Patent US3731963A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3731963A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Electrically actuated lock mechanism
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1971-04-20
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Granted: 1973-05-08
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Expires: 1991-04-20
Abstract
Abstract A locking mechanism includes a tubular sleeve adapted to receive a shouldered projection extending from the closure member, a spring biased plunger normally projecting into the projection seat to engage the projection. A solenoid is associated with the plunger for retracting the plunger from the tubular sleeve to release the projection when it is required to unlock the closure member.
Inventors
- 👤 R Pond
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 21:57
CPC Classifications
E; E05; E05B; E05B83/00; E05B83/16; E05B83/24; E05B81/00; E05B81/02; E05B81/04; E05B81/08; E05C; E05C3/00; E05C3/12; E05C3/16; E05C3/22; E05C3/40; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T292/00; Y10T292/08; Y10T292/096; Y10T292/1014; Y10T292/1021; Y10T292/1022; Y10T292/1028; Y10T70/00; Y10T70/50; Y10T70/5889; Y10T70/5903; Y10T70/5907
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim
371 words
A locking apparatus for use in a body defining an opening and a movable closure member associated with said body to normally close the opening, the locking apparatus comprising a projection secured to one of said closure member and said body, a housing on the other of said body and said closure member defining a first bore adapted to receive said projection, said projection adapted to move to and from the housing along a predetermined path coextensive with said first bore, said projection including an enlarged head defining an abutment shoulder, an aperture provided in a side wall of a portion of the housing normal to the axis of the bore, a second bore defined in the housing communicating with said aperture and coaxial with the axis of said aperture, a plunger member comprising a continuous piece of magnetizable material having a rear portion and a neckportion of smaller cross section than the rear portion and forming a shoulder therebetween mounted for sliding movement in said second and through said aperture bore and normal to the axis of said first bore, spring means in the end of said second bore normally urging the plunger towards said first bore, a single solenoid coil provided about a portion of the second bore opposite the first bore for retracting said plunger from a first position to a second position out of engagement with the abutment shoulder of said projection; the closure being locked when said projection is in said first bore and said plunger is in said first position engaging the abutment shoulder of said projection, and said closure member being unlocked when said solenoid coil is activated to retract said plunger member to said second position, and a third bore substantially at right angles to the second bore, a manuallydisplaceable, freely-slidable locking pin of a magnetizable material in said third bore subject to the influence of induced magnetism in said plunger by said single solenoid coil for sliding movement therein between a retracted position clear of said second bore and an engaging position projecting within said second bore and engaging said plunger whereby the plunger is retained thereby against said spring means in said second position until manually retracted in said third bore.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
371 words
A locking apparatus for use in a body defining an opening and a movable closure member associated with said body to normally close the opening, the locking apparatus comprising a projection secured to one of said closure member and said body, a housing on the other of said body and said closure member defining a first bore adapted to receive said projection, said projection adapted to move to and from the housing along a predetermined path coextensive with said first bore, said projection including an enlarged head defining an abutment shoulder, an aperture provided in a side wall of a portion of the housing normal to the axis of the bore, a second bore defined in the housing communicating with said aperture and coaxial with the axis of said aperture, a plunger member comprising a continuous piece of magnetizable material having a rear portion and a neckportion of smaller cross section than the rear portion and forming a shoulder therebetween mounted for sliding movement in said second and through said aperture bore and normal to the axis of said first bore, spring means in the end of said second bore normally urging the plunger towards said first bore, a single solenoid coil provided about a portion of the second bore opposite the first bore for retracting said plunger from a first position to a second position out of engagement with the abutment shoulder of said projection; the closure being locked when said projection is in said first bore and said plunger is in said first position engaging the abutment shoulder of said projection, and said closure member being unlocked when said solenoid coil is activated to retract said plunger member to said second position, and a third bore substantially at right angles to the second bore, a manuallydisplaceable, freely-slidable locking pin of a magnetizable material in said third bore subject to the influence of induced magnetism in said plunger by said single solenoid coil for sliding movement therein between a retracted position clear of said second bore and an engaging position projecting within said second bore and engaging said plunger whereby the plunger is retained thereby against said spring means in said second position until manually retracted in said third bore.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
30 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein a mounting bracket is secured to one of the closure member and said body and the projection extends from the mounting bracket.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
28 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 2, wherein the mounting bracket and the projection are secured to the closure member while the housing is mounted to the body.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
290 words
A magnetically-operated locking mechanism for use on a body defining an opening, a closure member associated with said body for closing said opening, the locking mechanism comprising a projection and a housing operatively connected between said body and said closure member, said housing having a bore disposed in a path of movement of said projection and removably receiving the same therein, said projection including an abutment shoulder portion positionable in said bore, said housing including a second bore normal to said first-mentioned bore and communicating therewith through a reduced cross-sectional aperture, a magnetically-attractive plunger reciprocatably supported in said second bore and including an axial projection extendable through said aperture for engaging said abutment shoulder and locking the projection in said first-mentioned bore, said axial projection forming an intermediate shoulder on said plunger, a single electrically-energizable coil in said housing for creating a magnetic field about said plunger for withdrawing said plunger away from said projection abutment shoulder and permiting said projection to be withdrawn from said first-mentioned bore, spring means in said housing operatively engaging said plunger and normally urging it toward said first-mentioned bore when said coil is de-energized, a third bore in said housing intersecting said second bore, and a magnetically-attractive lock pin supported for free sliding movement in said third bore and subject to the magnetic field created in said plunger by said single coil, said lock pin being engageable automatically with the intermediate shoulder of said plunger for retaining the projection in an unlocked condition in opposition to said spring means and being manually displacable out of engagement with said shoulder for ''''unlocking'''' said plunger to permit said plunger to be urged into ''''locking'''' relation with the projection abutment under the influence of said spring means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
290 words
A magnetically-operated locking mechanism for use on a body defining an opening, a closure member associated with said body for closing said opening, the locking mechanism comprising a projection and a housing operatively connected between said body and said closure member, said housing having a bore disposed in a path of movement of said projection and removably receiving the same therein, said projection including an abutment shoulder portion positionable in said bore, said housing including a second bore normal to said first-mentioned bore and communicating therewith through a reduced cross-sectional aperture, a magnetically-attractive plunger reciprocatably supported in said second bore and including an axial projection extendable through said aperture for engaging said abutment shoulder and locking the projection in said first-mentioned bore, said axial projection forming an intermediate shoulder on said plunger, a single electrically-energizable coil in said housing for creating a magnetic field about said plunger for withdrawing said plunger away from said projection abutment shoulder and permiting said projection to be withdrawn from said first-mentioned bore, spring means in said housing operatively engaging said plunger and normally urging it toward said first-mentioned bore when said coil is de-energized, a third bore in said housing intersecting said second bore, and a magnetically-attractive lock pin supported for free sliding movement in said third bore and subject to the magnetic field created in said plunger by said single coil, said lock pin being engageable automatically with the intermediate shoulder of said plunger for retaining the projection in an unlocked condition in opposition to said spring means and being manually displacable out of engagement with said shoulder for ''''unlocking'''' said plunger to permit said plunger to be urged into ''''locking'''' relation with the projection abutment under the influence of said spring means.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-05-07 | 1976-11-06 | 1977-05-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-05-07 | 1980-11-06 | 1981-05-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-05-07 | 1984-11-06 | 1985-05-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |