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US 10,822,835 B2Granted
Electronic locking apparatus and method
AssigneeDeWalch Technologies, Inc.
InventorsNorman Binz Dewalch, Aditya Kumar Palthi, Tyler Dean Todd, II
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An electronic locking mechanism has a body portion with movable retaining members that are controlled utilizing an electrically controlled actuator. The actuator operates the retaining member to move radially outwardly of the body portion circumference in a locked position and allows the retaining member to move radially inwardly of the circumference in an unlocked position. An electronic key can be utilized to operate the electronic locking mechanism.
Claims21
A barrel lock, comprising:
- a lock body comprising a head portion and a shank portion arranged along a longitudinal axis of the lock body, said head portion comprising a first radial extent that is larger than a second radial extent of said shank portion;
- an electrically controlled actuator disposed within said lock body, the electrically controlled actuator moveable between an unlocked position and a locked position;
- a control circuit disposed within said lock body and in electrical communication with the electrically controlled actuator;
- a movable retaining member that is radially extensible and retractable from said shank portion relative to said longitudinal axis;
- wherein:
- in response to receipt of a control signal from a key, said control circuit is configured to cause said electrically controlled actuator to move from the locked position to the unlocked position;
- said electrically controlled actuator maintaining at least partial radial extension of said movable retaining member when in the locked position and allowing radial retraction of said movable retaining member when in the unlocked position;
- and
- said head portion further comprises an end cap, said end cap comprising a key interface configured to couple with said key, said key interface comprising a protrusion along a longitudinal axis of the lock body and a recess that extends generally in a radial direction relative to said longitudinal axis of the lock body.
6 more elements
A locking method, the method comprising:
- providing a lock body comprising a head portion and a shank portion arranged along a longitudinal axis of the lock body, said head portion comprising a first radial extent that is larger than a second radial extent of said shank portion;
- disposing an electrically controlled actuator within said lock body, said electrically controlled actuator being moveable between an unlocked position and a locked position;
- disposing a control circuit within said lock body, said control circuit being in electrical communication with said electrically controlled actuator;
- providing a movable retaining member that is radially extensible and retractable from said shank portion relative to said longitudinal axis, wherein in response to receipt of a control signal from a key, said control circuit is configured to cause said electrically controlled actuator to move from said locked position to said unlocked position, and wherein said electrically controlled actuator maintains at least partial radial extension of said movable retaining member when in the locked position and allows radial retraction of said movable retaining member when in the unlocked position;
- providing said head portion further comprising an end cap, said end cap comprising a key interface configured to couple with said key, said key interface comprising a protrusion along a longitudinal axis of said lock body;
- and
- forming in said protrusion of said key interface a recess that extends generally in a radial direction relative to said longitudinal axis of said lock body.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.