Motor-driven lock with roller

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10858864-B2
Application number	US-201816185617-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 9, 2018
Priority date	Nov 9, 2018
Publication date	Dec 8, 2020
Grant date	Dec 8, 2020

Abstract

An exemplary locking mechanism includes a plunger, a lock control member adjacent the plunger, a roller captured between the plunger and the lock control member, a driver operably connected with the lock control member, and a control assembly operable to control the driver to move the lock control member between a locking position and an unlocking position. The locking mechanism has a locking state in which the lock control member is in the locking position, and interference between the roller and the lock control member prevents movement of the plunger in a retracting direction. The locking mechanism has an unlocking state in which the plunger is in the unlocking position such that the roller is operable to move into a pocket formed in the lock control member, thereby enabling movement of the plunger in the retracting direction.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A security assembly, comprising:
a first member;
a second member mounted for linear movement relative to the first member between an open position and a closed position, wherein the second member is linearly movable along a movement axis defining an opening direction and an opposite closing direction, and wherein the second member includes a recess having a first cam surface; and
a locking mechanism mounted to the first member, the locking mechanism comprising:
a plunger including a tapered nose and a first pocket, the plunger having an extended position and a retracted position, wherein the plunger is mounted for movement along a longitudinal axis defining a proximal extending direction and a distal retracting direction, and wherein the plunger is biased in the proximal extending direction;
a lock control member including a second pocket and a blocking surface, the lock control member having an unlocking position in which the second pocket is aligned with the first pocket, the lock control member having a locking position in which the blocking surface is aligned with the first pocket;
a roller captured between the plunger and the lock control member, wherein the roller is operable to be at least partially received in the first pocket and is operable to be at least partially received in the second pocket; and
a driver operably connected with the lock control member, wherein the driver is configured to move the lock control member from the locking position to the unlocking position in response to an unlock signal;

wherein the locking mechanism has a locking state in which the lock control member is in the locking position, the tapered nose of the plunger is received in the recess such that movement of the second member in the opening direction urges the plunger to move in the distal retracting direction, and interference between the roller and the blocking surface prevents movement of the plunger in the distal retracting direction, thereby preventing movement of the second member in the opening direction; and
wherein the locking mechanism has an unlocking state in which the lock control member is in the unlocking position such that the roller is operable to move into the second pocket, thereby enabling movement of the plunger in the distal retracting direction.

2. The security assembly of claim 1 , wherein the lock control member is mounted for sliding movement between the locking position and the unlocking position, and wherein the driver comprises a linear actuator.

3. The security assembly of claim 1 , wherein the lock control member is mounted for rotational movement between the locking position and the unlocking position, and wherein the driver comprises a rotary motor.

4. The security assembly of claim 1 , wherein the movement axis is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis.

5. The security assembly of claim 1 , wherein the security assembly comprises a padlock, wherein the first member is a body portion of the padlock, and wherein the second member is a shackle of the padlock.

6. The security assembly of claim 1 , wherein the security assembly comprises a cabinet, wherein the first member is a body portion of the cabinet, and wherein the second member is a drawer slidably mounted to the body portion.

7. The security assembly of claim 1 , wherein the lock mechanism further comprises a control assembly in communication with the driver; and
wherein the control assembly includes a controller configured to determine an unlock condition based upon one or more criteria and to transmit the unlock signal to the driver in response to the unlock condition.

8. The security assembly of claim 7 , wherein the control assembly further comprises a credential reader in communication with the controller, and wherein the controller is configured to determine the unlock condition based upon information received from the credential reader.

9. The security assembly of claim 7 , wherein the control assembly further comprises a wireless communication device in communication with the controller, and wherein the controller is configured to determine the unlock condition based upon information received from the wireless communication device.

10. The security assembly of claim 7 , wherein the locking mechanism further comprises an onboard power supply, and wherein the controller and the driver are configured to receive electrical power from the onboard power supply.

11. The security assembly of claim 7 , wherein the controller is further configured to determine a relock condition subsequent to transmitting the unlock signal and to transmit a relock signal in response to determining the relock condition, and wherein the driver is configured to move the lock control member from the unlocking position to the locking position in response to the relock signal.

12. The security assembly of claim 11 , wherein the control assembly further comprises a plunger position sensor in communication with the controller, and wherein the controller is configured to determine the relock condition based upon information received from the plunger position sensor.

13. The security assembly of claim 12 , wherein the controller is configured to determine the relock condition in response to the plunger position sensor transitioning from a first state indicative of a first position of the plunger to a second state indicative of a second position of the plunger.

14. A locking mechanism configured for use with a security assembly including a first member and a second member having an open position and a closed position relative to the first member, wherein the locking mechanism is configured to be mounted to the first member and comprises:
a plunger including a first pocket, the plunger having an extended position and a retracted position, wherein the plunger is mounted for movement along a longitudinal axis defining a proximal extending direction and a distal retracting direction, and wherein the plunger is biased in the proximal extending direction;
a lock control member including a second pocket and a blocking surface, the lock control member having an unlocking position in which the second pocket is aligned with the first pocket, the lock control member having a locking position in which the blocking surface is aligned with the first pocket;
a roller captured between the plunger and the lock control member, wherein the roller is operable to be at least partially received in the first pocket and is operable to be at least partially received in the second pocket;
a driver operably connected with the lock control member; and
a control assembly in communication with the driver, wherein the control assembly comprises:
a controller in communication with the driver, wherein the controller is operable to transmit an unlock signal that causes the driver to move the lock control member from the locking position to the unlocking position, and wherein the controller is operable to transmit a relock signal that causes the driver to move the lock control member from the unlocking position to the locking position;
an input device in communication with the controller, wherein the controller is configured to transmit the unlock signal based upon information received from the input device; and
a plunger position sensor operable to distinguish between at least two positions of the plunger, wherein the controller is configured to transmit the relock signal based upon information received from the plunger position sensor;

wherein the locking mechanism has a locking state in which the lock control member is in the locking position, and interference between the roller and the

Assignees

• Schlage Lock Co Llc

Inventors

• Pfunder Dan

Classifications

• E05B47/0603 Primary

  the detent moving rectilinearly · CPC title

• E05B2047/0094

  Mechanical aspects of remotely controlled locks · CPC title

• E05B67/22

  Padlocks with sliding shackles, with or without rotary or pivotal movement · CPC title

• E05B47/06 Primary

  Controlling mechanically-operated bolts by electro-magnetically-operated detents · CPC title

• E05B47/0607

  the detent moving pivotally or rotatively · CPC title