Patent Publication Number: US-11661787-B2

Title: Safe and lock detection system

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     Aspects of the present disclosure generally relate to safes and locking systems, and particularly to safes and lock detection systems. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Safes and other locking containers such as gun safes and vaults and other similar devices may be used to securely store items inside the safe or locking container. Aspects of this disclosure relate to improved safes and locking containers and particularly to safes and locking containers having lock detection systems. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY 
     This Summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the Detailed Description. The Summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used to limit the scope of the claimed subject matter. 
     A lock engagement detection system and method is disclosed. The lock engagement detection system may be configured to indicate or otherwise confirm that a locking mechanism has or has not been engaged such that a locked state or an unlocked state has been achieved. The locking mechanism may be associated with a container such as a safe or other structure such as an entryway into a room, building, or other structure. 
     In a safe, for example, a locked state may be achieved by extending one or more live action deadbolts and an unlocked state may be achieved by disengaging (e.g., retracting) the live action deadbolts by way of an exterior handle. In some cases, extending the live action deadbolts to a position corresponding to a locked state of the safe causes an interior latch to engage (e.g., extend) which prevents movement (e.g., rotation) of the handle. A user may disengage the latch by providing appropriate access credentials at an exterior user interface (e.g., a keypad). Upon receipt of the appropriate access credentials, a solenoid may disengage (e.g. retract) the latch thereby allowing a user to move the handle and unlock the safe. With the latch disengaged (e.g., retracted), the user may move (e.g., rotate) the handle to disengage (e.g., retract) the live action deadbolts to a position corresponding to an unlocked state of the safe. With the live bolts disengaged, the user may open the door. 
     A lock engagement sensor may be used to indicate that the safe is in a locked state. The lock engagement sensor may be configured such that it is actuated when the live action deadbolts have been moved to a position corresponding to a locked state of the safe, for example, when the live action deadbolts have been moved to engage the frame of the safe. In order to ensure that the indication of the locked state of the safe is accurate, the lock engagement sensor may be configured such that it is activated after the live action deadbolts have been engaged and/or after the latch is engaged. 
     It will be appreciated that the disclosures set forth herein are not limited to safes and can be applied to any container, structure, door, and the like in order to indicate whether a locked state or an unlocked state has been achieved. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The present disclosure is illustrated by way of example and not limited in the accompanying figures in which like reference numerals indicate similar elements and in which: 
         FIG.  1    depicts an isometric view of an example safe, according to one or more aspects described herein. 
         FIG.  2    depicts an isometric inside view of a safe door with an inside panel removed, according to one or more aspects described herein. 
         FIG.  3 A  depicts a detailed portion of the safe door of  FIG.  2    with the safe door in a locked position. 
         FIG.  3 B  depicts a detailed portion of the safe door of  FIG.  2    with the safe door in an unlocked position. 
         FIG.  4    illustrates a schematic view of elements of an example safe locking system, according to one or more aspects described herein. 
         FIG.  5    is a flow chart showing an example method for unlocking a safe, according to one or more aspects described herein. 
         FIG.  6    is a flow chart showing an example method for a locking a safe, according to one or more aspects described herein. 
     
    
    
     Further, it is to be understood that the drawings may represent the scale of different components of various examples; however, the disclosed examples are not limited to that particular scale. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     While the claimed subject matter is susceptible of embodiments in many different forms, there are shown in the drawings and will herein be described in detail exemplary embodiments of the claimed subject matter with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the principles of the claimed subject matter and is not intended to limit the broad aspects of the claimed subject matter to the embodiments illustrated. It is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized, and structural and functional modifications may be made, without departing from the scope and spirit of the present disclosure. 
     In the following description of the various embodiments, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration, various embodiments of the disclosure that may be practiced. It is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized. 
     In the following description of various example structures according to the claimed subject matter, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof, and in which are shown by way of illustration various example devices, systems, and environments in which aspects of the claimed subject matter may be practiced. It is to be understood that other specific arrangements of parts, example devices, systems, and environments may be utilized and structural and functional modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the present claimed subject matter claimed subject matter. Also, while the terms “top,” “bottom,” “front,” “back,” “side,” “rear,” “upward,” “downward,” and the like may be used in this specification to describe various example features and elements of the claimed subject matter, these terms are used herein as a matter of convenience, e.g., based on the example orientations shown in the figures or the orientation during typical use. Additionally, the term “plurality,” as used herein, indicates any number greater than one, either disjunctively or conjunctively, as necessary, up to an infinite number. Nothing in this specification should be construed as requiring a specific three dimensional orientation of structures in order to fall within the scope of this claimed subject matter. Also, the reader is advised that the attached drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale. 
     In general, aspects of this disclosure relate to safes and locking systems and lock detection systems. According to various aspects and embodiments, the safe may be formed of one or more of a variety of materials, such as metals (including metal alloys), plastics, polymers, and composites, and may be formed in one of a variety of configurations, without departing from the scope of the claimed subject matter. 
     The various figures in this application illustrate examples of safes and locking systems and lock detection systems according to this disclosure. When the same reference number appears in more than one drawing, that reference number is used consistently in this specification and the drawings to refer to the same or similar parts throughout. 
       FIG.  1    depicts an isometric view of one example of a safe or locking container  50 , according to one or more aspects described herein. In particular, the safe  50  includes a container portion  52  and a door portion  54 . As shown in  FIG.  1    container portion  52  includes sidewalls and at least one opening. The opening is covered by the door portion  54 . As shown in  FIG.  1   , the door  54  can be movably engaged with the container portion  52 , and the door  54  is movable (e.g., rotatable about its hinges) between an open position and a closed position. 
     The safe or locking container  50  also includes a locking system  100 . The locking system is engaged with the door  54  and includes portions of the locking system  100  on the inside of the door  54  and on the outside of the door  54 . As shown in  FIG.  1   , the safe  50  includes a user interface  102 . The user interface allows a user to lock and to unlock the safe. In some embodiments (and as shown in  FIG.  1   ) the user interface may be an electronic keypad. The electronic keypad, for example, may be the type disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. D618,081 entitled “Electronic Lock” which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. In other embodiments, the user interface  102  may be a standard combination type lock, a key lock system, a finger print or face identification system, a key fob or any other system allowing a user to lock or unlock the safe  50 . In still other embodiments, the user interface may not be located on the door  54  and instead can be located on another device such as a cellular telephone or computer. Additionally, in some embodiments, the safe  50  can include a manual override system  104 . The manual override system  104  may allow a user to unlock the safe  50  without using the user interface  102 . For example, in some embodiments the manual override system  104  can be a lock and key system. 
     The safe  50  also includes a handle  105 . The handle  105  is located on an outer portion of the door  54 . The handle allows a user to extend (or engage) and retract (or disengage) the live action deadbolts which in turn locks or unlocks the safe  50 . When the safe is locked, it may be described as being in a locked state. When the safe is unlocked, it may be described as being in an unlocked state. As will be discussed in greater detail below, the handle  105  can be engaged with the internal components of the safe  50  and particularly is engaged with the movable portion  110 . 
     Referring now primarily to the inside portions of the safe  50  shown in  FIGS.  2 - 3 B , the safe  50  may also include a latch  106 . The latch  106  may lock the safe  50  and restrict a user from rotating the handle  105 . The latch  106  may be extended or retracted using a solenoid  108 . 
     The safe  50  may also include a movable portion  110  engaged with the door. For example, the movable portion  110  may be located within the door  54  as shown in  FIG.  2   . The movable portion  110  is movable between a first position (e.g., a retracted position) that corresponds to an unlocked state of the safe and a second position (e.g., an extended position) that corresponds to a locked state of the safe. As shown in  FIG.  2   , for example, the movable portion  110  can be a rotatable wheel portion located within the door  54  that rotates between two rotated positions which respectively correspond to a locked state and an unlocked state of the door. As will be described in greater detail below, the movable portion can move between an extended position wherein the live action deadbolts of the safe are extended and a retracted position wherein the live action deadbolts of the safe are retracted. It will be appreciated that the movable portion, in some instances, may move between the extended position and the retracted position when the door is both open and closed. Accordingly, if the movable portion is in the extended position with the door ajar, it will be recognized that it may be necessary to move the movable portion to the retracted position before the door can be shut. Although the movable portion  110  is shown as a rotatable wheel in  FIGS.  2 - 3 B , the movable portion may move in other ways including for example a linearly slidable system. The handle  105  is engaged with the movable portion  110 . Thus, typically a rotatable handle  105  will coordinate with the rotatably movable portion  110 . Similarly, a linearly slidable movable portion  110  could coordinate with the linearly slidable handle  105 . It will be appreciated, however, that any suitable combination of rotatable or linearly slidable handle and rotatable or linearly slidable movable portion may be employed. 
     As shown in  FIG.  2   , the safe  50  can include a first vertical engagement member  112  located within the door  54 . The first vertical engagement member  112  can be movably (e.g., rotatably) engaged with the movable portion  110 . The first vertical engagement member  112  can be configured to move in substantially a vertical direction. The safe  50  can also include a first vertical live action deadbolt  114  engaged with the first vertical engagement member  112 . The first vertical live action deadbolt  114 . The first vertical live action deadbolt  114  is configured to engage the container portion  52  ( FIG.  1   ) when the movable portion  110  is in the extended position. 
     As shown in  FIG.  2   , the safe  50  can include a second vertical engagement member  116  located within the door  54 . The second vertical engagement member  116  can be movably (e.g., rotatably) engaged with the movable portion  110 . The second vertical engagement member  116  can be configured to move in substantially a vertical direction. The safe  50  can also include a second vertical live action deadbolt  118  engaged with the second vertical engagement member  116 . The second vertical live action deadbolt  118 . The second vertical live action deadbolt  118  is configured to engage the container portion  52  ( FIG.  1   ) when the movable portion  110  is in the extended position. 
     As shown in  FIG.  2   , the safe  50  can also include a lateral engagement bracket  120  located within the door  54 . The lateral engagement bracket  120  can be movably (e.g., rotatably) engaged with the movable portion  110 . The lateral engagement bracket  120  can be configured to move in substantially a lateral direction. Similar to the movable portion  110 , the lateral engagement bracket  120  is movable between a one position corresponding to an unlocked state of the safe (e.g., a retracted position) and another position corresponding to the locked state of the safe (e.g., an extended position). As seen in  FIG.  2   , rotating the handle  105  ( FIG.  1   ) rotates the movable portion  110  between its retracted and extended positions which causes the lateral engagement bracket  120  to laterally move between its retracted and extended positions. The safe  50  can also include a plurality of lateral live action deadbolts  122  engaged with the lateral engagement bracket  120 . The plurality of lateral live action deadbolts  122  are configured to engage the container portion  52  ( FIG.  1   ) when the movable wheel portion  110  and the lateral engagement bracket  120  are respectively in their extended positions. 
     Referring now primarily to  FIGS.  2  and  4   , the safe  50  can also include a lock engagement detection system  200  primarily for detecting whether the door is in an open or closed position and whether the safe is in a locked or unlocked position (or whether the movable portion  110  is in the extended position or the retracted position). The lock engagement detection system  200  can include a number of components. For example, the lock engagement detection system  200  can include a lock engagement sensor  202 . The lock engagement sensor  202  can be located within the door  54  as shown in  FIG.  2   . The lock engagement sensor  202  can be configured to determine whether the movable portion  110  is in the extended position or the retracted position. As shown in  FIG.  2   , the lock engagement sensor  202  can be a switch type sensor (e.g., a lever switch), however, other types of switches and other types of sensors that can sense or detect movement of the movable portion  110  could be used including, for example, a proximity sensor, a magnetic sensor, an accelerometer, an infrared sensor, a pressure sensor, an ultrasonic sensor, a touch sensor. Additionally, as shown in  FIG.  2    the lock engagement sensor  202  can be configured to sense the movement of the movable portion  110  by sensing the movement of portions that are engaged directly or indirectly with the movable portion  110  such as, for example, the lateral engagement bracket  120 . As shown in  FIG.  2   , the lateral engagement bracket includes a notch  124  which contacts the lock engagement sensor  202  when the movable portion  110  and the lateral engagement bracket  120  are respectively in their extended positions. The notch  124 , in this example, does not contact the lateral engagement bracket  120  when the movable portion  110  and the lateral engagement bracket  120  are respectively in their retracted positions. In other embodiments the movable portion  110  may include the notch  124  rather than the lateral engagement bracket  120 , or the notch could be replaced with a tab or other similar structure that causes the lock engagement sensor  202  to indicate movement, proximity, and/or position of the movable portion  110  and/or the lateral engagement bracket  120 . In still other embodiments, a notch, tab, or other suitable structure may be engaged with (e.g., located within) the interior portion of the door, and the lock engagement sensor may be engaged with (e.g., located on) the movable portion  110  or the lateral engagement bracket  120 . And in still other embodiments, the engagement sensor  202  can directly sense the movement of the movable portion  110  and/or the lateral engagement bracket  120  by sensing a portion of the movable portion  110  and/or lateral engagement bracket  120 . In  FIG.  3 A , for example, the lock engagement sensor  202  is a lever type switch that includes a lever  203 . In  FIG.  3 A , the movable portion  110  and lateral engagement bracket  120  are in their extended positions which has caused the notch  124  to actuate (e.g., depress) the lever  203  of the lock engagement sensor  202 . As also seen in  FIG.  3 A , the latch  106  is extended thus preventing lateral movement of the lateral engagement bracket  120  thereby fixing the deadbolts  122  in place to lock the safe. With the lever  203  actuated as seen in  FIG.  3 A , the lock engagement sensor  202  may send a signal to the control unit  220  indicating that the safe is in a locked state. In corresponding  FIG.  3 B , the movable portion  110  and lateral engagement bracket  120  are in their retracted positions so the lever  203  of the lock engagement sensor  202  is not actuated (e.g., not depressed) by the notch  124 . With the lever  203  not actuated in  FIG.  3 B , the lock engagement sensor  202  may send a signal to the control unit  220  indicating that the safe is in an unlocked state. It will be appreciated that the control unit  220  may additionally or alternatively be configured (e.g., programmed) to determine that the safe is in a locked state or an unlocked state based on the absence of a signal from the lock engagement sensor  202 . 
     The lock engagement detection system  200  can also include a door position detection system  204 . The door position detection system  204  can be configured to determine whether the door  54  is in an open position (e.g., ajar) or the closed position, whether the door  54  has moved, and/or a position of the door relative to the container portion (e.g., 0-90°). In some embodiments the door position detection system  204  can include a vibration sensor  206 , an accelerometer  208 , and a magnetometer  210 . However, in other embodiments the door position detection system  204  may include more or fewer sensors to determine whether the door  54  is in the open position or the closed position, whether the door  54  has moved, and/or a position of the door. And like the lock engagement sensor  202 , additional sensors can be used including, for example, a proximity sensor, an infrared sensor, a pressure sensor, an ultrasonic sensor, and a touch sensor. The vibration sensor  206  can be configured to determine data related to movement or vibration of the door  54 ; the accelerometer  208  can be configured to determine data related to movement of the door  54 ; and the magnetometer  210  can be configured to determine data related to an angular position of the door. Additionally, one or more sensors including the vibration sensor  206  can be configured to sense other conditions of the safe. For example, the vibration sensor can be configured to identify a potential unapproved entry (or entry attempt) to the safe  50  which may identify a burglary situation. 
     To conserve energy each of the sensors  202 ,  204 ,  206  and  208  may typically operate in a hibernation mode. The sensors may exit a hibernation mode once movement is detected by any of the relevant sensor  202 ,  204 ,  206 , and  208 . The sensors  202 ,  204 ,  206 , and  208  may enter a hibernation mode once no movement is detected by any of the relevant sensors  202 ,  204 ,  206 , and  208  for a certain preset amount of time, including for example about 1 minute, about 2 minutes, or about 5 minutes. The lock engagement detection system  200  may similarly operate in a hibernation mode in order to account for “play” in the handle that can occur after the movable portion  110  and/or lateral engagement bracket  120  are moved to their respective extended positions and the latch  106  ( FIG.  1   ) has been engaged to lock the safe. Such “play” may include slight movement of the movable portion  110  and/or lateral engagement bracket  120  in a direction away from the extended position. The lock engagement detection system  200  may thus employ a hibernation mode to avoid interpreting one or more signals received from the lock engagement sensor  202  resulting from such “play” as an indication that the movable portion  110  and/or the lateral engagement bracket  120  has moved back to the retracted position. In other words, the lock engagement detection system  200  may employ the hibernation mode to ensure the “play” in the handle does not result in an indication that the safe has been unlocked. This hibernation mode thus ensures that the lock engagement detection system  200  recognizes the safe is locked notwithstanding any “play” in the handle. The hibernation mode may involve neutralizing (e.g., overriding) the lock engagement sensor  202  after it has been engaged by movement of the movable portion  110  or the lateral engagement bracket  120  to the extended position corresponding to the locked state of the safe. Various techniques may be employed to neutralize the lock engagement sensor  202 . For example, the lock engagement detection system  200  may be configured (e.g., programmed) to ignore one or more signals received from the lock engagement sensor  202  after the movable portion  110  and/or lateral engagement bracket  120  are moved to their respective extended positions and the latch  106  ( FIG.  1   ) has been engaged to lock the safe and subsequently accept (e.g., recognize, respond to, or the like) signals from the lock engagement sensor  202  only after valid access credentials (e.g., password, PIN, or the like) have been provided. Other techniques may include cutting power to the lock engagement sensor  202 , opening a circuit between the lock engagement sensor  202  and the control unit  220  of the lock engagement detection, otherwise block one or more signals from the lock engagement sensor  202 , or otherwise prevent the lock engagement sensor  202  from sending one or more signals. 
     The lock engagement detection system  200  can also include an indicator system  212 . The indicator system  212  can be configured to display the status of the safe including at least whether the safe is locked or unlocked (or whether the movable portion is in the extended or retracted position), whether the door  54  is open or closed, and whether the safe has power or is in a low power condition. The indicator system  212  can be a visual system and can be located on an outer portion of the safe  50  so that it may be viewable by a user. The indicator system  212  can also be included on a separate device such as a cellular telephone or computer that is connected to the lock engagement system  200  via a wired connection or a wireless connection including, for example, BlueTooth or Wi-Fi. For example, the separate device may receive the status of the safe as a push notification (e.g., an email, a text message, and the like). In some embodiments, the indicator system can be only an audible system. The lock engagement detection system  200  may be configured to communicate with the separate device (e.g., provide the status of the safe to the separate device, receive messages or commands from the separate device, and the like) using one or more of the networking technologies described in U.S. Pat. No. 9,077,716 entitled “Wireless Device Enabled Locking System,” U.S. Pat. No. 9,781,599 entitled “System and Method for Access Control via Mobile Device,” U.S. Pat. No. 9,820,152 entitled “Invitations for Facilitating Access to Interconnected Devices,” and U.S. Pat. No. 10,529,156 entitled “Access Control Via Selective Direct and Indirect Wireless Communications” each of which are incorporated by reference herein in their entirety. The aforementioned networking technologies may also be used to provide one or more users access to the safe (e.g., provide access credentials) and otherwise manage users&#39; access to the safe. 
     The lock engagement detection system  200  can include a number of additional components each of which may be connected through circuitry or otherwise connected wirelessly. The lock engagement detection system  200 , can also include a control unit  220  for controlling overall operation of the system  200 . The control unit  220  may include a processor and corresponding instructions that, when executed, control the operation of the system  200 . The control unit  220  can be configured to communicate with the various portions of the lock engagement detection system  200  include the lock engagement sensor  202 , the door position detection system  204 , and the indicator system  212 . Data/information captured by the various sensors  202 ,  204 ,  206 , and  208  can be received by the control unit  220  and can be processed by means of suitable algorithms based on program code stored in memory. The control unit  220  may be, for example, a multi-protocol system-on-chip (SoC) that supports Bluetooth® Low Energy, ANT, and 2.4 GHz ultra low-power wireless communication standards. 
     The lock engagement detection system  200  may also include one or more RF modules for communicating between components of the lock engagement detection system  200 . As shown in  FIG.  4   , an RF module  222  may communicate between the control unit  220  and the door position detection system  204 . The RF module  222  may be, for example, a sub-1 GHz, ultra-low-power wireless microcontroller platform supporting multiple physical layers and RF standards and having a low power RF transceiver, a dedicated RF controller that handles low-level RF protocol commands, and microcontroller. 
     The lock engagement detection system  200  can also include a number of components which provide power or otherwise monitor or regulate power to the lock engagement detection system. The lock engagement detection system  200  can be powered by a power source  224 . In some embodiments, and as shown in  FIG.  4   , the power source can be DC voltage which can be supplied by one or more batteries or an AC/DC converter. The lock engagement detection system  200  can also include an on board DC-DC voltage regulator  228  which may convert certain voltage inputs to a desired voltage output including for example 3.3 volts which may be required for certain circuits. The lock engagement detection system  200  may also include one or more batteries  226  which can supply power to the lock engagement detection system  200  if power is not otherwise supplied to the system from the power source  224 . The lock engagement detection system  200  may also include a power measurement module  230 . The power measurement module  230  can measure the power supplied by the power source  224 . The power measurement module  230  can communicate with the indicator system  212  which can provide a low or no power alert to a user through the indicator system  212 . 
     The lock engagement detection system  200  can also include a number of additional components which can include a motor supply control  232 , an H-Bridge  234 , a motor/solenoid  108 , connection ports  238 ,  240 , and a buzzer  242 . The motor supply control  232  can control motor supply voltage and can be controlled through the control unit  220 . The H-bridge  234  is an electronic circuit that enables a voltage to be applied across a load in opposite direction which can be used to allow DC motors to run forwards or backward or activate the solenoid  236 . The motor/solenoid  108  can be connected to the lock engagement detection system  200  and can be controlled through the control unit  220 . 
     The lock engagement detection system  200  can also include one or more connector ports including for example a 12-pin connector port  238  and a 6-pin connector port. These connector ports can be used to interface and communicate with exterior systems and hardware. The lock engagement detection system  200  can also include one or more audible alerts such as buzzer  242 . The audible alert  242  can be configured to make an audible sound signifying certain conditions of the safe  50  including for example, that the safe is open or closed, that the safe has a low battery, and that vibration of the safe was detected. 
       FIG.  5    illustrates an exemplary method for unlocking a safe  50  having a lock engagement detection system  200  as described herein. A safe  50  can be provided having components discussed above. The method can then start with a user entering information  302  into the user interface  102 . If the user enters the correct combination into the user interface  102  it can communicate with the control module  220  and activate the solenoid  108  to release the latch  106  (Step  304 ). Alternatively a user could use the manual override  118  to release the latch  106 . Once the latch  106  is released this allows the user to move the handle  105  in the retracting direction which moves the movable portion  110  in the retracting direction and which removes the live action deadbolts  114 ,  118 ,  122  from engagement with the container portion  52  of the safe  50  (e.g., via the lateral movement of the lateral engagement plate  120  toward its retracted position) which also may cause the lock engagement detection system to determine that the safe is in its unlocked state (Step  306 ). 
     Once the lock engagement detection system  200  senses that the door is in the unlocked state (e.g., that the live action deadbolts are no longer engaged with the container portion  52  of the safe  50  or that the movable portion  110  is in the retracted position), the door position detection system  204  may detect the position of the door  54 . As described above, the door position detection system  204  can comprise a number of sensors including for example a vibration sensor  206 , an accelerometer  208 , and a magnetometer  210 . As shown in  FIG.  5    data can be collected from each of these sensors in steps  308 ,  312 , and  316  respectively. This data/information captured by the various sensors  202 ,  204 ,  206 , and  208  can be received by the control unit  220  and can be processed by means of suitable algorithms based on program code stored in memory. If the door position detection system  204  senses that the door  54  did not move, a signal can be sent by the control unit  220  from the indicator system  212  alerting the user that the safe door  54  is unlocked (or that movable portion  110  is in the retracted position) but the door  54  is still shut. Thus, if the vibration sensor  206  did not sense vibration  312  of the door  54 , or if the accelerometer  208  did not sense movement  312  of the door  54 , or if the magnetometer  210  did not sense that the door  54  is open  318  a signal can be sent from the indicator system  212  alerting the user that the safe door  54  is unlocked but the door  54  is still shut  320 . However, if the sensors  202 ,  204   206 ,  208 ,  210  of the door position detection system  204  detect that the door is open a signal can be sent from the indicator system  212  alerting the user that the safe door  54  is unlocked (or that movable portion  110  is in the retracted position) and the door  54  is open  322 . 
     Similarly  FIG.  6    illustrates an exemplary process for locking a safe  50  having a lock engagement detection system  200  as described herein. A safe  50  can be provided having components discussed above. The method can then start with a user closing  354  the door  54 . Then the user can turn the handle  356  which engages the live action deadbolts with the container portion  52  of the safe  50 . Once the lock engagement detection system  200  determines that live action deadbolts are engaged with the container portion  52  of the safe  50  (or that movable portion  110  is in the extended position), the lock engagement detection system  200  may enter a hibernation mode as described above. 
     Once the lock engagement detection system  200  senses that the door is in the locked state (e.g., that the live action deadbolts are engaged with the container portion  52  of the safe  50  or that movable portion  110  is in the extended position), the door position detection system  204  may detect the position of the door  54 . As described above, the door position detection system  204  can comprise a number of sensors including for example a vibration sensor  206 , an accelerometer  208 , and a magnetometer  210 . As shown in  FIG.  6   , data can be collected from each of these sensors in steps  358 ,  362 , and  366  respectively. Data/information captured by the various sensors  202 ,  204 ,  206 , and  208  can be received by the control unit  220  and can be processed by means of suitable algorithms based on program code stored in memory. If the door position detection system  204  senses that the door  54  did not move a signal can be sent by the control unit  220  from the indicator system  212  alerting the user that the safe door  54  is locked (or that movable portion  110  is in the extended position) but the door  54  is still open. Thus, if the vibration sensor  206  did not sense vibration  360  of the door  54 , or if the accelerometer  208  did not sense movement  364  of the door  54 , or if the magnetometer  210  did not sense that the door  54  is closed  368  a signal can be sent from the indicator system  212  alerting the user that the safe door  54  is unlocked but the door  54  is still open  370 . However, if the sensors  206 ,  208 ,  210  of the door position detection system  204  detect that the door is closed, a signal can be sent from the indicator system  212  alerting the user that the safe door  54  is locked (or that movable portion  110  is in the extended position) and the door  54  is closed  372 . 
     It will be understood by those skilled in the art that the disclosure is not limited to the examples provided above and in the accompanying drawings. Modifications may be made by those skilled in the art, particularly in light of the foregoing teachings. Each of the features of the examples may be utilized alone or in combination or sub-combination with elements of the other examples and/or with other elements. For example, any of the above described methods or parts thereof may be combined with the other methods or parts thereof described above. The steps shown in the figures may be performed in other than the recited order, and one or more steps shown may be optional. It will also be appreciated and understood that modifications may be made without departing from the true spirit and scope of the present disclosure.