Dead-bolt lock monitoring unit and system

• US 6,078,256 A
• Filed: 08/24/1994
• Issued: 06/20/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 08/24/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: DesignTech International Incorporated
• Original Assignee: DesignTech International Incorporated
• Inventors: Gottlieb, Mark
• Primary Examiner(s): Horabik, Michael
• Assistant Examiner(s): WONG, ALBERT KANG
• Application Number:
  US08/294,913
• Time in Patent Office: 2,127 Days
• Field of Search: 340/542, 70/149, 70/112, 70/99, 70/113
• US Class Current: 340/542
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 2047/0069 bolt position
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 45/12 by movement of the bolt E05B45/083 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/5204 Interfitting lock housing and keeper
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/5248 Multiple
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/5496 Freely movable external manipulator

Abstract

A dead-bolt receptacle unit and monitoring system which allows an operator to quickly and efficiently determine a status of a dead-bolt, i.e. whether the dead-bolt is bolted or unbolted. A dead-bolt receiving unit is provided into which a dead-bolt cylinder is inserted. A dead-bolt detecting unit is formed in a dead-bolt receiving unit, and the dead-bolt detecting unit detects a presence of the dead-bolt cylinder in the dead-bolt receiving unit. The dead-bolt detecting unit further outputs a dead-bolt detecting signal which is based on the detected presence of the dead-bolt cylinder and the dead-bolt receiving slot. A central indicator unit receives the dead-bolt detecting signals output by each dead-bolt detecting unit, and provides an indication of the status of each dead-bolt, i.e. whether each dead-bolt is bolted or unbolted. Such a system allows an operator to quickly and easily determine the status of each dead-bolt in a home.

Claims

1. A dead-bolt receptacle unit comprising:

a dead-bolt detecting unit formed in the dead-bolt receptacle unit, the dead-bolt detecting unit detecting a presence of the dead-bolt cylinder in the dead-bolt receiving bolt, and generating a non-audible dead-bolt detecting signal based on the detected presence of the dead-bolt cylinder in the dead-bolt receiving slot,

wherein the dead-bolt detecting unit comprises an intermittently pulsing light emitting diode and an optical receiver for detecting the presence of the dead-bolt cylinder in the dead-bolt receiving slot.

2. The dead-bolt receptacle unit according to claim 1, wherein the dead-bolt detecting unit further comprises a radio transmitter for transmitting the dead-bolt detecting signal.

3. A dead-bolt receptacle unit comprising:

a dead-bolt detecting unit formed in the dead-bolt receptacle unit, the dead-bolt detecting unit detecting a presence of the dead-bolt cylinder in the dead-bolt receiving bolt, and generating a non-audible dead-bolt detecting signal based on the detected presence of the dead-bolt cylinder in the dead-bolt receiving slot,

wherein the dead-bolt cylinder is made of metal and wherein the dead-bolt detecting unit comprises a metal proximity detector for detecting the presence of the dead-bolt cylinder in the dead-bolt receiving slot.

4. The dead-bolt receptacle unit according to claim 3, wherein the dead-bolt detecting unit further comprises a radio transmitter for transmitting the dead-bolt detecting signal.

5. A dead-bolt monitoring system, comprising:

at least one dead-bolt receiving unit into which a respective dead-bolt cylinder is inserted;

a dead-bolt detecting unit formed in each dead-bolt receiving unit, the dead-bolt detecting unit detecting a presence of the respective dead-bolt cylinder in the dead-bolt receiving slot, and generating a respective non-audible dead-bolt signal based on the detected presence of the respective dead-bolt cylinder in the dead-bolt receiving slot; and

an indicator receiving the respective dead-bolt detecting signals from each dead-bolt detecting unit and indicating a bolted/unbolted status of the respective dead-bolt cylinders in each of the dead-bolt receiving units.

6. The dead-bolt monitoring system according to claim 5, wherein each dead-bolt detecting unit comprises an intermittently pulsing light emitting diode and an optical receiver for detecting the presence of the dead-bolt cylinder in the dead-bolt receiving slot.

7. The dead-bolt monitoring system according to claim 6, wherein each dead-bolt detecting unit further comprises a radio transmitter for transmitting the respective dead-bolt detecting signal.

8. The dead-bolt monitoring system according to claim 5, wherein the dead-bolt cylinder is made of metal and wherein each dead-bolt detecting unit comprises a metal proximity detector for detecting the presence of the dead-bolt cylinder in the dead-bolt receiving slot.

9. The dead-bolt monitoring system according to claim 8, wherein each dead-bolt detecting unit further comprises a radio transmitter for transmitting the respective dead-bolt detecting signal.

10. The dead-bolt monitoring system according to claim 5, wherein the indicator comprises a separate indicator for each of the respective dead-bolt detecting signals.

11. The dead-bolt monitoring system according to claim 5, wherein the indicator unit comprises an audible indication indicating a change in the presence of any of the respective dead-bolt detecting signals.

12. A dead-bolt monitoring system, comprising:

a plurality of dead-bolt receiving units into which respective dead-bolt cylinders are inserted;

a dead-bolt detecting unit formed in each dead-bolt receiving unit, the dead-bolt detecting unit detecting a presence of the respective dead-bolt cylinder in the dead-bolt receiving slot;

a RF transmitter formed in each dead-bolt receiving unit and connected to receive an output of a respective dead-bolt detecting unit, and for generating a respective dead-bolt detecting signal based on the detected presence of the dead-bolt cylinder in the dead-bolt slot; and

an indicator receiving the respective dead-bolt detecting signals from each RF transmitter and indicating a bolted/unbolted status of each of the dead-bolt cylinders in each of the dead-bolt receiving units.

13. The dead-bolt monitoring system according to claim 12, wherein each dead-bolt detecting unit comprises an intermittently pulsing light emitting diode and an optical receiver for detecting the presence of the dead-bolt cylinder in the dead-bolt receiving slot.

14. The dead-bolt monitoring system according to claim 12, wherein each dead-bolt detecting unit comprises a metal proximity detector for detecting the presence of the dead-bolt cylinder in the dead-bolt receiving slot.

15. The dead-bolt monitoring system according to claim 12, wherein the indicator unit comprises a separate indicator for each of the respective dead-bolt detecting signals.

16. The dead-bolt monitoring system according to claim 12, wherein the indicator unit comprises an audible indication indicating a change in presence of any of the respective dead-bolt detecting signals.