Lock that electronically detects tampering

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9567770-B1
Application number	US-201313747320-A
Country	US
Kind code	B1
Filing date	Jan 22, 2013
Priority date	Jan 22, 2013
Publication date	Feb 14, 2017
Grant date	Feb 14, 2017

Abstract

Pin tumbler locks are provided that include features for detecting tampering. Tampering may be detected in a number of different ways. As an example, abnormal movement of one or more of the driver pins in a pin tumbler lock can be an indication of tampering. In addition, one or more sensors can be included at the end of a keyway that detect picking or bumping beyond the length of normal key insertion. An electrical sensor can be used for detection.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A pin tumbler lock, comprising:
a body;
a plug rotatingly mounted in the body and comprising a keyway for receiving a key;
a plurality of pins for the pin tumbler lock abutting the keyway; and
a sensor configured to generate a signal in response to sensing tampering with the pin tumbler lock via the keyway, wherein the sensor senses excessive travel or movement of a pin of the plurality of pins beyond a location where the pin of the plurality of pins would travel under normal use, and generates the signal based in part on sensing that the excessive travel or movement of the pin exceeds travel or movement normally associated with receiving the key.

2. The pin tumbler lock of claim 1 , further comprising a lockout mechanism, connected to the sensor, and configured to lock rotation of the plug in response to receiving the signal.

3. The pin tumbler lock of claim 1 , wherein the sensor comprises at least one of an optical sensor, a pressure sensor, a movement sensor, a conductivity sensor, a capacitive sensor, a magnetic sensor, a proximity sensor, a rotation sensor, an acceleration sensor, or an electromechanical switch.

4. The pin tumbler lock of claim 1 , further comprising a locking pin and a solenoid, and wherein the solenoid is configured, in response to the signal, to fire and move the locking pin into position to straddle the body and the plug, preventing rotation of the plug.

5. The pin tumbler lock of claim 1 , further comprising a management component configured to,
responsive to receiving information regarding the signal, cause lockout of rotation of the plug relative to the body.

6. The pin tumbler lock of claim 1 , further comprising a management component configured to,
responsive to receiving information regarding the signal, cause the generation of an alarm.

7. The pin tumbler lock of claim 1 , further comprising a management component configured to protect a computing device having software thereon by at least, responsive to receiving information regarding the signal, providing, by a processor, instructions to the computing device for the software thereon to make itself inaccessible.

8. The pin tumbler lock of claim 1 , further comprising:
a pin shaft extending from the body into the plug;
at least one pin of the plurality of pins in the shaft; and
wherein the sensor senses at least a distance of the movement of the pin in the shaft.

9. The pin tumbler lock of claim 8 , wherein the sensor senses at least the distance of a travel of the pin; and wherein the sensor generates the signal when the distance of the travel exceeds a value normally associated with the receiving an authorized key.

10. The pin tumbler lock of claim 1 , further comprising:
a plurality of pin shafts extending from the body into the plug; and
at least one pin of the plurality of pins in each of said plurality of shafts; wherein each shaft is associated with at least one of a plurality of sensors.

11. The pin tumbler lock of claim 1 , further comprising:
a key end location defined in the keyway that corresponds to the end of a key inserted into the keyway when said key is positioned in a proper position to rotate the plug relative to the body; and
wherein the sensor is positioned in the keyway longitudinally beyond the key end location and in line with an opening in the keyway.

12. The pin tumbler lock of claim 1 , wherein the sensor senses tampering with the pin tumbler lock by sensing when the pin is raised further than a final height to set the pin.

13. The pin tumbler lock of claim 1 , wherein the sensor senses tampering with the pin tumbler lock by sensing when the pin is raised further than a maximum height of a key contour of an authentic key.

14. A pin tumbler lock, comprising:
a body;
a plug rotatingly mounted in the body and comprising a keyway for receiving a key;
a pin shaft extending from the body into the plug;
at least one pin in the shaft; and
a sensor for sensing excessive travel or movement of the pin in the shaft beyond a location where the pin would travel under normal use, and for generating a signal consistent with the excessive travel or movement of the pin based in part on sensing that the excessive travel or movement exceeds travel or movement of the pin normally associated with receipt of an authorized key.

15. The pin tumbler lock of claim 14 , further comprising a lockout mechanism, connected to the sensor, and configured to lock rotation of the plug in response to receiving the signal.

16. The pin tumbler lock of claim 14 , wherein the sensor comprises at least one of an optical sensor, a pressure sensor, a movement sensor, a conductivity sensor, a capacitive sensor, a magnetic sensor, a proximity sensor, a rotation sensor, an acceleration sensor, or an electromechanical switch.

17. The pin tumbler lock of claim 14 , further comprising:
a plurality of pin shafts extending from the body into the plug;
a plurality of pins, wherein each of said plurality of shafts contains at least one of said plurality of pins; and
a plurality of sensors, wherein each of the plurality of sensors is associated with one of the plurality of pins, and wherein each of the sensors can sense at least movement of the associated one of the plurality of pins in the shaft.

18. The pin tumbler lock of claim 14 , further comprising a management component linked to the sensors and configured to:
receive information from the sensors regarding movement of the pins responsive to the key being inserted into the keyway;
access information regarding pin movements of authorized keys; and
authorize the key when the information regarding pin movements matches the information from the movement by the inserted key.

19. The pin tumbler lock of claim 14 , further comprising a management component linked to the sensors and configured to:
receive information from the sensors regarding movement of the pins responsive to the key being inserted into the keyway;
access information regarding pin movements of authorized keys; and
disallow the key when the information regarding pin movements does not match the information from the movement by the inserted key.

20. The pin tumbler lock of claim 19 , wherein disallowing comprises causing lockout of the pin tumbler lock.

21. The pin tumbler lock of claim 19 , wherein disallowing comprises providing instructions to software that is protected by the pin tumbler lock for the software to make itself inaccessible.

22. A pin tumbler lock, comprising:
a body;
a plug rotatingly mounted in the body; and
a winding mechanism for storing energy, the winding mechanism being coiled and wound by rotating the plug relative to the body, wherein the winding mechanism provides energy to a solenoid for the pin tumbler lock, the solenoid configured to actuate a lockout mechanism to fire and move a locking pin into position to straddle the shear line, preventing rotation of the plug.

23. The pin tumbler lock of claim 22 , wherein the winding mechanism provides energy to the lockout mechanism for the pin tumbler lock.

24. The pin tumbler lock of claim 22 , wherein the winding mechanism provides energy to a sensor mechanism for the pin tumbler lock.

Assignees

• Amazon Tech Inc

Inventors

• Ginos Alexander Zissis
• Roth Gregory Branchek

Classifications

• E05B35/001

  with key identifying function · CPC title

• E05B27/00 Primary

  Cylinder locks {or other locks} with tumbler pins or balls that are set by pushing the key in · CPC title

• E05B47/00

  Operating or controlling locks or other fastening devices by electric or magnetic means (electric permutation locks E05B49/00) · CPC title

• E05B27/006 Primary

  whereby a small rotation without the correct key blocks further rotation of the rotor (E05B27/0067 takes precedence) · CPC title

• E05B47/063

  with a rectilinearly moveable blocking element · CPC title