US-12624574-B2 - Locking assembly with spring mechanism

Abstract

An electronic lock with a latch assembly, an interior assembly, and an exterior assembly. The latch assembly includes a bolt movable between an extended position and a retracted position. The assembly includes an internal spring actuating mechanism. The assembly also includes a touch keypad subassembly configured to detect touches to at least a portion of its surface.

Inventors

• Alan Uyeda
• James Lin

Assignees

• ASSA ABLOY AMERICAS RESIDENTIAL INC.

Dates

Publication Date

20260512

Application Date

20241030

Claims (19)

1. 1 . A method of operating an electronic locking assembly, the method comprising: providing the electronic locking assembly in a locked configuration, the electronic locking assembly including an exterior assembly with an actuating mechanism and an input device, the electronic locking assembly also including a latch assembly with a latch bolt configured to extend and retract therefrom, the latch assembly selectively coupled to the exterior assembly via a coupling assembly and a torque blade rotatable around a first axis, wherein the locked configuration is defined by the actuating mechanism being disengaged with the torque blade by a movable pin of the coupling assembly; receiving an input at the input device; determining if the input is a valid input; in response to the valid input, actuating a drive assembly disposed within the exterior assembly, wherein the drive assembly includes a motor, a spindle, a spring engaged by a lateral projection on the spindle to move in an axial direction of the spindle and selectively apply a biasing force to a flange, the spindle rotatable via the motor around a second axis orthogonal to the first axis, and the flange slidable along the axial direction based on a position of the spring relative to the spindle; and engaging the actuating mechanism with the torque blade via the coupling assembly based on the flange sliding in the axial direction away from the motor and contacting the pin such that the electronic locking assembly is in an unlocked configuration, wherein once the electronic locking assembly is in the unlocked configuration, the actuating mechanism is configured to retract the latch bolt.
2. 2 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising determining rotational position of the actuating mechanism prior to engaging the actuating mechanism with the torque blade.
3. 3 . The method of claim 2 , wherein when the actuating mechanism is rotated prior to the input being received, the actuating mechanism is not engaged with the torque blade until the actuating mechanism is returned to a neutral position.
4. 4 . The method of claim 3 , wherein the step of actuating the drive assembly occurs automatically once the actuating mechanism is in the neutral position.
5. 5 . The method of claim 4 , further comprising rotating the actuating mechanism out of the neutral position to retract the latch bolt.
6. 6 . The method of claim 2 , wherein if the input is a nonvalid input, the electronic locking assembly remains in the locked configuration no matter the rotational position of the actuating mechanism.
7. 7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the input is received prior to rotating the actuating mechanism to retract the latch bolt.
8. 8 . The method of claim 1 , returning the electronic locking assembly to the locked configuration after a predetermined amount of time.
9. 9 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the predetermined amount of time is 10 seconds or 15 seconds.
10. 10 . The method of claim 8 , wherein returning the electronic locking assembly to the locked configuration includes rotating the spindle via the motor in an opposing direction.
11. 11 . The method of claim 1 , returning the electronic locking assembly to the locked configuration after a re-enter of the valid input.
12. 12 . The method of claim 11 , wherein returning the electronic locking assembly to the locked configuration includes rotating the spindle via the motor in an opposing direction.
13. 13 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the input device is a keypad and the input is a passcode.
14. 14 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the input device is a touch screen and the input is a passcode.
15. 15 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the input device is a touch screen and the input is biometric input.
16. 16 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the input device is a RFID reader and the input is a RFID tag.
17. 17 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the electronic locking assembly further includes an interior assembly with an interior actuating mechanism, the latch assembly coupled to the interior assembly via the torque blade, and wherein the interior actuating mechanism is configured to retract the latch bolt.
18. 18 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the exterior assembly further includes a mechanical key cylinder, the mechanical key cylinder coupled to the torque blade such that the mechanical key cylinder is operable to retract the latch bolt upon receipt of a mechanical key.
19. 19 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the actuating mechanism includes a handle, the handle rotatable around the first axis.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 18/130,516, filed Apr. 4, 2023, now U.S. Pat. No. 12,158,023, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/565,860, filed Sep. 10, 2019, now U.S. Pat. No. 11,643,845, which claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 62/815,703 filed on Mar. 8, 2019; and 62/729,112 filed on Sep. 10, 2018, the entire contents of which are hereby expressly incorporated herein by reference. TECHNICAL FIELD This invention relates to the field of door locks. More particularly, this invention relates to internal mechanisms of a locking assembly. BACKGROUND Door locks are commonly installed in residential and commercial settings. There are many different types of door locks used throughout residential and commercial settings as well. Door locks are already routinely used to simply lock a door. As technology progresses, there has been a growing trend to improve door locks by adding electronics thereby allowing a user to unlock a door without a traditional key. When designing and manufacturing electronic lock housings, chassis are often required to house the electronics. As technology progresses, the electronic components increase in size and complexity, but increasing the size of the lock is not desirable. In electronic deadbolts, the latch's hub is typically driven by a motor. In addition, the lock houses a transmission, clutch, and preload device. Traditional transmissions have gears that are driven by the motor. However, having multiple components provides more opportunity for components to break or malfunction. What is therefore needed is an improved transmission, clutch, and preload device. SUMMARY In general terms, this disclosure is directed towards a locking assembly for use on internal and external doors. This disclosure relates generally to an electronic lock with or without a traditional lock cylinder. The electronic lock includes an internal spring actuated mechanism. In a first aspect, a locking assembly is described. The locking assembly comprises a motor, spindle, barrel, and flange. The spindle is actuatable by the motor and is positioned to rotate around a first axis in response to actuation of the motor. The spindle includes a lateral projection that engages a first spring such that, upon rotation of the spindle, a position of the first spring changes relative to the lateral projection along the first axis between a neutral position and a biasing position. The barrel has a recess operatively engageable by a pin movable between an engaged position in which the pin resides within the recess and a disengaged position in which the pin remains outside the recess. The pin is biased toward the disengaged position by the second spring, and the barrel is rotatable around a second axis perpendicular to the first axis by an actuator. The flange at least partially surrounds the barrel, the pin, and the second spring. The flange is engageable by the first spring at least when the first spring is in a biasing position. The flange is movable between a first position and a second position, wherein the flange remains in the first portion when the first spring is in the neutral position and wherein the flange is biased toward the second position when the first spring is in the biasing position. Biasing the flange toward the second position urges the pin toward the engaged position. In another embodiment, a locking assembly for use on a door separating an exterior space from a secured space is described. The locking assembly includes a means for rotating a spindle around a first axis, and the spindle includes a first engagement means. A second engagement means is engaged with the first engagement means, and the second engagement means is moved along the first axis from a first position to a second position. Moving the second engagement means to the second position causes a third engagement means to be biased toward a fourth engagement means. When the fourth engagement means is biased, it is in position to engage a means for latching. In response to rotation, a means for rotating engages the fourth engagement means and retracts a latch. In yet another aspect, a method for operating a locking assembly is described. The method comprises: in response to receiving an input, actuating a motor from a control circuit to rotate a spindle around a first axis. The spindle includes an engagement that engages a first spring to move the first spring relative to the lateral projection along the first axis from a neutral position to a biasing position. Movement of the first spring to the biasing position biases a movable flange toward a second position from a first position. Biasing the movable flange toward the second position biases a pin toward a recess in a barrel to position the pin for engagement of a latch. In response to rotation of an actuator, the pin is engaged with the latch and retracts the latch