A LOCKING DEVICE SET OF LINEAR CONNECTABLE, TUBULAR-SHAPED MODULES

Abstract

A locking device set of modules for modular configuration of an electrical locking device comprises a set of linear connectable modules. Each module has a substantially tubular shape with identical outer diameter. The set of connectable modules at least comprises: one or more locking modules; one or more contact controller modules; one or more energy modules. The set of modules enables an installing technician to flexibly configure and install an electrical lock by selecting relevant modules from the set depending on a client's needs, connecting selected modules together in a series to form the electrical lock, and sliding the electrical lock in a drilled hole for built-in installation or in a length-dapted housing or into mounting pieces for built-on installation.

Claims

1.-11. (canceled)

12. A locking device set of modules for modular configuration of an electrical locking device, said locking device set of modules comprising a set of linear connectable modules such that connections between modules enable electrical energy and control signals to be coupled to the next module in line and enable mechanical force to be coupled to the next module in line, each module having a substantially tubular shape with identical outer diameter, said set of connectable modules at least comprising: one or more locking modules; one or more contact controller modules; one or more energy modules; said set of modules enabling an installing technician to flexibly configure and install an electrical lock by selecting relevant modules from said set depending on a client's needs, connecting selected modules together in a series to form said electrical lock, and sliding said electrical lock in a drilled hole for built-in installation or in a length-adapted housing or into mounting pieces for built-on installation.

13. The locking device set of modules according to claim 12, further comprising a mounting piece with cylindrical inner surface whose diameter corresponds to said outer diameter of said modules with tubular shape.

14. The locking device set of modules according to claim 12 wherein said one or more locking modules comprise one or more of: a movable latch; a motor; a hydraulic component turning hydraulic pressure into a displacement; a magnetic component turning magnetic force into a displacement; a mechanical component turning mechanical force into a displacement; a fail-secure module.

15. The locking device set of modules according to claim 12 wherein said one or more contact controller modules comprise a PCB able to receive and interpret signals for opening or closing said electrical locking device, respectively from one or more of: a badge reader; a touch panel; an alphanumeric keyboard; a fingerprint scanner; a face recognition camera; a wireless transmitter in a smart device; a wide area transmitter in an IoT device.

16. The locking device set of modules according to claim 12, wherein said one or more energy modules comprise one or more of: an AC/DC conversion module; an AC/AC conversion module; a DC/DC conversion module; a DC/AC conversion module; and/or a battery module.

17. The locking device set of modules according to claim 12, further comprising: a piece with magnet adapted to magnetically lock a movable latch that forms part of said locking module.

18. The locking device set of modules according to claim 12, further comprising: a Bowden cable module comprising a Bowden cable, said Bowden cable module being linearly connectable to said modules and having a substantially tubular shape with identical outer diameter.

19. The locking device set of modules according to claim 12, wherein each module has a substantially cylindrical housing with gutter along the length.

20. The locking device set of modules according to claim 19, wherein the inner surface of said gutter is threaded.

21. The locking device set of modules according to claim 18, wherein said gutter is dimensioned to hold said Bowden cable.

22. The locking device set of modules according to claim 12, further comprising: a fail-safe module, linearly connectable to said modules and having a substantially tubular shape with identical outer diameter.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0051] FIG. 1 shows an electrical locking device 100 configured using an embodiment of the locking device set of modules according to the invention;

[0052] FIG. 2 shows another locking device 200 configured using an embodiment of the locking device set of modules according to the invention; and

[0053] FIG. 3A and FIG. 3B respectively represent a side view and top view of a locking module that forms part of an embodiment of the locking device set of modules according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENT(S)

[0054] FIG. 1 shows a modular electrical locking device 100 that is configured on-site to be mounted on a door, window, fence or the like. The electrical locking device 100 is composed of modules 101, 102, 103, 104 and 105 that form part of a set of modules. The electrical locking device 100 more particularly consists of a locking module 101 with a movable latch 111 and an electromotor, a first contact controller module 102 for an alphanumeric keyboard that will be installed near the door, window or fence, a second contact controller module 103 with wireless transceiver enabling to control opening/closing of the locking device 100 through an application installed on a smart device, a 220 V AC/12 V DC voltage converter module 104, and a Bowden cable module 105. The locking module 101 has a cylindrical housing of steel with an outer diameter of 4 cm and comprises a latch movable in axial direction. The locking module 101 has a movable latch and comprises an electromotor that moves the latch between a first, closed position and a second, open position. The electromotor is actuated through a signal received from a Printed Circuit Board or PCB integrated in the locking module 101. This PCB receives external signals from contact controller modules that are series connected to the locking module 101. A first contact controller module 102 receives signals from an alphanumeric keyboard that is installed near the door, window or fence. The communication between the alphanumeric keyboard and the first contact controller module 102 may be wired or wireless. This first contact controller module 102 has a cylindrical housing of steel with same outer diameter of 4 cm, and further comprises a PCB that is able to interpret the signals received from the alphanumeric keyboard as well as the signals received from other contact controller modules, and that is able to generate control signals that are outputted to the locking module 101 or possibly other contact controller modules. A second contact controller module 103 receives signals from a software application installed on a smart device. This second contact controller module 103 has a cylindrical housing of steel with same outer diameter of 4 cm, and further comprises a PCB that is able to interpret signals received from the smart device and eventually from other contact controller modules, and that is able to generate control signals that are outputted towards the locking module 101 or possibly other contact controller modules. The voltage converter module 104 converts the available 220 V AC voltage to 12 V DC voltage that is used by the other modules, i.e. the contact controller modules 102, 103, and the locking module 101. The voltage converter module 104 has a cylindrical housing with same diameter of 4 cm, and further comprises voltage conversion circuitry. The Bowden cable module 105 at last also has a cylindrical housing, made of steel, with same diameter of 4 cm, and further comprises a Bowden cable that enables to retract the latch of the locking module 101 mechanically through a pulling force, for instance in case it is in the fail-secure state because of a power interruption.

[0055] The modules 101, 102, 103, 104 and 105 are linearly connectable through a click mechanism and as such are series connected on-site by the installer of the electrical locking device 100. The contact controller modules 102, and 103 each have an input connector, a PCB and an output connector for transferring control signals and powering to the next module in line. The input and output connectors may for instance be 10 pins connectors that are respectively electrically connected to the previous and next module in the series connection of modules as a result of the clicking mechanism. The input connector, PCB and output connector may for instance be integrated in a recess of the cylindrical housing. The recess may be covered through a plastic or silicone cover element 130 the outer surface of which is designed to complete the cylindrical housing of the module. The substantially cylindrical housing of the modules 101, 102, 103, 104, and 105 may further have a gutter 140 that serves as cable tray. The cable tray 140 is used to guide the Bowden cable from the Bowden cable module 105 back to the other end of the electrical lock, i.e. the latch 111 to be available there for built-in installations that require the Bowden cable at this end.

[0056] [34] FIG. 1 further shows two mounting pieces 120 that enable the technician to mount the electrical lock 100 on a wall, door, etc. The mounting pieces 120 have a substantially cylindrical hole with a cylindrical inner surface 121 the diameter of which corresponds to the outer diameter of the tubular shaped modules 101-105 that jointly constitute the electrical lock 100. As is illustrated by the side-view of mounting piece 120 depicted in FIG. 1, the substantially cylindric hole with inner surface 121 may have a protrusion 122 into the mounting piece 120 enabling to hold a magnet.

[0057] The electrical locking device 100 is configured by the installing technician in a modular way to contain the modules desired by the client. The installing technician configures the electrical locking device 100 on-site with the desired contact modules, and installs the electrical lock. The modularity allows the technician to install an electrical locking device 100 fast, and adapt it on-site to the needs of the client without having to store and transport various models of electrical locks. The tubular shaped contact modules 101-105 are series connected through clicking and thereafter slide into the mounting pieces 120 for built-on applications. For built-in applications, the mounting pieces 120 may be useless as a tubular bore-hole with appropriate diameter and length will be drilled into a door, wall, etc. enabling the series connected modules 101-105 to slide into such hole.

[0058] FIG. 2 shows an alternative electrical locking device 200 configured on-site by the installer using the same set of modules according to the present invention. Electrical locking device 200 consists of a locking module 201 with movable latch 211 and electromotor, a first contact controller module 202 that receives control signals from a badge reader, a second contact controller module 203 that receives control signals from a face recognition camera, and a third contact controller module 204 that receives control signals from a software application installed on a remote computer like for instance a desktop PC at the office, a 220 V AC/12 V DC voltage converter module 205, a fail-safe module 206 and a Bowden cable module 207 with Bowden cable 271. FIG. 2 shows that the modules 202, 203, 204, 205 and 206 each have a rod 221, 231, 241, 251 and 261 for transferring mechanical energy to the next series connected module. This enables the Bowden cable module 207 to transfer mechanical energy to the locking module 201 through a pull force applied on Bowden cable 271. Such mechanical force may enable to retract the latch 211 in emergency situations. The electrical locking device 200 illustrated by FIG. 2 has no housing or mounting pieces and therefor is configured for built-in applications. The installer shall drill a bore-hole of appropriate length in a wall, ceiling, door, window, etc. and then slide the series connected modules of electrical lock 200 into the hole. FIG. 2 further shows an additional part 250 with magnet 251 that keeps the latch 211 in closed position. The additional part preferably but not necessarily has a tubular shape with outer diameter identical to the outer diameter of the modules 201-207. In such case, the additional part 250 can be installed using the same bore, drilling a second bore-hole with same diameter. The additional part shall be installed facing the movable latch, for instance in a door frame when the electrical lock 200 is installed in a door. It is possible that the Bowden cable is desired to be available near the latch 211. In such case, the cable 271 is returned from one end of the electrical lock 200 to the other end of the electrical lock via a recess in tubular shaped modules 201-207 that is covered by a silicone cover 240 to complete the cylindrical shape.

[0059] FIG. 3A and FIG. 3B respectively represent a side view and top view of the locking module 101 and Bowden cable module 105, that form part of an embodiment of the set of modules according to the present invention, also used to compose the electrical lock 100 of FIG. 1. The locking module 101 with movable latch 111 and electromotor has a substantially cylindrical housing 112 with a recess 114 that is covered by a plastic or silicone cover 115. The cylindrical housing 112 also has a gutter 113 that serves to return the Bowden cable. The inner surface of gutter 113 may be threaded to enable insertion of a plug and screw that fix the cylindrical housing such that it no longer rotates. The threaded inner surface of gutter 113 also enables to pull the module 101 out of a bore-hole by screwing a screw or other threaded tool into the gutter. In FIG. 3A, the movable latch111 is drawn in closed position wherein it engages with an additional part 150 that has a magnet 151 to hold the latch in position.

[0060] Although the present invention has been illustrated by reference to specific embodiments, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the invention is not limited to the details of the foregoing illustrative embodiments, and that the present invention may be embodied with various changes and modifications without departing from the scope thereof. The present embodiments are therefore to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description, and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are therefore intended to be embraced therein. In other words, it is contemplated to cover any and all modifications, variations or equivalents that fall within the scope of the basic underlying principles and whose essential attributes are claimed in this patent application. It will furthermore be understood by the reader of this patent application that the words comprising or comprise do not exclude other elements or steps, that the words a or an do not exclude a plurality, and that a single element, such as a computer system, a processor, or another integrated unit may fulfil the functions of several means recited in the claims. Any reference signs in the claims shall not be construed as limiting the respective claims concerned. The terms first, second, third, a, b, c, and the like, when used in the description or in the claims are introduced to distinguish between similar elements or steps and are not necessarily describing a sequential or chronological order. Similarly, the terms top, bottom, over, under, and the like are introduced for descriptive purposes and not necessarily to denote relative positions. It is to be understood that the terms so used are interchangeable under appropriate circumstances and embodiments of the invention are capable of operating according to the present invention in other sequences, or in orientations different from the one(s) described or illustrated above.