Electronic lock control and sensor module for a wireless system

• US 6,967,562 B2
• Filed: 02/22/2002
• Issued: 11/22/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 02/22/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Royal Thoughts LLC
• Original Assignee: Royal Thoughts LLC
• Inventors: Menard, Raymond J., Bryan, McNeil
• Primary Examiner(s): Zimmerman, Brian
• Assistant Examiner(s): YANG, CLARA I
• Application Number:
  US10/081,142
• Publication Number:
  US 20030160681A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,369 Days
• Field of Search: 340/5.64, 340/5.2, 340/5.22, 340/5.7, 292/347, 702/21, 702/22, 702/23, 702/24, 702/77, 702/781, 702/791, 702/80, 702/81, 702/82, 702/83, 702/831, 704/72, 702/782
• US Class Current: 340/5.64
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 2047/002 Geared transmissions
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 2047/0083 Devices of electrically driving keys, e.g. to facilitate opening
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 2047/0094 Mechanical aspects of remotely controlled locks electronic locks G07C9/00
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 45/06 Electric alarm locks E05B45/005 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 47/00 Operating or controlling locks or other fastening devices by electric or magnetic means electric permutation locks E05B49/00
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 47/0012 with rotary electromotors actuators with rotary electromotors per se H02K7/06, H02K23/68
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00793 by Hertzian waves
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00309 operated with bidirectional data transmission between data carrier and locks
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/79 Bolt guards
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/5819 Handle-carried key lock
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/5823 Coaxial clutch connection
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/5832 Lock and handle assembly
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/7068 Actuated after correct combination recognized [e.g., numerical, alphabetical, or magnet[s] pattern]

Abstract

A lock system includes a cylindrical door lock having a latching spindle and an opening spindle which are concentrically oriented, and a wireless communication system to transmit signals indicating the relative positions of the latching spindle and the opening spindle. A door lock assembly can include a lock mechanism for placing the lock assembly into an unlocked state or a locked state, an electrically controlled actuator assembly to control the lock mechanism, a transceiver coupled to the actuator assembly, and a communication device to communicate over a two-way wireless network with the electrically controlled actuator. A retrofit actuator assembly adapted to be mounted on an existing lock to control a locking mechanism of the lock, and a two-way communication device to control the retrofit actuator assembly and to receive signals from the retrofit actuator assembly indicating a state of the locking mechanism.

Claims

1. A retrofit assembly for a cylindrical door lock of the type having an opening spindle for controlling a latch bolt of the door lock and having a latching spindle coaxial with the opening spindle which controls a lock mechanism of the door lock when rotated relative to the opening spindle, the retrofit assembly comprising:

an electronically controllable actuating member couplable to the latching spindle and adapted to be positioned on the cylindrical door lock such that the opening spindle is engageable with an inner door knob of the cylindrical door lock;

wherein the actuating member rotates the latching spindle relative to the opening spindle when an appropriate electronic signal is received by the actuating member, the rotation causing the lock mechanism to go into an unlocked or a locked state, wherein the actuating member includes a stator which is coupled to the opening spindle and which is rotatable relative to the latching spindle, the actuating member further includes a rotor which is coupled to the latching spindle and which is rotatable relative to the opening spindle, wherein when the rotor rotates relative to the stator, the latching spindle rotates relative to the opening spindle.

2. The retrofit assembly of claim 1, further comprising a position sensor for sensing a position of the actuating member.

3. The retrofit assembly of claim 2, further comprising a transceiver coupled to the position sensor for sending signals to a remote device indicating a state of the actuating member as indicated by the position sensor.

4. The retrofit assembly of claim 1, further comprising a sensor for sensing whether a door the cylindrical door lock is coupled to is open or closed.

5. The retrofit assembly of claim 4, further comprising a transceiver coupled to the sensor for sending signals to a remote device indicating a state of the door.

6. The retrofit of claim 1, further comprising a transceiver for receiving signals from a remote host system and for transferring the signals to the actuating member to control the rotation of the actuating member.

7. The retrofit assembly of claim 1, wherein the actuating member receives electrical power only when the actuating member is rotating the latching spindle.

8. A retrofit assembly for a cylindrical door lock of the type having an opening spindle for controlling a latch bolt of the door lock and having a latching spindle coaxial with the opening spindle which controls a lock mechanism of the door lock when rotated relative to the opening spindle, the retrofit assembly comprising:

an electronically controllable actuating member couplable to the latching spindle and adapted to be positioned on the cylindrical door lock such that the opening spindle is engageable with an inner door knob of the cylindrical door lock;

wherein the actuating member rotates the latching spindle relative to the opening spindle when an appropriate electronic signal is received by the actuating member, the rotation causing the lock mechanism to go into an unlocked or a locked state, wherein the actuating member includes a first collar dimensioned to freely rotate around the opening spindle and a second collar which is keyed to fit around the opening spindle.

9. A retrofit assembly for a cylindrical door lock of the type having an opening spindle for controlling a latch bolt of the door lock and having a latching spindle coaxial with the opening spindle which controls a lock mechanism of the door lock when rotated relative to the opening spindle, the retrofit assembly comprising:

an electronically controllable actuating member couplable to the latching spindle and adapted to be positioned on the cylindrical door lock such that the opening spindle is engageable with an inner door knob of the cylindrical door lock;

wherein the actuating member rotates the latching spindle relative to the opening spindle when an appropriate electronic signal is received by the actuating member, the rotation causing the lock mechanism to go into an unlocked or a locked state, wherein the latching spindle is also rotatable by a key from one side of the door lock and rotatable by a manual locking member from a second side of the door lock.

10. A retrofit assembly for a cylindrical door lock of the type having an opening spindle for controlling a latch bolt of the door lock and having a latching spindle coaxial with the opening spindle which controls a lock mechanism of the door lock when rotated relative to the opening spindle, the retrofit assembly comprising:

an electronically controllable actuating member couplable to the latching spindle and adapted to be positioned on the cylindrical door lock such that the opening spindle is engageable with an inner door knob of the cylindrical door lock;

wherein the actuating member rotates the latching spindle relative to the opening spindle when an appropriate electronic signal is received by the actuating member, the rotation causing the lock mechanism to go into an unlocked or a locked state, wherein the actuating member includes a sleeve positioned around the latching spindle and located between the opening spindle and the latching spindle, the sleeve having an arm for driving the rotation of the sleeve.

11. The retrofit assembly of claim 10, wherein the actuating member includes a gear which freely rotates around the opening spindle and includes a drive pin which engages the arm of the sleeve to rotate the sleeve when the gear rotates.

12. A cylindrical door lock comprising:

a first handle and a second handle which are mountable on opposing sides of a door;

an opening spindle which retracts a latch bolt of the cylindrical door lock in response to a rotation of either the first handle or the second handle;

a lock mechanism attached to the opening spindle, wherein the first handle is not rotatable when the lock mechanism is in a locked state;

a latching spindle coaxial with the opening spindle and which when rotated relative to the opening spindle causes the lock mechanism to alternately go into an unlocked state or the locked state, the first handle including a keyway for inserting a key to control the latching spindle, the second handle including a manual locking member for manually controlling the latching spindle;

means for electronically controlling the rotation of the latching spindle relative to the opening spindle;

a position sensor for sensing a position of the actuating member; and

means for sending signals to a remote communications device indicating a state of the actuating member as indicated by the position sensor.

13. The cylindrical door lock of claim 12, wherein means for electronically controlling includes an electronically controllable actuating member coupled to the latching spindle, wherein the actuating member rotates the latching spindle relative to the opening spindle when an appropriate electronic signal is received by the actuating member.

14. The cylindrical door lock of claim 13, wherein the electronically controllable actuating member includes a stator which is coupled to the opening spindle and which is rotatable relative to the latching spindle, the electronically controllable actuating member further includes a rotor which is coupled to the latching spindle and which is rotatable relative to the opening spindle, wherein when the rotor rotates relative to the stator, the latching spindle rotates relative to the opening spindle.

15. The cylindrical door lock of claim 13, wherein the electronically controllable actuating member includes a gear freely rotatable around the opening spindle, the gear for driving a sleeve coupled to the latching spindle.

16. The cylindrical door lock of claim 12, further comprising means for receiving signals from a remote system, the signals for controlling the rotation of the latching spindle relative to the opening spindle.

17. A method for retrofitting a cylindrical door lock of the type having a latching spindle which controls a lock mechanism of the cylindrical door lock when rotated relative to an opening spindle of the cylindrical door lock, the method comprising:

installing an electronically controllable actuating member on the latching spindle so that the opening spindle includes an exposed end for engaging with an inner door knob, wherein the actuating member rotates the latching spindle relative to the opening spindle when an appropriate electronic signal is received by the actuating member which causes the lock mechanism to go into an unlocked or a locked state, wherein installing includes slide fitting a first collar around the opening spindle, wherein the first collar includes a keyed hole dimensioned to couple the first collar with the opening spindle, wherein installing further includes slide fitting a second collar around the opening spindle, the second collar including a hole which is dimensioned so that the second collar freely rotates around the opening spindle, the second collar including an adapter member which couples with the latching spindle to rotate the latching spindle.

18. A method for retrofitting a cylindrical door lock of the type having a latching spindle which controls a lock mechanism of the cylindrical door lock when rotated relative to an opening spindle of the cylindrical door lock, the method comprising:

installing an electronically controllable actuating member on the latching spindle so that the opening spindle includes an exposed end for engaging with an inner door knob, wherein the actuating member rotates the latching spindle relative to the opening spindle when an appropriate electronic signal is received by the actuating member which causes the lock mechanism to go into an unlocked or a locked state, wherein installing includes slide fitting a sleeve around the latching spindle so that it is positioned between the latching spindle and the opening spindle.

19. A lock system comprising:

a cylindrical door lock of the type having an opening spindle for controlling a latch bolt of the door lock and having a latching spindle coaxial with the opening spindle which controls a lock mechanism of the door lock when rotated relative to the opening spindle, wherein the latching spindle is rotatable by a manually operated key from a first side of the door lock and by a manual operated locking member on a second side of the door lock; and

an electrically controlled actuator assembly mountable to the cylindrical door lock to electrically control the rotation of the latching spindle relative to the opening spindle, wherein the electrically controlled actuator assembly is positioned such that it does not interfere with operation of the manually operated key or the manual operated locking member.

20. The lock system of claim 19, wherein the lock system includes a sensor to detect a rotation of the latching spindle relative to the opening spindle.

21. The lock system of claim 20, wherein the actuator assembly includes a detectable portion used by the sensor to detect movement of a portion of the actuator assembly, wherein the detectable portion moves when the actuator assembly is electrically actuated and the detectable portion moves when the door lock is operated by the key or the manual operated locking member.