An illustrative motor drive assembly is configured for use in a lockset comprising a case, a longitudinally movable link, and a catch configured to move among a locking position and an unlocking position in response to longitudinal movement of the link. The illustrative motor drive assembly includes a longitudinally extending shaft comprising a worm, a motor operable to rotate the shaft, a driver engaged with the worm, and a longitudinally extending spring. The spring is not directly engaged with the worm, and includes a first end coupled with the driver and a second end connectable with the link. Engagement between the worm and driver is configured to longitudinally move the driver in response to rotation of the shaft.

A door latch for an electrical domestic appliance includes a rotary member rotationally movable in a rotation plane between a closing rotational position and a release rotational position, a movably arranged catch for arresting engagement by an overlifting rotational movement of the rotary member with the rotary member in its closing rotational position, and a locking assembly having a locking member movable between an unlocking position and a locking position. The rotary member is spring-biased towards the release rotational position and which, in the closing rotational position, holds a closure member to keep a door closed and, in the release rotational position, releases the closure member in order for the door to open. The locking member forms a first blocking arrangement by means of which the locking member in its locking position blocks the rotary member against rotation out of the closing rotational position into the release rotational position.

A domestic electrical appliance includes an appliance main body having an access opening to a usable chamber formed inside the appliance main body, and a door which is movably mounted on the appliance main body and which in an open position frees the access opening and in a closed position closes the access opening, a door latch for holding the door closed in the closed position, and a door opener, structurally separate from the door latch, for opening the closed door. The door opener includes a first coupling structure displaceably arranged on one of the appliance main body and the door, an electrically controllable drive unit for driving the first coupling structure, and a second coupling structure arranged on the other of the appliance main body and the door. The first and second coupling structure are configured for push- and pull-transmitting but releasable coupling engagement with one another.

An exemplary trim assembly comprises an escutcheon, a drive spindle, a lock mechanism, a cam mechanism, and a driver. The drive spindle is mounted to the escutcheon for rotation about a longitudinal axis. The lock mechanism includes a lock gear movably mounted in the escutcheon. The cam mechanism includes a first cam defined by the escutcheon and a second cam defined by the lock gear. The driver is operable to rotate the lock gear between a first rotational position and a second rotational position. The cam mechanism is configured to longitudinally drive the lock gear from a first longitudinal position to a second longitudinal position as the lock gear rotates from the first rotational position to the second rotational position. Movement of the lock gear between the first longitudinal position and the second longitudinal position transitions the lock mechanism between a locked state and an unlocked state.

A mortise lock assembly is disclosed that enables a position of a door associated with the mortise lock assembly to be determined despite whether a deadbolt is in a retracted state or an engaged state. An auxiliary latch assembly transitions between an engaged state and a retracted state. A main latch assembly may also transition between an engaged state and a retracted state. A magnetic field sensing device that is positioned on the auxiliary latch assembly detects a magnetic field generated by a magnetic field generating device positioned on a door strike. The magnetic field sensing device is positioned on the auxiliary latch assembly such that the magnetic field sensing device is aligned with the magnetic field generating device positioned on the door strike when the door is in a closed position. The magnetic field sensing device may also be positioned on the main latch assembly in a similar manner.

Systems and methods for wireless unlocking of lock systems on enclosures within a vehicle are provided. A lock system may be unlocked via a digital key communicated to the lock system via any suitable communication protocol, for example, a short range communication protocol. The digital key can be embedded or otherwise stored and accessed in an application accessible via a user interface device.

An inline motorized lock drive is mountable within a lock housing to drive a sliding locking element between a locked and unlocked position. The lock drive includes a reversible motor having a shaft with an auger thereon to drive a lock spring, which drives the locking element. The sliding motion of the locking element is axially aligned with the motor axis to substantially reduce friction. The lock drive is preferably modular and emulates a solenoid lock drive with a control circuit. The control circuit is connected to drive the motor is switchable to default to a locked position or an unlocked position and emulate a “fail safe” or a “fail secure” type solenoid lock drive. The control circuit operates on 12 or 24 volts to replace solenoid locks of either voltage and stores power when power is applied, then uses the stored power to return the lock drive to the selected default state when power is removed.

A ball-latch mechanism comprising a plunger supported in a housing and linearly movable from a loaded to an extended position, a trigger rotatable from a latched position, which interferes with linear movement of the plunger, to an unlatched position, which permits linear movement of the plunger from the loaded position, a bias element biasing the plunger from the loaded position, a cocking mechanism comprising a lever arm rotatable about a lever axis from a retracted position within the housing, wherein a bearing surface of the lever arm is outside of a range of motion of the plunger, and a cocked position, wherein the bearing surface of the lever arm bears against the plunger and the plunger is in the loaded position, whereby the plunger may be forced to the loaded position by the lever arm by application of torque to a torque receiving surface of the lever arm.

A ball-latch mechanism comprising a plunger supported in a housing and linearly movable from a loaded to an extended position, a trigger rotatable from a latched position, which interferes with linear movement of the plunger, to an unlatched position, which permits linear movement of the plunger from the loaded position, a bias element biasing the plunger from the loaded position, a cocking mechanism comprising a lever arm rotatable about a lever axis from a retracted position within the housing, wherein a bearing surface of the lever arm is outside of a range of motion of the plunger, and a cocked position, wherein the bearing surface of the lever arm bears against the plunger and the plunger is in the loaded position, whereby the plunger may be forced to the loaded position by the lever arm by application of torque to a torque receiving surface of the lever arm.

A method of controlling a lock mechanism of an active door includes transiting an access controller of the lock mechanism to an authorized access mode and transitioning the access controller from the authorized access mode to an entry mode. Transitioning the access controller to the authorized access mode is in response to an authorized user being sensed approaching the active door from an exterior side of the active door or in response to input on a remote device. In the authorized access mode, an exterior handle of the active door is decoupled from a main latch of the lock mechanism. Transitioning the access controller to the entry mode is in response to sensed contact with the exterior handle. In the entry mode, the exterior handle is capable of rotating to transition the access controller to an unlocked mode in which the exterior handle is operably coupled to the main latch.