Patents by Inventor Walter J. Aston

Walter J. Aston has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Lock, key and combination of lock and key
    Patent number: 5351042
    Abstract: A battery-less electronic cylinder lock comprises an electromagnet or other electrical release mechanism controlled by an electronic circuit. A cooperating key comprises a battery and a code producing circuit. When the key is inserted in the lock, power for the lock is supplied from the battery to the electronic circuit and the electromagnet by means of a transformer coupling arrangement with a primary portion in the key and a secondary portion in the lock. Alternatively, power may be supplied via electrical contacts on the key and on the lock.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 1992
    Date of Patent: September 27, 1994
    Assignee: Yale Security Products Limited
    Inventor: Walter J. Aston
  • Electromagnetically activated mechanisms
    Patent number: 5014030
    Abstract: An electromagnetically activated mechanism has mechanical input and output members, at least one of which cooperates with the armature of an electromagnet which is energisable to prevent or limit movement of that member. The electromagnet and its armature are located so that when the electromagnet is de-energized the armature can be urged by the aforesaid one member towards a position in which the magnetic gap between the armature and the electromagnet is a minimum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 1989
    Date of Patent: May 7, 1991
    Assignee: Yale Security Products Ltd.
    Inventor: Walter J. Aston
  • Electronic key-operable lock and key thereof
    Patent number: 4866962
    Abstract: A key for an electronic lock is provided with a relief coding for reading by a mechanically actuated reading device. The key has a blade along a narrow edge face of which there are formed grooves (or pairs of notches) extending either perpendicularly to the length of the blade or inclined to the perpendicular in one sense or the other.A lock is described in which the grooves or notches are read by two separate reading elements and an electronic circuit determines the key coding by detecting whether the reading elements detect the grooves or notches at the same time or in one order or the other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 1988
    Date of Patent: September 19, 1989
    Assignee: Yale Security Products Limited
    Inventors: Walter J. Aston, Paul Garbett
  • Electronic security device
    Patent number: 4396914
    Abstract: An electronic security device includes a memory and a card reader which reads a combination code and calculation data from a key card. An electronic circuit compares the content of the memory with the combination code and enables the lock device if a match is found. If the key card is a new one the circuit calculates a new combination code by applying the calculation data to the memory content and, if this new combination code matches that on the key card the memory is loaded with the new combination code.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 1981
    Date of Patent: August 2, 1983
    Assignee: Scovill Inc.
    Inventor: Walter J. Aston