An apparatus and method for assisting a user in actuating a locking mechanism associated with a storage device. The locking mechanism has a combination input device and a lock capable of being switched from a locked state to an unlocked state upon entering a preset combination using the combination input device. The actuator comprises an interface configured to releasably engage the combination input device of the locking mechanism and move the combination input device to actuate the locking mechanism and transition the lock from the locked state to the unlocked state. A controller is in communication with the actuator and configured to operate the actuator so that the actuator moves the combination input device based on the preset combination to actuate the locking mechanism and transition the lock from the locked state to the unlocked state.

A control unit 1 for the lock of a safe having a front housing part 4 and a rear h housing part 3. A controller 6 is integrated in the control unit 1 that, when a correct combination is entered in the keypad 5, moves a module through a motor 11 in the number of turns corresponding with this combination. The module has a transmission board 8 integrated in the housing 2 of the control unit 1 and a bolt 9 for actuating the safe's lock.

An electromechanical lock having a locking mechanism that includes a feature that automatically returns the lock to secure position is provided. The locking mechanism ensures that the locking bolt cannot move back into the unlocked position without an authorized code being reentered.

An electromechanical lock having a locking mechanism that includes a feature that automatically returns the lock to secure position is provided. The locking mechanism ensures that the locking bolt cannot move back into the unlocked position without an authorized code being reentered.

A combination lock is provided, the lock having a latch movably mounted to a housing of the lock for movement between a locked position and an unlocked position; and a bolt movably mounted to the housing of the lock for movement between a first position and a second position, wherein the combination lock is a key-controlled combination changing permutation lock wherein a button disposed away from a rear exterior surface of the housing in a first direction rearwardly away from the rear exterior surface is depressed in order to change the combination of the combination lock and the housing has a button protection feature extending rearwardly away from the rear exterior surface of the housing in the first direction proximate to the button and the button protection feature extends farther away from the rear exterior surface of the housing in the first direction than the button.

A combination lock is provided, the lock having a latch movably mounted to a housing of the lock for movement between a locked position and an unlocked position; and a bolt movably mounted to the housing of the lock for movement between a first position and a second position, wherein the combination lock is a key-controlled combination changing permutation lock wherein a button disposed away from a rear exterior surface of the housing in a first direction rearwardly away from the rear exterior surface is depressed in order to change the combination of the combination lock and the housing has a button protection feature extending rearwardly away from the rear exterior surface of the housing in the first direction proximate to the button and the button protection feature extends farther away from the rear exterior surface of the housing in the first direction than the button.

A portable safe that includes a lower shell having a sidewall surrounding a bottom wall and defining an internal cavity and includes a cover rotatably and lockably coupled to the lower shell, wherein the cover has at least one photovoltaic cell directly coupled thereto and has a top surface defining at least one solar intake aperture exposing the at least one photovoltaic cell to an ambient environment and configured to convert solar energy to energy usable by the portable safe. The lower shell or the cover defines a cable aperture for receiving a cable that is operably configured to form a loop for surrounding a structural object. The safe has a locked position with the cable longitudinally retained by at least one of the cover and the lower shell and an article loading position with a portion of the cover removed from the lower shell and exposing the internal cavity.

A combination lock includes a lock body, a shaft secured within the lock body, and a plurality of coaxially aligned rotary lock elements rotatable about the shaft. Each rotary lock element includes an inner peripheral hub disposed on the shaft and including a radial bore extending from an outer periphery of the hub to an inner periphery of the hub, and an outer peripheral wheel surrounding the hub. A shaft engaging member a wheel engaging member are disposed in the radial bore, with the wheel engaging member extending partially outward of the outer periphery of the hub for engagement with one of a plurality of inner peripheral pockets in the wheel to rotationally fix the wheel with the hub. When the locking shaft is moved from a normal operating position to a code change position, the shaft engaging member of each dial is partially receivable in a corresponding recess in the locking shaft, and the wheel engaging member is receivable into the radial bore to rotationally disengage the wheel from the corresponding hub.

A lock including a housing and an opening for receiving a locking bolt moveable between a locked position and an unlocked position is provided. The lock also includes a rotary actuator having a rotary output of a predetermined amount and responsive to entry of an electronic combination input by a user; a cam wheel operably coupled to the housing and responsive to a manual combination input of the user, the cam wheel including a cam way; a bolt release lever moveably coupled to the housing and including a nose portion engageable with the cam way and a locking bar; and an armature post responsive to both the rotary and manual inputs, the armature post moveable between a blocking position for blocking the locking bolt in the locked position and an unblocking position for allowing the locking bolt to move into the unlocked position.

A lock including a housing and an opening for receiving a locking bolt moveable between a locked position and an unlocked position is provided. The lock also includes a rotary actuator having a rotary output of a predetermined amount and responsive to entry of an electronic combination input by a user; a cam wheel operably coupled to the housing and responsive to a manual combination input of the user, the cam wheel including a cam way; a bolt release lever moveably coupled to the housing and including a nose portion engageable with the cam way and a locking bar; and an armature post responsive to both the rotary and manual inputs, the armature post moveable between a blocking position for blocking the locking bolt in the locked position and an unblocking position for allowing the locking bolt to move into the unlocked position.