Dual-lock type padlock having double reminding function

• US 7,628,045 B2
• Filed: 11/15/2005
• Issued: 12/08/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 11/23/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Chun Te Yu
• Original Assignee: Chun Te Yu
• Inventors: Yu, Chun Te
• Primary Examiner(s): Gall; Lloyd A
• Application Number:
  US11/272,709
• Publication Number:
  US 20060107708A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,484 Days
• Field of Search: 70432-441, 70/21, 70/25, 70/26, 702/84, 702/85, 70D/IG.59, 70D/IG.63, 70/38.R, 70/38.A, 70/38.B
• US Class Current: 70/21
• 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 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
• 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 70/7141 Combination and key
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/7147 Combination or key
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/8027 Condition indicators

Abstract

A dual-lock type padlock has a double reminding function includes a housing, a catch member, a shackle, a locking mechanism, and an indicator. The dual-lock type padlock is opened by either one of a key and a code. Thus, the indicator is movably mounted on an outer face of the housing or the catch member which is formed with a first mark and a second mark in the corresponding positions, so that the user can judge if the padlock has been unlocked by inspecting the position of the first mark or the second mark, and can also feel the position of the indicator by touching the indicator so as to judge if the padlock has been unlocked, thereby facilitating the blind people operating the padlock.

Claims

1. A dual-lock type lock, comprising:

a lock body that is opened by either one of a key and a code;

an indicator movably mounted on the lock body, wherein;

when the lock body is opened by the key, the indicator is changed from a first position to a second position;

the indicator is returned from the second position to the first position only when the lock body is opened by the code;

the lock body has an outer face formed with a first mark and a second mark;

when the indicator is disposed in the first position, the first mark is exposed outward and the second mark is covered by the indicator;

when the indicator is disposed in the second position, the second mark is exposed outward and the first mark is covered by the indicator.

2. The dual-lock type lock in accordance with claim 1, wherein the first mark and the second mark are selected from either one of the group including character, figures, colors and signals.

3. A dual-lock type lock, comprising:

a housing;

a catch member including a limit knob and a base portion extended from the limit knob to form a movable connection with the housing, the base portion of the catch member has an exposed section located between the limit knob and the housing;

a shackle including a root section to form a movable connection with the housing, and a free section having a first end extended from the root section and a second end extended into the limit knob;

a locking mechanism mounted in the housing and including;

a number lock module connected with the root section of the shackle and arranged to allow rotation of the root section of the shackle, wherein when the number lock module is disposed at an unlocked state, the number lock module allows the shackle to move with displacement of the root section; and

a key lock module connected with the base portion of the catch member and driven by a specified key which is rotated to drive the base portion of the catch member so as to control movement of the catch member; and

an indicator movably mounted on an outer face of the exposed section, wherein when the free section of the shackle is rotatable, the indicator is changed from a first position to a second position, and the indicator is returned from the second position to the first position only when the number lock module is disposed at the unlocked state.

4. The dual-lock type lock in accordance with claim 3, wherein the exposed section has a surface formed with a first mark and a second mark, so that when the indicator is disposed in the first position, the first mark is exposed outward and the second mark is covered by the indicator, and when the indicator is disposed in the second position, the second mark is exposed outward and the first mark is covered by the indicator.

5. The dual-lock type lock in accordance with claim 4, wherein the first mark and the second mark are selected from either one of the group including character, figures, colors and signals.

6. The dual-lock type lock in accordance with claim 3, wherein:

the limit knob of the catch member has a receiving recess having a first opening located at the top face of the limit knob and a second opening located at the side face of the limit knob;

the free section of the shackle is extended into the receiving recess, thereby forming a locked state;

the exposed section has a side formed with a slideway extended into the second opening of the limit knob and having two positioning grooves;

the indicator has a slide and an elastic hook, wherein when the indicator is disposed in the first position, the slide is slidable in the slideway to seal the second opening of the limit knob and the elastic hook is hooked on an upper one of the two positioning grooves, and when the indicator is disposed in the second position, the slide is retracted into the slideway and the elastic hook is hooked on a lower one of the two positioning grooves;

the slide has a top formed with a tapered face inclined toward the second opening of the limit knob and pushed by an end portion of the free section of the shackle.

7. The dual-lock type lock in accordance with claim 3, wherein:

the limit knob of the catch member has a receiving recess having a first opening located at the top face of the limit knob and a second opening located at the side face of the limit knob;

the free section of the shackle is extended into the receiving recess, thereby forming a locked state;

the exposed section has a side formed with a slideway extended into the second opening of the limit knob;

the indicator has a slide and an elastic hook, the slide is slidable in the slideway,

wherein when the indicator is disposed in the first position, the slide is slidable to seal the second opening of the limit knob, and when the indicator is disposed in the second position, the slide is retracted into the slideway and the elastic hook is hooked on the housing;

the slide has a top formed with a tapered face inclined toward the second opening of the limit knob and pushed by an end portion of the free section of the shackle;

the housing has a passage, wherein when the limit knob is disposed in the closed position, the elastic hook is aligned with the passage of the housing to extend through the passage of the housing, and when the limit knob is disposed in the opened position, the elastic hook is separated from the passage of the housing.

8. The dual-lock type lock in accordance with claim 6, wherein the slide has a locking groove having a bottom face formed with a tapered guide face inclined downward, the number lock module includes a number wheel unit, a locking member, and a limit member, wherein:

the number wheel unit has a retractable shaft;

the locking member has a limit channel and has a first side formed with a protruding latch that can be locked in the locking groove, the protruding latch has a bottom face formed with an oblique face corresponding to the guide face, the locking member has a second side provided with an elastic member located opposite to the protruding latch and pressed against the housing;

the limit member is mounted on the root section of the shackle, wherein when the number wheel unit is disposed at the locked state to lock the shackle, the limit member is received in the limit channel by limit of the root section of the shackle, so that the locking member is not movable, and when the number wheel unit is disposed at the unlocked state to unlock the shackle, the limit member is moved by the retractable shaft to detach from the limit channel, so that the locking member is movable freely.

9. The dual-lock type lock in accordance with claim 7, wherein the slide has a locking groove having a bottom face formed with a tapered guide face inclined downward, the number lock module includes a number wheel unit, a locking member, and a limit member, wherein:

the number wheel unit has a retractable shaft;

the locking member has a limit channel and has a first side formed with a protruding latch that can be locked in the locking groove, the protruding latch has a bottom face formed with an oblique face corresponding to the guide face, the locking member has a second side provided with an elastic member located opposite to the protruding latch and pressed against the housing;

the limit member is mounted on the root section of the shackle, wherein when the number wheel unit is disposed at the locked state to lock the shackle, the limit member is received in the limit channel by limit of the root section of the shackle, so that the locking member is not movable, and when the number wheel unit is disposed at the unlocked state to unlock the shackle, the limit member is moved by the retractable shaft to detach from the limit channel, so that the locking member is movable freely.

10. The dual-lock type lock in accordance with claim 3, wherein the housing has a recessed space to receive the limit knob and the indicator, and the space has a height at least equal to that of the limit knob.

11. The dual-lock type lock in accordance with claim 6, wherein the slide further has an inclined face oppositely connected with the tapered face of the slide.

12. The dual-lock type lock in accordance with claim 7, wherein the slide further has an inclined face oppositely connected with the tapered face of the slide.

13. The dual-lock type lock in accordance with claim 3, wherein:

the limit knob of the catch member has a receiving recess having a first opening located at the top face of the limit knob and a second opening located at the side face of the limit knob;

the free section of the shackle is extended into the receiving recess, thereby forming a locked state; and

the indicator has a block pivoted thereon, the block facing to the second opening of the limit knob and having a top formed with a tapered face inclined away from the second opening of the limit knob, wherein the indicator is disposed in the second position only after the tapered face of the block is pushed by the free section of the shackle.

14. A dual-lock type lock that can be opened by either one of a key and a code, having an indicator movably mounted thereon, wherein when the lock is opened by the key, the indicator is changed from a first position to a second position, and the indicator is returned from the second position to the first position only when the lock is opened by the code, and wherein the lock has an outer face formed with a first mark and a second mark;

when the indicator is disposed in the first position, the first mark is exposed outward and the second mark is covered by the indicator; and

when the indicator is disposed in the second position, the second mark is exposed outward and the first mark is covered by the indicator.

15. A padlock comprising:

a housing;

a catch member movably connected with the housing,

a shackle including a root section to form a movable connection with the housing, and a free section extending from the root section;

the free section being exposed outside the housing and being capable of rotating about the root section to a confined position where the free section of the shackle is restrained by the catch member from movement and a released position where the free section of the shackle is situated outside the catch member, wherein the rotation of the free section of the shackle is controlled by the catch member;

a key lock module configured for controlling movement of the catch member via a key; and

an indicator disposed on the catch member and being located in either an original position while the padlock is locked with its free section situated in the confined position or an indicative position which is outside of the housing when the padlock is unlocked with its free section situated in the released position, and the indicator being capable of remaining in the indicative position when the free section of the shackle moves from the released position back to the confined position for relocking the padlock.

16. The padlock in accordance with claim 15, further comprising a number lock module configured to control axial movement of the root section of the shackle.

17. The padlock in accordance with claim 16, wherein the indicator is allowed to be returned from the indicative position to the original position only if the number lock module is disposed at the unlocked state.

18. The padlock in accordance with claim 17, wherein the catch member defines a notch for catching the free section of the shackle.

19. A padlock that can be opened by either one of a key or a code, comprising a housing, a shackle movably connected with the housing and an indicator, wherein the indicator is capable of moving from an original position to an indicative position which is outside of the housing for indicating whether the padlock has been opened by the key, and remaining in the indicative position when the padlock is relocked.

20. The padlock in accordance with claim 19, wherein the indicator is allowed to be returned from the indicative position to the original position only if the padlock is opened by the code.