Universal remote deadbolt adapter

• US 7,373,795 B2
• Filed: 12/07/2004
• Issued: 05/20/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/07/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mark W. Kilbourne
• Original Assignee: Mark W. Kilbourne
• Inventors: Kilbourne, Mark W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Engle, Patricia
• Assistant Examiner(s): Boswell, Christopher
• Application Number:
  US11/005,687
• Publication Number:
  US 20060117819A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,260 Days
• Field of Search: 702/77, 704/41, 701/24, 701/29, 70280-282, 702/781, 703/79.R, 703/79.A, 703/80, 704/60, 704/62, 292/244
• US Class Current: 70/278.1
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 2047/002 Geared transmissions
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 2047/0091 Retrofittable electric locks, e.g. an electric module can be attached to an existing manual lock electrically driven keys E05B2047/0083
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 2047/0094 Mechanical aspects of remotely controlled locks electronic locks G07C9/00
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 47/0012 with rotary electromotors actuators with rotary electromotors per se H02K7/06, H02K23/68
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00642 by battery
• 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: G07C 9/00896 specially adapted for particular uses
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/1097 Reversible
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/5319 Sliding
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/5978 With switch
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/7068 Actuated after correct combination recognized [e.g., numerical, alphabetical, or magnet[s] pattern]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/7113 Projected and retracted electrically
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/7706 Operating connections
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/8865 Reversible structures

Abstract

A system for electronically and remotely activating a deadbolt lock to actuate and either extend or retract a deadbolt into a door or barrier. The system can be activated by remote control or by a manual knob. The system is constructed so as to fit on any standard single cylinder, cylindrical deadbolt system and utilize the existing deadbolts keys. The system can be used in homes, apartments, or other buildings.

Claims

1. A system for remotely opening and closing a pre-existing deadbolt lock comprising:

a pre-existing deadbolt lock;

a signal transmitter;

a housing remote from the transmitter, said housing configured to be mounted utilizing only the existing mounting screws of said pre-existing deadbolt lock;

the housing further comprising;

a motor having an output shaft;

a signal receiver attached to the motor;

a reversible elongated member having a first end and a second end, each of said first end and said second end having an inner surface and an outer surface, wherein said outer surface of each said first end and said second end is configured for communication with said motor output shaft; and

said inner surface of said first end or said second end of said reversible elongated member being in direct contact with a tailpiece member of said pre-existing deadbolt lock with a deadbolt, wherein said reversible elongated member is configured such that the combination of the configurations of said inner surface of said first end and said second end are adaptable to substantially all tailpiece members of pre-existing deadbolt locks regardless of manufacturer configurations, whereby the signal receiver receives a signal from the signal transmitter causing the motor to activate, wherein the rotation of the output shaft of the motor causes the elongated member to rotate, and wherein the elongated member through direct contact with the tailpiece member rotates the tailpiece member, thereby causing the deadbolt to extend or retract.

2. The system of claim 1 further comprising a gear attached to the motor, wherein the first end of the elongated member is attached to the gear.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the signal receiver is an electronic card.

4. The system of claim 3, further comprising:

a sound emitting module; and

the electronic card is connected to the sound emitting module, whereby a sound is emitted from the sound emitting module to indicate when the deadbolt is in a locked or unlocked position.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein said second end of said elongated member is in communication with said motor and said first end is in communication with tailpiece member of the deadbolt lock.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein said elongated member is configured such that both said first end and said second end are capable of communication with said motor, and wherein said first end and said second end are configured to attach to different shaped tailpieces of different designed deadbolt locks.

7. The system of claim 1 further comprising at least one bracket, said bracket permitting the adjustment of said housing to mount to variously designed deadbolt locks.

8. A system for remotely opening and closing a pre-existing deadbolt comprising:

a pre-existing deadbolt lock;

a signal transmitter;

a base further comprising;

a motor, whereby the base houses a motor;

a signal receiver in electronic communication with the motor;

a gear in mechanical communication with the motor;

an elongated member, having a first end and a second end, said first end being in mechanical communication with the gear, whereby said second end of the elongated member is in direct contact with a tailpiece member of internal extension and contraction mechanisms of a deadbolt lock with a deadbolt, and whereby the signal receiver receives a signal from the signal transmitter causing the motor to activate, wherein activation of the motor causes the gear to rotate such that the gear, in mechanical communication with the first end of the elongated member, thereby actuating the elongated member to rotate the tailpiece member of the internal mechanisms in the deadbolt lock causing the deadbolt to extend; and

a tracking system comprising a sensor and a sensor recognition point, said sensor recognition point configured to indicate a specific position of said pre-existing deadbolt lock, wherein said sensor tracks the movement of said system and emits an audible sound, said audible sound indicating if said sensor recognition point has been detected by said sensor, wherein the elongated member further comprises a splined stem having a first and second end, and wherein the first and second end further comprises a face on each end, and wherein the first end face comprises substantially a half oval shape orifice, and wherein the second end face shape comprises substantially a rectangular or cross shaped orifice.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the base further comprises:

a battery housing unit;

gear casing; and

a template unit, said template unit configured for mounting the base to the deadbolt lock utilizing existing deadbolt lock mounting hardware, wherein the battery housing unit, gear casing, and template unit are releasably attached to each other.

10. The system of claim 8, whereby the base further comprises:

an attachment member for releasably attaching the base to a door, said attachment member comprising a templet unit and at least one bracket unit, wherein existing hardware can be utilized for said attaching.

11. A method of moving a deadbolt comprising the steps of:

determining the cross-sectional shape of a tailpiece member of a pre-existing deadbolt system;

attaching a deadbolt activating system to said pre-existing deadbolt system with internal mechanisms and a deadbolt, wherein attaching further comprises selecting the end of a reversible elongated member which matches the determined cross-sectional shape of said tailpiece member of said pre-existing deadbolt system and attaching said matching components;

sending a signal via a transmitter;

electronically activating an electronic input card housed in the deadbolt activating system via reception of the signal;

signaling a motor with the electronic card via electronic and mechanical communication;

activating a gear, via the motor, housed in the deadbolt activating system to rotate;

housing said reversible elongated member, in mechanical communication with the gear, in the deadbolt activating system, whereby the rotation of the gear causes the rotation of the reversible elongated member which is releasably and directly attached to said tailpiece member of internal mechanisms of said pre-existing deadbolt system causing the deadbolt to extend; and

providing a tracking system comprising a sensor and a sensor recognition point;

tracking said sensor recognition point, said sensor recognition point configured to indicate a specific position of said pre-existing deadbolt lock;

indicating if said recognition point has been detected by said sensor;

transmitting said indication to a sound emitting module; and

emitting a sound from said sound emitting module to indicate when the deadbolt is in the locked position and/or in the unlocked position, wherein said locked and/or unlocked position is based on said indication.

12. The method of claim 11, whereby the rotation of the internal mechanisms causes the deadbolt to retract.

13. The method of claim 11, further comprising providing a plurality of gears housed in the deadbolt activating system.

14. The method of claim 11, further comprising composing the deadbolt activating system of a gear carriage, a motor and battery carriage and a gear base.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising attaching the deadbolt activating system to a door by use of existing deadbolt screws.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

constructing the door or barrier with a top and a bottom; and

attaching the deadbolt activating system to a door or barrier at a distance between thirty six inches and forty eight inches from the bottom of the door or barrier.

17. The method of claim 15, further comprising removing the deadbolt activating system from a door;

whereby the removal of the deadbolt activating system does not damage the door.

18. A method for remotely extending and retracting a pre-existing deadbolt comprising:

sending a signal from a transmitter;

providing a deadbolt turning system with a motor and a signal receiver, said signal receiver being an electronic card;

attaching said deadbolt turning system to a pre-existing deadbolt lock;

attaching the signal receiver to the motor;

receiving the signal from the transmitter through the signal receiver;

determining the cross-sectional shape of a tailpiece member of a pre-existing deadbolt lock;

positioning one end of a reversible elongated member to be in communication with the motor;

attaching a second end of the elongated member directly to a tailpiece member of internal extension and contraction mechanisms of a deadbolt lock with a deadbolt, wherein said second end is selected to match the cross-sectional shape of said tailpiece member of said pre-existing deadbolt lock;

providing a tracking system comprising a sensor and a sensor recognition point;

tracking said sensor recognition point, said sensor recognition point configured to indicate a specific position of said pre-existing deadbolt lock;

indicating if said recognition point has been detected by said sensor;

transmitting said indication to a sound emitting module; and

constructing the electronic card with the sound emitting module, whereby a sound is emitted from the sound emitting module to indicate when the deadbolt is locked and/or unlocked, wherein the locked and/or unlocked position is based on said indication, and whereby, the signal receiver receives a signal from the signal transmitter causing the motor to activate, wherein activation of the motor causes the elongated member to rotate, and wherein the elongated member rotates the tailpiece member of the internal mechanisms in the deadbolt lock, thereby causing the deadbolt to extend or retract.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

attaching the elongated member to a gear; and

attaching the gear to the motor.

20. The method of claim 18, whereby the rotation of the internal mechanisms causes the deadbolt to retract.