an alert-providing indicator member

1. at least partially mounted in the housing/cover in spaced relationship to the cylinder and positioned adjacent to the cylinder for cooperating therewith,

2. incorporating a radially extending arm constructed for controlled pivoting movement of the indicator member in response to the arcuate pivoting movement of the cylinder causing the indicator member to move between a first non-alert position, and a second alert-providing position wherein a portion of said indicator member extends outwardly from the housing/cover for providing positive notice that the key controlled locking section was used;

3. comprising an elongated rod mounted in the housing/cover for pivotal movement therein, said rod being incapable of axial movement and comprising a portion extending outwardly from the housing/cover a fixed axial length, said axially extending portion forming the alert-providing indicator arcuately movable between a first non-alert providing position and a second alert-providing position; and

4. comprising a locking plate

i. mounted to the rod and pivotally movable in the housing/cover in response to the arcuate pivoting movement of said radially extending arm, and

ii. cooperating with an axially movable, spring biased shaft mounted in an elongated cavity formed in said housing/cover, the first end of said shaft being in contact with the locking plate in and juxtaposed relationship with a shaft receiving zone formed in the locking plate, whereby movement of the indicator member from its first position to its second position causes the shaft receiving zone to be axially aligned with the spring biased shaft, for enabling the shaft to move into locked engagement with the receiving zone, thereby assuring that the indicator member is secured in its second, alert-providing position when activated.

10. The padlock defined in claim 9, wherein said alert-providing indicator member is further defined as being locked in its second alert-providing position after activation, requiring the use of a reset key for returning said alert-providing indicator member to its first position.

11. The padlock defined in claim 9, wherein the signal/indicator system is further defined as comprising a returning spring member cooperatively associated with the indicator member for automatically returning the indicator member to its first position in response to the use of a reset member employed to disengage the shaft from the shaft receiving zone of the locking plate.

12. The padlock defined in claim 9, wherein said alert-providing indicator member is further defined as comprising a flat plate pivotally mounted in the housing/cover and fully retained within the housing/cover when in a first position, with a portion of said flat plate being constructed for extending outwardly from the housing/cover when in a second position for providing positive notice whenever the key control locking section was used.

13. The padlock defined in claim 12, wherein said indicator member comprises an enlarged alert providing display zone formed on said outwardly extending portion, said display zone constructed for being fully retained in the housing/cover when in its first non-alert position and for extending outwardly from the housing/cover when in its second alert-providing position.

14. The padlock defined in claim 13, wherein said indicator member comprises locking means for maintaining the indicator member in its second alert-providing position, said locking means being responsive to the use of a reset member for enabling the indicator member to return to its non-alert position.

15. The padlock defined in claim 13, wherein said locking means is further defined as comprising an axially movable, spring biased shaft mounted in an elongated cavity formed in said housing/cover, with first end of said shaft being in contact with the indicator member and in juxtaposed relationship with a shaft receiving zone formed in the indicator member, whereby movement of the indicator member from its first position to its second position causes the shaft receiving zone to be axially aligned with the spring biased shaft, for enabling the shaft to move into locking engagement with the receiving zone.

16. The padlock defined in claim 13, wherein the indicator member is further defined as comprising a slot formed therein and said locking means is further defined as comprising a spring member mounted to the housing/cover in cooperating association with the indicator member and constructed for lockingly engaging the slot of the indicator member when the indicator member is moved into its second, alert-providing position, thereby assuring that the indicator member is secured in its second, alert-providing position when activated.

17. The padlock defined in claim 16, wherein the locking means is further defined as comprising a returning spring member cooperatively associated with the indicator member for automatically returning the indicator member to its first position whenever the reset member is employed to disengage the spring member from the slot.

18. A padlock constructed for providing two separate and independent locking means in a single, integrated construction, with a first locking assembly being controlled by a combination and a second locking assembly being key controlled, said padlock comprising:

A. a housing/cover

a. incorporating a combination controlled locking section and a key controlled locking section said key controlled locking section being further defined as comprising at least one cylinder mounted therein for arcuate pivoting movement relative to the housing/cover in response to the receipt and use of an activating key, with the arcuate pivoting movement of said cylinder being constructed for releasing a shackle from locked engagement with the housing/cover,

B. said shackle cooperatively associated with the housing/cover and movable between a first lockingly engaged position and a second unlocked, released position, wherein said second position is attainable using either the combination controlled section or the key controlled section;

C. a signal/indicator assembly

a. mounted in the housing/cover in cooperating relationship with the key controlled section and responsive to the use of the key controlled section for being movable from a first non-alert position to a second alert-providing position in response to the use of the key controlled locking section for opening the padlock, and

b. comprising an elongated rod or shaft

1. extending outwardly from the housing/cover a fixed axial distance for defining an outwardly extending portion and forming an alert providing indicator, and

2. constructed for arcuate pivoting movement about its central axis in response to the use of the key controlled section, and movable between a first non-alert providing position and a second alert-providing position;

3. comprising a radially extending arm mounted for cooperative engagement with said rod/shaft, with said arm being constructed for controlled movement with the arcuate pivoting movement of said cylinder, thereby causing said rod/shaft to arcuately pivot simultaneously therewith, and

c. comprising a locking plate mounted to the rod/shaft and pivotally movable in the housing/cover in response to the arcuate pivoting movement of said radially extending arm; and

D. a reset key cooperatively associated with the padlock for being inserted into the housing/cover after movement of the signal/indicator assembly into its second position and arcuately pivoting therein for causing the signal/indicator assembly to be returned to its first position wherein the housing/cover further comprising a reset key receiving aperture formed therein and constructed for receiving the reset key and positioning the reset key to engage the indicator member for enabling the return of said indicator to said first position; and

wherein the signal/indicator assembly further comprises a locking means for maintaining the indicator member in its second alert-providing position, said locking means being responsive to the use of the reset key for enabling the indicator member to be replaced in its first non-alert position.