Lock for safes and other security devices

A lock suitable for use on a safe comprising:

• a case having an opening;
• a locking bolt constrained in a slidable relationship within the opening in the case and moveable between a locked position and an unlocked position;
• gate means, constrained in a slidable relationship by and with the locking bolt, for moving between a gated position and an ungated position, the gated position preventing the locking bolt from moving out of the locked position, and the ungated position allowing the locking bolt to move out of the locked position and towards the unlocked position;
• camming means, pivotally attached to the locking bolt, for camming the gate means between the gated position and the ungated position, and for pivoting between a secured position and an unsecured position, the secured position maintaining the gate means in the gated position, and the unsecured position maintaining the gate means in the ungated position;
• shaft means, slidably linked to the camming means and slideably connected to the locking bolt, for moving between an extended position and a retracted position, for pivoting the camming means from the secured position to the unsecured position, and for retracting the locking bolt from the locked position to the unlocked position, the extended position maintaining the camming means in the secured position, and the retracted position maintaining the camming means in the unsecured position;
• drive means activatable from outside the safe, for driving the shaft means from the extended position to the retracted position;
• and
• biasing means for biasing the shaft means to the extended position.

In a lock suitable for use on a safe and activatable for safe entry from outside the safe, the lock having a case, a locking bolt slidable through an opening in the case and moveable between a locked position and an unlocked position, drive means for driving, shaft means slideably connected to the locking bolt, and biasing means for biasing the shaft means to a first position associated with the locked position, the improvement comprising:

• gate means constrained in a slidable relationship by and with the locking bolt and operable, when the lock is not activated for safe entry, for preverting the locking bolt from moving out of the locked position;
• and
• camming means, wherein the shaft means is slidably linked to camming means, and the camming means is pivotally attached to the locking bolt,
• the camming means for sliding the gate means relative to the locking bolt and positioning the gate means to allow the locking bolt to move out of the locked position when the lock is activated for safe entry.