MOBILE ELECTRONIC LOCK

Abstract

A portable electronic lock comprises a lock body and at least one securing part, in particular a U hoop or a bolt, that can be selectively locked to the lock body or released from the lock body. The lock body further comprises a first introduction opening and a second introduction opening for introducing a respective section of the at least one securing part into the lock body; an electromechanical locking device that has a first latch and a second latch, a cam rotatable about an axis of rotation and an electric motor for driving the cam; and a control circuit. The first latch can be displaced by means of the cam from an unlocked position into a locked position in which the first latch engages into the first introduction opening in order to lock the at least one securing part in the first introduction opening, and the second latch can be displaced by means of the cam from an unlocked position into a locked position in which the second latch engages into the second introduction opening in order to lock the at least one securing part in the second introduction opening. The control circuit is configured to control the electric motor to drive the cam.

Claims

1. A portable electronic lock, comprising a lock body and at least one securing part, wherein the at least one securing part can be selectively locked to the lock body or released from the lock body, and wherein the lock body comprises: a first introduction opening and a second introduction opening for introducing a respective section of the at least one securing part into the lock body; an electromechanical locking device that has a first latch and a second latch, a cam rotatable about an axis of rotation, and an electric motor for driving the cam; and a control circuit; wherein the first latch can be displaced from an unlocked position into a locked position in which the first latch engages into the first introduction opening in order to lock the at least one securing part in the first introduction opening, and wherein the second latch can be displaced from an unlocked position into a locked position in which the second latch engages into the second introduction opening in order to lock the at least one securing part in the second introduction opening; wherein the cam is configured, in a first rotational position, to displace the first latch in the direction of the locked position and to release the second latch for a movement into the unlocked position; in a second rotational position, to displace the second latch in the direction of the locked position and to release the first latch for a movement into the unlocked position; in a third rotational position, to displace the first latch and the second latch in the direction of the locked position; and in a fourth rotational position, to release the first latch and the second latch for a movement into the unlocked position; and wherein the control circuit is configured to control the electric motor to selectively drive the cam into the first, the second, the third, or the fourth rotational position.

2. A portable electronic lock in accordance with claim 1, wherein, with respect to the axis of rotation, the cam, in the first rotational position, has a larger extent in the direction of the first introduction opening than in the direction of the second introduction opening; in the second rotational position, has a larger extent in the direction of the second introduction opening than in the direction of the first introduction opening; in the third rotational position, has a first extent of the same kind in the direction of the first introduction opening and in the direction of the second introduction opening; and, in the fourth rotational position, has a second extent of the same kind, which is smaller than the first extent of the third rotational position, in the direction of the first introduction opening and in the direction of the second introduction opening.

3. A portable electronic lock in accordance with claim 2, wherein the cam can be displaced with respect to the axis of rotation by a rotation about 180° in at least one of the following manners: from the first rotational position into the second rotational position; from the third rotational position into a fifth rotational position in which the cam has the first extent in the direction of the first introduction opening and in the direction of the second introduction opening: or from the fourth rotational position into a sixth rotational position in which the cam has the second extent in the direction of the first introduction opening and in the direction of the second introduction opening.

4. A portable electronic lock in accordance with claim 1, wherein the cam is freely rotatable about at least 360°.

5. A portable electronic lock in accordance with claim 1, wherein the electric motor has a reduction gear and/or is self-locking.

6. A portable electronic lock in accordance with claim 1, wherein the first latch and the second latch are spring-preloaded in the direction of their respective locked position.

7. A portable electronic lock in accordance with claim 1, wherein the first latch and the second latch are linearly movably guided in the lock body.

8. A portable electronic lock in accordance with claim 1, wherein, with respect to the axis of rotation, the first latch and the second latch have a radially inwardly disposed contact region for cooperating with the cam and a radially outwardly disposed engagement region for cooperating with the at least one securing part for the locking of said at least one securing part, wherein at least one of the contact region or the engagement region is at least sectionally rounded.

9. A portable electronic lock in accordance with claim 1, wherein the first latch and the second latch have lateral guide sections, wherein the guide sections are wing-shaped or groove-like and cooperate with a linear guide formed at the lock body.

10. A portable electronic lock in accordance with claim 1, wherein a first sensor for detecting the securing part introduced into the lock body and for generating corresponding detection signals is associated with the first introduction opening, and wherein a second sensor for detecting the securing part introduced into the lock body and for generating corresponding detection signals is associated with the second introduction opening.

11. A portable electronic lock in accordance with claim 10, wherein the respective sensor has an electromechanical contact switch, a capacitive proximity switch, a magnetic switch, an optoelectronic interruption switch, or an optoelectronic proximity switch.

12. A portable electronic lock in accordance with claim 10, wherein the control circuit is configured to determine a current occupancy state of the lock body in dependence on the generated detection signals, wherein the the control circuit is configured to associate different combinations of generated detection signals with different occupancy states of the lock body.

13. A portable electronic lock in accordance with claim 12, wherein the control circuit comprises a non-volatile memory in which respective information on permitted positions of the first latch and the second latch is stored for the different occupancy states of the lock body.

14. A portable electronic lock in accordance with claim 12, wherein the control circuit is configured to control the electromechanical locking device in dependence on the generated detection signals.

15. A portable electronic lock in accordance with claim 12, wherein the lock body has a radio module that is connected to the control circuit, and wherein the radio module is configured to transmit the current occupancy state of the lock body as a radio signal.

16. A portable electronic lock in accordance with claim 1, wherein the lock body has a radio module that is connected to the control circuit, wherein the radio module is configured to receive a control command for the electromechanical locking device by radio, wherein the control circuit is configured to control the electromechanical locking device in response to the received control command.

17. A portable electronic lock in accordance with claim 1, wherein the lock body has an alarm device that comprises at least one of: a circuit monitoring, a tamper contact, sensors associated with the introduction openings, an acceleration sensor, and/or a vibration sensor.

18. A lock system comprising a portable electronic lock in accordance claim 1 and at least one further securing part, wherein the at least one securing part and the at least one further securing part are configured to trigger the generation of different combinations of detection signals when either the at least one securing part or the at least one further securing part is introduced into the introduction openings of the lock body.

19. A portable electronic lock comprising a lock body and at least one securing part, wherein the at least one securing part can be selectively locked to the lock body or released from the lock body, and wherein the lock body comprises: a first introduction opening and a second introduction opening for introducing a respective section of the at least one securing part into the lock body; an electromechanical locking device that has a first latch and a second latch, a cam rotatable about an axis of rotation, and an electric motor for driving the cam; and a control circuit; wherein the first latch can be displaced from an unlocked position into a locked position in which the first latch engages into the first introduction opening in order to lock the at least one securing part in the first introduction opening, and wherein the second latch can be displaced from an unlocked position into a locked position in which the second latch engages into the second introduction opening in order to lock the at least one securing part in the second introduction opening; wherein the cam is configured, in a first rotational position, to displace the first latch in the direction of the locked position and to release the second latch for a movement into the unlocked position; in a second rotational position, to displace the second latch in the direction of the locked position and to release the first latch for a movement into the unlocked position; wherein the control circuit is configured to control the electric motor to selectively drive the cam into the first or the second rotational position.

Description

[0070] The invention will be described in the following purely by way of example with reference to the drawings. They only represent possible embodiments, wherein further embodiments may be seen from the description and the claims.

[0071] There are shown:

[0072] FIG. 1 a schematic representation of a portable electronic lock that is configured as a padlock with a U hoop,

[0073] FIG. 2 a representation of a cam in contact with two latches for locking a securing part;

[0074] FIGS. 3A and 3B respective representations of a portable electronic lock for six rotational positions of the cam for a selective locking of a U hoop independently of the side; and

[0075] FIG. 4 schematic representations of occupancy states of a lock body with a securing part configured as a U hoop and with further securing parts configured as bolts to illustrate their selective locking.

[0076] The portable electronic lock schematically shown in FIG. 1 is configured as a U hoop padlock that has a rigid and substantially U-shaped hoop as the securing part 15. This securing part 15 is formed with two limbs 33 and 35 of different lengths, wherein the long limb 33 is introduced into the introduction opening 14 of the lock body 13 and the short limb 35 is introduced into the introduction opening 16 of the lock body 13 for locking.

[0077] This representation only serves for a schematic illustration of a portable electronic lock 11. However, said portable electronic lock 11 may also be configured in another way, for example as a rope or chain lock, such that two securing parts, which are configured as bolts and which are connected to the outer ends of a rope or to the outer links of a chain, may be introduced into the introduction openings 14 and 16 and may be locked there. Furthermore, a portable electronic lock 11 configured as a U hoop padlock may, for example, also have a U hoop having limbs of equal length as the securing part.

[0078] To lock the securing part 15, the portable electronic lock 11 comprises an electromechanical locking device 22 that has two latches 25 and 26 for locking the securing part 15 in the introduction openings 14 and 16. In this respect, the latch 25 serves for the locking of the securing part 15 in the introduction opening 14 and, in the locked position shown, engages into a recess 36 of the long limb 33, while the latch 26 is associated with the introduction opening 16 and correspondingly engages into a recess 36 of the short limb 35.

[0079] The locking device 22 further has a cam 23 which is rotatable about an axis of rotation D by means of an electric motor 24 and by whose rotational movement the latches 25 and 26 may selectively be brought into a locked position or released for a movement into the unlocked position. The axis of rotation D is in this respect provided in parallel with the introduction openings 14 and 16 (or corresponding rectilinear introduction passages) and extending through the center of the cam 23 such that the cam 23 extends as a respective elevated portion in the radial direction along the connection line of the two introduction openings 14 and 16 and cooperates with a contact region 39 of the latches 25 and 26 to guide them into the locked position shown.

[0080] The cam 23 may be driven and may be set into a rotation by means of the electric motor 24. In this respect, the cam 23 may be set into different rotational positions, in each of which a different number or selection of the latches 25 and 26 are brought into the locked position. To illustrate this settability, the cam 23 and the latches 25 and 26 are shown slightly in perspective in FIG. 1, wherein the possibilities of flexibly controlling and using the lock 11 that result from such a design of the cam 23 may in particular also be seen from FIGS. 3A and 3B.

[0081] To enable a free settability of the cam 23 and to be able to control the different rotational positions as directly as possible, the cam 23 may be freely rotatable about at least 360° and may in particular be freely rotatable as desired (cf. also FIGS. 3A and 3B). Furthermore, the electric motor 24, by means of which the cam 23 is moved, may have a reduction gear or be self-locking such that a precise setting of a desired rotational position may take place.

[0082] The latches 25 and 26 may be spring-preloaded in their respective locked position, wherein the latches 25 and 26 are moved into an unlocked position on a release by the cam 23 by means of the securing part 15—namely by the removal of the securing part 15 from or out of the lock body 13. The cam 23 may thereby generally be freely rotatable and there does not have to be a fixed connection to the latches 25 and 26.

[0083] The electric motor 24 is connected to a control circuit 21 by which the electric motor 24 may be controlled. By means of the control circuit 21, the cam 23 may thus be transferred into the rotational position in which the desired number of the latches 25 and 26 or of one of the latches 25 and 26 is in a locked position. Thus, due to the setting of the cam 23, it is possible to bring both latches 25 and 26 into a locked position, to bring both latches 25 and 26 into an unlocked position, or to bring a respective one of the latches 25 or 26 into a locked position while the other one of the latches 26 or 25 is released for a movement into the unlocked position (cf. also FIGS. 3A and 3B).

[0084] The respective latch 25 or 26 guided into the locked position may be freely selectable in such a design of the cam 23 such that a securing part 15, such as the U hoop shown, may be introduced in any desired orientation into the lock body 13 and may be locked as desired. Thus, the U hoop, as shown, may be completely introduced and locked or may only be held at the long limb 33, while the short limb is released from the lock body 13. Due to the settability of the cam 23, it is in this respect irrelevant into which one of the introduction openings 14 or 16 the long limb 33 is introduced. A complete release of the securing part 15 is also possible by releasing both latches 25 and 26 for a movement into the unlocked position. Furthermore, any desired number of securing parts, for example one or two bolts, to be introduced into only one of the introduction openings 14 or 16 for locking may be introduced into the lock body 13 and may be locked or removed as desired. This enables a free and flexible use of the portable electronic lock 11 in that a plurality of different securing parts may be locked to the lock body 13 in any desired manner.

[0085] A respective sensor 17 or 19 is arranged at the introduction openings 14 and 16 and is configured to detect an introduced securing part 15. These sensors 17 and 19 may, for example, have an electromechanical contact switch. In this respect, the actual design of the sensors 17 and 19 may in particular be adapted to the area of use of the lock 11, wherein a simple actuation of the sensors 17 and 19 by an introduced securing part 15 may be provided for the detection of said introduced securing part 15.

[0086] The sensors 17 and 19 are connected to the control circuit 21, wherein said control circuit 21 may be configured to determine the respective occupancy state of the lock body 13 from the combinations of the detection signals of the sensors 17 and 19.

[0087] In this respect, such an occupancy state of the lock body 13 is in particular given by the number of introduced securing parts, their design, for example as a U hoop or as a bolt, the orientation of the respective introduced securing parts 15, and the depth of the introduction. The occupancy state of the representation shown thus corresponds to an occupancy of the lock body 13 by a completely introduced securing part 15 configured as a U hoop having limbs 33 and 35 of different lengths, wherein said securing part 15 is oriented such that the long limb 33 is introduced into the introduction opening 14 and the short limb 35 is introduced into the introduction opening 16. A further possible occupancy state, for example, results in that the short limb 35 is released from the lock body 13, while the long limb 33 is held at the lock body 13 by an engagement of the latch 25 into the annular groove or peripheral notch 37 formed at the lower end of the long limb 33 such that the securing part 15 may be pivoted about the long limb 33 and an object to be secured may be guided through the short limb 35. Further occupancy states of the lock body 13 with a securing part 15 configured as a U hoop are also shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B and may further, for example, result due to the introduction of one or two bolts into the introduction openings 14 and 16.

[0088] Since the control circuit 21 is configured to associate the combinations of the detection signals of the sensors 17 and 19 with an occupancy state, the information included in the occupancy state may be determined and may, for example, be taken into account in the control of the locking device 22 or of the electric motor 24. For this purpose, the control circuit 21 may have a non-volatile memory in which information on an introduced securing part 15 is stored for the respective occupancy state. This non-volatile memory may, as shown, be directly integrated into the control circuit 21 or may be structurally separate therefrom, but connected thereto and may provide an allocation table or a look-up table in which such information is available. Since the control circuit 21 may be configured to determine the occupancy state of the lock body 13 from the combinations of the detection signals of the sensors 17 and 19, the introduced securing part 15 may thus be identified and this information may be made available to a user or taken into account in the control of the lock 11.

[0089] Furthermore, information on permitted latch positions in the case of a specific current occupancy state of the lock body 13 may be stored in a non-volatile memory integrated in or connected to the control circuit 21. This information may also be made available in the form of an allocation table or a lookup table.

[0090] The information determined from the current occupancy state may be taken into account by the control circuit 21 in the control of the electric motor 24 or of its drive to set the cam 23. In this respect, a permissibility check may in particular take place for the positions of the latches 25 and 26 and only one control signal may be output for permitted latch positions. If it is, for example, recognized on the basis of the current occupancy state that no securing part 15 is introduced into the lock body 13, the locked positions of the latches 25 and 26 may be recognized as impermissible and no control signal may be output for the transfer of the latches 25 and 26 into the locked position. A transfer of the latches 25 and 26 into the locked position when the securing part 15 is removed could have the result that the latches 25 and 26, a linear guide, not shown, of the latches 25 and 26 in the lock body 13, or the securing part 15 are damaged on a subsequent introduction and abutment with the latches 25 and 26. Furthermore, provision may, for example, be made that the control circuit 21 automatically transfers the latches 25 and 26 into the locked position by means of a driving of the cam 23 by the electric motor 24 when the complete introduction of a securing part 15 introduced into both introduction openings 14 and 16 or of two securing parts, which are each introduced into one of the introduction openings 14 and 16, results from the current occupancy state.

[0091] The portable electronic lock 11 further has a radio module 27 that is likewise connected to the control circuit 21. This radio module allows a communication with a user of the lock 11, wherein this communication may, for example, take place via a Bluetooth or mobile radio connection. A user may thus in particular control the control circuit 21 and, through it, the electric motor 24 by a radio command transmitted to the radio module 27. In this respect, the latches 25 and 26 may each be selectively and individually brought into a locked position or an unlocked position without a direct manual intervention being necessary for this purpose or the user having to be in the direct vicinity of the lock 11. For example, an object secured by the lock 11 may thus be selectively released for a person in the vicinity of said object. The radio module 27 may further be configured to transmit the current occupancy state of the lock body 13 as a radio signal and to communicate it to a user such that the user may always be informed of the occupancy state. The transmission of the occupancy state may, for example, also be used to indicate possible or necessary further actions, such as a locking after the introduction of the securing part 15, to the user.

[0092] A GPS receiver 29, by which the current position of the lock 11 may be determined and may be transmitted as a radio signal by the radio module 27, is likewise arranged in the lock body 13 and connected to the radio module 27. A user may thereby be informed of the current position of the lock 11 at any time. It may thus in particular be made possible to check and track the position of objects at any time that are moved, for example transported in a container, and that are secured by the lock 11.

[0093] Furthermore, an alarm device 31 is connected to the control circuit 21 by which the security of the lock 11 may be further increased in that an alarm is triggered during recognized break-open attempts or manipulation attempts. To recognize such a break-open attempt or manipulation attempt, the alarm device 31 may in particular comprise a circuit monitoring, a tamper contact, the two sensors 17 and 19, an acceleration sensor, and/or a vibration sensor. Since large forces are often applied to the lock 11 during a break-open attempt, said lock 11 in this respect usually experiences a vibration or a change in position. This may be detected by an acceleration sensor or a vibration sensor such that its signal may serve to detect a break-open attempt and to trigger an alarm. Furthermore, a change in the occupancy state of the lock body 13 that is detected by the sensors 17 and 19 and that is not due to an action of an authorized user may indicate such an attempt such that the alarm device 31 may also take into account the signals of the sensors 17 and 19 for recognizing a break-open attempt. The triggered alarm signal may be transmitted by the radio module 27 as a radio signal such that a user who is not in the direct environment of the lock 11 may also be informed of a break-open attempt and may initiate or perform the necessary measures to prevent a theft of the secured object.

[0094] Since the alarm device 31 is connected to the control circuit 21, it may also be controlled by means of the control circuit 21. In this respect, provision may in particular be made that the alarm device 31 may be switched off by the control circuit 21 such that the triggering of an alarm may be suppressed in specific situations. Thus, it is possible that the user, through the transmission of a radio signal received from the radio module 27, may cause the control circuit 21 to switch off the alarm device 31. This may, for example, be desired during a transport of the lock 11 during which usually no disturbing alarm, in particular due to detected vibrations, is to be triggered. Furthermore, the control of the alarm device 31 may also take place in dependence on or while taking account of the current occupancy state of the lock body 13. For example, the control circuit 21 may be configured to automatically switch off the alarm device 31 if it is detected that no securing part 15 is introduced into the lock body 13 and said securing part 15 is therefore not in use. Due to this temporary switching off of the alarm device 31, the energy requirement of the lock 11 may in particular be reduced such that the uninterrupted usability of the lock 11 may be extended without the necessity of changing or charging an electrical energy source, not shown. For the purpose of saving energy, provision may also be made to be able to temporarily switch off further components and in particular the radio module 27 and the GPS receiver 29 by means of the control circuit 21.

[0095] FIG. 2 shows a view of a cam 23 that cooperates with two latches 25 and 26 that moves them into their locked positions in each case. In this respect, the cam 23 is arranged on a circular and disk-like support element 45 and is rotatable in any desired manner in both directions about an axis of rotation D that extends through the center of the circular support element 45. Due to the contact with the cam 23, the latches 25 and 26 may, independently of one another, be selectively moved in the direction of or into a locked position or released by the cam 23 for a movement into the unlocked position. In this respect, the latches 25 and 26 may be spring-preloaded into the locked position shown, as explained in connection with FIG. 1.

[0096] The latches 25 and 26 each have a radially inwardly disposed contact region 39. These contact regions 39 are each rounded in the radial direction such that the transfer of the respective latch 25 or 26 from the locked position shown into an unlocked position may take place smoothly and uniformly. Due to this radial rounding of the contact region 39, the respective latch 25 or 26 may be guided extending uniformly along the cam 23 during the transfer.

[0097] The latches 25 and 26 further each have an engagement region 41 that is rounded in the axial direction and that, as shown in FIG. 1 and FIGS. 3A and 3B, may engage into a recess 36 formed at a securing part 15 to lock said securing part 15. Due to this rounded design of the engagement region 41, a uniform and smooth engagement into the respective recess 36 of the securing part 15 may take place during the locking or a smooth urging back of the latches 25, 26 from the respective recess 36 of the securing part 15 may take place during the removal of the securing part 15 from or out of the lock body 13.

[0098] The latches 25 and 26 have lateral, wing-shaped guide sections 43 in the upper region. During the movement of the latches 25 and 26 in the radial direction, said guide sections 43 may engage in a form-fitted manner into linear guides, which are not shown and which are, for example, formed in a groove-like manner at the lock body 13, in order to enable a uniform guidance of the latches 25 and 26 perpendicular to the introduction openings 14 and 16 of the lock body 13.

[0099] Furthermore, due to such an engagement of the wing-shaped guide sections 43 into groove-like guides, the axial positioning of the latches 25 and 26 may be stabilized such that they may be secured against a force developed in the axial direction during a break-open attempt. Furthermore, due to the mutual engagement explained, the guide sections 43 form a particularly effective abutment to prevent the latches 25, 26 from moving too deeply into the introduction openings 14, 16 or from falling into them when no securing part 15 is inserted into the lock body 13 or into the respective introduction opening 14, 16.

[0100] FIGS. 3A and 3B illustrate the possibility of flexibly introducing and locking a securing part 15, which is configured as a U hoop and which has a long limb 33 and a short limb 35, through the movement of the cam 23 into different rotational positions.

[0101] In the third rotational position (S3) in FIG. 3A, the securing part 15 is completely introduced into the lock body 13, wherein the long limb 33 is introduced into the introduction opening 14 and the short limb 35 is introduced into the introduction opening 16. Both latches 25 and 26 are brought into the locked position by a corresponding rotation and setting of the cam 23 performed by means of the electric motor 24. As the plan view of the lock body 13 shown in the lower section with respect to the rotational position (S3) shows, the cam 23 in this respect has a radial extent of the same kind in the direction of the two introduction openings 14 and 16 such that the latches 25 and 26 are brought into the locked position by a cooperation of the respective contact regions 39 with the cam 23 and the engagement regions 41 lock the securing part 15 in both introduction openings 14 and 16.

[0102] In the first rotational position (S1), only the long limb 33 of the securing part 15 is held in the introduction opening 14 by an engagement of the latch 25 into the peripheral notch 37 while the short limb 35 is completely released from the lock body 13 and removed from the associated introduction opening 16. This position may, for example, make it possible to pivot the securing part 15 about the long limb 33 and to guide the short limb 35 through an object to be secured, whereupon said object may be secured to the lock 11 in accordance with the rotational position (S3) by locking both limbs 33 and 35. To be able to pull the securing part 15 far enough out of the lock body 13 during this part unlocking (until the removal movement is limited by the engagement of the latch 25 into the notch 37), the long limb 33 of the securing part 15 may be flattened between the recess 36 and the peripheral notch 37.

[0103] In this rotational position (S1), the cam 23 has a larger radial extent in the direction of the introduction opening 14 than in the direction of the introduction opening 16 such that the latch 25 is moved in the direction of the locked position by a cooperation of the contact region 39 with the cam 23 and the long limb 33 is held in the introduction opening 14 by an engagement of the engagement region 41 of the latch 25 into the peripheral notch 37. In contrast, the latch 26 associated with the introduction opening 16 is released by the cam 23 and is in the unlocked position, for which purpose the cam 23 has a smaller extent in the direction of this introduction opening 16.

[0104] The following must still be remarked with respect to the rotational position (S1): Since the depth of the peripheral notch 37 is smaller than the depth of the recess 36 of the long limb 33, the latch 25 is in this respect not completely present in the locked position in accordance with the rotational position (S3), but rather in a locking intermediate position. In this locking intermediate position, the latch 25 indeed locks the securing part 15 in the sense of a blocking against a release from the lock body 13; however, the latch is set back in the direction of the cam 23 relative to the locked position in accordance with the rotational position (S3) in order to enable the explained pivot movement of the securing part 15. Accordingly, in the rotational position (S1), the radial extent of the cam 23 facing in the direction of the first introduction opening 14 is smaller than the radial extent of the cam 23 facing in the direction of the first introduction opening 14 in the rotational position (S3). Alternatively, it is, however, also possible that, in the rotational position (S1), the radial extent of the cam 23 facing in the direction of the first introduction opening 14 is just as large as the radial extent of the cam 23 facing in the direction of the first introduction opening 14 in the rotational position (S3) in order also to displace the latch completely into the locked position in the rotational position (S1).

[0105] The rotational position (S1) of FIG. 3A may, for example, also be provided to introduce and to lock a securing part configured as a bolt into the introduction opening 14, while the latch 26 associated with the introduction opening 16 remains in the unlocked position to enable a possible subsequent introduction of a further securing part into the introduction opening 16.

[0106] In the fourth rotational position (S4) in accordance with FIG. 3A, both latches 25 and 26 are released by the cam 23 for a movement into the unlocked position such that the securing part 15 may be released from the lock body 13. In this rotational position (S4), the cam 23 again has an extent of the same kind in the direction of the two introduction openings 14 and 16 such that both latches 25 and 26 move into the unlocked position. Due to the possibility of controlling this rotational position by means of the electric motor 24, the securing part 15 may thus both be released and removed from the lock body 13 and introduced into it again. It may thereby, for example, be possible to lock different securing parts 15 to the lock body 13 and to remove them again depending on the current use of the lock 11 such that a user may flexibly use the lock 11 in a manner adapted to his respective requirements.

[0107] FIG. 3B shows further rotational positions of the cam 23, wherein the securing part 15 configured as a U hoop having limbs 33 and 35 of different lengths is introduced in the reverse orientation into the lock body 13. The long limb 33 is consequently introduced into the introduction opening 16 for locking and the short limb 35 is introduced into the introduction opening 14 for locking.

[0108] In the rotational position (S5), the securing part 15 is completely introduced into the lock body 13, wherein it is locked in the introduction openings 14 and 16 by the two latches 25 and 26. For this purpose, the cam 23 is guided into the fifth rotational position (S5), wherein said fifth rotational position results from a rotation about 180° from the rotational position (S3) of FIG. 3A. In this rotational position (S5), the cam 23 again has an extent of the same kind in the direction of the two introduction openings 14 and 16 such that the latches 25 and 26 are brought into the locked position by a cooperation of the contact regions 39 with the cam 23. Both limbs 33 and 35 are locked in the introduction openings 16 and 14 by an engagement of the engagement regions 41 into the recesses 36.

[0109] In the second rotational position (S2), the cam 23 has a larger radial extent in the direction of the introduction opening 16 than in the direction of the introduction opening 14. This rotational position (S2) may in particular result from a rotation about 180° from the first rotational position (S1). As explained in connection with the rotational position (S1), provision may be made by a corresponding design of the cam 23 that the latch 26 in this respect only adopts a locking intermediate position. In this rotational position of the cam 23, the long limb 33 may thus be held in the introduction opening 16 while the short limb 35 may be completely released from the lock body 13. The securing part 15 may thus be pivoted about the long limb 33 to guide the short limb 35 through an object to be secured. This setting of the cam 23 in which the securing part 15 is pivotably held about the long limb 33 may consequently be achieved independently of the side by the rotational positions (S1) and (S2) such that the securing part 15 may be introduced in any desired orientation into the lock body 13 and may be locked as desired. A user may thus perform the introduction of the securing part 15 comfortably and without having to pay attention to a correct orientation, without restrictions arising in the functionality of the lock 11.

[0110] In this rotational position, a securing part, for example a bolt, which is merely to be introduced into the introduction opening 16 for locking, may also be locked, while the latch 25 remains in the unlocked position to enable a subsequent introduction of a further securing part into the introduction opening 14. The introduction and removal of securing parts to be locked in only one of the introduction openings 14 or 16 may thus also take place comfortably and in any desired order.

[0111] The sixth rotational position (S6) in accordance with FIG. 3B results from the fourth rotational position (S4) through a rotation of the cam about 180°. The cam 23 here also has an extent of the same kind in the direction of the two introduction openings 14 and 16 such that both latches 25 and 26 are released for a movement into the unlocked position and the securing part 15 may be released and removed from the lock body 13.

[0112] Due to the possibility of transferring the cam 23 in particular into the rotational positions (S1), (S2), (S3), and (S4), a flexible use of the lock 11 may thus be achieved since any desired number of the latches 25 and 26 may be brought into the locked position independently of one another and the respective shown introductions and lockings of the securing part 15 may be achieved with any desired orientation. Since the functionality of the lock 11 may be ensured independently of the orientation of the introduced securing part 15, a user does not at all have to ensure a correct introduction and may introduce the securing part 15 in any desired manner without any restrictions resulting in the usability of the lock 11.

[0113] Furthermore, the securing part 15 may be released and completely removed from the lock body 13 by a control of the rotational position (S4). A user may thus subsequently insert a securing part adapted to the respective use of the lock 11 into the introduction openings 14 and 16 and may selectively lock said securing part to the lock body 13. For this purpose, as FIG. 4 schematically illustrates, the portable electronic lock 11 may, for example, be a part of a lock system that, in addition to the securing part 15 configured as a U hoop, comprises two further securing parts 47 that are configured as bolts and that may be locked to the lock body 13 independently of one another.

[0114] In the occupancy state (A) of the lock body 13 shown in FIG. 4, the securing part 15 that is configured as a U hoop is completely introduced into the lock body 13 and is locked thereto, wherein the long limb 33 is introduced into the introduction opening 14 and the short limb 35 is introduced into the introduction opening 16. Both latches 25 and 26 are brought into the locked position by a setting of the cam 23 into the third rotational position (S3) (cf. FIG. 3A), wherein this setting may take place by a control of the electric motor 24 by means of the control circuit 21 and by a rotation of the cam 23 about the axis of rotation D.

[0115] Due to a control of the fourth rotational position (S4) (cf. FIG. 3A), the securing part 15 may be released and removed from the lock body 13. Subsequently, a securing part 47 configured as a bolt may, for example, be introduced into the introduction opening 14, which corresponds to the occupancy state (B) of the lock body 13 in FIG. 4. This securing part 47 may be locked by a setting of the cam 23 into the first rotational position (S1) (cf. FIG. 3A) by the latch 25 associated with the introduction opening 14, while the latch 26 associated with the introduction opening 16 remains in the unlocked position.

[0116] Since the latch 26 is located in the unlocked position in the first rotational position, a further securing part 47 configured as a bolt may thereupon, for example, be introduced into the free introduction opening 16 of the lock body 13 to be locked to the lock body 13 in the occupancy state (C) of FIG. 4. For this purpose, the cam 23 may again be brought into the rotational position (S3) (cf. FIG. 3A) such that both latches 25 and 26 are brought into the locked position for locking the securing parts 47 to the lock body 13.

[0117] Since, in the second rotational position (S2) (cf. FIG. 3B), the latch 26 may further be brought into the locked position, while the latch 25 is released for a movement into the unlocked position, the consecutive insertion and locking of two securing parts 47 configured as bolts may also be performed in any desired order and the removal of one or both securing parts 47 may also take place in any desired manner. Thus, for example starting from the occupancy state (C) of FIG. 4, the user may selectively remove the securing part 47 locked in the introduction opening 16 by a control of the rotational position (S1) (cf. FIG. 3A) or remove the securing part 47 locked in the introduction opening 14 by a control of the rotational position (S2) (cf. FIG. 3B). The order of the introduction of the securing parts 47 may also take place in any desired manner since, as shown, a securing part 47 is first introduced into the introduction opening 14 and locked in the rotational position (S1) (cf. FIG. 3A), while it is also possible to first lock a securing part 47 by a control of the position (S2) (cf. FIG. 3B). It is generally also conceivable that only one securing part 47 is locked to the lock body 13 in the rotational position (S1) or (S2), while the respective other introduction opening 16 or 14 remains free or is otherwise closed in order thereby to prevent the entry of dirt or liquid into the lock body 13. Consequently, a use of securing parts 47 configured as bolts may also take place with a high degree of flexibility without restrictions occurring in the functionality of the lock 11.

[0118] Due to the controllability of the rotational positions (S5) and (S6), desired rotational positions may furthermore be set as directly as possible and without the necessity of guiding the cam 23 over further rotational positions.

[0119] The free electromotive settability of the cam 23 consequently allows a flexible and comfortable use of the portable electronic lock 11 in that any desired number and selection of the latches 25 and 26 may be brought into the locked position or released for a movement into the unlocked position in a freely selectable and mutually independent manner. A plurality of different securing parts, for example U hoop-shaped securing parts 15 or securing parts 47 configured as bolts, may be flexibly locked to or released from the lock body 13 such that a user of the lock 11 may introduce and lock a securing part, which is in each case adapted to the current area of use of the lock 11, in any desired manner.

REFERENCE NUMERAL LIST

[0120] 11 portable lock [0121] 13 lock body [0122] 14 introduction opening [0123] 15 (U hoop-shaped) securing part [0124] 16 introduction opening [0125] 17 first sensor [0126] 19 second optical sensor [0127] 21 control circuit [0128] 22 locking device [0129] 23 cam [0130] 24 electric motor [0131] 25 first latch [0132] 26 second latch [0133] 27 radio module [0134] 29 GPS receiver [0135] 31 alarm device [0136] 33 long limb of a U hoop [0137] 35 short limb of a U hoop [0138] 36 recess [0139] 37 notch [0140] 39 contact region [0141] 41 engagement region [0142] 43 guide section [0143] 45 support element [0144] 47 further securing part (bolt)