Keyless entry systems for use with conventional locksets
First Claim
1. Apparatus for operating a lockset which comprises a lockset body and a latch, said lockset having (1) a latch closed state in which the latch is extended from the lockset body, (2) a latch open state in which the latch is retracted into the lockset body, and (3) a rotatable inside handle which, upon rotation, transfers the lockset from its latch closed state to its latch open state, said apparatus comprising:
- (A) an electric motor;
(B) control means for activating the electric motor in response to a signal transmitted from a remote location; and
(C) drive means associated with the electric motor for rotating the inside door handle when the control means activates the electric motor to transfer the lockset to its latch open state.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A keyless entry system for use with conventional locksets is provided. The system employs a battery operated motor and a gear train mounted on the inside of a door. The motor and gear train rotate the inside handle of the lockset in the same manner as a user would rotate the handle to unlatch the door. Misalignments between the gear train and the lockset are accommodated by a pawl which connects the gear train to the connecting shaft between the lockset'"'"'s inside and outside door handles. The electric motor is activated by a control system responsive to a RF signal generated by a transmitter pendant carried by the user. The RF signal includes a user code, and the control system has a learning mode and an operating mode, with the learning mode serving to record a list of one or more authorized user codes and the operating mode employing that list to determine if the door should be unlatched in response to a particular user code.
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Citations
26 Claims
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1. Apparatus for operating a lockset which comprises a lockset body and a latch, said lockset having (1) a latch closed state in which the latch is extended from the lockset body, (2) a latch open state in which the latch is retracted into the lockset body, and (3) a rotatable inside handle which, upon rotation, transfers the lockset from its latch closed state to its latch open state, said apparatus comprising:
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(A) an electric motor; (B) control means for activating the electric motor in response to a signal transmitted from a remote location; and (C) drive means associated with the electric motor for rotating the inside door handle when the control means activates the electric motor to transfer the lockset to its latch open state. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. Apparatus for operating a lockset which comprises a lockset body and a latch, said lockset having (1) a latch closed state in which the latch is extended from the lockset body, (2) a latch open state in which the latch is retracted into the lockset body, (3) a rotatable inside handle, (4) a rotatable outside handle, and (5) an elongated rotatable shaft which connects the rotatable inside handle with the rotatable outside handle, said apparatus comprising:
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(A) an electric motor; (B) control means for activating the electric motor; (C) misalignment means for mounting on the elongated rotatable shaft; and (D) gear means connected between the electric motor and the misalignment means for rotating the misalignment means when the control means activates the electric motor. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. Apparatus using a transmitted signal to remotely operate a system, said signal including a user code, said apparatus comprising:
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(A) memory means for storing one or more user codes; (B) detecting means for detecting the transmitted signal; (C) extracting means for extracting a user code from the detected signal; (D) storing means operable under a first condition for storing a user code obtained by the extracting means in the memory means; (E) comparing means operable under a second condition for comparing a user code obtained by the extracting means with the one or more user codes stored in the memory means by the storing means; and (F) a transmitter which generates the transmitted signal both under the first condition and under the second condition. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A method for remotely operating a lockset which comprises a lockset body and a latch, said lockset having (1) a latch closed state in which the latch is extended from the lockset body, (2) a latch open state in which the latch is retracted into the lockset body, and (3) a rotatable inside handle which, upon rotation, transfers the lockset from its latch closed state to its latch open state, said method comprising:
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(A) detecting a signal transmitted from a remote location, said signal including a user code; (B) extracting the user code from the detected signal; (C) determining if the user code is an authorized user code; and (D) if the user code is an authorized user code, activating an electric motor to rotate the inside handle to transfer the lockset to its latch open state. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22)
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23. A method for using a transmitted signal to remotely operate a system, said signal including a user code, said method comprising:
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(A) providing a learning mode which comprises detecting one or more transmitted signals, extracting a user code from each detected signal, and storing the extracted user code in a memory; and (B) providing an operating mode which comprises detecting transmitted signals, extracting a user code from each detected signal, comparing the extracted user code with the one or more user codes stored in the memory during the learning mode, and operating the system only when the extracted user code matches a user code stored in the memory; wherein the one or more transmitted signals of learning step (A) are generated by a set of one or more transmitters and the transmitted signals of operating step (B) are generated by one or more members of the same set. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26)
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Specification