Interchangeable electronic lock

• US 8,616,031 B2
• Filed: 05/10/2012
• Issued: 12/31/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 05/10/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Wesko Locks Ltd (Wesko Systems Limited)
• Original Assignee: Wesko Systems Limited
• Inventors: McLeod, John, Sabelli, Tonino, Gelardi, Pepin, Ullrich, Theodore, Dipietro, Dean
• Primary Examiner(s): BOSWELL, CHRISTOPHER J
• Application Number:
  US13/468,240
• Publication Number:
  US 20130298619A1
• Time in Patent Office: 600 Days
• Field of Search: 70/77, 70/78, 702/75, 702/76, 702/77, 702/781, 702/782, 702/783, 702/786, 702/787, 702/791, 702/80, 702/831, 292/199, 292/201, 292278-280
• US Class Current: 70/279.1
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 17/042 using toothed wheels or geared sectors E05C9/023, E05C9/041 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 2047/0024 Cams
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 2047/0086 Emergency release, e.g. key or electromagnet E05B63/0073 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 47/0012 with rotary electromotors actuators with rotary electromotors per se H02K7/06, H02K23/68
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 47/0676 by disconnecting the handle
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 65/462 for two or more drawers
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/5097 Cabinet
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/7062 Electrical type [e.g., solenoid]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/7102 And details of blocking system [e.g., linkage, latch, pawl, spring]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/7107 And alternately mechanically actuated by a key, dial, etc.
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/7136 Key initiated actuation of device

Abstract

An electronic lock is interchangeable with mechanical locks in retrofit applications or as an OEM lock. The lock includes interchangeable modular components. The lock housing is interchangeable with other housings of different configurations to permit replacement of existing mechanical locks. The lock may also include interchangeable drivers for compatibility with other systems. The lock includes an electronic access system such as a programmable keypad or card reader to activate a motor which powers the electronic lock. An optional manual bypass allows an operator to override the electronic access, for example when the motor is inoperative. When the lock is activated, the operator manually cranks a lock shaft to lock and unlock a storage unit. An optional modular chassis assembly includes a removable array of components for testing, maintenance and repair.

Claims

1. An electronic lock for operational association with a locking assembly for locking and unlocking a storage unit, the electronic lock comprising:

A lock housing for releasably securing the electronic lock to the storage unit;

A driver for operating engagement with the locking assembly;

the driver moving between a first driver position and a second driver position;

in the first driver position, the locking assembly is in the unlocked position; and

, in the second driver position, the locking assembly is in the locked position;

A drive shaft assembly in the housing for selective operational engagement with the driver;

A gear segment assembly moving between a first gear segment position and a second gear segment position, in the first gear segment position the drive shaft assembly is operationally disengaged from the driver, in the second gear segment position the drive shaft assembly is operationally engaged with the driver;

An electronic access control to operate the gear segment assembly between the first gear segment position and the second gear segment position; and

A manual activation assembly operationally connected to the driver when the gear segment assembly is in the second gear segment position, for manual operation of the driver between the first driver position and the second driver position.

2. In the electronic lock claimed in claim 1, the drive shaft assembly operating between a first drive shaft assembly position and a second drive shaft assembly position, the driver is operationally disengaged from the drive shaft assembly in the first drive shaft assembly position, and the driver is manually operable in the second drive shaft assembly position.

3. In the electronic lock claimed in claim 1, the electronic access control comprising an electric motor powered by a rechargeable power source, the electric motor is operationally connected to the gear segment assembly upon activation of the electronic access control.

4. In the electronic lock claimed in claim 3, the electric motor is used to move the gear segment assembly between the first gear segment position and the second gear segment position.

5. In the electronic lock claimed in claim 4, the electronic access control comprising:

a programmable keypad for operator activation of the electric motor to move the gear segment assembly between the first gear segment position and the second gear segment position after entering a security code;

or

a security scanner for operator activation of the electric motor to move the gear segment assembly between the first gear segment position and the second gear segment position after presentation of a security access card.

6. In the electronic lock claimed in claim 3, the electronic access control comprising a port for (a) recharging the power source;

or (b) transferring data to and from a data storage element in the electronic access control.

7. In the electronic lock claimed in claim 1, the manual activation assembly comprising a manually operable shaft segment for selective operational engagement with the drive shaft assembly when the drive shaft assembly is in the second position.

8. In the electronic lock claimed in claim 7, the manual activation assembly comprising a key activated locking core operating between a first key position and a second key position, in the first key position, the manually operable shaft segment is operationally connected to the driver upon activation of the electronic access control, and in the second key position, the manually operable shaft segment is operationally disconnected from the electronic access control, to manually operate the driver.

9. The electronic lock claimed in claim 1, comprising an interchangeable component selected from a group of interchangeable components consisting of:

a housing interchangeable with other housings of like configuration and unlike configuration;

a driver interchangeable with other drivers of like configuration and unlike configuration; and

a drive shaft assembly interchangeable with other driver shaft assemblies of like configuration and unlike configuration.

10. An electronic lock as claimed in claim 1, comprising a modular chassis assembly comprising two or more elements selected from the group of elements consisting of:

a motor, a battery, a circuit board, the gear segment assembly, and a locking core for manual operation of the driver between the first driver position and the second driver position.

11. An electronic lock operating between a locked position and an unlocked position, for locking and unlocking a storage unit, the electronic lock comprising:

A lock housing for secure engagement with the storage unit;

A driver for operating engagement with a locking assembly in the storage unit;

A drive shaft assembly in the housing for selective operational engagement with the driver;

An electronic access control to operate a gear segment assembly between a first gear segment position and a second gear segment position;

in the first gear segment position the drive shaft assembly is operationally disengaged from the driver when the electronic lock is in the locked position; and

in the second gear segment position, the drive shaft assembly is operationally engaged with the driver when the electronic lock is in the unlocked position; and

A manual activation assembly operationally connected to the driver when the gear segment assembly is in the second gear segment position, for manual operation of the driver between the first driver position and the second driver position.

12. In the electronic lock claimed in claim 11, the manual activation assembly comprising a manually rotatable shaft segment;

the shaft segment is operationally engaged with the driver to permit manual rotation of the drive shaft assembly when the gear segment assembly is in the second gear segment position; and

the shaft segment is operationally disengaged from the driver when the gear segment assembly is in the first gear segment position.

13. In the electronic lock claimed in claim 11, the electronic access control comprising:

a programmable keypad for operator activation of an electric motor to move the gear segment assembly between the first gear segment position and the second gear segment position after entering a security code;

or

a security scanner for operator activation of the electric motor to move the gear segment assembly between the first gear segment position and the second gear segment position after presentation of a security access card.

14. In the electronic lock claimed in claim 13, the housing defining a face comprising the programmable keypad or the security scanner;

and a distal end, opposite the face, to releasably secure the housing to the storage unit.

15. In the electronic lock claimed in claim 11, the electronic access control comprising a battery powered motor to operate the gear segment assembly between the first gear segment position and the second gear segment position.

16. In the electronic lock claimed in claim 11, the manual activation assembly comprising a manual bypass feature comprising a key activated locking core for rotating the gear segment assembly between the first gear segment position and the second gear segment position, to permit an operator to lock and unlock the locking assembly in the storage unit by rotating the locking core.

17. The electronic lock claimed in claim 16, comprising an interchangeable components selected from a group of interchangeable components consisting of:

a housing interchangeable with other housings of like configuration and unlike configuration;

a driver interchangeable with other drivers of like configuration and unlike configuration; and

a drive shaft interchangeable with other driver shafts of like configuration and unlike configuration.

18. The electronic lock claimed in claim 16 comprising an indicator to alert an operator that:

The electronic lock is in the locked position or in the unlocked position;

The electronic lock is not in a fully locked position or a fully unlocked position;

The storage unit is in the locked or unlocked position;

or

A power source for the motor is substantially empty.

19. An electronic lock as claimed in claim 11, comprising a modular chassis assembly comprising one or more elements selected from the group of elements consisting of:

a motor, a battery, a circuit board, the gear segment assembly, and a locking core for manual operation of the driver between the first driver position and the second driver position.

20. An electronic lock operating between a locked position and an unlocked position, for locking and unlocking a locking assembly in a storage unit, the electronic lock comprising:

A lock housing for secure releasable engagement with the storage unit;

A drive shaft in the housing, the drive shaft comprising;

A first shaft segment secured to a removable driver for engagement with the locking assembly;

A second shaft segment, is operationally disconnected from the first shaft segment in a first mode, and operationally connected to the first shaft segment in a second mode;

An electronic access control to operate a gear segment assembly between a first gear segment position and a second gear segment position;

in the first gear segment position, the second shaft segment is operationally disconnected from the first shaft segment;

in the second gear segment position, the second shaft segment is operationally connected to the first shaft segment;

The electronic access control comprising;

a programmable keypad or a security scanner to activate a battery powered motor for operation of the gear segment assembly between the first gear segment position and the second gear segment position; and

A third shaft segment in a manual activation assembly for manual rotational operation of the drive shaft when (a) the gear segment assembly is in the second gear segment position, or (b) the manual activation assembly is in a bypass mode to operationally connect the second shaft segment to the first shaft segment without activating the battery powered motor.

21. In the electronic lock claimed in claim 20, the manual activation assembly comprising a key activated locking core for rotating the gear segment assembly, in the bypass mode, between the first gear segment position and the second gear segment position, to permit an operator to lock and unlock the locking assembly in the storage unit by rotating the key activated locking core.

22. A multi compartment storage unit comprising an electronic lock as claimed in claim 20, the electronic lock operationally engaged with the locking assembly, the locking assembly comprising a plurality of sliding lock bars for selectively locking and unlocking an array of storage compartments in the storage unit.

23. An electronic lock as claimed in claim 20, comprising a modular chassis assembly comprising one or more elements selected from the group of elements consisting of:

a motor, a battery, a circuit board, the gear segment assembly, and a locking core for manual operation of the driver between the first driver position and the second driver position.