The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jan. 26, 1999
Filed:
May. 02, 1997
Gary L Myers, Monee, IL (US);
Calin V Roatis, Des Plaines, IL (US);
Paul D Caplinger, Tinley Park, IL (US);
Fort Lock Corporation, River Grove, IL (US);
Abstract
An electronically controlled security lock is provided for use with safes, vaults, hotel rooms, safe deposit boxes, and the like. The security lock includes a housing having an interior region, exterior surfaces, and an aperture therethrough with a pair of opposed channels. The security lock also includes a dead bolt which is slidably disposed within the aperture of the housing, an actuator with a movable plunger element such as an electromagnetic solenoid which is arranged within the interior region of the housing, and a linkage which connects the plunger element and the dead bolt. The linkage of the security lock includes a pin which is received by openings formed in the dead bolt and by the channels of the aperture. In operation, the plunger element of the actuator moves the linkage and the dead bolt when an electric current is passed through the actuator. More specifically, the dead bolt moves between a retracted position wherein the dead bolt is substantially withdrawn within the housing and an extended position wherein the dead bolt protrudes at least partially outwardly away from the housing. When the dead bolt is in the extended position, the pin of the linkage engages stops formed within the channels of the aperture and latches the dead bolt in the extended position. A spring is also provided between the actuator and the linkage for biasing the dead bolt towards the extended position.