Electronic lock system with occupancy block

• US 5,670,940 A
• Filed: 04/19/1996
• Issued: 09/23/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 04/19/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Vingcard As (Assa Abloy AB)
• Original Assignee: Assa Abloy Opening Solutions Norway AS (Assa Abloy AB)
• Inventors: Reed, William, Holcomb, Glen
• Primary Examiner(s): Hofsass, Jeffery
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lee, Benjamin C.
• Application Number:
  US08/634,884
• Time in Patent Office: 522 Days
• Field of Search: 340/296, 340/540, 340/541, 340/542, 340/543, 340/573, 340/325.32, 340/325.3, 340/325.31, 340/522, 70/431, 70/262, 70/263
• US Class Current: 340/543
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00571 operated by interacting with a central unit
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00904 for hotels, motels, office buildings or the like
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/27 with central registration
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/60 Systems
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/625 Operation and control
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/80 Parts, attachments, accessories and adjuncts

Abstract

The electric lock system operates to block access to the room when a guest key has been used and the guest is detected as being present in the room. The lock blocks access to hotel staff and provides the guest greater privacy in the room. The lock system employs an electronic lock in combination with a motion detector for detecting the presence of the guest in the room.

Claims

1. An electronic lock system having an electronic lock mounted in a door to allow access to a room wherein said lock can be opened by more than one key;

and a key with a key code thereon;

said lock having a means for reading said key code when a key is inserted into said electronic lock;

a means for storing an access code;

a means for comparing said key code with said access code such that if a key code matches said access code said lock opens to allow access to said room, the improvement comprising;

(a) a guest key with a guest key code thereon for use by a guest, said means for storing having a guest access code stored therein which matches said guest key code to allow access by said guest to said room;

(b) a staff key with a staff key code thereon for use by staff, said means for storing having a staff access code stored therein which matches said staff key code to allow access by said staff to said room;

(c) a means for detecting when a person is in said room; and

(d) a means for blocking opening of said lock by said staff key when said guest key has been used succeeded by said means for detecting having detected a person in said room.

2. The electronic lock system of claim 1 wherein said means for blocking is housed in said electronic lock.

3. The electronic lock system of claim 1 further comprising a security key with a security key code thereon for use by security, said means for storing having a security access code that matches said security key code and allows access by said security to said room, and said means for blocking not preventing opening of said lock by said security key.

4. The electronic lock system of claim 1 wherein said means for detecting is a motion detector in combination with a door switch.

5. The electronic lock system of claim 4 wherein said motion detector is a passive infrared motion detector.

6. The electronic lock system of claim 4 wherein said motion detector is mounted on an inside wall of said room.

7. The electronic lock system of claim 4 wherein said motion detector is housed in said electronic lock.

8. A method for blocking access to a room by staff using an electronic lock mounted in a door for said room, comprising the steps of:

(a) blocking access to non-guest card keys after a guest card key has been used in said electronic lock and thereafter a person is detected in said room; and

(b) removing said block to non-guest card keys by determining a change in state of said door and an absence of a person from said room.