US3873892A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
High security lock
Assignee: RTX Corp
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Filing: 1974-04-25
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Granted: 1975-03-25
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Expires: 1994-04-25
Abstract
Abstract A keyhole-less magnetically actuated lock, the key having magnets borne on concentric rings rotatable by a dial, the lock having magnetic reed switches within the lock actuatable by the key, some of the switches providing a series GO function and some providing a parallel NOGO function. In one form, the GO function powers an electric motor within the lock to withdraw the lock bolts, and in another form the actuator is a thermo electric device. Several NOGO techniques are shown, including a toggled circuit breaker and a bucking coil in the motor. A circuit is shown for inverting the GO and NOGO functions to change the combination of the lock, and one embodiment shows placement of the two magnets on one ring in the key to render the key unique. Another embodiment shows use of a covert grid of locator marks to direct correct placement of the key against the lock. The lock is shown associated with two forms of coin receptors for coin operated machines, one having a pull-out drawer and the other having a hopper and a delivery chute for collection of the coins. In one form shown, the combination is advanced incrementally each time the lock is opened, the key being reset each time to compensate, and in another form the magnets of the key and the switches of the lock rotate in synchronism as the lock opens. A form is also shown in which the lock is powered from the key.
Inventors
- 👤 Joseph R Dettling
- 👤 John P Barry
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 20:34
CPC Classifications
G; G07; G07C; G07C9/00; G07C9/00174; G07C9/00658; G07C9/00722; G07C9/0073; G07C9/20; G07C9/215; G07F; G07F9/00; G07F9/06; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T70/00; Y10T70/70; Y10T70/7051; Y10T70/7057; Y10T70/7062; Y10T70/7068; Y10T70/7073; Y10T70/7441; Y10T70/778; Y10T70/7791; Y10T70/7881; Y10T70/7893; Y10T70/7904
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 37
Claim 1
Independent Claim
179 words
An electromagnetic locking device having a lock portion and a key portion, comprising: a. an array of magnetically actuatable switches within said lock portion, b. an electromotive device within said lock portion, for performing a desired unlocking function upon energization, said electromotive device having first and second coils, said first coil being operative to actuate said device and said second coil be operative to produce a field blocking the operation of said first coil and preventing actuation of said device, c. at least one of said plurality of switches being connected in series in the line of supply of power to said first coil, d. at least one of said plurality of switches being connected in series in the line of supply of power to said second coil which switches, when more than one are employed, are in parallel with each other, whereby closure of one of said switches actuates said second coil to produce a NOGO function and, e. an array of magnets within said key portion positionable to actuate the desired switches of said plurality of switches.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
179 words
An electromagnetic locking device having a lock portion and a key portion, comprising: a. an array of magnetically actuatable switches within said lock portion, b. an electromotive device within said lock portion, for performing a desired unlocking function upon energization, said electromotive device having first and second coils, said first coil being operative to actuate said device and said second coil be operative to produce a field blocking the operation of said first coil and preventing actuation of said device, c. at least one of said plurality of switches being connected in series in the line of supply of power to said first coil, d. at least one of said plurality of switches being connected in series in the line of supply of power to said second coil which switches, when more than one are employed, are in parallel with each other, whereby closure of one of said switches actuates said second coil to produce a NOGO function and, e. an array of magnets within said key portion positionable to actuate the desired switches of said plurality of switches.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
13 words
The device of claim 1 wherein said magnetically actuatable switches are reed switches.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
59 words
An electromagnetic locking device as described in claim 1 and wherein said locking device further comprises a power supply located in the key portion for supplying electric power to said electromotive device within said lock portion, said key portion and said lock portion having mating connectors thereon for coupling said power from said key portion to said lock portion.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
39 words
An electromagnetic locking device as described in claim 3 and wherein said power supply comprises a battery and an inverter for converting DC current from said battery to AC for supply to said electromotive device within said lock portion.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
118 words
An electromagnetic locking device comprising a lock portion, a key portion, and a barrier interposed between said lock portion and said key portion, said lock portion comprising a plurality of magnetically actuated switches arranged in a pattern adjacent said barrier, and an electromotive device having its power supply controlled by said switches and operative to unlock said lock portion, said key portion comprising a plurality of magnets carried on a plurality of rotatable elements within said key portion to provide a combination-setting function said magnets being positionable to correspond to said pattern of said switches, and said barrier being formed of magnetically permeable material and shaped to prevent physical penetration of said key portion into said lock portion.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
118 words
An electromagnetic locking device comprising a lock portion, a key portion, and a barrier interposed between said lock portion and said key portion, said lock portion comprising a plurality of magnetically actuated switches arranged in a pattern adjacent said barrier, and an electromotive device having its power supply controlled by said switches and operative to unlock said lock portion, said key portion comprising a plurality of magnets carried on a plurality of rotatable elements within said key portion to provide a combination-setting function said magnets being positionable to correspond to said pattern of said switches, and said barrier being formed of magnetically permeable material and shaped to prevent physical penetration of said key portion into said lock portion.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
16 words
An electromagnetic locking device as described in claim 5 and wherein said magnets are permanent magnets.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
83 words
An electromagnetic locking device as described in claim 5 and wherein a first one of said switches is connected in series relationship with the supply of electricity to said electromotive device and said lock portion further comprises an electrical NOGO device for disabling the action of said electromotive device, said electrical NOGO device being supplied with power through a second one of said switches, whereby actuation of said second switch will block operation of said electromotive device despite actuation of said first switch.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
58 words
An electromagentic locking device as described in claim 7 and wherein a plurality of said switches are connected in series relationship with each other so that actuation of all of said switches in said series is required to transmit power therethrough for said electromotive device, said first one of said switches being one of said plurality in series.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
13 words
The device of claim 5 wherein said magnetically actuatable switches are reed switches.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
13 words
The device of claim 7 wherein said magnetically actuatable switches are reed switches.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
13 words
The device of claim 8 wherein said magnetically actuatable switches are reed switches.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
48 words
An electromagnetic locking device as described in claim 7 and wherein a plurality of said switches are connected in parallel relationship with each other, said electrical NOGO device being supplied with electric power through said plurality of parallel-connected switches will supply electrical power to said electrical NOGO device.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
57 words
An electromagnetic locking device as described in claim 12 and wherein a plurality of said switches are connected in series relationship to each other and in series with the supply of power to said electromotive device, so that actuation of all of said plurality of series connected switches is required to pass power to said electromotive device.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
117 words
An electromagnetic locking device as described in claim 13 and wherein said lock portion further comprises switch means interconnected with said plurality of series connected switches and said plurality of parallel connected switches and operative to change said series connected switches to parallel connection and from supply of power to said electromotive device to supply of power to said electrical NOGO device, and to change said parallel connected switches to series connected and from supply of power to said electrical NOGO device to supply of power to said electromotive device, and access means for providing security of access to said switch means, whereby the function of said switches in said lock portion may be inverted in effect.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
18 words
An electromagnetic locking device as described in claim 5 and wherein said electromotive device comprises an electric motor.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
125 words
An electromagnetic locking device as described in claim 15 and wherein a plurality of said magnetic reed switches are connected in series relationship to each other in the line of supply of electric power to said motor and said lock portion further comprises an electrical NOGO device effective upon energization to prevent the unlocking of said lock portion, one of said magnetic reed switches other than said series-connected switches being interposed in the line of power supply to said electrical NOGO devices whereby actuation of said series-connected switches absent actuation of said one of said switches will cause said electric motor to operate to unlock said lock portion, and actuation of said one of said switches will prevent locking despite actuation of said series-connected switches.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
69 words
An electromagnetic locking device as described in claim 16 and wherein said electric motor comprises a driving coil and said electrical NOGO device comprises a bucking coil within said motor, said driving coil being effective to operate said motor unless said bucking coil is powered, said bucking coil when powered creating a field effective to neutralize the field of said driving coil and thereby prevent operation of said motor.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
55 words
An electromagnetic locking device as described in claim 16 and wherein said electrical NOGO device comprises a circuit breaker interposed in series relationship in the power supply line to said electric motor, said circuit breaker being tripped to its interrupting state by the supply of power thereto from said one of said magnetic reed switches.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
48 words
An electromagnetic locking device as described in claim 18 and whereIn said circuit breaker has a toggle action of remaining in the interrupting state until reset, separately secured access being provided to an area of said lock portion from which said circuit breaker may be reached for resetting.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
41 words
An electromagnetic locking device as described in claim 5 and wherein said key portion further comprises a plurality of concentric ratchet wheels each bearing one of said magnets, and a dial device for positioning said ratchet wheels at predetermined rotational positions.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
24 words
An electromagnetic locking device as described in claim 20 and wherein a plurality of said magnets are affixed to one of said rachet wheels.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
39 words
An electromagnetic locking device as described in claim 20 and wherein said key portion further comprises three concentric wheels each bearing a magnet attached thereto, said dial device being connected to the innermost of said wheels to rotate same.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
75 words
An electromagnetic locking device as described in claim 5 and wherein said lock portion is marked with a plurality of locator marks thereon, said marks defining correct and incorrect locations for placement of said key portion against said lock portion, said plurality of magnetic reed switches within said lock portion being positioned adjacent said correct location so as to be actuatable by said key portion when said key portion is applied to said correct location.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
40 words
An electromagnetic locking device as described in claim 23 and wherein said locator marks define one correct position and a plurality of incorrect positions, whereby an additional factor of complication is injected into lock opening procedure to prevent unauthorized opening.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
44 words
An electromagnetic locking device as described in claim 24 and wherein said plurality of locator marks comprise a grid of intersecting lines marked on the exterior of said lock portion, said correct location being defined by the intersection of a pair of said lines.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
69 words
An electromagnetic locking device as described in claim 5 and wherein said plurality of magnetically actuated switches is mounted on a rotatable disc within said lock portion, said disc being advanced a determined fraction of rotation upon each cycle of opening and closing of said locking device, whereby the combination of said locking device will be automatically changed by a determined amount each time the locking device is operated.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
68 words
An electromagnetic locking device as described in claim 5 wherein said plurality of magnetically actuatable switches is mounted on a rotatable disc within said lock portion, said disc being advanced a determined fraction of rotation upon each cycle of opening and closing of said locking device, whereby the combination of said locking device will be automatically changed by a determined amount each time the locking device is operated.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
111 words
An electromagnetic locking device as described in claim 27 and wherein said key portion further comprises a plurality of concentric ratchet wheels each bearing at least one of said magnets, the radially outermost of said ratchet wheels being borne in turn upon a rotatable member, a dialing mechanism coupled to said ratchet wheels and said rotatable member and an advancing mechanism for selectively rotating jointly said dial mechanism, ratchet wheels and rotatable member to correspond to the rotary advancement of said magnetic reed switches within said lock portion, said dial mechanism being effective to selectively rotate said ratchet wheels with respect to each other and with respect to said rotatable member.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
67 words
An electromagnetic locking device as described in claim 27 and wherein said rotatable disc is a toothed ratchet wheel and said lock portion further comprises a bolt withdrawn by the said electromotive device, said bolt having a pawl thereon engagable with the teeth of said ratchet wheel for incrementally advancing said ratchet wheel each time said bolt is cycled through a full cycle of extension and retraction.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
54 words
An electromagnetic locking device as described in claim 5 and wherein said magnetically actuated switches are mounted on a first rotatable disc within said lock portion and said magnets are mounted on a second rotatable disc within said key portion, said discs being rotated in synchronism during the unlocking cycle of said locking device.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
68 words
An electromagnetic locking device as described in claim 30 and wherein said electromotive device comprises an electric motor of the synchronous type and said first disc is rotated by said motor, and said key portion further comprises a synchronous electric motor coupled to said second rotatable disc for turning said second disc at the same rate of rotation as said first disc is turned by said electromotive device.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
55 words
An electromagnetic locking device as described in claim 30 and wherein said key portion further comprises a second electromotive device within said key portion coupled to said second rotatable disc for turning said second disc in synchronism with said first disc, said first and second electromotive devices together comprising a servomechanism for maintaining synchronism therebetween.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
54 words
An electromagnetic locking device as described in claim 30 and wherein said key portion further comprises a second electromotive device within said key portion coupled to said second rotatable disc for turning said second disc in synchronism with said first disc, said first and second electromotive devices comprising a Selsyn-type transmitter and receiver pair.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
15 words
The locking device of claim 27 wherein said magnetically actuatable switches are magnetic reed switches.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
15 words
The locking device of claim 30 wherein said magnetically actuatable switches are magnetic reed switches.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-03-24 | 1978-09-23 | 1979-03-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-03-24 | 1982-09-23 | 1983-03-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-03-24 | 1986-09-23 | 1987-03-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |