Method of securing and screening luggage with dual-function locks that the TSA and similar luggage-screening entities can open to screen checked air travelers' luggage.

Method of securing and screening luggage with dual-function locks that the TSA and similar luggage-screening entities can open to screen checked air travelers' luggage.

A lock has a cable engageable with a lock body. The cable has two ends, each of which has a cable neck. The lock has a shaft operatively engaged with a stack of clutches and a plurality of dials. The shaft has a top portion with a shaft slot engageable with the cable neck on the first cable end. The first cable end can be released from the lock body with a combination mechanism. The lock has a fixed cam having a cam slot engageable with the cable neck of the second cable end. The lock further comprises a blocking plate slideably engaged with the fixed cam, and a rotatable cam configured to control the positions of the blocking plate. The rotatable cam is connected to a cylinder operable with a key to rotate the rotatable cam to release the second cable end from the fixed cam slot.

A cylinder lock and key system. The plugs comprise a housing having a cylindrical bore; and a cylindrical plug which is rotatable and which exhibits a front end and a keyway. The keys comprise a key bow; and a key blade is rotatable about the rotational axis when inserted. The plugs and keys are provided with cooperating stop surfaces for defining the fully inserted position of the keys. At least one first stop surface is in contact with a corresponding second stop surface when a key is inserted in the keyway of a lock. At least two first stop surfaces of each key are arranged adjacent each other and at least two second stop surfaces of each lock are arranged adjacent each other, at or in proximity to the keyway. A cylinder lock and key combination, a key, a key blank and a cylinder lock are also disclosed.

A combination lock comprises a lock body, a key lock assembly and a digital combination lock assembly, wherein the key lock assembly includes a lock cylinder and a locking hook sleeve, the lock body is internally provided with an indicating rod and a slider, a first inclined surface is disposed at the bottom of the indicating rod, and the slider is provided with a second inclined surface and a third inclined surface; the locking hook sleeve is provided with a fourth inclined surface; and the lock body is provided with an indicating hole, and the indicating rod can protrude upward from the lock body under the pushing action of the slider. Whether the lock has been unlocked can be judged by the indicating rod.

A cylinder lock and key system. The plugs comprise a housing having a cylindrical bore; and a cylindrical plug which is rotatable and which exhibits a front end and a keyway. The keys comprise a key bow; and a key blade is rotatable about the rotational axis when inserted. The plugs and keys are provided with cooperating stop surfaces for defining the fully inserted position of the keys. At least one first stop surface is in contact with a corresponding second stop surfaces when a key is inserted in the keyway of a lock. At least two first stop surfaces of each key are arranged adjacent each other and at least two second stop surfaces of each lock are arranged adjacent each other, at or in proximity to the keyway. The invention also relates to a cylinder lock and key combination, a key, a key blank and a cylinder lock.

Method of making airline luggage inspection secure while accommodating the needs of the traveler comprises making a special lock available to airline travelers, the special lock having a combination lock portion and a master key lock, the master key lock portion receiving a master key that can open the master key lock portion of any special lock of this type. The special lock is designed to be applied to an individual piece of airline luggage and has indicia conveying to luggage purchasers that the special lock is approved by a luggage screening authority and conveying to the luggage screening authority that the special lock can be opened using the master key. The method includes providing the luggage screening authority directly or indirectly with exclusive access to the master key. The manufacturers and/or providers of the master key and special lock retain copies of the master key.

A zipper slider lock is provided. The zipper slider lock includes a first sliding device, a second sliding device, and a lock body. The first sliding device includes a first slider and a first puller, wherein one end of the first puller is connected to the first slider. The second sliding device includes a second slider and a second puller, wherein one end of the second puller is connected to the second slider. The lock body includes a lock hole, wherein the first puller and the second puller can be inserted into the lock body through the lock hole in order to be locked by the lock body.

A padlock comprising a body/housing which contains a fin-catcher and a plate-hole to receive the coupling-plate, a shackle which contains a short-leg and long-leg, so that the short-leg can move away from the locking-hole to control the locking and opening position, a plurality of clutches to prevent the lock from being opened when the dials are not in a lock open by combination code, and a plurality of dials to control the rotational movement of the clutches.

Method of securing and screening luggage with locks that the TSA and similar entity can open to screen travelers' luggage and dual-function locks used in the method, wherein the method comprises using first locks that the screening entity can open with a first master key and have the same traveler-operated portions, second locks that open with a second master key that is different from the first master key and have traveler-operated portions that differ from one second lock to another, and third locks that open with a third master key that differs from the first and second master keys and at least a portion of each third lock is permanently mounted to luggage of a selected brand only, wherein all first, second, and third locks have the same indicia identifying them as locks that the screening entity can open without breaking them or luggage.