High security lock
AssigneeLock II, LLC
InventorsJ. Clayton Miller, Donald P. Cooke, JR., Michael P. Harvey
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
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.
Claims78
A locking mechanism comprising:
- a lock bolt movable between extended and retracted positions;
- a bolt retraction gear operatively coupled to the lock bolt and movable between engagement and disengagement positions;
- a manually-driven gear train adapted to engage the bolt retraction gear in the engagement position and drive the lock bolt between the extended and retracted positions;
- a user input device adapted to receive user input information;
- a controller adapted to store authentication information and verify user input information;
- and
- an actuator having a rotatable output element, the rotatable output element engaged with the bolt retraction gear and adapted to move the bolt retraction gear from the disengagement position to the engagement position when the controller verifies that the user input information matches the stored authentication information.
The locking mechanism of claim 3, further comprising a spindle shaft coupling the rotatable lock dial to the manually-driven gear train, wherein the lock dial is rotated to enter user input information and to move the lock bolt from the extended position to the retracted position when the user input information is verified.
A locking mechanism comprising:
- a lock bolt movable between extended and retracted positions;
- a bolt retraction gear operatively coupled to the lock bolt;
- a manually-driven gear train including a spindle gear and a drive gear engaged with the bolt retraction gear, the drive gear including a relief portion and movable between an engagement position with the spindle gear and a disengagement position where the relief portion faces the spindle gear;
- a user input device adapted to receive user input information;
- a controller adapted to store authentication information and verify user input information;
- and
- an actuator having a rotatable output element, the rotatable output element engaged with the bolt retraction gear and adapted to move the bolt retraction gear to rotate the drive gear from the disengagement position to the engagement position such that the spindle gear can drive the lock bolt between the extended and retracted positions when the controller verifies that the user input information matches the stored authentication information.
A locking mechanism comprising:
- a lock bolt movable between extended and retracted positions;
- a bolt retraction gear operatively coupled to the lock bolt;
- a manually-driven spindle gear;
- a drive gear mounted on a drive shaft and including first and second relief portions, the drive gear being movable between an engagement position where the drive gear engages both the spindle gear and the bolt retraction gear and a disengagement position where the first relief portion faces the spindle gear and the second relief portion faces the bolt retraction gear;
- a user input device adapted to receive user input information;
- a controller adapted to store authentication information and verify user input information;
- and
- an actuator coupled to the drive shaft and adapted to move the drive gear from the disengagement position to the engagement position such that the spindle gear can drive the lock bolt between the extended and retracted positions when the controller verifies that the user input information matches the stored authentication information.
A locking mechanism comprising:
- a lock casing having a front surface and a spindle sleeve extending inwardly from the front surface;
- a lock bolt disposed at least partially within the lock casing and movable between extended and retracted positions;
- a manually-driven gear train adapted to be operatively coupled to the lock bolt, the gear train including a spindle shaft extending through the spindle sleeve and outside the lock casing;
- a controller including a circuit board adjacent to the front surface of the lock casing and having operational circuits controlling the coupling of the manually-driven gear train to the lock bolt;
- and
- a circuit breaker device adjacent to the spindle sleeve and wired into the operational circuits of the controller, wherein attempts to enter the lock casing through the spindle sleeve will break the circuit breaker device and render the operational circuits of the locking mechanism inoperative.
A locking mechanism comprising:
- a lock casing having at least one mounting bolt disposed in a bolt receptacle;
- a lock bolt including a recess and disposed at least partially within the lock casing, the lock bolt movable between extended and retracted positions;
- and
- a retracting bolt shield including a first member coupled to a blocking member, the blocking member movable between a blocking position over the mounting bolt in the bolt receptacle to a non-blocking position outside of the bolt receptacle, the first member disposed within the lock bolt recess and adapted to drive the blocking member from the blocking position to the non-blocking position as the lock bolt moves from the extended position to the retracted position.
A locking mechanism comprising:
- a lock casing;
- a lock bolt disposed at least partially within the lock casing and movable between extended and retracted positions;
- a manually-driven gear train adapted to be operatively coupled to the lock bolt to drive the lock bolt between the extended and retracted positions;
- and
- a controller having operational circuits controlling the coupling of the manually-driven gear train to the lock bolt,
- wherein the lock casing is at least partially translucent to reveal evidence of unauthorized attempts to enter the lock bolt casing.
A method of operating a lock including a user input device, a manually-driven gear train, a bolt retraction gear, a lock bolt engaged with the bolt retraction gear, and a controller, the method comprising:
- recording user input information from the user input device;
- verifying that the user input information matches authentication information stored in the controller;
- moving the bolt retraction gear into engagement with the manually-driven gear train;
- and
- driving the lock bolt to a retracted position by manually driving the gear train and the bolt retraction gear.
A method of operating a lock including manually-driven gear train, a lock bolt operatively coupled to the gear train, a retractable bolt shield, and at least one mounting bolt in a bolt receptacle, the method comprising:
- driving the lock bolt from a retracted position to an extended position by manually driving the gear train;
- and
- sliding the retractable bolt shield over the mounting bolt in the bolt receptacle as the lock bolt moves from the retracted position to the extended position.
A method of operating a lock including a lock bolt movable between a retracted position and an extended position and a light-emitting diode (LED), the method comprising:
- activating a single red LED blink once every ten seconds while the lock bolt is in the retracted position.
A method of operating a lock including a light-emitting diode (LED), a user input device, and a controller, the method further comprising:
- recording user input information from the user input device;
- verifying that the user input information matches authentication information stored in the controller;
- storing a parameter related to the number of unsuccessful authorization attempts by the controller since the last successful authentication;
- and
- activating a single red LED blink a number of times equal to the stored parameter prior to recording user input information from the user input device.
A method of operating a lock including a user input device, a controller, and a change key, the method further comprises:
- inserting the change key into the lock to activate a configuration mode;
- recording a first set of user input information from the user input device;
- recording a second set of user input information from the user input device;
- averaging the first and second set of user input information together;
- and
- replacing authentication information stored in the controller with the averaged user input information.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.