Patent Abstract:
A method for controlling access to a storage unit owned by an owner, wherein a renter can obtain and maintain rights to said storage unit by paying a first rental fee and subsequent periodic rental fee payments according to a schedule. In this method, the storage unit is secured by a lock that is, at least in part, controlled by the renter. A remotely controllable lockout assembly, however, is capable of over locking the storage unit so that the renter can no longer gain entry when the lockout assembly is activated. The method includes remotely controlling the lockout assembly to deny the renter access to the unit when the when said renter has failed to pay said periodic rental fee on schedule and a grace period has passed since said renter&#39;s rights to said storage unit have elapsed.

Full Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 10/174,714, filed on Jun. 18, 2002, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,236,085 which is incorporated by reference as if fully set forth herein. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Self-storage units, in the United States, are typically rented on a monthly basis with the rent for each month being due on the first day of that month. If the rent is not paid by the tenth day of the month, the owner of the facility gains the legal right to lock out the renter, so that the renter no longer has access to the storage unit. Accordingly, on the eleventh day of each month, the manager of a self-storage facility typically has the task of walking around the facility and over locking all of the units for which the renter of the unit has not paid his rent for the current month. This is done by placing an additional lock on the storage unit door, through a hasp specially set for this purpose. For a large facility with hundreds of storage units this task can take two to four hours. 
     Another characteristic of self-storage facilities is that they are typically fenced and gated. The gate is controlled by a keypad that is linked to a computer. Each renter is associated with a key sequence that the renter enters into the keypad in order to enter and exit the facility. The computer notes the renter&#39;s presence in the facility. The computer to which the keypad is linked typically runs a computer program specially designed for facilitating the management of a self-storage facility. When a renter pays his or her rent, this information is logged into the computer. Accordingly, on the eleventh day of the month it is a simple matter to obtain a list of unit numbers for which the rent has not been paid. 
     Although self-storage unit renters are typically careful to secure their goods, in a large facility with hundreds of renters there are likely to be a fair number of instances, every month, of a renter forgetting to lock his unit when he has completed his tasks at the facility and is prepared to leave. This, of course, leaves the storage unit vulnerable to thievery. Every instance of thievery lowers the reputation of the facility and results in a certain amount of extra work for the manager. 
     It is an unfortunate truth of the self-storage industry that some facility managers engage in thievery. Although the tenant places his own lock on a unit, a manager may be quite knowledgeable about locks and may know how to pick a lock, or even have another key that works for the lock, in his collection of locks and keys that are used for over locking units. Accordingly, many renters would appreciate some additional assurance that their goods are safe from a thieving manager when locked in the storage unit. 
     Thieves that break into storage lockers by cutting off the lock constitute another problem for storage facility owners, operators and renters. Addressing this problem, locks that include an alarm mechanism that makes an audible sound or transmits a radio frequency signal are known in the prior art. There could be a problem in the use of these locks in a facility with hundreds of locked units, however, because it would not be immediately evident which lock was producing the alarm signal. 
     Another problem encountered in the self-storage industry is that of renters losing their keys. Because a key to a rental unit is not an item that would typically be used on an everyday basis, many renters may place this key in a location that is subsequently forgotten. When this happens, the lock must be cut off the storage unit, creating more work for the facility manager and an unwanted expense to the renter. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In a first, separate aspect, the present invention is a method for controlling access to a storage unit owned by an owner, wherein a renter can obtain and maintain rights to said storage unit by paying a first rental fee and subsequent periodic rental fee payments according to a schedule. In this method, the storage unit is secured by a lock that is, at least in part, controlled by the renter. A remotely controllable lockout assembly, however, is capable of over locking the storage unit so that the renter can no longer gain entry when the lockout assembly is activated. The method includes remotely controlling the lockout assembly to deny the renter access to the unit when said renter has failed to pay said periodic rental fee on schedule and a grace period has passed since said renter&#39;s rights to said storage unit have elapsed. 
     The foregoing and other objectives, features and advantages of the invention will be more readily understood upon consideration of the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment(s), taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a front view of a preferred embodiment of a lock according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is an interior view of the lock of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is an interior view of an alternative preferred embodiment of a lock according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 4  is an illustration of a storage unit locking apparatus that comprises a portion of a preferred method of the present embodiment. 
         FIG. 5  is an illustration of a computer monitor display that shows graphics for programming and monitoring a storage facility, according to one aspect of the present invention. 
         FIG. 6  is a flow diagram that describes, at least in part, a preferred method of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , a first preferred embodiment of the present invention takes the form of a combination lock  10 , having a keypad  12 , on the face of a lock body  14 , adapted to accept and recognize a combination entered by a user. Keypad  12  is preferably a water-tight membrane dome type. The recognition task requires electric power, which is provided by a pair of batteries  16 . If the entered code matches a set code in a logic mechanism  18  and if the lock is in user controlled state (see below), a solenoid  20  retaining a shackle  24  is placed in a state that permits shackle  24  to be pulled outwardly from body  14 , thereby freeing a shorter leg  50  of the shackle  24 . Springs  26  urge the shackle  24  upwards into an open state. In a second preferred embodiment the lock ( FIG. 3 ) is an electronic key lock  30  that uses a magnetic key reader  32  to read a magnetically encoded key  34 . The following disclosure applies to lock  30  as well as lock  10  with all references to a “combination” modified to refer to a key  34 . 
     As noted in the Background section, most self-storage facilities are operated on a month-to-month rental basis. Rent is typically due on the first of each month and in most American states, if the renter has failed to pay by the tenth day of the new month, the owner of the facility receives the right to deny the renter access to her storage unit. To facilitate this denial of access, the lock  10  of the present invention includes an automatic lockout feature. A radio frequency (RF) transceiver  40 , inside lock  10  is capable of receiving a coded message that places the lock  10  in a lockout state, wherein lock  10  remains locked even if the correct combination is entered into the keypad  12  and received by logic unit  18 . If the lock  10  is in lockout state, the user, upon depressing any keypad key, is advised by a red light  44  that the lock  10  is in the lockout state and that he should see the facility manager, rather than attempting to unlock the lock  10 . After the combination is entered a green light  42  advises the renter that the lock  10  is open. 
     Referring to  FIG. 4 , in a separate preferred embodiment, the remotely controlled lockout system is implemented by a separate, remotely controlled, door lock  46 . For example, a mechanism could be provided on the inside of a storage unit door  45  that could be automatically activated to prevent the door from opening. One advantage of having the lockout unit  46  placed inside the storage unit is that unit  46  could receive electrical power from the same source that powers the storage unit interior light. A separately lockable small door  48  could provide exterior access to unit  46 . Skilled persons will readily recognize that a lock that is at least partially controlled by the renter may be provided by permitting the renter to attach a lock to the latch (not shown) of the unit. The latches used for storage lockers are familiar to skilled persons. 
     Currently, several computer programs are available for facilitating the management of a self-storage facility by, for example (see  FIG. 5 ), displaying a map  160  of the facility with each unit  162  color coded to indicate its status, ie, whether the unit is rented out, whether the rent has been paid for month, etc. When a renter pays her rent for the month, this information is entered into the program and is immediately available. Referring to  FIG. 6 , which shows a flow chart of the remote station system logic  110 , the computer automatically places in lockout state all of the units for which rent is delinquent (decision box  112 , leading to lock out state block  114 ). When the renter subsequently pays her rent (decision box  116 ), the lockout state is changed to a user controlled state (state block  118 ), for as long as the renter is in the facility (decision box  120 ). Whenever the renter is not in the facility (as indicated by the gate entrance and exit keypads) the lock  10  is placed in a temporary lockout state (state block  122 ). 
     In a preferred embodiment, the lock  10  transmits a signal to the remote station. Every lock  10  sends a unique identifying code every time it communicates with the remote station, so that the remote station can associate the communication with the storage unit and renter. In one use of this lock  10  transmit capability, a message is sent advising the remote station when the lock  10  has been placed in an unlocked state and when it has then been placed into a locked state. If a unit is unlocked when the renter enters his keypad combination to leave the facility, he is automatically notified of this condition so that he can return to relock his unit. 
     Lock  10  also has an alarm feature. A short arm  50  of shackle  24  touches a short arm switch  52  and a shackle long arm  54  touches a long arm switch  56 . If both switches are opened, no alarm is given because this is a normal open state condition. But if the long arm switch  56  is opened while the short arm switch remains closed, then the shackle must have been cut (long arm  54  is urged outwardly by the spring action of switch assembly  52 ). In response an RF alarm signal, including the unique lock identifying code, is sent to the remote station. 
     Sometimes renters forget the combination, or in the case of a key lock, lose the key  34 . In addition, there may be unforeseeable emergency reasons for needing to enter a storage unit, or the local police may serve a search warrant for a rental unit. In the past any such occurrence has typically resulted in the lock shackle being cut and a new lock being placed on the unit door. With lock  10 , however, a new combination may be uploaded into lock  10  from the remote location by radio frequency ( FIG. 6 , block  124 ), thereby sparing the facility manager from the task of walking to the storage unit and cutting off the lock. In one preferred embodiment a request for a lock reprogramming (decision box  126 ), must be followed up with some evidence to show that the renter has approved the request (decision box  128 , see below). The reprogram feature could also be used to enable the facility manager to enter the unit in the event that the renter is so far behind in his rent payments that the owner has received the legal right to gain entry to the unit for the purpose of initiating sale of the renters possessions, in lieu of receiving rent payment (decision box  130 ). In this event, reprogramming would be permitted and the renter&#39;s combination would be deactivated (block  132 ). 
     The remote station&#39;s ability to change the combination to a lock  10  raises the possibility of a thieving manager changing the combination to a lock  10  for the purpose of being able to open the lock  10  and stealing unit contents. There are, however, a few natural safeguards against this sort of system abuse, as well as a few extra preventative measures that could be taken. 
     First, as each lock  10  is affirmatively over locked during facility closed times, the manager would have to enter the unit while the storage facility was open, potentially drawing attention to himself. Second, if the facilities manager were to change the lock combination for the purpose of illicitly entering the unit, he would have no way of knowing the renter&#39;s combination, so he would have no way of placing the lock  10  back into its original state. The tenant would then be unable to enter his unit and would realize that something was amiss. 
     Moreover, a log of all lock  10  activities is maintained at a secure location, so that it is unalterable by the facility manager. In one embodiment, one such log is maintained in the lock  10  itself. In yet another embodiment an Email or a page is automatically sent to both the owner and the renter (block  132 ) any time a lock  10  is reprogrammed to accept a new combination. If the renter has requested and or performed the reprogramming, this notice would come as no surprise and would not cause alarm. If the facility manager had reprogrammed the lock  10  without the renter&#39;s permission, however, the renter would likely invoke an investigation that would snare the thieving manager. 
     As an extra safeguard, in a preferred embodiment, biometric data would be required for changing the key combination. For example, a finger print reader could be used to identify the renter. Alternatively, at the time of rental the renter enters into the computer a question and answer, such as, “what is the name of my dog,” “Charlie.” Any lock combination reprogram request is met with the question entered. If the correct answer is not entered into the computer in response, the lock  10  combination can not be changed. If the renter adequately identifies himself to the computer system, however, the now familiar ritual of cutting off a lock for which the key has been lost would no longer be necessary, saving time for both the renter and the facility manager. The renter need simply reprogram the lock from the remote station and then travel to the lock to apply the new combination. 
     Many advantages of the lock  10  of the present invention should now be apparent. Using this lock, a storage facility can be converted to a facility in which every unit is alarmed, without the costly installation of a great number of alarm sensor and transmission units. Time is saved whenever it is necessary to lock renters out of their units, or to permit renter access after the rent has been paid. Any instance of an accidentally unlocked unit is brought to the attention of the facility manager. Because the locks are affirmatively over locked during periods when the facility is closed, a thieving manager would have to ply his trade during daylight hours. In order to provide these manifold advantages, however, lock  10  must be supplied with electric power. Batteries  16  are necessary for this purpose and the possibility of the batteries running down completely are anticipated in the embodiments. In one embodiment, a low power detector is included in the lock, and a signal, including an identification of the lock, is broadcast when a low battery condition is detected. In a related embodiment, if the batteries are permitted to run down, the lock  10  will remain in a locked state, unable to receive input from the key reader or keypad. The combination is stored in nonvolatile memory (typically electrically erasable programmable read only memory [EEPROM]), however, so that after the batteries have been replaced, the lock  10  may again be opened with the same combination as before. 
     The terms and expressions that have been employed in the foregoing specification are used as terms of description and not of limitation. There is no intention, in the use of such terms and expressions, of excluding equivalents of the features shown and described or portions thereof, it being recognized that the scope of the invention is defined and limited only by the claims which follow.

Technology Classification (CPC): 6