Electronic input and dial entry lock

A method of operating an electronic combination lock and an electronic keypad disposed on a face of the electronic combination lock, the method comprising:

• providing a first assembly having a rotatable handle with the electronic keypad and an indicia disposed on a face of the rotatable handle, the rotatable handle being unbiased and movable between a first orientation wherein the indicia indicates that the lock is in a locked state and a second orientation wherein the indicia indicates that the lock is in an unlocked state;
• disposing the first assembly on a planar, exterior-facing surface of a closure member such that the first assembly is accessible when the closure member is closed;
• providing a second assembly having a locking mechanism including a bolt movable between a retracted position and an extended position, the bolt being unbiased and operably connected to the rotatable handle such that the bolt is moved in response to any substantial movement of the rotatable handle;
• disposing the second assembly on a planar, interior-facing surface of the closure member such that the second assembly is inaccessible when the closure member is closed;
• penetrating the closure member to couple the first assembly with the second assembly;
• maintaining the rotatable handle in the first orientation by preventing substantial movement of the bolt until a predetermined combination is input through manipulation of the keypad;
• and
• allowing rotation of the rotatable handle whenever the rotatable handle is not in the first orientation.

A method of operating a combination lock mounted to a closure member, the method comprising:

• mounting the combination lock to the closure member, wherein the closure member has a planar, exterior-facing surface and a planar, interior-facing surface;
• indicating a locked state by having an unbiased rotatable handle movable to a first orientation;
• indicating an unlocked state by having the unbiased rotatable handle movable to a second orientation;
• mounting a keypad to the unbiased rotatable handle;
• providing a bolt on the planar, interior-facing surface of the closure member, the bolt movable between a retracted position and an extended position;
• connecting the unbiased rotatable handle to the bolt by a shaft;
• containing a conductor within a substantially U-shaped channel of the shaft;
• coupling the bolt to the unbiased rotatable handle such that the bolt moves linearly in response to any substantial movement of the unbiased rotatable handle;
• providing a blocking device on the planar, interior-facing surface of the closure member;
• preventing substantial movement of the bolt and the unbiased rotatable handle by moving the blocking device to a blocking position;
• allowing substantial movement of the bolt and the unbiased rotatable handle by moving the blocking device to a non-blocking position;
• biasing the blocking device to the blocking position, the blocking device only movable into the blocking position when the unbiased rotatable handle is in the first orientation;
• and
• producing a signal in response to a series of keypad inputs that corresponds to a determined combination, the blocking device moving from the blocking position to the non-blocking position in response to the signal from the controller.

A method of operating a combination lock mounted to a closure member, the method comprising:

• mounting the combination lock to the closure member, wherein the closure member has a planar, exterior-facing surface and a planar, interior-facing surface;
• indicating a locked state by having an unbiased rotatable handle movable to a first orientation;
• indicating an unlocked state by having the unbiased rotatable handle movable to a second orientation;
• mounting a keypad to the unbiased rotatable handle;
• providing a bolt on the planar, interior-facing surface of the closure member, the bolt movable between a retracted position and an extended position;
• coupling the bolt to the unbiased rotatable handle such that the bolt moves linearly in response to any substantial movement of the unbiased rotatable handle;
• providing a blocking device on the planar, interior-facing surface of the closure member, wherein the blocking device is a solenoid;
• preventing substantial movement of the bolt and the unbiased rotatable handle by moving the blocking device to a blocking position;
• allowing substantial movement of the bolt and the unbiased rotatable handle by moving the blocking device to a non-blocking position;
• biasing the blocking device to the blocking position, the blocking device only movable into the blocking position when the unbiased rotatable handle is in the first orientation;
• and
• producing a signal in response to a series of keypad inputs that corresponds to a predetermined combination, the blocking device moving from the blocking position to the non-blocking position in response to the signal from the controller.