HALF-CYLINDER LOCK

Abstract

The present disclosure concerns a half-cylinder type lock, typically a keyless electrical lock, usable in communication cabinets or other installations requiring secured access control. The lock mechanism does not have elements protruding out of the lock housing to prevent possibility of tampering.

Claims

1. A half-cylinder lock, comprising: a lock body, receivable in a lock cavity that is defined in a closure between an external face of the closure and an inner end wall of the lock cavity, the lock body comprises a cylinder defining a proximally-distally extending cylinder axis which, once the lock body is within the lock cavity, extends between said external face and said inner end wall, a locking piston received within the cylinder and rotatable about the cylinder axis between a locking position and an unlocking position and axially displaceable within the cylinder between a rest position, in which the locking piston is received entirely within the cylinder, a retracted position in which the distal end of the piston proximates the inner end wall and an extended position, in which a proximal end thereof protrudes out of the cylinder permitting rotation of the cylinder by a user between the unlocking and locking positions; a biasing member for biasing the piston into the extended position, a lock cam, associated with a distal end portion of the locking piston and rotatable therewith between an engaging state, in which the cam is engaged with a cam-engaging element of the lock cavity and an open state, in which the cam is disengaged from the cam-engaging element and the lock can be opened, an electrically-driven actuator configured for switching between a blocking state in which it forces a blocking pin into a blocking position to engage the piston so as to arrest it in the rest position and an unblocking state in which the blocking pin is displaced into an unblocking position, in which it does not engage the piston to thereby permit a biased axial displacement of the piston into the extended position; and an electronic utility, that comprises a communication and control module, one or more piston detector switch elements in said end wall and in electric communication through a piston detector circuit with said module, said elements being engageable by the piston when in said retracted position to close said circuit, the control and communication module being configured for (i) switching from a dormant state to an active state upon closing of the piston detector circuit, (ii) receiving an authenticating signal from a user-held device (iii) upon receipt of such signal activate the electric actuator to switch it into the unblocking state and (iv) upon re-closing of the piston detector circuit, switching said actuator back into the blocking state.

2. The lock of claim 1, wherein the control and communication module and a power source, is outside said lock cavity disposed at an inner side of the closure.

3. The lock of claim 1, wherein the piston detector circuit is closed through the piston and the lock body.

4. The lock of claim 3, wherein the contact member is a spring-biased pin.

5. The lock of claim 1, comprising one piston detector switch.

6. The lock of claim 1, wherein the electrically-driven actuator is an electric motor, and wherein said switching is through rotation.

7. The lock of claim 6, wherein the electric motor rotates axially.

8. The lock of claim 6, wherein the electric motor has a rotatable axle coupled to a motor cam, the rotation of which displaces the blocking pin between said blocking and said unblocking position.

9. The lock of claim 8, wherein the blocking pin is spring-biased into the unblocking position.

10. The lock of claim 8, comprising a motor detector switch engaged by the motor cam in its blocking state, disengaged in the unblocking state and in electric communication through a motor detector circuit with said module.

11. The lock of claim 10, wherein the control and communication module is configured to, upon closure of the piston detector circuit, (i) if the motor detector circuit is closed, seeking an authentication signal from a user-held device and upon receipt of such signal, outputting an opening command for rotating the motor to the unblocking state, and (ii) if the motor detector circuit is open, outputting and closing command for rotating the motor to the blocking state.

12. The lock of claim 11, wherein (i) upon or after outputting an opening command and identifying, through opening of the motor detector circuit, the control and communication module transmits, to the user-held device, a lock open state indication, and (i) upon or after outputting a closing command, and identifying, through closure of the motor detector circuit, the control and communication module transmits, to the user-held device, a lock closed state indication.

13. The lock of claim 1, wherein the lock is configured for use with a swing handle locking arrangement, with the lock body fitted at an end portion of the swing handle which is pivotably coupled to the external face of the closure and displaceable between a locked state in which it is flush with said external face and the lock body being received within the lock cavity, and an open state, in which the swing handle is angled with respect to the external face and the lock body is outside the lock cavity.

14. A half cylinder lock comprising: a communication and control module; a locking piston, axially rotatable about a proximally-distally extending axis between locking position and an unlocking position in which the lock can be opened and axially displaceable between a rest position, a retracted position in which the distal end of the piston engages a piston detector switch that is electrically linked with said module through a piston detector circuit, and an extended state in which a proximal end of the piston is user-accessible to permit rotation of the piston between said locking and unlocking positions; an electric motor rotatable between a blocking state in which it blocks axial displacement of the locking piston to the extended state and an unblocking state in which such axial displacement is enabled, the electric motor being coupled to a motor detector switch that is electrically linked with said module through a motor detector circuit, the motor detector circuit being closed when the motor is at its blocking state and is open when the motor is in the unblocking state; the control and communication module being configured for (i) switching from a dormant state to an active state upon closing of the piston detector circuit, (ii) receiving an authenticating signal from a user-held device (iii) upon receipt of such signal activate the motor to switch it into the unblocking position, and (iv) upon re-closing of the piston detector circuit, switching said motor back into the blocking position.

15. The lock of claim 14, wherein the control and communication module is configured to, upon closure of the piston detector circuit, (i) if the motor detector circuit is closed, seeking an authentication signal from a user-held device and upon receipt of such signal, outputting an opening command for rotating the motor to the unblocking state, and (ii) if the motor detector circuit is open, outputting and closing command for rotating the motor to the blocking state.

16. A closure comprising a lock of claim 1.

17. (canceled)

18. A closure comprising a lock of claim 14.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0024] In order to better understand the subject matter that is disclosed herein and to exemplify how it may be carried out in practice, embodiments will now be described, by way of non-limiting example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0025] FIGS. 1A-1B are pictorial views of example of a prior art half cylinder lock and pre-programmed key, respectively;

[0026] FIGS. 2A-2B are, pictorial views of another example of prior art half cylinder lock and pre-programmed key, respectively;

[0027] FIG. 3 is a pictorial view of an exemplary prior art half-cylinder lock, fitted on a swing handle;

[0028] FIGS. 4A-4B show a half-cylinder lock according to an embodiment of this disclosure, in a respective locked and open states;

[0029] FIGS. 5A-5D show longitudinal cross-sections through the lock body and the receiving lock cavity in successive operational stats of the lock;

[0030] FIG. 5E is a longitudinal cross-section of the lock in the open state, which is successive to the state of FIG. 5D;

[0031] FIG. 6A shows a cross-section of the lock along line IVA-IVA in FIG. 5A; FIG. 6B shows a cross-section of the lock along line IVB-IVB in FIG. 5C, showing the operational positions of the motor cam; and

[0032] FIG. 7 is a schematic representation of the electronic utility according to an embodiment of this disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

[0033] This disclosure provides a half-cylinder lock which is electronically operated, wherein part of the electronic mechanism is separated from the lock body and positioned in the closure's interior, while avoiding some of the issues of prior art electronically operated half-cylinder locks.

[0034] The electronically operated half-cylinder lock of this disclosure will be exemplified below, with reference to the drawings, through an embodiment where the half-cylinder lock is fitted in a swing handle closure locking arrangement. It should be understood that the lock of this disclosure is not limited to a swing handle-type closure and can be implemented in a wide variety of closures locked by half-cylinder locks.

[0035] A swing-handle operated half-cylinder lock according to an embodiment of this disclosure is shown in FIGS. 4A-4B, in respective locked and open states. The assembly 100 includes a base member 102 and a swing-handle 103. The base member 102 is configured for association with a closure (not shown) and having a receiving lock cavity 104 that is defined between external face 106 of the base member, that defines part of the external face of the closure, and an inner end wall 108.

[0036] The swing-handle 103 has an arm 110 extending from a pivot 112 by which it is pivotably coupled to the base member 102, to an arm end portion 114 that holds a lock body 116. The arm 110 is pivotably moveable between a locked state shown in FIG. 4A and an open state shown in FIG. 4B, in which the arm is angled with respect to the external face 106 and the lock body 116 is outside of the lock cavity 104. As can also be seen, a proximal portion 120 of the lock piston, to be described below, projects from the lock's cylinder (to be described below) when in the open state, as seen in FIG. 4B, while being accommodated entirely within the lock body in the locked state as shown in FIG. 4A.

[0037] Other elements that can be seen in FIGS. 4A-4B, include portions 122 of the electronic utility 124 fitted in the inner side of end wall 108, as well as a lock-engaging opening 126, which in the locked state engages with a lock cam 128 that is disengaged therefrom in the open state, permitting opening of the lock.

[0038] Referring now to FIGS. 5A-5E, seen in cross-section, is the lock body 116, that comprises a cylinder 130, defining a proximally-distally extending cylinder axis 132 (the distal direction being represented by arrowhead 134). For convenience the proximal-distal direction will be referred herein as backward and the opposite direction will be referred to as forward.

[0039] Housed within cylinder 130, is a locking piston 136 that is rotatable about axis 132 between a locking position seen in FIG. 5A and an unlocking position seen in FIGS. 5D-5E. The piston 136 is also axially displaceable between a rest position shown in FIG. 5A, in which the locking piston is received entirely within the cylinder 130, an extended position in which a proximal end 120 thereof protrudes out of the cylinder (as seen in FIGS. 5D-5E), and a retracted position in which the distal end 138 of the piston proximates the end wall 108 of the lock cavity as seen in FIG. 5B.

[0040] As can also be seen in FIGS. 5A-5D, the piston 136 is forwardly-biased by a biasing spring 140, the biasing spring being accommodated within piston bore 142 and coiled about shaft 144 of the piston. Fitted within an annular groove 146 of piston 136 is an O-ring 148 that provides environmental seal for the inner parts of the lock.

[0041] Another element that can be seen in FIGS. 5A-5E is piston detector switch 150, which in the exemplified embodiment is a spring-biased contact pin (with the biasing spring not shown), which is engaged by the distal end 138 of the piston when the piston is in the retracted position (as seen in FIG. 5B). Such engagement closes a piston detector electric circuit, and as also explained below, awakens the processor of the electronic utility 124. When so awakened, the processor is ready to receive an authentication signal from a user-held device, e.g. a smartphone running an appropriate software utility; upon receipt of an authentication signal, the sequence described below with reference to FIGS. 5C-5D occurs.

[0042] As seen in FIGS. 5A-5D, associated with a distal end portion 152 of piston 136 is a lock cam 154, which has a lateral projection 156 that, in the states shown in FIGS. 5A-5C, engages lock-engaging opening 126 (see FIGS. 6A-6B), and axially rotates with the cylinder to the position shown in FIG. 5D to be received within receiving space 160. Cam 154 is fixed to the distal end portion 152 of the piston 136 by means of screw 162; screw 162 also serves as a resting surface for the distal end 164 of biasing spring 140.

[0043] Also seen in FIGS. 5A-5D is an electrically driven actuator in the form of motor 166, having a motor axel 168 coupled to a motor cam 170. Cam 170 engages a blocking pin 172 to hold the blocking pin 172 in its upward, blocking position (shown in FIG. 5A). The terms upward and downward are made in reference to the orientation of FIG. 5A, it being understood that when in-situ the orientation may be opposite, and what is referred to herein as upward may be downward, etc. When in its upward, blocking position, pin head 174 of blocking pin 172 engages shoulders 176 of piston 136, arresting the piston from a forward-directed displacement. Blocking pin 172 is downwardly biased to an unblocking position by biasing spring 178. When the motor is operated, it rotates axle 168 and with it the motor cam 170 from the blocking state seen in FIGS. 5A-5B and FIG. 6A into the unblocking state seen in FIGS. 5C-5D and FIG. 6B, in which blocking pin 172 can downwardly displace by the biasing force of spring 178 in the unblocking position, releasing the piston's shoulders 176 to thereby permit the axial forward displacement of piston 136.

[0044] Also seen in FIGS. 5A-5D and FIGS. 6A-6B is a motor detector switch 180 engageable by the motor cam 170. The motor detector switch 180 is linked to the processor of the electronic utility through a motor detector circuit (see below) and the engagement provides an indication of the blocking state of the motor 166 (or cam 170), and disengagement provides an indication of the unblocking state of the motor (namely that the lock is open).

[0045] Electric leads 182 (there are three such leads in this specific example, to permit rotation and counterrotation of the motor) link the motor and the electronic utility and provide power to the motor. The link to the electronic utility is through printed circuit board (PCB) 184 that is provided with contact points 186 that are pressure-engaged with connector pins 188, that have each a spring biased pin head that bears on the contact points 186.

[0046] In the locked state shown in FIG. 5A, the piston 136 is blocked from forward axial displacement by blocking pin 172. When the user presses the proximal end 120 of the piston in a rearward direction, the piston is displaced into the retracted position, end its distal end 138 comes into contact with piston detector switch 150 to close a piston detector circuit to thereby awaken the processor of the electronic utility. If the processor then receives an authenticating signal from a user-held device, transmitted wirelessly, the processor activates motor 166 to rotate, bringing to rotation of the motor cam 170 from the blocking state shown in FIGS. 5A-5B to the unblocking state shown in FIGS. 5C-5D. Consequently, blocking pin 172 is downwardly displaced into its unblocking position, permitting the forward axial displacement of piston 136. The piston's proximal portion 120 can then be held by the user and rotated about axis 132 to cause lock cam 154 to rotate from its state in FIGS. 5A-5C to that in FIG. 5D. Upon such rotation, the lock can be opened as seen in FIG. 5E.

[0047] For locking, the lock body 116 is pushed back into lock cavity 104, proximal portion 120 of piston 136 is rotated to bring projection 156 of the lock cam 154 to engagement with the lock-engaging opening 126. Then the piston 136 may be pushed in the rearward direction, and upon reaching the retracted position it engages pin 150 that causes the motor to rotate back into the blocking state, pushing blocking pin 172 upwardly back to its blocking position.

[0048] FIG. 7 is a schematic representation of the electronic utility. Piston detector switch 150 is part of a piston detector circuit C1 that includes resistor R1, and motor detector switch 180 is part of a motor detector circuit C2 that includes resistor R2. Upon contact between the piston 136 and piston detector switch 150, the circuit C1 is closed through lock body 116, and similarly upon engagement of motor detector switch 180, circuit C2 is closed through the lock body 116. Processor P has analogue inputs (V1,V2) measuring the potential across circuits C1 and C2, and in this way determination can be made whether each of both of the circuits are opened or closed, providing various indications of the lock's status. The processor P has also analogue outputs O1 and O2 providing voltage to the motor for rotation and counterrotation, as the case may be.

[0049] Upon closure of the piston detector circuit C1, the processor of the control and communication module 124 is awoken and checks status of the motor detector circuit. If the motor detector circuit C2 is closed, this signifies that the lock is locked and the control and communication module seeks an authentication signal from a user-held device 200, operating a suitable software utility 202 and communicates, through appropriate wireless communication protocol, with the control and communication utility 124 through transceiver 206. Upon receipt of such signal, the control and communication module 124 outputs an opening command for rotating the motor to the unblocking state. Alternatively, in case the motor detector circuit C2 is open, this signifies that the lock is open, and the control and communication module 124 outputs a closing command for rotating the motor to the blocking state, thereby locking the lock.

[0050] Further, upon or after outputting an opening command, the control and communication module 124 transmits, through opening of the motor detector circuit, to the user-held device 200, a lock open state indication. In addition, upon or after outputting a closing command, the control and communication module 124 can transmit, through closing of the motor detector circuit, to the user-held device, a lock closed state indication, that can then be transmitted or otherwise communicated to a central control server.