Interconnected lock with door status sensor

• US 6,615,629 B2
• Filed: 01/19/2001
• Issued: 09/09/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 01/19/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Schlage Lock Company LLC (Allegion PLC)
• Original Assignee: Schlage Lock Company (Allegion PLC)
• Inventors: Bates, Peter K., Doerr, Alan
• Primary Examiner(s): Knight, Anthony
• Assistant Examiner(s): BOSWELL, CHRISTOPHER J
• Application Number:
  US09/765,784
• Publication Number:
  US 20020095957A1
• Time in Patent Office: 963 Days
• Field of Search: 701/07, 704/32, 704/34, 70D/IG.59
• US Class Current: 70/434
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 2047/0068 Door closed
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 2047/0069 bolt position
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 2047/0076 Current to lock only, i.e. "fail-safe"
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 47/0002 with electromagnets
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 47/0607 the detent moving pivotally or rotatively
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 59/00 Locks with latches separate from the lock-bolts or with a plurality of latches or lock-bolts
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 65/1086 Locks with panic function, e.g. allowing opening from the inside without a ley even when locked from the outside
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 70/59 Lock with indicator
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/5226 Combined dead bolt and latching bolt
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/8027 Condition indicators
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/8081 Electric

Abstract

A sensor for an interconnected lock assembly which can sense whether the door is in an opened or closed state. The interconnected lock assembly comprises a first lock assembly operably connected to a deadlatch assembly. A second lock assembly operably interconnected with the first lock assembly by a rack mounted on a carrier component. The second lock assembly is operably connected to a deadbolt latch assembly. The deadbolt latch assembly comprises a deadbolt movable between an extended position when the carrier component is in a lowered position and a retracted position when the carrier component is in a raised position. The lock assembly further includes a sensor component positioned within said deadlatch assembly in a predetermined manner to detect when said door is an open or closed position. The information is relayed to an electronic control module.

Claims

1. An interconnected lock assembly mounted in a door, comprising:

a first lock assembly operably connected to a deadlatch assembly, said deadlatch assembly having a deadlatch;

a second lock assembly operably interconnected with said first lock assembly by a rack mounted on a carrier component;

a sensor component positioned within said deadlatch assembly in a predetermined manner to detect when said door is an open or a closed position; and

a deadholt latch assembly operably connected to said second lock assembly, said deadbolt latch assembly including a deadbolt movable between an extended position when said carrier component is in a lowered position and a retracted position when said carrier component is in a raised position; and

a deadlatch plunger slidingly coupled to said deadlatch assembly and moveable between a retracted position when said door is in said closed position and an extended position when said door is in said open position,

wherein when said door is in said closed position, said deadlatch plunger is operable to engage said sensor component, and

wherein when said door is in said open position, said deadlatch plunger disengages said sensor to prevent release of said carrier component from said raised position.

2. The interconnected lock assembly of claim 1, wherein said sensor component is a microswitch.

3. The interconnected lock assembly of claim 1, wherein said deadlatch plunger comprises at least one extension which engages said sensor when said deadlatch plunger is in a retracted position.

4. The interconnected lock assembly of claim 2, wherein said at least one extension disengages said sensor when said deadlatch plunger moves from a retracted position to an extended position.

5. The interconnected lock assembly of claim 1 further comprising an electronic control module electrically connected to said sensor component.

6. The interconnected lock assembly of claim 5, wherein said electronic control module comprises at least one light indicating the door position status as either open or closed in a predetermined manner.

7. The interconnected lock assembly of claim 5, wherein said electronic control module further comprises at least one speaker indicating the door position status as either open or closed in a predetermined manner.

8. The interconnected lock assembly of claim 5, wherein said electronic control module further comprises a power source.

9. The interconnected lock assembly of claim 8, wherein said power source comprises at least one battery.

10. An interconnected lock assembly mounted in a door comprising:

a first lock assembly operably connected to a deadlatch assembly;

a second lock assembly operably connected with said first lock assembly by a rack mounted on a carrier component, wherein said second lock assembly is operably connected to a deadbolt latch assembly, said deadbolt latch assembly comprising a deadbolt movable between an extended position when said carrier component is in a lowered position and a retracted position when said carrier component is in a raised position;

a biasing component biasing said carrier component toward a lowered position; and

a catch biased by a spring component to hold said carrier component in said raised position;

a sensor component positioned within said deadlatch assembly in a predetermined manner to detect when said door is an open or closed position; and

an electronic control module operably attached to a solenoid, said solenoid selectively engageable to disengage said catch component allowing said carrier component to move to a lowered position.

11. The interconnected lock assembly of claim 10, wherein said sensor relays said detected door position of said carrier component to said electronic control module.

12. The interconnected lock assembly of claim 10, wherein said deadbolt latch assembly comprises a deadlatch plunger moveable between a retracted position when said door is closed and an extended position when said door is open.

13. The interconnected lock assembly of claim 10, wherein said deadlatch plunger comprises at least one extension which engages said sensor when said deadlatch is in a retracted position.

14. The interconnected lock assembly of claim 10, wherein said electronic control module prevents engagement of said solenoid when said sensor detects said deadlatch plunger in an extended position.

15. The interconnected lock assembly of claim 10, wherein said sensor component is a microswitch.

16. The interconnected lock assembly of claim 14, wherein said at least one extension disengages said sensor when said deadlatch plunger moves from a retracted to an extended position.

17. The interconnected lock assembly of claim 10, wherein said electronic control module comprises at least one light able to indicate the door position status as either open or closed in a predetermined manner.

18. The interconnected lock assembly of claim 10, wherein said electronic control module further comprises at least one speaker able to indicate the door position status as either open or closed in a predetermined manner.

19. An interconnected lock assembly mounted in a door comprising:

a first lock assembly operably connected to a deadlatch assembly; and

a second lock assembly, operably interconnected with said first lock assembly by a rack mounted on a carrier component, said second lock assembly operably connected to a deadbolt latch assembly, said deadbolt latch assembly having a deadbolt movable between an extended position when said carrier component is in a lowered position and a retracted position when said carrier component is in a raised position,

wherein said deadlatch assembly is coupled to a deadlatch plunger moveable between a retracted position when said door is in a closed position and an extended position when said door is an open position,

wherein said deadlatch plunger includes at least one extension positioned to engage a sensor component housed within said deadlatch assembly when said door is in said closed position, and

wherein when said door is in said open position, said extension of said deadlatch plunger disengages said sensor to prevent release of said carrier component from said raised position.