US Patent 11566450 Lock and a locking mechanism associated with the lock

There is provided a lock which can include a shackle which can be moved between an unlocked configuration and a locked configuration. A locking mechanism can be carried by the lock. The locking mechanism can include a guard which can be actuated in a manner such that an access region can be defined to facilitate movement of the shackle such that the shackle can be moved to be in an unlocked configuration. The guard can also be actuated in a manner so as to block the access region to impede movement of the shackle when in the locked configuration such that the shackle is maintained in the locked configuration.