Patent ID: 8875550

Claim:
A bicycle padlock comprising: a central body containing a locking mechanism; a first U-shape latching shackle and a second U-shape latching shackle, the shackles being of unequal size and extending in respective opposite directions from respective anchoring openings in respective opposite sides of the body for unequal distances with a shackle of larger size extending further than a shackle of smaller size and for movement, independently of each other, between a retracted, locked position in which both arms of each shackle are contained inside the body to an extended, unlocked position in which shackle arms are freed for independent swivelling movement away from the body out of alignment with a respective opening; wherein the locking mechanism comprises electro-mechanical means for unlocking the shackles automatically, without manipulation in response to an external signal comprising an electrical circuit including electric motor means; shackle latching members operable by the motor; a mount for a battery supplying power to the circuit, an electronic reader/receiver for receiving an unlocking signal, and a microprocessor operatively connected between the motor and the reader to operate the motor to disengage the shackle latching members in response to a signal received from the reader/receiver; a motion switch connected to the microprocessor which is programmed to operate the motor only within a predetermined time of receiving a motion detecting signal from the motion switch; wherein an arm of each shackle has a latching cavity adjacent a free end thereof and the locking mechanism includes a pair of latching cavity engaging pins carried, spaced apart from each other, by respective opposite ends of a transverse pin block which is provided on a forward side with a central, forwardly opening, anti-rotation seat; an axial drive screw having a rear end, rear of the seat, operably connected to the motor and a forward end extending forwardly freely through the pin block and seat; a pin block pulling nut threadingly engaged with the forward end of the axial drive screw and received in the anti-rotation seat remote from the motor, so that rotation of the drive screw by the motor retracts the nut thereby pulling back the pin block to withdraw the pins out from latching engagement with the latching cavity to unlock the padlock, and wherein the padlock further comprises a secondary, manually operated unlocking mechanism for use when the automatic/electronic means is inoperable.