IP Library › Granted Patent US 12704001
Granted Patent B2
US 12704001 · App. 17/444,345 · Granted Aug 11, 2026

Vault door

Inventors: Ryan Donahue (Columbia, MO); Michael Cottrell (Ashland, MO); James Tayon (Moberly, MO); Brian Steere (Columbia, MO); Fernando Coviello (Columbia, MO)
Assignee: AOB Products Company
E05B65/0078E05B47/0012E05G1/04E05B2047/0017E05B2047/002E05B2047/0086
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12704001
App. No.
17/444,345
Granted
Aug 11, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A vault door system for use in a vault includes a door supporting a plurality of locking bolts that move between locked and unlocked positions. A drive system includes a prime mover and a drive train. The prime mover actuates the drive train to move the locking bolts between the locked and unlocked positions. An inner handle is at an inner side of the door and is arranged to be accessible from an interior of the vault. The inner handle is operatively coupled to the drive train and is movable between a first position and a second position. In the first position, the drive train operatively couples the prime mover to the plurality of locking bolts so that the prime mover can move the locking bolts between the locked and unlocked positions. In the second position, the drive train does not operatively couple the prime mover to the plurality of locking bolts.

Claims (61)

1 . A vault door system for use in a vault, the vault door system comprising:

a door having opposite inward and exterior sides, the inward side arranged to face an interior of the vault when the door is closed;

a plurality of locking bolts supported by the door, the locking bolts being movable between a locked position and an unlocked position, wherein in the locked position the locking bolts protrude from the door so that the locking bolts are positioned to engage a frame of the vault to lock the door in a closed position and wherein in the unlocked position the locking bolts are retracted relative to the locked position so that the locking bolts are positioned to disengage the frame to permit the door to be moved to an open position;

a drive system including a prime mover and a drive train, the prime mover configured to actuate the drive train to move the locking bolts from the locked position toward the unlocked position and from the unlocked position toward the locked position, the drive train including a link operatively coupled to the locking bolts and moveable with the locking bolts as the locking bolts move between the locked and unlocked positions; and

an inner handle at the inward side of the door and arranged to be accessible from the interior of the vault, the inner handle extending inward away from the exterior side of the door to a location inward with respect to the link to define a space between the link and a handle portion of the inner handle, the space sized to accommodate a hand of a user when the hand grasps the handle portion of the inner handle, the inner handle being operatively coupled to the drive train and being movable between a first position and a second position, wherein in the first position the drive train operatively couples the prime mover to the plurality of locking bolts so that the prime mover can move the locking bolts between the locked and unlocked positions and wherein in the second position the drive train does not operatively couple the prime mover to the plurality of locking bolts, the inner handle being operatively coupled to the plurality of locking bolts such that the inner handle moves in a linear direction as the locking bolts are moved between the locked and unlocked positions, regardless of whether the inner handle is in the first or second position.

2 . The vault door system of claim 1 , wherein the inner handle is operatively coupled to the plurality of locking bolts so that the inner handle can move the locking bolts between the locked and unlocked positions.

3 . The vault door system of claim 2 , wherein the inner handle is free to move the locking bolts between the locked and unlocked positions in the second position and is inhibited from moving the locking bolts between the locked and unlocked positions in the first position.

4 . The vault door system of claim 1 , wherein the drive train includes a worm gear configured to be rotated by the prime mover and a gear rack.

5 . The vault door system of claim 4 , wherein the gear rack is in meshed engagement with the worm gear when the inner handle is in the first position and is disengaged with the worm gear when the inner handle is in the second position.

6 . The vault door system of claim 5 , wherein the link is operatively coupled to the gear rack such that rotation of the worm gear linearly moves the link when the inner handle is in the first position.

7 . The vault door system of claim 6 , wherein the drive train includes a bolt carrier connected to the locking bolts, the link being connected to the bolt carrier.

8 . The vault door system of claim 5 , wherein the inner handle is configured to rotate the gear rack with respect to the worm gear as the inner handle moves between the first position and the second position.

9 . The vault door system of claim 1 , wherein the inner handle is biased toward the first position.

10 . The vault door system of claim 9 , further comprising a spring biasing the inner handle toward the first position.

11 . The vault door system of claim 10 , wherein the handle portion of the inner handle is located inward of the spring.

12 . The vault door system of claim 10 , wherein the space is inward of the spring.

13 . The vault door system of claim 1 , wherein the prime mover comprises an electric motor.

14 . The vault door system of claim 1 , wherein the space is defined inward of the link and outward of the handle portion of the inner handle.

15 . The vault door system of claim 1 , wherein the inner handle is pivotable with respect to the link between the first and second positions.

16 . The vault door system of claim 1 , wherein the handle portion of the inner handle is an elongate member.

17 . The vault door system of claim 16 , wherein the elongate member is a cylindrical shaft.

18 . A vault door system for use in a vault, the vault door system comprising:

a door having opposite inward and exterior sides, the inward side arranged to face an interior of the vault;

a plurality of locking bolts supported by the door, the locking bolts being movable between a locked position and an unlocked position, wherein in the locked position the locking bolts protrude from the door so that the locking bolts are positioned to engage a frame of the vault to lock the door in a closed position and wherein in the unlocked position the locking bolts are retracted relative to the locked position so that the locking bolts are positioned to disengage the frame to permit the door to be moved to an open position;

a drive system including a prime mover and a drive train, the prime mover configured to actuate the drive train to move the locking bolts from the locked position toward the unlocked position and from the unlocked position toward the locked position; and

an inner handle at the inward side of the door and arranged to be accessible from the interior of the vault, the inner handle being operatively coupled to the drive train and being pivotable with respect to the door between a first position and a second position, wherein in the first position the drive train operatively couples the prime mover to the plurality of locking bolts so that the prime mover can move the locking bolts between the locked and unlocked positions and wherein in the second position the drive train does not operatively couple the prime mover to the plurality of locking bolts, the inner handle being movable in a linear direction.

19 . The vault door system of claim 18 , wherein the inner handle is operatively coupled to the drive train such that the drive train moves the inner handle in the linear direction.

20 . The vault door system of claim 18 , wherein the inner handle pivots between the first and second positions about an axis of rotation that is parallel to the linear direction.

21 . The vault door system of claim 18 , wherein the inner handle is movable in the linear direction when the inner handle is in the first position.

22 . The vault door system of claim 18 , wherein the inner handle is operatively coupled to the plurality of locking bolts so that the inner handle can move the locking bolts between the locked and unlocked positions as the inner handle moves in the linear direction.

23 . The vault door system of claim 22 , wherein the inner handle is free to move the locking bolts between the locked and unlocked positions in the second position and is inhibited from moving the locking bolts between the locked and unlocked positions in the first position.

24 . A vault door system for use in a vault, the vault door system comprising:

a door having opposite inward and exterior sides, the inward side arranged to face an interior of the vault;

a plurality of locking bolts supported by the door, the locking bolts being movable between a locked position and an unlocked position, wherein in the locked position the locking bolts protrude from the door so that the locking bolts are positioned to engage a frame of the vault to lock the door in a closed position and wherein in the unlocked position the locking bolts are retracted relative to the locked position so that the locking bolts are positioned to disengage the frame to permit the door to be moved to an open position;

a drive system including a prime mover and a drive train, the prime mover configured to actuate the drive train to move the locking bolts from the locked position toward the unlocked position and from the unlocked position toward the locked position, the drive train including gear teeth being pivotable between an engaged position and a disengaged position; and

an inner handle at the inward side of the door and arranged to be accessible from the interior of the vault, the inner handle being operatively coupled to the gear teeth and being movable between a first position and a second position, wherein in the first position the gear teeth are in the engaged position such that the drive train operatively couples the prime mover to the plurality of locking bolts so that the prime mover can move the locking bolts between the locked and unlocked positions and wherein in the second position the gear teeth are in the disengaged position such that the drive train does not operatively couple the prime mover to the plurality of locking bolts.

25 . The vault door system of claim 24 , wherein the drive train includes a gear configured to be rotated by the prime mover, wherein in the engaged position the gear teeth are in meshed engagement with the gear, and wherein in the disengaged position the gear teeth are disengaged with the gear.

26 . The vault door system of claim 25 , wherein the gear is a worm gear.

27 . The vault door system of claim 25 , wherein the inner handle is operatively coupled to the plurality of locking bolts so that the inner handle can move the locking bolts between the locked and unlocked positions.

28 . The vault door system of claim 27 , wherein the inner handle is free to move the locking bolts between the locked and unlocked positions in the second position and is inhibited from moving the locking bolts between the locked and unlocked positions in the first position.

29 . The vault door system of claim 24 , wherein the inner handle is pivotable between the first and second positions.

30 . The vault door system of claim 29 , wherein the gear is configured to rotate about an axis of rotation, and wherein the inner handle is pivotable about an axis parallel to the axis of rotation.

31 . The vault door system of claim 29 , wherein the gear teeth are configured to pivot between the engaged and disengaged positions as the inner handle pivots between the first and second positions.

32 . A vault door system for use in a vault, the vault door system comprising:

a door having opposite inward and exterior sides, the inward side arranged to face an interior of the vault when the door is closed;

a plurality of locking bolts supported by the door, the locking bolts being movable between a locked position and an unlocked position, wherein in the locked position the locking bolts protrude from the door so that the locking bolts are positioned to engage a frame of the vault to lock the door in a closed position and wherein in the unlocked position the locking bolts are retracted relative to the locked position so that the locking bolts are positioned to disengage the frame to permit the door to be moved to an open position;

a drive system including a prime mover and a drive train, the prime mover configured to actuate the drive train to move the locking bolts from the locked position toward the unlocked position and from the unlocked position toward the locked position;

an inner handle at the inward side of the door and arranged to be accessible from the interior of the vault, the inner handle being operatively coupled to the drive train such that the drive train drives movement of the inner handle, the inner handle being movable between a first position and a second position, wherein in the first position the drive train operatively couples the prime mover to the plurality of locking bolts so that the prime mover can move the locking bolts between the locked and unlocked positions and wherein in the second position the drive train does not operatively couple the prime mover to the plurality of locking bolts, the inner handle being pivotable with respect to the door between the first and second positions; and

a spring biasing the inner handle toward the first position, wherein the inner handle extends inward away from the exterior side of the door to a handle portion of the inner handle, the handle portion located inward with respect to the spring, the handle portion defining an inward end of a space sized to accommodate the hand of the user when the hand grasps the handle portion.

33 . The vault door system of claim 32 , wherein the inner handle is operatively coupled to the drive train such that the drive train drives linear movement of the inner handle.

34 . The vault door system of claim 33 , wherein the drive train is configured to drive linear movement of the inner handle when the inner handle is in the first position.

35 . The vault door system of claim 34 , wherein the drive train is configured such that the linear movement of the inner handle occurs simultaneously with the movement of the locking bolts between the locked and unlocked positions.

36 . The vault door system of claim 35 , wherein the inner handle is operatively coupled to the plurality of locking bolts so that the inner handle can move the locking bolts between the locked and unlocked positions.

37 . The vault door system of claim 36 , wherein the inner handle is free to move the locking bolts between the locked and unlocked positions in the second position and is inhibited from moving the locking bolts between the locked and unlocked positions in the first position.

38 . The vault door system of claim 32 , wherein the drive train includes a link operatively coupled to the locking bolts and moveable with the locking bolts as the locking bolts move between the locked and unlocked positions, the handle portion located inward with respect to the link.

39 . The vault door system of claim 38 , wherein the space is defined inward of the link and outward of the handle portion of the inner handle.

40 . The vault door system of claim 32 , wherein the drive train includes a link operatively coupled to the locking bolts and moveable with the locking bolts as the locking bolts move between the locked and unlocked positions, the inner handle being pivotable with respect to the link between the first and second positions.

41 . The vault door system of claim 32 , wherein the inner handle is pivotable with respect to the spring between the first and second positions.

42 . The vault door system of claim 32 , wherein the spring is coupled to a second portion of the inner handle, wherein the inner handle is an elongate member and includes at least one bend between the second portion and the handle portion.

43 . The vault door system of claim 38 , wherein the door has an edge and the locking bolts protrude from the edge of the door in the locked position, the inner handle being moveable with respect to the door between a first location and a second location to move the locking bolts, the inner handle being closer to the edge of the door in the first location than in the second location.

44 . The vault door system of claim 32 , wherein the spring is wrapped around a second portion of the inner handle.