The disclosure generally relates to a system and method for managing distributed encrypted combination over-locks from a remote location. In an exemplary embodiment, the invention is directed to a distributed management system for self-storage facilities that provide customers with immediate access to an over-locked space upon payment of delinquent past due balances.

The disclosure generally relates to a system and method for managing distributed encrypted combination over-locks from a remote location. In an exemplary embodiment, the invention is directed to a distributed management system for self-storage facilities that provide customers with immediate access to an over-locked space upon payment of delinquent past due balances.

A combination lock can be operated manually via the manipulation of rotatable dials and by way of a key, such as an electronic key. The lock includes one or more rotatable dials each having multiple indicia disposed thereon. Rotation of the rotatable dials to predetermined indicia places the lock in the unlocked position. The lock can further include an electronic port and an actuator. Upon receipt of a predetermined credential via the port, the actuator can place the lock in in the unlocked position. The lock further includes a knob that, when the lock is in the unlocked position, can be rotated between a first position in which the lock is in a latched position and a second position in which the lock is in an unlatched position. The combination lock may automatically scramble the positions of the dials upon opening for security purposes.

The present invention relates to electronic and mechanical dual combination locks. In certain embodiments, electronic and mechanical dual combination locks include: a lock base, a spin dial, a spin dial cover, and a spin dial release conversion mechanism. The lock base includes a mechanical combination lock inside. An electronic combination lock is positioned inside the spin dial cover. The spin dial release conversion mechanism has a spin dial release positioned on the top of the lock base. The spin dial release is used by the user to switch the electronic and mechanical dual combination lock between the electronic combination lock and the mechanical combination lock. When spin dial release is placed in a first position, the electronic and mechanical dual combination lock becomes the electronic combination lock. When the spin dial release is placed in a second position, the electronic and mechanical dual combination lock becomes the mechanical combination lock.

A device for preventing unwanted opening of a locked enclosure includes a lock bolt moveable between a locked position and an unlocked position. A face gear is meshable with and rotatable by the worm gear between locking and unlocking positions when the worm gear is driven in the first and second directions, respectively. A blocker member is rotatable between first and second positions. A biasing member is operatively coupled to the face gear and the blocker member to bias the blocker member in a biasing direction. A sliding member selectively disengages the blocker member to allow the blocker member to rotate in the biasing direction. A lever arm is operatively coupled to the sliding member such that the lever arm is in the disengaged and engageable positions when the sliding member engages the blocker member in the first and second positions, respectively.

A method and system of gaining authorized entry into a secure location is provided. The method includes providing an electronic lock having a dial, the lock operably coupled to a microprocessor having memory for storing a user input code and a valid code. The user rotates the dial to activate power to the lock and a first random character is generated. The user again rotates the dial until a first user input character displays in the display. The first user input character is stored in memory and a second random character is generated. After the user has entered all characters of the access code, the microprocessor compares the user input characters with the valid access code stored in memory and if it is an authorized code, an indicia is generated on the display to visually indicate to a user that the lock is capable of moving to the opened position.

A combination lock can be operated manually via the manipulation of rotatable dials and by way of a key, such as an electronic key. The lock includes one or more rotatable dials each having multiple indicia disposed thereon. Rotation of the rotatable dials to predetermined indicia places the lock in the unlocked position. The lock can further include an electronic port and an actuator. Upon receipt of a predetermined credential via the port, the actuator can place the lock in in the unlocked position. The lock further includes a knob that, when the lock is in the unlocked position, can be rotated between a first position in which the lock is in a latched position and a second position in which the lock is in an unlatched position. The combination lock may automatically scramble the positions of the dials upon opening for security purposes.

A rotation detection system for detecting the rotation of a lock dial includes a magnet coupled to the lock dial to generate a changing magnetic field in response to rotation of the lock dial, a sensor disposed near enough to the magnet to detect the magnetic field and provide a sensor output signal indicative of the magnetic field, and a controller coupled to the sensor for receiving the sensor output signal, the controller providing a controller output signal in response to a change in the sensor output signal. An alarm interface can receive the controller output signal and provide an alarm signal.

A method and system of gaining authorized entry into a secure location is provided. The method includes providing an electronic lock having a dial, the lock operably coupled to a microprocessor having memory for storing a user input code and a valid code. The user rotates the dial to activate power to the lock and a first random character is generated. The user again rotates the dial until a first user input character displays in the display. The first user input character is stored in memory and a second random character is generated. After the user has entered all characters of the access code, the microprocessor compares the user input characters with the valid access code stored in memory and if it is an authorized code, an indicia is generated on the display to visually indicate to a user that the lock is capable of moving to the opened position.

A device for preventing unwanted opening of a locked enclosure includes a lock bolt moveable between a locked position and an unlocked position. A face gear is meshable with and rotatable by the worm gear between locking and unlocking positions when the worm gear is driven in the first and second directions, respectively. A blocker member is rotatable between first and second positions. A biasing member is operatively coupled to the face gear and the blocker member to bias the blocker member in a biasing direction. A sliding member selectively disengages the blocker member to allow the blocker member to rotate in the biasing direction. A lever arm is operatively coupled to the sliding member such that the lever arm is in the disengaged and engageable positions when the sliding member engages the blocker member in the first and second positions, respectively.