The present invention discloses a redundant boltwork mechanism with two separate locks configured to be unlocked by actuating either lock.
Most current safe designs comprise a single lock that must be unlocked so that the actuate boltwork can be retracted and the safe door can be opened. If there is any mechanical failure in the lock or if the combination/password is lost, a locksmith must be called in order to open the safe. This can be costly and time consuming. Similarly, if the lock is an electronic lock, the safe cannot be opened if there is a power outage or battery failure. Therefore, there exists a need for a redundant boltwork mechanism having two locks allowing the safe to be unlocked by unlocking either safe lock.
The redundant boltwork mechanism comprises a master lock plate and a sublock plate slidably coupled to the master lock plate. A first lock is coupled to the master lock plate and a second lock is coupled to the sublock plate. A cross slide with a plurality of bolts and at least one other slide are coupled to the safe door such that turning that handle of the safe door causes movement of the cross slide and at least one other slide from a first position to a second position, allowing the safe door to be opened. The safe door can be unlocked by unlocking either the first lock or the second lock, which causes the second lock tongue to retract from blocking the at least one slide.
Embodiments of the present invention are illustrated by way of example, and not limitation, in the accompanying figures in which like references denote similar elements, and in which:
Referring to
A sublock plate 3 is coupled to master lock plate 2 via first guiding column 6, second guiding column 7, third guiding column 8, and fourth guiding column 9 which extend from master lock plate 2 through four sublock plate grooves 104. This allows sublock plate 3 to move horizontally with respect to master lock plate 2 as the first lock tongue 106 is extended or retracted. Specifically, as depicted in
First lock 4 and second lock 5 may be any type of lock, mechanical or electrical, that is able to retract a lock latch. Examples of lock types include, but are not limited to, key locks, digital locks, and combination locks.
Cross slide 11 is movably coupled to master lock plate 2 via third guiding column 8, fourth guiding column 9, and fifth guiding column 10, each of which extend from master lock plate 2 through horizontal grooves in cross slide 11. Cross slide 11 is driven to move horizontally by turning hand wheel 18. The end of cross slide 11 comprises a plurality of transverse door bolts 17 (i.e., latches extending along the lateral direction), for example, three.
In this embodiment, hand wheel 18 is located on the outer side of safe door 1 and dial block 20 is disposed on the inner side of the cabinet door 1. Dial block 20 is coupled to the hand wheel 18 through connecting shaft 19, causing dial block 20 to rotate as hand wheel 18 is rotated. Dial pin 21 is fixed on the dial block 20, and a driving groove (not shown) extending along the longitudinal direction is defined in the cross slide 11. The dial pin 21 extends into the driving groove. Through these connections, the turning of hand wheel 18 causes cross slide 11 to move to the left which withdraws the horizontal door bolts 17, allowing the safe door 1 to be opened.
A drive pin 12 is coupled to cross slide 11 and extends through first oblique groove 22 in first slide 13 and second oblique groove 23 in second slide 14. An end of first slide 13 further comprises upper bolt 110 and an end of second slide 14 comprises lower bolt 112. Both first slide 13 and second slide 14 are limited to vertical (up/down) movement. First slide 13 comprises first longitudinal chute 114 through which second guiding column 7 extends. Similarly, second slide 14 comprises second longitudinal chute 116 (not shown) through which fourth guiding column 9 extends.
When drive pin 12 moves left and right under the driving of the cross slide 11, first slide 13 can move up/down correspondingly through the first oblique groove 22 and first longitudinal chute 114 and second slide 14 can move down/up correspondingly through second oblique groove 23 and second longitudinal chute 116.
As depicted in
First slide 13 and second slide 14 may also comprise one or more longitudinal sliding grooves which interface with a guide column on master lock plate 2 to further facilitate the vertical movement of first slide 13 and second slide 14.
It should be obvious on one of ordinary skill in the art that the redundant boltwork mechanism 100 could also function with either first slide 13 or second slide 14 removed. However, the inclusion of both slides 13 and 14 obviously provides enhanced protection.
As shown in
As shown in
As shown in
Several embodiments of the present invention are specifically illustrated and/or described herein. However, it will be appreciated that modifications and variations of the present invention are covered by the above teachings without departing from the spirit and intended scope of the invention.
Several embodiments of the present invention are specifically illustrated and/or described herein. However, it will be appreciated that modifications and variations of the present invention are covered by the above teachings without departing from the spirit and intended scope of the invention.
The features disclosed in the foregoing description, or in the following claims, or in the accompanying drawings, expressed in their specific forms or in terms of a means for performing the disclosed function, or a method or process for obtaining the disclosed results, as appropriate, may, separately, or in any combination of such features, be utilized for realizing the invention in diverse forms thereof. Any one or more features or functions of the first/other aspects/embodiments disclosed above may also be incorporated into the second/present aspect/embodiment, alone or in any combination.
This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 62/916,362, filed Oct. 17, 2019, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.
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Number | Date | Country | |
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20210115724 A1 | Apr 2021 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
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62916362 | Oct 2019 | US |