Portable safe with two-point latching mechanism

• US 10,253,529 B1
• Filed: 02/07/2017
• Issued: 04/09/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 11/15/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Vaultek Safe Inc.
• Original Assignee: Vaultek Safe Inc.
• Inventors: McGinn, Larry Alan
• Primary Examiner(s): Barrett, Suzanne L
• Application Number:
  US15/426,699
• Time in Patent Office: 791 Days
• Field of Search: 70 63, 70275, 70277, 702781, 702786, 702791, 70280, 109 45, 109 59 R
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 2035/009 Locks where a characteristic part of the user's body is used as a key
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 2047/0067 Monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 2047/0072 Operation
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 35/00 Locks for use with special keys or a plurality of keys ; keys therefor
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 47/0001 with electric actuators; Constructional features thereof for vehicles E05B81/04
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 47/0012 with rotary electromotors actuators with rotary electromotors per se H02K7/06, H02K23/68
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 47/023 the bolt moving pivotally or rotatively
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 49/00 Electric permutation locks; Circuits therefor ; Mechanical aspects of electronic locks; Mechanical keys therefor arrangements for sensing or reading record carriers G06K7/00; mechanisms including electronic locks actuated by nonmechanical keys such as passive and active electrical keys and other data carriers G07C9/00, G07F7/00; electronic switching H03K17/00
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 51/00 Operating or controlling locks or other fastening devices by other non-mechanical means
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 65/0075 for safes, strongrooms, vaults, fire-resisting cabinets or the like safes, closures and fastenings therefor E05G
• CPC Class Codes: E05C 9/043 with crank pins and connecting rods
• CPC Class Codes: E05G 1/005 Portable strong boxes, e.g. which may be fixed to a wall or the like E05G1/08, E05G1/14 take precedence; devices to prevent theft or loss of bags, trunks, baskets, or the like A45C13/18; coin boxes for coin freed apparatus G07F9/06
• CPC Class Codes: E05G 1/04 Closure fasteners locks E05B
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2201/434 Electromotors; Details thereof
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2999/00 Subject-matter not otherwise provided for in this subclass

Abstract

A safe comprises a housing having a first housing portion and a second housing defining an interior compartment for storage of items, the second housing portion being pivotal with respect to the first housing portion between closed and open positions. A latching mechanism cooperates with spaced apart first and second strikers to maintain the second housing portion in the closed position. The latching mechanism includes movable first and second locking elements that engage respective of the first and second strikers when the second housing portion is being maintained in the closed position. The first and second locking elements are retracted away from the first and second strikers to release the second housing portion into the open position. A motor having a rotatable output shaft carries a drive dog. A rotating plate rotatable about an axis is also provided, the rotating plate having an engaging element that is driven by the drive dog. First and second levers are pivotally connected at their proximal ends to the rotating plate at substantially diametrically opposed locations, distal ends of the first and second levers being connected to the locking elements.

Claims

1. A safe comprising:

a housing having a first housing portion and a second housing defining an interior compartment for storage of items, said second housing portion being pivotal with respect to said first housing portion between closed and open positions;

a latching mechanism associated with one of said first housing portion and said second housing portion, said latching mechanism cooperating with spaced apart first and second strikers associated with another of said first housing portion and said second housing portion to maintain said second housing portion in the closed position;

said latching mechanism including;

movable first and second locking elements that engage respective of said first and second strikers when said second housing portion is being maintained in the closed position, said first and second locking elements being retracted away from said first and second strikers to release said second housing portion into the open position;

a motor having a rotatable output shaft carrying a drive dog;

a rotating plate rotatable about an axis, said rotating plate having an engaging element that is driven by said drive dog, wherein said axis of said rotating plate corresponds to an axis of the output shaft of the motor; and

first and second levers pivotally connected at their proximal ends to said rotating plate at substantially diametrically opposed locations, distal ends of said first and second levers being connected to said locking elements.

2. A safe as set forth in claim 1, wherein said drive dog is located on a flywheel having predetermined mass.

3. A safe as set forth in claim 2, wherein said rotating plate interposes a housing of the motor and the flywheel.

4. A safe as set forth in claim 3, wherein said drive dog comprises a radial protrusion on said flywheel and said engaging element comprises a lateral tab on said rotating plate.

5. A safe as set forth in claim 1, wherein said distal ends of said first and second levers are pivotally attached to respective first and second stopper plates which are themselves pivotal with respect to a corresponding support structure.

6. A safe as set forth in claim 5, wherein said first and second stopper plates are connected to said first and second locking elements via respective springs.

7. A safe as set forth in claim 5, wherein said first and second locking elements are pivotally connected to the corresponding support structure.

8. A safe as set forth in claim 1, further comprising an electronic controller operative to control operation of said motor.

9. A safe as set forth in claim 8, further comprising at least one of a biometric sensor and a combination keypad in electrical communication with said electronic controller.

10. A safe as set forth in claim 9, comprising both said biometric sensor and said combination keypad.

11. A safe as set forth in claim 9, further comprising a mechanical key lock operative to engage one of said first and second levers so as to cause said first and second locking elements to be retracted away from said first and second strikers.

12. A safe as set forth in claim 1, wherein said latching mechanism is associated with said first housing portion and said first and second strikers are attached to an inside surface of said second housing portion.

13. A safe as set forth in claim 12, wherein said first and second strikers are each substantially U-shaped.

14. A safe as set forth in claim 1, wherein said motor comprises a DC stepper motor capable of both clockwise and counterclockwise rotation.

15. A latching mechanism for maintaining a container cover in a closed position, said latching mechanism comprising:

spaced apart first and second strikers attached to an inside of the container cover;

movable first and second locking elements that engage respective of said first and second strikers when the container cover is being maintained in the closed position, said first and second locking elements being retracted away from said first and second strikers to release said container cover into an open position;

a rotatable flywheel carrying a drive dog;

a rotating plate rotatable about an axis, said rotating plate having an engaging element that is driven by said drive dog; and

first and second levers pivotally connected at their proximal ends to said rotating plate at substantially diametrically opposed locations, distal ends of said first and second levers being connected to said locking elements.

16. A latching mechanism as set forth in claim 15, wherein said axis of said rotating plate corresponds to a rotational axis of said flywheel.

17. A latching mechanism as set forth in claim 16, wherein said flywheel is attached to an output shaft of a DC steeper motor.

18. A latching mechanism as set forth in claim 17, wherein said rotating plate interposes a housing of the motor and the flywheel.

19. A latching mechanism as set forth in claim 15, wherein said distal ends of said first and second levers are pivotally attached to respective first and second stopper plates which are themselves pivotal with respect to a corresponding support structure.

20. A latching mechanism as set forth in claim 15, wherein said first and second stopper plates are connected to said first and second locking elements via respective springs.

21. A latching mechanism as set forth in claim 15, further comprising a mechanical key lock operative to engage one of said first and second levers so as to cause said first and second locking elements to be retracted away from said first and second strikers.

22. A latching mechanism for maintaining a container cover in a closed position, said latching mechanism comprising:

spaced apart first and second strikers attached to an inside of the container cover;

movable first and second locking elements that engage respective of said first and second strikers when the container cover is being maintained in the closed position, said first and second locking elements being retracted away from said first and second strikers to release said container cover into an open position;

a motor having a rotatable flywheel on an output shaft thereof, said flywheel carrying a drive dog on its periphery;

a rotating plate rotatable about an axis, said rotating plate having an engaging element that is driven by said drive dog, said rotating plate interposing a housing of the motor and the flywheel; and

first and second levers pivotally connected at their proximal ends to said rotating plate, distal ends of said first and second levers being connected to said locking elements.