Personal property safe

• US 8,689,591 B2
• Filed: 12/23/2010
• Issued: 04/08/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: 9G Products, Inc. (The Kattegat Trust Co. Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: 9G Products, Inc. (The Kattegat Trust Co. Ltd.)
• Inventors: Elsner, Sean M., Gilliom, Rob
• Primary Examiner(s): GALL, LLOYD A
• Application Number:
  US12/977,305
• Publication Number:
  US 20110146359A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,202 Days
• Field of Search: 70/63, 70/58, 702/77, 702/787, 702/783, 702/791, 702/831, 704/16, 42/701.1, 211/64, 206/317, 224/912, 224/913, 292/201, 292/216, 292/DIG.22, 248551-553
• US Class Current: 70/63
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 2047/0058 by batteries
• 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 47/0607 the detent moving pivotally or rotatively
• CPC Class Codes: E05G 1/00 Safes or strong-rooms for valuables savings boxes A45C1/12; floatable safes B63C7/30; storage containers without attack or fire-retardant features B65D; bank buildings in general, e.g. modular construction or floor plan, E04H1/06; buildings resistant to earthquakes or war action E04H9/00
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2201/424 for the final opening movement
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00563 using personal physical data of the operator, e.g. finger prints, retinal images, voicepatterns
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/1047 Closure
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/1082 Motor
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/5031 Receptacle
• 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.

Abstract

A safe is provided for securely storing property that may be accessed quickly. A biometric scanner is coupled to a latching mechanism which may be actuated upon input of a recognized pattern, such as a fingerprint. The safe door may be spring actuated to automatically open upon release of the locking mechanism. The latch positively locks the door so that it resists opening from sharp blows to the safe.

Claims

1. A safe comprising:

a case having a door, said door having a first edge and a second edge opposite said first edge, a spring loaded hinge securing said first edge of said door to said case, a door loop secured to said door proximate said second edge of said door,

a latch assembly mounted within said case having a primary latch arm, a secondary latch arm, and a latch plate, said primary latch arm rotatably secured to said latch plate and having a primary axis of rotation, a first spring arm, a retaining arm, a push arm, and a second spring arm opposite said first spring arm, said secondary latch arm rotatably secured to said latch plate and having a secondary axis of rotation, a standoff, a hook with a slot adapted to releasably receive said door loop, a notch adapted to receive said retaining arm of said primary latch arm in a locked position, and a stop adapted to encounter said retaining arm and prevent further rotation of said secondary latch arm about said secondary axis of rotation in a released position,

a first primary latch arm spring having a first end secured to said latch plate and a second end biased against said first spring arm of said primary latch arm thereby applying a force against said first spring arm to rotate said primary latch arm about said primary axis of rotation,

a second primary latch arm spring having a first end secured to said latch plate and a second end biased against said second spring arm of said primary latch arm thereby applying a force against said second spring arm to rotate said primary latch arm about said primary axis of rotation,

a secondary latch arm spring having a first end secured to said latch plate and a second end biased against said standoff of said secondary latch arm thereby applying a force against said secondary latch arm to rotate said secondary latch arm about said secondary axis of rotation from said locked position to said released position,

a motor having a shaft and mounted to said latch plate,

a cam having a lobe and mounted to said shaft of said motor against said push arm of said primary latch arm,

a biometric scanner configured to read and store fingerprint scan data, compare read fingerprint scan data with stored fingerprint scan data and generate a match signal,

a microcontroller coupled to said biometric scanner and said motor, said microcontroller responsive to receiving said match signal from said biometric scanner to activate said motor to rotate said cam, and

a power supply coupled to said motor, biometric scanner, and microcontroller,

whereas said lobe of said cam engages said push arm to rotate said primary latch arm about said primary axis of rotation in a direction to compress said first primary latch arm spring and said second primary latch arm spring, and rotate said retaining arm away from said notch,

whereas said secondary latch arm spring rotates said secondary latch arm about said secondary axis of rotation from said locked position to said released position,

whereas said door loop is released from said slot and said door springs open by said spring loaded hinge, and

whereas the bias forces of said first primary latch arm spring and said second primary latch arm spring are applied to said primary latch arm around said primary axis of rotation to prevent rotation of said primary latch arm by external forces.

2. The safe of claim 1 further comprising an override lock coupled to said primary latch arm to rotate said primary latch arm about said primary axis of rotation in a direction to compress said first primary latch arm spring and rotate said retaining arm away from said notch.

3. The safe of claim 1 further comprising an indicator coupled to said microcontroller, wherein said indicator is activated by said microcontroller in response to receiving a match signal.

4. The safe of claim 1 wherein said motor is activated for one revolution in response to said microcontroller receiving a match signal.

5. The safe of claim 1 wherein said cam includes two evenly spaced lobes and wherein said motor is activated for one-half of a revolution in response to said microcontroller receiving a match signal.

6. The safe of claim 1 wherein said motor is reversible.

7. The safe of claim 1 further comprising a finger sensor coupled to a wake up circuit to activate said power supply.

8. The safe of claim 7 wherein said wake up circuit deactivates said power supply after a predetermined time period.

9. The safe of claim 1 further comprising a position sensor coupled to said cam to generate a home signal to said microcontroller when said cam is in a predetermined position.