Patent Publication Number: US-7222508-B2

Title: Door lock unlockable two ways

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates generally to a door lock that can be unlocked either electromechanically by the presentation of an electronic credential or mechanically using an appropriate key. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   Various prior art locks exist that can be opened in two ways. For example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,241,344; 5,148,691 and 6,012,310 describe locks that are capable of being opened either using a key or in a keyless manner. 
   One keyless manner to open a lock is via the presentation of an electronic credential. For example, providing a lock that can be unlocked by entering an appropriate key code allows a door to be unlocked by individuals having knowledge of the key code without having to provide keys to all such individuals. Providing a lock that can be opened either using a key or upon the presentation of an appropriate electronic credential can be advantageous in that the lock may still be unlockable even in the event of a power failure. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention provides a door lock that is simple to manufacture and construct, and is unlockable in the event of a power failure. In one embodiment, the door lock allows an individual to use the same motion to simply rotate a turnpiece to open the door after inserting an appropriate key or upon the presentation of an appropriate electronic credential. This provides simplicity for an individual in that no axial movement is required along with the rotation of the turnpiece in order to open the door. 
   The invention provides a door lock that is operable to rotate a tailpiece between two positions including a first locked position and a second unlocked position. The tailpiece can be coupled to a latch to move it between a locked and an unlocked position. The tailpiece can also interact with a device that translates the rotative motion of the tailpiece to linear motion in order to move a latch such as a deadbolt between a locked position and an unlocked position. 
   The door lock includes a housing suitable for secure attachment to a door. The lock includes a cylinder body located at least partially within the housing and selectively rotatable with respect to the housing, and a rotating member located at least partially within the cylinder body and selectively rotatable with respect to the cylinder body. The rotating member includes a key receptacle. A tailpiece is coupled to the rotating member and configured to selectively rotate with the rotating of the rotating member. A first locking device prevents rotation of the cylinder body with respect to the housing in the absence of an appropriate electronic credential, and allows the rotation with respect to the housing of the cylinder body together with the rotating member and tailpiece upon the presentation of an appropriate electronic credential and in the absence of an appropriate key. A second locking device prevents rotation of the rotating member with respect to the cylinder body in the absence of an appropriate key, and allows rotation of the rotating member and tailpiece with respect to the cylinder body when an appropriate key is inserted in the key receptacle. 
   Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon review of the following detailed description, claims, and drawings. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is an exploded view of the components of the lock according to a first embodiment; 
       FIG. 2  is an illustration of the assembled lock of  FIG. 1  (not showing the locking devices); 
       FIGS. 3(   a ) and  3 ( b ) are perspective views of the tailpiece in respective locked and unlocked positions wherein the cylinder body together with the rotating member has been rotated with respect to the housing (partially removed) from the first view to the second view; 
       FIGS. 4(   a ) and  4 ( b ) are two perspective views of the tailpiece in respective locked and unlocked positions wherein an appropriate key has been inserted and rotated such that the rotating member has been rotated with respect to the cylinder body from the first view to the second view; 
       FIGS. 5(   a ) and  5 ( b ) are schematic front views of the lock showing one example of a first locking device; 
       FIGS. 6(   a )- 6 ( h ) illustrate other examples of a first locking device; 
       FIG. 7  is a perspective view of a rotating member within a cylinder body according to a first embodiment and shows a turnpiece that is engageable with the rotating member such that the turnpiece can be rotated to rotate the rotating member under specific conditions; 
       FIG. 8  illustrates an example of a second locking device when an appropriate key has been inserted into the key receptacle; and 
       FIGS. 9(   a )- 9 ( c ) illustrate how the tailpiece is configured to selectively rotate with the rotating member. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERED EMBODIMENTS 
   Before any embodiments of the invention are explained in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangement of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the following drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or of being carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limited. The use of “including,” “comprising” or “having” and variations thereof herein is meant to encompass the items listed thereafter and equivalents thereof as well as additional items. The order of limitations specified in any method claims does not imply that the steps or acts set forth therein must be performed in that order, unless an order is explicitly set forth in the specification. 
     FIG. 1  illustrates an exploded view of the components of a door lock  10  according to one embodiment of the invention, and  FIG. 2  illustrates the assembled door lock  10 . In particular, door lock  10  includes a turnpiece  14  for rotating a rotating member  32 , and a housing  18  that is configured to be securely attached to a door and includes a sleeve  22  and a retaining ring  26 . In one embodiment, the rotating member  32  is generally cylindrical and includes a key receptacle  36 . A cylinder cap  48  couples the rotating member  32  to a tailpiece  44 . When assembled, part of the rotating member  32  is located within a cylinder body  40  and a cylinder blocker  52  operates to restrict the axial movement of the cylinder body  40 . The door lock  10  includes a first locking device  56  including an electronic device  58  for receiving an electronic credential and controlling a locking member  64  such as sidebar  66 . The door lock also includes a second locking device  68  for receiving a key. The second locking device  68  interacts with the rotating member  32  and the cylinder body  40 , and is not specifically shown in  FIG. 1 , but is illustrated in  FIG. 8 . 
   The following is a general overview of the operation of such a lock. As more fully described below, the tailpiece  44  is configured to be rotated with respect to the housing  18  between two positions. A first locked position of tailpiece  44  is illustrated in  FIG. 3(   a ), and a second unlocked position of tailpiece  44  is illustrated in  FIG. 3(   b ). As described below with respect to  FIG. 9 , the tailpiece  44  is configured to selectively rotate with the rotation of the rotating member. 
   The rotating member  32  together with the tailpiece  44  can be rotated upon the presentation of an appropriate electronic credential, such as a signal developed upon entering a code or presenting a key card, to the first locking device  56 . The rotating member together with the tailpiece  44  can also be rotated upon the insertion of an appropriate key into the key receptacle  36 , which unlocks the second locking device  68 . 
   The tailpiece  44  is adapted to interact with a device, such as a cam or the like, that translates the rotative motion of the tailpiece  44  to linear motion to move a deadbolt in and out of engagement with a doorframe in order to lock and unlock a door. Alternately, the tailpiece  44  can be coupled to a latch that rotates with the tailpiece to engage with the door frame and lock the door as the tailpiece is moved to its locked position. Such translating devices, deadbolts, and latches are known in the art, and are not illustrated herein. 
   In particular,  FIG. 7  illustrates a partially assembled lock including rotating member  32  that is located partially within cylinder body  40  and is selectively rotatable with respect to the cylinder body  40  around an axis of rotation  72 . As mentioned, rotating member  32  in one embodiment is coupled to tailpiece  44  by the cylinder cap  48 . 
   Cylinder body  40  includes portion  42  for partially housing the second locking device  68 , which is illustrated in  FIG. 8 . Second locking device  68  is known in the art, and comprises, for example, a set of pin pairs  76  biased with springs  80 , with each pair located partially within the cylinder body portion  42  and partially in a groove  34  in the rotating member  32 . Portion  42  acts as a pin constraining portion, such that in the absence of an appropriate key, the pin pairs extending between the portion  42  and rotating member  32  prevent the rotating member from being rotated with respect to the cylinder body  40 . In the absence of an appropriate key, the second locking device is in a locked position. When an appropriate key  84  is inserted into the key receptacle  36 , as illustrated in  FIG. 8 , the key pattern moves the pin pairs  76  to appropriate locations such that the rotating member  32  can then be rotated with respect to the cylinder body  40  by turning the key  84 . In particular, for each pin pair  76  having a first pin  77  and a second pin  78 , when an appropriate key  84  is inserted in the key receptacle, the boundary between the first pin  77  and the second pin  78  is aligned with the boundary between the rotating member  32  and the cylinder body  40 . By rotating the key  84 , the first pin  77  and second pin  78  can be moved with respect to each other and allow the rotating member  32  to be rotated with respect to the cylinder body  40 . 
     FIGS. 3(   a ) and  3 ( b ) are perspective views of the door lock  10  illustrating the arrangement of the rotating member  32  with respect to the cylinder body  40  and the arrangement of the cylinder body  40  with respect to the housing  18  (partially removed). In particular, in one embodiment, the cylinder body  40  is located within the housing  18 , and is selectively rotatable with respect to the housing  18 .  FIGS. 3(   a ) and  3 ( b ) partially show the sidebar  66  of the first locking device  56 . 
   One construction of the first locking device  56  is illustrated in  FIGS. 5(   a ) and  5 ( b ), which are schematic front views of the door lock  10  corresponding to the views of  FIGS. 3(   a ) and  3 ( b ) respectively. The first locking device  56  prevents rotation of the cylinder body  40  with respect to the housing  18  in the absence of an appropriate electronic credential. In the absence of an appropriate electronic credential, the first locking device  56  is in a locked position. The first locking device  56 , upon the presentation of an appropriate electronic credential, allows the rotation of the cylinder body  40  with respect to the housing  18 . 
   In particular, in one embodiment, first locking device  56  comprises electronic device  58  that is reactive to the presentation of an appropriate electronic credential and a locking member  64  such as sidebar  66 . The locking member  64  is movable between a first position and a second position. The first position, wherein the locking member  64  is engaged in a groove  41  in the cylinder body  40 , is illustrated in  FIG. 5(   a ), and the second position, wherein the locking member  64  is not engaged with the cylinder body  40 , is illustrated in  FIG. 5(   b ). At the first position, the locking member  64  prevents rotation of the cylinder body  40  with respect to the housing  18  and at the second position, the locking member  64  allows the cylinder body to be rotated with respect to the housing. The electronic device  58  includes an actuator  60 , such as a motor or a solenoid, and a pin  62  for either moving the locking member  64  or allowing locking member  64  to move from the first position to the second position upon the presentation of an appropriate electronic credential. 
     FIG. 3(   a ) therefore illustrates the situation wherein the tailpiece  44  is in its locked position, and the second locking device  68  (not shown) is locked to prevent rotation of the rotating member  32  with respect to the cylinder body  40 , because an appropriate key is not present. Further, in  FIG. 3(   a ), the first locking device is locked via sidebar  66 .  FIG. 3(   b ) illustrates the situation wherein the tailpiece  44  has been rotated to its unlocked position, because an appropriate electronic credential has been presented and has caused the sidebar  66  to be retracted which allows the cylinder body to be rotated with respect to the housing. More specifically, when an appropriate electronic credential is presented and in the absence of an appropriate key in the key receptacle  36 , because the second locking device  68  remains locked, if the cylinder body and rotating member  32  are rotated in the direction of the arrow in  FIG. 3(   a ), the tailpiece  44  is rotatable with the rotating member so is also rotated. The cylinder body  40  is rotatable about an axis of rotation  73 . 
   Upon the presentation of an appropriate electronic credential and when the second locking device is locked, one way to rotate the cylinder body  40  and hence the rotating member  32  including tailpiece  44  is to use turnpiece  14 . Referring to  FIG. 7 , turnpiece  14  can be engaged with the rotating member  32 , and in one embodiment, turnpiece  14  includes a pin  98  that engages a notch  100  on the rotating member  32  such that rotating the turnpiece rotates the rotating member  32 . A turnpiece could also be constructed to engage with the cylinder body  40  rather than the rotating member  32 , and this would work to rotate the cylinder body together with the rotating member when the cylinder body is rotatable with respect to the housing but the second locking device is locked. However, such a construction would not work to rotate the rotating member with respect to the cylinder body in the event that the first locking device is locked and an appropriate key is inserted in the key receptacle  36 . In that case, rotating the rotating member can occur only by turning the appropriate key in the cylinder body. 
     FIGS. 4(   a ) and  4 ( b ) illustrate the situation wherein the first locking device is locked is via sidebar  66  to prevent rotation of the cylinder body  40  with respect to the housing  18 . Inserting an appropriate key  84  in the key receptacle and rotating the key rotates the rotating member which allows the tailpiece  44  to be rotated from the locked position, shown in  FIG. 4(   a ), to the unlocked position, shown in  FIG. 4(   b ). 
   In the illustrated embodiment of the door lock, the axis of rotation  72  of the rotating member with respect to the cylinder body  40  is the same as the axis of rotation  73  of the cylinder body  40  with respect to the housing  18 . However, the axes do not need to be the same, although they should be parallel to each other. 
   As previously mentioned, the tailpiece  44  is configured to selectively rotate with the rotation of rotating member  32 . The selective rotation is necessary in order to withdraw the key  84  after either locking or unlocking a latch, for example, without having the latch move from either its locked or unlocked position. In particular,  FIGS. 9(   a )-( c ) show a simplified tailpiece  44  and rotating member  32 , but without cap  48 . The tailpiece includes an end portion  102  having notches  104  and  106 . Tailpiece  44  includes a pin  108 . Specifically,  FIG. 9(   a ) illustrates a position wherein the tailpiece  44  is in its locked position. When the appropriate key  84  is inserted and rotated in the direction indicated by the arrow in  FIG. 9(   a ), the pin  108  engages with the notch  104  such that the tailpiece  44  is rotated with the rotating member  32 .  FIG. 9(   b ) then illustrates the tailpiece  44  in its unlocked position. Although not illustrated, the tailpiece is coupled to a latch that is moved from its locked to unlocked position as well. Because of the set of pin pairs comprising the second locking device, the key can only be removed when in its upright position. In order to then remove the key without re-locking the latch (without moving the tailpiece from its unlocked position), the key  84  is rotated from the position shown in  FIG. 9(   b ) back to its upright position in the direction opposite the direction indicated by the arrow in  FIG. 9(   a ). The position of the pin in  FIG. 9(   b ) is such that when the key is rotated back to its upright position, the pin does not engage either notch in the end portion  102 , and so the rotating member  32  rotates but the tailpiece  44  does not. Thus, as shown in  FIG. 9(   c ), the key is in its upright position and can be removed, while the tailpiece stays in its unlocked position. Then starting from  FIG. 9(   c ), inserting the key and rotating it in a direction opposite the direction indicated by the arrow in  FIG. 9(   a ), causes pin  108  to engage with notch  106  such that the tailpiece  44  will be rotated with the rotation of the rotating member, and the tailpiece  44  can be rotated from an unlocked to a locked position. Similarly, then rotating the key back to the upright position does not move the tailpiece  44 , so the key can be removed while the tailpiece remains locked. 
     FIG. 6  illustrates further examples of first locking devices that can be employed to selectively prevent and allow the rotation of the cylinder body with respect to the housing. In particular,  FIG. 6(   a ) illustrates a locking member that engages a sleeve around the cylinder body, and when disengaged from the sleeve in response to an electronic device, allows the cylinder body to be rotated.  FIGS. 6(   b ) and  6 ( c ) illustrate a cylinder body having a flat surface, and a locking member that is movable to prevent and allow the cylinder body to be rotated.  FIG. 6(   d ) illustrates a cylinder body and locking member having different shapes than the illustrated embodiment.  FIG. 6(   e ) illustrates a cylinder body having a geared outer surface and a locking gear that is operable to prevent and allow rotation of the cylinder body.  FIGS. 6(   f ) and  6 ( g ) illustrate other examples of locking members for constraining the extended portion of the cylinder body.  FIG. 6(   h ) illustrates that the cylinder body can also be prevented from rotating from an end (i.e., the back end opposite the key receptacle) rather than from the side. 
   In summary, the cylinder body  40  is rotatable with respect to the housing  18  when an appropriate electronic credential is presented, but the first locking device  56  prevents the rotation of the cylinder body  40  in the absence of an appropriate electronic credential. Additionally, rotating member  32  including tailpiece  44  is rotatable with respect to the cylinder body when an appropriate key is inserted into the key receptacle  36 , but the second locking device  68  prevents the rotation of the rotating member  32  in the absence of an appropriate key. When an appropriate key is inserted and rotated, the tailpiece  44  is rotated with respect to the cylinder body  40 . Upon the presentation of an appropriate electronic credential and in the absence of an appropriate key, the rotating member  32  and cylinder body  40  will rotate together with respect to the housing  18 , so that a turnpiece  14  coupled to either the rotating member  32  or the cylinder body  40  can be used to rotate the tailpiece  44 . 
   Various features and advantages of the invention are set forth in the following claims.