METHOD FOR LOCKING AND UNLOCKING A LOCKING DEVICE

Technical Field

The method relates to a method for locking and unlocking a locking device such as a lock in a door.

Background of Invention

Door locks have been used for hundreds of years and they are typically locked and unlocked with unique keys. Nowadays, many modern doors are unlocked with coded cards. However, there are situations when it is not desirable to have to give the unique key to a stranger in order to unlock the lock. For example, when the owner of a rental unit or house is far away from the rental unit or when there is a risk that the user may copy the key in an unauthorized manner, it is highly undesirable to have to give away the unique key. There is a need for more effective locking devices that provide a solution to the above-outlined drawbacks.

Summary of Invention

The method of the present invention provides a solution to the above-outlined problems. More particularly, the method is for unlocking a locking device. The user enters a code into the locking system. A processor compares the code with a correct code. When the code is identical to the

correct code then the processor activates the actuator to operatively connect shaft with the add-on device. The user turns the shaft from a locked position to an unlocked position to open the locking system via the add-on device. A key is entered into the cylinder lock. The key is turned to lock the locking system or open the locking system via the add-on device .

Brief Description of Drawings Fig. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a prior art locking mechanism;

Fig. 2 is a schematic front view of the locking mechanism of the present invention;

Fig. 3 is a schematic side view of a portion of the locking mechanism of the present invention;

Figs. 4a-4c are schematic views of a portion of the locking mechanism of the present invention; and

Fig. 5 is a schematic illustration of the steps involved of the present invention.

Detailed Description

As seen in Fig. 1, a prior art conventional cylinder lock 112 has a rotatable blade 106 at a backside portion 105 of the lock 112 that may be turned when a key is inserted into the lock 112 and turned to activate an activation member 124

of a locking device 110 when the blade 106 is inserted into the activation member 124.

Fig. 2 is a front view of the locking system 100 of the present invention. An important feature of the present invention is that it is an add-on function to conventional locks so that the conventional locks may be still used and that it is only necessary to add the add-on function to the conventional lock. More particularly, the cylinder ring of the conventional lock is replaced by the add-on unit 102 of the present invention. Preferably, the add-on unit 102 has a key pad 130, a cylinder lock 112 and an extra locking shaft 116. The shaft 116 may be moved between a locked position 132 where the locking system 100 is locked and the door cannot be opened and an unlocked position 134 where the door can be opened. An important feature is that without the user providing a correct code 136 on the key pad 130 the shaft 116 may be moved between the positions 132 and 134 without affecting the locking function of the locking system 100. In other words, any movement of the shaft 116 does not affect the locking mechanism 100. However, the user may still unlock and lock the locking system by inserting a correct key 137 into the cylinder lock 112 and turn the cylinder lock 112 similar to a conventional door lock. By entering the correct code 136 the user may also lock and unlock the locking system 100 by turning the shaft 116 between the locked position 132 and unlocked position 134 and vice versa to activate an add-on

device 114 via an actuator 115. Whether the correct code 136 has been entered or not may be determined by a processor 139.

In this way, there are at least two ways of locking and unlocking the locking system 100 of the present invention from the outside of the door. Similar to a conventional locking system the user may also simply turn a handle on the door from the inside to lock and unlock the door. The details of this are described below.

Fig. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional side view of the locking system 100 of the present invention. It has a cylinder lock 112 which may be a conventional cylinder lock. The cylinder lock 112 is connected to and in operative engagement with a first side 113 of an add-on device 114. The device 114 is in operative engagement via an actuator 115 with the extra locking shaft 116 that has a handle 118. The actuator 115 may be a mechanical or an electronic device that operatively connects the shaft 116 with the add-on device 114 when the correct code 136 has been entered by the user. For example, the actuator 115 could be a cog or a similar device that is protruding or withdrawn to connect to another cog outside the add-on device 114. The movement of the cog of the actuator 115 may depend upon whether the correct code has been entered or not. One advantage of not using a motor to open the door but to rely on the user turning the shaft 116 to unlock/lock the door is that the energy usage is minimal.

Another important feature is that the add-on device

114 and the actuator 115 are both placed behind the cylinder lock 112 and are hard to reach for an un-authorized user who may try to break into the locking system 100 so that the overall security and the resistance to vandalizing of the locking system is not compromised compared to conventional locking systems.

A second side 120 of the add-on device 114 is in operative engagement with an activation member 122 of a locking mechanism 110 that is mounted inside a door 126. As indicated above, by pressing the correct code 136, the shaft 116 may be used, instead of the key 137, to lock and unlock the locking system 100. It may also be possible for the user to use a RFID device instead of entering a pin code at the key pad. It may also be possible to use a mobile telephone, with NFC (Near Field Communication) or other wireless communication capabilities or another communication device that can send a wireless signal that includes a code to the locking mechanism to activate the actuator 115. In other words, the present invention is not limited to the user entering a code on the keypad.

The present invention is particularly useful when the owner may, for example, rent out the rental unit that has the locking system 100 without having to provide the renter with the key 137. The correct code 136 may be set to work for a specific time period 140 such as a week after which the code 136 does not work and cannot be used to lock and unlock the

locking system 100. The renter may thus unlock the locking system 100 by entering the correct code 136.

Fig. 4a shows a front view of the add-on device 114. The add-on device 114 may have a cavity 162 defined therein to receive the rotatable blade 106 of the cylinder 112. The cavity 162 enables the add-on device 114 to be rotated by locking shaft 116 even when the rotatable blade 106 is in a locked position. Fig. 4b shows a side view of the add-on device 114 with the engaging part 120, cavity 162 and activation member 108. Fig. 4c shows a back view of the add-on device 114 with the engaging part 120.

In operation, as best shown in Fig. 5, the user first provides an identification code 150 such as the correct code 136. In response to the correct code 136, the processor 139 activates in an activation step 152 the actuator 115 to connect the shaft 116 to the add-on device 114. In a turning step 154, the user then turns the shaft 116 from the locked position 132 to the unlocked position 134 and opens the door via add-on device 114. The user or another person such as the owner, in a using key step 156, may also locking and unlock the locking mechanism with a key 137 inserted into the cylinder lock 112 to activate the same activation member 108 via the add-on device 114.

While the present invention has been described in accordance with preferred compositions and embodiments, it is to be understood that certain substitutions and alterations

may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the following claims.