Fingerprint-actuated padlock

• US 20030016847A1
• Filed: 07/17/2001
• Published: 01/23/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 07/17/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: BioMETRX, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Niccole Family Trust
• Inventors: Quintana, Richard
• Granted Patent: US 7,043,060 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 382/124
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00563 using personal physical data of the operator, e.g. finger prints, retinal images, voicepatterns

Abstract

A microprocessor-operated keyless entry padlock includes a fingerprint sensor for reading a fingerprint and comparing it to at least one fingerprint stored in memory in the padlock. If a match is found the padlock may be manually opened by a knob or automatically opened by actuating a drive gear to move a gear portion connected to a locking bar to open the locking bar.

Claims

1. A fingerprint-operated padlock, comprising:

a body;

a locking bar movably held in the body;

a fingerprint sensor held in the body;

a power source held in the body and connected to the fingerprint sensor;

means for activating the fingerprint sensor to read a fingerprint on a finger passed over the activated fingerprint sensor; and

means for comparing the fingerprint read by the sensor to at least one fingerprint stored in a memory to open the lock upon a valid comparison of the read fingerprint and the at least one stored fingerprint.

2. The fingerprint-operated padlock of claim 1, further including a motor secured within the body.

3. The fingerprint-operated padlock of claim 1, further including a knob to actuate the locking bar after the lock is opened.

4. The fingerprint-operated padlock of claim 3 wherein the means for activating the fingerprint sensor is a button held on the body.

5. The fingerprint-operated padlock of claim 4, further including a latch arm holding a drive gear operating mechanism in the locked position.

6. The fingerprint-operated padlock of claim 1 wherein the latch arm is operated by a solenoid, to release the drive gear operating mechanism to allow the locking bar to be opened by the knob.

7. The fingerprint-operated padlock of claim 1, further including a microprocessor held in the body and connected between the power source, the fingerprint sensor and a motor for opening the locking bar.

8. A fingerprint-operated padlock, comprising:

a body having a hollow interior, an open portion and a locking bar adjacent the open portion;

a fingerprint sensor secured in the hollow interior of the body and extending to an outer surface of the body;

a button for actuating a circuit held with the body;

a microprocessor connected between an electrical power source and a locking bar operating mechanism held in the body;

means for connecting the fingerprint sensor to the microprocessor;

a memory for storing at least one fingerprint connected to the microprocessor; and

means for unlocking the locking bar operating mechanism upon receipt of a signal that an authorized fingerprint stored in the memory has been read by the sensor.

9. The fingerprint-operated padlock of claim 8 wherein the locking bar operating mechanism includes a motor having a drive gear connected to a driven gear portion held on the locking bar.

10. The fingerprint-operated padlock of claim 9, further including a latch arm held in the body, which latch arm is actuated to unlock the drive gear when a solenoid is actuated.

11. The fingerprint-operated padlock of claim 10, further including a key switch for overriding the microprocessor and for storing at least one fingerprint into a memory.

12. The fingerprint-operated padlock of claim 11 wherein a plurality of fingerprints may be sequentially stored in the memory.

13. The fingerprint-operated padlock of claim 8, further including a knob forming part of the locking bar operating mechanism.

14. The fingerprint-operated padlock of claim 13 wherein the knob has a gear drive with a gear lock therein mounted on the knob, inside of the hollow interior.

15. The fingerprint-operated padlock of claim 14, further including a latch arm cooperating with the gear lock;

the latch arm being operable by a solenoid.

17. The fingerprint-operated padlock of claim 16 wherein the actuating mechanism includes a manually actuated knob, rotatably held in the padlock body.

18. The fingerprint-operated padlock of claim 17, further including a keyswitch operated between three positions to open or close the padlock, or to record a plurality of fingerprints into memory.

19. The fingerprint-operated padlock of claim 18 wherein the actuating mechanism includes an electric motor.

20. The fingerprint-operated padlock of claim 19, further including a keyswitch operated between three positions to open or close the padlock, or to record a plurality of fingerprints into memory.

16. A fingerprint-operated padlock, comprising:

a fingerprint sensor mounted on a padlock body having a locking bar;

a gear portion secured to the locking bar;

an actuating mechanism secured to a drive gear held in the body;

the drive gear cooperating with the gear portion;

a locking element secured to the drive gear;

a latch arm held in the padlock body and cooperating with the locking element;

a solenoid for releasing the latch arm;

a button held on the padlock body to activate the lock; and

a microprocessor and a power source held in the padlock body and operatively connected between the fingerprint sensor and the actuating mechanism to allow the locking bar to be opened if a fingerprint stored in a memory is matched to a fingerprint read by the fingerprint sensor.