Actuating assembly for a latching system
View Patent ↗An actuating assembly of a locking system ( 200 ) to operate a displaceable component of a latching system ( 210 ), includes: (i) a first member ( 24 ) which is connected or connectable to the displaceable component of the latching system ( 210 ); (ii) a second member ( 26 ), the first and second members ( 24, 26 ) being disconnectably connectable to each other, with the first and second members ( 24, 26 ) being in an inoperative configuration when they are disconnected from each other such that the second member ( 26 ) is displaceable independently of the first member ( 24 ), and the first and second members ( 24, 26 ) being in an operative configuration when they are connected to each other such that displacement of the second member ( 26 ) causes the first member ( 24 ) to be displaced; (iii) a first actuating sub-assembly ( 46 ) including a first key receiver ( 230 ) for receiving a non-mechanical first key in the form of a predetermined electromagnetic signal transmitted via a cellular telecommunications network from the communications facility ( 224 ) of a monitoring facility ( 227 ) to an electronic controller ( 228 ); (iv) a second actuating sub-assembly ( 52 ) which is operable by a second key ( 226 ), the second actuating sub-assembly ( 52 ) being operably connected to the second member ( 26 ) and being configured, when actuated by the second key ( 226 ), to cause the second member ( 26 ) to be displaced, thereby to cause the first member ( 24 ) to be displaced when the first and second members ( 24, 26 ) are in their operative configuration; and (v) a timer for determining the time from receipt of a first key by the first actuating sub-assembly ( 46 ), wherein the first actuating subassembly ( 46 ) is configured, upon: (i) receipt of the first key, to cause the first and second members ( 24, 26 ) to assume their operative configuration; and (ii) elapse of a preset time stored in a storage means ( 236 ) measured by the timer from receipt of a first key by the first actuating sub-assembly ( 46 ), to cause the first and second members ( 24, 26 ) to assume their inoperative configuration.
1. An actuating assembly to operate a displaceable component of a latching system, the actuating assembly including:
a first member which is connected or connectable to the displaceable component of the latching system;
a second member, the first and second members being disconnectably connectable to each other, with the first and second members being in an inoperative configuration when they are disconnected from each other such that the second member is displaceable independently of the first member, and the first and second members being in an operative configuration when they are connected to each other such that displacement of the second member causes the first member to be displaced;
a first actuating sub-assembly including a first key receiver for receiving a non-mechanical first key in the form of a predetermined electromagnetic signal transmitted via a cellular telecommunications network;
a second actuating sub-assembly which is operable by a second key, the second actuating sub-assembly being operably connected to the second member and being configured, when actuated by the second key, to cause the second member to be displaced, thereby to cause the first member to be displaced when the first and second members are in their operative configuration; and
a timer for determining the time from receipt of the first key by the first actuating sub-assembly,
wherein the first actuating sub-assembly is configured, upon: (i) receipt of the first key, to cause the first and second members to assume their operative configuration; and (ii) elapse of a preset time measured by the timer from receipt of the first key by the first actuating sub-assembly, to cause the first and second members to assume their inoperative configuration.
2. The actuating assembly according to claim 1 , wherein, in use, the first member is directly connected or connectable to the displaceable component of the latching system, and an output drive member of the actuating assembly is provided by the first member.
3. The actuating assembly according to claim 1 wherein the first member is indirectly connected or connectable to the displaceable component of the latching system, and an output drive member of the actuating assembly is directly or indirectly connected to the first member, with displacement of the first member causing the output drive member to be displaced.
4. The actuating assembly according to claim 3 , wherein the output drive member of the actuating assembly is or includes a projecting element or arm connected or connectable to the displaceable component of the latching system.
5. The actuating assembly according to claim 4 that is associated with: (i) a closure member or door; and (ii) a support structure on which the closure member or door is mounted, wherein the latching system is for latching the closure member or door to the support structure on which the closure member or door.
6. The actuating assembly according to claim 5 , wherein the support structure is a static enclosure or a mobile enclosure.
7. The actuating assembly according to claim 6 , wherein the enclosure is a safe, electrical box, electrical sub-station, truck, delivery van or shipping container.
8. The actuating assembly according to claim 7 , wherein the first actuating sub-assembly includes a displaceable connecting component and a drive means.
9. The actuating assembly according to claim 8 , wherein the drive means is a solenoid, an electric motor or a linear actuator, which includes the output drive member which is connected to the connecting component, the connecting component being displaceable between a connecting position in which it connects the first and second members to each other and a non-connecting position in which it does not connect the first and second members to each other.
10. The actuating assembly according to claim 9 , wherein the first actuating sub-assembly includes a non-mechanical key identification means, with the drive means being linked to the non-mechanical key identification means such that the drive means is operative in response to a signal received from the non-mechanical key identification means to cause displacement of the connecting component from its non-connecting position to its connecting position.
11. The actuating assembly according to claim 10 , further including: (i) an electronic controller; (ii) location determining means for determining the location or GPS co-ordinates of the actuating assembly; (iii) storage means for storing either a desired route or an area or location or GPS co-ordinates of a location, in which actuation of the first actuating sub-assembly is permitted; (iv) real time location reporting means for real time reporting via emission of a message via an electromagnetic signal to a remote location, on the location of the actuating assembly; and (v) route deviation notifying means for notifying when the location of the actuating assembly does not fall along the stored route.
12. The actuating assembly according to claim 11 , wherein the electronic controller is configured to permit actuation of the first actuating sub-assembly only when the actuating assembly is at the location or within a specified distance from the location.
13. The actuating assembly according to claim 12 , wherein the first actuating sub-assembly is operably connected to at least one of the first member and the second member.
14. The actuating assembly according to claim 13 , wherein at least one of the first and second members includes the displaceable connecting component, the connecting component being connected, to the remainder of the first or second member, as the case may be, with the connecting component being receivable within a complementary receiving formation defined by the other member, thereby to connect the first and second members to each other.
15. The actuating assembly according to claim 14 , wherein the first member includes the connecting component and the second member defines at least one complementary receiving formation for receiving the connecting component, with the first actuating sub-assembly being operably connected to the connecting component so as to cause displacement of the connecting component from its non-connecting position to its connecting position in response to the signal received from the non-mechanical key identification means.
16. The actuating assembly according to claim 15 , wherein the first and second members are rotatably displaceable such that, when the first and second members are in their operative configuration, rotary displacement of the second member causes rotary displacement of the first member.
17. The actuating assembly according to claim 16 , wherein: (i) the first member defines a circular aperture; and (ii) the second member is located within the aperture of the first member.
18. The actuating assembly according to claim 17 , wherein the first member includes an outwardly projecting arm, with the arm being connected or connectable to the displaceable component of the latching system.
19. The actuating assembly according to claim 17 , wherein the first member is connected to a linear toothed component, the linear, toothed component in effect providing, or being in the form of a linear or rack gear, with the linear toothed component being connected or connectable to the displaceable component of the latching system.
20. The actuating assembly according to claim 19 , wherein the first member has a toothed portion which extends at least partially around a periphery of the first member, with the toothed portion of the first member engaging with the toothed portion of the linear or rack gear.
21. The actuating assembly according to claim 20 , installed on a door frame or surrounds.
22. The actuating assembly according to claim 21 , wherein the displaceable component of the latching system to which the first member is connected is a displaceable keeper plate which is connected to the door frame or surrounds in a manner such that a degree of displacement of the keeper plate relative to the door frame or surrounds is permitted, the keeper plate defining one or more apertures for receiving one or more latches mounted on the closure member or door.
23. The actuating assembly according to claim 22 , wherein the or each latch defines an upwardly opening groove within which the displaceable keeper plate is captured by abutment of the keeper plate against a wall of the groove when the latch is in a latched position in which it is fast with the door frame or surrounds.
24. The actuating assembly according to claim 23 , wherein displacement of the first member operates the latch to unlatch it by causing the displaceable keeper plate to be displaced upwardly so that it is no longer captured within the groove, thus permitting the or each latch to be withdrawn from the aperture of the displaceable keeper plate.
25. The actuating assembly according to claim 24 , wherein the second actuating sub-assembly: (i) includes a mechanical lock mechanism which defines a passage or keyway for receiving a mating mechanical key; (ii) is configured to displace the second member when a mating key received in the passage or keyway is rotated; and (iii) includes a drive member which is operably connected to the second member, with the lock mechanism being configured to displace the drive member, with displacement of the drive member causing the second member to be displaced.
26. The actuating assembly according to claim 25 , wherein the second member is a drive member of the lock mechanism, the lock mechanism being configured to displace the drive member when a mating key received in the passage or keyway is rotated.