Claims
- 1. A self-powered lock, comprising:
- a) a bolt capable of being extended from and withdrawn into the lock;
- b) means, responsive to entry of a correct combination, for enabling the bolt to be withdrawn into the lock, the enabling means having:
- 1) an "engage" position in which the bolt can be withdrawn into the lock; and
- 2) a "disengage" position in which the bolt cannot be withdrawn into the lock;
- c) means within the lock for storing energy for operation of certain components of the lock;
- d) means for monitoring an energy level of the storing means; and
- e) means, responsive to the monitoring means, for preventing the enabling means from moving from the "disengage" position to the "engage" position if the monitored energy level is below a given energy threshold;
- wherein the given energy threshold is greater than or equal to an amount of energy required to subsequently move the enabling means from the "engage" position back to the "disengage" position after a predetermined time period.
- 2. The lock of claim 1, wherein:
- the enabling means includes a locking lever which is selectively positionable between the bolt and a mechanism for withdrawing the bolt;
- the locking lever's "engage" position is one in which the withdrawing mechanism and the bolt are connected; and
- the locking lever's "disengage" position is one in which the withdrawing mechanism and the bolt are not connected.
- 3. The lock of claim 2, wherein the withdrawing mechanism includes:
- an externally accessible dial which is linked to the enabling means when the enabling means is in the "engage" position.
- 4. The lock of claim 1, wherein:
- the means for storing energy includes plural energy storage devices;
- only a subset of the energy storage devices are sensed by the monitoring means for controlling the preventing means, and other energy storage devices are sensed but not for controlling the preventing means; and
- the subset of energy storage devices which is sensed for controlling the preventing means is separate from at least one other energy storage device which powers components of the lock other than the enabling means.
- 5. The lock of claim 2, wherein:
- the means for storing energy includes plural energy storage devices;
- only a subset of the energy storage devices are sensed by the monitoring means for controlling the preventing means, and other energy storage devices are sensed but not for controlling the preventing means; and
- the subset of energy storage devices which is sensed for controlling the preventing means is separate from at least one other energy storage device which powers components of the lock other than the enabling means.
- 6. The lock of claim 3, wherein:
- the means for storing energy includes plural energy storage devices;
- only a subset of the energy storage devices are sensed by the monitoring means for controlling the preventing means, and other energy storage devices are sensed but not for controlling the preventing means; and
- the subset of energy storage devices which is sensed for controlling the preventing means is separate from at least one other energy storage device which powers components of the lock other than the enabling means.
- 7. A self-powered lock, comprising:
- a) a bolt capable of being extended from and withdrawn into the lock;
- b) means, responsive to entry of a correct combination, for enabling the bolt to be withdrawn into the lock, the enabling means having:
- 1) an "engage" position in which the bolt can be withdrawn into the lock; and
- 2) a "disengage" position in which the bolt cannot be withdrawn into the lock;
- c) means within the lock for storing energy for operation of certain components of the lock;
- d) means for monitoring an energy level of the storing means; and
- e) means, responsive to the monitoring means, for preventing the enabling means from moving from the "disengage" position to the "engage" position if the monitored energy level is below a given energy threshold;
- wherein the given energy threshold is greater than or equal to an amount of energy required after the enabling means can be moved from the "disengage" position to the "engage" position to subsequently move the enabling means from the "engage" position back to the "disengage" position.
- 8. The lock of claim 7 wherein:
- the enabling means includes a locking lever which is selectively positionable between the bolt and a mechanism for withdrawing the bolt;
- the locking lever's "engage" position is one in which the withdrawing mechanism and the bolt are connected; and
- the locking lever's "disengage" position is one in which the withdrawing mechanism and the bolt are not connected.
- 9. The lock of claim 8, wherein the withdrawing mechanism includes:
- an externally accessible dial which is linked to the enabling means when the enabling means is in the "engage" position.
- 10. The lock of claim 7, wherein:
- the means for storing energy includes plural energy storage devices;
- only a subset of the energy storage devices are sensed by the monitoring means for controlling the preventing means, and other energy storage devices are sensed but not for controlling the preventing means; and
- the subset of energy storage devices which is sensed for controlling the preventing means is separate from at least one other energy storage device which powers components of the lock other than the enabling means.
- 11. The lock of claim 8, wherein:
- the means for storing energy includes plural energy storage devices;
- only a subset of the energy storage devices are sensed by the monitoring means for controlling the preventing means, and other energy storage devices are sensed but not for controlling the preventing means; and
- the subset of energy storage devices which is sensed for controlling the preventing means is separate from at least one other energy storage device which powers components of the lock other than the enabling means.
- 12. The lock of claim 9, wherein:
- the means for storing energy includes plural energy storage devices;
- only a subset of the energy storage devices are sensed by the monitoring means for controlling the preventing means, and other energy storage devices are sensed but not for controlling the preventing means; and
- the subset of energy storage devices which is sensed for controlling the preventing means is separate from at least one other energy storage device which powers components of the lock other than the enabling means.
- 13. A method of controlling operation of a self-powered lock having a bolt, a mechanism which has an "engage" position in which the bolt can be withdrawn into the lock and a "disengage" position in which the bolt cannot be withdrawn into the lock, and an energy store for storing energy for operation of components of the lock, the method comprising:
- a) receiving charge in the energy store;
- b) recognizing entry of a correct combination;
- c) sensing an amount of energy in the energy store;
- d) comparing the sensed amount of energy in the energy store to a given energy threshold, the given energy threshold being greater than or equal to an amount of energy required to move the mechanism from the "engage" position back to the "disengage" position; and
- e) moving the mechanism from the "disengage" position to the "engage" position only if the sensed amount of energy in the energy store exceeds the given energy threshold, and preventing the mechanism from moving from the "disengage" position to the "engage" position if the sensed mount of energy in the energy store does not exceed the given energy threshold.
Parent Case Info
This is a divisional of U.S. application Ser. No. 08/143,223, filed Oct. 29, 1993.
US Referenced Citations (30)
Foreign Referenced Citations (5)
Number |
Date |
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0 021 670 A1 |
Jan 1981 |
EPX |
2 533 340 |
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FRX |
3208818 |
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2 175 638 |
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Divisions (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
143223 |
Oct 1993 |
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