Locks – Operating mechanism – Using a powered device
Reexamination Certificate
1998-06-05
2001-04-03
Browne, Lynne H. (Department: 3627)
Locks
Operating mechanism
Using a powered device
C070S37900R, C070S278100, C070S278300
Reexamination Certificate
active
06209367
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to access control, and, more particularly, to manually operated, electronically keyed locks suitable for retrofitting existing appliances.
2. Description of the Related Art
Current designs for maintaining security of containers such as bank safe deposit boxes require attended access and, all too frequently, dual keys, to allow access to the various containers maintained. I have found that this has become increasingly expensive in terms of man hours consumed by the employees of the bank providing attendance to the customers of the bank.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore, an object of the present invention to provide an improved lock and process for restricting access to containers.
It is another object to provide a lock and process suitable for retrofitting containers previously secured by bitted and unbitted locks.
It is yet another object to provide a lock and process for securing containers against unauthorized entry.
It is still another object to provide a lock and process able to electronically control access to the interior of secured containers.
It is still yet another object to provide a lock and process for electronically monitoring access to secured containers.
It is a further object to provide an electronically key controlled process and a cam assembly that may be configured as a single integrated electromechanical unit operable with an electronically controlled key, mated with either the existing lock cylinders of containers or with new lock cylinders, and retroactively fitted to secure those containers.
It is a still further object to provide an electronically key controlled process and integrated electromechanical cam assembly that may either be installed as a retroactively fitted component part of an existing locking mechanism with a minimum of modifications of the locking mechanism, or alternatively, be incorporated into a complete locking mechanism.
It is still yet a further object to provide an electronically key controlled process and integrated electromechanical cam assembly that may be retroactively installed as a component part of locking mechanisms previously installed in lockable containers by using existing screw patterns and key holes of those containers.
It is an additional object to provide an electronically key controlled process and integrated electromechanical cam assembly able to be mated with either bitted lock cylinders or with unbitted lock cylinders.
These and other objects may be achieved with a process requiring both mechanical conformance and electronic conformance of a key to both a cylinder plug and to an electronic circuit carried by a cam driving a bolt between a locked position and an unlocked position. An embodiment may be constructed with a housing bearing a centrally positioned hole centered upon a first axis, a bolt supported by the housing and moving transversely relative to the first axis to protrude beyond the housing to an extended, and locked, position and to retract within the housing to a retracted, and unlocked, position, and a lock cylinder perforated by a centrally positioned keyway, having an exposed circumferential surface surrounding the keyway rotatably fitted within the centrally positioned hole, and rotating within the centrally positioned hole in response to rotational force applied by a key conformingly corresponding to the lock through an arc centered upon the first axis. A cam is positioned within the housing to rotate with the lock cylinder as the key conformingly corresponding to the lock manually applies a rotational force to the lock cylinder is manually rotated through the arc. A member eccentrically positioned relative to the first axis, extends between the cam and the bolt to drive the bolt between the extended and the retracted positions as the lock cylinder is rotated through the arc. An electronic circuit containing a memory and a microprocessor and mounted upon and supported by the cam to rotate with the cam through the arc, determines electronic conformance of the key and operationally responds to digital data carried by the key to electronically activate a release mechanism that is spaced-apart from the cylinder and eccentrically positioned away from the first axis. The circuit is functionally activated by the electronic circuit in response to mechanical and electronic conformance between the key and both the cylinder plug and the electronic circuit, to move between a deployed position preventing rotation of the cam relative to the housing, and a released position accommodating the rotation of the cam relative to the housing.
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Hyatt Jr. Richard G.
Trent Douglas E.
Browne Lynne H.
Bushnell , Esq. Robert E.
Walsh John B.
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