Padlock

A method for securing an item of luggage suitable for locking with a padlock, the method comprising:

• attaching a padlock to the luggage to be locked, said padlock comprising:
• a shackle comprising a heel end pivotally attached to a padlock body for rotation about a first axis perpendicular to a plane and a toe end opposite said heel end and moveable in said plane between a first position wherein said toe end is away from said body, and a second position wherein said toe end is received within a detent in said padlock body;
• a detent mechanism comprising a stop for securing said toe end and an actuator for moving said stop in a direction parallel to said axis between a locked position wherein said toe end is secured by said stop and an unlocked position wherein said toe end is no longer secured by said stop;
• and
• electronics comprising a near field interface for controlling said actuator such that said stop is movable between said locked position and said unlocked position by a signal received via said nearfield communication network;
• establishing a communication link between a smartphone executing a padlock control application and said nearfield interface using a near field network;
• and
• locking the luggage using said padlock by said padlock control application issuing a locking command.