Universal lock with sliding blocking mechanism

Abstract

A lock having a housing defining a cavity with first and second opposing side walls and an opening for receiving a locking bolt, the locking bolt moveable between a locked position and an unlocked position is provided. The lock includes a rotary actuator having a rotary output and responsive to entry of an electronic combination input by a user; and a sliding blocking mechanism responsive to said rotary output and 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.

Claims

1. A lock comprising: a housing having an opening for receiving a locking bolt movable between a locked position and an unlocked position; a rotary actuator positioned within the housing and energizable between a locked condition for maintaining the locking bolt in the locked position and an unlocked condition that allows the locking bolt to move to the unlocked position; a sliding blocking mechanism received in said housing, said sliding blocking mechanism including a slider, a rotatable member having a camming surface engaged by a surface of the slider and a biasing member, the rotatable member rotatably responsive to an output of the rotary actuator, the rotatable member including a stop portion coupled to at least a surface of the rotatable member, said housing comprising a pocket to receive the stop portion so that when the rotatable member rotates, the stop portion will contact a respective surface of the pocket preventing said rotatable member from further rotation in either direction, said sliding blocking mechanism normally biased in a blocking position by the biasing member and configured to engage and block said locking bolt from being moved to the unlocked position, wherein upon actuation, the rotary actuator causes said rotatable member to rotate on the surface of the slider by a predetermined amount causing translational linear movement of said slider to an unblocking position allowing said locking bolt to move into said unlocked position.

2. The lock of claim 1 wherein said locking bolt is a rotary locking bolt.

3. The lock of claim 1 wherein said rotary actuator is a rotary electromagnetic device.

4. The lock of claim 3 wherein said rotary electromagnetic device is a rotary solenoid.

5. The lock of claim 1 further comprising a first spring coupled to said housing and said locking bolt for biasing said locking bolt in said locked condition.

6. The lock of claim 1 wherein the biasing member is a spring positioned between the rotary actuator and the rotatable member for biasing the rotatable member in a position corresponding to the blocking position of the sliding blocking mechanism.

7. The lock of claim 6 wherein said spring is a compression spring.

8. The lock of claim 1 wherein said slider is U-shaped in cross section and the surface of the slider includes a channel configured to engage the camming surface of the rotatable member.

9. The lock of claim 8 wherein said slider includes a first blocking arm and a second arm, said first blocking arm configured to block said locking bolt from being moved to the unlocked position.

10. A lock comprising: a housing having a cavity with first and second opposing side walls and an opening for receiving a locking bolt, the locking bolt moveable between a locked position and an unlocked position; a rotary actuator having a rotary output; and a sliding blocking mechanism including a substantially C-shaped in cross section rotatable member, a substantially U-shaped in cross section slider and a biasing member that biases the sliding blocking member in a blocking position, the rotatable member responsive to said rotary output and moveable between the blocking position for blocking said locking bolt in the locked position and an unblocking position for allowing said locking bolt to move into said unlocked position, said rotatable member having a camming surface and the substantially U-shaped in cross-section slider having a surface for engaging the camming surface and a blocking arm for blocking engagement with said rotary bolt, the rotatable member including a stop portion coupled to at least a surface of the rotatable member, said housing comprising a pocket to receive the stop portion so that when the rotatable member rotates, the stop portion will contact a respective surface of the pocket preventing said rotatable member from further rotation in either direction, wherein actuation of said rotary actuator causes said rotatable member to rotate on the surface of the substantially U-shaped in cross-section slider to cause linear movement of said substantially U-shaped in cross-section slider to the unblocking position allowing said locking bolt to move into said unlocked position.

11. A lock comprising: a housing having a cavity with first and second opposing side walls and an opening for receiving a locking bolt, the locking bolt moveable between a locked position and an unlocked position; a rotary actuator having a rotary output; and a sliding blocking mechanism including a rotatable member, a sliding blocking member and a biasing member that biases the sliding blocking member in a blocking position, the rotatable member responsive to said rotary output and moveable between a position corresponding to a blocking position of the sliding blocking member for blocking said locking bolt in the locked position and a position corresponding to an unblocking position of the sliding blocking member for allowing said locking bolt to move into said unlocked position, the rotatable member having a camming surface, the rotatable member including a stop portion coupled to at least a surface of the rotatable member, said housing comprising a pocket to receive the stop portion so that when the rotatable member rotates, the stop portion will contact a respective surface of the pocket preventing said rotatable member from further rotation in either direction, the sliding blocking member being substantially U-shaped in cross-section having a lower surface for engaging the camming surface of the rotatable member and a blocking arm for blocking engagement with said rotary bolt, wherein actuation of said rotary actuator causes said rotatable member to rotate on the lower surface of the U-shaped in cross-section sliding blocking member to cause said U-shaped in cross-section sliding blocking member to move linearly to an unblocking position in which the blocking arm disengages from the locking bolt allowing said locking bolt to move into said unlocked position.

12. A lock comprising: a housing having a cavity with first and second opposing side walls and an opening for receiving a locking bolt, the locking bolt moveable between a locked position and an unlocked position; a rotary actuator having a rotary output; and a sliding blocking mechanism including a substantially C-shaped in cross section cam having a camming surface on an outer periphery thereof and a substantially U-shaped in cross-section slider having an inner surface defining a channel for engaging said camming surface and a blocking arm for blocking engagement with said locking bolt, the C-shaped in cross section cam including a stop portion positioned on at least a surface thereof, said housing comprising a pocket to receive the stop portion so that when the rotatable member rotates, the stop portion contacts a respective surface of the pocket preventing said C-shaped cam from further rotation in either direction; and a biasing member for biasing the sliding blocking mechanism in a blocking position, wherein actuation of said rotary actuator causes said rotatable member to rotate in said channel thereby causing linear movement of said U-shaped slider to an unblocking position in which the blocking arm no longer blockingly engages the locking bolt allowing said locking bolt to move into said unlocked position.

13. A lock comprising: a housing having a cavity with first and second opposing side walls and an opening for receiving a locking bolt, the locking bolt moveable between a locked position and an unlocked position; a rotary actuator having a rotary output; and a sliding blocking mechanism including a closed, substantially rectangular-shaped in cross-section sliding blocking member having an inner portion and an outer perimeter, a biasing member that biases the sliding blocking mechanism in a blocking position and a D-shaped in cross section rotatable member positioned, within the inner portion of the sliding blocking member, the sliding blocking member having a bottom surface on an inner portion thereof that includes a lower portion, a ramp and an elevated portion, the rotatable member having a flat portion and a rounded portion, the rounded portion initially positioned in the lower portion of the sliding blocking member and corresponding to the blocking position for blocking said sliding blocking mechanism from moving, the rotatable member responsive to said rotary output and moveable between the blocking position for blocking said sliding blocking mechanism in the blocking position to prevent said locking bolt from moving into an unlocked position and an unblocking position in which the flat portion of the rotatable member is substantially parallel to the bottom portion thereby allowing the ramp and elevated portion of the sliding blocking member to by-pass the rotatable member to allow said locking bolt to move into said unlocked position, wherein the sliding blocking member further includes an outer perimeter including a first wall that acts as a stop member so that when the rotatable member rotates to allow the sliding blocking member to by-pass the rotatable member, the stop member contacts a surface of the housing side wall preventing the sliding blocking member from further movement.

14. The lock of claim 13 wherein the outer perimeter of the sliding blocking member including a second wall having, a chamfered edge configured to engage said locking bolt to maintain the locking bolt in the locked position.

15. The lock of claim 13 wherein the biasing member is a compression spring.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) For a better understanding of the invention, and to show how the same may be carried into effect, reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying drawings, in which:

(2) FIG. 1 is an exploded view of the lock having a substantially U-shaped sliding blocking member showing the housing.

(3) FIG. 2 is an exemplary housing in which the lock is housed showing the face plate and the side walls.

(4) FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the lock having a U-shaped blocking member in accordance with the invention.

(5) FIG. 4 is a top view of the lock having a U-shaped blocking member showing the lock in the locked position.

(6) FIG. 5 is a cut away illustration showing the U-shaped blocking member blocking the locking bolt from moving to the unlocked position.

(7) FIG. 6 is a top view of the lock having a U-shaped blocking member showing the locking bolt in the unlocked position.

(8) FIG. 7 is a cut away illustration showing the U-shaped blocking member in the unblocking position allowing the locking bolt to move to the unlocked position.

(9) FIG. 8 is a top view showing an alternative means for biasing the locking bolt in the locked position.

(10) FIG. 9 is an exploded view of the lock having a rectangular or box-shaped blocking member showing the housing.

(11) FIG. 10 is a detailed view of the D-shaped rotatable member with helical torsion spring.

(12) FIG. 11 is a top perspective view of the lock having a rectangular blocking member in accordance with the invention showing the blocking member in the blocking position and the lock in the locked position.

(13) FIG. 12 is a cut away illustration showing the rectangular blocking member blocking the locking bolt from moving to the unlocked position with compression spring exerting a biasing force against the blocking member.

(14) FIG. 13 is a top perspective view of the rectangular blocking member in the unblocking position allowing the locking bolt to move to the unlocked position.

(15) FIG. 14 is a cut away illustration showing the rectangular blocking member in the unblocking position allowing the locking bolt to move from the unlocked position to the unlocked position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(16) Referring to FIG. 1 an exploded view of the lock 10 in accordance with the invention is shown. Lock 10 broadly includes housing 24, locking bolt 70, actuator 60, and sliding blocking mechanism 100.

(17) Housing 24 of lock 10 includes faceplate 26 and first and second opposing side walls 80, 82 including opening 84 for receiving a locking bolt 70 as best seen in FIG. 2. The universal lock is mounted to a wall (not shown) which is representative of the door of a container, a safe or security room, or portions of a wall adjacent to such doors. A dial is mounted on a forward side of the wall. The dial is capable of accepting an electronic entry combination or a manual entry combination.

(18) Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 3, a locking bolt 70 mounts in housing 24. In the present embodiment, locking bolt 70 is a rotary bolt having a generally D-shape in cross-section. However, it should be understood that various other shapes of locking bolt 70 are contemplated and within the intended scope of the present invention. A shaft receiving opening 42 is positioned near the center of rotary bolt 70. Shaft receiving opening 42 is configured to receive a shaft or axle 40 that mounts within the housing 24. Shaft 40 mounts in first and second sleeves (not shown) located on the inside walls of housing 24. Shaft receiving opening 42 is generally round and has a diameter that is slightly larger than the diameter of shaft 43. Shaft receiving opening 42 of locking bolt 40 fits onto shaft 40, allowing locking bolt 70 to rotate about the shaft. Thus, a bearing means is formed between opening 42 of locking bolt 70 and shaft 40, which remains generally stationary as locking bolt 70 rotates.

(19) As seen in FIG. 1, the center portion 87 of helical torsion spring 86 is positioned on shaft 40 between the bolt and the housing. First arm 89 is received in locking bolt aperture 91. Second arm 93 is received under a shelf or ledge (not shown) in housing 24. This configuration of helical torsion spring 86 biases the locking bolt 70 in the locked position. Alternatively, as seen in FIG. 8, a compression spring 88 stretches from a pin 89 that is located on the inside wall of housing 24 to another pin (not shown) in housing 24 that is received in aperture 90 positioned through locking bolt 70.

(20) In each case, tension from the springs 86, 88 biases locking bolt 70 counterclockwise with extended portion 44 of bolt 70 in the locked position extended outside the housing 24.

(21) Locking bolt 70 is illustrated in FIGS. 3, 4 and 5 in the locked position. In the locked position, extended portion 44 of locking bolt 70 extends outside locking bolt opening 84. Locking bolt opening 84 is an opening or slot in the wall of housing 24 that is typically formed when the housing is cast. In operation, locking bolt 70 rotates to an unlocked position in which extended portion 44 of locking bolt 70 retracts within housing 24. The movement of locking bolt 70 between the locked and unlocked positions will be described in more detail hereinafter.

(22) Actuator 60 mounts inside housing 24. Many different types of actuators may be used including, but not limited to, motors, rotary solenoids, electronic and mechanical rotary devices, and electromagnetic rotary devices. For purposes of example, actuator 60 will be described as a rotary solenoid throughout the remainder of this disclosure. Rotary solenoid 60 mounts in a cavity 64 within housing 24, which is formed by several walls extending upward from the inside wall of housing 24, as best seen in FIG. 1. The walls forming cavity 64 are typically part of the casting that forms housing 24. Rotary solenoid 60 includes rotary shaft 62 that is rotatably coupled to receiving shaft 114 of rotatable member 110 as hereinafter described. As best seen in FIG. 10, a second helical torsion spring 36 is received by shaft 114, 114. First arm 37, 37 is positioned against a sidewall in housing 24 while second arm 39, 39 is received by aperture 119, 119 and acts to bias rotatable member 110 and cam member 210 in the blocking position as best seen in FIGS. 4 and 11.

(23) Referring again to FIGS. 1-8, sliding blocking mechanism 100 broadly includes rotatable member 110 having camming surface 112, shaft 114 including shaft receiving lumen 115, stop 116 operably coupled to a surface of the rotatable member and U-shaped in cross-section sliding blocking member 120. Rotatable member 110 is substantially C-shaped in cross section and is rotatably received by rotary shaft 62 into shaft receiving lumen 115. C-shaped in cross section rotatable member 110 includes a rounded camming surface 112 and a substantially concave portion 190. U-shaped in cross section sliding blocking member includes first arm 122 and second arm 124. First arm 122 has a length that is greater than the length of second arm 124 to create a blocking portion 125 that acts to block the tip 36 of locking bolt and thus locking bolt 70 from retracting into housing 24. Arms 122, 124 form channel 126 therebetween which operably receives rotatable member 110. Those of skill in the art will appreciate that channel 126 may also comprise a flat surface upon which the camming surface 112 rests rather than a trough in which the camming surface is received. Camming surface 112 of rotatable member 110 rotatably rests on channel 126 formed on the inner surface of U-shaped sliding blocking member. The rotatable member 110 translates the rotary movement of the actuator into linear movement of the substantially U-shaped in cross section sliding blocking member 120.

(24) Stop 116 is coupled to a surface of rotatable member 110. Stop 116 is depicted as being triangular in shape but those of skill in the art will appreciate that stop 116 may be any shape such as rectangular, cylindrical, square, etc. so long as it functions to prevent further movement of the rotatable member 110. When rotatable member 110 receives rotary output from actuator 60, stop 116 prevents rotatable member 110 from further rotation. Stop 116 is received in a pocket 101 in housing and engages the side walls of the pocket as rotatable member 110 moves from the blocking position to the unblocking position and back to the blocking and correspondingly limits further linear movement of the U-shaped sliding blocking member.

(25) In operation, a user enters the correct combination on electronic key pad on a dial pad located outside the safe or other container door. Electronic circuitry signals solenoid 60 to rotate rotatable member by a predetermined amount. As a result, the rotatable member 110, which is responsive to the rotary output of solenoid 60 rotates as the camming surface 112 engages the surface of channel 126 of U-shaped sliding blocking member 120. As the camming surface 112 continues to move in channel 126 it disengages from first arm 122 and commences to rotatably engage second arm 124 which causes U-shaped slider 120 to move linearly. As U-shaped slider 120 moves linearly first arm 122 disengages tip 38 of locking bolt 70. After rotating by the predetermined amount of rotary output, stop 116 of rotatable member 110 prevents further movement of rotatable member 110 by contacting an inner wall of cavity 64 in housing 24 as best seen in FIG. 4.

(26) A user then turns the handle on the safe door (or other container being secured) which retracts the locking bolt 44 into housing 24 to permit access to the inside of the safe. The user then turns the handle on the safe door to move the locking bolt back into the locked position. Rotational torsion spring 26 which biases the sliding blocking mechanism 100 in the locked position, as hereinbefore described, causes U-shaped sliding blocking mechanism to move back to the blocking position.

(27) As may also be seen in FIG. 8 the locking bolt may include an optional tamper resistant mechanism comprising a plurality of teeth 45 in the locking bolt 70 and a plurality of corresponding teeth 47 in the housing 24. Attempting to forcibly rotate the locking bolt 70 from the locked position, as best seen in FIG. 10, to the unlocked position while the actuator is in the locked condition causes the plurality of teeth on the locking bolt to engage with the teeth 47 in the housing 24 preventing unauthorized entry.

(28) A second aspect of the invention is depicted in FIGS. 9-14 as will hereinafter be described. Like elements are labeled with like reference numerals.

(29) Referring now to FIG. 9 sliding blocking mechanism 210 includes a substantially D-shaped in cross section rotatable member 210, which is received in a substantially rectangular or box-shaped in cross-section sliding blocking member 212. D-shaped in cross section rotatable member 210 does not transform rotary movement of the actuator 60 into linear movement of sliding blocking member 212. Rather, D-shaped rotatable member 210 is responsive to the rotary output of solenoid 60 and rotates to allow sliding blocking member 212 to by-pass the D-shaped rotatable member 210 upon exertion of force by locking bolt 70 against chamfered edge 224.

(30) The D-shaped rotatable member includes a flat surface 214 and a round surface 216. A compression spring 218 is received in an opening 220 in the side of the box-shaped sliding blocking member. A first end of the spring 222 abuts a sidewall in housing 24 and biases the sliding blocking member 212 in the blocking position by exerting a force thereon, which prevents the locking bolt from retracting into the housing as hereinafter described. The substantially rectangular or box-shaped in cross-section sliding blocking member 212 includes a side edge 224 that is chamfered and engages the tip portion 38 of locking bolt 70. Due to the force exerted on blocking member 212 by compression spring 218 the tip 38 of locking bolt 70 is prevented from passing to the unlocked position.

(31) The sliding blocking member 212 includes an inner portion 226 having a bottom surface 228 that includes a lower portion 230, a ramp section 232 and an elevated portion 234 that is higher than the lower portion 230. The D-shaped rotatable member 210 is operably coupled by shaft 114 and responsive to the rotary output of a rotary actuator 60. In the blocking position, as best seen in FIG. 12, the D-shaped rotatable member 210 is positioned in the lower portion 230 of blocking member 210 with a section of the rounded portion 216 abutting ramp 232. In this position, the ramp 232 and elevated portion 234 of the blocking member 219 cannot bypass the rounded portion 216 of the D-shaped rotatable member 210, i.e. if an unauthorized user applies force to the locking bolt. When actuated by rotary solenoid 60, the D-shaped member rotates so the flat portion 214 is substantially parallel to the bottom surface 228 of the sliding blocking member 212 and is now configured to allow the ramp 232 and elevated portion 234 to by-pass the D-shaped blocking member as will now be described. By substantially parallel we mean sufficiently parallel to the bottom surface 228 of the sliding blocking member 212 to allow the ramp 232 and elevated portion 234 to by-pass the D-shaped blocking member.

(32) As previously noted, the D-shaped rotatable member 210 is configured to rotate between a first position corresponding to the locked position of the locking bolt 70 and a second position corresponding to the unlocked position of the locking bolt 70.

(33) When a user enters the correct combination, the rotary actuator 60 causes the D-shaped rotatable member 210 to rotate to the unblocking position. In the unblocking position as best seen in FIG. 14, the D-shaped rotatable member 210 has rotated so that the flat portion 214 is substantially parallel to bottom surface 228 of the sliding blocking mechanism 212. Manual force applied by the user in turning the handle of the lock causes the tip portion 38 of the locking bolt to push against chamfered edge 224 causing the box-shaped in cross-section sliding blocking member 210 to move toward the unblocking position. The ramp 232 and elevated portion 234 can move past the flat portion 214 of D-shaped rotatable member 210 allowing the lock to be opened. When the locking bolt 70 returns to the locked position, spring 222 exerts a biasing force against the blocking member 210 causing it to return to the blocking position.

(34) Although the present invention has been described with reference to certain aspects and embodiments, those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that changes may be made in form and detail without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.