Digital electronic lock
OwnerMichael Reed Thomas, Norman William Osborne +1inventors
InventorsMichael Reed Thomas, Norman William Osborne, Gaetano Nino Ricca
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A lock which incorporates a digital programmable microprocessing interface capable of user-programming whereby a programmed combination opens the lock. According to one embodiment of the lock, there can be as many as approximately 10×106 possible different combinations which may be entered by the user. The operation of the lock is driven by an electric signal derived from the combination, and that electrical signal is sent to a motor assembly inside the lock body in response to which there is a disengagement of a set of locking balls from a locking bar, which with the assistance of a springing mechanism causes the locking device to open automatically.
Claims25
An electronic padlock comprising:
- a body;
- a keypad on said body;
- an electronic control board within said body for receiving an input key sequence from said keypad and for storing a defined keycode;
- a shackle receivable at a first end and a second end within said body and having a recess on at least one of said first and second ends;
- a locking ball mechanism within said body having a locked position to engage said recess for securing said shackle within said body, and an unlocked position disengaged from said recess for releasing said shackle from said body;
- and
- a motor assembly connected and responsive to said electronic control board for moving said locking ball mechanism from said unlocked position to said locked position when said shackle is inserted into said body, and for moving said locking ball mechanism from said locked position to said unlocked position when said electronic control board receives an input key sequence matching said defined keycode.
An electronic padlock comprising:
- a body;
- a keypad on said body;
- an electronic control board within said body for receiving an input key sequence from said keypad and for storing a defined keycode;
- a shackle receivable at a first end and a second end within said body and having a recess on at least one of said first and second ends;
- a wedge having a wide portion and a narrow portion, said wedge having a locked position and an unlocked position;
- at least one ball within said body, said at least one ball being impinged between said wide portion and said recess in said locked position for retaining said shackle in said body, and residing on said narrow portion in said unlocked position for releasing said shackle from said body;
- and
- a motor assembly connected and responsive to said electronic control board for rotating in a forward direction to move said wedge from said unlocked position to said locked position when said shackle is inserted into said body, and for rotating in a reverse direction to move said wedge from said locked position to said unlocked position when said electronic control board receives an input key sequence matching said defined keycode.
An electronic padlock comprising:
- a body;
- a keypad on said body;
- an electronic control board within said body for receiving an input key sequence from said keypad and for storing a defined keycode;
- a shackle receivable at a first end and a second end within said body and having a recess at each said first and second end of said shackle;
- a wedge having a wide portion and a narrow portion, said wedge having a locked position and an unlocked position;
- two balls within said body, said two balls being impinged between said wide portion and said recesses in said locked position for retaining said shackle in said body, and residing on said narrow portion in said unlocked position for releasing said shackle from said body;
- and
- a motor assembly connected and responsive to said electronic control board for rotating in a forward direction to move said wedge from said unlocked position to said locked position when said shackle is inserted into said body, and for rotating in a reverse direction to move said wedge from said locked position to said unlocked position when said electronic control board receives an input key sequence matching said defined keycode.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.