The invention relates to a swivel lever device for actuating a closure apparatus, in particular a bolt-closure means and/or bar-closure means, of an access control device, in particular a door and/or hatch, having: a housing for fastening the swivel lever device, in particular to the access control device, and a swivel lever for actuating the closure apparatus, the swivel lever be movable relative to the housing between an arresting position and an actuation position for actuating the closure apparatus, the swivel lever in the actuation position being pivotable about an actuation axis relative to the housing, a locking mechanism for securing the swivel lever against unauthorised movement from the arresting position into the actuation position being provided, and the locking mechanism comprising at least one locking element, which can be moved between a locked position for interlockingly blocking the movement of the swivel lever from the arresting position to the actuation position and an unlocked position for releasing the movement of the swivel lever from the arresting position into the actuation position. To achieve better protection against damage and contamination, according to the invention the locking element includes at least one locking magnet for moving the locking element from the locked position into the unlocked position by means of the magnetic interaction between the locking magnet and at least one unlocking magnet of a corresponding key unit.

A magnetic lock has a magnetically operable latch having a magnetically repellable or attractable latch element. A magnetic operating device spaced from the latch has a first magnet with a respective magnetic direction and a second magnet with a respective magnetic direction. The first magnet is rotatable between a latched position with its magnetic direction generally parallel to and pointing oppositely to the magnetic direction of the second magnet for contracting a magnetic field formed by the first and second magnets, and a release position generally parallel to and with its magnetic direction pointing the same as the second magnet for extending the magnetic field to and repelling or attracting the latch element.

An electronic handle for a vehicle door includes a bracket, a grip movably mounted on the bracket between a first position and a second position, the grip configured to move from the first position to the second position when a pulling force is applied on the grip by a user, a magnetic retainer configured to hold the grip in the first position, an electronic system configured to electronically cooperate with a latch for opening the vehicle door when activated in a first configuration corresponding to a normal use, and a back-up system configured to cooperate with the latch for opening the vehicle door when activated in a second configuration corresponding to an emergency or a lack of electrical power. The electronic system is configured to activate in response to a detection of a pulling force applied on the grip that is lower than a predetermined force.

The disclosed computer-implemented method may include a magnetic insertable lock component with a magnet-sensing lock housing. By using a magnet within a pin and a magnetic field sensor within the lock housing, the apparatus may accurately detect the state of the lock. In some embodiments, the apparatus may determine the pin is inserted fully into the lock, the pin is inserted partially into the lock, the pin is not inserted in the lock, and/or that a foreign object that is not the pin is inserted into the lock. By using a magnet within the pin to track the state of the lock, the apparatus may improve both the user experience and the security of the lock. Various other methods, systems, and computer-readable media are also disclosed.

A locking mechanism is provided for a portal closure that includes a first side, and a second side The portal closure including a latch movable into and out of engagement with a latch receiver and a latch driving device coupled to the latch for moving the latch into and out of engagement with the latch receiver The latch driving device includes a controllable lock member movable between a locked position where the latch is fixedly positioned in the latch receiver and an unlocked position where the latch is capable of being disengaged from the latch receiver and a second side latch driving device mover disposed on the second side of the portal closure. The locking mechanism includes a first side latch driving device mover disposed on the first side of the portal closures, and coupled to the latch driving device for moving the latch driving device to cause the latch to move into and out of engagement with the latch receiver. A signal generator is provided for generating a human detectable signal. A lock actuator is coupled to the controllable lock member for moving the locking mechanism between a first normal position wherein the second side lock driving device is capable of being moved between an unlocked position to permit the latch to be disengaged from the latch receiver and a locked position where the latch is prevented from being disengaged from the latch receiver; and a second emergency position wherein the second side lock driving device is in the locked position, and the signal generator is actuated to generate a human detectable signal. A power source is provided for powering the signal generator when the locking mechanism is in the second emergency position. A switch is coupled between the power source and the signal generator for controlling the flow of current between the power source and the signal generator.

An exemplary lockset includes a mortise case, a magnet assembly mounted in the mortise case, and a manual actuator operable to move the magnet assembly between a coupling position in which a first magnet of the magnet assembly is aligned with a reference point and a decoupling position in which the first magnet is misaligned with the reference point. In certain embodiments, the magnet assembly further includes a second magnet having an opposite polarity as the first magnet, and the second magnet is misaligned with the reference point when the magnet assembly is in the coupling position and is aligned with the reference point when the magnet assembly is in the decoupling position.

A vehicle interior component is disclosed. The component may comprise a cover moveable relative to a base and a latch mechanism to provide an unlatched state for the cover and a latched state when actuated by an external/inertia force (e.g. in an event such as a rollover). The latch mechanism may comprise a latch/member extending through an opening in the cover into the base when the cover is closed and retracted into the cover when the cover is open. When the cover is closed, the latch mechanism may provide an unlatched state with the latch in an intermediate position (for an occupant's ordinary use) and a latched state with the latch fully extended to engage a catch in the base (upon the event providing the external force to prevent the cover opening). The component may comprise a console providing a storage compartment or an armrest.

The invention provides a magnetic actuator (100, 1001, 1002) including at least two magnets. One magnet is a semi hard magnet (310) and the other magnet is a hard magnet (320). The hard magnet (320) is configured to open or close the magnetic actuator (100, 1001, 1002). The semi hard magnet (310) and the hard magnet (320) are placed adjacent to each other. A change in magnetization polarization of the semi hard magnet (310) is configured to push or pull the hard magnet (320) to open or close a digital lock realised with the magnetic actuator 100, 1001, 1002. The magnetic actuator of the invention can also be used to realise a valve.

A security device for mounting over the neck of a bottle having an exterior lip has outer cap structure including an annular housing portion (16) for location about the neck of a bottle and an end cap portion (18) at one end of the annular housing portion. A claw member (14) is slidably mounted to the outer cap structure for movement in a direction parallel to a longitudinal axis of the annular housing portion between operative and inoperative positions. A latch mechanism (60) releasably secures the claw member in the operative position. The claw member has a plurality of resiliently deformable elongate claws (52a, 52b) for engagement with the neck of a bottle to which the device is mounted when the claw member is in the operative position. The claw member comprises at least two sets of claws (52a, 52b) of different lengths. The latch mechanism (60) may be a magnetically-releasable latch enabling the device to be removed using a magnetic key. The device may incorporate a RF or RFID tag.

Access control for an autonomous vehicle through a door in a doorway. A magnet is attached to the autonomous vehicle and a magnetometer is located some distance from the doorway. The magnetometer outputs a magnetometer signal in response to detecting the magnet, which causes the transmitter to transmit a detection signal. A doorway device is fixed about the doorway, and includes a receiver, and a locking mechanism with a locking pin. The doorway device retracts the pin to unlock the door for a predetermined period of time in response to receipt of the detection signal, and extents the pin to lock the door after the predetermined period of time ends.