US4280118A — Key-controlled electromagnetic operating mechanis…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 211 words

A key-controlled, electromagnetic operating mechanism for a lock and the like comprising: (a) a key including (1) a key body, (2) securing means for releasably securing respective magnets to portions of said key body, said portions defining a fixed pattern of available magnet positions on said key body; (b) a plurality of magnets secured to said key body by said securing means in selected ones of said positions, at least one other position being free of a magnet; (c) a reading device including (1) a reader body, (2) guide means for guiding said key body into a predetermined position relative to said reader body; (d) a plurality of sensing means on said reader body, (1) said sensing means being contiguously adjacent respective available magnet positions on said key body when said key body is in said predetermined position, (2) each sensing means responding to the presence of a magnet in the adjacent magnet position for generating an electrical signal; (e) a source of a reference signal; (f) comparator means operatively connected to said sensing means and to said source for comparing the electrical signals generated by said sensing means with said reference signal and for generating an operating signal in response to agreement of said electrical signals with said reference signal.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 211 words

A key-controlled, electromagnetic operating mechanism for a lock and the like comprising: (a) a key including (1) a key body, (2) securing means for releasably securing respective magnets to portions of said key body, said portions defining a fixed pattern of available magnet positions on said key body; (b) a plurality of magnets secured to said key body by said securing means in selected ones of said positions, at least one other position being free of a magnet; (c) a reading device including (1) a reader body, (2) guide means for guiding said key body into a predetermined position relative to said reader body; (d) a plurality of sensing means on said reader body, (1) said sensing means being contiguously adjacent respective available magnet positions on said key body when said key body is in said predetermined position, (2) each sensing means responding to the presence of a magnet in the adjacent magnet position for generating an electrical signal; (e) a source of a reference signal; (f) comparator means operatively connected to said sensing means and to said source for comparing the electrical signals generated by said sensing means with said reference signal and for generating an operating signal in response to agreement of said electrical signals with said reference signal.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 27 words

A mechanism as set forth in claim 1, wherein said source includes storage means for storing said reference signal and means for varying the stored reference signal.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 15 words

A mechanism as set forth in claim 2, wherein said source includes a switching matrix.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 35 words

A mechanism as set forth in claim 1, further comprising means operatively connecting said sensing means to said source for varying said reference signal in response to said electrical signals until said agreement is reached.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 30 words

A mechanism as set forth in claim 4, wherein said source includes a magnetic core matrix and means for switching said matrix between a writing mode and a reading mode.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 65 words

A mechanism as set forth in claim 1, further comprising an additional magnet fixedly mounted on said key body, and additional sensing means on said reader body contiguously adjacent said additional magnet in said predetermined position of said key body, said additional sensing means being operatively connected to said comparator and responsive to the presence of the contiguously adjacent additional magnet for activating said comparator.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 106 words

A mechanism as set forth in claim 1, wherein said securing means further define a fixed pattern of rest positions for said magnets on said key body, said rest positions being associated with said available magnet positions respectively, and said sensing means including means for securing magnets released from said available magnet positions in said rest positions, the key further including guide means on said key body for guiding each magnet between an available magnet position and the associated rest position, said sensing means being unable to respond to a magnet in the rest position when the associated available magnet position is adjacent the sensing means.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 85 words

A mechanism as set forth in claim 7, wherein said key body is formed with a plurality of recesses constituting said guide means, each magnet being received in a corresponding one of said recesses for movement between the available magnet position and the rest position thereof, said securing means including a locking member associated with each recess and mounted on said key body for movement into and out of a portion of the associated recess intermediate said positions of a magnet received in said recess.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 71 words

A mechanism as set forth in claim 8, wherein said securing means futher include a cover mounted on said key body for movement between two positions, said cover closing said recesses transversely to the direction of magnet movement and carrying the locking members associated with said recesses, the locking members moving into and out of the intermediate portions of the respective associated recesses when said cover moves between said two positions.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 40 words

A mechanism as set forth in claim 9, wherein said cover is formed with a plurality of passages therethrough giving access to said recesses and to the magnets therein when said locking members are moved out of said intermediate portions.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 90 words

A mechanism as set forth in claim 7, wherein said key body is formed with respective recesses in each of said available magnet positions and said rest positions, said recesses being each dimensioned for receiving one of said magnets, and said guide means include a slide formed with a channel therein and movable on said key body between a position in which said slide closes said recesses and a position in which said channel connects each recess in an available magnet position with the recess in the associated rest position.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 113 words

A key comprising: (a) a key body of non-magnetic material; (b) a plurality of permanent magnets; (c) securing means for releasably securing respective magnets to portions of said key body, (1) said portions defining a fixed first pattern of available magnet positions on said key body, (2) said securing means defining a fixed second pattern of rest positions for said magnets, (3) said rest positions being associated with respective available magnet positions, (4) said securing means including means for securing magnets released from said available magnet positions in said rest positions; and (d) guide means on said key body for guiding each magnet between an available magnet position and the associated rest position.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 113 words

A key comprising: (a) a key body of non-magnetic material; (b) a plurality of permanent magnets; (c) securing means for releasably securing respective magnets to portions of said key body, (1) said portions defining a fixed first pattern of available magnet positions on said key body, (2) said securing means defining a fixed second pattern of rest positions for said magnets, (3) said rest positions being associated with respective available magnet positions, (4) said securing means including means for securing magnets released from said available magnet positions in said rest positions; and (d) guide means on said key body for guiding each magnet between an available magnet position and the associated rest position.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1984-07-20	1985-01-19	1985-07-21	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1988-07-20	1989-01-19	1989-07-21	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1992-07-20	1993-01-19	1993-07-21	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Key-controlled electromagnetic operating mechanism for a lock and the like

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