GB2169947A

GB2169947A - Fastener

Info

Publication number: GB2169947A
Application number: GB08431431A
Authority: GB
Inventors: John O'connell
Original assignee: Lowe and Fletcher Ltd
Current assignee: Lowe and Fletcher Ltd
Priority date: 1984-12-13
Filing date: 1984-12-13
Publication date: 1986-07-23
Also published as: GB8431431D0

Abstract

A lock has an electronic memory and is capable of reading information from a key by means of an infrared beam. The lock and a keeper have transfer elements (26-29) for transmitting information between the lock and the keeper when these are juxtaposed, as when a door incorporating the lock is closed. The transfer elements enable the memory of the lock to be interrogated from a remote position. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Fastener Description of Invention From one aspect, the present invention relates to a two-part releasable fastener comprising a hollow body, a fastening member mounted in the body for movement relative thereto between fastening and releasing positions, and a keeper which, in use, receives a part of the fastening member when the latter is in the fastening position. Locks and latches fitted to doors and like closure members are typical examples of a fastener of the kind described.

According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a fastener of the kind described wherein there is operatively associated with the fastening member control means for controlling movement of the fastening member relative to the body, a processor is operatively associated with the control means and reading means is operatively associated with the processor, the reading means being capable of reading information from an information carrier of predetermined form, when the carrier is applied to the fastener.

In the preferred fastener, the body and the keeper are provided with respective transfer elements which, at least when said part of the fastener member lies in the keeper, form respective parts of a path for the transmission of information between one or more components in the body and a station separated from the body. The transfer element or elements provided for the body may be mounted in the body or in a housing separate from, but near to, the body.

The transfer elements are preferably selected for their ability to transfer information, rather than their ability to transfer energy. Thus, the transfer elements may be incapable of transferring energy, other than at a vey low power. A diode capable of emitting infra-red radiation and a sensor responsive to radiation emitted by the diode may be used as the transfer elements.

The transfer of information is preferably achieved without mutual contact of the transfer elements. The arrangement may be such that these elements cannot contact each other.

In addition to the transfer elements, there may be provide means for supplying power to the control means and/or to the processor by way of a path which enters the body from the keeper.

According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a releasable fastener comprising a hollow body, a fastening member mounted in the body for movement relative thereto between fastening and releasing positions, control means mounted in the body for controlling movement of the fastening member, reading means mounted in the body for reading information from an information carrier, when applied to the fastener, and a processor also mounted in the body and operatively associated with the reading means for receiving therefrom information read from an information carrier by the reading means and operatively associated with the control means for changing the condition thereof.

A fastener in accordance with the second aspect of the invention may be one part of a two-part releasable fastener and therefore not capable, alone, of fastening a door or other closure. A fastener according to the second aspect of the invention may be used on a door, in which case a frame for the door may be provided with a keeper or may itself define a recess for receiving a part of the fastening member.

References herein to the mounting of a part in the body embrace the mounting of parts entirely within the body, partly within the body and on the body at the outsize thereof.

The fastener may further comprise a memory associated with the processor for storing information. The processor may be used to compare with information stored in the memory information read from an information carrier applied to the fastener.

The fastener may further comprise a key-receiving member mounted in the body for movement relative thereto, defining a slot for receiving an information carrier in the form of a key and containing the reading means.

The fastener may further comprise a driven member, the arrangement being such that the keyreceiving member can transmit drive to the driven member when an appropriate key is present in the key-receiving member.

Power for operating the control means and the processor may be derived from a source in the body, for example a ceil or a battery of cells.

Alternatively, a power source separate from the body may be used, in which case there may be a power supply path which enters the body from the keeper and is distinct from the path for the transmission of information.

An example of a fastener in accordance with both the first and second aspects of the invention will now be described, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: Figure 1 shows diagrammatically a mortice lock, Figure 2 shows a keeper for use with the lock, and Figure 3 shows diagrammatically a programmer for use with the lock.

The lock shown in figure 1 is intended for fitting in a mortice in a door in the usual way and comprises a hollow body 10, the dimensions of which may be those of a typical, known mortice lock. The lock body includes flanges 11 which lie outside the mortice and are flush with an edge of the door (not shown). Between the fianges 11, there extends a face 12 of the lock body 10 defining an opening through which there can protrude a lock bolt 13. It will be understood that the face 12 is exposed, when the associated door is open, but is covered by a keeper and/or a door post, when the door is closed.

Two further, smaller apertures 14 and 15 are formed in the face 12 of the body 10 at respective positions spaced from the bolt 13.

For driving the bolt 13, there is provided a keyreceiving member 16 in which there is formed a rectilinear, elongated key-slot 17. This slot has an open-end at a face of the key receiving member which is exposed at one side of the door and which is perpendicular to the face 12 of the body 10. The key receiving member is mounted in the body for rotation relative thereto about an axis extending along the key slot 17 and the body may include an escutcheon (not shown) which surrounds an outer end portion of the key receiving member.

An inner end portion of the key receiving member is disposed inside the body 10 and is provided with a cam 18. The cam occupies an opening in the bolt 13 and the arrangement is such that, by rotation of the key receiving member and cam together, the bolt can be driven from the releasing position shown in figure 1 to a locking position in which an end portion of the bolt is projected from the body 10.

Control means 19 is provided for controlling movement of the bolt 13 from its locking position to its releasing position, and possibly also controlling return movement of the bolt. In the example illustrated, the control means 19 comprises a solenoid which is fixed with respect to the body 10 and which has an armature engageable in a notch 20 formed in the bolt 13. The position of the notch is such that it is aligned with the armature when the bolt is in the locking position. The armature is spring-loaded to enter the notch whenever the bolt is moved to the locking position.

A cell 21 or a battery of cells is provided in the body 10 as a source of electrical power for energisation of the solenoid 19. Energisation of the solenoid is controlled by a processor 22 which receives information from reading means in the key receiving member 16. In the particular example illustrated, the reading means is adapted to read by electro-magnetic radiation information from a key (not shown) inserted into the key slot 17. The reading means includes a diode 23 for emitting infra-red radiation and sensor 24 which responds to incidence on the sensor of radiation emitted by the diode 23 to provide an electrical output signal to the processor 22. The diode and sensor are positioned at respective opposite sides of the key-slot.This arrangement is suitable for a key which has a window generally transparent to infra-red radiation and bearing, in the window, marks which are opaque to infra-red radiation. As the key is inserted, a beam of radiation from the diode 23 scans a row of marks in the window of the key and information derived from these marks is fed to the processor.

Whilst a single diode 23 and sensor 24 have been shown, it will be understood that several diodes and a corresponding number of sensors would normally be provided. One diode-sensor pair may be arranged to read a clock-track on the key to trigger interrogation of the other sensor or sensors by the processor 22. Appropriate filters would be provided to screen the transfer elements from visible light.

The processor 22 incorporates a memory for storing information, for example numbers corresponding to particular keys which are required to effect movement of the bolt 13, from the locking position to the releasing position. When a key is inserted into the key slot 17, information read from the key is compared with information stored in the memory. If the result of this comparison indicates that the key which has been inserted is an acceptable key, then an electrical signal is provided to energise the solenoid 19 and release the bolt. The bolt can then be withdrawn by torque transmitted from the key via the key receiving member 16 to the cam 18. A number identifying the key which has been used may be stored in the memory.

The connection between the cam 18 and the key receiving member 16 may be a releasable connection so that drive cannot be transmitted from the key receiving member to the bolt unless one of a number of predetermined sets of information has been read from a key inserted into the key slot 17.

With this modification, the key receiving member 16 may be freely rotatable in the absence of the key.

The cam may be used to drive the bolt in both directions. Alternatively, the bolt may be projected by a spring and withdrawn by the cam. The bolt may be formed as a latch, to be depressed into the body 10 whenever the associated door is closed.

The keeper shown in figure 2 is fitted to a door frame in the usual way and defines a recess for receiving an end portion of the bolt 13 when the bolt is in its locking position. The keeper also has transmitting means 25 including transfer elements 26 and 27 which, when the bolt is engaged in the keeper, are aligned with the apertures 14 and 15 respectively. Further transfer elements 28 and 29 are provided in the body 10, in alignment with the apertures 14 and 15. By means of the transfer elements, information can be transmitted between the body 10 and the keeper, when these are juxtaposed and occupy relative positions such that the bolt can engage in the keeper. The transfer elements may be adapted to project beams of infrared or other electro-magnetic radiation between the body and the keeper.It will be noted that mutual contacts of the transfer elements is unnecessary and is avoided.

The transfer elements 26 and 27 are conencted with signalling means or information-processing means at a remote station. The transfer elements 28 and 29 are connected with the processor 22.

The path which includes the transfer elements 26 and 28 may be used for feeding information to the memory of the processor 22, for example to identify acceptable keys. The path of which the transfer elements 27 and 29 form respective parts may be used for retrieving information from the memory of the processor 22, for example the identities of keys which have been used to operate the lock.

The processor 22 may be provided with means for indicating the position of the bolt 13, so that information concerning the position of the bolt can be passed to the remote station via the keeper.

A third path, incorporating a further pair of transfer elements, may be provided to transmit an alarm signal from the lock to a remote station.

Alternatively, the keeper may incorporate means 35 which responds to the presence of an end portion of the bolt 13 in the keeper to provide to the remote station a signal which indicates the position of the bolt. The signalling means 35 in the keeper may be a micro-switch or an infra-red source and sensor. It will be understood that existence of an information transfer path which includes the transfer elements 26 and 28 or includes the transfer elements 27 and 29 is indicative of a closed position of the door in which the body 10 is incorporated so that there is readily available at the remote station information as to whether or not the door is closed. The processor 22 may be interrogated from the remote station to establish whether the door is closed. The signalling means of the keeper, where provided, may be interrogated to establish whether the door is locked.It will be understood that the signalling means of the keeper may be energised only during interrogation from the remote station.

The device illustrated in figure 3 is intended for use in supplying information to the memory of the processor 22, other than from the remote station.

When the door carrying the body 10 is open, the device of figure 3 can be placed against the face 12 of the body 10. A predetermined relative position may be established by projecting the bolt 13 into a recess of the device. The device incorporates transfer elements corresponding to the elements 26 and 27 which can be aligned with the transfer elements 28 and 29 in the body 10. Information can then be passed between the device of figure 3 and the processor 22, for example to retrieve information from the memory of the processor and to feed information into the memory of the processor. In this way, the lock can be instructed to reject certain keys, for example keys which have previously operated the lock, and to accept other keys.

The device shown in figure 3 may incorporate its own power supply and may be provided with means similar two the reading means herein before described with reference to figure 1, for reading information from a key so that the information can be passed to the processor 22 of the lock.

Additionally or alternatively, the device of figure 3 may incorporate a key-pad which can be used to feed information into the device. Furthermore, the device may be in two parts connected electrically by a cable, one part including transfer elements and the other part including reading means and a power supply.

It will be noted that the device of figure 3 cannot be used to vary information in the lock of figure 1 whilst the door incorporating that lock is closed. At least adjacent to the lock, the information-transfer paths are inaccessible and secure, whilst the door remains closed.

The features disclosed in the foregoing description, orthefollowing claims, orthe accompanying drawings, expressed in their specific forms or in terms of a means for performing the disclosed function, or a method or process for attaining the disclosed result as appropriate, may, separately or in any combination of such features, be utilised for realising the invention in diverse forms thereof.

Claims

1. A two-part releasable fastener comprising a hollow body, a fastening member mounted in the body for movement relative thereto between fastening and releasing positions, and a keeper which, in use, receives a part of the fastening member when the latter is in the fastening position, wherein there is operatively associated with the fastening member control means for controlling movement of the fastening member, a processor is operatively associated with the control means and reading means is operatively associated with the processor for reading information from an information carrier.

2. A fastener according to Claim 1 wherein said body and said keeper are provided with respective transfer elements which, at least when said part of the fastening member lies in the keeper, form respective parts of a path for the transmission of information between one or more components in the body and a station separated from the body.

3. A two-part releasable fastener comprising a hollow body, a fastening member mounted in the body for movement relative thereto between fastening and releasing positions and a keeper which, in use, receives a part of the fastening member when the latter is in the fastening position, wherein said body and said keeper are provided with respective transfer elements which, at least when said part of the fastening member lies in the keeper, form respective parts of a path forthe transmission of information between one or more components in the body and a station separated from the body.

4. A releasable fastener comprising a hollow body, a fastening member mounted in the body for movement relative thereto between fastening and releasing positions, control means mounted in the body for controlling movement of the fastening member, reading means mounted in the body for reading information from an information carrier, when applied to the fastener, and a processor also mounted in the body and operatively associated with the reading means for receiving therefrom information read from an information carrier by the reading means and operatively associated with the control means for changing the condition thereof.

5. In combination, a fastener according to Claim 4 and a device which is separable from the fastener, wherein the fastener and said device include respective transfer elements which, when the fastener and the device are juxtaposed, form respective parts of a path for the transmission of information between the processor of the fastener and said device.

6. A combination according to Claim 5 wherein the body has a first face formed with an opening in which the fastening member is disposed and wherein the arrangement is such that, when said path is established, said device is juxtaposed to said fastener at the first face.

7. A fastener according to Claim 2 or Claim 3 or a combination according to Claim 5 or Claim 6 wherein said transfer elements are adapted to transmit information without contacting one another.

8. A fastener according to Claim 2 or Claim 3 wherein, when said part of the fastening member lies in the keeper, the transfer element in the keeper is spaced from the transfer element in the body in the direction of movement of the fastening member in to and out of the keeper.

9. A fastener according to any one of Claims 2,3,7 and 8 or a combination according to any one of Claims 5 to 7 wherein said transfer elements are adapted one to emit electro-magnetic radiation and another two respond to incident radiation from the one element.

10. Afastener according to any one of Claims 2,3, 7,8 and 9 or a combination according to any one of Claims 5 to 7 and Claim 9, wherein a plurality of said paths is established.

11. A fastener according to any one of Claims 1 to 4 and 7 to 10 or a combination according to any one of Claims 5 to 10, wherein the fastener further comprises a key-receiving member for receiving a key, said key receiving member being arranged in the body for movement relative thereto, and said reading means being contained in the key receiving member.

12. A fastener or a combination according to Claim 11 further comprising a driven member which is movable relative to the body and wherein the key receiving member is arranged for transmitting drive from a key to the driven member.

13. A fastener according to any one of Claims 2,3, 7 and 8 or a combination according to any one of Claims 5 to 7 wherein said transfer elements are inductors.

14. In combination, a fastener according to any one of Claims 2,3 and 7 to 13 and an information processor remote from the fastener, wherein said path extends between the fastener and the information processor.

15. A lock and key substantialiy as herein described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawing.

16. Any novel feature or novel combination of features disclosed herein or in the accompanying drawings.