Abstract: The present invention is directed to a padlock that includes a body and a shackle that has a toe portion and a heel portion. The shackle can be released from the body from a locked mode to a lock opened mode by upward movement of the shackle away from the body. The padlock also includes a combination locking mechanism configured to control the heel portion of the shackle when a correct combination is arranged on the combination locking mechanism. The combination locking mechanism may be reconfigured so that a new combination is entered for the combination locking mechanism. The padlock also includes a key locking mechanism that includes a cylinder operatively connected to a cam for controlling movement of the cam. The padlock may be placed in the lock opened mode by either the combination locking mechanism or the key locking mechanism.

Abstract: A padlock includes a housing and a shackle positionable between an open position and a closed position. The shackle may be retained in its closed position within the housing by a latch that is operatively connected to a key locking mechanism and a combination locking mechanism. The latch may be disengaged from the shackle so that the shackle may be placed into the open position when the key locking mechanism is placed in an unlocked orientation or the combination locking mechanism is placed in an unlocked configuration. The key locking mechanism may include a cylinder configured for operative engagement with the latch, and the combination locking mechanism may include a button configured for operative engagement with the latch and a spindle configured to restrict movement of the button. In the unlocked configuration of the combination locking mechanism, the combination used for the combination locking mechanism may be reset and/or reconfigured.

Abstract: A combination lock includes a lock body, a shackle, a blocker, and a plurality of dials. The shackle includes a long leg and a short leg. The blocker is disposed within the lock body and is movable in an axial direction between a shackle securing position, in which the blocker causes at least one locking member to engage with the shackle, and a shackle releasing position, in which the blocker allows the at least one locking member to disengage from the shackle for separation of the short leg from the lock body. Each dial includes a recess disposed on an outer periphery of the dial. When each dial is rotated to an unlocking orientation, each recess aligns with a corresponding dial engaging portion of the blocker, allowing the blocker to move from the shackle securing position to the shackle releasing position.

Abstract: The hasp type combination lock incorporates the numeric combination for the lock on the hasp thereof in a manner where the numeric combination is visible when the hasp is open and not visible when the hasp is closed.

Abstract: A combination lock includes a locking mechanism, a plurality of dials, and a code identifying member. When each of the plurality of dials is rotated to an unlocking orientation, a recess on each of the dials aligns with a portion of the locking mechanism, allowing the locking mechanism to move from a locked condition to an unlocked condition. When the code identifying member is in a dial engaging position, and one of the plurality of dials is rotated to the unlocking orientation, one of a plurality of dial engaging portions of the code identifying member engages the recess of the one of the plurality of dials to provide a perceptible indication that the one of the plurality of dials is in the unlocking orientation.

Abstract: A combination lock includes a locking mechanism, a code identifying member, and a plurality of user rotatable dials, with a recess disposed on an outer periphery of each dial. The locking mechanism includes a plurality of dial engaging members configured to hold the locking mechanism in a locking position. When each of the dials is rotated to an unlocking orientation, the recesses align with the dial engaging members, allowing the locking mechanism to move from the locking position to an unlocking position. When the code identifying member is moved to a code identifying condition, the dial engaging members are in biased engagement with the dials, such that rotation of any one of the dials to the unlocking orientation causes the corresponding dial engaging member to engage the corresponding recess to provide a perceptible indication that the dial is in the unlocking orientation.

Abstract: A battery operated device includes a housing, an operating mechanism and an internal battery disposed within the housing, and an access member assembled with the housing and movable between first and second positions. The operating mechanism includes first and second sets of electrical contacts for transmitting power to the operating mechanism, with the internal battery being electrically connectable with the first set of electrical contacts for powering the operating mechanism. The access member is movable between a first position blocking external access to the second set of electrical contacts and connecting the first set of electrical contacts to the internal battery, and a second position permitting external access to the second set of electrical contacts and disconnecting the internal battery from the first set of electrical contacts.

Abstract: A combination operated padlock has indicia carrying dials that are turned to set a combination for unlocking a shackle of the padlock. Operating components of the padlock are carried by or within a housing-enclosed frame of the padlock. A strong, corrosion resistant insert, preferably formed from brass of uniform thickness, is configured to fit cleverly around and among the movable operating components to strengthen the padlock and to prevent operating component manipulation if an unauthorized unlocking of the padlock is attempted. In a preferred embodiment, the insert has two substantially identical question-mark-shaped tines configured to extend toward and between different adjacent pairs of the dials that are turned to set a combination.

Abstract: A combination lock includes a lock body, a shackle, a blocker, and a plurality of dials. The shackle includes a long leg and a short leg. The blocker is disposed within the lock body and is movable in an axial direction between a shackle securing position, in which the blocker causes at least one locking member to engage with the shackle, and a shackle releasing position, in which the blocker allows the at least one locking member to disengage from the shackle for separation of the short leg from the lock body. Each dial includes a recess disposed on an outer periphery of the dial. When each dial is rotated to an unlocking orientation, each recess aligns with a corresponding dial engaging portion of the blocker, allowing the blocker to move from the shackle securing position to the shackle releasing position.

Abstract: An electronic lock box contains a mechanical structure that allows the lock box to work in several different mechanical states. A first state is a key compartment door unlocking state, while a second state is a shackle release state. A third state is a “soft lock” state, which allows the key compartment door to be closed, or the shackle to be re-installed, and once this has occurred, the door will not fall open, and the shackle will not fall out. A fourth state is a “hard lock” state in which the key compartment door and the shackle are not easily disturbed by vibration or intentional impact by a would-be thief, who is attempting to unlawfully open the door or remove the shackle.

Abstract: A multiple function lock comprising a body, an engaging element having a first end and a second end, a locking mechanism for securing the first end and the second end of the engaging element to the body, and a gate mechanism for selectively concealing or revealing a passage in the body through which the second end may move to unlock the lock. In certain embodiments, a multiple function lock may comprise a body, a U-shaped shackle having toe and heel portions, the heel portion rotatably secured within the body, a locking mechanism for locking the heel and the toe portions within the body, a passage through the body adjacent to the toe portion, the toe portion adapted to move through the passage to unlock the lock, and either a retaining cup, an adjustable gate, or an outer housing, each being adapted to selectively block or reveal the passage.

Abstract: A key storage lock box has an internal cavity for storing an item to be stored, such as a residential key. The lock box includes a shackle for selectively connecting the lock box to a doorknob. The lock box includes a pushbutton locking mechanism having alphanumeric codes associated with one or more of the pushbuttons on the keypad.

Abstract: A combination padlock includes a lock housing, a shackle, and a plurality of dials. A blocking member disposed within the lock housing is pivotable about a pivot point on the blocking member between a shackle securing position and a shackle releasing position. Each of the plurality of dials includes an unlocking feature disposed on an outer periphery of the dial. When each of the plurality of dials is rotated to an unlocking orientation, each of the unlocking features aligns with a corresponding dial engaging portion of the blocking member, allowing the blocking member to pivot from the shackle securing position to the shackle releasing position. Engagement of the blocking member with the inner front surface of the lock housing is limited to a location longitudinally aligned with the pivot point to limit lateral movement of the blocking member without limiting pivoting movement of the blocking member.

Abstract: A dual function lock having a body, a shackle and a frangible element extending from the body is disclosed. The dual function lock also includes a first locking mechanism within the body wherein when the first locking mechanism is locked, the shackle is in a first position where the toe of the shackle is located within the frangible element so that the shackle cannot be rotated and wherein when the first locking mechanism is unlocked, the shackle can be lifted from the first position so that the toe of the shackle is not within the frangible element so that the shackle can be rotated. Methods of using the lock and a refillable insert of frangible elements are also disclosed.

Abstract: A multiple function lock comprising a body, an engaging element having a first end and a second end, a locking mechanism for securing the first end and the second end of the engaging element to the body, and a gate mechanism for selectively concealing or revealing a passage in the body through which the second end may move to unlock the lock. In certain embodiments, a multiple function lock may comprise a body, a U-shaped shackle having toe and heel portions, the heel portion rotatably secured within the body, a locking mechanism for locking the heel and the toe portions within the body, a passage through the body adjacent to the toe portion, the toe portion adapted to move through the passage to unlock the lock, and either a retaining cup, an adjustable gate, or an outer housing, each being adapted to selectively block or reveal the passage.

Abstract: A combination lock includes a locking mechanism, a plurality of dials, and a code identifying member. When each of the plurality of dials is rotated to an unlocking orientation, a recess on each of the dials aligns with a portion of the locking mechanism, allowing the locking mechanism to move from a locked condition to an unlocked condition. When the code identifying member is in a dial engaging position, and one of the plurality of dials is rotated to the unlocking orientation, one of a plurality of dial engaging portions of the code identifying member engages the recess of the one of the plurality of dials to provide a perceptible indication that the one of the plurality of dials is in the unlocking orientation.

Abstract: A lock is disclosed having components formed integrally with a lock body. One example of such an integrally formed component is a biasing member utilized in the operation of a combination locking mechanism. A lock is also disclosed having an inner and outer body. A variety of outer bodies of different aesthetic appearance may be utilized with the same inner body. The lock disclosed herein may be embodied in a variety of styles, one of which is a padlock.

Abstract: A lock having a body, a face, a shackle and an audio and/or a visual system. The audio system includes a speaker system and a controller, and the visual system includes an indicator light and a controller. The systems also employ a battery and a battery indicator light, e.g., an LED, indicating when the battery needs to be replaced. The audio system emits an audible sequence and the visual system emits a light sequence when the lock is unlocked, reminding a user to lock the lock.

Abstract: A dual changeable combination lock comprises a housing in which are disposed internal and external toothed wheels each engaging with or disengaging from each dial, wherein the internal toothed wheels can control the shackle and the external toothed wheels can control the switch button. Besides providing the combination changing function of a common combination lock, the above lock can provide another set of separately and independently set changeable numbers by the interaction between the button and the external toothed wheels.

Abstract: A lock includes a housing, a shackle, a controlling unit and a lock core. The shackle has a root section and a free section. The root section is disposed in the housing. The free section extends from the root section and is disposed outside the housing. The controlling unit is disposed in the housing and connected to the root section of the shackle. In particular, the controlling unit is capable of rotating about the root section and axially moving with the root section. Additionally, the lock core is disposed in the housing and is configured to control rotation of the controlling unit.

Abstract: An electronic lock box contains a secure compartment for storing keys to a structure. A linear actuator moves in one direction opening the door to the secure compartment, and moves in the opposite direction releasing a shackle that holds the lock box to the structure. A lock box system uses an encryption algorithm to diversify user PIN data at a central computer, and stores that diversified information on a memory card for later use when the user attempts to access a lock box. The central computer and electronic lock box both keep track of system “epoch time,” and the memory card must be presented to the electronic lock box within a correct epoch time window for the diversified PIN data to be successfully decrypted and compared to the user's PIN data that is entered on a keypad of the electronic lock box.

Abstract: A locking device having a cylindrical plunger with a key thereon and a cylindrical sleeve for receiving the plunger and key. The sleeve has a lip therein with a mating keyway that passes therethrough. An indicium on the sleeve is aligned with the keyway. To lock the device the plunger is inserted into the sleeve, the key sliding along the keyway through the lip into the bottom portion compressing a spring member therein. The sleeve and plunger are then rotated with respect to each other and released, the spring biasing the plunger upward to lock the key onto the bottom surface of the lip. To unlock the device, the sleeve and plunger are pressed together and rotated with respect to each other until, by noting the position of the known indicium, the key and keyway are aligned with each other. The plunger is then removed from the sleeve.

Abstract: A padlock shackle made of an inner core of ductile nickel-titanium alloy, outer casing of hardened stainless steel, and an intermediate layer of a composite of tungsten carbide particles in a nickel-titanium alloy matrix which is bonded to the nickel-titanium alloy core and mechanically bonded to the stainless outer casing.