The present disclosure relates generally to systems for providing controlled access to a secure area, and more specifically to electronic access systems.
Electronic access systems are used to control access to secured areas, including but not limited to data centers, research labs, vaults, storage areas, and other types of enclosures. Some systems feature one or more latches, where each latch facilitates the unlocking and locking of a panel, door or other structure that controls access to the secured area. These latches sometimes include built-in user interfaces, or “readers”, that receive an input from a user seeking to access the secure area. Depending on the type of input, the input may be converted to a signal and sent to a controller. If the user's input is accepted, the controller will send a signal to unlock each latch. Advancements in the area of electronic access systems are continually sought in the interests of performance, security, cost, and operability.
The foregoing summary and the following description will be better understood in conjunction with the non-limiting examples shown in the drawing figures, of which:
Although the present disclosure describes and illustrates specific embodiments, the present disclosure is not intended to be limited only to the details and arrangements shown. Various modifications may be made to the details and arrangements shown in the present disclosure, and the full range of equivalents, without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.
Referring to
Once installed to the panel 160, latch module 100 is operable in two different modes to control access to the secure area. In particular, latch module 100 is operable in a locked mode to lock a panel and prevent access to the secure area. Latch module 100 is also operable in an unlocked mode to unlock the panel and allow access to the secure area.
The reader module 200 is connected to latch module 100 by a sliding mechanism (such as disclosed in U.S. Patent App. No. 62/681,945) or fasteners, for example. Reader module 200 includes a housing 210 having a hollow interior in which an authentication mechanism is at least partially positioned. The authentication mechanism may be, for example, an RFID reader that is operable to receive data from a user's RFID tag or transponder. Alternatively, the authentication mechanism may include a keypad, a biometric scanner, a card slot, or any other device that is known to those skilled in the art for either single factor or dual factor authentication. Further details regarding the reader module are described in U.S. Patent App. No. 62/681,945 to Southco, Inc., which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.
Referring now to individual features of the latch module 100, latch module 100 includes a housing 102 defining an interior space for accommodating various components of the system 10, and the handle 110 that is rotatably mounted to the front face of housing 102. The handle 110 has an elongated body that defines a longitudinal axis 111 about which the handle 110 can rotate with respect to housing 102. Handle 110 has an elongated portion 120 extending along and at least partially defining longitudinal axis 111 and a handle portion 130 for gripping. It should be understood that the geometry and structure of the handle portion 130 may vary, and could be round, for example.
As best shown in
Handle portion 130, which is connected to front side 122 of housing portion 120, can be manually operated to open the panel 160 when latch module 100 is in the unlocked mode. Handles in accordance with the present disclosure may take the form of an L-handle (as shown), a T-handle, a swing handle or other type of handle which can be manually operated to open and close the closure.
A latch arm or pawl 126 is fixed to the male threads of the sleeve 108 of the elongated portion 120 and is sandwiched between two nuts 109 such that the pawl 126 is configured to rotate along with the handle portion 130. Pawl 126 is rotatable to a locked position when latch module 100 is in the locked mode, and an unlocked position when the latch module is in the unlocked mode. The panel 126 rotates along with the handle 110.
Referring still to components of latch module 100, a cylindrical and hollow sleeve 132 surrounds the outer surface of the sleeve 104. The sleeve 132 is fixedly mounted to housing 102 such that sleeve 132 does not rotate along with handle 110. In other words, sleeve 104, post 106, sleeve 108 and pawl 126 rotate together with respect to the stationary sleeve 132. A portion of the sleeve 132 is positioned within the housing 102, and a portion of the sleeve 132 extends outside of the housing 102. As best shown in
As best shown in
The exterior surface of the portion 137 of the sleeve 132 includes two opposing flat portions 139 and two opposing rounded portions. The rounded portions include male threads 141 for receiving a nut 163 (shown schematically in
The washer 164 has a top side surface facing the panel 160 and a bottom side surface facing the nut 163. The washer 164 has a non-circular and double “D” shaped interior opening. In an assembled configuration, the flat side walls of the interior opening of the washer 164 are radially aligned with respective flat portions 139 of the sleeve 132 and the hole 162 in the panel 160.
The washer 164 includes an axially extending cut-out, depression, recess or channel 165. The channel 165 is radially aligned with the flat part of its double “D” shaped interior opening. The channel 165 is formed on the top side surface of the washer 164. The channel 165 has a depth sized to accommodate the thickness of cable 166 that extend from the latch module 100. The cable 166 is routed through the hole 162 in the panel 160, between the flat of the hole 162 in the panel 160 and the flat side wall of the opening in the washer 164, along the length of the channel 165 in the washer 164 and in a direction toward a connection point. The washer 164 prevents the cable 166 from becoming crushed between the panel 160 and the nut 163 that is used to connect the sleeve 132 to the panel 160.
Referring now to
The latch module 100 includes various components for moving the lock bar 150 back and forth to accomplish locking and unlocking of the latch module 100, and those components are positioned within the interior of housing 102. More particularly, referring now to
As best shown in
A hole 177 is formed in the follower end 174 and extends in a direction parallel to the minor axis B. The hole 177 is sized to accommodate a pin 180, and the pin 180 is immovably mounted to the hole 177 by way of a friction fit, for example. The pin 180, which is a cam follower, is mounted in the follower end of the lock bar 150.
One end of the pin 180 extends from the follower end 174 of the lock bar 150. That end of the pin 180 is engaged with the teeth 171 of the cam device 170. Specifically, the end of the pin 180 bears on and meshes with the teeth 171. The pin 180 constitutes a cam follower, whereas the teeth 171 constitutes cams that rotate to cause translation of the pin 180.
The axis C of the cam device 170, which provides the input force to the lock bar 150, is offset from the major axis A. Offsetting the cam device 170 from the major axis A results in a latch module 100 having minimal dimensions along both major axis A and minor axis B. Accordingly, the latch module 100 has a small footprint as compared with other competitive latch modules. However, it can be envisioned that the aforementioned offset D could cause the pin 180 to become dislodged in the housing 102. Accordingly, as best shown in
The pin 180 and the lock bar 150 are biased by a spring 182 toward the sleeve 132 and the locked position, which is shown in
Referring now to
As best shown in
In operation of the access system 10, the reader module 200 receives a user's authentication information in the form of a signal transmitted by the user's RFID tag, a combination entered by the user into the keypad, the user's fingerprint, etc. The reader module 200 transmits that authentication information in the form of a signal via the second cable 190 to the latch module 100, which, in turn, transmits that authentication information through the cable 166 to an external controller (not shown). The external controller may or may not form part of the electronic access system 10.
The external controller determines the validity of the authentication information. The external controller may utilize an open authentication method, meaning that an external data source confirms the user's identity. The external data source could be, for example, Microsoft Active Directory, an OAuth or an LDAP-compliant source.
If the authentication information is not valid, then the external controller transmits a rejection signal through the cable 166 to the latch module 100, which transmits a signal through the second cable 190 to a processor in the reader module 200. The processor transmits a signal to a visual and/or audible device, such as an LED, display or speaker, on the reader module 200. The visual or audible device consequently displays or announces to the user that the authentication information is not valid. It should be understood that the visual and/or audible device may alternatively be provided on the latch module 100.
Alternatively, if the authentication information is valid, then the external controller transmits a validation signal through the cable 166 to the latch module 100. Upon receiving the validation signal, the processor and/or a controller on the circuit board 186 of the latch module 100 activates the motor 168. Consequently, the output shaft of the motor 168 rotates by a predetermined rotational angle, which causes the cam device 170 to rotate, which causes the pin 180 (along with the lock bar 150) to ride along the teeth 171 of the cam device 170. The pin 180 translates along axis A in a direction away from the sleeve 104 and against the bias of the spring 182. Rotation of the output shaft of the motor 168 may be sensed by a proximity sensor located on the circuit board, for example. The end 152 of the lock bar 150 withdraws from the opening 142 in the sleeve 104 (and, without withdrawing from the opening 140 in the sleeve 132). At this stage, the sleeve 104 is free to rotate about axis 111, and the user may rotate the handle 110 and the pawl 126 to the unlocked position.
After a predetermined time duration has elapsed (as determined by the processor on the board 186, for example), the processor and/or controller on the circuit board 186 transmits a signal to cause the output shaft of the motor 168 to rotate by a predetermined rotational angle in either the same rotational direction or an opposite rotational direction, as detected by the proximity sensor, which causes the cam device 170 to rotate, which causes the pin 180 (along with the lock bar 150) to ride along the teeth 171 of the cam device 170 and translate along axis A in a direction toward the sleeve 104 due to the bias of the spring 182. If the opening 142 of the sleeve 104 is not radially aligned with the end 152 of the lock bar 150 (because the handle 110 is rotated in an open state), then the end 152 will bear on the outer circumference of the sleeve 104 by the bias of the spring 182. More particularly, upon rotating the handle 110 from the open state to the closed state, the end 152 rides along the outer circumference of the rotating sleeve 104. Once the handle 110 reaches the closed state, the opening 142 in the sleeve 104 becomes radially aligned with the end 152 of the lock bar 150, and the spring 182 urges the end 152 of the lock bar 150 into the opening 142 of the sleeve 104, thereby locking the handle 110 and the pawl 126 in the locked state.
The latch module 100 in accordance with the present disclosure can be unlocked in response to instructions received from the external controller, as noted above. In addition, the latch module 100 includes one or more backup mechanisms for unlocking. Specifically, latch module 100 includes a key lock 136 as a backup mechanism. Alternatively, latch module 100 can include a different backup mechanism, such as a card slot, chip reader, or hasps for securing a standard or customized pad lock to the latch module.
Referring now to
In operation, upon inserting the proper key into the mechanical lock cylinder of the key lock 136 and rotating the key in the lock cylinder, a post 143 at the lower end of the mechanical lock cylinder rotates along with the body of the lock cylinder. Rotation of the post 143 cause a plate 145 to translate toward the end 152 of the lock bar 150 and translate the end 152 out of the opening 142 in the sleeve 104 (and, without withdrawing from the opening 140 in the sleeve 132). At this stage, the sleeve 104 is free to rotate about axis 111, and the user may rotate the handle 110 and the pawl 126 to the unlocked position.
In one exemplary use of the access system 10, the access system 10 may be applied to an enclosure. Details of one example of an enclosure are described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,641,236, which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. The enclosure may have a housing defining an opening. A moveable panel may be mounted to the housing and movable between an open position in which the moveable panel does not conceal the opening and a closed position in which the moveable panel conceals the opening. The moveable panel may be in the form of a door or drawer, for example. The access system 10 is fixed to the moveable panel. The latch module 100 of the access system 10 is configured to alternately lock and unlock the panel with respect to the housing while the panel is maintained in the closed position.
Latch modules and reader modules shown and described herein have a number of aesthetic and ornamental features that are not dictated by function or purpose. These aesthetic and ornamental features, which can be varied and changed without affecting the function or purpose of the latch modules and reader modules, include but are not limited to, the shape, color, surface texture, relative dimensions, opacity, transparency, translucency, and light intensity, where applicable, of the latch module alone, or the reader module alone, the latch module and reader module when assembled.
While specific embodiments of the invention have been shown and described herein, it will be understood that such embodiments are provided by way of example only. Numerous variations, changes and substitutions will occur to those skilled in the art without departing from the present disclosure. Accordingly, it is intended that the appended claims cover all such variations, and that all such variations fall within the scope of the present disclosure.
This application is a U.S. national phase application filed under 35 U.S.C. § 371 claiming benefit to International Patent Application No. PCT/US2019/062402, filed Nov. 20, 2019, which is related to, and claims the benefit of priority from, U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/773,516, titled ELECTROMECHANICAL HANDLE LOCKING CAM LATCH WITH KEYED MECHANICAL OVERRIDE, filed 30 Nov. 2018, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety for all purposes.
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PCT/US2019/062402 | 11/20/2019 | WO |
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WO2020/112459 | 6/4/2020 | WO | A |
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20220018155 A1 | Jan 2022 | US |
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62773516 | Nov 2018 | US |