Bolt mechanism lock with biometric opening device

Abstract

A padlock includes a lock body, a fingerprint panel configured to operate the padlock from a locked mode to an unlocked mode using an electronic mechanism, a lock beam having long legs and short legs, at least one bolt configured to engage or disengage from the lock beam, a cam controlling the movement of the at least one bolt, a tilting cam controlling the movement of the cam, and a motor operably coupled to the fingerprint panel and having teeth controlling the movement of the tilting cam.

Description

[0001] Cross-reference to related applications

[0002] This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 63 / 431,142, filed December 8, 2022, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. Technical Field

[0003] The present invention generally relates to a lock having a latch mechanism, and more specifically to a padlock having a biometric opening mechanism for operating the latch mechanism. Background Technology

[0004] Many biometric locks on the market are easily opened by attackers due to their latching mechanisms. This invention overcomes attacks typically employed against latching mechanisms because the bolt is configured to keep the padlock in a locked mode. This improves the lock's security level. The bolt has a spring that applies force to keep the bolt always pushed towards the locked position, and the cam has only rotational motion, causing the spring to push the cam into the locked position, which inhibits bolt movement unless the cam rotates into the unlocked position. Summary of the Invention

[0005] An exemplary embodiment of the present invention relates to a padlock, including a lock body; a fingerprint panel configured to operate the padlock from a locked mode to an unlocked mode using an electronic mechanism; a lock beam having long legs and short legs; at least one bolt configured to engage and disengage from the lock beam; a cam for controlling movement of the at least one bolt; a tilting cam for controlling movement of the cam; and a motor operatively coupled to the fingerprint panel and having teeth for controlling movement of the tilting cam.

[0006] The purpose of this invention is to provide a padlock configured to switch from a locked mode to an unlocked mode via a fingerprint panel.

[0007] Another object of the present invention is to provide a padlock in which the padlock can be unlocked by providing an authorized fingerprint to a fingerprint panel.

[0008] Another object of the present invention is to provide a padlock having a cam configured to rotate within the padlock, and the padlock remaining in a locked mode unless the cam has rotated.

[0009] Another object of the present invention is to provide a padlock in which a cam inhibits the movement of one or more bolts within the padlock.

[0010] Another object of the present invention is to provide a padlock in which, in a locked mode, one or more bolts are pushed into contact with the padlock's locking beam.

[0011] Another object of the present invention is to provide a padlock having an electronic motor for controlling the rotation of a cam.

[0012] Another object of the present invention is to provide a padlock having an additional or optional mechanism for operating the padlock by using an electronic device that provides signals to the padlock.

[0013] Therefore, it will be seen that these and other objectives can be achieved by a padlock according to an exemplary aspect of the invention, the padlock comprising a lock body, a lock beam having long legs and short legs, wherein either or both of the long legs and short legs have bolt cutouts formed therein, and the long leg of the lock beam is retained in the lock body, at least one bolt, each bolt being configured to engage with the bolt cutout on the long leg or short leg when the padlock is in a locked mode, and each bolt being configured to disengage from the bolt cutout on the long leg or short leg when the padlock is in an unlocked mode, and a fingerprint panel being configured to cause the padlock to operate from a locked mode to an unlocked mode.

[0014] According to this and other exemplary aspects of the invention, the padlock further includes a cam configured to rotate within the lock body and having at least one slot, each slot being configured to receive a bolt from at least one bolt when the padlock is in an unlocked mode, and the padlock further includes a tilting cam operably coupled to the cam and configured to control the rotational movement of the cam within the lock body.

[0015] According to this and other exemplary aspects of the invention, each of at least one bolt includes a locking beam side configured to engage with a bolt cutout on the long or short leg and a spring receiving surface, and the padlock also includes a bolt spring located in the lock body for each of the at least one bolt, and each bolt spring is configured to engage with the spring receiving surface to push each bolt in a direction toward the bolt cutout on the long or short leg.

[0016] According to this and other exemplary aspects of the invention, the at least one bolt comprises two bolts, and a first bolt of the two bolts is configured to engage with a bolt cutout on the long leg, and a second bolt of the two bolts is configured to engage with a bolt cutout on the short leg.

[0017] According to this and other exemplary aspects of the invention, when the padlock is in the locked mode, the short leg of the lock beam is held in the lock body of the padlock by one of the bolts in at least one bolt.

[0018] According to this and other exemplary aspects of the invention, the padlock also includes a motor located within the lock body and operatively coupled to a tilting cam, and the motor is configured to operate and cause rotational movement of the tilting cam when an authorized user provides a fingerprint to the fingerprint panel.

[0019] According to this and other exemplary aspects of the invention, the cam further includes a tail portion configured to operatively engage with a tilting cam, and the tilting cam further includes a locking ramp and an opening ramp, the locking ramp being configured to engage with the tail portion of the cam when the padlock is in a locked mode, and the opening ramp being configured to engage with the tail portion of the cam when the padlock is in an unlocked mode.

[0020] According to this and other exemplary aspects of the invention, the cam also includes a rod extending therefrom, the rod being configured to engage with a cam spring located within the lock body and configured to push the rod in one direction such that, when the padlock is in a locked mode, the tail of the cam engages with the locking ramp of the tilting cam.

[0021] According to this and other exemplary aspects of the invention, the padlock further includes a motor positioned within the lock body and operatively coupled to a tilting cam, and the motor is configured to rotate the tilting cam such that the opening ramp of the tilting cam contacts the tail of the cam to rotate the cam such that each of at least one bolt is received by an opening slot of the cam.

[0022] According to this and other exemplary aspects of the invention, the locking ramp has a height less than the height of the opening ramp.

[0023] According to this and other exemplary aspects of the invention, the motor includes teeth, and the tilting cam includes a motor tooth receiving slot configured to operatively engage with the teeth of the motor, such that rotational motion of the motor is transmitted to the tilting cam, and the motor is configured to rotate when an authorized user provides a fingerprint to the fingerprint panel.

[0024] According to this and other exemplary aspects of the invention, the padlock further includes a beam spring engaging with the long leg of the beam, the beam spring being configured to push the long leg in a direction that disengages a bolt engaging with a bolt notch on the long leg and receives the bolt within one of the slots in the cam, and the beam spring being configured to push the long leg in a direction that removes the short leg of the beam from the lock body to engage the padlock in an unlocked mode.

[0025] According to this and other exemplary aspects of the invention, the bolt detached from the bolt notch on the long leg includes a lock beam locking side configured to engage with the bolt notch on the long leg when the padlock is in a locked mode and configured to engage with the long leg when the padlock is in an unlocked mode. The bolt detached from the bolt notch on the long leg also includes a cam locking side configured to engage with one of the slots in the cam's opening when the padlock is in an unlocked mode, and in the unlocked mode, the bolt detached from the bolt notch on the long leg is positioned between the long leg and one of the slots in the cam's opening.

[0026] According to this and other exemplary aspects of the invention, when the bolt detached from the bolt notch on the long leg is positioned between the long leg and the opening slot of the cam, the cam cannot substantially rotate within the lock body of the padlock.

[0027] According to this and other exemplary aspects of the invention, each of at least one bolt includes a locking beam side and a spring receiving surface, the locking beam side being configured to engage with a bolt notch on a long or short leg. The padlock also includes bolt springs positioned in the lock body for each of the at least one bolt, and each bolt spring is configured to engage with the spring receiving surface to push each bolt in a direction toward the bolt notch on the long or short leg. When the bolt notch on the long or short leg aligns with the locking beam side of at least one bolt, the bolt spring is configured to push a cam locking side of the bolt away from an opening slot of a cam, and the cam spring is configured to push a rod of the cam to rotate the cam until the tail of the cam contacts a locking ramp of a tilting cam.

[0028] According to this and other exemplary aspects of the invention, there is a gap between the locking surface of the cam and the cam locking side of at least one bolt.

[0029] According to this and other exemplary aspects of the invention, the fingerprint panel is configured to receive signals from an electronic device to cause the padlock to operate from a locked mode to an unlocked mode.

[0030] According to this and other exemplary aspects of the invention, the bolt also includes a bolt spring that always pushes the bolt toward the notch of the lock beam during the locking mode.

[0031] According to this and other exemplary aspects of the invention, the bolt includes a locking beam locking side that always interacts with the bolt cutout of the long leg locking beam of the locking beam, and the bolt also includes a cam locking side that interacts with a cam to control the movement of the bolt from a locked mode to an unlocked mode, wherein in the locked mode the cam locking side contacts the locking surface of the cam, and in the unlocked mode the cam locking side engages with the slot of the cam.

[0032] According to this and other exemplary aspects of the invention, the cam includes a tail portion to contact the locking ramp and opening ramp of the tilting cam, and a cam spring is placed in the cam spring groove of the lock body and contacts the rod of the cam to apply force so that the cam has only rotational movement toward the locked position, such that the tail portion will contact the locking ramp of the tilting cam.

[0033] According to this and other exemplary aspects of the invention, the tilting cam has a motor tooth receiving slot for receiving the teeth of the motor, such that the motor controls the rotational movement of the tilting cam, such that the tilting cam is in a locked position when the locking ramp contacts the tail of the cam, such that when the correct fingerprint is present in the panel, the motor and the tilting cam will rotate, and the tilting cam will rotate such that the opening ramp contacts the tail and the cam rotates from the locked mode to the unlocked mode.

[0034] According to this and other exemplary aspects of the invention, when the locking side of the bolt engages in the bolt notch of the locking beam in the locking mode, the locking side of the bolt cam contacts the locking surface of the cam, and the bolt spring always applies force to push the bolt outward, such that the locking side of the locking beam always engages the bolt notch of the locking beam.

[0035] According to this and other exemplary aspects of the invention, when in the unlocked mode, the tilting cam is driven such that the opening ramp contacts the tail of the cam and rotates the cam so that the opening slot aligns with the cam locking side of the bolt. The lock beam spring applies force to push the lock beam upward, and the lock beam locking side of the bolt is pushed back. The cam locking side of the bolt engages with the opening slot, so that the long leg lock beam is now in contact with the lock beam locking side of the bolt. In this clamped position, the cam cannot rotate toward the locked mode, and the short leg lock beam is outside the short leg lock beam hole of the lock body.

[0036] According to this and other exemplary aspects of the invention, the padlock is relocked by the user pushing the short-leg lock beam in the short-leg lock beam hole of the lock body, such that the bolt cut of the lock beam is realigned with the locking side of the bolt, causing the bolt spring to apply force to push the bolt outward toward the bolt cut. This causes the cam locking side of the bolt to disengage from the opening slot of the cam, and since there is no obstruction to the cam when in this position, the cam spring applies force to push the cam rod to rotate the cam to the locked position, and the tail will re-engage the locking ramp of the tilting cam to the locked position.

[0037] According to this and other exemplary aspects of the invention, the cam includes a hole for assembly with a cam rod of the lock body, and when assembled in this position, the cam can only apply rotational movement.

[0038] According to this and other exemplary aspects of the invention, the cam locking side of the bolt is aligned with the locking surface of the cam so that during the locking mode, when the bolt spring pushes the bolt to the bolt cut of the lock beam, there is still some free tolerance that does not contact the locking surface of the cam, such that when the motor rotates, the tilting cam pushes the tail of the cam from the locking mode to the unlocking mode, so that the cam will rotate freely in the same manner, while the cam locking side of the bolt does not contact the cam, so as to interrupt the rotational movement of the cam during the rotational rotation from the locking mode to the unlocking mode.

[0039] According to this and other exemplary aspects of the invention, when in the relocking mode and the user pushes the locking beam to the locked position, the bolt cutout of the locking beam is pushed to align with the locking side of the bolt, and the bolt spring pushes the cam locking side of the bolt away from the opening slot of the cam. Since there is nothing blocking the cam, the cam spring pushes the rod of the cam in the locking rotation direction, so the cam will rotate until the tail of the cam contacts the locking ramp of the inclined cam and the locking side of the bolt will engage with the cutout of the locking beam.

[0040] According to this and other exemplary aspects of the invention, the tilting cam has a locking ramp at one end and an opening ramp at the other end, such that the two ramps will contact the tail of the cam for locking and opening purposes.

[0041] According to this and other exemplary aspects of the invention, the locking ramp has a lower height than the opening ramp.

[0042] According to this and other exemplary aspects of the invention, the cam includes a tail whose movement is controlled by a tilting cam, such that during the locked mode, the locking ramp of the tilting cam is always aligned with the tail of the cam, and when the correct fingerprint has been placed in the fingerprint panel, the opening ramp of the cam pushes the tail of the cam into the unlocked mode to drive the motor to rotate, and also rotates the tilting cam from the locking ramp to the opening ramp, which pushes the tail of the cam into the unlocked mode.

[0043] According to this and other exemplary aspects of the invention, the fingerprint panel includes another unlocking device, namely, in addition to or in place of the fingerprint used to unlock the padlock, the panel includes a Bluetooth chip to unlock the padlock via a smartphone application, wherein the smartphone application can also control and manage fingerprint accessibility.

[0044] The exemplary aspects of the invention discussed are merely illustrative, and it should be understood that the invention is not limited to any particular aspect or combination thereof. Rather, the invention includes individual elements of individual exemplary aspects, as well as combinations thereof with any other individual elements, whether or not specifically described as exemplary aspects. Attached Figure Description

[0045] To gain a more complete understanding of the nature and purpose of this invention, reference should be made to the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

[0046] Figure 1A It is along Figure 1B A cross-sectional view of an exemplary padlock according to one aspect of the present invention, taken by line AA in locked mode;

[0047] Figure 1B It is along Figure 1A A cross-sectional view of an exemplary padlock, taken by line BB in the image;

[0048] Figure 1C It is along Figure 1B A cross-sectional view of an exemplary padlock taken by line CC;

[0049] Figure 2 This is a perspective view of an exemplary cover that can be used with an exemplary padlock according to one aspect of the present invention;

[0050] Figure 3 This is a perspective view of an exemplary lock beam top cover that can be used with an exemplary padlock according to one aspect of the present invention;

[0051] Figure 4A This is a front view of an exemplary front body that can be used with an exemplary padlock according to one aspect of the present invention;

[0052] Figure 4B This is a rear view of an exemplary front body that can be used with an exemplary padlock according to one aspect of the present invention;

[0053] Figure 5A This is a front view of an exemplary rear body that can be used with an exemplary padlock according to one aspect of the present invention;

[0054] Figure 5B This is a rear view of an exemplary rear body that can be used with an exemplary padlock according to one aspect of the present invention;

[0055] Figure 6 This is a side view of an exemplary lock beam that can be used with an exemplary padlock according to one aspect of the present invention;

[0056] Figure 7 This is a perspective view of an exemplary bolt that can be used with an exemplary padlock according to one aspect of the present invention;

[0057] Figure 8 This is a perspective view of an exemplary cam that can be used with an exemplary padlock according to one aspect of the present invention;

[0058] Figure 9A This is a front perspective view of an exemplary tilting cam that can be used with an exemplary padlock according to one aspect of the present invention;

[0059] Figure 9B This is a rear perspective view of an exemplary tilting cam that can be used with an exemplary padlock according to one aspect of the present invention;

[0060] Figure 10 This is a perspective view of an exemplary motor that can be used with an exemplary padlock according to one aspect of the present invention;

[0061] Figure 11This is a perspective view of an exemplary fingerprint panel that can be used with an exemplary padlock according to an aspect of the present invention;

[0062] Figure 12 This is a perspective view of an exemplary battery that can be used with an exemplary padlock according to one aspect of the present invention;

[0063] Figure 13 This is a perspective view of an exemplary USB cover that can be used with an exemplary padlock according to an aspect of the present invention;

[0064] Figure 14A It is along Figure 14B A cross-sectional view of an exemplary padlock according to one aspect of the present invention, taken by line AA in the unlocked mode;

[0065] Figure 14B It is along Figure 14A A cross-sectional view of an exemplary padlock taken by line BB in the image; and

[0066] Figure 14C It is along Figure 14B The image shows a cross-sectional view of an exemplary padlock taken by line CC.

[0067] The reference figures and corresponding components are summarized below:

[0068] 10: Padlock; 20: Cover; 21: Lock beam through hole; 22: Fixing hole; 23: Opening; 30: Lock beam top cover; 31: Lock beam through hole; 40: Front body; 41: Short leg lock beam hole; 42: Long leg lock beam hole; 42a: Lock beam wing slot; 42b: Wing stop; 43: Bolt slot; 43a: Bolt spring slot; 44: Cam rod; 44a: Cam spring slot; 45: Motor slot; 46: Panel slot; 47: Flashing hole; 48: Battery slot; 49: USB slot; 49a: USB cover hole; 50: Rear body; 51: Short leg lock beam hole; 52: Long leg lock beam hole; 52a: Lock beam wing slot; 52b: Wing stop; 53: Bolt slot; 54: USB slot; 55: USB cover hole; 56: Fixing hole ; 60: Locking beam; 61: Bolt notch; 62: Extended wing; 63: Short leg locking beam; 64: Long leg locking beam; 70: Bolt; 71: Locking beam locking side; 72: Cam locking side; 73: Spring receiving surface; 80: Cam; 81: Hole; 82: Opening slot; 83: Tail; 84: Rod; 85: Locking surface; 90: Tilt cam; 91a: Locking ramp; 91b: Opening ramp; 92: Motor tooth receiving slot; 100: Motor; 101: Tooth; 110: Fingerprint panel; 111: Fingerprint sensor; 112: USB charging port; 113: Flashlight; 120: Battery; 130: USB cover; 140: Bolt spring; 150: Cam spring; 160: Locking beam spring; 170: Fixing pin. Detailed Implementation

[0069] The invention will now be described more fully below with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which exemplary embodiments of the invention are illustrated. However, the invention may be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. The same reference numerals throughout denote the same elements.

[0070] Now for reference Figure 1A-1C , Figure 2-3 , Figures 4A-4B , Figures 5A-5B and Figures 14A-14C The illustration shows an exemplary padlock according to an exemplary aspect of the invention, generally indicated by reference numeral 10. The padlock 10 may include a cover 20 having an opening 23 formed therein. The opening 23 of the cover 20 may include a shank through-hole 21 located at either end of the opening 23. The shank through-hole 21 may be of a generally semi-circular structure. The cover 20 may include one or more retaining holes 22 located within the cover 20. The padlock 10 may also include a shank top cover 30 configured and sized to be received within the opening 23 of the cover 20. The shank top cover 30 may include shank through-holes 31 located at both ends of the shank top cover 30. The shank through-holes 31 may be sized to mate with the shank through-holes 21 of the cover 20 to define a pair of generally circular channels within the cover 20 when the shank top cover 30 is located within the opening 23 of the cover 20. The padlock 10 may be formed of a front body 40 and a rear body 50. The front body 40 and the rear body 50 can be joined together by one or more supports extending from the front body 40 and are configured to be received within one or more corresponding recesses of the rear body 50. During assembly, the front body 40 and the rear body 50 are configured and sized to be received within the cover 20. The rear body 50 can be secured to the cover 20 by one or more retaining pins 170, which are inserted through retaining holes 22 in the cover 20 into one or more retaining holes 56 in the rear body 50. The retaining pins 170 are then press-fitted into the retaining holes 22 / 56 of the cover 20 and the rear body 50 to secure and hold all components together, thus forming the padlock 10. Once fitted into the retaining holes 22 / 56, the retaining pins 170 cannot be removed.

[0071] Now for reference Figure 4A and 4BThe front body 40 of the padlock 10 includes a short-leg slat hole 41 and a long-leg slat hole 42 formed therein. The long-leg slat hole 42 may have a slat flap groove 42a positioned adjacent to the long-leg slat hole 42, and a flap stop 42b formed in the front body 40 surrounding the long-leg slat hole 42. The front body 40 of the padlock 10 may also include one or more bolt grooves 43 formed in the front body 40 and positioned between and intersecting the short-leg slat hole 41 and the long-leg slat hole 42. Each of the one or more bolt grooves 43 may include a bolt spring groove 43a formed adjacent to it. The front body 40 may also include a cam rod 44 extending from the front body 40 and positioned between the one or more bolt grooves 43. The cam spring groove 44a may also be formed in the front body 40 adjacent to the cam rod 44. The front body 40 may also include a motor groove 45, a battery groove 48, and a USB groove 49 having a USB cover hole 49a. On the opposite side of the front body 40, the front body 40 may include a panel groove 46 and a flash hole 47 formed therein.

[0072] Now refer to Figure 5A and 5B The rear body 50 of the padlock 10 may include a short-leg shank hole 51 and a long-leg shank hole 52 formed therein. The long-leg shank hole 52 may have a shank flap groove 52a positioned adjacent to the long-leg shank hole 52, and a flap stop 52b formed in the front body 40 surrounding the long-leg shank hole 52. The rear body 50 of the padlock 10 may also include one or more bolt slots 53 formed in the rear body 50, positioned between and intersecting with the short-leg shank hole 51 and the long-leg shank hole 52. The rear body 50 may also include a USB slot 54 and a USB cover hole 55.

[0073] Now for reference Figure 1A-1C , Figure 2-3 , Figures 4A-4B , Figures 5A-5B , Figure 6-7 and Figures 14A-14CThe padlock 10 may also include a locking beam 60 having a short-leg locking beam 63 and a long-leg locking beam 64. During the locking mode, the short-leg locking beam 63 will not move out of the short-leg locking beam hole 41. Each of the short-leg locking beam 63 and the long-leg locking beam 64 may have a bolt cutout formed therein. The long-leg locking beam 64 may have at least one extending flap 62 extending therefrom. When the front body 40 and the rear body 50 are engaged together, the short-leg locking beam 63 may be received within the padlock 10 in the channel formed by the short-leg locking beam hole 41 of the front body 40 and the short-leg locking beam hole 51 of the rear body 50. Similarly, when the front body 40 and the rear body 50 are engaged together, the long-leg locking beam 64 is received within the padlock 10 in the channel formed by the long-leg locking beam hole 42 of the front body 40 and the long-leg locking beam hole 52 of the rear body 50. The extended flap 62 of the long-leg lock beam 64 can be received in the lock beam flap slot 42a of the front body 40 or the lock beam flap slot 52a of the rear body 50, depending on the position of the extended flap 62 on the long-leg lock beam 64. Due to the guiding arrangement of the lock beam flap slots 42a and / or 52a, the extended flap 62 allows the long-leg lock beam 64 to move linearly within the padlock 10. The combination of the flap stop 42b of the front body 40 and the flap stop 52b of the rear body 50 prevents the long-leg lock beam 64 from moving out of the padlock 10 because the extended flap 62 is larger than the passage formed by the long-leg lock beam holes 42 and 52. The padlock 10 may also include a lock beam spring 160, which is positioned to push the long-leg lock beam 64 in a direction away from the front body 40 and the rear body 50 when the padlock 10 is in the unlocked mode. In the unlocked mode, the shank 60 can spring open until the extended flap 62 contacts the flap stop 42b / 52b, as the shank spring 160 acts on the long-leg shank 64. However, when the short-leg shank 63 has been removed from the padlock 10 due to the engagement of the extended flap 62 with the groove formed by the flap stop 42b / 52b, the flap stop 42b / 52b does allow the shank 60 to rotate about the longitudinal axis of the long-leg shank 64. The padlock 10 may also include one or more bolts 70, which are positioned in the padlock 10 and movable along the path formed by the bolt slot 43 of the front body 40 and the bolt slot 53 of the rear body 50 when the front body 40 and the rear body 50 are engaged together. The bolts 70 may include a shank locking side 71, which is positioned to engage with a bolt cutout 61 on the short-leg shank 63 or the long-leg shank 64. The bolt 70 may also include a cam locking side 72 positioned to face and / or engage a cam 80 located within the padlock 10. The bolt 70 may also include a spring receiving surface 73 extending from the bolt 70 and configured to engage a bolt spring 140 configured to push the bolt 70 in a direction toward the bolt notch 61. A bolt spring groove 43a in the front body 40 is used to accommodate the bolt spring 140 so as to contact the spring receiving surface 73 of the bolt 70.In this configuration, the bolt 70 will always be pushed by the spring 140 to push outward and toward the cutout 61 of the lock beam 60 in the locking mode.

[0074] Now refer to Figure 1A-1C , Figure 2-3 , Figures 4A-4B , Figures 5A-5B , Figure 6-8 , Figures 9A-9B , Figure 10 and Figures 14A-14C The cam 80 of the padlock 10 can be positioned on a cam rod 44 for angular movement about the cam rod 44, and the cam 80 has a hole 81 formed therein for this purpose. The cam rod 44 of the front body 40 is used to receive the hole 81 of the cam 80. Once the cam 80 has been assembled on the cam rod 44, the cam 80 will only have rotational movement. The cam 80 may also include one or more slots 82 that form a notch in the cam 80 and are configured to receive one or more bolts 70 within the slots 82. The cam 80 may also include one or more locking surfaces 85 that are positioned adjacent to the bolts 70 and are configured to limit and / or prevent movement of the bolts 70 within the padlock 10 when the bolts 70 are not positioned within the slots 82 of the cam 80. The cam 80 may also include a rod 84 extending from the cam 80, which is configured to engage a cam spring 150 that is configured to push the cam 80 in an angular direction such that the locking surfaces 85 are positioned adjacent to the bolts 70. The cam spring groove 44a of the front body 40 is configured to contact the cam spring 150 with the rod 84 of the cam 80. The cam spring 150 will apply a force such that the cam 80 will always rotate back toward the locked position, which will enable the padlock 10 to automatically lock once it is opened, when the short leg locking beam 63 is removed from the short leg locking beam hole 41 / 51. The cam 80 may also include a tail 83 positioned to operably engage with the tilting cam 90. The tilting cam 90 may include a locking ramp 91a and an opening ramp 91b, the locking ramp 91a being configured to restrict the movement of the cam 80 when the tail 83 of the cam 80 engages with the locking ramp 91a, and the opening ramp 91b being configured to engage with the tail 83 of the cam 80 and allow the cam 80 to make angular movements about the cam rod 44. The tilting cam 90 may also include a motor tooth receiving slot 92 configured to engage with a tooth 101 of a motor 100 disposed in a motor slot 45 of the front body 40. The tooth 101 may be assembled into the motor tooth receiving slot 92 of the tilting cam 90. The motor slot 45 of the front body 40 assembles the motor 100 into the padlock 10. The motor 100 is configured to cause rotation of the tilting cam 90 to achieve rotation of the cam 80 about the cam rod 44. During the locking mode of the padlock 10, the locking ramp 91a of the tilting cam 90 contacts the tail 83 of the cam 80.

[0075] Now for reference Figure 1A-1C , Figure 2-3 , Figures 4A-4B , Figures 5A-5B , Figure 11-13 and Figures 14A-14C The padlock 10 may also include a fingerprint panel 110 located behind a panel slot 46 on the front body 40. The fingerprint panel 110 includes a sensor 111 configured to control the movement of the motor 100 and the tilting cam 90 when the padlock 10 operates between a locked and unlocked mode. A flash hole 47 on the front body 40 is configured to receive a flash 113 from the fingerprint panel 110 to provide the user with an indication of the mode of the padlock 10. The fingerprint panel 110 may also have additional features for a Bluetooth unlocking application processor, wherein the Bluetooth processor is integrated into the fingerprint panel 110, allowing the motor 100 to be controlled not only by fingerprint but also by unlocking via a Bluetooth smartphone through an application. The fingerprint panel 110 may also include a USB charging port 112. The USB charging port may be located in USB slots 49 / 54 on the front body 40 and the rear body 50. The padlock 10 may also include a battery 120 located in a battery slot 48 on the front body 40, and the battery 120 may be configured to provide power to the fingerprint panel 110 and the motor 100. The battery 120 may be rechargeable and electrically coupled to the USB charging port 112 to receive current for recharging. The padlock 10 may also include a USB cover 130 located above the USB cover holes 49a / 55 of the front body 40 and the rear body 50 to cover the USB charging port 112 and provide at least some rain and / or water resistance to the USB charging port 112.

[0076] Now for reference Figure 1A-1C , Figure 2-3 , Figures 4A-4B , Figures 5A-5B , Figure 6-8 , Figures 9A-9B and Figure 10-13 The locking mode of padlock 10 will now be discussed. In the locking mode, the bolt notch 61 of lock beam 60 is aligned with the lock beam locking side 71 of bolt 70. During the locking mode, bolt spring 140 acts on the spring receiving surface 73 of bolt 70 to push bolt 70 toward bolt notch 61 of lock beam 60. The cam locking side 72 of bolt 70 is also aligned with the locking surface 85 of cam 80. When cam spring 150 is configured in a counterclockwise direction (e.g.) Figure 1CWhen the lever 84 of the cam 80 is pushed, the tail 83 of the cam 80 contacts the locking ramp 91a of the tilt cam 90. The motor tooth receiving groove 92 of the tilt cam 90 engages with the tooth 101 of the motor 100. When there is no correct fingerprint on the fingerprint sensor 111 of the fingerprint panel 110, the motor 100 will not start, and the tilt cam 90 will not rotate. As a result, the tail 83 of the cam 80 remains in contact with the locking ramp 91a of the tilt cam 90, the cam 80 does not rotate about the cam lever 44, and the bolt 70 does not disengage from the engagement with the bolt cutout 61 of the lock beam 60. In the locked mode, the cam locking side 72 of the bolt 70 is aligned with the locking surface 85 of the cam 80, but there may be some gap between the cam locking side 72 and the locking surface 85 because during the locked mode, the bolt spring 140 will push the bolt 70 toward the cutout 61 of the lock beam 60. When the padlock 10 is operated between the locked and unlocked modes by the motor 100, the tilting cam 90 will push the tail 83 of the cam 80 to rotate the cam 80 without causing the cam locking side 72 of the bolt 70 to contact the cam 80 and interfere with the rotational movement of the cam 80 from the locked mode to the unlocked mode.

[0077] Now for reference Figure 2-3 , Figures 4A-4B , Figures 5A-5B , Figure 6-8 , Figures 9A-9B , Figure 10-13 and Figures 14A-14C The unlocking mode of padlock 10 will now be discussed. Padlock 10 can be operated from a locked mode to an unlocked mode by presenting a correct fingerprint to the fingerprint sensor 111 of fingerprint panel 110. The correct fingerprint will be pre-programmed into padlock 10 according to a known procedure to configure the operation of padlock 10 by the fingerprints of one or more authorized users. For example, an authorized user may be the owner of padlock 10, and / or the owner of a location or item protected by padlock 10. Padlock 10 may include different levels of authorization control, such that an authorized user has the permission to add other authorized users to padlock 10, but other authorized users cannot add additional authorized users to padlock 10. Padlock 10 may include a memory (not shown) configured to store the fingerprints of one or more authorized users, and a processor (not shown) configured to retrieve and / or compare an input fingerprint with one or more stored authorized fingerprints.

[0078] Still referencing Figure 2-3 , Figures 4A-4B , Figures 5A-5B , Figure 6-8 , Figures 9A-9B , Figure 10-13 and Figures 14A-14CWhen a correct fingerprint appears in the fingerprint sensor 111 of the fingerprint panel 110, the motor 100 will rotate. As the motor 100 rotates, the teeth 101, engaging with the motor tooth receiving groove 92, transmit the rotational motion of the motor 100 to the tilting cam 90, which will rotate in the same manner. The rotation of the tilting cam 90 causes the opening ramp 91b to push the tail 83 of the cam 80, thus causing the cam 80 to rotate. When the cam 80 is pushed clockwise (… Figure 14C When the cam locking side 72 of bolt 70 aligns with the slot 82 of cam 80, the locking beam spring 160 pushes the long leg locking beam 64 upward. Due to the movement of the long leg locking beam 64, the locking beam locking side 71 of bolt 70 is pushed out of bolt notch 61, and bolt 70 is pushed towards the slot 82 of cam 80. In this position, the cam locking side 72 of bolt 70 now engages with the slot 82 of cam 80, and the locking beam locking side 71 contacts the long leg locking beam 64 of locking beam 60. In this clamped position of bolt 70, cam 80 cannot rotate back to the locked position because this clamped position keeps the slot 82 of bolt 70 and the cam locking side 72, as well as the long leg locking beam 64 of locking beam 60, fully engaged, and cam spring 150 remains compressed but cannot return to the locked position. The extended flap 62 on the long leg of the locking beam 64 moves along the flap groove 42a and / or the flap groove 52a until the extended flap 62 contacts the flap stop 42b / 52b of the front body 40 or the rear body 50. The short leg of the locking beam 63 moves away from the short leg locking beam hole 41 / 51 formed by the front body 40 and the rear body 50, and the padlock 10 is placed in the unlocked mode. In the unlocked mode, due to the rotation of the cam 80, the bolt 70 disengages from the bolt notch 61 on the short leg locking beam 63 and the long leg locking beam 64 to allow the cam locking side 72 of the bolt 70 to be received in the opening slot 82 of the cam 80. During the rotation of the tilting cam 90 caused by the motor 100, the cam 80 rotates due to the action of the opening ramp 91b of the tilting cam 90 on the tail 83 of the cam 80. When the locking beam 60 is in the open position, the motor 100 will rotate back to the locked position, and the locking ramp 91a will rotate back toward the locked position. Since the tail 83 of the cam 80 is still in the open state and in the middle position, the tail 83 of the cam 80 will not contact the locking ramp 91a or the opening ramp 91b of the tilting cam 90.

[0079] Now for reference Figure 1A-1C , Figure 2-3 , Figures 4A-4B , Figures 5A-5B , Figure 6-8 , Figures 9A-9B , Figure 10-13 and Figures 14A-14CTo relock the padlock 10 and return it from the unlocked mode to the locked mode, the user pushes the short leg shank 63 of the shank 60 into the short leg holes 41 / 51 formed by the front body 40 and the rear body 50. When the short leg shank 63 is inserted into the short leg holes 41 / 51, the shank locking side 71 of each bolt 70 aligns with the cutout 61 of the shank 60. The bolt spring 140 then pushes the bolt 70 outward toward the cutout 61 of the shank 60. When the shank locking side 71 of the bolt 70 engages with the cutout 61 of the shank 60, the cam locking side 72 of the bolt 70 no longer engages with the opening slot 82 of the cam 80. The cam spring 150 moves counterclockwise, pushing the rod 84 of the cam 80 so that the tail 83 of the cam 80 contacts the locking ramp 91a of the inclined cam 90. The cam locking side 72 of the bolt 70 is now aligned with the locking surface 85 of the cam 80. Padlock 10 has now returned to the locked mode. The movement from the unlocked mode to the locked mode is performed mechanically without requiring any power to relock padlock 10.

[0080] Therefore, it can be seen that the objectives set forth above are effectively achieved, among those obvious from the foregoing description, and since certain changes can be made to the foregoing without departing from the scope of the invention, all content contained in this disclosure or shown in the drawings should be interpreted as illustrative rather than restrictive. It should be understood that all the accompanying drawings and the accompanying descriptive discussions of the corresponding embodiments do not imply a completely rigorous treatment of the invention as conceived. It should be understood that the above arrangements are merely illustrative of the application of the principles of the invention. Those skilled in the art can devise many modifications and alternative arrangements without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A padlock, comprising: Lock body; A locking beam has a long leg and a short leg, wherein the short leg has a bolt cutout formed therein, and wherein the long leg of the locking beam is retained in the lock body; A bolt configured to engage with a bolt cutout in the short leg when the padlock is in a locked mode, and wherein the bolt is configured to disengage from the bolt cutout in the short leg when the padlock is in an unlocked mode; and The fingerprint panel is configured to switch the padlock from the locked mode to the unlocked mode; A cam configured to rotate within the lock body and including an opening slot configured to receive the bolt when the padlock is in the unlocked mode, wherein the bolt is removed from the opening slot when the padlock is in the locked mode; A tilting cam, operably coupled to the cam and configured to control the rotational movement of the cam within the lock body; The bolt includes a locking beam locking side and a spring receiving surface, the locking beam locking side being configured to engage with a bolt cutout in the short leg; and The padlock further includes a bolt spring, which is positioned in the lock body and configured to engage with the spring receiving surface to push the bolt in a direction toward the bolt cutout in the short leg; The cam further includes a tail portion configured to operatively engage with the tilting cam; and The tilting cam further includes a locking ramp and an opening ramp, wherein the locking ramp is configured to engage with the tail of the cam when the padlock is in the locked mode, and the opening ramp is configured to engage with the tail of the cam when the padlock is in the unlocked mode. The cam further includes a rod extending from the cam, the rod being configured to engage with a cam spring, the cam spring being positioned within the lock body and configured to push the rod in one direction such that when the padlock is in a locked mode, the tail of the cam engages with the locking ramp of the tilting cam.

2. The padlock according to claim 1 further includes a second bolt, wherein, The long leg has a second bolt cutout formed in the long leg, wherein the second bolt is configured to engage with the second bolt cutout in the long leg.

3. The padlock according to claim 1, wherein when the padlock is in the locked mode, the short leg of the lock beam is held in the lock body of the padlock by the bolt.

4. The padlock according to claim 1 further comprises: A motor is positioned within the lock body and operatively connected to the tilting cam; The motor is configured to operate and cause the tilting cam to rotate when an authorized user provides a fingerprint to the fingerprint panel.

5. The padlock of claim 1, further comprising a motor positioned within the lock body and operatively coupled to the tilting cam; and in, The motor is configured to rotate the tilting cam such that the opening ramp of the tilting cam contacts the tail of the cam, thereby causing the cam to rotate and the bolt is received by the opening slot of the cam.

6. The padlock according to claim 1, wherein the locking ramp has a height less than the height of the opening ramp.

7. The padlock of claim 5, wherein the motor includes teeth, and the tilting cam includes a motor tooth receiving slot configured to operatively engage with the teeth of the motor, such that rotational motion of the motor is transmitted to the tilting cam; and in, The motor is configured to rotate when an authorized user provides a fingerprint to the fingerprint panel.

8. The padlock according to claim 2, further comprising a lock beam spring engaging with the long leg of the lock beam, wherein, The cam also includes a second opening groove; The locking beam spring is configured to push the long leg in one direction, causing the second bolt, which engages with the second bolt notch, to disengage from the second bolt notch, so that the second bolt is received within the second opening groove of the cam; and The locking beam spring is configured to push the long leg in a direction that causes the short leg of the locking beam to be removed from the lock body, so as to lock the padlock in the unlocking mode.

9. The padlock of claim 8, wherein the second bolt includes a locking beam side configured to engage with a second bolt notch in the long leg when the padlock is in the locked mode, and the second bolt is configured to engage with another portion of the long leg when the padlock is in the unlocked mode; in, The second bolt also includes a cam locking side configured to engage with a second opening slot of the cam when the padlock is in the unlocked mode; as well as In the unlocking mode, the second bolt disengages from the second bolt notch on the long leg and is positioned between the long leg and the second opening groove of the cam.

10. The padlock of claim 9, wherein when the bolt disengages from the second bolt notch on the long leg, the second bolt is positioned between the long leg and the second opening groove of the cam, such that rotational movement of the cam within the lock body of the padlock is prevented.

11. The padlock according to claim 1, wherein, When the bolt notch on the short leg is aligned with the locking side of the bolt's locking beam, the bolt spring is configured to push the bolt's cam locking side away from the cam's opening slot, and the cam spring is configured to push the cam's rod to rotate the cam until the tail of the cam contacts the locking ramp of the tilting cam.

12. The padlock of claim 11, wherein there is a gap between the locking surface of the cam and the cam locking side of the bolt.

13. The padlock of claim 1, wherein the fingerprint panel is configured to receive a signal from an electronic device to cause the padlock to operate from the locked mode to the unlocked mode.

Images