Electronic token and lock core

• US 6,442,986 B1
• Filed: 04/07/1999
• Issued: 09/03/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 04/07/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Stanley Security Solutions Incorporated (Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Best Block Co
• Inventors: Beylotte, James Edmond, Russell, Roger Keith, Palmer, Ralph P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gall, Lloyd A.
• Application Number:
  US09/287,981
• Time in Patent Office: 1,245 Days
• Field of Search: 702/782, 702/783, 702/786, 702/787, 702/791, 702/83, 702/831, 703/67--69, 703/71, 703/59
• US Class Current: 70/278.3
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 19/04 Construction of the bow or head of the key; Attaching the bow to the shank
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 47/0005 said core being rotary movable
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 47/0006 having a non-movable core; with permanent magnet
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 47/0012 with rotary electromotors actuators with rotary electromotors per se H02K7/06, H02K23/68
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 47/063 with a rectilinearly moveable blocking element
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 47/0634 with a pivotally moveable blocking element
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/20 involving the use of a pass
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/7068 Actuated after correct combination recognized [e.g., numerical, alphabetical, or magnet[s] pattern]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/7079 Key rotated [e.g., Eurocylinder]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/7102 And details of blocking system [e.g., linkage, latch, pawl, spring]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/7136 Key initiated actuation of device
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/7571 Concentric tumblers
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/7661 Detachable or removable cylinder

Abstract

A lock core for use with a token having an access code and a blade is provided. The lock core includes a core body, a lock actuator coupled to the core body for movement, a token communicator configured to read the access code when the blade is inserted into a passageway of the lock actuator, at least one movable tumbler element, a movable blocker, a biasing member situated between the at least one tumbler element and the blocker, and an electromagnetic actuator coupled to the core body and coupled to the token communicator. Insertion of the token in the passageway moves the at least one tumbler element to store energy in the biasing member. If the token communicator reads the access code after insertion of the token in the passageway, the electromagnetic actuator moves to unlock the blocker and the biasing member releases energy to move the blocker.

Claims

1. An interchangeable lock core that is configured to communicate with a token having an access code, the interchangeable lock core comprising

a core body,

a lock actuator that is coupled to the core body for movement relative to the core body, the lock actuator having a passageway configured to receive at least a portion of the token,

a token communicator coupled to the core body,

a blocker movable between a first blocker position wherein the lock actuator is fixed to the core body and a second blocker position wherein the lock actuator is movable relative to the core body,

at least one tumbler element movable between a first tumbler position and a second tumbler position,

a spring positioned to lie between the at least one tumbler element and the blocker, and

an electromagnetic actuator coupled to the core body and coupled to the token communicator, the electromagnetic actuator being movable between a locking position in which the blocker is locked in the first blocker position and a releasing position in which the blocker is movable from the first blocker position to the second blocker position, the spring being compressed between the at least one tumbler element and the blocker when the at least one tumbler element moves from the first tumbler position to the second tumbler position as a result of insertion of the token into the passageway, the electromagnetic actuator moving to the releasing position if the token communicator reads the access code, and the spring acting between the at least one tumbler element and the blocker to move the blocker from the first blocker position to the second blocker position after the electromagnetic actuator moves to the releasing position.

2. The lock core of claim 1, wherein the at least one tumbler element moves along an axis when moving between the first and second tumbler positions and the blocker moves along the axis when moving between the first and second blocker positions.

3. The lock core of claim 2, wherein the spring includes a coil spring that is coiled about the axis.

4. The lock core of claim 2, wherein the blocker is formed to include a bore and the spring is situated in the bore.

5. The lock core of claim 1, wherein the electromagnetic actuator includes a movable element that is spring biased into engagement with the blocker when the electromagnetic actuator is in the locking position.

6. An interchangeable lock core for use with a token having an access code, the lock core comprising

a core body,

a lock actuator coupled to the core body for movement relative to the core body,

a token communicator coupled to the core body, and

an electrical portion coupled to the core body, the electrical portion including a blocker movable along a first axis between a first blocker position wherein the blocker fixes the position of the lock actuator relative to the core body and a second blocker position wherein the blocker permits movement of the lock actuator relative to the core body, an electromagnet coupled to the token communicator, a biasing member that biases the blocker toward the second blocker position, a movable member coupled to the core body for rotation about a pivot axis, the movable member being movable by the electromagnet between a first position wherein the movable member contacts the blocker and a second position spaced apart from the first position, the biasing member being configured to move the blocker to the second blocker position when the movable member is in the second position, and the first axis being spaced apart from the pivot axis.

7. The lock core of claim 6, wherein the biasing member is a spring.

8. The lock core of claim 7, wherein the pivot axis is one of parallel with the first axis and perpendicular with the first axis.

9. The lock core of claim 6, further comprising a power supply configured to supply power to the electrical portion.

10. The lock core of claim 9, wherein the token communicator controls current supply to the electromagnet and the current supplied is supplied in a single pulse of short duration upon receipt of a valid access code.

11. The lock core of claim 6, further comprising a passageway formed in the lock actuator for receipt of a bitted blade of the token, a tumbler barrel partially formed in the core body and partially formed in the lock actuator, the tumbler barrel being in communication with the passageway and a plurality of tumbler pins contained in the tumbler barrel, the bitted blade engages a tumbler pin and positions the plurality of tumbler pins in the tumbler barrel to allow movement of the lock actuator with respect to the core body.

12. An interchangeable lock core for use with a token having an access code, the lock core comprising

a core body,

a lock actuator coupled to the core body for movement relative to the core body,

a token communicator coupled to the core body, and

an electrical portion coupled to the core body, the electrical portion including a blocker movable between a first position wherein the blocker fixes the position of the lock actuator relative to the core body and a second position wherein the blocker permits movement of the lock actuator relative to the core body, a biasing member that biases the blocker toward the second position, an electromagnet coupled to the token communicator, the electromagnet having spaced-apart first and second ends and a central portion between the first and second ends, the first end of the electromagnet having a cross sectional area, and a movable member movable by the electromagnet, the movable member having a surface facing the first end of the electromagnet and the surface having a cross-sectional area that is substantially equal to the cross sectional area of the first end of the electromagnet.

13. The lock core of claim 12, further comprising a passageway formed in the lock actuator for receipt of a bitted blade of the token, a tumbler barrel partially formed in the core body and partially formed in the lock actuator, the tumbler barrel being in communication with the passageway and a plurality of tumbler pins contained in the tumbler barrel, the bitted blade engages a tumbler pin and positions the plurality of tumbler pins in the tumbler barrel to allow movement of the lock actuator with respect to the core body.

14. The lock core of claim 12, further comprising a second biasing member biasing the movable member toward engagement with the blocker.

15. The lock core of claim 14, further comprising an indentation in the blocker within which a portion of the movable member is received when the blocker is in the first position.

16. The lock core of claim 15, wherein when the blocker is in the second position, the movable member engages a portion of the blocker spaced apart from the indentation.

17. An interchangeable lock core that is configured to communicate with a token having an access code and a blade, the interchangeable lock core comprising,

a core body,

a lock actuator that is coupled to the core body for movement relative to the core body and being formed to include a blade receiving passageway,

a token communicator coupled to the core body,

an electromagnet,

a blocking member that is movable between a first position wherein the lock actuator is fixed to the core body and second position wherein the lock actuator is movable relative to the core body,

a latch coupled to the electromagnet for movement relative to the electromagnet to couple and uncouple from the blocking member, and

a first spring capable of biasing the blocking member toward the first position and a second spring capable of biasing the blocking member toward the second position, when the blade of the token is received in the passageway the second spring stores internal energy generated by insertion of the blade to bias the blocking member toward the second position regardless of the access code contained in the token.

18. The lock core of claim 17, wherein when the blade is received in the passageway, the electromagnet is energized if the token contains an authorized access code and the latch is decoupled from the blocking member which is urged to the second position by the energy stored in the second spring.

19. The lock core of claim 18, wherein the movement of the blocking member to the second position stores internal energy in the first spring.

20. The lock core of claim 17, further comprising a third spring biasing the latch toward engagement with the blocking member.

21. The lock core of claim 20, further comprising an indentation in the blocking member within which the latch is received when the blocking member is in the first position.

22. A lock core for use with a token including identification information and a bitted blade, the lock core comprising:

a core body having an aperture;

a lock actuator received in the aperture, the lock actuator being movable relative to the core body and including a passageway formed therein for receipt of the bitted blade of the token;

a first barrel partially formed in the core body and partially formed in the lock actuator in communication with the passageway;

a blade-engaging pin received in the first barrel, the blade-engaging pin having a first end extending into the passageway and a spaced apart second end;

at least one additional pin received in the first barrel and having a semi-spherical surface that engages the second end of the blade-engaging pin, the bitted blade engages the first end of the blade-engaging pin and positions the semi-spherical surface of the at least one additional pin so that movement of the lock actuator with respect to the core body is not inhibited;

a blocker movable relative to the core body between a first position in which the blocker prevents the lock actuator from moving relative to the core body and a second position in which the lock actuator is movable relative to the core body; and

a spring situated in the first barrel, the spring engaging the blocker and engaging the at least one additional pin;

further comprising an electromagnetic actuator having a locking position in which the blocker is prevented from moving out of the first position and a releasing position in which the blocker is movable from the first position to the second position.

23. The lock core of claim 22, wherein the bitted blade, when received in the passageway, moves the blade-engaging pin to a position in which the entire blade-engaging pin remains in the portion of the first barrel formed in the lock actuator.

24. The lock core of claim 22, wherein the blocker cooperates with the at least one additional pin to inhibit movement of the lock actuator relative to the core body when the bitted blade is removed from the passageway.

25. The lock core of claim 22, further comprising a second barrel partially formed in the core body and partially formed in the lock actuator in communication with the passageway and a plurality of tumbler pins contained in the second barrel and wherein the bitted blade engages one of the plurality of tumbler pins and positions the plurality of tumbler pins in the second barrel to allow movement of the lock actuator with respect to the lock core.

26. A lock core for use with a token including identification information and a bitted blade, the lock core comprising:

a core body having an aperture;

a lock actuator received in the aperture, the lock actuator being movable relative to the core body and including a passageway formed therein for receipt of the bitted blade of the token;

a barrel partially formed in the core body and partially formed in the lock actuator in communication with the passageway;

a blade-engaging pin received in the barrel having a first end extending into the passageway and a spaced apart second end;

at least one additional pin received in the barrel and having a semi-spherical surface that engages the second end of the blade-engaging pin, the bitted blade engages the first end of the blade-engaging pin and positions the semi-spherical surface of the at least one additional pin so that movement of the lock actuator with respect to the core body is not inhibited;

a blocker movable relative to the core body between a first position in which the blocker prevents the lock actuator from moving relative to the core body and a second position in which the lock actuator is movable relative to the core body;

a spring engaging the blocker and engaging the at least one additional pin; and

an electromagnetic actuator having a locking position in which the blocker is prevented from moving out of the first position and a releasing position in which the blocker is movable from the first position to the second position, wherein movement of the blade-engaging pin and the at least one additional pin by the bitted blade compresses the spring and when the electromagnetic actuator moves to the releasing position, the spring expands to move the blocker from the first position to the second position.

27. The lock core of claim 26, further comprising a token communicator that is configured to read the identification information and to supply current to the electromagnetic actuator to move the electromagnetic actuator from the locking position to the releasing position after the identification information is read.

28. An interchangeable lock core that is configured to communicate with a token having an access code, the interchangeable lock core comprising:

a core body having an aperture having an axis;

a lock actuator received in the aperture and being movable relative to the core body;

a token communicator coupled to the core body;

a blocking member that is movable transverse to the axis between a first position wherein the lock actuator is fixed to the core body and second position wherein the lock actuator is movable relative to the core body;

an electromagnet;

a latch coupled to the electromagnet for movement transverse to the blocking member to couple and lock the blocking member in the first position and uncouple from and allowing the blocking member to assume the second position;

a first spring biasing the blocking member toward the first position; and

a second spring biasing the latch toward coupling with the blocking member.

29. The lock core of claim 28, further comprising a power supply to energize the electromagnet.

30. The lock core of claim 29, wherein the power supply provides power to the electromagnet under the control of the token communicator.

31. The lock core of claim 29, wherein the token communicator controls supply of power from the power supply to the electromagnet as a single pulse of short duration upon receipt of a valid access code.

32. The lock core of claim 28, wherein the first and second springs are coil springs.

33. A lock core for use with a token having an access code and a blade, the lock core comprising

a core body,

a lock actuator coupled to the core body for movement relative to the core body, the lock actuator including a passageway in which the blade is inserted,

a token communicator coupled to the core body, the token communicator being configured to read the access code when the blade is inserted into the passageway,

at least one tumbler element movable between a first tumbler position in which the at least one tumbler element prevents the lock actuator from moving relative to the core body and a second tumbler position away from the first position,

a blocker movable between a first blocker position wherein the blocker prevents the lock actuator from moving relative to the core body and a second blocker position away from the first blocker position, the lock actuator being unlocked for movement relative to the core body when the at least one tumbler element is in the second tumbler position and the blocker is in the second blocker position,

a biasing member situated between the at least one tumbler element and the blocker, and

an electromagnetic actuator coupled to the core body and coupled to the token communicator, the electromagnetic actuator being movable between a locking position in which the blocker is locked in the first blocker position and a releasing position in which the blocker is movable from the first blocker position to the second blocker position, the biasing member storing energy when the at least one tumbler element moves from the first tumbler position to the second tumbler position as a result of insertion of the blade into the passageway, the electromagnetic actuator moving to the releasing position if the token communicator reads the access code, and the biasing member releasing energy to move the blocker from the first blocker position to the second blocker position after the electromagnetic actuator moves to the releasing position.

34. The lock core of claim 33, wherein the blocker is formed to include a bore and the biasing member is positioned to lie in the bore.

35. The lock core of claim 34, wherein at least a portion of the at least one tumbler element is also positioned to lie in the bore.

36. The lock core of claim 35, wherein the bore defines an axis, the at least one tumbler element moves along the axis when moving between the first and second tumbler positions, and the blocker moves along the axis when moving between the first and second blocker positions.

37. The lock core of claim 33, wherein the blocker is formed to include a bore and at least a portion of the at least one tumbler element is received in the bore.

38. The lock core of claim 33, wherein the blocker is formed to include a groove, the electromagnetic actuator includes a movable element, at least a portion of the movable element is received in the groove when the electromagnetic actuator is in the locking position, and the movable element is withdrawn from the groove when the electromagnetic actuator moves from the locking position to the releasing position.

42. The lock core of claim 33, further comprising a second biasing member that acts between the core body and the blocker to bias the blocker toward the first position.

43. The lock core of claim 42, wherein the first biasing member is a coil spring and the second biasing member is a coil spring.

44. The lock core of claim 33, wherein the at least one tumbler element includes a spherical element and a non-spherical element.

45. The lock core of claim 33, wherein the at least one tumbler element moves along an axis during movement between the first and second tumbler positions and the blocker moves along the axis during movement between the first and second blocker positions.

46. The lock core of claim 33, wherein the blocker is coupled to the core body for pivoting movement.

47. The lock core of claim 46, further comprising a second biasing member that acts between the core body and the blocker to bias the blocker toward the first position.

48. The lock core of claim 47, wherein the second biasing member is a torsion spring.

49. The lock core of claim 47, wherein the second biasing member is a coil spring.

50. The lock core of claim 33, further comprising a mechanical linkage coupled to the electromagnetic actuator, the mechanical linkage including a rotatable cam and a ball, the blocker is formed to include an annular indentation, the ball being forced into the annular indentation by the cam when the electromagnetic actuator is in the locking position, and the ball being permitted to move out of the annular indentation when the electromagnetic actuator is in the releasing position.

51. The lock core of claim 50, wherein the blocker moves along a first axis when moving between the first and second blocker positions, the cam rotates about a second axis when the electromagnetic actuator moves between the locking and releasing positions, and the second axis is perpendicular to the first axis.

52. The lock core of claim 50, further comprising a torsion spring that biases the cam toward a position having the ball forced into the annular indentation.

39. The lock core of clam 38, wherein the blocker moves along a first axis when moving between the first and second blocker positions, the movable element pivots about a second axis when the electromagnetic actuator moves between the locking and releasing positions, and the second axis is spaced apart from the first axis.

40. The lock core of claim 39, wherein the first axis is parallel with the second axis.

41. The lock core of claim 39, wherein the first axis is orthogonal to the second axis.