The present invention relates to safes, and in particular, to locking systems for safes.
Safe boxes (also known as “safes”) are well known in the prior art. They are used primarily to protect documents, currency, jewelry, and other valuables from fire and theft. Stand alone safes are very common in homes and businesses throughout the world. A fire-resistant safe (also known as a “fireproof safe” or a “fire safe”) is a type of safe that is designed to protect its contents from high temperatures or actual fire. There are various types of locking mechanisms currently being utilized for safes that incorporate known technologies.
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What is needed is a better safe that allows operation through a user controlled keypad as well as a backup operation via a hand held key.
The present invention provides a safe. A safe lid is connected to a safe box via a hinge. A fascia assembly is connected to the safe lid and a latch assembly is connected to the safe box. The fascia assembly includes a keypad and a fascia assembly locking groove. The latch assembly includes a latch having a fascia assembly locking tab and a lock latch locking tab. The latch assembly also has a lock lever pivotally connected to the latch and the latch assembly. A motor in the latch assembly receives electrical inputs from the keypad. The latch assembly also has a key lock. A lock latch is connected to and controlled by the motor and the key lock. A lock latch reset spring is connected to the lock latch. The safe is locked when the fascia assembly locking tab is inserted into the fascia assembly locking groove and also when the lock latch locking tab is secured behind the lock latch. The safe is unlocked by entering a pass code into the key pad. This caused an electrical signal to be transmitted to the motor. The motor then operates to move the lock latch so that it releases the lock latch locking tab. The safe can also be opened by turning the key lock to move the lock latch so that it releases the lock latch locking tab.
Chest 200 includes latch assembly 1, fascia assembly 2, lid 3 and box 4 (see
Lid 3 and box 4 are locked together via latch 11. When latch 11 is in the closed position, it is locked down by lock latch 16 (see
Using a Key Pad to Unlock the Safe
As shown in
Using a Key Lock to Unlock the Safe
As an alternative, key lock 12 may be utilized to unlock safe 200. For example, as shown in
The Latch Moving to the Lock Position
When lid 3 is closed, microprocessor 93 sends a signal to motor 17 to turn gear 18 180 degrees so that gear connecting plate 110 is moved to its original position. Compressed lock latch reset spring 19 pushes lock latch 16 to its original position. The user pushes latch 11 down against groove 143 on fascia assembly 2 and pushes latch 11 in towards box 4. Lock latch 16 slides into latch 11 and locks.
Other Possible Actuators for the Motor
As stated above, gear 18 on motor 17 rotates 180 degrees, which moves gear connecting plate 110 upwards and in turn pushes lock latch 16 upwards against lock lever 14 (
For example,
Also,
Although the above-preferred embodiments have been described with specificity, persons skilled in this art will recognize that many changes to the specific embodiments disclosed above could be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. For example, it would be possible to modify the present invention so that fascia assembly 2 unlocks a separate mechanism that allows the user to then manually unlock the latch. The user could then manually unlock the safe by pressing a button or turning a knob, for example. Therefore, the attached claims and their legal equivalents should determine the scope of the invention.