Classifications

• • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
  • E05—LOCKS; KEYS; WINDOW OR DOOR FITTINGS; SAFES
  • E05B—LOCKS; ACCESSORIES THEREFOR; HANDCUFFS
  • E05B67/00—Padlocks; Details thereof
  • E05B67/06—Shackles; Arrangement of the shackle
  • E05B67/22—Padlocks with sliding shackles, with or without rotary or pivotal movement
• • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
  • E05—LOCKS; KEYS; WINDOW OR DOOR FITTINGS; SAFES
  • E05B—LOCKS; ACCESSORIES THEREFOR; HANDCUFFS
  • E05B47/00—Operating or controlling locks or other fastening devices by electric or magnetic means
  • E05B47/0001—Operating or controlling locks or other fastening devices by electric or magnetic means with electric actuators; Constructional features thereof
  • E05B47/0002—Operating or controlling locks or other fastening devices by electric or magnetic means with electric actuators; Constructional features thereof with electromagnets
  • E05B47/0003—Operating or controlling locks or other fastening devices by electric or magnetic means with electric actuators; Constructional features thereof with electromagnets having a movable core
  • E05B47/0004—Operating or controlling locks or other fastening devices by electric or magnetic means with electric actuators; Constructional features thereof with electromagnets having a movable core said core being linearly movable
• • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
  • E05—LOCKS; KEYS; WINDOW OR DOOR FITTINGS; SAFES
  • E05B—LOCKS; ACCESSORIES THEREFOR; HANDCUFFS
  • E05B47/00—Operating or controlling locks or other fastening devices by electric or magnetic means
  • E05B47/0001—Operating or controlling locks or other fastening devices by electric or magnetic means with electric actuators; Constructional features thereof
  • E05B2047/0014—Constructional features of actuators or power transmissions therefor
  • E05B2047/0018—Details of actuator transmissions
  • E05B2047/0026—Clutches, couplings or braking arrangements
  • E05B2047/0028—Clutches, couplings or braking arrangements using electromagnetic means
• • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
  • E05—LOCKS; KEYS; WINDOW OR DOOR FITTINGS; SAFES
  • E05B—LOCKS; ACCESSORIES THEREFOR; HANDCUFFS
  • E05B47/00—Operating or controlling locks or other fastening devices by electric or magnetic means
  • E05B2047/0072—Operation
  • E05B2047/0079—Bi-stable electromagnet(s), different pulse to lock or unlock

Definitions

• Various embodiments relate to a field of electronic padlock arrangements.
• an electronic padlock arrangement comprising a body with a shackle, a linearly movable blocker having a first position to disable the shackle to enter an open state and a second position to enable the shackle to enter the open state, a tilter having a first position and a second position, wherein moving of the tilter from the first position to the second position is configured to move the blocker from the first position to the second position, a clutch pin having a first state to disable moving of the tilter to the second position, and a second state to enable moving of the tilter to the second position, and a processing circuitry configured, when authorized, to provide a control signal to set the clutch pin to the second state to enable moving of the tilter to the second position to open the shackle.
• Figure 1 illustrates the electronic padlock arrangement in an assembled and open state (shackle is open), and Figure 2 is an exploded view of the electronic padlock arrangement revealing components arranged inside the padlock.
• the padlock 100 comprises the shackle 104 operatively connected with the body 102.
• the body is not illustrated in Figure 3A but is illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 .
• the shackle may comprise two legs 104A - B having different length. In the locked state of the padlock (or shackle) both legs are inside the body and are locked such that the legs cannot be pulled out of the body. In the open state of the shackle, a shorter leg 104A comes out of the body and a longer leg 104B stays inside the body such that the shackle can be rotated around the longer leg 104B enabling to open the padlock.
• the padlock arrangement further comprises the linearly movable blocker 106 having the first and the second positions 106_P1 - P2, wherein the blocker in the first position is configured to keep the locking ball(s) in the groove of the legs of the shackle.
• the blocker 106 prevents the locking balls 130A - B - B to come out of the grooves of the legs. In other words, to move in a width direction of the padlock WD.
• the shackle cannot be opened, and the padlock stays in the locked state.
• the shackle is substantially U-shaped, and the blocker may be arranged between the legs of the U-shaped shackle as illustrated in Figure 3A , for example.
• the locking balls may be substantially between the legs and the blocker.
• the blocker further comprises grooves 106A - B for the locking balls 130A - B, and the groves 106A - B are aligned with the locking balls 130A - B - B in the second position of the blocker 106_P2.
• the blocker is configured to move in the length direction LD when moving between the first and the second positions.
• the padlock arrangement further comprises the clutch pin 110 having a first state 110_S1 to disable moving of the tilter 108 to the second position, and a second state 110_S2 to enable moving of the tilter 108 to the second position.
• the clutch pin is configured to interact with the tilter such that only in the second position of the clutch pin, the tiler can proceed to the second position that also moves the blocker to the second position allowing opening of the shackle and the padlock.
• the tilter In the first state of the clutch pin, the tilter may contact the blocker but is not capable of moving it and hence, the blocker stays in the first position keeping also the shackle locked.
• the padlock arrangement 100 further comprises the processing circuitry 112 configured to control at least the clutch pin 110.
• the processing circuitry is configured to provide the control signal to the clutch pin to move between the first and/or the second position.
• the processing circuitry is further configured to check the access rights of the user. If the user has the access right to open the padlock, the processing circuitry provides the control signal to move the clutch pin. If the user does not have access rights, the control signal is not provided.
• the processing circuitry provides the control signal only when authorized to do so, in other words, only if the user has the access rights to open the padlock.
• the NFC may be applied to provide the authorization as well as power for the electronic padlock.
• the padlock arrangement 100 further comprises a locking pin 114 having a locked state 114_LS to disable moving of the blocker 106, and an open state 114_OS to enable moving of the blocker 106.
• the locking pin may be configured to move perpendicularly in relation to the blocker such that in the locked state one end of the pin extends into the blocker preventing its movement.
• the blocker may comprise a hole for receiving the pin in its locked state. In the second state of the locking pin, the pin may move out of the hole releasing the blocker to move to the second position and to open the shackle.
• there are two pins which have to be set to the right positions to get the shackle open.
• the clutch pin must be in the second position that the tiler is capable of moving the blocker, and further the locking pin must be in the open state to enable moving of the blocker. If one of the pins remains in the first position, the shackle cannot be opened.
• the padlock arrangement may be operated without the locking pin, but it improves safety of the padlock since tampering of the lock is more difficult.
• the locking pin may be operated by the processing circuitry 112. When the processing circuitry is authorized (access rights exist), it provides a control signal to set the locking pin 114 to the open state 114_OS to enable moving of the blocker 106 to the second position 106_P2 by the tilter 108. Hence, the processing circuitry is configured to control the locking and the clutch pin.
• the padlock arrangement 100 further comprises an actuation member 116 having a first and a second position 116_P1, 116_P2, wherein the actuation member 116 is configured to be movably coupled with the tilter 108 such that the actuation member 116, when moving from the first position 116_P1 to the second position 116P2, is configured to provide force to the tilter 108 to move from the first position 108_P1 to the second position 108_P2.
• the actuation member 116 and the tilter 108 are in the first position, then also the blocker 106 stays in the first position.
• Figure 3B illustrates the actuation member 116 in the second position that also forces the tilter 108 to the second position that moves the blocker to the second position enabling opening of the shackle.
• the actuation member is configured to move the tilter such that the tiler can move the blocker.
• the actuation member is used to provide and/or deliver force to move the tilter that moves the blocker.
• the term "movably coupled" shall be understood such that the tilter and the actuation member may be directly in contact, or via some other component such that movement of the actuation member can be transferred to the tilter.
• the actuation member 116 is arranged to be the in connection with the shackle 104, wherein outward movement of the shackle 104 is configured to move the actuation member 104 from the first position 116_P1 to the second position 116_P2.
• the outward movement means that the shackle is pulled out of the body in the length direction LD.
• the user of the padlock may pull the shackle that moves the actuation member to the second position.
• moving of the actuation member from the first position to the second position causes moving of the tilter from the first position to the second position, if the clutch pin is the second state, that pushes the blocker to the second position allowing opening of the shackle.
• the arrangement comprises the locking pin, it must be in the open state to enable movement of the blocker.
• the actuation member 116 is arranged substantially perpendicularly in relation to the shackle 104, and the shackle 104 comprises an opening 118 having a first chamfered surface 118A configured to receive a first end of the actuation member 116A having a second chamfered surface 116B such that the chamfered surfaces 116B, 118A are against each other to enable sliding of the first end of the actuation member 116A out of the opening 118A due to the outward movement of the shackle 104.
• Figure 3A illustrates the situation in which the end of the actuation member 116A is in the opening 118 such that chamfered surfaces 116B, 118A are against each other.
• the actuation member 116 is in the first position 116_P1.
• Figure 3B illustrates the situation in which the end of the actuation member has been slid (moved) out of the opening, and the actuation member has reached the second position.
• the actuation member 116 may move in the width direction WD of the padlock 100, and the shackle 104 in the length direction of the padlock LD.
• the padlock 100 further comprises a slider 120 configured to movably couple the tilter 108 and the actuation member 116, wherein force, provided by moving of the actuation member 116 from the first position 116_P1 to the second position 116_P2, is transmitted to the tilter via slider 120.
• the slider 120 may be arranged to move in the length direction LD, when moved by the actuation member 116. So, it may move perpendicularly in relation to the actuation member.
• the slider 120 may comprise an elongated groove 120A and the actuation member 116 may comprise a pin 116D wherein the groove is configured to receive the pin movably.
• the pin is in the vicinity of the first end in Figure 5A , and in the vicinity of the second end in Figure 5B .
• the slider has moved from its initial position to a second position in the width direction, and this movement moves the tilter to move from the first position to the second position.
• the actuation member 116 extends out of the body 102 from one end of the body 102_E1 or one side of the body 102_S such that a user of the padlock can provide force to move the actuation member 116 from the first position 116_P1 to the second position 116_P2.
• the actuation member extends out of the body from one side of the padlock.
• the actuation member may also extend out of the one end of the body.
• a first end of the padlock may comprise the shackle and the actuation member may extend out of a second end, wherein the second end may be opposite in relation to the first end.
• the one side in this content may be any other side of the padlock than the above-mentioned ends.
• a part of the actuation member 116A that extends out of the body 102, may comprise a push button 128.
• the actuation member may form the push button, or the push button may be a separate component coupled with the actuation member.
• Another end of the actuation member 116C may be coupled with the tilter 108 and /or the slider 120, for example.
• the user may push the push button that moves the actuation member from the first position to the second position and causes moving of the tilter from the first position to the second position.
• Figure 6B illustrates an embodiment, wherein the actuation member 116 comes out of the body from one side and is coupled with the slider 120.
• the actuation member 116 comprises a first returning element 122 configured to return the actuation member 116 to the first position 116_P1.
• the returning element 122 is configured to compress when stressed and to return to its initial position when stressing ends.
• the returning element 122 may comprise a spring, for example.
• the actuation member may get force when the user pulls the shackle or when the user pushes the push button.
• the returning element returns the actuation member back to the first position.
• the tilter 108 comprises a first and a second projection 108A, 108B, wherein the first projection 108A is configured to interact with the clutch pin 110 and the second projection 108B is configured to interact with the blocker 106, wherein the clutch pin 110 in the second state 110_S2 is configured to restrict moving of the first projection 108A towards the blocker 106 such that the tilter 108, when moving to the second position 108_P2, tilts (turns) in a first direction D1 in relation to the slider 116 and/or the actuation member 116, configured to move the second projection 108B towards the blocker 106 and to move the blocker 106 from the first position 106_P1 to the second position 106_P2.
• Restricting the movement of the first projection causes tilting of the tilter in the first direction D1 in relation to the body, and due to tilting, the second projection moves towards the blocker substantially in the length direction of the padlock. This movement of the second projection pushes the blocker from the first position to the second position that enables opening of the shackle.
• the electrically powered magnetization coil may be a part of a magnetizer (not illustrated in Figures).
• the magnetizer generates a very short pulse of a very high electric current, which causes a brief but very strong magnetic field.
• the electric pulse may be caused by storing up electric current in a bank of capacitors at high voltage and then suddenly discharging the capacitors through an electronic switch.
• the electric pulse is applied to the electrically powered magnetization coil, which may be at its simplest form a coil of wire.
• the next example describes how the electrical padlock arrangement may be used.
• the user of the padlock brings for example a mobile phone nearby the padlock such that the padlock can communicate with the phone via NFC.
• the padlock may harvest the electric energy from the phone and further the access rights may be checked.
• the processing circuitry provides the control signal to move the clutch pin to the second state, and the locking pin to the open state.
• the user can provide force by pushing the button or pulling the shackle to move the actuation member from the first to the second position that directly or via slider moves the tilter from the first to the second position. Moving of the tilter moves the blocker to the second position that releases the locking balls that hold the shackle in the locked state such that the shackle can be opened.
• the electrical padlock may further comprise other components than described in this application. For example, some of these components may be visible in Figures. This application describes the components that are essential for the invention. It is also important to realize that many of the components are arranged inside the body of the padlock as can be seen in Figures.
• the padlock may comprise a frame inside the body to which some of the presented components are assembled.
• circuitry refers to all of the following: (a) hardware-only circuit implementations, such as implementations in only analog and/or digital circuitry, and (b) combinations of circuits and software (and/or firmware), such as (as applicable): (i) a combination of processor(s) or (ii) portions of processor(s)/software including digital signal processor(s), software, and memory(ies) that work together to cause an apparatus to perform various functions, and (c) circuits, such as a microprocessor(s) or a portion of a microprocessor(s), that require software or firmware for operation, even if the software or firmware is not physically present.
• This definition of 'circuitry' applies to all uses of this term in this application.
• circuitry' would also cover an implementation of merely a processor (or multiple processors) or a portion of a processor and its (or their) accompanying software and/or firmware.
• the techniques described herein may be implemented by various means. For example, these techniques may be implemented in hardware (one or more devices), firmware (one or more devices), software (one or more modules), or combinations thereof.
• the apparatus(es) of embodiments may be implemented within one or more application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs), digital signal processors (DSPs), digital signal processing devices (DSPDs), programmable logic devices (PLDs), field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), graphics processing units (GPUs), processors, controllers, micro-controllers, microprocessors, other electronic units designed to perform the functions described herein, or a combination thereof.
• ASICs application-specific integrated circuits
• DSPs digital signal processors
• DSPDs digital signal processing devices
• PLDs programmable logic devices
• FPGAs field programmable gate arrays
• GPUs graphics processing units
• processors controllers, micro-controllers, microprocessors, other electronic units designed to perform the functions described herein, or a combination thereof.
• the implementation can be carried out through modules of at least one chipset (e.g. procedures, functions, and so on) that perform the functions described herein.
• the software codes may be stored in a

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• Electromagnetism (AREA)
• Lock And Its Accessories (AREA)

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Citations (5)

• 2024
  • 2024-02-15 EP EP24157841.8A patent/EP4603667A1/fr active Pending
• 2025
  • 2025-02-14 WO PCT/EP2025/054029 patent/WO2025172532A1/fr active Pending

Patent Citations (5)

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