"LOCKING MECHANISM" Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a locking mechanism and relates particularly, though not exclusively to a locking mechanism for use securing suitcases for improving airline luggage inspection.

Background to the Invention

Due to the need to improve airport security the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) in the USA has requested that airline passengers not use padlocks on the zippers of their luggage. The TSA conducts random internal inspections on airport luggage. Approximately one in every six items of luggage is inspected. If a conventional padlock has been used to secure the zipper or other closure, it would typically be "clipped" by the TSA should that item of luggage be subject to an internal inspection. The padlock of a selected item of luggage is usually removed by cutting through the shackle of the lock with a pair of bolt-cutters or similar tool. Consequently, a variety of specialised locks have been designed that can be re-attached to the luggage closure after they have been removed by a Luggage Inspector.

The TSA recognised this system and the associated specialised padlocks. Most of the current padlocks involve the use of a range of pass-keys that are held by the relevant agencies for this purpose. The administration of such a large number of pass keys is a time consuming and costly task. Further, the existence of all of these pass keys increases the risk that some pass keys may make their way out of the system, thereby increasing the security risk.

The present invention relates to a locking mechanism that can be employed in a padlock or directly on a suitcase or other similar storage container and is designed to overcome, at least in part, the abovementioned problems.

References to prior art documents in this specification are provided for illustrative purposes only and are not to be taken as an admission that such prior art is part of the common general knowledge in Australia or elsewhere.

Summary of the Invention

According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a locking mechanism comprising: a latching mechanism; one or more securing members moveable between a closed position and an open position by operation of the latching mechanism with an access control means; a tool engaging portion in connection with the latching mechanism; wherein when a tool having first and second pivotally connected members is engaged with the tool engaging portion, application of sufficient force by movement of the first and second members towards each other causes the tool engaging portion to release the latching mechanism such that the securing member is moveable to the open position.

Preferably, the tool engaging portion comprises a first side portion, a second side portion and an interconnecting portion such that the first and second side portions are pivoted away from each other by the tool by flexing of the interconnecting portion.

Preferably, the latching mechanism includes a latch member moveable in and out of engagement with the securing member by operation of the access control means and the first side portion of the tool engaging portion engages with the latch member such that pivoting of the first side portion away from the second side portion causes the latch member to disengage from the securing member.

Preferably, the first and second side portions have angled surfaces corresponding in angle to surfaces on the first and second pivotally connected members of the tool.

In a preferred embodiment, the tool comprises a pair of bolt-cutters and the first and second pivotally connected members are the jaws of the bolt-cutters. The force required to be applied by the bolt-cutters to operate the tool engaging portion is preferably greater than that which would be required to sever the securing member.

In one embodiment, the locking mechanism is provided on a padlock, the securing member comprises a shackle of the padlock and the latch mechanism comprises a latch member moveable into and out of engagement with the shackle. The access control means may comprise a key operated barrel such that rotation of the barrel by the key engages with the latch member and moves the latch member out of engagement with the shackle.

Preferably, the latch member is spring biased by a resilient member and the first side portion of the tool engaging portion engages with the resilient member to move the latch member.

The first and second side portions of the tool engaging portion are preferably accessible via a port in the body of the padlock.

In a further embodiment, the locking mechanism is provided on a suitcase and the securing member comprises a pair of rods moveable between a closed position in which the rods can be engaged to secure tabs on zippers on the case and an open position in which the rods disengage with the zipper tabs.

The latching mechanism may comprise a pair of pivotally mounted latch members and a slide in engagement with a key barrel such that rotation of the

key barrel with a key pulls the slide and pivots the pair of latch members out of engagement with the rods.

The first side portion of the tool engaging portion preferably engages with the slide such that movement of the first side portion away from the second side portion moves the slide to pivot the pair of latch members out of engagement with the rods.

In a preferred embodiment, the locking mechanism includes a counter having a display to display information including the number of times that the locking mechanism has been opened by the tool engaging portion and/or the access control means. The counter may be engaged by the tool engaging portion and the access control means such that release of the latching mechanism by the tool engaging portion increases the counter and release of the latching mechanism by the access control means resets the counter.

Throughout the specification, unless the context requires otherwise, the word "comprise" or variations such as "comprises" or "comprising", will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or group of integers but not the exclusion of any other integer or group of integers. Likewise the word "preferably" or variations such as "preferred", will be understood to imply that a stated integer or group of integers is desirable but not essential to the working of the invention.

Brief Description of the Drawings

The nature of the invention will be better understood from the following detailed description of a specific embodiment of the locking mechanism, given by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1a is a front view of padlock incorporating the locking mechanism of the present invention;

Figure 1 b is a perspective view of the padlock of Figure 1 a;

Figure 2 is an exploded view of the padlock of Figure 1 ;

Figure 3 is a front cross sectional view through the line A-A of the padlock of Figure 1 in a locked position;

Figure 4 is a top cross sectional view through the line B-B of the padlock of Figure 1 in a locked position;

Figure 5 is a front cross sectional view through the line C-C of the padlock of Figure 1 in an open position, opened by a key;

Figure 6 is a top cross sectional view through the line D-D of the padlock of Figure 1 in an open position, opened by a key;

Figure 7a is a view of the padlock of Figure 1 being opened by use of bolt-cutters;

Figure 7b is a close up view of the opening of the padlock of Figure 7a;

Figure 8 is a front cross sectional view through the line F-F of the padlock of Figure 1 in an open position, opened by a suitable tool such as bolt-cutters;

Figure 9 is a top cross sectional view through the line G-G of the padlock of Figure 1 in an open position, opened by a suitable tool such as bolt-cutters; Figure 10 is an upper perspective view of an embodiment of locking mechanism in accordance with the present invention as applied to a suitcase;

Figure 1 1 is an upper perspective view of the locking mechanism of Figure 10 being operated by bolt-cutters; Figure 12 is an exploded view of the locking mechanism of Figure 10;

Figure 13 is a lower cross section view of the locking mechanism of Figure 10 with the latching mechanism closed;

Figure 14 is a lower cross section view of the locking mechanism of Figure 10 with the latching mechanism opened by a key; and

Figure 15 is a lower cross section view of the locking mechanism of Figure 10 with the latching mechanism opened by the bolt-cutters.

Detailed Description of Preferred Embodiment

Preferred embodiments of a locking mechanism 10 in accordance with the present invention are illustrated in the accompanying representations.

The locking mechanism 10 may be employed on any device having a securing member moveable between a closed and an open position. In the embodiment shown in Figures 1 to 9, the device comprises a padlock 12 and the securing member comprises a shackle 14 connected to a body 16 of the padlock 12. The shackle 14 has a first end 18 secured to the body 16 such that the shackle 14 can rotate relative to the body 16 and slide between a closed position in which a second end 20 of the shackle 14 is engaged with the body 16 and an open position in which the second end 20 is disengaged from the body 16.

The padlock 12 includes a latching mechanism which engages with the shackle 14 such that the shackle 14 can be locked in the closed position or released to the open position. Operation of the latch mechanism is via an access control means which, in the example shown, comprises a key 22 which engages with a barrel 24 forming part of the latching mechanism.

The latching mechanism includes also a latch member 26 in engagement with the barrel 24. The latch member 26 is a flat member arranged transversely to the second end 20 of the shackle 14. The latch member 26 is spring biased such that it tends to move towards the second end 20 of the shackle 14 when the shackle 14 is in the closed position such that a first end of the latch member 26 engages in a notch 28 in the second end of the shackle 14. When the latch member 26 is received in the notch 28, sliding movement of the

shackle 14 is prevented and the shackle 14 is then locked in the closed position, as shown in Figure 3.

The spring bias is provided by a resilient member 30. The resilient member 30 includes a first end portion 32 fixed in use relative to the body 16 of the padlock 12 and a generally J-shaped portion 34 extending from the first end portion 32. The outer end of the J-shaped portion 34 engages with a hole 36 in the latch member 26. The J-shaped portion 34 is free to flex towards the first end portion 32 but will tend to move back, thus sliding the latch member 26 towards the second end 20 of the shackle 14. The barrel 24 is located in the body 16 generally coaxially with the second end 20 of the shackle 14. The barrel 24 includes a shackle seat 37 in a first end thereof which receives the second end 20 of the shackle 14 and a seat spring 38 between the seat 37 and the barrel 24. The seat spring 38 biases the shackle seat 37 such that when the second end 20 of the shackle 14 is released, the shackle 14 is urged away from the barrel 24 towards the open position.

The barrel 24 also includes a key slot 25 in a second end thereof to receive the key 22. In normal operation, when the correct key 22 is inserted into the barrel 24, the barrel 24 can be rotated via the key 22. A cam member 27 on the barrel 24 engages with the latch member 26 on rotation of the barrel 24 and slides the latch member 26 such that it disengages from the notch 28 in the shackle 14, allowing the shackle 14 to move to the open position.

The locking mechanism 10 includes a tool engaging portion 40. The tool engaging portion 40 is in engagement with the latch mechanism and includes surfaces to receive first and second arms of a tool wherein the first and second arms pivot relative to each other. It is expected that the tool used would comprise bolt-cutters 42 where the jaws of the bolt-cutters comprise the first and second arms.

The tool engaging portion 40 comprises a member having a first side portion 44, a second side portion 46 and an interconnecting portion 48. The first and second side portions 44 and 46 are generally elongate and parallel and the

interconnecting portion 48 joins the first and second side portions 44 and 46 such that the first and second side portions 44 and 46 can pivot relative to each other by flexing of the interconnecting portion 48. The interconnecting portion 48 is sufficiently stiff such that a significant amount of force is required to cause the first and second side portions 44 and 46 to flex relative to each other.

A first end of the tool engaging portion 40 is exposed via a port 45 in the body 16 such that first ends of the first and second side portions 44 and 46 can be engaged by the bolt-cutters 42. The first and second side portions 44 and 46 include angled adjacent surfaces 50 on upper and lower surfaces such that the angle is approximately equal to the angle of the surface of the jaws of the bolt-cutter 42. Therefore, the jaws of the bolt-cutters 42 can be received between the first and second side portions 44 and 46, engaging on the angled surfaces 50 (as shown in Figure 7). Operation of the bolt-cutters 42 from this position forces the jaws of the bolt-cutters 42 between the first and second side portions 44 and flexes the second ends of the first and second side portions 44 and 46 towards each other (as shown in Figure 8). As mentioned, the interconnecting portion 48 is of sufficient strength such that the first and second side portions 44 and 46 can only be moved relative to each other with the application of significant force. In particular, the amount of force required as applied by the bolt-cutters 42 is greater than that which would be required on the bolt-cutters to sever the shackle 14.

The tool engaging portion 40 is secured in the body 16 of the padlock 12 such that the first side member 44 is against an inner wall of the body 16. The tool engaging portion 40 includes a central opening 52 to receive a protrusion 54 in the body 16 to locate the tool engaging portion 40. The first and second side portions 44 and 46 and the interconnection portion 48 are shaped to correspond to the curve of the J-shaped portion 34 of the resilient member 30 such that the J-shaped portion 34 is received between the second ends of the first and second side portions 44 and 46, (as shown in Figure 3). The pivotal movement of the second side portion 46 relative to the first side portion 44 with the application of force by the bolt-cutters 42 thereby causes the end of

the J-shaped portion to move and slide the latch member 26 away from the second end 20 of the shackle 14. That is, application of force by the bolt- cutters 42 on the tool engaging portion 40 releases the latching mechanism, allowing opening of the padlock 12. The locking mechanism also includes a counter 56 within the body 16. The counter includes a first button 58 engaged by the tool engaging portion 40 when the tool engaging portion 40 is operated by the tool to open the padlock 12. The counter 56 includes a display 62 viewable from the outside of the body 16 of the padlock 12 which can indicate the number of times that the padlock 12 has been opened by a tool engaging the tool engaging portion 40. The counter 56 includes also a reset button 60 engaged by the barrel 24 when the padlock 12 is opened by the key 22. The reset button 60 resets the count displayed on the display 62

The locking mechanism of the present invention may also be applied to other devices having a latching mechanism that is opened by an access control means. Figures 10 to 15 show an embodiment of a locking mechanism 10' in accordance with the present invention in which the latching mechanism is one applied to a suitcase to secure zippers 70 of the case in place. The locking mechanism 10' of this embodiment will be described with like reference numerals used to denote like parts.

The locking mechanism 10' is applied to a body 16' having a pair of securing members 14'. The body 16' includes a pair of recesses 72 arranged on the case such that when the zippers 70 are closed and adjacent each other (as shown in Figure 10), the tabs 71 of the zippers 70 can be received in the recesses 72. The securing members comprise rods 74 slidable between a closed position in which the rods extend into the recesses 72 to engage with the zipper tabs 71 and an open position in which the rods 74 withdraw from the recesses 72 to disengage from the zipper tabs 72.

Each of the rods 74 extends from a handle member 76. Each handle member 76 is secured to the body 16' such that the handle member 76 can slide relative to the body 16' and is spring biased such that the handle member 76

tends to move away from the corresponding recess 72 to move the rod 74 to the open position.

The latching mechanism includes also a pair of latch members 26', each for securing a corresponding rod 74 when the rod is in the closed position. Each of the latch members 26' is generally hook shaped and is pivotally mounted at a first end thereof to a pin 80 in the body 16'. The pivotal mounting is such that each of the latch members 26' pivot between a position in which the second end of the latch member 26' engages with a notch 28' in the corresponding rod 74 and a position in which the second end disengages from the notch 28'. Each of the latch members 26' is spring biased such that the latch member 26' tends to move towards the position in which it engages with the notch 28' in the corresponding rod 74.

The body 16' includes an access control means in the form of a key barrel 24' operated by a key 22'. The key barrel 24 is mounted into the body 16 and engages with a cam member 78. The latching mechanism includes also a slide 82. The slide 82 is mounted for sliding movement in the body 16' and includes a pair of lugs 84 received in corresponding holes adjacent the midpoint of each of the latch members 26'. The slide 82 is slidable away from the latch members 26' such that this sliding motion pulls the latch members 26' against their spring bias, thereby pulling the second end of each latch member 26' out of engagement with the notch 28' in the corresponding rod 74. The slide 82 is also spring biased such that it tends to slide towards the latch members 26'

Figure 13 shows the latching mechanism in a closed position. Figure 14 shows normal operation of the latching mechanism to the open position.

Normal operation comprises rotation of the key barrel 24' with the appropriate key 22'. This rotates the cam member 78 and a first cam on the cam member engages the slide 82, pulling the slide 82 against its spring bias and pulling the latch members 26' to disengage from the rods 72. The spring bias in the handle members 76 cause the handle members 76 to move and thus pull the

rods 74 from the closed position to the open position to allow release of the zipper tabs 72.

The locking mechanism 10' includes also a tool engaging portion 40'. The tool engaging portion 40' has a different configuration to that of the embodiment described with reference to the padlock, however it operates in essentially the same manner. The tool engaging portion 40' comprises a first side portion 44' and a second side portion 46'. The first and second side portions 44' and 46' are connected at a second end thereof by an interconnecting portion 48' which provides the pivotal movement between the first and second side members 44' and 46' as described previously. First ends of the first and second side portions 44' and 46' curve towards each other such that the first and second side portions 44' and 46' and the interconnecting portion 48' form a ring configuration being split at the first ends of the first and second side portions 44 and 46. The first ends of the first and second side portions 44' and 46' include angled surfaces 50' running perpendicular to the plane of the ring such that positioning bolt-cutters generally perpendicular to the plane of the first and second side portions 44' and 46 allows the jaws of the bolt-cutters 42 to engage with the angled surfaces 50'. Operation of the bolt-cutters 42 in this position causes the second ends of the first and second side portions 44' and 46' to pivot away from each other. The first end of the first side portion 44' includes an extending portion 45' that engages with the slide 82 such that pivoting apart of the first and second side portions 44' and 46' moves the slide 82 away from the latch members 26'. The first ends of the tool engaging portion 40' are exposed through a port 45' in the body 16' so that the first ends can be engaged with bolt-cutters 42. Figures 11 and 15 show operation of the locking mechanism 10' with the bolt- cutters 42. As can be seen, the jaws of the bolt-cutters 42 are received in the port 45' and engage against the angled surfaces 50' of the first and second side portions 44' and 46'. Pivoting apart of the first and second side portions

44' and 46 causes movement of the slide 82 and thus release of the latch members 26'. The rods 74 are then free to slide to the open position.

The locking mechanism 10' includes also a counter 56' having a first button 58', a reset button 60' and a display 62' operating in the same manner as in the padlock embodiment.

It will be readily apparent to persons skilled in the relevant arts that various modifications and improvements may be made to the foregoing embodiments, in addition to those already described, without departing from the basic inventive concepts of the present invention.