Mas-hamilton Group, Inc.

Kaba-mas Corporation

C&m Technology, Inc.

Gerald L Dawson

Daniel L Thompson

Thomas R Clark

James P Redden

Michael P Harvey

J Clayton Miller

Thomas E Cassada

James C Miller

Craig B Williams

Paul Townsend Scherer

James Hamilton

Walter R Evans

James D Hamilton

Will Miracle

Mike Kelly

Michael J Kelly

David Wolterman

Tim Reed

Lee Stallard

Adrian Schaefer

An electronic combination lock having a knob which has no divisions or markings relating to the numbers of the combination thereon. The rotation of the knob drives a generator, which produces electrical power. The power generated serves as a power source for the electronics of the lock. A knob position detector indicates to the microprocessor the speed and amount of rotation of the knob. The timing capabilities of the lock provides the opportunity to set the minimum time that can be used in the entering of the combination. The lock waits a period of time, typically, two seconds between the entry of one element of the combination and the lock permitting the entry at the next element of the combination. The microprocessor will also keep a count record of all the failed attempts to open the lock since the last successful operation. If the numbers of tries or attempts to unlock the lock equals or exceeds the number set in the microprocessor microcode, the lock will fail to open even if an authorized combination is subsequently entered. After an error indication is displayed, the lock is disabled to prevent further entry tries, until the lock is reset. In order to eliminate the possibility of correlation between the number displayed and/or entered and knob position, there is a random time delay between the start of knob rotation and the incrementing the number displayed.

High security electronic combination lock

A motor that is capable of both linear and rotational motion. One coil translates the motor along its axis for linear motion and a second coil causes the shaft to rotate. Coacting with the translate coil is a translate magnet where the north and south poles are oriented along the motor shaft. A segmented magnet where alternating north and south poles are located along the periphery of the magnet interacts with a rotation coil so that the interaction of the magnetic field of the segmented magnet and the magnetic field produced by the rotation coil cause the rotary magnet to rotate. Rotation of the rotary magnet, which cooperates with the shaft to which it is operably connected, causes rotation of the motor shaft.

Motor with linear and rotary motion

The electronic supervisor and subordinate lock system employs an electronic lock as a supervisor lock and at least one other electronic lock as a subordinate lock. The supervisor lock controls and/or authorizes the opening of one or more subordinate locks.

Supervisor and subordinate lock system

The present invention is an electronic lock having a shorting or shunt circuit designed to allow an authorized operator to open the electronic lock and which will prevent an unauthorized operator from opening the lock when authorized combination has not been entered.

Method and apparatus for preventing the unauthorized opening of an electronic lock

A self powered lock is powered by a manually driven generator. The data input to the lock is entered by rotating the dial and stopping and waiting a predetermined amount of time when a desired number is displayed on the lock display. The drive of the power generator, a stepper motor, is through a unidirectional clutch, such that the generator is only driven when the dial is rotated in a selected direction and remains stationary when the dial is rotated in the opposite direction. The data input, including entry of the combination, to the lock is provided by a stepper motor which generates a train of electrical pulses. The electrical pulses are used by the electronic controls of the lock to control the electronic controls including entering the combination. The data input pulses are generated by a stepper motor driven to act as a generator. The data input generator is similarly driven through a unidirectional clutch and is driven only when the dial is being rotated in a direction opposite the direction in which the power generator is driven. Accordingly, only the power generator or the data input generator is driven at any one time, depending upon the direction of rotation of the dial. A third unidirectional clutch is used to grasp the shaft of the data input stepper motor, preventing the reverse rotation of the rotor when the dial of the lock is rotated to generate operating power.

Emitter and power drive system for an electronic lock

A combination lock is described where the combination that is used to open the lock is generated on a separate computer system using information that is contained in the lock and a series of steps that combine selected items of the information contained in the lock and alter the results of the results of the combination of the information items. The lock incorporates a computer processor-which performs the identical steps to generate an authorized combination after a combination is entered into the lock. When the two combinations match, the lock is enabled for opening. At least some of the information items used in the generation of the combinations change with each successful opening of the lock, rendering the combination generated by the computer system useable for only a single opening of the lock.

Electronic combination lock utilizing a one time use combination

A self powered lock is powered by a manually driven generator. The data input to the lock is entered by rotating the dial and stopping and waiting a predetermined amount of time when a desired number is displayed on the lock display. The drive of the power generator, a stepper motor, is through a unidirectional clutch such that the generator is only driven when the dial is rotated in a selected direction and remains stationary when the dial is rotated in the opposite direction. The data input, including entry of the combination, to the lock is provided by a stepper motor which generates a train of electrical pulses. The electrical pulses are used by the electronic controls of the lock to control the electronic controls including entering the combination. The data input pulses are generated by a stepper motor driven to act as a generator. The data input generator is similarly driven through a unidirectional clutch and is driven only when the dial is being rotated in a direction opposite the direction in which the power generator is driven. Accordingly, only the power generator or the data input generator is driven at any one time, depending upon the direction of rotation of the dial. A third unidirectional clutch is used to grasp the shaft of the data input stepper motor, preventing the reverse rotation of the rotor when the dial of the lock is rotated to generate operating power.

A mechanism for locking the back cover of a combination lock to the lock housing is described having two sequentially and phased moveable parts, each having an aperture through which a locking member may be inserted, the apertures are disposed in parts moveable in parallel and adjacent planes and a portion of each aperture is at all times aligned with the other aperture such that a third member may extend through the apertures. The apertures have enlarged portions which will pass the third member and channel portions which prevent withdrawal of the third member while permitting movement of the moveable parts. The third member is carried by the back cover of the lock and can only be withdrawn by sequentially withdrawing from a first moveable part, shifting the moveable parts to a second position and withdrawing from the second moveable part. The back cover may thus be only removed by starting with the bolt in an extended position and locked condition and prior to final withdrawal of the third member, withdrawing the lock bolt to an unlocked position, necessitating possession of authorization to unlock the lock in order to remove the back cover.

Back cover lock for a combination lock

An electronic combination lock includes a combination lock having a dial with no markings thereon. Rotation of the dial drives a generator which produces electrical pulses. The voltage pulses serves as a power source for the electronics of the lock. The lock also includes a security feature to disable the lock if the combination dial is stopped between dial rotations for a period of time which indicates dialing by an automatic dialer.

Electronic combination lock with high security features

A gear driven bolt withdrawal mechanism for an electronic lock is disclosed wherein an electromagnetic device such as an electromagnetic device displaces a partial gear into a position to be engaged by a manual drive. The partial gear, in turn, drives subsequent gears in a gear train to engage a gear with teeth on a rack attached to or a part of the bolt of the lock. The restoration of the bolt is ensured by a physical engagement between a portion of the drive cam and a portion of the bolt to force the bolt to its extended position upon locking; a displaceable slide is disposed in blocking relationship to the bolt whenever the bolt is fully extended to prevent end pressure from displacing the bolt without entry of a valid combination into the electronic controls of the lock.

Gear driven bolt withdrawal for an electronic combination lock

A combination lock and particularly an electronic combination lock used on a container that is typically housed within an enclosure having a door which further has a lock and a security switch indicating that the enclosure door has been opened may, be provided with a device to shunt a security signal around the switch associated with the enclosure door to shut off, override, or cancel the security switch signal. The lock may be provided with a shunt relay which effectively connects a signal from a voltage source to a monitor or alarm when the combination lock is opened, thereby signaling the monitor that the enclosure door was opened by an individual having the authorized combination for the combination lock. This indicates that the person opening the enclosure lock has a legitimate authorization to access the locked container within the enclosure and that the opening of the enclosure door may be reasonably ignored. Upon the locking of the combination lock and the closing of the enclosure door a brief alarm signal indicates that the combination lock has been locked and the enclosure closed.

Keypad entry electronic combination lock with self-generated combination

A self-powered lock incorporates a generator within the dial housing. The generator incorporates a plurality of coils and two concentric rings of magnetic segments. The rings are mounted on a dial housing, capable of rotation, and rotation of the dial housing generates operating power for the lock. Dial rotation rotates another ring of magnetic segments to input data necessary for lock operation.

Electronic combination lock with self-contained power generation

An electronic combination lock has the capability of generating the combination that is used to compare to the entered combination by combining data read from an electronic key and data unique to the lock and stored in the lock. The lock may be operated in a mode that requires two combinations and two separate keys to open the lock. This dual combination mode of operation is possible in several classes of operation such as Route, First Line Maintenance or Bank Mode. The lock also has a mode of operation wherein the lock may be shelved or returned to the factory mode by using a unique combination and a one-time use key for assistance whenever combinations are severely out of synchronization with the dispatching computer and without other correction options.

Growing community of inventors

Lexington, KY, United States of America

Gerald L Dawson