Remotely operable security deadbolt lock device with anti-theft manually operable release

• US 5,636,536 A
• Filed: 12/08/1995
• Issued: 06/10/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 12/08/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: James A. Kinnucan
• Original Assignee: James A. Kinnucan
• Inventors: Kinnucan, James A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Meyers, Steven N.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lecher, Donald J.
• Application Number:
  US08/569,869
• Time in Patent Office: 550 Days
• Field of Search: 70/257, 70/104, 70/107, 70/111, 70/131, 70/279, 292/144
• US Class Current: 70/107
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 81/28 Linearly reciprocating elements
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 81/90 Manual override in case of power failure
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 83/12 for back doors of vans E05B83/04, E05B83/08 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 83/38 for pillar-less vehicles, i.e. vehicles where a front and a back door engage each other in the closed position
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00769 with data transmission performed by wireless means
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/0092 for cargo, freight or shipping containers and applications therefore in general
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/1021 Motor
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/5226 Combined dead bolt and latching bolt
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/5978 With switch
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/7107 And alternately mechanically actuated by a key, dial, etc.

Abstract

An improved remotely operable security deadbolt lock device and a module therefor having an anti-theft manually operable release for a vehicle, particularly a vehicle having mating doors, such as a cargo van, includes a deadbolt having a plunger in a housing for securing the deadbolt when the deadbolt is in the locked position. The device is remotely operable by having an actuator operably connected to the deadbolt, a receiver capable of receiving a selected electrical signal to cause the actuator to be energized, and a transmitter remote from the receiver capable of transmitting the selected electrical signal to the receiver. The device further includes a manually manipulable release device including a crank arm within the housing coupled to the plunger by a shaft passing therethrough, and the crank arm having a hook and the housing having a catch for the hook. The lock device can be opened from within the vehicle without using the remotely operable elements of the device, by manually rotating a knob secured to the shaft, causing the crank arm to rotate, and hence the hook to rotate out of the catch, permitting the plunger to be manually slid into the unlocked position by sliding the knob and shaft in the direction away from the locked position.

Claims

1. A remotely operable security deadbolt lock device having an anti-theft manually operable release for a vehicle having at least one entryway defined by the vehicle and having a closure therefor for closing and securing the at least one entryway, said lock device comprising:

deadbolt means having a locked position and an unlocked position adapted for mounting on either one of the at least one entryway or on the closure therefor for securing the closure to the at least one entryway for preventing unauthorized opening of the closure;

said deadbolt means including a deadbolt plunger, a crank arm coupled to said plunger for sliding movement therewith between the locked and unlocked positions of said deadbolt means, and a housing through which said deadbolt plunger and at least a portion of the crank arm can move between the locked position and the unlocked position, said housing being adapted for mounting on either one of the at least one entryway or on the closure therefor, said crank arm of said deadbolt means having a hook extending therefrom, and said housing having catch means adapted and positioned for retaining said hook of said crank arm when said deadbolt plunger is in the locked position;

receiving means for receiving a portion of the deadbolt means and securing the deadbolt means when in the locked position, said receiving means being adapted for mounting on the other of the at least one entryway and the closure from which said deadbolt means may be mounted;

an actuator adapted for mounting on the one of the at least one entryway or the closure therefor on which the deadbolt means is adapted to be mounted, said actuator being operably connected to said deadbolt means;

a receiver capable of receiving a selected electrical signal and electrically coupled to said actuator to cause said actuator to be energized upon receiving the selected electrical signal to move said deadbolt means between the locked and the unlocked positions;

a transmitter remote from said receiver capable of transmitting the selected electrical signal to said receiver; and

manually manipulable release means adapted to be positioned within the vehicle operably connected with said deadbolt means for releasing said deadbolt means from said receiving means when said release means is manually manipulated from within the vehicle when said deadbolt means is in the locked position, said manipulable release means being inoperable except upon manual manipulation of said manipulable release means, said manually manipulable release means comprising means secured to a rotatable shaft affixed to said crank arm for manually rotating said shaft, whereby upon manual rotation of said manually rotatable means said shaft rotates to pivot said crank arm and said hook thereof away from said catch means permitting said deadbolt plunger to be manually slid away from said receiving means therefor, thereby releasing said deadbolt means from said receiving means.

2. The remotely operable security deadbolt lock device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said actuator includes a pinion and a rack which is reciprocally operated thereby, said rack being connected to said deadbolt plunger, whereby upon actuation of said actuator said rack and said deadbolt plunger are moved between the locked position and the unlocked position.

3. The remotely operable security deadbolt lock device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said actuator includes a pinion and a rack which is reciprocally operated thereby, said rack being connected to said deadbolt plunger by a lever arm, whereby upon actuation of said actuator said rack is moved and said deadbolt plunger is moved by said lever arm moved between the locked position and the unlocked position.

4. A remotely operable security deadbolt lock device with an anti-theft manual release for a vehicle having a cargo space and having a pair of cargo doors for together closing and securing an entryway, the cargo doors having respective side edges thereof facing each other and for engaging each other when in their closed position for partially enclosing the cargo space of the vehicle, said deadbolt lock device comprising:

a deadbolt having a locked position and an unlocked position, said deadbolt being adapted for mounting within the vehicle on one of the cargo doors of the vehicle adjacent the side edge thereof facing the other cargo door for movement between a locked position and an unlocked position, said deadbolt in the locked position extending beyond the side edge of the door on which it is adapted to be mounted toward the other cargo door;

said deadbolt including a deadbolt plunger, a crank arm coupled to said plunger for sliding movement therewith between the locked and unlocked positions of said deadbolt, and a housing through which said deadbolt plunger and at least a portion of the crank arm can move between the locked position and the unlocked position, said housing being adapted for mounting on either one of the at least one entryway or on the door therefor, said crank arm of said deadbolt having a hook extending therefrom, and said housing having catch means adapted and positioned for retaining said hook of said crank arm when said deadbolt plunger is in the locked position;

receiving means for receiving the portion of said deadbolt extending beyond the edge of the cargo door on which said deadbolt is adapted to be mounted and securing said deadbolt when said deadbolt is in the locked position with the cargo doors closed, said receiving means being adapted to be mounted within the vehicle on the other cargo door adjacent its edge facing the cargo door on which said deadbolt may be mounted;

an actuator adapted for mounting within the vehicle on the cargo door on which said deadbolt may be mounted, said actuator being operably connected to said deadbolt to move said deadbolt between the unlocked and locked positions of said deadbolt;

a receiver capable of receiving a selected electrical signal and electrically coupled to said actuator to cause said actuator to be energized upon receiving the selected electrical signal to move the deadbolt between the locked and the unlocked positions;

a transmitter remote from said receiver capable of transmitting the selected electrical signal to said receiver; and

a manually manipulable release device adapted to be positioned within the vehicle operably connected with said deadbolt for releasing said deadbolt from said receiving means when said release device is manually manipulated from within the vehicle when said deadbolt is in the locked position, said manipulable release device being inoperable except upon manual manipulation of said release device, said manually manipulable release device comprising means secured to a rotatable shaft affixed to said crank arm for manually rotating said shaft, whereby upon manual rotation of said manually rotatable means said shaft rotates to pivot said crank arm and said hook thereof away from said catch means permitting said deadbolt plunger to be manually slid away from said receiving means therefor, thereby releasing said deadbolt from said receiving means.

5. The remotely operable security deadbolt lock device as claimed in claim 4, wherein said manually manipulable release device comprises a knob secured to a rotatable shaft affixed to said crank arm, whereby upon manual rotation of said knob said shaft rotates to pivot said crank arm and said hook thereof away from said catch means permitting said deadbolt plunger to be manually slid away from said receiving means therefor, thereby releasing said deadbolt plunger from said receiving means.

6. The remotely operable security deadbolt lock device as claimed in claim 4, wherein said actuator includes a pinion and a rack which is reciprocally operated thereby, said rack being connected to said deadbolt plunger, whereby upon actuation of said actuator, said rack and said deadbolt plunger are moved between the locked position and the unlocked position.

7. The remotely operable security deadbolt lock device as claimed in claim 4, wherein said actuator includes a pinion and a rack which is reciprocally operated thereby, said rack being connected to said deadbolt plunger by a lever arm, whereby upon actuation of said actuator, said rack is moved and said deadbolt plunger is moved by said lever arm between the locked position and the unlocked position.

8. The remotely operable security deadbolt lock device as claimed in claim 4, wherein said receiving means is a strike plate adapted for mounting within the vehicle on the other cargo door adjacent its edge facing the cargo door on which said deadbolt may be mounted, said strike plate being adapted to receive the portion of said deadbolt plunger extending beyond the edge of the cargo door on which said deadbolt may be mounted and to secure said deadbolt when said deadbolt is in the locked position with the cargo doors closed.

9. The remotely operable security deadbolt lock device as claimed in claim 4, wherein said catch means is an opening defined in said housing whereby said hook of said crank arm may enter and be retained therein when said deadbolt is in the locked position.

10. A remotely operable security deadbolt lock device with an anti-theft manually operable release for a vehicle having a cargo space and having a pair of cargo doors having respective side edges thereof for engaging each other when in their closed position for partially enclosing the cargo space of the vehicle, said deadbolt lock device comprising:

a deadbolt having a locked position and an unlocked position and including a deadbolt plunger and a crank arm coupled to said plunger for sliding movement therewith between the locked and unlocked positions, said deadbolt plunger and said crank arm being positioned within a housing through which said deadbolt plunger and at least a portion of the crank arm can move between the locked position and the unlocked position of said deadbolt plunger, said housing being adapted for mounting within the vehicle on one of the cargo doors of the vehicle adjacent the side edge thereof facing the other cargo door, said crank arm having a hook extending therefrom, and said housing having catch means adapted and positioned for retaining said hook of said crank arm when said deadbolt plunger is in the locked position, said deadbolt plunger in the locked position adapted and positioned for extending beyond the side edge of the door on which it may be mounted toward the other cargo door;

a strike plate adapted for mounting within the vehicle on the other cargo door adjacent its edge facing the cargo door on which said deadbolt plunger is adapted for mounting said strike plate being adapted to receive the portion of said deadbolt plunger adapted for extending beyond the edge of the cargo door on which said deadbolt may be mounted and for securing said deadbolt when said deadbolt is in the locked position with the cargo doors closed;

an actuator adapted for mounting within the vehicle on the cargo door on which said deadbolt is adapted to be mounted, said actuator being operably connected to said deadbolt plunger to move said deadbolt plunger between the unlocked and locked positions of said deadbolt plunger;

a receiver capable of receiving a selected electrical signal and electrically coupled to said actuator to cause said actuator to be energized upon receiving the selected electrical signal to move the deadbolt plunger between the locked and the unlocked positions;

a transmitter remote from said receiver capable of transmitting the selected electrical signal to said receiver; and

a manually manipulable release device adapted to be positioned within the vehicle comprising a knob secured to a rotatable shaft affixed to said crank arm, whereby upon manual rotation of said knob, said shaft rotates to pivot said crank arm and said hook thereof away from said catch means permitting said deadbolt plunger to be manually slid away from said strike plate, said release device being inoperable except upon manual rotation of said knob and shaft.

11. The remotely operable security deadbolt lock device as claimed in claim 10, wherein said catch means is an opening defined in said housing whereby said hook of said crank arm may enter and be retained therein when said deadbolt is in the locked position.

12. A remotely operable security deadbolt lock device module with an anti-theft manually operable release for a vehicle having at least one entryway defined by the vehicle and having a closure therefor for closing and securing the at least one entryway, said module comprising:

a mounting plate, said mounting plate including mounting means adapted for mounting said module in the vehicle;

a deadbolt having a locked position and an unlocked position and including a deadbolt plunger and a crank arm coupled to said plunger for sliding movement therewith between the locked and unlocked positions, said deadbolt plunger and said crank arm being adapted to be positioned within a housing through which at least a portion of said deadbolt plunger and at least a portion of the crank arm can move between the locked position and the unlocked positions of said deadbolt plunger, said housing being mounted on said mounting plate;

said mounting plate adapted for mounting on either one of the at least one entryway or on the closure therefor to enable said deadbolt in the locked position to secure the closure to the at least one entryway to prevent unauthorized opening of the closure;

said crank arm having a hook extending therefrom, and said housing having catch means adapted and positioned for retaining said hook of said crank arm when said deadbolt plunger is in the locked position;

an actuator mounted on said mounting plate, said actuator being operably connected to said deadbolt plunger to move said deadbolt plunger between the unlocked and locked positions of said deadbolt plunger; and

a manually manipulable release device comprising a knob secured to a rotatable shaft affixed to said crank arm, whereby upon manual rotation of said knob, said shaft rotates to pivot said crank arm and said hook thereof away from said catch means permitting said deadbolt plunger to be manually slid away from the locked position to the unlocked position, said release device being inoperable except upon manual rotation of said knob and shaft.

13. The remotely operable security deadbolt lock device module as claimed in claim 12, wherein said catch means is an opening defined in said housing whereby said hook of said crank arm may enter and be retained therein when said deadbolt is in the locked position.