High security electronic dial combination lock

An electronic combination lock to allow selective access to a closed or secured location, the lock comprising:

• a locking mechanism for operating between a locked condition and an unlocked condition;
• a rotatable cam wheel having a surface portion defining a cam surface such that rotation of the cam wheel in a given direction moves the cam surface in an arc;
• a movable lever coupled to the locking mechanism for changing the condition of the locking mechanism from the locked condition to the unlocked condition, pivotably movable into and out of engagement with the cam wheel, and including a protrusion for engaging said cam surface in the cam wheel such that when the protrusion engages the cam surface rotation of the cam wheel maintains engagement of the cam wheel with the lever and changes the condition of the locking mechanism;
• releasable means for maintaining the movable lever in a substantially stationary position disengaged from the cam wheel and independent of rotational movement of the cam wheel;
• a substantially non-resilient lever moving element for moving the lever from its disengaged position for engaging the protrusion of the lever with the cam surface on the cam wheel so that rotation of the cam wheel thereafter in the given direction changes the locking mechanism from the locked condition to the unlocked condition;
• and
• a housing containing the cam wheel and having a wall, a shaft journaled through the wall of the housing and into the cam wheel such that rotation of the shaft rotates the cam wheel, a dial mounted to the shaft for selecting a combination code, and electronic means for recording the combination code being entered in order to unlock the lock wherein the combination code is entered into said electronic means through a sequence of rotational and axial movements of the dial.

An electronic combination lock to allow selective access to a closed or secured location, the lock comprising:

• a locking mechanism for operating between a locked condition and an unlocked condition;
• a rotatable cam wheel having an outer surface portion defining a cam surface such that rotation of the cam wheel in a given direction moves the cam surface in an arc;
• a movable lever coupled to the locking mechanism for changing the condition of the locking mechanism from the locked condition to the unlocked condition, pivotably movable into and out of engagement with the cam wheel, and including a protrusion for engaging said cam surface in the cam wheel such that when the protrusion engages the cam surface rotation of the cam wheel maintains engagement of the cam wheel with the lever and changes the condition of the locking mechanism;
• releasable means for maintaining the movable lever in a substantially stationary position disengaged from the cam wheel and independent of rotational movement of the cam wheel;
• and
• a substantially non-resilient lever moving element for moving the lever from its disengaged position for engaging the protrusion of the lever with the cam surface on the cam wheel so that rotation of the cam wheel thereafter in the given direction changes the locking mechanism from the locked condition to the unlocked condition;
• and
• wherein the cam wheel further includes means for moving the lever moving element upon rotation of the cam wheel when the correct combination has been entered and said lever moving element is electronically activated to cooperate with said moving means when said combination has been entered.

An electronic combination lock to allow selective access to a closed or secured location, the lock comprising:

• a locking mechanism for operating between a locked condition and an unlocked condition;
• a rotatable cam wheel having a surface portion defining a cam surface such that rotation of the cam wheel in a given direction moves the cam surface in an arc;
• a movable lever coupled to the locking mechanism for changing the condition of the locking mechanism from the locked condition to the unlocked condition, pivotably movable into and out of engagement with the cam wheel, and including a protrusion for engaging in said cam surface in the cam wheel such that when the protrusion engages the cam surface rotation of the cam wheel maintains engagement of the cam wheel with the lever and changes the condition of the locking mechanism;
• releasable means for maintaining the movable lever in a substantially stationary position disengaged from the cam wheel and independent of rotational movement of the cam wheel;
• means for moving the lever from its disengaged position for engaging the protrusion of the lever with the cam surface on the cam wheel so that rotation of the cam wheel thereafter in the given direction changes the locking mechanism from the locked condition to the unlocked condition;
• wherein the releasable means for maintaining the movable lever includes a movable recessed surface and an element extending from the lever to the movable recessed surface such that movement of the recessed surface moves the lever;
• and
• wherein the element includes a spring-biased pin extending from a cantilevered portion of the lever and the movable recessed surface defines a recess for accepting and retaining a head of the biased pin when the lever is maintained in the disengaged position.

An electronic combination lock to allow selective access to a closed or secured location, the lock comprising:

• a locking mechanism for operating between a locked condition and an unlocked condition;
• a rotatable cam wheel having a surface portion defining a cam surface such that rotation of the cam wheel in a given direction moves the cam surface in an arc;
• a movable lever coupled to the locking mechanism for changing the condition of the locking mechanism from the locked condition to the unlocked condition, pivotably movable into and out of engagement with the cam wheel, and including a protrusion for engaging said cam surface in the cam wheel such that when the protrusion engages the cam surface rotation of the cam wheel maintains engagement of the cam wheel with the lever and changes the condition of the locking mechanism;
• releasable means for maintaining the movable lever in a substantially stationary position disengaged from the cam wheel and independent of rotational movement of the cam wheel;
• a substantially non-resilient lever moving element for moving the lever from its disengaged position for engaging the protrusion of the lever with the cam surface on the cam wheel so that rotation of the cam wheel thereafter in the given direction changes the locking mechanism from the locked condition to the unlocked condition;
• and
• wherein the lever moving element includes a solenoid and a detent activated by the solenoid to protrude from the lever moving element upon electronic activation of the solenoid and further comprising means for moving the lever moving element including a protrusion from a circumferential surface portion on the cam wheel for bearing against the detent.

An electronic combination lock to allow selective access to a closed or secured location, the lock comprising:

• a locking mechanism for operating between a locked condition and an unlocked condition;
• a rotatable cam wheel having a cam surface such that rotation of the cam wheel in a given direction moves the cam surface in an arc;
• a movable lever coupled to the locking mechanism for changing the condition of the locking mechanism from the locked condition to the unlocked condition, pivotably movable into and out of engagement with the cam wheel, and including a protrusion for engaging the cam surface in the cam wheel such that when the protrusion engages the cam surface rotation of the cam wheel maintains engagement of the cam wheel with the lever which changes the condition of the locking mechanism;
• a lever controlling element for maintaining the movable lever in a substantially stationary position disengaged from the cam wheel and independent of any rotational movement of the cam wheel and for moving the lever from its disengaged position to a position for engaging the protrusion on the lever with the cam surface on the cam wheel so that thereafter rotation of the cam wheel in the given direction changes the locking mechanism from the locked condition to the unlocked condition;
• wherein the locking mechanism includes a bolt, the protrusion is defined by a nose part, the cam surface in the rotatable cam wheel is configured for accepting the nose part on the movable lever and wherein the movable lever is pivotably coupled to the bolt through a pin;
• and
• wherein the lever controlling element includes a cantilever portion extending from the lever having a spring-biased detent for engaging a recess to maintain the pivotable lever in a disengaged position.

An electronic combination lock to allow selective access to a closed or secured location, the lock comprising:

• a locking bolt for operating between a locked condition and an unlocked condition;
• a rotatable cam wheel having a circumferential surface portion defining a slot such that rotation of the cam wheel in a given direction moves the slot in an arc;
• a movable lever pivotably coupled to the locking bolt for changing the condition of the locking bolt between the locked and unlocked condition, pivotably movable into and out of engagement with the slot in the cam wheel, including a cantilevered portion and further including a nose part for engaging the slot in the cam wheel such that when the nose part engages the slot, rotation of the cam wheel changes the condition of the locking bolt;
• a spring-biased detent extending from and biased outwardly of the cantilevered portion of the lever for maintaining the pivotable lever in a substantially stationary position disengaged from the cam wheel independent of any rotational movement of the cam wheel;
• and
• a solenoid including a solenoid housing having a recess on an outside surface thereof for accepting the spring-biased detent on the lever and containing an electrically actuatable solenoid plunger which upon actuation causes a detent ball to project from an opening in the surface of the solenoid housing and wherein the solenoid housing is movable from a first position to a second position to move the nose part of the lever into engagement with the cam wheel slot.

In an electronically operated lock having a bolt operating lever manipulated by engagement with a dial operated cam when a predetermined combination has been entered via said dial, the improvement comprising the provision of:

• lever retaining means for normally holding said lever out of engagement with said cam during rotation of said dial until after said combination has been entered;
• lever operating means including a rigid element separate from the lever and out of contact with the cam before entry of said combination for positively driving said lever toward said cam in response to continued dial rotation after said combination has been entered, whereby said lock is unlocked by rotation of said dial after entry of said combination and said lever is positively manipulated through the rigid element by dial rotation to engage said dial operated cam only after entry of said combination;
• wherein the cam includes a protruding circumferential surface portion, wherein the rigid element separate from the lever includes a shaft having a first end adjacent the cam such that the protruding circumferential surface portion passes adjacent the first end upon rotation of the cam and a second end adjacent the lever such that, upon entry of said combination, the protruding circumferential surface portion moves the first end of the shaft to move the shaft and the lever to engage the dial operated cam only after entry of the combination;
• and
• wherein the lever retaining means includes a cantilever portion extending from the lever having a spring-biased detent for engaging a recess in the shaft to maintain the lever in a disengaged position.

In an electronically operated lock having a bolt operating lever manipulated by engagement with a dial operated cam when a predetermined combination has been entered via said dial, the improvement comprising the provision of:

• lever retaining means for normally holding said lever out of engagement with said cam during rotation of said dial until after said combination has been entered;
• lever operating means including a rigid element separate from the lever and out of contact with the cam before entry of said combination for positively driving said lever toward said cam in response to continued dial rotation after said combination has been entered, whereby said lock is unlocked by rotation of said dial after entry of said combination and said lever is positively manipulated through the rigid element by dial rotation to engage said dial operated cam only after entry of said combination;
• wherein the cam includes a protruding circumferential surface portion, wherein the rigid element separate from the lever includes a shaft having a first end adjacent the cam such that the protruding circumferential surface portion passes adjacent the first end upon rotation of the cam and a second end adjacent the lever such that, upon entry of said combination, the protruding circumferential surface portion moves the first end of the shaft to move the shaft and the lever to engage the dial operated cam only after entry of the combination;
• wherein the cam further includes a cam slot and the shaft further includes a solenoid actuated detent for engagement with the protruding circumferential surface portion on the cam so that rotation of the cam with engagement of the protruding circumferential surface portion with the detent moves the lever into engagement with the cam slot on the cam.

An electronic combination lock to allow selective access to a closed or secured location, the lock comprising:

• a locking mechanism for operating between a locked condition and an unlocked condition;
• a rotatable cam wheel having a surface portion defining a cam surface such that rotation of the cam wheel in a given direction moves the cam surface in an arc;
• a movable lever coupled to the locking mechanism for changing the condition of the locking mechanism from the locked condition to the unlocked condition, pivotably movable into and out of engagement with the cam wheel, and including a protrusion for engaging said cam surface in the cam wheel such that when the protrusion engages the cam surface rotation of the cam wheel maintains engagement of the cam wheel with the lever and changes the condition of the locking mechanism;
• releasable means for maintaining the movable lever in a substantially stationary position disengaged from the cam wheel and independent of rotational movement of the cam wheel;
• a substantially non-resilient lever moving element for moving the lever from its disengaged position for engaging the protrusion of the lever with the cam surface on the cam wheel so that rotation of the cam wheel thereafter in the given direction changes the locking mechanism from the locked condition to the unlocked condition;
• and
• wherein the lever moving element includes a projectable element out of contact with the cam wheel before entry of a combination to open the lock and projectable toward the cam wheel so that rotation of the cam wheel contacts the projectable element to move the lever for engaging the protrusion on the lever with the cam surface on the cam wheel.

An electronic combination lock to allow selective access to a closed or secured location, the lock comprising:

• a locking mechanism for operating between a locked condition and an unlocked condition;
• a rotatable cam wheel having a surface portion defining a cam surface such that rotation of the cam wheel in a given direction moves the cam surface in an arc;
• a movable lever coupled to the locking mechanism for changing the condition of the locking mechanism from the locked condition to the unlocked condition, pivotably movable into and out of engagement with the cam wheel, and including a protrusion for engaging said cam surface in the cam wheel such that when the protrusion engages the cam surface rotation of the cam wheel maintains engagement of the cam wheel with the lever and changes the condition of the locking mechanism;
• releasable means for maintaining the movable lever in a substantially stationary position disengaged from the cam wheel and independent of rotational movement of the cam wheel;
• a substantially non-resilient lever moving element for moving the lever from its disengaged position for engaging the protrusion of the lever with the cam surface on the cam wheel so that rotation of the cam wheel thereafter in the given direction changes the locking mechanism from the locked condition to the unlocked condition;
• wherein the releasable means includes a projection on the movable lever for engaging the lever moving element such that movement of the lever moving element moves the projection on the lever to move the lever;
• and
• wherein the projection on the movable lever includes an outwardly biased pin to contact the lever moving element.

An electronic combination lock to allow selective access to a closed or secured location, the lock comprising:

• a locking mechanism for operating between a locked condition and an unlocked condition;
• a rotatable cam wheel having a cam surface such that rotation of the cam wheel in a given direction moves the cam surface in an arc;
• a movable lever coupled to the locking mechanism for changing the condition of the locking mechanism from the locked condition to the unlocked condition, pivotably movable into and out of engagement with the cam wheel, and including a protrusion for engaging said cam surface in the cam wheel such that when the protrusion engages the cam surface rotation of the cam wheel maintains engagement of the cam wheel with the lever which changes the condition of the locking mechanism;
• a lever controlling element for maintaining the movable lever in a substantially stationary position disengaged from the cam wheel and independent of any rotational movement of the cam wheel and for moving the lever from its disengaged position to a position for engaging the protrusion on the lever with the cam surface on the cam wheel so that thereafter rotation of the cam wheel in the given direction changes the locking mechanism from the locked condition to the unlocked condition;
• and
• wherein the lever controlling element includes a projectable element out of contact with the cam wheel before entry of a combination to open the lock and projectable toward the cam wheel so that rotation of the cam wheel contacts the projectable element to move the lever for engaging the protrusion on the lever with the cam surface on the cam wheel.

In an electronically operated lock having a bolt operating lever manipulated by engagement with a dial operated cam when a predetermined combination has been entered via said dial, the improvement comprising the provision of:

• lever retaining means for normally holding said lever out of engagement with said cam during rotation of said dial until after said combination has been entered;
• lever operating means including a rigid element separate from the lever and out of contact with the cam before entry of said combination for positively driving said lever toward said cam in response to continued dial rotation after said combination has been entered, whereby said lock is unlocked by rotation of said dial after entry of said combination and said lever is positively manipulated through the rigid element by dial rotation to engage said dial operated cam only after entry of said combination;
• and
• wherein the lever operating means includes a projectable element out of contact with the cam before entry of a combination to open the lock and projectable toward the cam so that rotation of the cam contacts the projectable element to move the lever for engaging the lever with the cam.

In an electronically operated lock having a bolt operating lever manipulated by engagement with a dial operated cam when a predetermined combination has been entered via said dial, the improvement comprising the provision of:

• a retaining element for holding the lever out of engagement with said cam during rotation of said dial until after said combination has been entered;
• a lever moving element separate from the lever for positively driving said lever toward said cam in response to continued dial rotation after said combination has been entered, whereby said lock is unlocked by rotation of said dial after entry of said combination and said lever is positively manipulated by dial rotation to engage said dial operated cam only after entry of said combination;
• and
• a movable link element movable from a withdrawn position spaced from the cam to an engagement position relative to the cam such that at least part of the cam engages the movable link element during at least part of the movement of the cam, wherein the movable link element is positioned substantially at the withdrawn position before entry of said combination and the movable link element is movable to the engagement position only after entry of said combination, and wherein the cam contacts and moves the movable link element only after entry of said combination, and movement of the link element by the cam causes the lever moving element to move the lever into engagement with the cam.

An electronic combination lock to allow selective access to a closed or secured location, the lock comprising:

• a locking mechanism for operating between a locked condition and an unlocked condition;
• a cam having a cam surface for moving a lever and a driving surface at a location on the cam separate from the cam surface;
• said movable lever coupled to the locking mechanism for changing the condition of the locking mechanism from the locked condition to the unlocked condition, pivotably movable into and out of engagement with the cam, and including a protrusion for engaging the cam surface on the cam such that when the protrusion engages the cam surface, movement of the cam maintains engagement of the cam with the lever which changes the condition of the locking mechanism;
• a movable link member for holding the lever out of engagement with the cam surface before entry of a combination and for releasing the lever after entry of the combination;
• a movable element normally positioned so as to be disengaged from the driving surface on the cam before entry of the combination and for projecting a sufficient distance relative to the driving surface on the cam to engage the driving surface on the cam after entry of the combination and so that movement of the driving surface on the cam moves the movable element which in turn causes the movable link member to be moved so as to release the lever, thereby permitting the lever to engage the cam surface so that movement of the cam surface moves the lever to change the locking mechanism to an unlocked condition.

An electronic combination lock to allow selective access to a closed or secured location and having a locking mechanism for operating between a locked condition and an unlocked condition and a manually operated dial and a dial shaft extending into the lock, the lock comprising:

• a cam having a cam surface;
• a manually operated driving surface driven through the dial shaft;
• a movable lever coupled to the locking mechanism for changing the condition of the locking mechanism from the locked condition to the unlocked condition, pivotably movable into and out of engagement with the cam, and including a protrusion for engaging the cam surface on the cam such that when the protrusion engages the cam surface, movement of the cam maintains engagement of the cam with the lever which changes the condition of the locking mechanism;
• a movable link member for holding the lever out of engagement with the cam surface before entry of a combination and for releasing the lever after entry of the combination;
• a movable projecting element normally positioned so as to be disengaged from the driving surface before entry of the combination and for projecting a sufficient distance relative to the driving surface to engage the driving surface after entry of the combination and so that movement of the driving surface moves the projecting element which in turn causes the movable link member to be moved so as to release the lever, thereby permitting the lever to engage the cam surface so that movement of the cam surface moves the lever to change the locking mechanism to an unlocked condition.