Patent ID: 6892557

Claim:
A lock which includes: a body; an actuator arrangement which is displaceable relative to the body between an inoperative condition in which it is incapable of operating a device and an operative condition from which it is capable of operating said device; non-mechanical key identification means; and retaining means for retaining at least part of the actuator arrangement releasably in its inoperative condition, the retaining means being linked to the key identification means and operative in response to a signal received therefrom to permit displacement of the actuator arrangement to its operative condition, the actuator arrangement including an outer member which is mounted for both longitudinal and rotational displacement relative to the body, an inner member mounted axially in register with the outer member and a coupling configured to permit limited relative longitudinal movement of the outer member and the inner member and to transmit torque applied from the outer members to the inner member, the coupling including an open ended sleeve within which adjacent end portions of the inner and outer members are positioned, the retaining means acting on the sleeve to inhibit displacement thereof; wherein the key identification means includes electronic control circuitry and communication means whereby the control circuitry can communicate with an encoded key to permit identification of the key by the control circuitry; and wherein the communication means is configured to permit wireless communication between the key and the control circuitry.