Access credential reader connector

• US 10,553,051 B2
• Filed: 01/08/2019
• Issued: 02/04/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 06/25/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Schlage Lock Company LLC (Allegion PLC)
• Original Assignee: Schlage Lock Company LLC (Allegion PLC)
• Inventors: Conlin, Michael T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Feild, Joseph H
• Assistant Examiner(s): Akhter, Sharmin
• Application Number:
  US16/242,537
• Publication Number:
  US 20190347880A1
• Time in Patent Office: 392 Days
• Field of Search: 70204, 70223, 70264, 70280, 702781, 702787, 70422, 70472, 70149, 70189, 70218, 70277, 248 49- 745
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/23 by means of a password
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/28 the pass enabling tracking or indicating presence
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/33 by means of a password
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49174 Assembling terminal to elongated conductor

Abstract

An apparatus including a central access control system and an access reader. The access reader is structured to receive an access credential from the central access control system, and includes a first connector connected with a second connector with the second connector connected to a cable, and with the cable in electronic communication with the central access control system. Connection of the first connector and the second connector places the access reader in electronic communication with the central access control system.

Claims

1. An access reader assembly configured for connection to a wiring harness, the access reader assembly comprising:

a housing having a front and a rear, the rear of the housing including a connector comprising a deflectable clip and a plurality of first electrical connectors, wherein the deflectable clip is configured to lockingly engage the wiring harness to maintain electrical connection between the plurality of first electrical connectors and a plurality of second electrical connectors included in the wiring harness; and

a credential reader mounted to the housing and configured to receive credential information from a user, wherein the credential reader is in electrical communication with the plurality of first electrical connectors, is configured to receive electrical power via a first of the first electrical connectors, and to transmit the credential information via a second of the first electrical connectors.

2. The access reader assembly of claim 1, wherein each of the first electrical connectors comprises one of a male pin adaptor and a female pin receiver;

and

wherein each of the second electrical connectors comprises the other of the male pin adaptor and the female pin receiver.

3. The access reader assembly of claim 1, wherein the housing further includes a pair of apertures configured to receive fasteners by which the access reader assembly is operable to be coupled to a wall.

4. The access reader assembly of claim 1, further comprising a backplate operable to be secured to the rear of the housing, the backplate including a hole through which the connector is accessible when the backplate is secured to the rear of the housing.

5. The access reader assembly of claim 4, further comprising a tamper detector configured to detect movement of the housing relative to the backplate.

6. The access reader assembly of claim 1, wherein the connector further comprises a wall structure projecting from the rear of the housing and surrounding the plurality of first electrical connectors.

7. The access reader assembly of claim 6, wherein a sidewall of the wall structure is positioned between the deflectable clip and the plurality of first electrical connectors.

8. A system including the access reader assembly of claim 1, the system further including a cable, the cable including the wiring harness;

and

wherein the wiring harness is lockingly engaged by the deflectable clip to maintain electrical connection between the plurality of first electrical connectors and the plurality of second electrical connectors.

9. The system of claim 8, further comprising a central access control electrically connected with the credential reader assembly via the cable;

and

wherein the central access control is configured to compare the credential information with an access credential to allow or deny access.

10. A method, comprising:

electrically connecting a cable to a central access control, the cable including a plurality of wires and a wiring harness including a plurality of first electrical connectors, wherein each of the wires is connected with a corresponding one of the first electrical connectors; and

coupling the wiring harness to a connector located in a housing of an access reader assembly to electrically connect the plurality of first electrical connectors with a plurality of second electrical connectors electrically connected to a credential reader of the access reader assembly;

wherein the coupling the wiring harness to the connector further comprises lockingly coupling a deflectable clip extending from a rear side of the housing within a notch in the harness housing.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein coupling the wiring harness to the connector comprises placing a wall structure that outwardly projects from a rear side of a housing of the access reader within a recess in a harness housing of the wiring harness, and

wherein the wall structure is sized to provide a protective barrier about the plurality of second electrical connectors.

12. The method of claim 10, further comprising transmitting power to the credential reader via a first of the wires, a first of the first electrical connectors, and a first of the second electrical connectors;

and

transmitting data from the credential reader to the central access control via a second of the wires, a second of the first electrical connectors, and a second of the second electrical connectors.

13. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

passing the wiring harness through an opening in a backplate prior to coupling the wiring harness to the connector;

securing the housing to the backplate; and

securing the backplate to a wall.

14. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

securing the housing to a backplate;

detecting, via a tamper detector of the access reader assembly, movement of the housing relative to the backplate; and

transmitting a tamper signal to the central access control via one of the wires, one of the first electrical connectors, and one of the second electrical connectors.

15. An access reader assembly, comprising:

a credential reader configured to receive a credential input from a user;

a housing to which the credential reader is mounted, wherein the housing includes a first connector, and wherein the first connector comprises a plurality of first electrical connectors electrically connected with the credential reader and configured for connection with a corresponding plurality of second electrical connectors;

a wall structure projecting outwardly from a rear side of the housing and surrounding the plurality of first electrical connectors, the wall structure including a plurality of sidewalls; and

a deflectable clip extending from the rear side of the housing, the deflectable clip configured to lockingly engage a connector housing of a second connector including the plurality of second connectors; and

wherein one of the sidewalls is positioned between the deflectable clip and the plurality of first electrical connectors.

16. The access reader assembly of claim 15, wherein the credential reader is structured to receive electrical power via a first of the first electrical connectors and to transmit information relating to the credential input from the user via a second of the first electrical connectors.

17. The access reader assembly of claim 15, further comprising:

a backplate to which the housing is secured; and

a tamper detector configured to detect movement of the housing relative to the backplate.

18. A system including the access reader assembly of claim 15, the system further comprising a cable including a plurality of wires and the second connector;

wherein each of the wires is electrically connected with a corresponding one of the second connectors; and

wherein the deflectable clip is engaged with a notch formed in an outer surface of the connector housing to retain electrical connections between the plurality of first electrical connectors and the plurality of second electrical connectors.

19. The system of claim 18, further comprising a central access control;

and

wherein the central access control is electrically connected with the credential reader via the plurality of wires, the plurality of first electrical connectors, and the plurality of second electrical connectors.