A sash window restrictor (20) has a housing (22) which is to be let into a vertical frame member (10) of one sash (normally the upper, outer sash) of a window, at a position, say, 10 cm above the top rail of the lower sash when the windows are closed. A tab (24) is mounted in the housing and can be retracted into the housing or extended from the housing. A mechanism acts between the tab and the housing and allows the tab to be pressed into the housing and held in the housing for a period of time before the tab is released to allow the tab to extend. With the tab extended, the lower sash (12) can be lifted until it reaches the tab (24) but no further, so that a 10 cm gap will be opened at the bottom of the window.

Example vehicle unlocking systems and methods are described. In one implementation, a method detects a vehicle access device within a predetermined distance of a vehicle and determines a geographic location of the vehicle. The method also detects a time of day and determines previous door unlocking behavior associated with the vehicle access device. A vehicle access point is selected for unlocking based on the geographic location, time of day, and previous door unlocking behavior.

A door security system and method may increase the home security for elderly people without limiting the privacy of or convenience for residents. The method comprises detecting closing of a door; keeping a first locking mechanism of said door in an open position for a first predetermined period of time after said closing; after said predetermined period of time, changing said first locking mechanism into a locked position. The re-entry time frame permits a user to re-enter without a key, immediately after realizing they forgot it. The method may further comprise recognizing motion of a person on a door of a house through a camera provided in or near the door; producing streaming footage; sending the streaming footage to a central processing server; processing the streaming footage for face recognition purpose and checking against several; and storing all data on the server.

A gun safe includes an enclosing structure and a communication module. The enclosing structure substantially encloses a firearm. The communication module is coupled to the enclosing structure. The communication module facilitates electronic communication with a user device to set two or more access variables to determine at least one access parameter to access the gun safe.

A system and apparatus which includes one or more locking container devices comprising a closeable container for holding at least one object; lock coupled to the container and moveable between a lock position and an unlock position; and programmable timer circuit for actuating the lock at a programmed time which is either specified or randomly set. The container device alternatively includes a receiving component for sensing a change an external condition including but not limited to, geographic location, temperature, sound and one or more predetermined operations. The timer circuit is alternatively unlocked by receiving an unlock signal via an appropriate communication medium from a remote source. The container device also includes a transmitter for transmitting an appropriate signal to the remote source. An interface terminal is coupled to the remote source and configured to accept at least one external condition instruction to be transmitted to the receiving component.

A controller, which can be operated wirelessly by a remote transmitter using PIN-based authentication, has some switch-controlled channels and at least one channel that does not have a corresponding switch. The switch-controlled channels can be used for applications where simple switch-driven manual control is desirable, such as opening and closing a garage using a switch inside the garage (in addition to using the remote transmitter). The channel(s) without switch(es) can be used in applications where simple switch-driven manual control is unwanted and only PIN-authenticated control (e.g. by using the remote transmitter) is desired, such as arming and disarming a home alarm.

An electronically-controlled manually-actuated deadbolt lock is provided. The electronically-controlled manually-actuated deadbolt lock includes an exterior turn piece selectively couplable to a deadbolt latch assembly including a latch bolt. When a control circuit determines that rotation of an internal turn piece drives movement of the latch bolt from a locked position to an unlocked position, the control circuit engages a motor to transition the exterior turn piece to a coupled state for, at most, a predetermined period of time. While in the coupled state during the predetermined period of time, rotation of the exterior turn piece drives movement of the latch bolt between the locked and unlocked positions.

Systems and methods for control of a locking system are disclosed. In some embodiments, a system comprises one or more sensors configured to generate output signals indicating one or more movement information of a subject. The system comprises at least one processor operatively connected with the one or more sensors, and memory storing instructions executable by the at least one processor, the instructions when executed cause the system to determine, using the output signals from the one or more sensors, one or more movement parameters of the subject; and send, based on the determined movement parameters of the subject, an instruction to the locking system to adjust an open delay time for the locking system, the open delay time being time the locking system remains open.

Example vehicle unlocking systems and methods are described. In one implementation, a method detects a vehicle access device within a predetermined distance of a vehicle and determines a geographic location of the vehicle. The method also detects a time of day and determines previous door unlocking behavior associated with the vehicle access device. A vehicle access point is selected for unlocking based on the geographic location, time of day, and previous door unlocking behavior.

Aspects of the invention relate to a method of controllably releasing a product to a user from a housing. The housing comprises at least one compartment, and an access opening for accessing the compartment, the access opening having a locked state and an unlocked state. The method comprises locking the access opening to the container to prevent access to the product; monitoring a measurable parameter, and comparing the measurable parameter with a threshold value; determining whether to unlock the access opening by determining whether the monitored measurable parameter meets the threshold value; and either in response to determining that the access opening should be unlocked, unlocking the access opening allowing the user to access the product located within the compartment; or in response to determining that the access opening should not be unlocked, keeping the access opening locked, preventing the user from accessing the product located within the compartment.