Fast access electronic locking system

• US 5,299,436 A
• Filed: 10/18/1991
• Issued: 04/05/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 03/13/1990
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Mardesich Enterprises Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Mardesich Enterprises Incorporated
• Inventors: Spitzer, Joseph C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cuomo, Peter M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): BARRETT, SUZANNE LALE DINO
• Application Number:
  US07/781,011
• Time in Patent Office: 900 Days
• Field of Search: 70/57, 70/58, 70/62, 70/1.5, 70/276-278, 70/413, 248/552, 248/551, 248/553, 248/499, 248/500, 248/503, 248/505
• US Class Current: 70/58
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 73/0082 for office machines, e.g. PC's, portable computers, typewriters, calculators
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/5009 For portable articles
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/7057 Permanent magnet
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/7904 Magnetic features

Abstract

A security apparatus for attaching a portable unit to be protected to a supporting surface. The security apparatus includes a normally deactivated passive locking unit, which is activated by an electronic key unit, which is portable and moved adjacent to the passive locking unit to power it. The key unit includes a device for coupling electromagnetically the key and the locking units to transmit electrical power therebetween. A magnet is concealed within the security device to activate the electronic key, only when it is placed in the proper position relative thereto. Additionally, a mechanical arrangement for a locking pin is employed to further provide a level of sophistication before the actual unlocking of the device occurs.

Claims

1. Security apparatus for attaching a unit to be protected to a supporting surface, comprising:

securing means for attaching the unit to be supporting surface, said securing means having openable means for permitting the unit to be received therin or removed therefrom by an authorized user;

a fast access locking system for controlling the opening or closing of said openable means;

said fast access locking system including locking means for securing releasably said openable means in its locked position;

passive receiving means responsive to a magnetic signal connected to said securing means for activating electrically said locking means under the control of an authorized user;

active energizing key means for supplying a magnetic signal to said passive receiving means to activate it;

means for housing said key means for enabling said key means to be moved manually by an authorized user to a position adjacent to said receiving means to facilitate the activation of said locking means; and

means for coupling electromagnetically said key means and said receiving means to transmit electromagnetic power therebetween, said coupling means including transformer means having a primary winding and a secondary winding for producing said magnetic signal to facilitate coupling between said active energizing key means and said passive receiving means, wherein one of said winding is electrically connected to said passive receiving means and the other said winding is electrically connected to said active energizing key means.

2. A security apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said locking means includes a locking pin normally within an opening in said openable means having movable latching means for engaging a locking member fixed on said securing means to lock said locking pin within said opening, and means responsive to passive receiving means for moving said latching means to a retracted position to free said locking pin.

3. A security apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said locking member includes a rod for moving said latching means into its latching position, and spring means for urging resiliently said latching means into its retracted position.

4. A security apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said coupling means further includes a magnetic switch means having a magnet means and a switch means responsive to said magnet means to energize said transformer means when said active energizing key means is moved manually by said authorized user to a designated position adjacent to said receiving means.

5. A security apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said active energizing key means includes means to receive a combination code to control activation of said locking means.