System for blocking/opening a lock

Abstract

 System for blocking/opening a lock, this keyhole or double sided safe key lock being of the variety housing the corresponding locking device, operable by means of an opening and closing key, which comprises a locking device (4) blocking means (5) and a printed circuit board (7) with a storage and remote data recovery means, linked to the locking device (4) blocking means (5) with an assigned identification code, as well as an energy source (6), such as a battery and, a chip (10) built into the opening key (9) in which the identification code is stored and stored in the memory of the printed circuit board (7), in such a way that when the lock (4) is in "closed" position, it is secured by the blocking means (5), this blocking means (5) becoming unblocked when the key (9) is introduced into the "eye" (16) of the lock (1) the chip (10) transmitting its identification code to the printed circuit board (7) by means of radiofrequency, to be compared with the code stored in the circuit board memory.

Description

OBJET OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The invention described herein, according to that expressed in the present descriptive specification, refers to a system for blocking/opening a lock, which is particularly useful for installation in all kind of doors providing access to housing, offices and local commercial establishments, aiming to block the locking device in its "closed" position, which must be unlocked prior to being opened by means of the corresponding key.

[0002] Therefore, in a preferred embodiment of the invention, the unblocking may be carried out using the key itself, which contains a chip, when introduced into the eye of the lock.

APPLICATION FIELD

[0003] The present specification describes a system for blocking/opening a lock, being especially suitable for installation in all kind of doors providing access to housings, offices and local commercial establishments.

INVENTION BACKGROUND

[0004] For years, robberies in houses and local commercial establishments have increased sharply, which has led to an increase in security measures aiming to prevent intruders from entering homes, offices and local commercial establishments.

[0005] The earliest security measure was therefore introduced into the doors and lock manufacturing processes, in attempt to make them more secure and foster greater security.

[0006] Therefore, with the aim of combatting intrusions, three types of door became available on the market, which we shall refer to as security doors, reinforced doors and vault doors, these doors being structurally reinforced. Security doors and reinforced doors are the types of door which are most commonly used in homes, offices and local commercial establishments, whilst vault doors are preferably used in places where highly valuable objects are kept.

[0007] Security doors and reinforced doors have security locks with various anchoring points, which makes it difficult for intruders to manipulate them, in order to gain access inside.

[0008] Despite these improvements introduced into access doors in homes, offices and local commercial establishments etc., those keen to break barriers engineered ways of being able to open the doors, regardless of the kind of doors they are.

[0009] Two common ways of opening a door include applying a flexible action means to the latch of the lock and using "levers".

[0010] When using a flexible means such as a card, a identity card or something similar, this means is introduced at lock height between the door and the frame, in such a way that the pressure exerted when pressing against the latch may cause it to retract and the door may be opened.

[0011] On the other hand, using "levers" involves introducing an element, such as an iron bar, between the door and the frame, so that upon applying pressure to it, the lock "jumps" and the door is free to be opened.

[0012] Similarly, it is common to try to access the inside of a house, office or local commercial establishment by manipulating the lock directly by introducing some kind of element into the opening therein, in such a way that, even if the intruder does not succeed in opening the door, the door may be damaged or rendered inutile, which in turn presents many difficult limitations.

[0013] In addition to the very different conventional methods for opening doors, the following methods may also be used to open key hole locks:

➢ The bumping method, based on a technique used to unblock the cylinders of a lock, which entails lightly pressing a key with an object, in order to make the cylinders jump, this enabling the lock to be opened. This method facilitates silent access, without leaving traces of evidence showing that the lock has been forced.

➢ The "grinding drill" method, based on causing the lock to open using a "mill bit" on the "eye" of the lock, which "eats" into the keyhole, thus making it possible to open the lock.

➢ The printing technique, based on introducing a "key", marks being left when forced, in such a way that smoothing them facilitates adaption until a key which can open the lock is produced.

➢ The extractor method, based on using a special "screw" which, when introduced into the "eye" of the lock and turned, extracts the keyhole, thus facilitating opening and access.

➢ Using a copy of a key, which facilitates problem-free opening.

[0014] In principle, "double sided safe key" locks, those locks that have one or two paddles, seem very secure but really present the same limitations as keyhole locks, since drills are being used in order to open them, with the aim of drilling the passage pillar, in addition to skeleton keys, key copies etc., thus equally resulting in the door being opened.

[0015] Likewise, the object of various documents is protecting the lock itself and preventing it from being manipulated directly, for example ES 2 032 362; ES 2 049 626; ES 2 051 202 and ES 1 009 113.

[0016] Therefore, unfortunately at present, both keyhole and double sided safe key doors can be opened relatively easily by unscrupulous people, which is why alternatives are being sought in order to prevent this fact.

INVENTION DESCRIPTION

[0017] Therefore, with the aim of resolving the abovementioned limitations, the present specification describes a system for blocking/opening a lock, this keyhole or double sided safe key lock corresponding to a locking device which is operable by means of an opening or closing key, in such a way that the device comprises:

➢ a blocking means for the locking device;

➢ a printed control circuit board with storage and remote data recovery means, linked to the locking device blocking means, which has an assigned identification code;

➢ an energy source;

➢ a chip built into the opening key, in which the identification code is stored, stored in the memory of the printed control circuit board;
in such a way that the locking device, being in "closed" position, is blocked by the blocking means, this blocking means becoming unblocked when the key is introduced into the "eye" of the lock and the chip built into the key itself transmitting its identification code to the printed control circuit board by radiofrequency, in order to compare this code with the one stored in the circuit board memory.

[0018] In one practical embodiment of the invention, the body or shell of the lock, which houses the locking means, also houses the blocking means of the same and at least one feeder battery. Naturally, the system could also be fed by the general electricity grid.

[0019] Likewise, in another practical embodiment of the invention, the locking device blocking means may be housed in the doorframe.

[0020] In a preferred embodiment, the blocking means of the locking device is defined by a coil, the core of which, when the locking device is in closed position, fits into a compartment of the locking device, made in order to facilitate the blocking thereof.

[0021] In a preferred embodiment, the printed control circuit board with a storage and remote data recovery means, is built into the lock's protective shield, although it may mounted elsewhere, provided that it is in close proximity to the lock.

[0022] In a practical embodiment, the core of the coil, in its retracted position, is blocked by a retention means, in such a way that if the key has been introduced into the "eye" of the lock and opening does not occur immediately, said retention means keeps the core of the coil in its retracted position.

[0023] The chip built into the opening key of the lock, upon the key being introduced into the "eye" of the lock to open the same, generates a radiofrequency signal to send its identity, this signal being captured by the storage and data recovery means of the printed control circuit board, which, when compared to the authenticated code stored therein, will send an order to operate the coil and unblock the locking means.

[0024] Ultimately, the invention concerns making a system which links the mechanical means of a lock to an electronic security means available, in such a way that when the door is closed "with a key", if the identification code linked to the key is not available, the door cannot be opened because the locking device which is blocked cannot be accessed.

[0025] Therefore, for example, if the keyhole is extracted, the locking device continues blocked and the door cannot be opened and when a skeleton key is used, the locking means will not move either, because it is blocked.

[0026] In order to complement the description given below, with the aim of facilitating a better understanding of the invention characteristics, the present descriptive specification is accompanied by a set of drawings, which provide an illustrative, non-limiting representation of the invention's most characteristic features.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0027] 

Figure 1. Is a perspective view of a conventional type lock, represented with the locking device in "closed" position, this locking device being blocked by a blocking means, such as the core of a coil.

Figure 2. Is a detailed side view of the way in which the locking device is blocked by the core of the coil, which is mounted to a support plate.

Figure 3. Is a detailed side view of the previous figure, the locking device represented as being unblocked and the core being in its retracted position, retained by a retaining means.

Figure 4. Is a side view of a lock according to an alternative practical embodiment of the invention, in which the blocking coil of the locking device is located in the doorframe and the printed control circuit board is located in the protective shield of the same.

DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0028] In view of the abovementioned figures, and following the numbering used therein, it is possible to observe that, based on a conventional type lock 1 in whose shell 2 the various components, such as a latch body 3 and a locking device 4 operable by means of the corresponding key 9 are housed, at least one locking device 4 blocking means 5 in the "closed" position and an energy feeder battery 6 linked to the blocking means 5 and to a printed control circuit board 7 with a storage and an RFID type remote data recovery means also being housed therein.

[0029] "Closed" position is understood to mean that position in which the door is closed and the locking device has been moved by the key or, in other words, the position in which we known the door has been closed and key turned.

[0030] In a practical embodiment of the invention, the blocking means 5 is defined by a coil, core 8 of which is the element which blocks the locking device 4 when it is fitted within a compartment 11 of the same, made to this effect, when in "closed" position. Therefore, once the door has been closed and the locking device 4 has been turned with the key, the coil 5 is activated and the core 8 is fitted in the compartment 11, made to this effect, in the locking device 4.

[0031] Conversely, starting from the closed position, represented in figure 1, in order to move the locking device 4 towards the "open" position, the same is firstly unblocked. In order to do so, the opening/closing key 9 of the lock 1 has a built in chip with the identification code, which acts as an RFID transmitter/receptor, in such a way that when the key 9 is introduced into the "eye" 15 of the lock 1, it transmits a coded radiofrequency signal (identification code) which will be captured by the RFID reader of the printed control circuit board 7 in order to activate the coil 5, retracting the core 8 freeing the locking device 4, in order to be moved by the key 9 to be turned in its opening.

[0032] In this way, the locking device 4, in its closed position, is blocked and may only be unblocked when a coded radiofrequency signal is transmitted.

[0033] Although the embodiment described refers to a battery 6 as a feeder energy source, this source may also be the general grid itself.

[0034] Moreover, in an alternative practical embodiment of the invention, the coil 5 may be located in the frame 12 of the door 13 of lock assembly 1, as can be seen in figure 4. Likewise, the printed control circuit board 7 may be mounted in the protective shield 14 of the lock 1, thus enabling its disassembly in order to be changed or for a different identification code to be introduced. Said printed control circuit board 7 may naturally be located in a different place, as shown in figure 1.

[0035] Similarly, in a practical embodiment, to transmit to the RFID receptor of the printed control circuit board 7 the coded information it may be used a remote control and, once the lock 4 is unblocked, as explained, the locking device 4 may be move with the key 9 without a transmitter chip.

[0036] Equally, in a practical embodiment of the invention, a retaining means 16 of the core of the coil 5, when retracted, may be built into the system, as shown in figure 3, in such a way that if they key has been introduced into the "eye" 15 of the lock and immediate opening does not occur, said retaining means keeps the coil in its retracted position.

[0037] The retaining means may be made by a small "L" plate 16, which is driven by a spring 17, in such a way that one of its wings, when the blocking retaining means is acting on the core 8 of the coil 5, is underneath said coil 5 and its core 8 and when in resting position, is moved in relation to the core of the coil, its other wing being fixed to a spring 17. Therefore, in figures 2 and 3, it is possible to observe how the coil 5 may be mounted to a support plate 18 and the same is welded to a lug 19, to which the spring 17 is attached at one of its ends, the other end being attached to the "L" plate 16 driven by the blocking retaining means of the core 11 or the coil 5.

[0038] In figures 2 and 6, it is possible to observe how the retaining means 16 of the core of the coil 5 is driven, represented in working position and resting position.

[0039] Therefore, the invention fundamentally aims to provide the unitary lock/key apparatus with a chip or RFID tag in order to identify the corresponding opening key for the lock using radiofrequency.

Claims

1. Blocking/opening system for a lock, which is a keyhole or double sided safe key lock, being of the variety which houses the corresponding locking device operable by means of an opening and closing key, the latch body and other elements, characterised in that the system comprises:

➢ a blocking means (5) of a locking device (4);

➢ a printed circuit board (7) with a storage and remote data recovery means, linked to the blocking means (5) of the locking device (4) and provided with an identification code;

➢ an energy source (6), such as a battery and;

➢ a chip (10) built into a opening key (9) in which the identification code is stored, stored in the memory of the printed circuit board (7),

in such a way that the locking device (4) being in "closed" position, it is fastened by the blocking means (5), this blocking means (5) becoming unblocked when the key (9) is introduced into the "eye" (16) of the lock (1) and the chip (10) which incorporates its identification code into the printed circuit board (7) transmittes by radiofrequency, in order to compare it with the code stored in the circuit board memory.

2. Blocking/opening system for a lock, according to claim 1, characterised in that the body (2) of the lock which houses the locking device (4), also houses the blocking means (5) of the same and at least, a feeder battery (6).

3. Blocking/opening system for a lock, according to claim 1, characterised in that the blocking means (5) of the locking device (4) is housed in the doorframe.

4. Blocking/opening system for a lock, according to claim 2 or 3, characterised in that the locking device (4) blocking means (5) is defined by a coil, the core (8) of which, when the locking device (4) is in closed position, fits into a compartment of the locking device (4), which was made to this end.

5. Blocking/opening system for a lock, according to claim 1, characterised in that the printed circuit board (7) with a storage and remote data recovery means is built into the lock shield.

6. Blocking/opening system for a lock, according to claim 4, characterised in that the core of the coil (5), when in retracted position, is blocked by a retaining means.

7. Blocking/opening system for a lock, according to claim 1, characterised in that when the chip built into the opening key for the lock is introduced into the "eye" of the lock in order to open it, a radiofrequency signal is generated, sending its identity, which will be captured by the storage and data recovery means of the printed circuit board, which, when compared to the one stored therein and authenticated, will send an order to operate the coil, thus unblocking the locking device.

Drawing