Electronic digital combination lock

An electronic digital combination lock, comprising:

• (a) a frame;
• (b) bolt means for moving in relation to said frmae;
• (c) electronic circuit means, responsive to a predetermined combination signal, for generating a control signal, including first and second openable and closeable switches selectively controllable for generating digital signals;
• (d) first handle means, coupled to said frame on one side of said frame, for moving said bolt means, including a handle selectively movable for closing said first and second switches, respectively, to produce the predetermined combination signal to unlock the lock;
• (e) means responsive to said control signal for permitting said first handle means to move said bolt means a certain distance;
• and
• (f) second handle means mounted to said frame from the opposite side of said frame in axial alignment with said first handle means, said second handle means being coupled for moving said bolt means the certain distance independently of said means responsive to said control signal and without a combination, and said first handle means moving said bolt means independently of said second handle means.

In a lock including a movable bolt assembly, movable handle means, locking means mounted for movement between a blocking position locking said bolt assembly against movement to an open position and a releasing position permitting movement of said bolt assembly to said open position, and energizeable electromagnet means positioned to hold said locking means in said releasing position upon movement of said locking means to said releasing position and having electrical circuit means responsive to an input to energize said electromagnet means, wherein the improvement in said lock comprises:

• said handle means being coupled to all of:
• (i) said circuit means to provide said input to said circuit means energizing said electromagnet means upon movement of said handle means in a predetermined manner,
• (ii) said locking means for movement of said locking means to said releasing position for holding by said electromagnet means when energized, and
• (iii) said bolt assembly for movement of said bolt assembly to said open position after movement of said locking means to said releasing position and energization of said electromagnet means.

In a lock including a movable bolt assembly movable between an open position and a bolted position, movable handle means, locking means mounted for movement between a blocking position locking said bolt assembly against movement to said open position and a releasing position permitting movement of said bolt assembly, and energizeable electromagnet means positioned to hold said locking means in said releasing position upon movement of said locking means to said releasing position and having electrical circuit means responsive to input to energize said electromagnetic means, wherein the improvement in said lock comprises:

• said handle means including a pair of axially aligned oppositely facing handles, with a first of said handles coupled to said locking means for movement of said locking means to said releasing position for holding by said electromagnet means, and coupled to said bolt assembly for movement of said bolt assembly to said open position after movement of said locking means to said releasing position and energization of said electromagnet means, and a second of said handles coupled to said locking means for movement of said locking means to said releasing position and for holding of said locking means in said releasing position, and coupled to said bolt assembly for movement of said bolt assembly to an open position while holding said locking means in said releasing position independently of said electromagnet means;
• said circuit means being responsive to a predetermined combination signal;
• and
• input means coupled to said circuit means and formed to generate a combination signal when input by a user energizing said electromagnet means to permit opening of said lock by said first of said handles.

In a lock including a movable bolt assembly, movable handle means, locking means mounted for movement between a blocking position locking said bolt assembly against movement and a releasing position permitting movement of said bolt assembly, and energizeable electromagnet means positioned to hold said locking means in said releasing position upon movement of said locking means to said releasing position and including an electronic circuit means responsive to an input signal and coupled to energize said electromagnet means, wherein the improvement in said lock comprises:

• said circuit means being responsive only to a predetermined combination input signal to energize said electromagnet means;
• input means formed to generate a combination of input signals in response to input from a user and coupled for communication of said input signals to said circuit means;
• and
• said handle means being coupled to said locking means for movement of said locking means to said releasing position for holding by said electromagnet means, and coupled to said bolt assembly for movement of said bolt assembly to an open position after movement of said locking means to said releasing position and energization of said electromagnet means.

A combination lock having a number combination represented by a prestored sequence of first and second bits, in which each sequence of first bits represents a number of the combination and each second bit partitions adjacent sequences of first bits, comprising:

• (a) selectively controllable switch means for generating the sequence of first and second bits, said switch means being unexposed to a user of the lock;
• (b) movable means for controlling said switch means to generate the first and second bits, said movable means being movable in one direction to control said switch means to serially generate the first bits of a said sequence and being movable in another direction to control said switch means to generate the second bit;
• and
• (c) electronic circuit means for comparing the prestored sequence of first and second bits and the sequence of first and second bits being generated and for generating a control signal to open the lock when the prestored sequence of first and second bits and the sequence of first and second bits being generated are the same.