Intelligent integrated locking devices and systems
An intelligent lock, overlock, and lock system can be electrically controlled to open and close one or more locks. The lock, lock system, and method may function on a frequency selected to avoid cross talk, which permits numerous locks to function simultaneously on the same central system with little interruption or delay. A lock may be used as an overlock for an existing lock or be a primary lock and may include a pivoting engagement structure that engages a locking mechanism to provide added strength.
1. An overlock configured to be positioned alongside of a primary lock and engage the primary lock, wherein the overlock comprises (a) an overlock body; and (b) an engagement structure positioned at least partially in the overlock body and configured to engage a locking mechanism of the primary lock, wherein the overlock has (i) a locked position in which the engagement structure maintains the primary lock in a locked position, and (ii) an unlocked position in which the engagement structure permits the primary lock to move to an open position, the locking mechanism of the primary lock includes a first sliding bar movable along a longitudinal axis of the first sliding bar between a first, unlocked position and a second, locked position, and the engagement structure of the overlock includes a second sliding bar movable along the longitudinal axis between the unlocked position and the locked position.
2. The overlock of claim 1 that includes an opening configured to retain a leg of the engagement structure.
3. The overlock of claim 1 , wherein the engagement structure is biased to the locked position or to the unlocked position.
4. The overlock of claim 1 that further includes an electric motor, and wherein the engagement structure is configured to be moved between the locked position and the unlocked position by the electric motor.
5. The overlock of claim 1 that further includes a pivot rod around which the engagement structure pivots from the locked position to the unlocked position and from the unlocked position to the locked position.
6. The overlock of claim 3 , wherein the engagement structure is biased by a spring or by an electric motor.
7. The overlock of claim 1 , wherein the engagement structure is partially inside of the body when in its unlocked position.
8. The overlock of claim 1 , wherein:
the first sliding bar has a distal end and a first outwardly-extending tab on the distal end formed at a 90° angle from the longitudinal axis of the sliding bar; and
the second sliding bar includes a second outwardly-extending tab on a distal end of the second sliding bar formed at a 90° angle from the longitudinal axis.
9. The overlock structure of claim 8 , wherein the engagement structure is configured to engage the locking mechanism of the primary lock by receiving a hasp combiner over the first outwardly-extending tab and the second outwardly-extending tab which prevents the locking mechanism of the primary lock from moving with respect to the engagement structure of the overlock.
10. The overlock of claim 1 that has a receiver, a transmitter, and that can communicate on multiple radio frequencies.
11. The overlock of claim 10 that can communicate at either 2.4 GHz or 900 MHz or both.
12. The overlock of claim 10 that comprises a plurality of radios, wherein each radio operates on a different frequency.
13. The overlock of claim 12 that includes at least one radio configured to operate at 2.4 GHz and at least one radio configured to operate at 900 MHz.
14. The overlock of claim 1 that meshes to a backhaul unit via RF communications at 2.4 GHz.
15. The overlock of claim 14 , wherein there is a plurality of backhaul units and the backhaul units communicate with each other via RF transmissions at 900 MHz or by power-over-ethernet.
16. The overlock of claim 10 , wherein at least one radio of the plurality of radios operates at a lower frequency than the other of the plurality of radios, and the at least one radio operating at a lower frequency is configured to carry larger packets of data than the other of the plurality of radios and to communicate with a host via routers or repeaters.
17. The overlock of claim 13 , wherein the at least one radio configured to operate at 2.4 GHz is configured to communicate with a smart device such as a cell phone.
18. The overlock of claim 12 , wherein each of the plurality of radios can self-heal based upon other radios in a system.
19. The overlock of claim 12 , wherein each of the plurality of radios has a guaranteed packet delivery structure.
20. The overlock structure of claim 1 , wherein the locking mechanism of the primary lock permits the primary lock to move to an open position and moves the primary lock to the open position.