Method for setting or emergency-opening and resetting a secret code of a combination lock
Patent Information
- Application Number
- EP2023832989
- Authority / Receiving Office
- EP · EP
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Priority Date
- 2022-12-21
- Filing Date
- 2023-12-12
- Publication Date
- 2025-10-29
AI Technical Summary
Existing combination locks face issues with unintentional adjustment of the rotary knob leading to incorrect storage of the locking secret, and require separate buttons or manual operations for resetting, which complicates handling and emergency opening.
A method that involves entering the locking secret via an input device, storing it securely using a coupling element, and allowing adjustment of the bolt and input device to neutral positions, enabling secure locking and easy resetting, with emergency opening facilitated by a cylinder lock and emergency key.
Simplifies the setting and resetting of the locking secret, prevents unintentional adjustments, and allows for secure and easy emergency opening of the combination lock, ensuring the initial configuration is restored for subsequent use.
Smart Images
Figure 1.1
Abstract
Description
[0001] Martin Lehmann GmbH & Co. KG
[0002] Am Kohlgraben 6-10
[0003] 32429 Minden
[0004] 37400WO 26 / 15 December 12, 2023
[0005] METHOD FOR SETTING OR EMERGENCY OPENING AND RESETTING A LOCKING SECRET OF A COMBINATION LOCK
[0006] The present invention relates to a method for setting and resetting a locking secret of a combination lock and a method for emergency opening and resetting a locking secret of a combination lock.
[0007] Such combination locks are usually used as locker locks or furniture locks in areas where items to be locked are to be stored only temporarily and the locker or piece of furniture is to be available to another user after the items have been removed, as is the case, for example, in lockers in sports halls, universities or train stations.
[0008] In these areas, cylinder locks operated by a key are currently commonly used. The key is inserted into the cylinder core when the locker or furniture compartment is unlocked. Once the locker or furniture compartment is locked, the key is removed and retained by the user until the user retrieves the stored items from the locker or furniture. To do so, the user inserts the lock key into the cylinder and then leaves the key in the cylinder. The disadvantage of such key locks is that the key can easily be lost.
[0009] This problem can be avoided by using combination locks.
[0010] Such a combination lock is known, for example, from publications DE 10 2014 109 224 A1 and EP 2 942 457 A1 and essentially consists of a combination lock and a locking cylinder for emergency opening. At the beginning of use, a user can enter a secret code known only to them, in this case a numerical code, by adjusting dials.
[0011] After this has been entered, in DE 10 2014 109 224 A1, when the lock is closed by turning a knob, the locking secret is stored in the combination lock via clutch discs coupled to the adjusting wheels and at the same time the adjusting wheels are adjusted back to a neutral position.
[0012] However, in the case of combination locks of this type, it is necessary to install a separate actuating button or similar device on the inside of the lock facing the storage room in order to neutralise the lock's secret, with which the lock's secret must be reset to a neutral or starting value.
[0013] In order to delete the locking secret of the combination lock known from EP 2 942 457 A1, an actuating element protruding from a housing of the combination lock must be actively pressed in and, at the same time, the housing of the combination lock must be turned.
[0014] DE 10 2017 004 622 A1 describes a combination lock in which the actuating element of EP 2 942 457 A1 is replaced by a control element so that the locking secret is deleted automatically.
[0015] The saving of a newly entered locking secret is carried out analogously to the combination lock known from DE 10 2014 109 224 A1.
[0016] The problem here is that when the rotary knob is operated, the locking secret can be accidentally changed without the user noticing by accidentally touching one or more of the setting wheels, which means that the locking secret saved when the rotary knob is turned to open no longer corresponds to the locking secret originally set by the user.
[0017] The object of the present invention is to provide a method for improved setting and resetting of a locking secret of a combination lock with simplified handling.
[0018] Another task is to provide a method for emergency opening and resetting a locking secret of a combination lock, which can also be carried out when the combination lock is closed.
[0019] The first object is achieved by a method having the features of claim 1.
[0020] The second object is achieved by a method having the features of claim 5.
[0021] In the method for setting and resetting a combination lock's locking code, a first step (a) involves entering a locking code via the input device. By subsequently fixing the locking code in a code memory (step (b)) by manually actuating a coupling element, the locking code is stored in a lock core of the combination lock, so that the entered locking code is "stored" in the combination lock.
[0022] Subsequently, in a method step c), a bolt of the combination lock is adjusted from a release position to a closed position by actuating the adjusting element in a first adjustment direction. Furthermore, the actuation of the adjusting element additionally causes the input device to be moved into a neutral position and the adjusting element to be set in the blocking position at the end of the adjustment movement, so that firstly the compartment to be secured by the combination lock is locked and secondly the adjusting element coupled to the bolt is also rusted, so that the compartment secured by the combination lock cannot be opened without re-entering the locking secret. In order to be able to open the combination lock again to remove the objects, the previously set locking secret must first be entered via the input device in a step d).If the locking secret is entered correctly, this results in the adjustment element being released from the blocking position.
[0023] In a subsequent method step e), the bolt can then be moved from the closed position to the release position by actuating the adjusting element in a second adjustment direction.
[0024] In this process step e), the input device is additionally moved to a neutral position and the locking secret is deleted from the code memory.
[0025] This ensures that the initial starting position is reached again so that another user can use the compartment secured with the combination lock without any further precautions.
[0026] The coupling element enables secure storage of the locking secret, as the locking secret is stored by activating the coupling element before the adjustment element is activated in the subsequent process step c). Activating the adjustment element always carries the risk of inadvertently adjusting one or more characters of the input device, so that when the locking secret is stored, an unintentionally set locking secret is only stored when the adjustment element is activated.
[0027] Advantageous embodiments of the invention are the subject of the dependent claims.
[0028] According to an advantageous embodiment variant, in order to simplify handling, in step e) the locking secret is deleted from the code memory without manual actuation of the coupling element.
[0029] According to an advantageous embodiment, in step b), the adjusting element is derusted from a blocking position to a release position that permits adjustment of the adjusting element, and in step e), the adjusting element is rusted from the release position that permits adjustment of the adjusting element to the blocking position. The method according to the invention for emergency opening and resetting a locking code of a combination lock assumes that an incorrect character code was initially entered to open the combination lock.
[0030] In a first step f) of this method, a cylinder lock coupled to the combination lock is first opened with an emergency key.
[0031] Opening the cylinder lock with the emergency key releases the adjusting element so that it can be moved in a first adjusting direction in a method step g) and thus the bolt is moved from the closed position into the released position in order to open the compartment or locker or the like.
[0032] Finally, in step h), the cylinder lock is closed with the emergency key.
[0033] When the cylinder lock is opened, the adjustment element is also released from the blocking position and, in step g), the input device is also moved to the neutral position and the locking secret is deleted from the code memory, so that the combination lock is finally returned to its initial configuration, in which another user can set the combination lock to a locking secret known only to him.
[0034] According to an advantageous embodiment, the adjustment element is also blocked in step h).
[0035] According to a further advantageous embodiment, the input device for entering the locking secret is carried out by rotating at least one rotary wheel designed as an input device, wherein the rotary wheel is provided with a plurality of character markings and is rotated into a predetermined rotational position to select one of the characters as the locking secret or part of a locking secret consisting of a sequence of characters.
[0036] According to a further advantageous embodiment, the bolt is moved from a release position into a closed position by rotating an adjusting element designed as a rotary knob in a first direction of rotation and from the closed position into the release position by rotating in a direction opposite to the first direction of rotation.
[0037] In both cases, adjustment by turning has the advantage of being space-saving and easy to use.
[0038] The manually performed steps a) to e) can preferably be carried out with one hand, which also simplifies the handling of the combination lock.
[0039] An embodiment of the method according to the invention is explained in more detail below with reference to the accompanying figures.
[0040] They show:
[0041] Figure 1 is a schematic representation of an exemplary method sequence according to the invention for setting and resetting a locking secret of a combination lock and
[0042] Figure 2 is a schematic representation of an exemplary method sequence according to the invention for emergency opening and resetting a locking secret of a combination lock.
[0043] With reference to Figure 1, an embodiment variant of a method according to the invention for setting and resetting a locking secret of a combination lock is described below.
[0044] The combination lock itself has a lock core with an input device for entering a locking secret and a code or secret memory that can be coupled to the input device.
[0045] The input device can be designed, for example, in the form of one or preferably several character wheels, each of which is assigned a code wheel which can be coupled to the respective character wheel via a coupling element, so that in the usual way after the setting of the locking secret by actuating the character wheels and subsequent coupling of the character wheels to the code wheels by actuating the coupling element, the locking secret is stored or set in the lock core of the combination lock.
[0046] The coupling element is preferably designed as a slider, which is preferably arranged in the immediate vicinity of the character wheels on a front surface of the input device and thus enables one-handed operation of the combination lock.
[0047] It is also conceivable for the input device to be designed as a keypad, character disk or the like.
[0048] The locking secret can preferably be a letter code or a number code or a combination of letters and numbers.
[0049] Other types of codes are also conceivable, such as geometric figures, images, or the like. The characters can be applied as essentially 2-dimensional images, but 3-dimensional designs of one or more of the characters are also conceivable.
[0050] The combination lock also has an adjusting element for operating the bolt. The adjusting element is preferably designed as a rotary knob. The bolt serves to lock with the latch of a furniture compartment, locker, or similar device in which stored items are to be secured against access.
[0051] Also coupled to the combination lock is a cylinder lock with a locking cylinder that can be operated by a key, in particular an emergency key, which is used to open the combination lock in an emergency, as will be explained in more detail below.
[0052] The combination lock equipped with these components is used to carry out a procedure for setting and resetting a locking secret of the combination lock.
[0053] The combination lock is set in an initial configuration 10, shown in the flow diagram of Figure 1, such that the input device is still decoupled from the code or secret memory, i.e. no locking secret has yet been stored in the combination lock. In the variant design of the input device in the form of several character wheels, these are set in an initial or neutral position. For example, they are labeled with the ten digits one to nine and zero of the decimal system. For example, three, four or five such character wheels are arranged next to one another in order to provide a correspondingly large number of combination options for setting a locking secret. In an initial or neutral position, all of the character wheels are set to the value zero, for example.
[0054] By decoupling the character wheels from the code wheels, the combination lock is deprogrammed accordingly.
[0055] The latch used to physically lock the furniture compartment or locker compartment or the like is in its open position.
[0056] Starting from this configuration, in a first method step a) a locking secret can be entered by entering a locking secret via the input device, in the above embodiment by adjusting the character wheels.
[0057] Once the locking secret has been set, the locking secret is then fixed in the code memory in a method step b), in the above embodiment a manual actuation of the coupling element, preferably designed as a slider, with which the character wheels are coupled to the code wheels and thus store the locking secret in the lock core of the combination lock.
[0058] In process step b), the adjustment element is also unlocked so that it can be moved in a first adjustment direction in a subsequent process step c).
[0059] After carrying out process step b), the combination lock reaches a configuration state 20 in which the bolt is still open, the combination lock is programmed, the locking secret is stored in the code memory, and the adjustment element is released for an adjustment movement.
[0060] The adjustment movement of the adjustment element in process step c), in the above embodiment the rotation of the rotary knob, causes the bolt to be adjusted from the release position to a closed position, so that the compartment or locker is now locked by the combination lock.
[0061] In addition, the adjustment movement of the adjustment element returns the input device to a neutral position and the adjustment element rusts in the blocking position at the end of the adjustment movement in order to prevent the set locking secret of the input device from being read by third parties and to prevent the adjustment element from being moved without the locking secret being entered again via the input device.
[0062] After adjusting the adjusting element according to method step c), the combination lock reaches a configuration 30 in which the combination lock is set such that the bolt is in the closed position, the input device is reset to the neutral position and the adjusting element is blocked against further rotational movements.
[0063] In this configuration 30, the combination lock remains until the user, who knows the locking secret, returns to the furniture or locker or the like to open the combination lock again.
[0064] This is done in a method step d), in which the stored locking secret is entered via the input device and then in a method step e) the adjusting element is adjusted in one of the second adjusting directions, which preferably corresponds to an adjusting direction opposite to the first adjusting direction.
[0065] In process step d), after the locking secret has been entered, the combination lock reaches a configuration 40 in which the adjusting element is derusted again from the blocking position.
[0066] By adjusting the adjustment element in the second adjustment direction, the bolt is moved from the closed position to the release position, the input device is reset to the neutral position and the code memory is erased.
[0067] The decoupling of the character wheels of the input device from the code wheels of the code memory preferably occurs without active manual actuation of the coupling element. Finally, in one embodiment, the adjustment element is returned to the blocking position at the end of the rotational movement.
[0068] This means that configuration 10 is reached again, which allows the compartment or locker that can be locked with the combination lock to be used again.
[0069] In a case where the owner of the locking secret has lost (forgotten) the locking secret, a method for emergency opening and resetting a locking secret of a combination lock makes it possible to access the items secured in the compartment or locker by the combination lock.
[0070] The combination lock is secured by a cylinder lock with a matching emergency key via a second key. The emergency key is usually held by a third party, such as a security guard or the like.
[0071] The procedural steps required for emergency opening are as follows:
[0072] First, in a process step f), the cylinder lock is opened with the emergency key.
[0073] The emergency key is inserted into a locking cylinder of the cylinder lock and then turned by a predetermined angle, for example 90° or 180°.
[0074] The initial configuration here is configuration 30 described above, in which the bolt is in the closed position, the input device is in its neutral position and the adjustment element is blocked.
[0075] By entering a code that does not correspond to the locking secret (shown as method step i) in Figure 1 ), a configuration 50 is achieved in which, in contrast to configuration 30, the input device is now set to the wrong code. Due to the incorrect code, however, the adjusting element is not released in this state, but remains blocked. By opening the cylinder lock with the emergency key, the adjusting element is released from its blocked position so that it can now be moved. Then, in a method step g), the adjusting element is moved in the same direction as in method step e).
[0076] This achieves a configuration 60, in which the bolt is moved to its open position, thus releasing the compartment or locker. Moving the adjustment element also resets the input device to its neutral position and deletes the locking code from the code memory.
[0077] In a subsequent process step h), the cylinder lock is closed again with the emergency key, which is preferably done by turning the key back by the predetermined angle into the inserted position and then removing the key.
[0078] Turning the key back optionally causes the adjustment element to be blocked again, so that configuration 10 is now reached again, in which the combination lock is ready for further use.
Claims
Claims 1 . Method for setting and resetting a locking secret of a combination lock, wherein the combination lock - a lock core with an input device for entering a locking secret and a code memory that can be coupled to the input device via a coupling element, - a bar and - has an adjusting element for actuating the bolt, with the method steps for setting the locking secret: a) entering a locking secret via the input device, b) fixing the locking secret in the code memory by manually actuating the coupling element, c) adjusting the bolt from a release position to a closed position by actuating the adjusting element in a first adjustment direction, wherein in step c) by actuating the adjusting element, the input device is additionally moved to a neutral position and the adjusting element is set in the blocking position at the end of the adjustment movement, and with the subsequent method steps for deleting the locking secret: d) entering the previously set locking secret via the input device, e) adjusting the bolt from the closed position to the release position by actuating the adjusting element in a second adjustment direction,wherein in step d) after entering the correct locking secret, the adjustment element is additionally derusted from the blocking position and in step e) the input device is additionally moved to the neutral position and the locking secret is deleted from the code memory.
2. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that in step e) the locking secret is deleted from the code memory without manual actuation of the coupling element.
3. Method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that in step b) the adjusting element is derusted from a blocking position into a release position enabling adjustment of the adjusting element and in Step e) the adjustment element is moved from the release position allowing adjustment of the adjustment element into the blocking position.
4. Method for emergency opening and resetting a locking secret of a combination lock, wherein the combination lock • a lock core with an input device for entering a locking secret and a code memory that can be coupled to the input device, • a bar and • has an adjusting element for actuating the bolt and is coupled to a cylinder lock that can be actuated by an emergency key, with the method steps for emergency opening of the combination lock: f) opening the cylinder lock with the emergency key, g) moving the bolt from the closed position to the release position by actuating the adjusting element in a first adjusting direction, h) closing the cylinder lock with the emergency key, wherein in step f) the adjusting element is additionally derusted from the blocking position and in step g) the input device is additionally moved to the neutral position and the locking secret is deleted from the code memory and in step h) the adjusting element is blocked.
5. The method according to claim 4, characterized in that in step h) the adjusting element is additionally rusted from the release position enabling adjustment of the adjusting element into the blocking position.
6. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the input of the locking secret is carried out by rotating at least one rotary wheel designed as an input device, wherein the rotary wheel is provided with a plurality of character markings and is rotated into a predetermined rotational position to select one of the characters as the locking secret or part of a locking secret consisting of a sequence of characters.
7. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the bolt is released by turning a knob designed as a rotary Adjusting element is moved in a first direction of rotation from a release position into a closed position, and is moved from the closed position into the release position by rotating in a direction opposite to the first direction of rotation.
8. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the manually executed method steps a) to e) can be carried out with one hand.