Patent ID: 7051561

Claim:
A mortise lockset apparatus ( 10 ) for a door mounted in a door frame, the apparatus comprising: a case ( 12 ) configured to fit into a complementary cavity in a door; a retractable bolt ( 14 ) movably supported within the case, a portion of the bolt extending from the case in an extended position and withdrawn into the case in a retracted position, the bolt configured to engage a complementary recess formed in a door frame when the bolt is in the extended position and the door is in a closed position with the bolt axially aligned with the recess; a handle ( 18 ) pivotally and rotatably mounted on a hub ( 16 ) supported in the case ( 12 ), the hub being operably connected to the retractable bolt, the bolt being retractable from the extended position by turning the door handle; a handle lock-out mechanism ( 22 ) supported in the case and configured to prevent the handle from being turned when the lock-out mechanism is in an engaged position; a key reader ( 26 ) supported adjacent the case and connected to the lock-out mechanism, the key reader configured to identify properly configured keys; a lockset controller ( 28 ) connected to the lock-out mechanism and the key reader, the lockset controller configured to disengage the handle lock-out mechanism when the key reader identifies a properly configured key; the handle lock-out mechanism including: a cam ( 29 ) movably supported in the case and operably connected to a motor ( 30 ), a sliding stop ( 34 ) movably supported in the case and including a first end ( 36 ) engageable with the handle hub to prevent the handle hub and the handle from turning, the sliding stop including a bearing surface ( 38 ) engageable with a cam surface ( 40 ) of the cam, the cam surface being disposed adjacent the bearing surface of the sliding stop in a position to move the sliding stop ( 34 ) into engagement in the hub when the motor moves the cam, to lock the hub in place, the motor configured to move the cam surface about a cam axis, the cam rotatably supported in the case about the cam axis ( 42 ), the cam axis disposed between diametrically opposed portions of the cam surface; and a slip clutch ( 48 ) disposed between the motor ( 30 ) and the cam surface ( 40 ) and configured to allow the motor to continue running after the sliding stop has been driven to the full extent of its travel into the hub.