Electronic lock box and retention mechanism for use therein
AssigneeSupra Products, Inc.
InventorMir A. Imran
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A retention mechanism having a housing and a member mounted in the housing for movement between the first and second positions. The member has a shoulder formed thereon. A spring yieldably engages opposite sides of the member and the shoulder to prevent movement of the member from the first to the second position. An actuator is provided which includes an element engaging the spring means for moving the spring from a shoulder engaging or latched position to a shoulder disengaging or unlatched position to permit the movement of the member from the first to the second position.
Claims12
In a retention mechanism, a housing, a member releasably mounted in the housing for movement between a first position and a second position, said member when disposed in said first position having a first portion within the housing, said first portion of the member having a shoulder formed thereon, spring means within the housing having first and second symmetrical leaves having free ends and movable between a shoulder engaging and latched position and a shoulder disengaging and unlatched position, said first and second leaves being adapted to yieldably engage opposite sides of said first portion of the member and said shoulder to assume said shoulder engaging and latched position to prevent movement of said member from the first position to the second position, and actuating means completely contained within the housing, having an axis and being mounted for axial movement and including an element engaging said first and second leaves of the spring means remote from the free ends upon axial movement of the actuating means for moving substantially simultaneously said first and second leaves of said spring means in a direction substantially orthogonal to said axis and from said shoulder engaging and latched position to said shoulder disengaging and unlatched position to permit the movement of said member from the first to the second position, said member when in said second position having a second portion remaining within the housing, said symmetrical leaves of the spring means serving to render said retention mechanism substantially immune to hammer blows to the housing to prevent unauthorized movement of the member from said first position to said second position.
In a lock box, a housing having an opening therein, a key container movable into and out of said opening in said housing between a key retaining position and a key accessible position, a post having an axis mounted on the key container, means providing a shoulder on said post, spring means mounted within the housing having symmetrical portions engaging opposite sides of the post and being in yieldable engagement with the said shoulder and solenoid operated means mounted within the housing having a plunger for movement into engagement with the spring means for moving substantially simultaneously the spring means out of engagement with the shoulder to permit movement of the key container from the key retaining position to the key accessible position, said symmetrical portions of the spring means serving to make the lock box substantially immune to hammer blows to the lock box to prevent inadvertent and unauthorized opening of the key container.
In a lock box, a housing having an opening therein, a key container movable into and out of said opening in said housing between a key retaining position and a key accessible position, a post having an axis mounted on the key container, means providing a shoulder on said post, spring means mounted within the housing having symmetrical portions engaging opposite sides of the post and being in yieldable engagement with said shoulder, solenoid operated means mounted within the housing having a plunger for movement into engagement with the spring means for moving substantially simultaneously the spring means out of engagement with the shoulder to permit movement of the key container from the key retaining position to the key accessible position, said symmetrical portions of the spring means serving to make the lock box substantially immune to hammer blows to the lock box to prevent inadvertent and unauthorized opening of the key container, said spring means being in the form of a clip having first and second leaves which are yieldably retained in a shoulder engaging position, said plunger including means for spreading part said leaves to move the same from a shoulder engaging position and rod-like means providing a wearing surface of minimal area underlying the leaves to accommodate the movement of the leaves between shoulder engaging and disengaging positions.
In a lock box of the sort used to contain keys of houses listed for sale, a housing, shackle means removably mounted in said housing for shackling the lock box to another object, said shackle means when mounted in said housing having a first portion thereof exterior to the housing and a second portion thereof interior of the housing, said portion interior of the housing having a shoulder formed thereon, spring means mounted within the housing and having symmetrical portions thereof engaging opposite sides of the shackle means and engaging said shoulder to prevent removal of the shackle means from the housing, said portions each having a free end, and solenoid operated means within the housing having a plunger for engaging said spring means remote from said free ends and for moving said portions of said spring means substantially simultaneously out of engagement with said shoulder to permit release of the shackle means, said symmetrical portions of said spring means serving as means to make the lock box substantially immune to hammer blows to prevent inadvertent or unauthorized release of the shackle means.
In a lock box, a housing, a shackle removably mounted in said housing, said shackle having a shoulder formed thereon, spring means mounted within the housing and having portions thereof engaging opposite sides of the shackle and engaging said shoulder to prevent removal of the shackle from the housing and solenoid-operated means having a plunger engaging said spring means for moving said portions of said spring means out of engagement with said shoulder when said solenoid-operated means is energized to permit removal of the shackle, said spring means being in the form of a spring clip having first and second leaves with a slot disposed between the first and second leaves, said plunger moving axially into said slot upon energization of the solenoid-operated means, said plunger having a cylindrical portion which remains disposed in the slot and in engagement with the leaves after the solenoid has been energized.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.