Lockset with cylinder integrity sensor
AssigneeSpectrum Brands, Inc.
InventorsMarc Tobias, Tobias Bluzmanis, Mark S. Bloom, James Lin
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A lockset is provided with a sensor assembly for detecting tampering with the cylinder. A lock cylinder with a cylinder body and a cylinder plug disposed in the cylinder body is provided. The cylinder plug is configured to deform and/or separate from the cylinder body when a sufficient force is applied. A sensor assembly is provided that detects when the cylinder plug deforms and/or separates from the cylinder body. In some embodiments, the sensor assembly could detect when the cylinder plug deforms and/or separates from the cylinder body with a strain gauge, a continuity circuit, a micro-switch, an optical sensor, an accelerometer and/or a contact microphone.
Claims43
A lock cylinder comprising:
- a cylinder body;
- a cylinder plug disposed in the cylinder body, the cylinder plug including a cover attached to a face of the cylinder plug, the cover including a keyway, wherein the cover is configured to deform and/or separate from the cylinder body when a sufficient force is applied;
- a sensor assembly configured to detect deformation and/or separation between the cover and the cylinder body, the sensor assembly including a base that defines an opening, the opening at least partially surrounding the cylinder plug;
- and
- an exterior cover fitted to the cylinder body, the sensor assembly being disposed between the cylinder body and the exterior cover.
A lock cylinder comprising:
- a cylinder body;
- a cylinder plug disposed in the cylinder body, the cylinder plug including a cover attached to a face of the cylinder plug, the cover including a keyway, wherein the cover is configured to deform and/or separate from the cylinder body when a sufficient force is applied;
- and
- means for detecting deformation and/or separation between the cover of the cylinder plug and the cylinder body, wherein the means for detecting deformation and/or separation includes a sensor assembly positioned between the cover and the cylinder body and including a base that defines an opening, the opening at least partially surrounding the cylinder plug.
A lockset comprising:
- an exterior assembly comprising:
- a cylinder body;
- a cylinder plug disposed in the cylinder body, wherein the cylinder plug is configured to deform and/or separate from the cylinder body when a sufficient force is applied;
- a sensor assembly configured to detect deformation and/or separation between at least a portion of the cylinder plug and the cylinder body, the sensor assembly including a base that defines an opening, the opening at least partially surrounding the cylinder plug;
- an interior assembly comprising:
- an interior driver operatively coupled to the cylinder plug with a torque blade extending there between;
- a circuit electrically connected to the sensor assembly;
- and
- a tamper lock operative to restrict movement of the interior driver, separate from the cylinder plug;
- wherein the circuit is configured to actuate the tamper lock responsive to detection by the sensor assembly that at least a portion of the cylinder plug has deformed and/or separated from the cylinder body.
A method of detecting tampering with a lock cylinder, the method comprising the steps of:
- providing a cylinder body;
- providing a cylinder plug disposed in the cylinder body, the cylinder plug having a cover including a keyway, wherein the cover is configured to deform and/or separate from the cylinder body when a sufficient force is applied;
- monitoring the cylinder plug to detect deformation and/or separation between at least a portion of the cover and the cylinder body using a sensor assembly positioned between the cover and the cylinder body and including a base that defines an opening, the opening at least partially surrounding the cylinder plug;
- and
- responsive to detection of deformation and/or separation between at least a portion of the cover and the cylinder body by the sensor assembly, generating an electrical signal indicating tampering of the cylinder plug.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.