ELECTRONIC LATCH MECHANISM

• US 20110056253A1
• Filed: 09/09/2010
• Published: 03/10/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/10/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CompX International Incorporated
• Original Assignee: CompX International Incorporated
• Inventors: Walla, Gregg W., Greiner, Matthew R.
• Granted Patent: US 8,516,864 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 70/85
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 3/1404 Means for facilitating stowing or transporting of the trolleys; Antitheft arrangements B62B5/0423 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 2047/0094 Mechanical aspects of remotely controlled locks electronic locks G07C9/00
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 47/0002 with electromagnets
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 47/0004 said core being linearly movable
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 47/0607 the detent moving pivotally or rotatively
• CPC Class Codes: E05C 3/24 in the form of a bifurcated member automatic catches with a bifurcated latch E05C19/024; locks with a bifurcated bolt E05B65/0046, E05B85/243
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/1082 Motor
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/5128 Drawer
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/5978 With switch
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/70 Operating mechanism
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/7062 Electrical type [e.g., solenoid]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/7102 And details of blocking system [e.g., linkage, latch, pawl, spring]

Abstract

A latch apparatus for providing secure storage to an enclosure is disclosed. The latch apparatus can include an actuating device that operates to lock or unlock the latch apparatus in response to a control signal. The control signal can be communicated to the latch apparatus through an RF or other transmitted signal or through hardwires connecting the latch apparatus to the remote device. The latch apparatus can be maintained in either a locked state or an unlocked state without having to continuously supply power to the latch apparatus. The latch apparatus can include a latch hook that can be detent biased to both the open position and the closed position while the latch apparatus is in either a locked state or an unlocked state. The latch hook can move from the open position to the closed position while the latch apparatus is in a locked state. The latch apparatus can also have a thickness such that the latch apparatus will fit in the gap in which drawer slide hardware for an enclosure is installed.

Claims

1. A latch apparatus for cooperating with a strike to provide secure storage to an enclosure associated therewith, comprising:

an actuating device for selectively placing said latch apparatus in either of a locked state and an unlocked state thereof in response to a control signal;

a latch hook movable between respective open and closed positions thereof relative to an associated strike;

bi-stable latch hook detent biasing means for biasing said latch hook to either of said open position and said closed position thereof while said latch apparatus is in either of said locked state and said unlocked state thereof; and

a biased actuating device catch, associated with said actuating device and interoperative with said latch hook, so that said latch hook is movable from said open position thereof to said closed position thereof while said latch apparatus is in either one of its locked and unlocked states.

2. A latch apparatus as in claim 1, wherein:

said actuating device comprises an electrically operated solenoid; and

said latch apparatus further includes bi-stable solenoid biasing means associated with said solenoid so that said latch apparatus can be maintained in either of said locked state and said unlocked state thereof without having to continuously supply power to said latch apparatus.

3. A latch apparatus as in claim 2, wherein:

said solenoid includes a bi-position movable plunger which moves to an opposite position thereof when said solenoid is actuated; and

said bi-stable solenoid biasing means includes a spring for biasing said solenoid plunger to said unlocked state of said latch apparatus, and includes a magnet for biasing said solenoid plunger to said locked state of said latch apparatus.

4. A latch apparatus as in claim 2, wherein said latch apparatus further includes:

an RF receiver for receiving said control signal from an associated user-controlled RF remote control signal device; and

a battery-operated power supply for powering said electrically operated solenoid and for powering said RF receiver.

5. A latch apparatus as in claim 4, wherein said latch apparatus further includes a relatively flat profile housing for receipt of said latch apparatus in a drawer of an associated enclosure, said housing having a removable section for receipt of said battery-operated power supply to facilitate changing of batteries of said power supply.

6. A latch apparatus as in claim 5, wherein:

said remote control signal device includes keypad means for input of an access code thereto transmitted with said control signal; and

said latch apparatus further includes circuitry associated with said RF receiver for decoding said access code to decide whether to send said control signal to said actuating device.

7. A latch apparatus as in claim 4, wherein said latch apparatus further includes:

a housing for receipt of said latch apparatus in an associated enclosure; and

a circuit board received in said housing, said circuit board providing said RF receiver and providing a processor for controlling operation of said electrically operated solenoid in response to said control signal.

8. A latch apparatus as in claim 7, wherein an associated user-controlled RF remote control signal device transmits encoded control signal data, and said processor includes a database of access codes for processing such encoded control signal data.

9. A latch apparatus as in claim 1, wherein said latch apparatus includes a receiver for receiving said control signal from an associated user-controlled remote control signal device.

10. A latch apparatus as in claim 1, wherein:

said actuating device comprises an electrically operated solenoid; and

said latch apparatus further includes hardwired connections therewith, for receiving said control signal from a user-controlled source whereby access to an associated enclosure is controlled by a user, and for transfer of electrical power to said electrically operated solenoid.

11. A latch apparatus as in claim 1, wherein:

said latch apparatus further includes a housing for receipt of said latch apparatus in an associated enclosure; and

said bi-stable latch hook detent biasing means comprises a latch hook detent spring pivotably associated with said latch hook and having a center coil received in a curved guide formed by said housing, for providing bi-stable functionality of said bi-stable latch hook detent biasing means by movement of said spring center coil in said curved guide.

12. A battery-operated energy conserving electronic latch system for providing secure storage to an associated enclosure, comprising:

a strike associated with an enclosure to be secured;

an electrically operated solenoid for selectively placing said latch system in either of a locked state and an unlocked state thereof in response to a control signal;

a latch hook movable between respective open and closed positions thereof relative to an associated strike;

bi-stable latch hook detent biasing means for biasing said latch hook to either of said open position and said closed position thereof while said latch system is in either of said locked state and said unlocked state thereof;

a biased actuating device catch, associated with said solenoid and interoperative with said latch hook, so that said latch hook is movable from said open position thereof to said closed position thereof while said latch system is in either one of its locked and unlocked states;

an associated user-controlled remote control signal device for selectively transmitting said control signal;

a receiver for receiving said control signal;

a battery-operated power supply for powering said electrically operated solenoid and for powering said receiver; and

bi-stable solenoid biasing means associated with said solenoid so that said latch system can be maintained in either of said locked state and said unlocked state thereof without having to continuously supply power to said solenoid.

13. A battery-operated energy conserving electronic latch system as in claim 12, wherein:

said solenoid includes a bi-position movable plunger which moves to an opposite position thereof when said solenoid is actuated; and

said bi-stable solenoid biasing means includes a spring for biasing said solenoid plunger to said unlocked state of said latch system, and includes a magnet for biasing said solenoid plunger to said locked state of said latch system.

14. A battery-operated energy conserving electronic latch system as in claim 12, wherein:

said latch system further includes a housing for receipt of said solenoid, said latch hook, said bi-stable latch hook detent biasing means, said biased actuating device catch, said receiver, and said bi-stable solenoid biasing means; and

said battery-operated power supply is removably attached to said housing.

15. A battery-operated energy conserving electronic latch system as in claim 14, wherein:

said housing has a relatively flat profile for receipt thereof in a drawer of an associated enclosure;

said remote control signal device comprises an RF transmitter with keypad means for user input of an access code thereto transmitted with said control signal;

said receiver comprises an RF receiver; and

said latch system further includes a circuit board received in said housing, said circuit board providing said RF receiver and providing a processor associated with said RF receiver for decoding said access code to decide whether to send said control signal to said electrically operated solenoid.

16. A battery-operated energy conserving electronic latch system as in claim 14, wherein said bi-stable latch hook detent biasing means comprises a latch hook detent spring pivotably associated with said latch hook and having a center coil received in a curved guide formed by said housing, for providing bi-stable functionality of said bi-stable latch hook detent biasing means by movement of said spring center coil in said curved guide.

17. Methodology for a battery-operated energy conserving electronic latch apparatus for cooperating with a strike to provide secure storage to an associated enclosure, comprising:

providing an electrically operated solenoid for selectively placing the latch apparatus in either of a locked state and an unlocked state thereof in response to a control signal;

providing a latch hook movable by a user between respective open and closed positions thereof relative to an associated strike;

biasing such latch hook so that it is only in either of its open position or its closed position regardless of whether the latch apparatus is in either its locked state or unlocked state;

providing a catch associated with the solenoid and interoperative with the latch hook such that the latch hook is movable from its open position to its closed position regardless of whether the latch apparatus is in its locked or unlocked state;

providing a battery-operated power supply associated with the latch apparatus for powering the electrically operated solenoid; and

biasing the solenoid into either of the locked or unlocked state once such state is electrically selected by a control signal so that the latch apparatus can be maintained in either its locked state or its unlocked state without having to continuously supply power to the solenoid.

18. Methodology as in claim 17, further comprising:

providing a receiver, associated with the latch apparatus and powered by the battery-operated power supply, for receiving a control signal; and

selectively transmitting a control signal to such receiver for placing the latch apparatus in either such locked or unlocked state.

19. Methodology as in claim 17, wherein the step of biasing the solenoid into either of the locked or unlocked state includes differential biasing so that relatively more electrical energy is required to actuate the solenoid from the unlocked state to locked state, than is required to actuate the solenoid from the locked state to the unlocked state, so that preferentially, available power resources from the battery-operated power supply required to place the latch apparatus in a locked state will fail before failure of such available power resources to place latch apparatus in an unlocked state, thereby preventing loss of power to such latch apparatus while such latch apparatus is in its locked state.

20. Methodology as in claim 17, further including providing the latch apparatus in a relatively flat profile housing received in a drawer of an associated enclosure.