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 portable electronic lock for luggage, comprising: a housing and a securement member in cooperation with the housing to secure an item to the lock; a locking mechanism in the housing in communication with the securement member to releasably secure the securement member to the housing; a communications module in the housing for operating the locking mechanism to release and secure the securement member in response to a wireless signal; and a secondary release system for releasing the locking mechanism, wherein the secondary release system is selectively operable by a user.

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 lock has a locked condition and an unlocked condition comprising a barrel with a circular bore having three splines. A cylindrical plug is adapted to reside in the bore. First, second and retaining tumblers are positioned in tumbler slots, with the first and retaining tumblers biased in one direction toward the first spline and the second tumbler biased in the opposite direction into the second spline. When a first key is inserted, the first and second tumblers are moved against the bias so they retract from the respective splines and the plug can be rotated from the locked and unlocked conditions. When a second key is inserted while in the unlocked condition, the first, second and retaining tumblers are moved so the respective tumblers are either positioned in the third longitudinal spline or fully retained in the plug and the plug can be retracted axially from the barrel.

An exemplary lock apparatus includes a housing and a plug assembly rotatably mounted in the housing. The plug assembly includes a tumbler assembly operable to selectively prevent rotation of the plug assembly relative to the housing and a retention mechanism operable to selectively prevent removal of the plug assembly from the housing. A system including the lock apparatus may include a change key configured to actuate the tumbler assembly without actuating the retention mechanism and/or a control key configured to actuate both the tumbler assembly and the retention mechanism.

An exemplary lock apparatus includes a housing and a plug assembly rotatably mounted in the housing. The plug assembly includes a tumbler assembly operable to selectively prevent rotation of the plug assembly relative to the housing and a retention mechanism operable to selectively prevent removal of the plug assembly from the housing. A system including the lock apparatus may include a change key configured to actuate the tumbler assembly without actuating the retention mechanism and/or a control key configured to actuate both the tumbler assembly and the retention mechanism.

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 lock is provided, the lock having: a lock mechanism having a first member and a second member, the first member and the second member each being slidably mounted to a housing of the combination lock, wherein the first member is capable of movement between a first position and a second position and the second member is capable of movement between a first position and a second position and wherein movement of the first member from the first position to the second position causes the second member to move from the first position to the second position; a bolt configured for movement between a locking position and an unlocking position, the bolt preventing the second member from moving from the second position to the first position when the bolt is in the locking position.

A padlock has a shackle having a long leg and a short leg, and a spindle with an extended member, the extended member engaged with the long leg of the shackle for movement together. The padlock also has a cylinder to receive a key for key operation, a stack of clutches and a plurality of dials engageable with the clutches to form a combination code, each clutch having an opening to receive the spindle. When the padlock is unlocked by the combination code, the spindle is engaged with the clutch stack for movement together along with the shackle. When the padlock is unlocked by the key operation, the spindle is disengaged with the clutch stack, allowing the spindle and the shackle to move upward relative to the clutch stack.

The lock (100) comprises a controller, a data storage device, a lock mechanism operable by the controller in a locked state or an unlocked state, and a data communication frontend comprises a first data port (108) and a second data port; Wherein the controller is configured to enter into data communication via second data port after successful completion of data communication via the first data port (108). An electronic key (200) comprises a key controller, a data storage device, a power source and a data communication frontend comprising a first data port (202) and a second data port; wherein the electronic key (200) is a physical key having a key body and is configured to work with the lock (100).