Exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure relate generally to locks for use with enclosures including but not limited to lockers.
Locks are used to secure or lock the door of lockers, cabinets, toolboxes, desks, and other such enclosures. In some applications, an associated knob is used manipulate or turn components of the lock or components secured thereto in order to open a door of the enclosure. Such knobs may be susceptible to damage.
Accordingly, it is desirable to provide a lock with a knob that is protected when not in use.
Disclosed is a lock, including: a retractable knob; and a knob release mechanism for retaining the retractable knob in a retracted position, wherein the knob release mechanism includes a damper with a gear that is slidably received within a set of grooves located in the retractable knob, and wherein the gear prevents rotation of the retractable knob unless it is in an extended position.
In addition to one or more of the features described above, or as an alternative to any of the foregoing embodiments, the knob release mechanism may further include a primary arm and a secondary arm, wherein the secondary arm is configured to retain the retractable knob in the retracted position.
In addition to one or more of the features described above, or as an alternative to any of the foregoing embodiments, the knob release mechanism may further include a motor having a worm, wherein the motor when actuated pivots the secondary arm into the second position.
In addition to one or more of the features described above, or as an alternative to any of the foregoing embodiments, the worm may pivot the primary arm by engaging teeth of the primary arm.
In addition to one or more of the features described above, or as an alternative to any of the foregoing embodiments, the lock may further include a keypad for actuating the motor.
In addition to one or more of the features described above, or as an alternative to any of the foregoing embodiments, the lock may further include a touchscreen for actuating the motor.
In addition to one or more of the features described above, or as an alternative to any of the foregoing embodiments, the knob release mechanism may further include a primary arm pivotally mounted to the knob release mechanism for movement between a first position and a second position and a secondary arm pivotally mounted to the knob release mechanism for movement between a first position and a second position, wherein the secondary arm has a hook portion that is received in a cavity of the retractable knob when it is in the retracted position and the secondary arm is in the first position.
In addition to one or more of the features described above, or as an alternative to any of the foregoing embodiments, the knob release mechanism may further include a primary arm and a secondary arm, wherein the secondary arm is configured to retain the retractable knob in the retracted position and the primary arm has a protrusion configured to engage a slot of the secondary arm.
In addition to one or more of the features described above, or as an alternative to any of the foregoing embodiments, the retractable knob may be spring biased into an extended position.
In addition to one or more of the features described above, or as an alternative to any of the foregoing embodiments, the set of grooves may be located in an exterior surface of the retractable knob.
In yet another embodiment, a method for releasing a retractable knob of a lock is provided. The method including the steps of: spring biasing the retractable knob into an extended position; and retaining the retractable knob in a retracted position by a knob release mechanism; and damping movement of the retractable knob from the retracted position to the extended position with a damper.
In addition to one or more of the features described above, or as an alternative to any of the foregoing embodiments, the damper may further include a gear that is slidably received within a set of grooves located in the retractable knob.
In addition to one or more of the features described above, or as an alternative to any of the foregoing embodiments, the method may further include the step of preventing rotation of the retractable knob unless it is in an extended position.
In addition to one or more of the features described above, or as an alternative to any of the foregoing embodiments, rotation of the retractable knob may be prevented by the gear.
In addition to one or more of the features described above, or as an alternative to any of the foregoing embodiments, the set of grooves may further include a first set of grooves and a second set of grooves, the second set of grooves having a greater length than the first set of grooves, wherein the first set of grooves are closer to a forward surface of the retractable knob.
In addition to one or more of the features described above, or as an alternative to any of the foregoing embodiments, the knob release mechanism may further include a primary arm pivotally mounted to the knob release mechanism for movement between a first position and a second position and a secondary arm pivotally mounted to the knob release mechanism for movement between a first position and a second position, wherein the secondary arm is configured to retain the retractable knob in the retracted position when it is in the first position.
In yet another embodiment, a lock system is provided. The lock system having: a lock, including: a retractable knob; a knob release mechanism for retaining the retractable knob in a retracted position, wherein the knob release mechanism includes a damper with a gear that is slidably received within a set of grooves located in the retractable knob, and wherein the gear prevents rotation of the retractable knob unless it is in an extended position; a receiver configured to receive wireless transmissions and wherein the receiver is in operable communication with a motor for actuating the knob release mechanism so that the retractable knob can be moved into the extended position; and a wireless key that communicates wirelessly with the receiver.
In addition to one or more of the features described above, or as an alternative to any of the foregoing embodiments, the lock system may further include a microprocessor in operable communication with the motor and the receiver.
The following descriptions should not be considered limiting in any way. With reference to the accompanying drawings, like elements are numbered alike:
A detailed description of one or more embodiments of the disclosed apparatus and method are presented herein by way of exemplification and not limitation with reference to the Figures.
Referring now to
Referring now to
In operation the lock 10 is unlocked by providing the proper combination to the lock 10 via the keypad 16 or touch screen 18. Once this combination is provided a motor is energized and the knob 12 of the lock 10 is released from its first or retracted position so that it can move to its second position and thus be rotated to its third position thereby unlocking the enclosure the lock 10 is associated with.
Referring now to
In
In
In
The knob release mechanism 20 further comprises a damper 48 that slows or retards the movement of the knob 12 from the retracted to the extracted position. In other words, damper 48 slows the outward movement of the knob 12 due to the spring biasing force of spring 58. Damper 48 has a gear 50 that engages grooves 52 and 54 that are located on an exterior surface 56 of the knob 12. Accordingly, gear 50 rotates about its axis and provides a slowing force to the outward movement of knob 12. As is known in the related arts, the damper 48 may include a means such as a fluid or spring internal to the damper to provide resistance to the rotation of gear 50 about its axis as the knob 12 extends outwardly. As illustrated, the grooves 54 are longer radially than grooves 52 and grooves 52 are located towards the front of the knob 12 such that the knob 12 can only be rotated about its axis in the direction of arrow 14 to the third position when the knob 12 is in the extracted or extended position such that the teeth of gear 50 slide in grooves 54 as the knob is rotated.
In
In accordance with various embodiments of the present disclosure operation of the motor 22 is caused by providing the proper combination to the lock 10 via other keypad 16 or touch screen 18. Once this combination is provided the motor is operated and the primary and secondary arms are rotated from their first positions to their second positions so that the knob 12 can be spring biased from its first position to its second position. As mentioned above, the damper 48 via gear 50 slows the outward movement of the knob 12. Once the knob 12 is in its second position the teeth of the gear 50 are free to slide in grooves 54.
In one embodiment, the lock 10 may also comprise a manual release or override via a key which is inserted into a master key cylinder 70, which when turned will contact hook 40 of the secondary arm 34 and will rotate at least the secondary arm 34 from its first position to its second position so that the knob 12 can be extracted from its first position to its second position.
In another embodiment and as illustrated schematically in
The term “about” is intended to include the degree of error associated with measurement of the particular quantity based upon the equipment available at the time of filing the application. For example, “about” can include a range of ±8% or 5%, or 2% of a given value.
The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the present disclosure. As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises” and/or “comprising,” when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, element components, and/or groups thereof.
While the present disclosure has been described with reference to an exemplary embodiment or embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the present disclosure without departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the present disclosure not be limited to the particular embodiment disclosed as the best mode contemplated for carrying out this present disclosure, but that the present disclosure will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the claims.
This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/452,874, filed on Jan. 31, 2017, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference thereto.
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Number | Date | Country | |
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62452874 | Jan 2017 | US |