Patent ID: 7467531

Claim:
A padlock incorporating an indicator assembly which provides a positive, readily visible display whenever the padlock has been opened under specific circumstances, said padlock comprising A. a housing; B. locking means in the form of a shackle cooperatively associated with the housing and movable between a first housing engaged position and a second housing released position; C. a key controlled locking section a) mounted in the housing in controlling interengagement with the locking means for maintaining the locking means in its first housing engaged position and releasing the locking means for providing the second, housing released position, and b) comprising an arcuately pivotable cylinder assembly mounted in the housing and responsive to the insertion of a first user/owner key and a second master key for enabling the arcuate movement of the cylinder relative to the housing whenever the first key or the second key is inserted therein; and D. a signal/indicator system a) mounted in the housing in cooperating relationship with the key control locking section and responsive to the use of the master key for activation thereof, b) comprising an alert-providing indicator member movable between a first non-alert position and a second alert-providing position whenever the master key is employed for moving the locking means from its first housing engaged position into its second housing released position, thereby providing positive notice to the user that the master key has been employed, c) a support base on which the alert providing indicator member is supportingly retained with said support base comprising an arcuately curved or grooved lower surface, d) a control member having an arcuately curved or grooved top surface cooperatively associated with the lower surface of the support base for being normally in nested interengagement therewith prior to activation, and constructed for forcing the support base and associated alert-providing indicator member upwardly whenever the control member is arcuately pivoted due to the camming action of the engaged arcuately curved/grooved surfaces, e) a locking arm for maintaining the alert indicator member in its raised position until re-set by the user, and f) a movable arm supporting base mounted in the housing and constructed for being automatically moved with the locking arm when the indicator member is activated and being returned to its original position by the user thereby disengaging the locking arm from the indicator member.