US 9,963,911 B1Granted

Padlock for ammunition cases and method of use

OwnerEdward Downsinventor

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Abstract

A padlock having a locking mechanism that can be unlocked using a thumbwheel, by a traveler, or by secured key, by a TSA or government agent. The Padlock has a timer that prevents the lock from unlocking for a set period of time. The padlock also has a switch that activates the activation of the timer. The activation of the timer activates the timer so that the lock cannot be unlocked until the following sequence is completed: first the padlock unlocking mechanism is activated by dialing the correct code on the thumbwheel of the padlock and thereby starting a set time period for the automatic release of the padlock and second by the lock automatically unlocking after the set period expiring. The padlock also has a bypass mechanism that bypasses the timer sequence and thereby unlocks the lock. The padlock may also have at least one light that notifies a handler of the padlock of the activation of the timer and/or the release of the padlock. The padlock may also have a stopwatch that displays the period of time left before the padlock is unlocked.

Claims9

Dependent claims

An improved padlock for ammunition cases, the padlock comprises:

a padlock having a thumbwheel locking and unlocking mechanism and an adjacent secured key unlocking mechanism, the secured key unlocking mechanism being a bypass of the thumbwheel locking mechanism;
a timer that is operatively connected to the thumbwheel locking and unlocking mechanism that prevents the unlocking of the padlock upon the thumbwheel unlocking mechanism being activated to unlock until a set time period has expired, the secured key unlocking mechanism is used to unlock the padlock after the thumbwheel unlocking mechanism is activated by the timer to lock the padlock and thereby works as a bypass to the thumbwheel unlocking mechanism;
a first switch and a first indicator light that are operatively connected to the thumbwheel locking and unlocking mechanism, the first switch, upon it being switched on, activates the first indicator light to indicate that the padlock is locked;
and
a second switch and a second indicator light that are operatively connected to the thumbwheel locking and unlocking mechanism, the second switch, upon it being switched on after a thumbwheel code is dialed on the thumbwheel locking and unlocking mechanism, activates the second indicator light for a set period of time and activates the timer to unlock the padlock upon the set time period expiring.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.