Method and system for operating an electronic lock

• US 9,663,972 B2
• Filed: 05/10/2012
• Issued: 05/30/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 05/10/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Wesko Locks Ltd (Wesko Systems Limited)
• Original Assignee: Wesko Locks Ltd (Wesko Systems Limited)
• Inventors: Gelardi, Pepin, Ullrich, Theodore, Sabelli, Tonino, Dipietro, Dean, McLeod, John
• Primary Examiner(s): Syed, Nabil
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lau, Kevin
• Application Number:
  US13/468,219
• Publication Number:
  US 20130298616A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,846 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 17/22 Means for operating or controlling lock or fastening device accessories, i.e. other than the fastening members, e.g. switches, indicators E05B39/00 - E05B45/00 take precedence
• 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 63/0056 Locks with adjustable or exchangeable lock parts adjustable strikers E05B15/024; adjustable to different keys E05B35/083; adjustable bolt or backset E05B63/06; adjustable coupling means for bars, rods, cables E05C9/20
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 65/462 for two or more drawers
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/0069 actuated in a predetermined sequence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/7068 Actuated after correct combination recognized [e.g., numerical, alphabetical, or magnet[s] pattern]

Abstract

An interchangeable electronic lock includes an electronic access system to activate a motor which powers a gear assembly in the electronic lock. An optional manual bypass allows an operator to override the electronic access. When the lock is activated, the operator manually cranks a lock shaft to lock and unlock a storage unit. A controller selectively operates the motor to move the gear assembly in a linear direction. The gear assembly engages a first portion of a drive assembly with a second portion, to permit manual operation of the lock shaft to lock and unlock the storage unit. An optional modular chassis assembly includes a removable array of components for testing, maintenance and repair. The invention includes a system for operation of the electronic lock, a method of operating the electronic lock and software for operating the electronic lock.

Claims

1. A method of operating an electronic lock having an internal power reservoir, the method comprising:

enabling a programmable passcode validated by a controller within the electronic lock for motorized operation of a gear assembly in the electronic lock, powered by the power reservoir; and

sliding the gear assembly along a slide axis between a disengaged position and an engaged position, wherein;

in the disengaged position, a manual drive assembly defining a manual drive axis in the electronic lock is disengaged from a lock assembly in a storage unit; and

the manual drive assembly is operatively connected to the lock assembly when the gear assembly slides along the slide axis transversely and inwardly toward the manual drive axis to the engaged position, to permit manual movement of the manual drive assembly between a first position in which the lock assembly is in a locked position, and a second position in which the lock assembly is in an unlocked position.

2. In the method of claim 1, the passcode is provided by a step selected from the group of steps consisting of:

entering the passcode in a keypad in the electronic lock;

positioning a RFID device adjacent the electronic lock;

positioning an NFC device adjacent the electronic lock; and

communicating the passcode from a permitted electronic device, and the controller validates the passcode with a data set of valid programmable passcodes stored in a memory device in the electronic lock; and

wherein the gear assembly slides along the slide axis by;

(i) motorized operation powered from the power reservoir or (ii) a manually operated bypass control.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the sliding movement of the gear assembly is motorized and powered from the power reservoir or manually operated by a bypass control, from the disengaged position to the engaged position to operatively engage a first portion of the manual drive assembly with a second portion of the manual drive assembly.

4. The method of claim 1 comprising:

applying power from the power reservoir to a motor for motorized operation of the gear assembly between the disengaged position and the engaged position; and

discontinuing power to the motor after the gear assembly slides between the disengaged position and the engaged position.

5. The method of claim 4 comprising:

operatively engaging a first portion of the manual drive assembly with a second portion of the manual drive assembly when the gear assembly is in the engaged position.

6. The method of claim 5 comprising:

applying power from the power reservoir to the motor for motorized linear sliding movement of the gear assembly along the slide axis between the disengaged position and the engaged position, transverse to the manual drive axis, to provide a geared connection between the first portion of the manual drive assembly and the second portion of the manual drive assembly.

7. The method of claim 1 comprising storing a data set in a memory element in the electronic lock, wherein the data set is selected from the group of data sets consisting of information identifying:

a user of the electronic lock;

an unsuccessful attempt to access the electronic lock;

a successful attempt to access the electronic lock;

the data and time of an attempt to access the electronic lock;

one or more users permitted to operate the electronic lock; and

one or more Master Users permitted to access or modify restricted information stored in the memory element.

8. The method of claim 1 comprising:

accessing the electronic lock by taking a step selected from the group of steps consisting of;

providing a predetermined access code;

activating a manual bypass element to permit access to the electronic lock without motorized operation of the gear assembly; and

applying an external power source to a motor for the motorized operation of the gear assembly between the disengaged position and the engaged position when an internal power source in the electric lock is unable to power the motor.

23. In the method claimed in claim 1, the gear assembly comprises a first gear segment operatively connected to a second gear segment;

the manual drive assembly comprises first and second shaft segments, the first shaft segment comprises a first drive gear, the second shaft segment comprises a second drive gear; and

when in the engaged position, the first gear of the gear assembly operatively engages the first drive gear, and the second gear of the gear assembly operatively engages the second drive gear.

9. An electronic lock comprising:

an internal reservoir to supply power to a motor for selective motorized operation of a gear assembly in the electronic lock;

a controller configured to validate a programmable passcode for motorized operation of the gear assembly,

wherein the motor is configured to slide the gear assembly along a slide axis between a disengaged position and an engaged position,

wherein in the disengaged position, a manual drive assembly defining a manual drive axis in the electronic lock is disengaged from a lock assembly in a storage unit, and

wherein the manual drive assembly is operatively connected to the lock assembly when the gear assembly slides along the slide axis transversely and inwardly toward the manual drive axis to the engaged position, to permit manual movement of the manual drive assembly between a first position, in which the lock assembly is in a locked position, and a second position, in which the lock assembly is in an unlocked position.

10. A programmable system comprising the electronic lock claimed in claim 9, wherein:

the controller validates the programmable passcode by accessing data stored in a memory device,

the motor slides the gear assembly along the slide axis transversely toward a longitudinal axis defined by the manual drive assembly, upon entry of the programmable passcode,

the manual drive assembly extending from a proximate outer wall of the electronic lock inwardly toward the lock assembly operatively associated with at least one storage compartment in the storage unit, and

when in the engaged position, the gear assembly operatively engages the manual drive assembly to permit an operator to manually lock and unlock the lock assembly, and when the gear assembly is in the disengaged position, the manual drive assembly not allow the operator to manually lock and unlock the lock assembly.

11. In the programmable system claimed in claim 10, when the gear assembly slides transversely and inwardly along the slide axis to the engaged position, a first gear in the gear assembly is operatively connected to a first drive gear in the manual drive assembly, a second gear in the gear assembly is operatively connected to a second drive gear in the manual drive assembly, to operatively connect the first drive gear to the second drive gear;

and when the gear assembly slides transversely and outwardly along the slide axis, the first and second gears in the gear assembly are operatively disconnected from the first drive gear and the second drive gear to operatively disconnect the first drive gear from the second drive gear.

12. The programmable system claimed in claim 10 comprising:

a manual bypass to permit operative connection of the gear assembly to the manual drive assembly without motorized operation of the gear assembly, the manual bypass comprising a slide supporting the gear assembly, wherein the slide is configured for manually powered sliding movement of the gear assembly transversely to the longitudinal axis between the disengaged position and the engaged position.

13. In the programmable system claimed in claim 12, the manual bypass is lockable to prevent unauthorized use of the manual bypass to operatively connect the gear assembly to the manual drive assembly and to prevent unauthorized operation of the lock assembly.

14. In the programmable system claimed in claim 11, the electronic lock comprising a group of electronic components, the group comprising:

a battery providing the power reservoir for operation of the motor;

a switch associated with the motor, to affect the operation of the motor according to the position of the gear assembly along the slide axis;

a switch to shut off power to the motor after the gear assembly slides along the slide axis between the disengaged position and the engaged position;

the memory device for storing data associated with the electronic lock;

a data access port associated with the memory device;

a real time clock for associating real time data with use of the electronic lock; and

an access element selected from the group of elements consisting of;

a keypad for entering a predetermined access code;

a device reader; and

a receiver to receive an access code from a permitted electronic device.

15. The programmable system claimed in claim 14 comprising:

a lockable manual bypass in the electronic lock to permit authorized access to the electronic lock and to bypass motorized operation of the gear assembly; and

a slide element supporting the gear assembly, wherein the slide element is configured for manually powered sliding movement of the gear assembly transversely to the longitudinal axis and between the disengaged position and the engaged position.

16. In the programmable system claimed in claim 11, the manual drive assembly comprising:

a first portion for selective operational connection with the lock assembly when the gear assembly is slidingly positioned along the slide axis in the engaged position, and the first portion being operationally disengaged from the lock assembly when the gear assembly is slidingly positioned along the slide axis in the disengaged position.

17. In the programmable system claimed in claim 16, the manual drive assembly comprising a second portion operationally connecting with the first portion when the gear assembly is in the engaged position.

18. In the programmable system claimed in claim 15, the lockable manual bypass configured to manually slide the slide element and the gear assembly along the slide axis between the disengaged position and the engaged position, to permit manual operation of the drive assembly, and to bypass motorized operation of the gear assembly.

19. In the programmable system claimed in claim 14, the electronic lock comprising a removable chassis supporting the motor, the gear assembly mounted on a slide element for transverse sliding movement along the slide axis defined by the removable chassis, a circuit board, the controller and a majority of the electronic components selected from the group of electronic components, for:

testing one or more of the motor, the gear assembly, the slide element, the circuit board, the controller, and the majority of electronic components supported on the chassis when the chassis is outside of the electronic lock;

replacing one or more of the motor the gear assembly, the slide element, the circuit board, the controller, or one or more of the selected electronic components when the chassis is outside of the electronic lock; and

installing the chassis into the electronic lock after the testing and replacing steps are completed.

20. In the programmable system claimed in claim 14, wherein

the battery is rechargeable,

the memory device is a removable storage device,

the data access port is a USB port,

the real time clock is associated with a back up clock battery,

the device reader is a card reader, and

the permitted electronic device is selected from the group of permitted devices consisting of:

a computer, a mobile personal communication device, an NFC enabled device, and an RFID enabled device.

21. A software program embodied on a non-transitory computer storage medium for operating the programmable system claimed in claim 11 comprising:

providing the programmable passcode from a permitted electronic device to the controller and validating the programmable passcode via the controller by comparing the programmable passcode with data stored in the memory device,

for motorized sliding movement of the gear assembly along the slide axis transverse to the longitudinal axis, powered by the power reservoir, between the disengaged position and the engaged position.

22. A software program embodied on an non-transitory computer storage medium for operating the programmable system claimed in claim 14 comprising:

providing the programmable passcode from a permitted electronic device to the access element and validating the programmable passcode via the controller by comparing the programmable passcode with data stored in the memory device,

for motorized movement of the gear assembly along the slide axis, powered by the power reservoir, between the disengaged position and the engaged position.