Patent Application
20070176437
Not applicable.
The present invention provides for an electronic lock and lever set for a lock, the handle set having an authentication circuit and actuator in the interior handle that allow access only to authenticated transponders. The present invention relates also to a device and method, in particular for transmitting a movement as well as corresponding forces and/or moments and, in particular, a rotational movement to a lock, wherein the transmission takes place in a coupled state, but not in a decoupled state and wherein the lock cannot change between coupled and decoupled states when secured by a security assembly. The present invention also relates to a device and method for selecting the handedness of a lock.
Although key-operated locking mechanical systems may provide adequate protection in most situations, there are some drawbacks associated with their use. Firstly, keys for the most part can be easily copied and distributed to unauthorized users. Also, if the key is ever lost or stolen, it might be necessary to replace the whole lock cylinder in order to assure that an unauthorized user does not gain access. This can be a significant disadvantage in some cases. For example, it could be costly and rather inconvenient for a business location having many employees to replace a lock cylinder each time an employee loses his key.
As an alternative to conventional key-operated mechanical locking systems, locking arrangements were designed which utilize electronic access control means for keyless entry. U.S. Pat. No. 5,447,047 discloses a keyless entry deadbolt locking system wherein an electronic access control means, in the form of a decoding means, is located next to the knob on the outside of the door. When the decoding means is decoded by an authorized user, a coil is energized such that a rod is moved rightward and the extensions of the rod are caused to engage with grooves of a disc whereby a shaft can be rotated and the door can be opened. Although the deadbolt offers security against prying, one of the disadvantages of this locking system is that the electronic access control means can be accessed from the outside, and thus can be tampered with.
German Patent 198 51 308, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference, describes a locking system for a door wherein the access control means is located within a knob on the inside of the door. The electronic access control means comprises a wireless data signal receiver which receives signals transmitted from a remote transmitter operated by a user. Once an authorized signal is recognized by the access control means, a solenoid is activated to control a coupling element which in turn allows the lock to be moved in a locked or unlocked position using a knob on the outside of the door. Since the remote transmitter transmits data signals using an alternating magnetic field, data signals can be transmitted with acceptable reception quality through even highly secure metal laminated doors. This allows the access control means to be placed on the inside of the door where it would be protected against tampering from the outside. However, this is only advantageous with locking cylinder standards which consist of a single element that goes through the whole door. The U.S. standard cylinder is a single cylinder. So the electronics in the knob are on the outside and can easily be manipulated. If the access control means are located on the inside of the door, an expensive through connection is necessary, which is dependent on the type of door and lock and which is furthermore difficult to install.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,531,086 discloses a keyless entry deadbolt lock arrangement for a door wherein the access control means is located within the door. The deadbolt lock arrangement can be opened manually by inserting a key or operating a switch, or opened remotely by using a RF (radio frequency) remote controller to activate an actuator that places the lock in a locked or unlocked position. Since reception of the wireless signal by the access control means located within the door can pose a problem depending on the type of door, the top portion of the housing containing the locking cylinder is provided with openings in order to permit better reception of the signal transmitted by the remote transmitter.
U.S. Pat. Appl. No. 2004/0255628, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference, describes an electronic lock system with improved lock and transponder for securing a door that is easy to install and can easily be retrofitted. The keyless electronic door lock system has an access control means which is located within the cylinder body of the lock.
Some electronic locks require a coupling interface that transmits the movement from the outside handle to the latch to open the door in the unlocked state (coupled state) and to allow for the handle to rotate, but not transmit, the movement to the latch in the locked state (decoupled state). DE-C-37 42 189 discloses a lock cylinder, the coupling of which is connected to the locking bit and can be brought into engagement on one side with a bossed shaft. In order to configure such a lock cylinder in a more simple manner and to achieve better protection against unauthorized use of the lock cylinder, it is proposed that the bossed shaft be enclosed by a locking sleeve which can be displaced axially by the coupling and secured in certain positions.
EP-A-1 072 741 discloses a lock cylinder, in particular, an electronic lock cylinder with electromechanical rotational blocking in which the electronic key has opposing electrical terminals on the shaft and the rotatable core of the lock cylinder has an external annular track that is electrically conducting, and with its inner face, communicates with an electrical contact supported on the terminal whereas the external annular track is supported in the electrical brushes of the external and internal rotors.
EP-A-0 743 411 discloses a lock device in which the key of the lock device comprises a code transmitter formed by a transponder. An actuator, a transponder reading device, and a power supply device are arranged in the cylinder housing of the lock cylinder of the lock means. The actuator serves for displacing a locking means which locks or releases the cylinder core and which engages at the circumference of the cylinder core.
EP-A-1 079 050 discloses a lock means comprising a lock bit being blockable by a locking mechanism, wherein a coupling is arranged between the blocking mechanism and the lock bit. The coupling can be separated from only one side of the lock means. The lock means should thus be unlockable from this side without any access authorization for the locking mechanism.
EP-B-0 805 905 discloses a closing mechanism for a door comprising a spindle, an actuating means turning the spindle, a locking element in functional connection with the spindle to lock the door, and a coupling element fitted in the actuating means and acting on the rotation of the spindle. The coupling element moreover has a pin which moves to and from axially to the spindle and which can be moved to and fro via a spindle by means of a locking element arranged independent of the actuating means via an electric motor drivable by means of an electronic control in order for either to transmit the rotation of the freely rotatable actuating means to the spindle or, in the case of an actuating means, being rigidly connected with the shaft to allow only a slight rotation of the actuating means connected with the shaft. Moreover, a cam is formed on the pin and a spiral spring is clamped as a force storage means between the cam and the spindle of the electric motor, and on the front surface of the actuating means a contact disk is provided via which the electronic control from an electronic information carrier can be controlled via data exchange.
Known coupling interface devices and methods of this kind prove to be disadvantageous in that relatively much energy is demanded for shifting the coupling or lock element that forces acting on the coupling element in the coupled and decoupled states and causes a load of the lock element and that a load of the coupling element or lock element is transmitted to the drive or actuator.
U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/705,021 published as 2005/0050929, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference, describes an electronic lock that requires relatively little energy for shifting the coupling or lock element. The coupling mechanism is shifted into the coupled and decoupled states by a bi-stable actuator that is powered by batteries. The actuator rotates to move a coupling locking element into a position where it causes the lock to be in a coupled state. The coupling locking element moves in a linear direction. In the coupled state, the coupling locking element allows for the rotational force from the exterior knob to be transferred to the latch in order to open the door. In the decoupled state, the rotational force from the exterior knob is not transferred to the latch.
U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/556,012 published as ______, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference, describes an electronic lock with a coupling locking element that is positioned between two reel elements in the coupled state so that reels can overcome the mechanical potential of a take-off, and thereby cause the latch to operate. In the decoupled state, the coupling locking element is not positioned between the reels, and the reels cannot overcome the mechanical potential of the take-off.
The coupling interface and/or actuator may not be configured to handle the stress of the forces exerted by the user, especially when excessive force is exerted through a lever. The transmission of forces to the drive or actuator can result in increased wear and reduced functional safety. In the United States, building codes may require that locks have levers, and levers can transmit large amounts of torque to a lock. Low-energy electronic lock mechanisms may not be strong enough to handle the torque from a lever without breaking or wearing down.
Building and fire codes may require that a lock be operable by exerting a downward force on a lever (e.g. a code may require that lock must be operable by persons with disabilities). Depending on the orientation of the door (left-hand or right-hand), the downward direction of the outside lever of a lock may be a clockwise or a counterclockwise direction. Using the outside of the door as a reference (i.e. the side of the door where one locks the door after exiting the room that the door encloses), a left-hand door is an inward swinging door with hinges on the left side and a right-hand door is an inward swinging door with the hinges of the right side. Some locks can be handed, which means that the locks can be employed in a left-hand or a right-hand door arrangement by rearranging the interrelationship of some of the internal components of the lock. Presently, for those locks which cannot be so handed, two separate models must be manufactured and inventoried throughout the trade. For the locks that can be handed, some locks can be handed by specially trained personnel in the field, and some locks require handing by trained personnel at the factory or by a locksmith. Locks are typically installed by carpenters or other building tradesmen with no special locksmith training so that even the partial disassembly and reassembly of the intricate components by such personnel to “hand” the lock results in a maximum of frustration, limited success, and added expense. The alternate choice of engaging a locksmith to install the lock adds considerable expense.
Electronic door locks may be susceptible to tampering, especially when the lock circuitry and/or actuator are/is located within the exterior handle. Door locks utilizing magnetic/electromagnetic actuators should be secured against tampering by an applied external magnetic field.
It can also be difficult to provide electronic lock hardware that mechanically interacts with existing conventional door locks, and it can be especially difficult to provide electronic lock hardware that can be retrofitted into installed/mounted conventional door locks. Electronic lock hardware that can be retrofitted into installed/mounted conventional door locks should be easy to install so that installation does not require a locksmith.
The present invention provides a handle set for a door lock having a latch, the handle set having an authenticator circuit and actuator preferably arranged in or at least partially in an interior handle so that they are protected from tampering from the exterior side of the door. The handle set can be retrofitted into existing door locks thereby turning the door lock into an electronic lock and/or forming an electronic door locking and lever assembly. In one embodiment of the invention, the exterior handle is coupled to the latch when the handle set is in a coupled state and a blocking member is in a coupled position. The handle set is configured to allow the exterior handle to transfer force to a coupling apparatus without transmitting large amounts of force to the blocking member when the blocking member is in the coupled position.
The present invention also provides a coupling cartridge for an electronic lock with an exterior handle, an interior handle, a lock body with a latch, and an access control circuit. The coupling cartridge is configured to handle increased torque transmitted by a lever without damaging a low-power actuator. For example, in one embodiment of the invention, the coupling cartridge comprises a coupling member with spring ramps, a plurality of camming blocks rotatably coupled to the exterior handle, and a blocking member; wherein the camming blocks can transmit rotation and force from the exterior handle to the coupling member when the blocking member is positioned between the camming blocks and wherein the camming blocks cannot transmit rotation and force from the exterior handle to the coupling member when the blocking member is not positioned between the camming blocks.
The present invention also provides a security apparatus configured to prevent the blocking member from moving to a position between the camming blocks and from a position between the camming blocks so that the electronic lock cannot change between coupled and decoupled states unless authorized to do so.
The present invention also provides a coupling cartridge with a plurality of handing marks that allows for untrained personnel to hand the electronic lock.
The present invention also provides for a method of handing a coupling cartridge having a coupling member with a right-hand marking and a left-hand marking, an interior handle linkage with a first alignment marking, and an exterior handle linkage with a second alignment marking, the method comprising rotating the coupling member to align one of the right-hand marking and left-hand marking between the first and second alignment markings.
The invention will hereafter be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals denote like elements, and:
a is a sectional view of a coupling mechanism in a decoupled state;
b is a sectional view of an electronic lock in a decoupled state;
a is a sectional view of a coupling mechanism in a decoupled state;
b is a sectional view of a coupling mechanism and actuator assembly in a decoupled state;
a is a sectional view of a coupling mechanism in a coupled state;
b is a sectional view of a coupling mechanism and actuator assembly in a decoupled state;
While the invention is susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments thereof have been shown by way of example in the drawings and are herein described in detail. It should be understood, however, that the description herein of specific embodiments is not intended to limit the invention to the particular forms disclosed, but on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.
One or more specific embodiments of the present invention will be described below. It is specifically intended that the present invention not be limited to the embodiments and illustrations contained herein, but include modified forms of those embodiments including portions of the embodiments and combinations of elements of different embodiments as come within the scope of the following claims. It should be appreciated that in the development of any such actual implementation, as in any engineering or design project, numerous implementation-specific decisions must be made to achieve the developers' specific goals, such as compliance with system-related and business related constraints, which may vary from one implementation to another. Moreover, it should be appreciated that such a development effort might be complex and time consuming, but would nevertheless be a routine undertaking of design, fabrication, and manufacture for those of ordinary skill having the benefit of this disclosure. Nothing in this application is considered critical or essential to the present invention unless explicitly indicated as being “critical” or “essential.”
Referring now to
Upon activation by a user, an authorization means 20 which can be a transponder 20 as shown in
The access control circuitry can contain a processor or processing unit, a memory storage device or memory unit, a power supply (comprising, e.g., a battery and/or an accu and/or a solar cell and/or a fuel cell and/or a piezo-electric device) and/or a communication device (comprising, e.g., an antenna and/or a RFID unit and/or passive reader) configured to send and/or receive non-contact signals (e.g. wireless signals, RFID signals, passive electromagnetic signals). In an embodiment, the processing unit and the memory unit can be located within the interior handle. Further, the processing unit can compare a received signal of a user requesting access to the data stored in the memory unit and can activate an actuator of an access control device 75 described below to change a coupling apparatus from the decoupled state to the coupled state. In an embodiment, the communication device can comprise an antenna with a transmitter and a receiver or with a transceiver.
In a further embodiment, the antenna or any other communication device for the wireless data exchange can be located within the interior handle and/or within the exterior handle. In a further embodiment the antenna or any other communication device for the wireless data exchange can be located in an interior or exterior rose of the lock 10. The antenna can be connected to the processing unit through a wire that is conducted through a connecting element 72 of the coupling apparatus, wherein the antenna is preferably suited to receive and handle signals from common-used passive cards e.g., operating at a frequency of 125 kHz or 13.56 MHz.
In a preferred embodiment, the access control circuitry and the communication device are housed within the interior handle 14. The communication device can also be housed in the exterior handle 16 and can be wirelessly and/or electrically connected to the access control circuitry by wire(s) run through the lock hardware 10. The exterior handle 16 can include a biometric reader or biometric fingerprint sensing unit configured to transmit information to the access control circuitry via a wire or wirelessly. The biometric fingerprint sensing unit can be equipped with a processing unit, a memory and a wireless data exchange unit, wherein the biometric fingerprint sensing unit can compare a user's fingerprint with a fingerprint stored in the memory and can send a wireless authorization signal to the access control circuitry in, e.g., the interior handle.
In a further embodiment, when the exterior handle 16 is operated a signal is transmitted to an access control circuitry in the interior handle 14, causing the access control circuitry to emit a wireless credential request signal e.g. to a user's credential and/or transponder. In response to the request signal, the transponder emits an identifying signal (e.g., a credential signal) to the access control circuitry, and then the access control circuitry determines whether the transponder should be given access. In an embodiment, the exterior handle 16 can include a switch that detects operation of the handle. In another embodiment, the exterior handle 16 comprises a proximity sensor (e.g., a capacitive proximity sensor) that is able to sense the proximity of a person (e.g., sensing the person or the person's hand or skin), wherein upon detection of the proximity of a person a request signal is emitted.
The handles 14 and 16 can also have LEDs or other such visual indicators that can be used to indicate the status of the lock hardware 10 and/or access control circuitry.
Referring now to
The lock 10 can be installed in a door 12 that has a cylindrical hole (not shown) through the door 12, the openings (not shown) of a cylindrical hole in the door 12 being on the interior face 38 and exterior face 40 of the door 12. A latch hole (not shown) in the door 12 extends from the edge 42 of the door 12 to a portion of the door (not shown) that forms a side surface of the cylindrical hole. To install the lock 10, the latch member 18 is first inserted into the latch hole in the door 12. The lock body 28 is then inserted into the cylindrical hole in the door 12 so that the exterior flange 30 rests against the exterior face 40 of the door 12. The lock body 28 and the latch member 18 mechanically interact with each other in a conventional manner. Next, threaded portion 44 of the lock body interior flange 32 is inserted into the cylindrical hole of the door 12 so that the flange 32 rests against the exterior face 40 of the door 12 and so that threading 44 of the lock body interior flange 32 can engage threading (not shown) of the lock body 28. The lock body interior flange 32 is then threaded into the lock body 28 so that the lock body 18 is secured in the door 12 and so that notches 46 (one not shown) of the lock body interior flange 32 line up with notches 48 of the exterior flange 30. Threaded bosses 50 (one not shown) of the exterior rose 26 are then fed through notches 48 of the exterior flange 30. Guide tubes 52 of the interior rose spring assembly 34 are then fed through the notches 46 of the interior flange 32. Bolts 54 are then inserted into the guide tubes 52 of the interior rose spring assembly 34, and then the bolts 54 are fastened into the threaded bosses 50 of the exterior rose 26. The coupling cartridge 36 is then handed as described hereinafter. Next, exterior end 46 of the coupling cartridge 36 is inserted through a hole (not shown) in the interior rose spring assembly 34 until the exterior end 46 engages a mechanical interface (not shown) of the exterior handle 16. Interior handle 14 is inserted through interior rose 24 and a faceted end 58 of the handle 14 is placed onto a faceted outer portion 60 of the interior rose spring assembly 32. A set screw 62 is then screwed into a set screw receptor 64 in the faceted outer portion 60 so that the handle 14 is secured to the interior rose spring assembly 32. The interior rose 24 is then twisted one-quarter turn, concealing the set screw and securing the rose through an interlock between dimples on the rose and grooves in the interior rose spring assembly 32 to complete the lock assembly 10. In an alternative embodiment, the coupling cartridge 36 can be upon manufacturer permanently left-handed or right-handed.
Referring now to
As will be discussed hereinafter, the coupling cartridge 36 further comprises an outer coupling member 78 that is coupled to the exterior handle 16 when the lock 10 is in the coupled state and is not coupled to the exterior handle 16 when the lock 10 is in the decoupled state. The outer coupling member 78 comprises an octagonal link member 80 that interfits with the lock body 28 so that the octagonal link member 80 can cause the lock body 28 to operate the latch 18 when the outer coupling member 78 is rotated.
The coupling cartridge 36 further comprises a faceted coupling barrel 82 that has two teeth 84. The teeth 84 of the faceted coupling barrel 82 are positioned within two slots 86 of the outer coupling member 78. The teeth 84 of the faceted coupling barrel 82 can be rotated to act against two teeth 88 of the outer coupling member 78 so as to cause the outer coupling member 78 to rotate thus causing the latch 18 to operate. As will be discussed hereinafter, the orientation of the faceted coupling barrel 82 in relation to the outer coupling member 78 depends on the handedness of the coupling cartridge 36.
The coupling cartridge 36 comprises a coupling apparatus which comprises a drive and a take-off, wherein the drive is formed essentially by the exterior handle shaft 72 and a force transfer member 83. Further, the take-off is formed essentially by the outer coupling member 78 and the link member 80. The link member 80 is a latch actuating means that actuates the latch member 18 to open the door 12. When the coupling apparatus is in a coupled state, the drive 72, 83 is coupled to the take-off 78, 80 wherein a movement of the exterior handle 16 can be transmitted from the drive 72, 83 to the take-off 78, 80 to actuate the latch member 18 to open the door. When the coupling apparatus is in a decoupled state the drive 72, 83 is decoupled from the take-off 78, 80 so that a movement of the exterior handle 16 is not suitable to operate the take-off 78, 80 to actuate the latch member 18 to open the door 12. Further, a coupling barrel 82 which forms the coupling element 82 is linked to the take-off 78, 80 and further linked to the interior handle 14, so that, when the interior handle 14 is moved or rotated the movement is transmitted to the coupling element 82 which moves the take-off 78, 80 so that the latch member 18 can be operated when the coupling apparatus 36 is in a coupled or decoupled state.
The coupling cartridge 36 comprises further an access control circuit cover 90 disposed on the interior end 66 of the coupling cartridge 36 and removably attached to an access control circuit housing (not shown), and covers and/or partially covers components of the access control circuit including an electronic circuit board (not shown), a pair of batteries (not shown), a piezoelectric speaker (not shown), and an antenna (not shown). A piezoelectric speaker (not shown), or other such speaker, can be housed within the exterior handle 16. The antenna can also be positioned within the exterior handle 16. The elements contained within the coupling cartridge 36 will be discussed hereinafter.
Referring now to
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Referring to
Referring to
In other words, the drive 72, 83 and the take-off 78, 80 can be coupled when the blocking element 300 is positioned between the camming blocks 77. In the coupled state a movement of the exterior handle 16 can be transmitted from the drive to the take-off to actuate the latch member 18. However, in the decoupled state a movement of the drive 72, 83 causes a movement of the camming blocks 77, wherein said movement is not suitable for transmitting a movement from the drive 72, 83 to the take-off 78 so that a transmission of the movement is allowed in the coupled state but not in the decoupled state.
In this embodiment the take-off is formed essentially by two separate parts, namely the outer coupling member 78 and the link member 80. However, the outer coupling member 78 and the link member 80 can be also formed as one part or in other words can be integrally connected.
Further, in a preferred embodiment of the invention, the ends of the camming blocks 77 that contact the spring ramps 99 are generally square. In another embodiment of the invention, the ends of the spring ramps 99 that contact the spring ramps 99 can be square with filleted edges, chamfered, and/or rounded.
In another embodiment of the invention, the four spring ramps 99 may be replaced by a single band having four ramped surfaces extending from the band, the ramped surfaces configured to provide ramping like the ramping provided by the spring ramps 99. The spring force of the ramped surfaces is not overcome by the camming blocks in the decoupled state, but is overcome by the camming blocks in the coupled state.
The access control device 75 causes the lock 10 to move between coupled and decoupled states by moving the blocking member 300 between its coupled position and its decoupled position. Referring to
The access control device 75 includes an actuator assembly 316. The actuator assembly 316 comprises a linkage push arm 318, a linkage hook arm 320, a switch element 322, a yoke 324 or other armature, and a coil 326. The actuator assembly 316 can cause the linkage push arm 318 to move into and out of a position where the linkage push arm 318 pushes the blocking head 302 of the blocking member 300 out of a position between the camming blocks 77. The actuator assembly 316 is configured to transfer enough force to the linkage push arm 318 so as to overcome the spring force of the torsion spring 312 thereby causing the blocking member 300 to rotate in a direction opposite to the direction that the torsion spring 312 biases the blocking member 300. The linkage push arm 318 is sized and dimensioned so that it does not inhibit the camming blocks 77 from moving radially inward when it is positioned between the camming blocks 77 (and therefore the blocking head 302 is not positioned between the camming blocks 77).
The linkage push arm 318 is generally U-shaped. The linkage push arm 318 has a linkage head 328 disposed on the cross portion of the linkage push arm 318, the linkage head 328 extending towards the camming blocks 77. The ends of the linkage push arm 318 are pivotably connected to the linkage hook arm 320. The linkage push arm 318 further includes a spring catch 330 that extends near one end of the linkage push arm 318.
The linkage hook arm 320 has a generally rectangular shape and has a security hook 332 extending from the side of the linkage hook arm 320 that is nearest to the camming blocks 77. The security hook 332 extends in a direction perpendicular to the linkage head 328 of the linkage push arm 318. The linkage hook arm 320 is pivotably attached to the access control body 306 so that it can pivot on a pivot axis (not shown) that is perpendicular to a longitudinal axis (not shown) of the lock 10. The linkage push arm 318 pivots with the linkage hook arm 320. The switch element 322 is generally U-shaped with a middle section 334 and parallel end sections 336. The middle section 334 is flat and is generally wider than the end sections 336. The end sections 334 are flat near the middle section 334 and gradually curve towards their ends so that the switch element 322 can rock on a flat surface. The linkage hook arm 320 includes a set of recesses 338 sized and dimensioned to receive the ends of the end sections 336 of the switch element 322 and a set of hooks 340 that are sized and dimensioned to grip the middle section 334 of the switch element 322. Thus, the switch element 322, linkage push arm 318, and linkage hook arm 320 are arranged to pivot together, with the switch element 322 rocking on the yoke 324.
A linkage spring 342 pushes on the spring catch 330 of the linkage push arm 318 so that the linkage push arm 318, the linkage hook arm 320 and the switch element 322 are biased towards the yoke 324. Therefore, the linkage head 328 of the push arm 318 is biased to be in the decoupled state (i.e. biased to push the blocking head 302 from in between the camming blocks 77). In this decoupled state (as shown in
The access control device 75 can be controlled electronically by the access control circuitry to cause the linkage head 328 of the push arm 318 to move from the decoupled state to the coupled state. In the coupled state, the linkage head 328 is in a position where it does not push the blocking head 302; therefore, the blocking head 302 is positioned between the camming blocks 77 because the blocking head 302 is biased to that position and the linkage head 328 is not forcing the blocking head 302 from that biases position. To move the linkage head 328 into the coupled state, the access control device 75 causes the linkage push arm 318 to pivot away from the yoke 324. The linkage push arm 318 is pivoted away from the yoke 324 when the yoke 324 is magnetized and middle section 334 of the switch element 322 is thereby attracted to the yoke 324. When the yoke 324 is magnetically enabled, the magnetic attraction of the middle section 334 of the switch element 322 to the yoke 324 overcomes the force of the linkage spring 342 and the switch element 322 rocks so that the middle section 334 of the switch element comes into contact with the yoke 324 and the ends of the end sections 336 move away from the yoke 324. The switch element 322 thereby moves the linkage push arm 318 and linkage hook arm 320 thus putting the lock 10 in the coupled state.
The access control device 75 can switch the lock 10 from the coupled state to the decoupled state by demagnetizing the yoke 324 thus removing the magnetic attraction between the yoke 324 and the switch element 322 so that the linkage spring 342 returns the linkage push arm 318, the linkage hook arm 320, and the switch element 322 to the decoupled state.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the yoke 324 (or other such armature) is a configured to be demagnetized by AC current (or other such electric current) applied to the coil 326 and magnetized by DC current (or other such electric current) applied to the coil 326. The switch element 322 is configured to be attracted to the magnetized yoke 324 with sufficient force to overcome the force of the linkage spring 342. The access control device 75 only requires power to switch between states thereby prolonging battery life. In another embodiment of the invention, an energized electromagnet can be used to place and hold the lock 10 in the coupled state. The lock may also be configured so that a solenoid can also be used to directly move the blocking member 300 in and out of alignment with the camming blocks 77. The blocking member 300 can also be moved to and from a position between the camming blocks 77 by an actuator such as an electromotor and/or a shape memory alloy and/or a piezoactuator and/or an electromagnet assembly and/or an actuator configured to transform an electronic signal into a mechanical movement.
Referring now to
The security plates 346 and 347 are generally square and include on one end mounting tabs 368 and 369, respectively, that extend through mounting orifices 370 in the access control support structure 350 so that the security plates 346 and 347 can be sandwiched together (as shown in
When an external magnetic force is applied to the lock 10 such as the external magnetic field 458 of a permanent magnet 460, the lock 10 becomes secured against changing states because the plates 346 and 347 become magnetically opposed to each other and are forced apart thereby causing the security arm 348 to move. The magnetic field of the yoke 324 and/or coil 326 do not cause the plates 346 and 347 to become magnetically opposed to each other. The upper plate 346 cams upward on a curved portion of the camming surface 372 until the plate 346 is blocked from further movement by cam stop of a security fork 374. The lower plate 347 cams downward until it is blocked from further movement by a cam stop 376 of the security arm 348. The plates 346 and 347 transmit force to the security arm 348 and the force of the spring 362 is overcome. The security arm 348 pivots so that the blocking bar 360 of the blocking arm 358 is aligned below or above the security hook 332 of linkage hook arm 320. Thus, the blocking bar 360 inhibits the security hook 332, either from moving up or down, which means that the lock 10 cannot change between the coupled and decoupled states. As shown in
To prevent the security hook 332 from moving the blocking bar 360 to an unblocking position when the lock 10 is in the decoupled state, and the security hook 332 is being forced upward in an attempt to change to the coupled state, the blocking bar 360 has an angled lower edge 378 that can engage an angled upper edge 380 of the security hook 332 so that the blocking bar 360 is not forced out of alignment with the security hook 332. As shown in
To prevent the security hook 332 from moving the blocking bar 360 to an unblocking position when the lock 10 is in the coupled state and the security hook 332 is being forced downward in an attempt to change to the decoupled state, the blocking bar 360 has an angled upper edge 382 that can engage a lower edge 384 of the security hook 332 so that the blocking bar 360 is not forced out of alignment with the security hook 332. As shown in
Referring now to
The security assembly can include a mechanical, electromechanical and/or electromagnetic tampering sensor that sends a signal to the access control circuitry when the lock hardware 10 is tampered with by an external magnetic and/or electromagnetic field. The access control circuitry can then send a signal to a control center reporting the attempt to tamper with the lock 10 and/or can cause the lock 10 to make an alarm sound.
Referring now to
The mortise lock bodies of different manufacturers have different mounting hole configurations. The hardware 400 is configured so that it can be retrofitted with different mortise lock bodies. The hardware 400 includes an exterior spring block 420, an interior adapter plate 422, and an interior spring block 424. The exterior spring block 420 and interior adapter plate 422 are configured so that the handle set hardware 400 can be mounted to mortise lock bodies of different manufacturers. The exterior spring block 420 and interior adapter plate 422 have sets of holes that correspond to the mounting hole configurations of different mortise lock bodies. A pair of mounting tubes 426 extend through a set of mounting holes 428 of the mortise lock body 402 and through the corresponding holes in the exterior spring block 420 and interior adapter plate 422. The exterior spring block 420 and interior adapter plate 422 are secured to the mortise lock body 402 with a set of bolts 430 that are secured to the mounting tubes 426. The interior spring block 424 is then secured to the interior adapter plate 422. The remaining parts of the lock 400 can then be secured to the interior spring block 424 and the exterior spring block 420 so that the lock 400 functions in a similar manner to the cylindrical lock 10. The exterior spring block returns the exterior handle 406 to its default horizontal position after the handle 406 has been rotated. The interior spring block 424 returns the interior handle 408 to its default horizontal position after the interior handle 408 has been rotated. The interior spring block 424 is handed by rotating the cover of the interior spring block 424, the exterior spring block 420 is handed by flipping it over in a conventional manner.
Referring now to
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Preferred embodiments of the invention have been described in considerable detail. Many modifications and variations to the embodiments described will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Therefore, the invention should not be limited to the embodiments described, but should be defined by the claims that follow.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 103 20 873.9 | May 2003 | DE | national |
This application is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 10/726,260, filed Dec. 2, 2003, which claims priority to German Application No. 103 20 873.9, filed May 9, 2003, and which is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 10/705,021, filed Nov. 11, 2003, now abandoned, which claims priority to German Application No. 103 20 873.9, filed May 9, 2003, and this application is also a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 10/556,012, which is a national stage of International Application No. PCT/EP2004/004903, filed May 7, 2004, which claims priority to German Application No. 103 20 873.9, filed May 9, 2003, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference as if fully set forth herein; and this application also claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/744,268, filed Apr. 4, 2006, and entitled “Handel Set for a Door Lock,” the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference as if fully set forth herein.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 60744268 | Apr 2006 | US |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | 10726260 | Dec 2003 | US |
| Child | 11696267 | Apr 2007 | US |
| Parent | 10705021 | Nov 2003 | US |
| Child | 10726260 | Dec 2003 | US |
| Parent | 10556012 | Feb 2007 | US |
| Child | 11696267 | Apr 2007 | US |
