Patent Application
20180291659
Lockable cabinets such as safes typically include a body defining a compartment and a pivotable door that encloses the compartment. One side of the door may be attached to the body via a set of hinges. Other sides of the door (e.g., an opposite side) may include a locking mechanism designed to selectively secure the door to the body. The locking mechanism may include a combination of levers, dials, electronic interfaces, and the like to selectively secure the door to the body. For example, a rotating dial can be used to input a code to unlock the locking mechanism, and a lever can be used to disengage the locking mechanism from the body.
A safe may be rated by a manufacture or rating agency based on the degree of manipulation required to crack its locking mechanism(s) and open the safe. This degree of manipulation may be expressed in terms of duration of time to crack the safe (e.g., 15 minutes, 30 minutes, 60 minutes, etc.) and/or tools required (e.g., hand tools, gas torches, explosives, etc.). Thus, an increase in duration and/or a change in required tools, may increase the rating and usefulness of the safe.
The disclosure will be readily understood by the following detailed description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:
Reference will now be made in detail to representative examples illustrated in the accompanying drawings. It should be understood that the following descriptions are not intended to limit the examples to one preferred example. To the contrary, it is intended to cover alternatives, modifications, and equivalents as can be included within the spirit and scope of the described examples as defined by the appended claims.
Examples of the present disclosure are directed to a device. In particular, examples are directed to a slidable locking device adapted to function as a lockable hinge. The slidable locking device can be installed in place of or in addition to a conventional hinge in a safe or other lockable cabinet. In this manner, the slidable locking device may be used to attach a door to a body of the safe. The slidable locking device may be configurable between a locked and an unlocked state. For example, a lever and/or actuator or other motive element may be coupled to the slidable locking device to configure the device between the two states. In the locked state, the slidable locking device may function to obstruct rotation of the door. In the unlocked state, the slidable locking device may not obstruct rotation of the door (e.g., function as a hinge). The slidable locking device may be installed in the safe as the exclusive means for locking the safe. In some examples, the safe also includes a traditional locking mechanism that, in conjunction with the slidable locking device, functions to secure the safe. The slidable locking device may provide an additional layer of security for securing conventional safes or other lockable cabinets. To break this additional layer of security may require additional time and/or different tools as compared to safes not including the slidable locking device. In this manner, use of the slidable locking device may provide for a more effective safe.
Turning now to the Figures,
For example, in
In
Parts of the slidable locking device 100 may be formed from any suitable material including, for example, metal, high-density plastics, wood, composite materials, and any other material having suitable strength characteristics. Parts of the slidable locking device 100 may be formed in any suitable manner, which may depend on the material selected for forming. For example, parts of the slidable locking device 100 may be molded, machined, stamped, or formed using any other suitable manufacturing technique.
The second side 202b may include a set of partial cylinders 206 that extend radially from the alignment axis 108 (or other longitudinal axis) and is spaced apart so as to define a set of gaps 208 or recessed portions. The set of partial cylinders 206 may be defined as a set of half cylinders aligned with the alignment axis 108. In some examples, diameters of individual ones of the set of partial cylinders 206 may be equal or about equal. In other examples, the diameters may be various. In some examples, the diameters of individual ones of first set of partial cylinders 206 may be continuous or may be various. For example, for a particular partial cylinder 206, a first diameter measured at a first position may have a first value and a second diameter measured at a second position may have a second value. The set of gaps 208 may be defined as areas between the set of partial cylinders 206 that have diameters smaller than the set of partial cylinders 206. In some examples, walls of the set of partial cylinders 206 may be perpendicular with respect to the alignment axis 108 (e.g., U shaped or mostly U shaped) or may be sloped (e.g., V shaped or mostly V shaped). The set of partial cylinders 206 and the set of gaps 208 may together define a pattern. For example, as illustrated in the view 200b, the pattern may correspond to a repeating pattern of mountains (e.g., partial cylinders 206) and valleys (e.g., gaps 208). In some examples, fewer or more partial cylinders 206 and gaps 208 may make up the pattern.
The fixed hinge part 102 may also include attachment structure 210 and rotation structure 212 disposed at both ends of the fixed hinge part 102. In some examples, the fixed hinge part 102 may include a single attachment structure 210 and a single rotation structure 212 located at the same or opposite ends of the fixed hinge part 102. The attachment structures 210 may be configured for mounting the slidable locking device 100 to an external bracket to enable attachment to a fixed structure such as a body of a safe. For example, the attachment structures 210 may be welded, fused, bolted, glued, or otherwise attached to the external bracket. In some examples, the attachment structure 210 may include a set of cylindrical structures 210a, 210b.
The rotation structures 212 may be configured to receive corresponding rotation structures of the rotatable hinge part 106. For example, the rotation structures 212 may include a set of cylindrical structures 212a, 212b over which a set of corresponding rotation structures of the rotatable hinge part 106 may be indexed. In this manner, the rotation structures 212 may function as a rotational interface between the fixed hinge part 102 and the rotatable hinge part 106. In some examples, the rotation structures 212 may include a set of bearings to reduce friction between the fixed hinge part 102 and the rotatable hinge part 106 at the rotational interfaces. The attachment structures 210 and/or the rotation structures 212 may be removable from the remaining portion of the fixed hinge part 102. This may enable the slidable hinge part 104 to be mounted to the fixed hinge part 102. At least one end of the slidable hinge part 104 may extend via an opening 214 of the fixed hinge part 102. The opening 214 may extend through the cylindrical structure 210b and the cylindrical structure 212b.
The second side 302b may include a set of partial cylinders 306 that extend radially from the alignment axis 108 (or other longitudinal axis) and is spaced apart so as to define a set of gaps 308 or recessed portions. The set of partial cylinders 306 may be defined as a set of half cylinders aligned with the alignment axis 108. In some examples, diameters of individual ones of the set of partial cylinders 306 may be equal or about equal. In other examples, the diameters may be various. In some examples, the diameters of individual ones of the set of partial cylinders 306 may be continuous or may be various. For example, for a particular partial cylinder 306, a first diameter measured at a first position may have a first value and a second diameter measured at a second position may have a second value. The set of gaps 308 may be defined as areas between the set of partial cylinders 306 that have diameters smaller than the set of partial cylinders 306. In some examples, walls of the set of partial cylinders 306 may be perpendicular with respect to the alignment axis 108 (e.g., U shaped or mostly U shaped) or may be sloped (e.g., V shaped or mostly V shaped). The set of partial cylinders 306 and the set of gaps 308 may together define a pattern. For example, as illustrated in the view 300b, the pattern may correspond to a repeating pattern of mountains (e.g., partial cylinders 306) and valleys (e.g., gaps 308). The pattern may correspond in size and shape to the pattern of the fixed hinge part 102 and the rotatable hinge part 106. In some examples, fewer or more partial cylinders 306 and gaps 308 make up the pattern.
The slidable hinge part 104 may also include an attachment location 310. The attachment location 310 may be used to attach the slidable hinge part 104 to an actuator, lever, or other structure to control the movement of the slidable hinge part 104 when coupled to the fixed hinge part 102.
On the first side 402a of the arcuate section 404 may be disposed a set of partial cylinders 408 that extend toward the alignment axis 108 (or other longitudinal axis) from the arcuate section 404. The set of partial cylinders 408 may be spaced so as to define a set of gaps 410 or recessed portions. The set of partial cylinders 408 and the set of gaps 410 may be formed in the arcuate section 404. In some examples, the set of partial cylinders 408 may be sized (e.g., length, width, height, shape, radius of curvature, etc.) to correspond to the set of gaps 208 and the set of gaps 308. Similarly, the set of gaps 410 may be sized (e.g., length, width, height, shape, radius of curvature, etc.) to correspond to the set of partial cylinders 206 and the set of partial cylinders 306. In this manner, the set of partial cylinders 408 and the set of gaps 410 may index with the sets of gaps 208, 308 and the sets of partial cylinders 206, 306.
In some examples, diameters of individual ones of the set of partial cylinders 408 may be equal or about equal. In other examples, the diameters may be various. In some examples, the diameters of individual ones of the set of partial cylinders 408 may be continuous or may be various (e.g., cam shaped). For example, for a particular partial cylinder 408, a first diameter measured at a first position may have a first value and a second diameter measured at a second position may have a second value. The set of gaps 410 may be defined as areas between the set of partial cylinders 408 that have radial widths that are less than radial widths of the set of partial cylinders 408. In some examples, walls of the set of partial cylinders 408 may be perpendicular with respect to the alignment axis 108 (e.g., U shaped or mostly U shaped) or may be sloped (e.g., V shaped or mostly V shaped). The set of partial cylinders 408 and the set of gaps 410 may together define a pattern. For example, as illustrated in the view 400c, the pattern may correspond to a repeating pattern of mountains (e.g., the partial cylinders 408) and valleys (e.g., the gaps 410). The pattern may correspond in size and shape to the pattern of the fixed hinge part 102 and the slidable hinge part 104. In some examples, fewer or more partial cylinders 408 and gaps 410 may make up the pattern.
As introduced above, the view 400d corresponds to a first profile view taken at 401. The view 400d illustrates one of the gaps 410. The view 400e corresponds to a second profile view taken at 403. The view 400e illustrates one of the partial cylinders 408.
Returning to
The slidable locking device 100 may be coupled to an actuator 510 via a drive rod 512 or other coupling. The actuator 510 may be any suitable actuator including, for example, hydraulic, pneumatic, electric, and/or mechanical. The actuator 510 may have a linear design or any other suitable design. In some examples, the force for sliding the slidable hinge part 104 may be applied by a different motive element such as a spring, compressed gas, or other motive element. The actuator 510 may be attached to the body part 504a and may be configured to move the slidable hinge part 104 from the unlocked position to the locked position and vice versa. In some examples, the slidable hinge part 104 is manually actuated via a lever or other structure available at the exterior of the lockable cabinet 500. When the lockable cabinet 500 is unlocked, as shown in the illustration, the slidable locking device 100 is in the unlocked state. This allows the door 502 to be open and closed without any additional resistance. In some examples, the slidable locking device 100 can be unlocked simultaneously with the unlocking of the locking mechanism 508. For example, after a correct code has been entered at an electronic interface, an electronic controller may send a signal to the actuator 510 to unlock the slidable locking device 100. This controller may also send a signal to a component of the locking mechanism 508 to unlock. In some examples, unlocking/locking of the slidable locking device 100 may be independent of the unlocking/locking of the locking mechanism 508. For example, after the locking mechanism 508 has been unlocked, a separate action may be used to unlock the slidable locking device 100. This action may include use of a proximity-based technology (e.g., keycard, smart card, radio-frequency identification (RFID) cards, near-field communication (NFC) devices, and any other suitable device that relies on proximity-based technologies). In some examples, this action may include a user sending a request to a locking service (e.g., a network computer separate from the lockable cabinet 500) to unlock the lockable cabinet 500. The request may originate at a user device (e.g., mobile phone, watch, laptop, etc.) of the user. If the request is proper (e.g., the user device and/or identity can be authenticated, the location of the user device is within some threshold distance of the lockable cabinet, and/or any other suitable authentication technique), the locking service may send an unlock signal to a local computing device, which in turn may cause the lockable cabinet 500 to unlock (e.g., unlock the slidable locking device 100).
In the illustrated example, the lockable cabinet may be unlocked and locked by interacting with an RFID scanner 514. When the correct frequency is received by the RFID scanner 514, the actuator 510 is activated which uses the drive rod 512 to move the slidable locking device 100 from the locked state to the unlocked state or vice versa. In some examples, the RFID scanner 514 may be mounted on an interior of the lockable cabinet 500 (e.g., on an inside surface of the body part 504a or on the door 502), on an exterior of the lockable cabinet 500 (e.g., on an exterior surface of the door 502), or at any other suitable location, which may be separate from the lockable cabinet 500.
In the view 608a, the actuator 606 is illustrated in an extended position (e.g., a higher elevation), which has caused the slidable hinge part 104 to be similarly extended out of the opening of the fixed hinge part 102. This may define an unlocked state because the sets of partial cylinders 206, 306 and the set of gaps 208, 308 are aligned with each other. In the view 608b, the actuator 606 is illustrated in a contracted position (e.g., at a lower elevation), which has caused the slidable hinge part 104 to return back within the opening of the fixed hinge part 102. This may define a locked state because the sets of partial cylinders 206, 306 and the sets of gaps 208, 308 are no longer aligned with each other. Thus, the slidable locking device 100 has effectively stopped operating as a hinge because the rotatable hinge part 106 (e.g., the partial cylinders 408) will collide with the partial cylinders 306d.
In the view 610a, the door 602 is illustrated in a closed state. In the view 610b, the door 602 is illustrated in an open state. In the closed state, a solid quadrant 612 of the rotatable hinge part 106 is shown in a first position. The solid quadrant 612 may correspond to one of the partial cylinders 408. When the slidable locking device 100 is also locked in the closed state, the solid quadrant 612 abuts against the slidable hinge part 104 at location 614, which keeps the rotatable hinge part 106 from rotating. In the open state illustrated in the view 610b, the solid quadrant 612 is shown in a second position. The solid quadrant 612 has been rotated about 90 degrees clockwise from the first position to the second position. When the slidable locking device 100 is also unlocked in the open state, the solid quadrant is able to pass by the slidable hinge part 104 at the location 614. This enables the rotation of the door 602 and the rotatable hinge part 106.
Spatially relative terms, such as “below,” “above,” “lower,” “upper,” and the like may be used above to describe an element and/or feature's relationship to another element(s) and/or feature(s) as, for example, illustrated in the figures. It will be understood that the spatially relative terms are intended to encompass different orientations of the device in use and/or operation in addition to the orientation depicted in the figures. For example, if the device in the figures is turned over, elements described as “below” and/or “beneath” other elements or features would then be oriented “above” the other elements or features. The device may be otherwise oriented (e.g., rotated 90 degrees or at other orientations) and the spatially relative descriptors used herein interpreted accordingly.
The specification and drawings are, accordingly, to be regarded in an illustrative rather than a restrictive sense. It will, however, be evident that various modifications and changes may be made thereunto without departing from the broader spirit and scope of the disclosure as set forth in the claims.
Other variations are within the spirit of the present disclosure. Thus, while the disclosed techniques are susceptible to various modifications and alternative constructions, certain illustrated examples thereof are shown in the drawings and have been described above in detail. It should be understood, however, that there is no intention to limit the disclosure to the specific form or forms disclosed, but on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, alternative constructions, and equivalents falling within the spirit and scope of the disclosure, as defined in the appended claims.
The use of the terms “a” and “an” and “the” and similar referents in the context of describing the disclosed examples (especially in the context of the following claims) are to be construed to cover both the singular and the plural, unless otherwise indicated herein or clearly contradicted by context. The terms “comprising,” “having,” “including,” and “containing” are to be construed as open-ended terms (i.e., meaning “including, but not limited to,”) unless otherwise noted. The term “connected” is to be construed as partly or wholly contained within, attached to, or joined together, even if there is something intervening. Recitation of ranges of values herein are merely intended to serve as a shorthand method of referring individually to each separate value falling within the range, unless otherwise indicated herein and each separate value is incorporated into the specification as if it were individually recited herein. All methods described herein can be performed in any suitable order unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context. The use of any and all examples, or exemplary language (e.g., “such as”) provided herein, is intended merely to better illuminate examples of the disclosure and does not pose a limitation on the scope of the disclosure unless otherwise claimed. No language in the specification should be construed as indicating any non-claimed element as essential to the practice of the disclosure.
Disjunctive language such as the phrase “at least one of X, Y, or Z,” unless specifically stated otherwise, is intended to be understood within the context as used in general to present that an item, term, etc., may be either X, Y, or Z, or any combination thereof (e.g., X, Y, and/or Z). Thus, such disjunctive language is not generally intended to, and should not, imply that certain examples require at least one of X, at least one of Y, or at least one of Z to each be present.
Preferred examples of this disclosure are described herein, including the best mode known to the inventors for carrying out the disclosure. Variations of those preferred examples may become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon reading the foregoing description. The inventors expect skilled artisans to employ such variations as appropriate and the inventors intend for the disclosure to be practiced otherwise than as specifically described herein. Accordingly, this disclosure includes all modifications and equivalents of the subject matter recited in the claims appended hereto as permitted by applicable law. Moreover, any combination of the above-described elements in all possible variations thereof is encompassed by the disclosure unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context. The above description of examples of the disclosure has been presented for the purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the disclosure to the precise form described, and many modifications and variations are possible in light of the teaching above. The examples were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the disclosure and its practical applications to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the claimed subject matter in various examples and with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. Thus, it will be appreciated that the disclosure is intended to cover all modifications and equivalents within the scope of the following claims
All references, including publications, patent applications, and patents, cited herein are hereby incorporated by reference to the same extent as if each reference were individually and specifically indicated to be incorporated by reference and were set forth in its entirety herein.
