Patent Application
20130333426
The present invention relates to locking mechanisms in general. More specifically to a motor momentary driving a flywheel with an offset striker which bounces from the top of a rebound plate to the bottom thereby instigating the mechanical release of a spring loaded latch.
Previously, many types of electric door locks have been used in endeavoring to provide an effective means to electrically secure a door in most cases using an electromagnetic device to release the latch in some manner.
The prior art listed below did not disclose patents that possess any of the novelty of the instant invention; however the following U.S. patents are considered related:
Heiland in U.S. Pat. No. 4,360,803 teaches a door lock assembly having an electrical alarm system that includes a piezoelectric element located between the lock bolt of the door lock and the lock frame in order to emit a signal to energize the electrical alarm system when pressure is applied between the lock bolt and the frame.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,473,236 issued to Froliv is for an electronic lock that mounts to opposite sides of a door. An electronic reader generates a signal to control the latch installation. A card reader, keypad or contact activation data port generates a signal to actuate a motor to disengage a locking dog allowing rotation of the latch handle. The motor shaft is connected to a drive screw by a coil spring permitting proper operation even if jammed.
Kim in U.S. Pat. No. 5,775,142 discloses a door lock with an electronic keypad and magnetic card reader arranged to send coded signals to a central processing unit that controls a solenoid latch located proximate to the locking bolt. When the solenoid is energized by a signal from the central processing unit (or an auxiliary switch) the locking bolt can be operated from the locked position to the unlocked position; otherwise the solenoid latch prevents the bolt from being operated.
Ulomek in U.S. Pat. No. 7,884,293 B2 teaches a control having housing with a rocker switch mounted on the control housing to drive one lock. The switch has a snap disc which interacts with the switch as the actuator. The control housing has a support bearing and the snap disc is supported with bearing points.
U.S. Pat. No. 8,161,781 B2 issued to Gokcebay is for a locker lock that fits a standard locker door with the electronics contained in a single housing mounted on the front of the locker door. The lock includes a keypad to allow rotation of a handle or knob, and also includes manager's override and power jump terminal.
Winterstweiger in U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2010/0139338 A1 discloses a lock which may be released on an electrically automated basis for use with locker type storage systems. A lock element is introduced, or blocked, into the locker door lock connecting the door to the element. A lock pawl on a pivot axis releases the spring loaded coupling element when driven by an electromechanical solenoid thus placing the lock in the unlocked position.
For background purposes and as indicative of the art to which the invention is related reference may be made to the remaining cited patent issued to Brown et al. in U.S. Pat. No. 8,079,240 B2.
The entire world has been using locks of one kind or another for centuries to protect valuables and entry into structures which were typically mechanical devices requiring some type of key or entry tool disallowing operation without their presence.
When electricity became in common usage many locks were devised that incorporate an electromechanical method of movement using magnetic attraction to disengage the structure forming the restriction. The embodiment of using a coil around a ferrous stem and electrically energizing the coil causes magnetic attraction or repulsion of the stem which is now in wide use in the form of an electromagnetic solenoid.
While much of the prior art relative to locks has been directed to the use of permanent magnets and electromagnets, however, there have been some problems encountered as the magnets alone are limited in their strength and solenoids are normally spring loaded to allow the ferrous stem to return to its locked condition after operation which may be violated by applying a sever shock such as a sharp blow in the opposite direction which could instantaneous overcome the resistance of the spring and open the lock.
A primary object of the invention is directed to an entirely new and novel method of using electrical energy to indirectly release a latch overcoming the problems of solenoids and magnets. This approach is accomplished using the principles of the flywheel effect without actually attaching anything directly to the electrical device for lock release operation.
An electric motor is used, well known in the art, widely used today and acknowledged for its reliability. The motor is employed exclusively to only start the rotation of a flywheel which includes offset protruding striker. The motor shaft is connected to the flywheel on one end and the motor armature on the other and therefore is free to rotate the flywheel in either direction when deenergized.
When the electric motor is momentarily energized it rotates the flywheel in a counter clockwise direction, where the striker hits a top surface of a rebound plate and bounces the flywheel clockwise until the striker hits beneath the rebound plate causing a connected shaft to rotate realigning a activating flat on the shaft in relation to a latch peripheral recess stop permitting the latch, under torsion spring urging, to rotate repositioning the latch into an unlocked position.
An important object of the invention is that the electricity is used only to start the functional operation and two springs are used to maintain the lock in the closed position neither one is effected by a sever shock in the form of a sharp blow or the like, as the shaft holds the latch in place with an extension spring maintaining contact until the rebound plate acting as a lever arm is contacted by striker with sufficient force to rotate the connected shaft under the tension of the extension spring. When the shaft is rotated an activating flat on the shaft released the catch and a torsion spring revolves the catch into the unlocked position.
Another object of the invention is that the rebound locking mechanism is completely operable in any orientation as gravity has no affect on any component in the system. If the striker remains in any position even touching the top of the rebound plate the energy in the motor and flywheel is sufficient to operate the invention without any difficulty.
Still another object of the invention is that the mechanism may function with most commonly used keypads, biometric devices, such as fingerprint identification, retinal scanning and voice printing and security tokens or any other well known initial identification procedures even numerical combination security devices.
Yet another object of the invention is the lag time from the signal to start is received until the lock opens is not instantaneous but rapid enough to be completely satisfactory for a user as there are audio indications the lock is functioning when the striker hits the rebound plate on either side and the latch snaps in the open position.
A further object of the invention is in its simplicity as the only electrical requirement is to energize the electric motor for a short period of time which may be accomplished in a myriad of methods well known in the art. A storage battery is all that is required to operate the motor and the application of this power source is in common usage throughout the world particularly at the present with all of the electronic devices to employed today. An auxiliary power receptacle may be added to provide power in the event that the battery ceases to function.
A final object of the invention is that its security is unparalleled as in order to breach the lock it must be physically accessed and to do so the surrounding structure must subsequently be violated.
These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the subsequent detailed description of the preferred embodiment and the appended claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
a is a partial isometric view of the retaining ring for the shear shaft of the preferred embodiment completely removed from the invention for clarity.
The best mode for carrying out the invention is presented in terms of a preferred embodiment. This preferred embodiment is shown in
A sear shaft 28 consisting of a front end, 30 a distal end 32, and an activating flat 34 positioned therebetween penetrates completely through the housing 20 and projects outwardly from each support housing side 24. The sear shaft activating flat 34 has a width equivalent to the width extending between the support housing sides 24. A retaining ring groove 36 is positioned equivalent to the outside surface width of each housing support side 24 for maintaining the shaft 28 through the housing 20 with a retaining ring 38.
A shaft rebound plate 40 having a reinforcing upset portion 42 is attached to the shaft front end 30, as illustrated in
An extension spring 44, having a first loop 46 and a second loop 48, is attached on a top surface of the shaft distal end 32 and the second loop 48 is attached to a supported extension spring retainer 50, shown in
An inertia flywheel 56 has an offset protruding striker 58 preferably including a resilient covering, as illustrated in
A latch axle 64 penetrates both the housing juxtaposed sides 24, as depicted in
A latch rotation limit pin 72 is disposed completely through the support housing sides 24, as depicted in
A disc shaped spring loaded latch 78 is rotatably attached on the latch axle 64 between the housing sides 24. The latch 78 has a U-profile notched catch 80, a shaft peripheral recess 82 terminating with a stop 84 corresponding in opposed shape to the radius of the shaft 28 and also a peripheral rotation limit recess 86 thereon, as depicted in
In operation the electric motor 60 momentarily rotates the flywheel 56 in a counter clockwise direction, as shown in
There are many methods for controlling the operation of the rebound locking mechanism as well as the initial entry device which include, but not limited to, keypads, biometric fingerprint identification, retinal scanning, voice printing, security tokens etc.
Further an auxiliary power receptacle 96 may be added for supplying electrical power to the central processor 92 in the event that the power of the battery 62 is depleted and a learn/mute station 100 permits the controller 92 to be programmed.
An optional feature may utilize a single key bypass security lock and a cable 98 mechanically attached to the shaft rebound plate 40, as illustrated with dash lines in
While the invention has been described in complete detail and pictorially shown in the accompanying drawings, it is not to be limited to such details, since many changes and modifications may be made to the invention without departing from the spirit and scope thereof. Hence, it is described to cover any and all modifications and forms which may come within the language and scope of the appended claims.
