Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
170 words
An electrically operated lock comprising: a housing (50), a mechanical member (55) supported adjacent to said housing (50) and movable relative thereto, a locking member (72; 218) movable into and out of an operative position in which it engages with the mechanical member (55) to prevent the movement of said mechanical member as aforesaid, and an electrically actuated mechanism (70; 210) for moving the locking member (72; 218) into and out of its operative position characterised in that said mechanism (79; 210) comprises a magnet (213) supported within said housing, an electrical coil (214) supported for movement within the field of said magnet (213), a first spring (215) mechanically coupled to said coil for movement therewith between two stable positions, and a second spring (217) coupled to said first spring for movement therewith and coupled to the locking member (72; 218) to move the locking member into and out of its operative position in engagement with said mechanical member (55) as said first spring moves between its two stable positions.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
170 words
An electrically operated lock comprising: a housing (50), a mechanical member (55) supported adjacent to said housing (50) and movable relative thereto, a locking member (72; 218) movable into and out of an operative position in which it engages with the mechanical member (55) to prevent the movement of said mechanical member as aforesaid, and an electrically actuated mechanism (70; 210) for moving the locking member (72; 218) into and out of its operative position characterised in that said mechanism (79; 210) comprises a magnet (213) supported within said housing, an electrical coil (214) supported for movement within the field of said magnet (213), a first spring (215) mechanically coupled to said coil for movement therewith between two stable positions, and a second spring (217) coupled to said first spring for movement therewith and coupled to the locking member (72; 218) to move the locking member into and out of its operative position in engagement with said mechanical member (55) as said first spring moves between its two stable positions.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
80 words
A lock according to Claim 1 wherein the housing (50) is constituted by a cylindrical shell, and the mechanical member (55) by a cylindrical plug supported for rotation within said cylindrical shell and having a keyway (57) to receive a key (30) which rotates said cylindrical plug, characterised in that the locking member (72; 218) is constituted by a pin (72; 218) which is slidably mounted for movement into a side region of the plug (55) to prevent its rotation.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
49 words
An electrically operated lock according to either one of Claims 1 and 2 characterised in that the magnet (213) is a permanent magnet and is supported stationary relative to the housing (50), and the coil (214) is a bobbinless voice coil supported for movement relative to said magnet (213).
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
58 words
An electrically operated lock according to any one of the preceding Claims characterised in that the first spring (215) has a first peripheral end connected to the coil (214) and a second peripheral end supported at a stationary point relative to the housing (50) to stress said first spring such that said first spring has an arcuate profile.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
31 words
An electrically operated lock according to Claim 4 characterised in that the second spring (217) has an arcuate profile and the locking member (72; 218) is connected to a vertex thereof.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
100 words
An electrically operated lock according to any one of the preceding Claims characterised in that the first spring (215) is constituted by a snap-over spring and in that means (68, 130) is provided for applying a first current of one polarity to said coil (214) to move the coil in one direction, thus to cause the first spring (215) to move to one of its stable positions, and a second current of opposite polarity to said coil to move the coil in the opposite direction, thus to cause the first spring to move to the other of its stable positions.