2509results about "Padlocks" patented technology

An electronic lock box contains a secure compartment for storing keys to a structure. A sensing system allow the lock box to determine whether the contents of the lock box have been replaced as well as ensuring the correct key or object has been returned. The system reports the status of the object back to the central clearinghouse computer through an electronic key or secure memory device.

Methods and systems for offering debt recovery products to customers having delinquent accounts are disclosed. A debt recovery service retrieves delinquent account information corresponding to a customer. Based on the retrieved delinquent account information, the debt recovery service determines a set of debt recovery offers for the customer. The customer sends customer selection information to the debt recovery service. Customer selection information customizes a debt recovery product that corresponds to one of the set of debt recovery offers. The debt recovery service then creates a debt recovery account for the customized debt recovery product.

A lock system having a remote actuating key device, e.g., a portable member arranged to wirelessly transmit a wireless signal, and a passive lock device for receiving that signal. The lock device includes an actuatable trigger mechanism and a control circuit. The control circuit receives the wireless signal, which powers it. The control circuit also determines if the wireless signal is appropriate to unlock the lock, whereupon it produces a trigger signal. The trigger mechanism is responsive to the trigger signal to actuate and enable the lock device to be opened. The key device is also arranged to communicate via a wireless communications connection to a computer network. The communication with the computer network may carry commands and information. The key device may relay communications between the lock device and the computer network.

A system and apparatus for securing an item using a biometric lock where a matching fingerprint allows a user access to the item secured. In one embodiment, the item is a container with an aperture. More specifically, the container is a handbag, luggage, briefcase, computer bag, storage container, shipping container or gun holster. In one embodiment, the biometric lock apparatus is self contained and is applied to the item being secured. More specifically, the self contained biometric lock is a padlock, bicycle lock, or an independent lock with a shackle applied to an item. In one embodiment, the biometric lock is divided into multiple components, one component being a biometric key containing a sensor where a user inserts the key into another component of the lock and applies a finger to the sensor to read a matching fingerprint and unlock the mechanism. In one embodiment, the systems and apparatuses include utilizing an unlocking apparatus that contains a generator whereby the swiping of a fingerprint over a sensor simultaneously moves a thumb roller which activates the generator to power the device, and a fingerprint is initially installed through the use of an external computer and a secondary power source.

A lock system having a remote actuating device, e.g., a portable member arranged to wirelessly transmit a wireless signal, and a passive lock for receiving that signal. The lock includes an acuatable trigger mechanism and a control circuit. The control circuit receives the wireless signal, which powers it. The control circuit also determines if the wireless signal is appropriate to unlock the lock, whereupon it produces a trigger signal. The trigger mechanism is responsive to the trigger signal to actuate and enable the lock to be opened.

A security device includes a locking member, a ratchet mechanism, and a plurality of cables. The cables are wrapped around all six sides of a box-like article. An attachment clip is releasably snap-fitted into the body of the security device and locked therein by a magnetically attractable member. The ratchet mechanism includes a spool and a locking pawl or lever. A top wall of the housing or locking clip has a key receiving recess for positioning the key for unlocking the clip from the housing and releasing the spool from the ratchet mechanism. The housing has a rotatable handle for manually rotating the internal spool to further tighten the cable about the article after the cable slack is taken up by an internal spring. An alarm system is contained in the housing and actuates an audible alarm upon certain unauthorized actions occurring. The spool is biased by the internal spring to automatically wind the cable onto the spool after the clip has been unlocked from the housing. Insertion of the clip into the housing automatically actuates the ratchet mechanism preventing movement of the cable in the unwind direction and activates the alarm system.

An electronic access control and recording system includes a lock, a card reader, a key card configured to communicate with the lock and with the card reader, a database, and an administrator microprocessor configured to provide a user interface and to communicate with the database and with the card reader. At least one of the lock and the card contain a microprocessor and a non-volatile memory storing encrypted information. In use, the key card provides access to the lock and transfers the encrypted information between the lock and the database via the card reader and the administrator microprocessor. The administrator microprocessor provides a user interface for reviewing and administering the database. The user interface also provides account and password qualification for users.

A lock which incorporates a digital programmable microprocessing interface capable of user-programming whereby a programmed combination opens the lock. According to one embodiment of the lock, there can be as many as approximately 10x106 possible different combinations which may be entered by the user. The operation of the lock is driven by an electric signal derived from the combination, and that electrical signal is sent to a motor assembly inside the lock body in response to which there is a disengagement of a set of locking balls from a locking bar, which with the assistance of a springing mechanism causes the locking device to open automatically.

In a slide hinge for a small-sized information terminal composed of a first casing and a second casing, to achieve a slide hinge having a function of relatively and automatically sliding the first casing and the second casing from predetermined slide positions, a slide hinge in which a first casing provided with a keyboard portion and a second casing provided with a display portion are relatively slid includes: a linear slide means provided between the first casing and the second casing; and a turning means for performing a turning operation accompanying linear slide operations of the first casing and the second casing by the slide means, the turning means being configured to generate rotation torque from a predetermined turning angle so that the first casing and the second casing automatically and relatively slide in an opening direction and / or a closing direction depending on the slid position thereof.

A locking mechanism for a pyrotechnic safe and arm interrupter 98 may be constructed with an external lock casing 2, longitudinally extending bolt 3, washer 4, spring 5, retaining ring 8 and interlocking element 9 that may be configured in various shapes and features corresponding with a safety release component. A key 10 may be constructed with key stem 11, handle 12 and two pairs of teeth 13, 14 of different diameters radially protruding from successively reduced diameters along a distal portion of key stem 11. Lock 1 may be installed with notch 19 in alignment with a corresponding feature of the safe and arm interrupter mechanism and fastened in place with mounting holes 20 so that only mounting flange 17 and the key access 18 are external to the interrupter device, panel or door.

A lock is provided with a housing, a shackle movably coupled to the housing, and a locking arrangement movable between a locked state and an unlocked state. The lock includes a receiver arranged to receive a remote input signal including at least one authorization code. The lock includes a logic applying arrangement programmed to selectively store at least one access code responsive to a corresponding authorization code received by the receiver and to energize the locking arrangement to move from the locked state to the unlocked state when an authorization code received by the receiver corresponds with one of a set of stored access codes. The locking arrangement is configured to secure the shackle within the housing when the locking arrangement is in the locked state, and the locking arrangement is configured to allow the shackle to move relative to the housing when the locking arrangement is in the unlocked state.

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.

This invention pertains to the lock cylinder of a rekeyable padlock. According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a rekeyable padlock is provided with a lock cylinder formed within. The lock cylinder includes a cylindrical core formed to receive a key and an outer casing formed around the core. A viewing opening is formed within the casing wall, the viewing opening allowing access to pin openings formed within the core to receive selected pins. The viewing opening is shaped such that it provides a viewing area larger than the pin openings, thereby allowing greater visibility when the pins are placed within the pin openings. The advantages of this viewing opening include greater ease in placing the pins into the pin openings and easier detection when a selected pin is the wrong length and does not sit flush within the lock cylinder core.

A security device includes a locking member, a ratchet mechanism, and a plurality of cables. The cables extend through both a fastener and a base of the locking member and are wrapped around all six sides of a box-like structure. The fastener is releasably snap-fitted into the base of the locking member and secured therein by a magnetically attractable tine. The ratchet mechanism includes a housing containing a spool and a locking pawl. A bottom wall encloses a portion of the housing and includes a rotatable central portion having a key receiving recess for unlocking the spool from the pawl. The housing has a rotatable top wall portion which includes a flip-up handle for rotating the top wall portion and the internal ratchet to tighten the cable about an article. An alarm system is contained in the housing of the ratchet mechanism and actuates an audible alarm upon certain unauthorized actions occurring. An LED located within the housing provides a visual indication that the alarm system is activated.

A lock assembly including a body and at least one locking member. An actuator mechanism within the body is moveable between locked and unlocked positions. The actuator mechanism may be actuated by either a key lock cylinder or an electronic actuator. The lock assembly may also include a memory configured to store user identification information.

A slide hinge is provided for a small-sized information terminal composed of a first casing and a second casing. The slide hinge functions to relatively and automatically slide the first casing and the second casing from predetermined slide positions. The slide hinge is provided between a first casing provided with a keyboard portion and a second casing provided with a display portion so that the two casings are relatively slid. The slide hinge includes a linear slide assembly provided between the first casing and the second casing and a turning assembly being configured to generate rotation torque from a predetermined turning angle so that the first casing and the second casing automatically and relatively slide in an opening direction and / or a closing direction depending on the slide position thereof.

An electronic lock box contains a secure compartment for storing keys to a structure. A sensing system allow the lock box to determine whether the contents of the lock box have been replaced as well as ensuring the correct key or object has been returned. The system reports the status of the object back to the central clearinghouse computer through an electronic key or secure memory device.

A security device comprises a first component having a through first passageway surrounded by an internal first recess, and a second component having a second passageway surrounded by an internal second recess. The first and second components are configured for assembly in a mating relationship with the first and second passageways in communication with each other and in coaxial alignment. A lock has a barrel containing a spring and plunger and carrying radially shiftable locking elements, with the plunger being normally biased by the spring in one direction urging the locking elements into expanded positions protruding radially from the barrel. The barrel is insertable into and releasably retained in an unlocked position in the first passageway with the locking elements expanded radially outwardly into the first recess, and is shiftable by a forwardly applied axial force into a locked position in the second passageway with the locking elements expanded into the second recess. The first recess has a forward surface configured to coact with the locking elements in response to the forwardly applied force to exert a reactionary force urging the locking elements radially inwardly and urging the plunger in the opposite direction to accommodate retraction of the locking elements from the first recess.

A security device for attachment to an article to deter theft of the article has a housing containing an alarm system including an audible alarm and an LED. A cable has one end attached to the housing and a second end attached to a plug which is selectively inserted into and locked to the housing. The cable includes a conductor electrically connected to the alarm system when in the locked position. The audible alarm is activated if the integrity of the cable is compromised. An EAS tag located in the housing will actuate an alarm at a security gate and can actuate the audible alarm of the security device when the device is in proximity to a security gate. The LED is positioned in the housing to be visible from both sides of the housing. A magnetically attractable lock mechanism releasably secures the cable plug in the locked position.

A combination lock capable of being opened by a key or inhibited the same is disclosed. In the locked position inserting a key into a lock core for turning an abutment member will open the lock. In the unlocked position press the trigger member for moving a post down until grooves clear from ridges, rotate the post a predetermined degree to matingly engage first and second toothed members together, release a trigger member to cause both itself and the post to move up, inclined bottom ends of ridges are gradually engaged with and finally stopped by a second ratchet member, the post is stopped from moving up, and a space between the post and a top hole of the abutment member is reduced sufficiently to inhibit a short leg from moving out of an upper bore by turning the key.

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.

A padlock having a body and a shoekle comprises a fingerprint sensor, a fingerprint data memory device and an electromagnetic device activated by a sensed and matched fingerprint to unlock the shackle from the body. Unlock and programming buttons respectively activate the sensor and configure the data memory device to receive new fingerprint data of those authorized to unlock the padlock.

A padlock that can be unlocked by the owner of the padlock by dialing an unlocking number or by authorized security personals with a general key. The padlock mainly contains a lock body, a block, a shackle, a general locking means and a private locking means. The lock body has a first channel and a second channel therein. The block is engaged with the second channel. The block has a receptacle therein. The shackle has a longer arm slidably received in the first channel and a shorter arm engagable with the receptacle of the block. The general locking means is formed in the lock body for locking or unlocking the longer arm of the shackle. The private locking means is formed in the lock body for controlling movements of the block in order the block to be engaged with or disengaged from the shorter arm of the shackle.

A key storage and organization unit includes a lockbox and a set of key file cards for retaining and storing keys in an organized manner. The lockbox includes a base and a cover that are secured by two closure latching members. When the two closure latching members are applied to the base and cover, a single locking mechanism can be applied to secure the lockbox. The lockbox is designed to receive multiple locking mechanisms, each capable of securing access to the lockbox.

A security device for attachment to an article to deter theft of the article has a housing containing an alarm system including an audible alarm and an LED. A cable has one end attached to the housing and a second end attached to a plug which is selectively inserted into and locked to the housing. The cable includes a conductor electrically connected to the alarm system when in the locked position. The audible alarm is activated if the integrity of the cable is compromised. An EAS tag located in the housing will actuate an alarm at a security gate and can actuate the audible alarm of the security device when the device is in proximity to a security gate. The LED is positioned in the housing to be visible from both sides of the housing. A magnetically attractable lock mechanism releasably secures the cable plug in the locked position.

A lock includes two independently operating locking mechanism, one locking mechanism operating electronically and one locking mechanism operating mechanically. The lock may include a device for receiving and decoding an electronic unlock signal and a memory source for storing multiple unique unlock signals. The electronic signal may be generated from a remote source or on the lock itself. The lock also may include a button that allows unique unlock signals to be added or deleted from the lock memory.

The present invention is directed to a zipper lock that includes an actuator operatively connected to an actuation plate and a blocking plate positioned relative to the actuation plate so as to at least partially block the movement of the actuation plate when the zipper lock is in the locked configuration. The actuator and the actuation plate are configured for interaction so as to transform movement of the actuator into movement of the actuation plate when the zipper lock is in an unlocked configuration. The zipper lock further includes a latch control plate operatively connected to the actuator, and operatively connected to a latch, in which the latch includes a locking finger configured for locking engagement with at least one locking head that is configured to retain a zipper pull tab to the zipper lock when the zipper lock is in a locked configuration.

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, an effective, easily produced, multi-purpose 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 this way, a dual locking and releasing padlock is achieved which virtually eliminates the difficulties typically encountered with known, prior art lock configurations.