ELECTRO-MECHANICAL LOCKS WITH BEZEL TURNING FUNCTION

• US 20140260451A1
• Filed: 03/12/2014
• Published: 09/18/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ASSA Abloy Americas Residential Incorporated (Assa Abloy AB)
• Original Assignee: Kwikset Corporation (Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.)
• Inventors: QUACH, BYRON, FARAG, HANNA OSAMA, LIN, JAMES
• Granted Patent: US 9,487,971 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 70/278.1
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 1/0007 Knobs E05B1/0015, E05B1/0053, E05B1/0061, E05B1/0069 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 1/0061 Knobs or handles with protective cover, buffer or shock absorber
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 2015/0448 Units of springs; Two or more springs working together
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 2047/0017 with rotary motion
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 2047/002 Geared transmissions
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 2047/0031 of the elastic type
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 2047/0058 by batteries
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 47/0005 said core being rotary movable
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 47/0012 with rotary electromotors actuators with rotary electromotors per se H02K7/06, H02K23/68
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 47/0657 by locking the handle, spindle, follower or the like
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 47/0676 by disconnecting the handle
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 47/068 axially, i.e. with an axially disengaging coupling element
• 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: Y10T 70/7068 Actuated after correct combination recognized [e.g., numerical, alphabetical, or magnet[s] pattern]

Abstract

The present disclosure provides an electro-mechanical lock assembly which illustratively includes a motor, a gear, a driver, a torque member, a housing, and a bezel. The motor is operable upon selective input. The motor is also coupled to the driver to engage both the gear and the housing when the motor is in operation. The bezel is attached to the gear such that when the driver is engaged with both the gear and the housing, manual rotation of the bezel will rotate the housing. The housing is attached to the torque member which is configured to move a latch such that when the bezel rotates the latch is moved.

Claims

1. An electro-mechanical lock assembly comprising:

a keypad;

a motor;

a gear;

a spline-driver;

a torque member;

a housing;

a bezel;

wherein the motor is operable upon selective input to the keypad;

wherein the motor is coupled to the spline-driver to engage both the gear and the housing when the motor is in operation;

wherein the bezel is attached to the gear such that when the spline-driver is engaged with both the gear and the housing, manual rotation of the bezel will rotate the housing; and

wherein the housing is attached to the torque member which is configured to move a latch such that when the bezel rotates the latch is moved.

2. The electro-mechanical lock assembly of claim 1, further comprising a base located adjacent the bezel and configured to fit against a door.

3. The electro-mechanical lock assembly of claim 1, wherein the keypad is configured to receive a combination code as the selective input to operate the motor.

4. The electro-mechanical lock assembly of claim 1, further comprising a cable ribbon in communication with a PCB board that determines if a proper combination code as the selective input is entered into the keypad to direct a signal to the motor to operate the motor.

5. The electro-mechanical lock assembly of claim 4, wherein the cable ribbon is extendable from the electro-mechanical lock assembly and connectable to a battery case in a turnpiece assembly.

6. The electro-mechanical lock assembly of claim 5, wherein the cable ribbon is supported by a support attached to the electro-mechanical lock assembly so the cable ribbon does not interfere with any backset assembly components that move a door latch or bolt.

7. The electro-mechanical lock assembly of claim 1, further comprising a drive rod that is attached to the motor;

wherein the drive rod rotates as the motor operates;

a pin extends transversely through the drive rod and rotates with the drive rod;

a spring is wound around the drive rod;

a second spring extends from the spline-driver to the housing;

wherein the pin acts as a cam follower by engagement of the coil wire of the spring.

8. The electro-mechanical lock assembly of claim 7, wherein engagement of the coil wire of the spring compresses or extends the spring along the longitudinal length of the drive rod;

a carriage is movable back and forth along the drive rod such that as the spring expands or compresses the carriage is engagable with the spline-driver such that as the pin extends or retracts the spring the spline-driver is likewise pulled or pushed.

9. The electro-mechanical lock assembly of claim 8, wherein the second spring is in compression so it biases the spline-driver towards the pin.

10. The electro-mechanical lock assembly of claim 9, wherein when the spline-driver is moved to a location that is between both the housing and the gear, manually rotating the bezel which is attached to the gear, rotates the housing which is attached to and rotates the torque member.

11. The electro-mechanical lock assembly of claim 10, wherein when the spline-driver is not engaged to both the housing and the gear, the housing will not rotate the torque member.

12. The electro-mechanical lock assembly of claim 1, wherein the torque member is attached to the housing by a second pin.

13. The electro-mechanical lock assembly of claim 5, wherein the turnpiece assembly includes a plate, a battery case, a button, vibration dampening pads, a rose, and a knob.

14. The electro-mechanical lock assembly of claim 13, wherein the button may engage a switch mechanism that is in communication with at least one battery in the battery case to send a signal through the ribbon cable to operate the motor.

15. An electro-mechanical lock assembly comprising:

a motor;

a coupling;

a driver;

a torque member;

a housing;

a bezel;

wherein the motor is coupled to the driver to engage both the coupling and the housing when the motor is in operation;

wherein the bezel is attached to the coupling such that when the driver is engaged with both the coupling and the housing, manual rotation of the bezel will rotate the housing; and

wherein the housing is attached to the torque member which is configured to move a latch such that when the bezel rotates the latch is moved.

16. The electro-mechanical lock assembly of claim 15, further comprising a base located adjacent the bezel and configured to fit against a door.

17. The electro-mechanical lock assembly of claim 15, further comprising a keypad that is configured to receive a combination code to operate the motor.

18. The electro-mechanical lock assembly of claim 15, further comprising a cable ribbon in communication with a PCB board that determines if a proper combination code as the selective input is entered into the keypad to direct a signal to the motor to operate the motor.

19. The electro-mechanical lock assembly of claim 18, wherein the cable ribbon is extendable from the electro-mechanical lock assembly and connectable to a battery case in a turnpiece assembly.

20. The electro-mechanical lock assembly of claim 19, wherein the cable ribbon is supported by a support attached to the electro-mechanical lock assembly so the cable ribbon does not interfere with any backset assembly components that move a door latch or bolt.

21. The electro-mechanical lock assembly of claim 15, further comprising a drive rod that is attached to the motor;

wherein the drive rod rotates as the motor operates;

a pin extends transversely through the drive rod and rotates with the drive rod;

a spring is wound around the drive rod;

a second spring extends from the driver to the housing;

wherein the pin acts as a cam follower by engagement of the coil wire of the spring.

22. The electro-mechanical lock assembly of claim 21, wherein engagement of the coil wire of the spring compresses or extends the spring along the longitudinal length of the drive rod;

a carriage is movable back and forth along the drive rod such that as the spring expands or compresses the carriage is engagable with the driver such that as the pin extends or retracts the spring, the driver is likewise pulled or pushed.

23. The electro-mechanical lock assembly of claim 22, wherein the second spring is in compression so it biases the driver towards the pin.

24. The electro-mechanical lock assembly of claim 23, wherein when the driver is moved to a location that is between both the housing and the coupling, manually rotating the bezel which is attached to the coupling, rotates the housing which is attached to and rotates the torque member.

25. The electro-mechanical lock assembly of claim 24, wherein when the driver is not engaged to both the housing and the coupling, the housing will not rotate the torque member.

26. The electro-mechanical lock assembly of claim 15, wherein the torque member is attached to the housing by a second pin.

27. The electro-mechanical lock assembly of claim 19, wherein the turnpiece assembly includes a plate, a battery case, a button, vibration dampening pads, a rose, and a knob.

28. The electro-mechanical lock assembly of claim 27, wherein the button may engage a switch mechanism that is in communication with at least one battery in the battery case to send a signal through the ribbon cable to operate the motor.