Padlock with indication device

• US 9,890,567 B2
• Filed: 05/06/2015
• Issued: 02/13/2018
• 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): Boswell, Christopher J
• Assistant Examiner(s): MILLER, AMANDA L
• Application Number:
  US14/705,510
• Publication Number:
  US 20150233148A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,014 Days
• Field of Search: 70 20
• 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 67/06 Shackles; Arrangement of the shackle
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/40 Portable
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/413 Padlocks
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/415 Combination and/or key-controlled

Abstract

A padlock includes a shell, a shackle, a limit knob, an indicator and a lock core. The shell includes an opening in a wall thereof. The shackle includes a long section movably inserted in the shell, and a short section extended from the long section and located out of the shell. The limit knob is partly received in the shell via the opening and includes a button located out of the shell. The indicator is disposed on the limit knob and capable of moving to a predetermined position which is out of the shell. The lock core includes a rotor configured to be driven by a key so as to move the limit knob to a first position where the button of the limit knob keeps the shackle from rotating and a second position where the button of the limit knob allows the shackle to rotate.

Claims

1. A lock comprising:

a shell;

a shackle movably mounted on the shell and comprising a short section and a long section;

a first lock core inserted in the shell and movable between an unlocking position and a locking position, wherein the first lock core prevents rotation of the short section of the shackle about the long section of the shackle in the locking position;

a second lock core inserted in the shell and movable between an unlocking position and a locking position for preventing linear movement of the long section of the shackle;

an indicator operatively connected to the first lock core and movable between an original position and an indication position;

wherein the indicator is movable into the indication position from the original position by the first lock core when the first lock core is moved into the unlocking position from the locking position a first time before the long section of the shackle is linearly moved relative to the second lock core;

wherein the indicator is not returned into the original position from the indication position by the first lock core when the first lock core is returned into the locking position from the unlocking position;

wherein the indicator is kept in the indication position once the first lock core is moved into the unlocking position from the locking position; and

wherein an end of the short section of the shackle is operable to return the indicator into the original position from the indication position.

2. A padlock, comprising:

a shell having opposite top and bottom side surfaces;

a button disposed outside the shell;

a shackle comprising a root section extending into the shell, an arch section extending upward from the root section to outside of the shell, and a free section extending downward from the arch section to be releasably engaged in the button;

a key lock core rotatably disposed in the shell between a first level and a second level for controlling movement of the shackle, wherein the first level is in line with the top side surface of the shell while the second level is in line with the bottom side surface of the shell; and

an indicator disposed at the shell and being linearly movable with respect to the key lock core between the first level and a third level which is tangent to an apex of the arch section, wherein when the key lock core is operated by a key, the indicator is linearly moved from the first level toward the third level to an indication position outside the shell and in between the first and third levels; and

once the indicator arrives in the indication position, the indicator is irresponsive to further key operation of the key lock core.

3. A padlock of claim 2, further comprising a combination lock core configured to control upward and downward movement of the shackle independent of the key lock core, and the key lock core controls the movement of the shackle independent of the combination lock core.

4. A padlock of claim 2, wherein the key lock core has a rotor defining a keyhole therein;

the indicator, the free section of the shackle and the rotor of the key lock core are in line with one another; and

the indicator is disposed in between the free section of the shackle and the rotor of the key lock core.

5. A padlock of claim 4, further comprising a combination lock core configured to control upward and downward movement of the shackle independent of the key lock core, and the key lock core controls the movement of the shackle independent of the combination lock core.

6. A padlock, comprising:

a shell defining first, second and third openings therein;

a limit knob partly disposed outside the shell and partly inserted in the second opening of the shell;

a shackle including a long section inserted in the first opening of the shell an arch section extending upward from the long section to outside of the shell, and a short section extending downward from the arch section to be releasably engaged in the limit knob;

a first level, being in line with a top side surface of the shell;

a second level, being in line with a bottom surface of the shell;

a third level, being tangent to an apex of the arch section of the shackle;

a key lock core disposed in the third opening of the shell and located between the first level and the second level, and configured to control whether the short section of the shackle can be rotated about the long section of the shackle; and

an indicator being movable between the first level and the third level, wherein when the key lock core is operated by a key, the indicator moves from the first level toward the third level to an indication position for indicating whether the key lock core has been operated, and when the second opening of the shell is inserted by a tool, the indicator returns from the indication position back to the first level.

7. A padlock of claim 6, wherein the tool is the short section of the shackle.

8. A padlock of claim 6, wherein when the key lock core is operated by the key to unlock the padlock, the indicator moves to the indication position;

and when the key lock core is further operated by the key to re-lock the padlock, the indicator remains in the indication position.