US 5,850,753 AGranted

Code-operated catch mechanism for hotel room door

OwnerShivendra Varmainventor

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Abstract

A controllable catch mechanism is installed in the door frame of hotel room to engage both a spring-biased latch and a deadbolt associated with the room door. The position of the deadbolt is sensed or a requirement for privacy is otherwise indicated with a switch within the room. An alphanumeric keyboard external to the room allows entry of access codes. If an authorized guest code is entered, a microprocessor-based controller unlocks the catch mechanism regardless of the privacy requirement. The guest code can be changed by the guest, as desired. If a cleaner enters a universal access code, the controller unlocks the catch mechanism only if the bolt is unlocked or no privacy requirement is indicated. Special override codes are provided that unlock the catch mechanism regardless whether the bolt is locked, permitting security staff to handle emergencies. A panic switch within the room causes an alarm signal to be generated and simultaneously releases the catch mechanism to allow security staff or passers-by to intervene. The operation of an HVAC unit and other equipment such as a telephone and television set are controlled in response to access codes.

Claims14

Dependent claims

A system which controls access to a room comprising a door that pivots on a frame between open and closed orientations, the door having a latch mechanism comprising a latch displaceable when the door is closed between a locking position within the frame and an unlocking position clear of the frame, a latch actuator manually operable from within the room to displace the latch from its locking position to its unlocking position and means for urging the latch to its locking position, the system further comprising:

catch means mounted within the frame for receiving the latch when advanced to its locking position, the catch means having a locking state in which the catch means engage the received latch to prevent the door from opening and an unlocking state in which the catch means permit the received latch to displace with the door thereby to allow the door to open;
and,
setting means manually operable from within the room to set a predetermined condition indicating a requirement for privacy;
and,
control means for controlling the state of the catch means in response to the condition and in response to a plurality of access codes, the control means comprising input means external to the room and proximate to the door for receiving codes, the control means being programmed to respond to receipt of one of the access codes by placing the catch means in the unlocking state regardless whether the condition is set and to respond to receipt of another of the access codes by placing the catch means in the unlocking state only if the condition is not set.

2 more elements

Apparatus for controlling access to a room comprising a door that pivots on a frame between open and closed orientations, the door comprising a latch mechanism and a deadbolt mechanism, the latch mechanism comprising a latch displaceable when the door is closed between a locking position within the frame and an unlocking position clear of the frame, a latch actuator manually operable from within the room to displace the latch from its locking position to its unlocking position, means urging the latch to its locking position, a security pin which is urged to extend toward the frame when the door is closed and which disables displacement of the latch to its unlocking position when the security pin is pushed toward the door, the deadbolt mechanism comprising a bolt displaceable when the door is closed between a locking position within the frame and an unlocking position clear of the frame and a bolt actuator manually operable from within the room to displace the bolt between its locking and unlocking positions, the apparatus comprising:

catch means mountable within the frame to receive the latch and the bolt when advanced to their locking positions, the catch means comprising a housing with an opening for receiving both the latch and the bolt, a stop for engagement with the security pin, and means for securing the stop to the housing at various selectable vertically spaced positions in which the stop extends into the opening, the catch means having a locking state in which the catch means engage the received latch and the received bolt to prevent the door from opening and an unlocking state in which the catch means permit the received latch and the received bolt to displace with the door thereby to allow the door to open, the catch means comprising a striking surface positioned to engage a cooperating surface of the latch to displace the latch toward its unlocking orientation as the door is closed thereby to receive the latch within the catch means;
and,
control means for controlling the state of the catch means in response to a plurality of access codes, the control means comprising input means adapted for location external lo the room for receiving the codes.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 08/541,198Filed 16 Oct 1995 · continuation in part
Priority: 23 Dec 1993
Granted: 22 Dec 1998
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification9 codes

E05B 47/0047
Electric or magnetic means in the striker or on the frame; Operating or controlling the striker plate: striker rotating about an axis parallel to…
G07C 9/0069
With switch-buttons: actuated in a predetermined sequence
G07C 9/00904
Specially adapted for particular uses: for hotels, motels, office buildings or the like
Y10T 70/7102
Electrical type [e.g., solenoid]: and details of blocking system [e.g., linkage, latch, pawl, spring]