US4848115A — Electronic locking system and key therefor

Claim 1

Independent Claim 157 words

An electronic lock comprising: a housing, a plug supported for rotation within said housing and having a key way to receive the blade of a key which rotates said plug during operation of said electronic lock, a locking member movable into engagement with said plug to prevent the movement of said plug and the operation of said electronic lock and movable out of engagement with said plug to allow the rotation of said plug and the operation of said electronic lock, a solenoid having a core coupled to said locking member to move said locking member into and out of engagement with said plug, a permanent magnetic movable between a first position to receive and hold said solenoid core to maintain said locking member out of engagement with said plug, and a second position to release said solenoid core, and driving means for moving said magnet in at least one direction between said first and second positions.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 157 words

An electronic lock comprising: a housing, a plug supported for rotation within said housing and having a key way to receive the blade of a key which rotates said plug during operation of said electronic lock, a locking member movable into engagement with said plug to prevent the movement of said plug and the operation of said electronic lock and movable out of engagement with said plug to allow the rotation of said plug and the operation of said electronic lock, a solenoid having a core coupled to said locking member to move said locking member into and out of engagement with said plug, a permanent magnetic movable between a first position to receive and hold said solenoid core to maintain said locking member out of engagement with said plug, and a second position to release said solenoid core, and driving means for moving said magnet in at least one direction between said first and second positions.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 24 words

An electronic lock as set forth in claim 1 wherein said housing is a shell having a cylindrical opening therein to receive said plug.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 39 words

An electronic lock as set forth in claim 1 wherein said driving means comprises a cam which supports said magnet and is slideably movable transversely to said solenoid core to move said magnet between said first and second positions.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 44 words

An electronic lock as set forth in claim 3 wherein said cam includes a ramped surface which is urged against said solenoid core to separate said solenoid core from said magnet when said cam is moved from said first position to said second position.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 25 words

An electronic lock as set forth in claim 3 wherein said driving means further comprises a spring which biases said magnet toward said second position.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 59 words

An electronic lock as set forth in claim 3 wherein said cam has a blocking surface offset transversely from said magnet and along a radius of said cylindrical plug toward said solenoid core to prevent the withdrawal of said solenoid core and maintain said locking member in engagement with said plug when said magnet is in said second position.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 59 words

An electronic lock as set forth in claim 6 wherein the offset of said magnet radially away from said solenoid core relative to said blocking surface provides a clearance region to permit the movement of said solenoid core toward said magnet and the withdrawal of said member from said cylindrical plug when said magnet is in said first position.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 82 words

An electronic lock as set forth in claim 3 further comprising a pin slideably supported and extending into said keyway to intercept said key blade when said key blade is inserted in said keyway and wherein said cam includes a bearing surface aligned with said pin such that as said key blade is inserted into said keyway, said pin is driven against said bearing surface of said cam, and said cam is driven transversely from said second position to said first position.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 30 words

An electronic lock as set forth in claim 8 wherein said driving means comprises a spring to bias said cam toward said pin and said magnet toward said second position.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 138 words

An electronic lock as set forth in claim 8 wherein said plug is cylindrical and wherein said pin comprises first and second sections which abut one another, said first section being contained within said cylindrical plug during insertion and the absence of said key in said keyway, and said second section being contained within said cylindrical plug and said housing during the absence of said key in said keyway to prevent the rotation of said cylindrical plug and being driven out of said cylindrical plug by said key blade during insertion of said key such that the region of abutment between said first and second sections aligns with a shear line between said cylindrical plug and said housing to permit rotation of said cylindrical plug upon movement of said locking member out of engagement with said cylindrical plug.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 15 words

An electronic lock as set forth in claim 8 wherein said bearing surface is ramped.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 209 words

An electronic lock comprising: a shell, a cylindrical plug supported for rotation within said shell and having a keyway to receive the blade of a key which rotates said cylindrical plug, a locking pin which is movable into engagement with said cylindrical plug to prevent the rotation of said cylindrical plug and the operation of said electronic lock, an movable out of engagement with said cylindrical plug to allow the rotation of said cylindrical plug and the operation of said electronic lock, a solenoid core coupled to said locking pin to drive said locking pin into and out of engagement with said cylindrical plug, a second pin slideably supported for movement of at least a portion of said second pin into and out of said keyway, retention means supported for movement transversely to said solenoid core between a first position in which it is able to maintain said solenoid core in an orientation corresponding to the removal of said locking pin from said cylindrical plug and a second position in which it is not able to maintain said solenoid core in said orientation, said retention means including means responsive to the movement of said second pin or moving said retention means from said second position to said first position.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 209 words

An electronic lock comprising: a shell, a cylindrical plug supported for rotation within said shell and having a keyway to receive the blade of a key which rotates said cylindrical plug, a locking pin which is movable into engagement with said cylindrical plug to prevent the rotation of said cylindrical plug and the operation of said electronic lock, an movable out of engagement with said cylindrical plug to allow the rotation of said cylindrical plug and the operation of said electronic lock, a solenoid core coupled to said locking pin to drive said locking pin into and out of engagement with said cylindrical plug, a second pin slideably supported for movement of at least a portion of said second pin into and out of said keyway, retention means supported for movement transversely to said solenoid core between a first position in which it is able to maintain said solenoid core in an orientation corresponding to the removal of said locking pin from said cylindrical plug and a second position in which it is not able to maintain said solenoid core in said orientation, said retention means including means responsive to the movement of said second pin or moving said retention means from said second position to said first position.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 250 words

A process for operating an electronic lock having a shell, a cylindrical plug supported for rotation within said shell and having a keyway to receive the blade of a key which rotates said cylindrical plug, a first pin which is movable into engagement with the cylindrical plug to prevent the rotation of said cylindrical plug and the operation of said electronic lock, and movable out of engagement with said cylindrical plug to allow the rotation of said cylindrical plug and the operation of said electronic lock and a solenoid core coupled to said first pin to drive said first pin into and out of engagement with said cylindrical plug, said process comprising the steps of: positioning a second pin in said keyway, positioning a permanent magnet out of the path of said solenoid core, inserting said key blade into said keyway to move at least a portion of said second pin out of said keyway and using the movement of said second pin to drive said permanent magnet into the path of said solenoid core but with a clearance region to permit the movement of said solenoid core associated with the withdrawal of said first pin from said cylindrical plug, and activating said solenoid to drive said first pin out of engagement with said cylindrical plug and said solenoid core through said clearance region and into engagement with said magnet such that said magnet retains said solenoid core and maintains said first pin out of engagement with said cylindrical plug.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 250 words

A process for operating an electronic lock having a shell, a cylindrical plug supported for rotation within said shell and having a keyway to receive the blade of a key which rotates said cylindrical plug, a first pin which is movable into engagement with the cylindrical plug to prevent the rotation of said cylindrical plug and the operation of said electronic lock, and movable out of engagement with said cylindrical plug to allow the rotation of said cylindrical plug and the operation of said electronic lock and a solenoid core coupled to said first pin to drive said first pin into and out of engagement with said cylindrical plug, said process comprising the steps of: positioning a second pin in said keyway, positioning a permanent magnet out of the path of said solenoid core, inserting said key blade into said keyway to move at least a portion of said second pin out of said keyway and using the movement of said second pin to drive said permanent magnet into the path of said solenoid core but with a clearance region to permit the movement of said solenoid core associated with the withdrawal of said first pin from said cylindrical plug, and activating said solenoid to drive said first pin out of engagement with said cylindrical plug and said solenoid core through said clearance region and into engagement with said magnet such that said magnet retains said solenoid core and maintains said first pin out of engagement with said cylindrical plug.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 32 words

A process as set forth in claim 13 wherein the step of positioning said magnet out of the path of said solenoid core is performed by biasing said magnet with a spring.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 49 words

A process as set forth in claim 13 wherein said magnet is supported on a cam having a ramped surface and the step of driving said magnet into the path of said solenoid core through the clearance region is performed by driving said second pin toward said ramped surface.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 24 words

A process as set forth in claim 13 further comprising the step of deactivating said solenoid after said solenoid is retained by said magnet.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 60 words

A process as set forth in claim 13 further comprising the step of driving said permanent magnet out of the path of said solenoid core and driving a blocking element without a clearance region into the path of said solenoid core to prevent movement of said solenoid core associated with the withdrawal of said first pin from said cylindrical plug.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1992-07-17	1993-01-16	1993-07-18	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1996-07-17	1997-01-16	1997-07-18	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2000-07-17	2001-01-16	2001-07-18	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Electronic locking system and key therefor

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