And Details Of Blocking System (e.g., Linkage, Latch, Pawl, Spring) Patents (Class 70/278.7)
  • Patent number: 8516863
    Abstract: A high security lock includes a lock bolt movable between extended and retracted positions, a bolt retraction gear coupled to the lock bolt, and a manually-driven gear train. When a controller verifies that user-input information is correct for unlocking the lock, the bolt retraction gear and manually-driven gear train are operatively coupled such that the gear train can drive the lock bolt from the extended position to the retracted position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Assignee: Lock II, L.L.C.
    Inventors: J. Clayton Miller, Donald P. Cooke, Jr., Michael P. Harvey
  • Patent number: 8511121
    Abstract: A key holding device includes a key cylinder capable of retaining an auxiliary key which is a vehicle key that is not a master key. A rotor is rotatably arranged in the key cylinder. The auxiliary key is insertable into the rotor. A tumbler is rotatable with the rotor in the key cylinder. The tumbler holds the auxiliary key in a manner irremovable from the key cylinder in accordance with the rotational position of the rotor. A key lock mechanism is capable of locking the rotor in a state in which the tumbler holds the auxiliary key in a manner irremovable from the key cylinder. A control unit selectively switches the rotor between a locked state and an unlocked state by controlling the key lock mechanism so as to permit removal of the auxiliary key when the rotor is in the unlocked state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2013
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Tokai Rika Denki Seisakusho
    Inventor: Hiroshi Tsuruta
  • Publication number: 20130192317
    Abstract: Disclosed are various embodiments of lock devices, systems, and methods. A lock of the application can include an internal mechanism to permit backdriven operation and lost motion operation. In one form the lock can be made from an assembly of parts that have locating features that require one way installation/assembly. The lock can include an internal power source capable of driving electronics used to determine handedness of a door.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2013
    Publication date: August 1, 2013
    Applicant: Schlage Lock Company LLC
    Inventor: Schlage Lock Company LLC
  • Patent number: 8490444
    Abstract: The invention relates to a wirelessly controlled electric lock, comprising a lock body (2a), a key cylinder (2b), a turn spindle (3) rotatable by a handle element (3a) internal of the door, the turning of which enables opening of the lock, an opening spindle (4) rotatable by an opening element (5) external of the door, a drive link mechanism (41, 20, 21, 22) enabling the turn spindle (3) and the opening spindle (4) to be coupled with each other for a drive link engagement, such that turning of the opening spindle translates also into a turning motion of the turn spindle. The lock also comprises electrically controlled coupling elements (10, 21, 22, 24, 25, 26), including a piezoelectric actuator (10) which, in a mode activated by an electrical control (12, 31, 33) transmitted (32) wirelessly to the electrical lock, is adapted to fixedly lock a bolt or plunger (10a) which, in its fixedly locked condition, activates said drive link engagement as the opening spindle (4) is turned.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2013
    Assignee: Megalock Oy
    Inventor: Juha Saari
  • Patent number: 8487740
    Abstract: A vehicle function restriction system for installation in a vehicle. The vehicle includes a master key allowed to activate any function of the vehicle. The system includes a valet key mounted in the vehicle and configured to dismountable from the vehicle to be lent to a person to whom the vehicle is lent. A restriction setting unit sets the vehicle in a restriction state when the valet key is dismounted from the vehicle. The restriction setting unit sets at least one restricted vehicle functions which is not activated by the valet key, in accordance with the person to whom the vehicle is lent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2013
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Tokai Rika Denki Seisakusho
    Inventors: Hiroshi Tsuruta, Kenji Suzuki
  • Patent number: 8479543
    Abstract: A door locking system with an idle handle has a door panel having a front face, a rear face, a hinged side, a free side, an upper side, a lower side, and an electronic lock and a mechanical lock installed in the door panel respectively having a keypad and a keyhole on the front face. The system further has a level toggler, at least one bolt, a chamber defined therein, a handle seat, a handle lever, a latch lever, a linking arm, a swivel pillar, a paddle shifter, an upright toggler, and an handle lever resume spring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Inventors: Zaifu Yang, Zhongwei Cao
  • Patent number: 8474290
    Abstract: An improved locking handle and power module assembly provides continued ability to open and close a truck cap or tonneau cover from within or without, and presents an enclosed mechanism to prevent obstruction or jamming. A release handle is provided to permit unlatching of a latch mechanism operated by the locking handle without regard to whether the locking handle is locked or not.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2013
    Assignee: PiOptima, Inc.
    Inventors: David Lee Terhaar, David Jay Terhaar
  • Patent number: 8468861
    Abstract: An electromechanical lock, its key, and its operation method are disclosed. The method includes: during a first and a second insertion phases of a key, conveying mechanical power to an electric generator by a key follower and enabling mechanically operation of an actuator by the key follower; generating electric power from mechanical power by the electric generator; reading data from an external source; matching the data against a predetermined criterion; and during a removal phase of the key, returning the key follower to a starting position and mechanically resetting the actuator to the locked state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2013
    Assignee: ILOQ Oy
    Inventors: Mika Pukari, Toivo Pääkkönen, Hannu Jokinen, Petteri Karjalainen
  • Publication number: 20130139561
    Abstract: A mechanical lock device including an electromechanical cylinder, which is retrofittable to a lock device. The electromechanical cylinder is controlled by a wireless enabled communication device transmitting a signal including identifying details of entities authorized to open or close the lock.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 14, 2011
    Publication date: June 6, 2013
    Inventors: Benyamin Parto, Tamir Shaharabani, Meir Arbel
  • Publication number: 20130061644
    Abstract: An electromechanical lock includes a spring-biased cylinder plug return mechanism for automatically rotating the rotatable plug to a home position after the plug has been rotated from the home position and thereafter released. In one embodiment, the cylinder plug return mechanism comprises a torsional spring coupled to the plug, In a second embodiment, the cylinder plug return mechanism comprises a slider that is coupled to the plug so that rotation of the plug moves the slider, thereby increasing the potential energy in a return spring, and when the plug is released, the increase potential energy is released by moving the slider, and the coupling between the slider and the plug causes the plug to rotate back to a home position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 6, 2012
    Publication date: March 14, 2013
    Applicant: MEDECO SECURITY LOCKS, INC.
    Inventors: Doug TRENT, Glenn HARTMAN
  • Patent number: 8393187
    Abstract: A locking paddle handle assembly for closures has a housing with a paddle handle pivotally mounted therein, a latch which latches and unlatches the closure upon rotation of the paddle handle, and an exterior key lock with a movable member that shifts between locked and unlocked positions. A deadbolt lock selectively engages the closure frame in the locked position to positively retain the closure closed. The deadbolt lock is operably connected with the movable key lock member, such that movement of the latter between the latched and unlatched positions contemporaneously shifts the deadbolt lock between the locked and unlocked positions. A remotely operable controller may be mounted either horizontally or vertically relative the handle assembly and is operably connected to a multi-armed lock cam to power shift the deadbolt lock between the locked and unlocked positions from a remote location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2013
    Assignee: Bauer Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Bruce C. Bacon
  • Patent number: 8375752
    Abstract: According to the present invention, a key box is provided to include: a body; a cover, pivotally connected with the body to render an open state and a closed state; and a panel set, embedded on the cover, comprising a keypad module and a lock module. Wherein, by manipulating either the keypad module or the lock module, the open state and the closed state can be switched.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Assignee: Shyh Ru Metallic Industrial Corp.
    Inventors: Wei-Yu Chang, Wei-Chih Chang
  • Patent number: 8375753
    Abstract: An electromechanical lock is provided that comprises a locking assembly and a latch solenoid with a plunger axially displaceable, by an electrical command signal, between retracted and extended states and being associated with a first urging arrangement that biases the plunger in a first axial direction from the retracted to the extended states. The locking assembly comprises a lock actuation member movable between first and second states for locking and unlocking the lock, respectively. A second urging arrangement is operative to bias the actuation member to move to the second state. A third urging arrangement is operative to bias the actuation member to move from the second to the first state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Assignee: Knock N'Lock Ltd.
    Inventor: Ilan Goldman
  • Publication number: 20130031940
    Abstract: An exterior actuator assembly for a manually driven electronic deadbolt assembly includes a torque blade driver having a perimetrical lock recess, and is rotatable about a first rotational axis. A clutch assembly is drivably interposed between an exterior turnpiece and the torque blade driver. A motor shaft is arranged to rotate about a second rotational axis that is non-coaxial with the first rotational axis. A locking shifter is configured for axial translation along the second rotational axis. The locking shifter has a blocking tab portion configured for selective engagement with the perimetrical lock recess of the torque blade driver. A rotational-to-linear motion converter is drivably interposed between the motor shaft and the locking shifter and is configured such that a rotation of the motor shaft results in an axial displacement of the locking shifter to one of a locked position and an unlocked position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2012
    Publication date: February 7, 2013
    Inventor: Oscar Romero
  • Patent number: 8365561
    Abstract: An electric door lock includes a door latch mechanism movable between latching and unlatching positions, a manual operation mechanism, and first and second rotatable members. The manual operation mechanism is manually operable to drive movement of the door latch mechanism between the latching and unlatching positions. The first rotatable member is rotatable about an axis, and includes a rotary body and a clutch mechanism. The clutch mechanism is disposed resiliently on the rotary body and is movable parallel to the axis toward and away from the rotary body. The second rotatable member is coupled to the manual operation mechanism for co-rotation therewith, and has one side that confronts the first rotatable member and that is provided with a pushed unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: Yeong Du Trading Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Jing-Chen Chang
  • Publication number: 20130014552
    Abstract: An electronic small format interchangeable core (“SFIC”) lock is configured so that core locking features are electronically controlled, and keys can be electronically programmed to operate either as a normal user key able to open the lock or as a control key able to open the lock and to remove the SFIC cores. The same key will operate as a normal access key or as a control key, depending on how the key is programmed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 13, 2012
    Publication date: January 17, 2013
    Applicant: MEDECO SECURITY LOCKS, INC.
    Inventors: James BENCH, Lance SCHOELL, Doug TRENT, David SMITH
  • Patent number: 8353187
    Abstract: A keyless padlock system includes an electromagnetic switch system and a fingerprint process system. The electromagnetic switch system operates the padlock with a mechanical actuated mechanism. The system also secures the padlock against the force and vibration. The fingerprint process system provides the padlock device an easy operation as the key system. The buttons and LED's manage using both fingerprint and the combination code. A changeable battery system without losing the memory provides the padlock device a reliable and easy application.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2013
    Inventor: Yiqi Wu Woodling
  • Patent number: 8347667
    Abstract: A locking paddle handle assembly for closures has a housing with a paddle handle pivotally mounted therein, a latch which latches and unlatches the closure upon rotation of the paddle handle, and a exterior key lock with a movable member that shifts between locked and unlocked positions. A latch lock selectively engages the latch, such that when the movable key lock member is in the locked position, the latch is retained in the latched position, wherein the closure cannot be opened. A deadbolt lock selectively engages the closure frame in the locked position to positively retain the closure closed. Both the latch lock and the deadbolt lock are operably connected with the movable key lock member, such that movement of the latter between the latched and unlatched positions contemporaneously shifts both the latch lock and the deadbolt lock between the locked and unlocked positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Bauer Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Bruce C. Bacon
  • Patent number: 8341958
    Abstract: A shape memory alloy (SMA) actuated device capable of stress inducing the SMA to its martensite state to reset the device. The device having at least one SMA wire utilized to move a movable member from a first position to a second position. The device further configured to utilize force from a first source to reset the device when the SMA is at or below the first temperature, and utilize force from at least a second source to reset the device when the SMA is above the first temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Inventors: James Holbrook Brown, Jeffrey Wayne Brown
  • Patent number: 8316674
    Abstract: A lock (10) which includes a body and an actuator (36) which is pivotally displaceable between a rest position and a displaced position. The lock further includes a first member (64) which is longitudinally displaceable by the actuator (36) and a second 5 member (66) which is longitudinally in register with the first member (64) and longitudinally displaceable relative to the body and the first member (64). The lock includes bias means (90) biasing the first and second members (64, 66) away from one another. The lock further includes retaining means (98) which is displaceable from a locked position, in which it inhibits displacement of the second member (66) and a 10 released position in which it permits displacement of the second member (66).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Inventor: Piotr Leonard Kowalczyk
  • Publication number: 20120285207
    Abstract: A door locking device for a door cooperating with a door frame includes a cylinder lock and at least one elongated bolt for moving linearly to engage to and disengage from the door frame. A transmission includes an operating wheel for translating circular motion of a rotor of the cylinder lock to a linear motion of the elongated bolt. The transmission includes at least one electromechanical clutch gear that is engagable in response to a trigger signal to enable the circular motion to rotate the operating wheel, and that is disengagable to disable the circular motion from rotating the operating wheel. An emergency unlocking mechanism includes a gear arm that is connected to a handle for turning the operating wheel when the handle is turned, disengaging the elongated bolt from the door frame.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 10, 2011
    Publication date: November 15, 2012
    Applicant: HOMEGATE LTD
    Inventor: EREZ SEGEV
  • Patent number: 8302438
    Abstract: A driving device for an electric lock latch, comprises a housing, a motor having a power output shaft connected to a drive shaft with an external thread on a part thereof, an unequal diameter coil spring having a cylindrical spiral in the middle thereof screwing with the drive shaft, and a first and second conical spiral on both end thereof not screwing with the drive shaft, and a lock latch secured to the second conical spiral. The drive shaft is driven and rotated by a motor to pass the rotation power to the cylindrical spiral, and a rotary motion of the drive shaft is converted into a linear motion of the unequal diameter coil spring for moving the lock latch to change the locked and unlocked state of the lock device. Accordingly, the lock structure and the installation thereof may be simplified and the power-saving effect is achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Inventor: Pang-Cheng Lui
  • Publication number: 20120255332
    Abstract: A security device for hindering the unauthorized opening of safes includes first and second, retractably cooperable longitudinal members. First and second lateral members are provided at respective outer ends of the longitudinal members. A locking mechanism locks the first longitudinal member to the second longitudinal member. A tension spring retractably biases the second longitudinal member into the first longitudinal member. The locking mechanism can include a clamping member swivellably attached to the first longitudinal member and containing a pawl member, while the second longitudinal member includes a sawtoothed element. The clamping member can then be swiveled, so as to push the second longitudinal member further into the first longitudinal member. A vernier arrangement may be included to further tighten the lateral members against the walls of the safe. The device provides, firstly, a visible deterrent and, secondly, a physical barrier to would-be intruders.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 6, 2012
    Publication date: October 11, 2012
    Inventor: Martin Lewis Dubbey
  • Patent number: 8276414
    Abstract: A micropower passive electronic lock cylinder including an immovable cylinder body (3), a rotatable plug (1), and an electronic control circuit part is described. An electronic control circuit board (13) electrically connected with a micromotor (14) and locating switches (15, 16) is arranged in the rotatable plug (1). A lock pin (8), which is controlled by a displacement limiting cam (5) driven by the micromotor (14), moves between the immovable cylinder body (3) and the rotatable plug (1) to release or block the rotatable plug (1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Inventor: Shifu Luo
  • Patent number: 8256254
    Abstract: An electronic lock includes a rotatable core movable within an outer body. The rotatable core includes an actuator configured to move a tumbler blocking member into or out of interfering engagement with one or more tumblers. In an unlocked state, the actuator moves the tumbler blocking member so that a movable locking member in the rotatable core that engages the outer body can be moved into the rotatable core. In a locked state, the actuator positions the tumbler blocking member to prevent the one or more tumblers from retracting and thereby retain the locking member in a channel of the outer body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2012
    Assignee: UTC Fire & Security Americas Corporation, Inc.
    Inventor: Dirk L. Bellamy
  • Publication number: 20120204610
    Abstract: A security lock has a lock bolt that can be moved from an open position into a closed position and vice versa. A manually operated drive is provided to operate the lock bolt. Movement of the lock bolt is blocked in a blocked position by a bolt block. A gearing mechanism is arranged between the bolt block and an electric drive for moving the bolt block from a release position into a block position, and for blocking the bolt block against pivoting in the block position. The gearing mechanism ensures that, starting from a release position, the bolt block is first moved into a block position, and then the bolt block is blocked against pivoting in the opposite direction by continued running of the electric drive. The electric drive can be reversed to remove the block against the bolt block and to move the bolt block into the release position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2012
    Publication date: August 16, 2012
    Inventors: Anatoli Stobbe, Wilfried Herrmann
  • Patent number: 8234894
    Abstract: An electric steering lock device is provided that includes a column pipe, a steering shaft pivotably passed through the interior of the column pipe, and an electric lock unit that has an electric motor and that can switch in response to operation of the electric motor between a locked state, in which pivoting of the steering shaft is prevented, and an unlocked state in which pivoting of the steering shaft is permitted, wherein the electric lock unit is disposed within the column pipe. This arrangement can advantageously make breakage or unauthorized unlocking of the electric lock unit difficult.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2012
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Honda Lock
    Inventors: Takeshi Taniguchi, Takushi Matsuto
  • Patent number: 8228030
    Abstract: Electromechanical lock and its operation method. The lock includes a power transmission mechanism to receive mechanical power produced by a user of the lock; a generator to produce electric power from the mechanical power; an electronic circuit, powered by the electric power, coupleable with a key, to read data from the key, and to issue an open command provided that the data matches a predetermined criterion; an actuator, powered by the electric power, to receive the open command, and to set the lock in a mechanically openable state; and a threshold device to control the power transmission mechanism so that a mechanical tension rises until a predetermined force threshold is exceeded, whereupon the mechanical tension transforms to an action producing the mechanical power received by the power transmission mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2012
    Assignee: Iloq Oy
    Inventors: Mika Pukari, Hannu Jokinen
  • Publication number: 20120180536
    Abstract: A high security lock includes a lock bolt movable between extended and retracted positions, a bolt retraction gear coupled to the lock bolt, and a manually-driven gear train. When a controller verifies that user-input information is correct for unlocking the lock, the bolt retraction gear and manually-driven gear train are operatively coupled such that the gear train can drive the lock bolt from the extended position to the retracted position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2011
    Publication date: July 19, 2012
    Applicant: LOCK II, L.L.C.
    Inventors: J. Clayton Miller, Donald P. Cooke, JR., Michael P. Harvey
  • Publication number: 20120167645
    Abstract: The invention relates to a lock box for an electronic lock with lock box for an electromechanical lock comprising a housing (1) with a first follower half (2) that has a form-closed connection with a first handle for actuating the lock, with the first follower half (2) having an actuating element for an unlocking linkage (20), a second follower half (5) having a form-closed connection with a second handle for actuating the lock, restoring elements (9, 10), a coupling element (6) which in rest position (a) enables the first (2) and the second follower half (5) to move relative to one another and when in operating position (b) enables the two follower halves (2, 5) to be connected with one another, a motor (7), a control device (8) as well as an energy supply, with the coupling element (6) being provided with a pivotable articulated arm (11) supported on the housing (1), said arm when in actuating position (b) engaging with recesses (12, 13) arranged in both follower halves (2, 5) so that when the second handle
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2010
    Publication date: July 5, 2012
    Inventors: Manfred Schwenk, Ulrich Bauer
  • Patent number: 8186192
    Abstract: Disclosed is a rotary lock cylinder including a blocking element that engages into the rotor in a closed position while releasing the rotor in an open position. An actuator can be controlled in accordance with data located on the key. In order to displace the blocking element from the closed position into the open position, a latch element is provided which can be moved along with the key. The blocking element can be attached by means of the actuator. The energy required for moving the blocking element is supplied by the user when introducing the key into the key duct such that the load on the power source used for actuating the actuator is minimal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2012
    Assignee: Keso AG
    Inventors: Martin Spycher, Urs Oechslin, Bruno Vonlanthen, Marcel Kölliker, Dieter Peier
  • Patent number: 8176761
    Abstract: A keypad lockset adapted for deadbolt as well as lever locks, and having as a first embodiment an exterior gear train, an interior gear train, and an electronically controlled clutch for coupling the gear trains when engaged and for uncoupling the gear trains when the clutch is disengaged, so that when the clutch is engaged rotation of an external thumb turn will permit the door latch to be withdrawn and thus to permit opening of the door, and a mechanical override mechanism that can be operated in case of electrical failure, and in which clutch mechanism and the override mechanism both operate through the single, standard 2? inch door preparation hole, or alternatively as a second embodiment, a keypad lockset in which two four-bar mechanical linkages are used in place of gears as means to actuate the clutch, and alternatively to provide for a pass-through override function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2012
    Assignee: Emtek Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Birk Cliff Sorensen, Ping Hsien Tsai, Wai Pang Wong, John Edward Walsh, Louls Romo Martinez
  • Patent number: 8151610
    Abstract: An operation mechanism section has a key lever that follows operation of a key cylinder, a lock lever that can move to an unlock position where operation of an operation handle is enabled and to a lock position where it is disabled, linkage levers that, when the lock lever is at the unlock or lock position, follows operation of the operation handle to make a door openable or not openable, and a motor that can move the lock lever to the unlock or lock position. The lock lever is formed by integrating together a gear section, a key operation input section, and an operation transmission section. The gear section is supported so as to be pivotable about a pivot shaft to the unlock and lock positions and directly meshing with a worm gear installed on the rotating shaft of the motor. The key operation input section is directly connected to the key lever. The operation transmission section is directly connected to the linkage lever.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Assignee: Mitsui Kinzoku Act Corporation
    Inventor: Yoshihiko Fujihara
  • Patent number: 8151609
    Abstract: A lock cylinder consisting of a housing with a lock bit, an unlocking device and an actuation device is described. The unlocking device comprises a coupling arranged between the actuation device and the lock bit, which coupling is decoupled in the locked state and coupled in the unlocked state. The coupling can be electromagnetically or piezoelectrically actuated and the unlocking device is externally fed with energy contactlessly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Assignee: ASTRA Gesellschaft für Asset Management mbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Anatoli Stobbe, Wilfried Herrmann
  • Patent number: 8151608
    Abstract: An electronic lock box contains a mechanical structure that allows the lock box to work in several different mechanical states. A first state is a key compartment door unlocking state, while a second state is a shackle release state. A third state is a “soft lock” state, which allows the key compartment door to be closed, or the shackle to be re-installed, and once this has occurred, the door will not fall open, and the shackle will not fall out. A fourth state is a “hard lock” state in which the key compartment door and the shackle are not easily disturbed by vibration or intentional impact by a would-be thief, who is attempting to unlawfully open the door or remove the shackle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Assignee: SentriLock, LLC
    Inventors: Scott R. Fisher, Matthew K. Caskey, John P. Crutcher, Robin S. Glassburn, Wendell H. Morris
  • Patent number: 8141400
    Abstract: A keypad lockset adapted for deadbolt as well as lever locks, and having as a first embodiment an exterior gear train, an interior gear train, and an electronically controlled clutch for coupling the gear trains when engaged and for uncoupling the gear trains when the clutch is disengaged, so that when the clutch is engaged rotation of an external thumb turn will permit the door latch to be withdrawn and thus to permit opening of the door, and a mechanical override mechanism that can be operated in case of electrical failure, and in which clutch mechanism and the override mechanism both operate through the single, standard 2 and ? inch door preparation hole, or alternatively as a second embodiment, a keypad lockset in which two four-bar mechanical linkages are used in place of gears as means to actuate the clutch, and alternatively to provide for a pass-through override function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2012
    Assignee: Emtek Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Birk Cliff Sorensen, Ping Hsien Tsai, Wai Pang Wong, John Edward Walsh, Louis Romo Martinez
  • Patent number: 8141399
    Abstract: An electromechanical locking mechanism provides a plug with a rekeyable primary lock mechanism such as a tumbler stack, an electromechanical operator such as a solenoid or a motor, and an electronic circuit having a memory, or an electronic memory and an electronic logic stage, controlling activitiation and operation of the electromechanical operator, contained entirely within the plug. Insertion of a blade of a key that is properly profiled and bitted to correctly displace the primary lock assembly relative to a cylinder encasing the plug, and application by the key of electrical power, or of electrical power and a correct data signal, to the electronic circuit, will cause activation of the electrical operator and repositioning of a distal member of the operator relative to the cylinder, and thereby enable torque manually applied to the blade of the key to rotate the plug within the cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2012
    Inventor: Richard G. Hyatt, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8132436
    Abstract: The invention relates to a secured device for locking and unlocking a plug on a frame with a wrench. The device has an obstructing component that is mobile with respect to a plug and can be brought from an obstructing position to an unobstructing position in which the wrench can engage a rotor of a bolt when an identification code of the wrench, read by a reader, is in agreement with the code stored in an electronic module that is associated with the plug.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2012
    Assignee: Norinco
    Inventor: Philippe Dutilleul
  • Patent number: 8122746
    Abstract: An electromechanical locking mechanism provides a plug with a rekeyable primary lock mechanism such as a tumbler stack, an electromechanical operator such as a solenoid or a motor, and an electronic circuit having a memory, or an electronic memory and an electronic logic stage, controlling activitiation and operation of the electromechanical operator, contained entirely within the plug. Insertion of a blade of a key that is properly profiled and bitted to correctly displace the primary lock assembly relative to a cylinder encasing the plug, and application by the key of electrical power, or of electrical power and a correct data signal, to the electronic circuit, will cause activation of the electrical operator and repositioning of a distal member of the operator relative to the cylinder, and thereby enable torque manually applied to the blade of the key to rotate the plug within the cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2012
    Inventor: Richard G. Hyatt, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8065895
    Abstract: A bicycle lock device for public use is disclosed. The device is comprised of an enclosure, a retractable reel with a retractable cable, a lock/unlock device having a first member attached to the cable free end, and a second member secured in the enclosure, and a lock control device. The user accesses the device by inserting a payment such as a coin or credit card in a user interface of the device. If the payment is accepted, the user then enters a user-specified key code in a keypad on the lock control device. The lock control device unlocks the lock/unlock device. The retractable cable may then be extended. The user weaves the cable through the bicycle components and then enters the cable free end into the lock/unlock device, thereby locking the lock/unlock device and securing the bicycle. When the user later enters the key-code, the device unlocks the cable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2011
    Assignee: Andersen Holdings, LLC
    Inventor: Jacob Silas Lee Andersen
  • Patent number: 8051689
    Abstract: A cylindrical lock includes inner and outer chassis, inner and outer spindles, and first and second actuating members. One of the first and second actuating members is selectively and rotatably received in the outer spindle. Each of the first and second actuating members includes a limiting groove having first and second groove sections with different arcs in a circumferential direction about a longitudinal axis. A driving member is rotatably received in one of the first and second actuating members. The driving member has a leg movable in the outer spindle between first and second positions along the longitudinal axis and received in one of the first and second groove sections. A driving device is received in the inner spindle. The cylindrical lock has two modes corresponding to selective use of the first and second actuating members to provide locking/unlocking states through supply or not supply of electricity to the driving device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2011
    Assignee: I-Tek Metal Mfg. Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chun-Meng Shen, Wei-Chung Hsu
  • Patent number: 8047031
    Abstract: An electronic lock includes a rotatable core movable within an outer body. The rotatable core includes a piezo-electric actuator configured to move a tumbler blocking member into or out of interfering engagement with one or more tumblers. Tamper circuitry coupled with the piezo-electric actuator is configured to resist an externally induced acceleration of the electronic lock by shunting electrical power produced by an externally induced motion of the piezo-electric actuator back to the piezo-electric actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2011
    Assignee: UTC Fire & Security Americas Corporation, Inc.
    Inventors: Dirk L. Bellamy, Charles E. Seeley
  • Publication number: 20110259062
    Abstract: Disclosed is a rotary lock cylinder including a blocking element that engages into the rotor in a closed position while releasing the rotor in an open position. An actuator can be controlled in accordance with data located on the key. In order to displace the blocking element from the closed position into the open position, a latch element is provided which can be moved along with the key. The blocking element can be attached by means of the actuator. The energy required for moving the blocking element is supplied by the user when introducing the key into the key duct such that the load on the power source used for actuating the actuator is minimal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 6, 2011
    Publication date: October 27, 2011
    Applicant: Keso AG
    Inventors: Martin Spycher, Urs Oechslin, Bruno Vonlanthen, Marcel Kölliker, Dieter Peier
  • Patent number: 8033147
    Abstract: An electronically controlled lock with a single throw acting as a passage lock and also as a deadbolt lock is provided by the invention. The lock is equipped with an electronic activation device on its exterior housing and a door lever on its internal housing. A user unlocks the door from outside by touching an electronic key against the electronic activation device. After the door is unlocked, the throw acts as a passage lock. The door can be locked internally by moving the door lever from a horizontal position upwardly to a vertical position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2011
    Assignee: HandyTrac Systems, LLC
    Inventors: John Lie-Nielsen, Tibor Szenti
  • Patent number: 8033583
    Abstract: A lock device includes a tongue slidably engaged with a housing and extendible out of the housing, an anchoring device slidably disposed in the housing and having two anchoring members for selectively aligning with the tongue and having a compartment formed between the anchoring members, and a moving device for moving the anchoring device relative to the housing to selectively align either of the anchoring members with the tongue and for preventing the tongue from being engaged into the compartment of the anchoring device. The moving device includes an electromagnetic mechanism coupled to the anchoring device for moving the anchoring device relative to the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2011
    Assignee: Gianni Industries Inc.
    Inventor: Chih Chung Chang
  • Patent number: 8028553
    Abstract: A lock cylinder with a lock cylinder housing is provided. A knob shaft, rotatable by way of a knob, is mounted to rotate on one side or both sides of the lock cylinder. An authorization signal causes at least one electromechanically operating coupling device to connect a lock element to rotate in unison with the knob shaft and in order to operate a lock. The authorization signal is generated by evaluation electronics based on an input or input signal. It is proposed that at least one reading unit with an input unit to record the input and/or a receiving unit to receive the input signal is present, that the reading unit with the input unit and/or receiving unit is arranged in at least one knob and are spatially separated from the evaluation electronics, that the knob is connected electrically and mechanically releasable to the knob shaft, and that the reading unit generates, from the input or input signal, an access signal that can be evaluated by the evaluation electronics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2011
    Assignee: ASSA Abloy AB
    Inventor: Volker Lange
  • Patent number: 8028554
    Abstract: A cylinder lock device including: a body housing having a bore, with a direction of elongation defining an axial direction for the device; a rotatable cylindrical plug in the bore, the plug having an axially extending key slot from at least one end of the plug; a plurality of driver pins configurable substantially perpendicular to the key slot and located within the body housing and substantially outside of the plug; a plurality of tumbler pins corresponding to and positionable substantially collinear with each one of the plurality of driver pins and substantially inside the plug, the tumbler pins displaceable by a key to bias the driver pins to enable rotation of the plug, the driver pins adapted to displace the respective tumbler pins; and a displacement mechanism being deployed within the body housing and adapted to displace the plurality of driver pins thereby selectively enabling rotation of the plug when no key is present in the slot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2011
    Assignee: Essence Security International Ltd.
    Inventor: Haim Amir
  • Patent number: 8011217
    Abstract: The present invention provides for a handle set for a lock with a latch, the handle set having an authentication circuit and actuator in the interior handle that allow access to authenticated transponders. The present invention also provides a device and method for transmitting a rotational movement and force in an electronic lock, wherein the transmission takes place in a coupled state and not in a decoupled state and wherein the transmission of force does not damage an actuator that requires little energy to change between the coupled and decoupled states. The handle set can include a coupling cartridge that can be easily handed. The electronic lock can be retrofitted in installed mortise locks and used with cylindrical locks. The electronic lock can include a security feature that prohibits the electronic lock from changing between the coupled and decoupled states.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2011
    Assignee: SimonsVoss Technologies AG
    Inventors: James S Marschalek, Warren A. Simonsen, Ludger Voss, Herbert Meyerle, Norbert Voss, Stefan Parhofer
  • Patent number: 8006525
    Abstract: A transmission device for a door lock has a solenoid switch, a driven device and a linkage assembly. The solenoid switch has a solenoid core, a guide tube, a sleeve and a clutch cap. The guide tube is mounted in the solenoid core and has a connecting end. The connecting end is formed on one end of the guide tube and protrudes out of the solenoid core. The sleeve is mounted slidably in the solenoid core and around the guide tube and has at least one engaging tab formed on and protruding from the sleeve at one end adjacent to the connecting end of the guide tube. The clutch cap is mounted around the connecting end of the guide tube and has at least one engaging notch selectively and detachably engaging respectively with a corresponding engaging tab on the sleeve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2011
    Assignee: Taiwan Fu Hsing Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chao-Ming Huang, Chi-Ming Chen
  • Patent number: 7987687
    Abstract: Disclosed is a rotary lock cylinder comprising a blocking element (25, 64) that engages into the rotor (10) in a closed position while releasing the rotor (10) in an open position. An actuator (17, 78) can be controlled in accordance with data located on the key (2). In order to displace the blocking element (25, 64) from the closed position into the open position, a latch element (33, 63) is provided which can be moved along with the key (2). The blocking element (25, 64) can be attached by means of the actuator (17). The energy required for moving the blocking element (25) is supplied by the user when introducing the key (2) into the key duct (11) such that the load on the power source used for actuating the actuator (17, 78) is minimal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2011
    Assignee: Keso AG
    Inventors: Martin Spycher, Urs Oechslin, Bruno Vonlanthen, Marcel Kolliker, Dieter Peier