Removable, non-intrusive, remotely-controlled door locking apparatus
View Patent ↗In order to secure a door in a locked position without a key, such as to resist a forced entry through the door, a removable, non-intrusive, remotely-controlled door locking apparatus is provided, which includes a rear plate for attachment against a surface of a door using an adhesive substance, a flange that extends from the rear plate under the door, and a cover for enclosing components on the rear plate. A DC-powered linear actuator connected to the rear plate and at least one electronics module configured to communicate wirelessly is within the cover. A foot of the actuator is configured to be extended in a lock state against a floor surface to secure the door or retracted in an unlock state, based on either a wireless signal received from a remote smart device or the state of a manual switch located on apparatus to control the actuator.
1 . A remotely-controlled door locking apparatus comprising:
a rear plate for attachment against a surface of a door;
the rear plate being removably attached against the surface of the door using a non-marring adhesive;
a removable cover on the rear plate;
a DC-powered linear actuator enclosed within the removable cover and connected to the rear plate;
at least one electronics module attached to the rear plate;
the at least one electronics module further comprising a printed circuit board, a controller, actuator control circuitry, a radio transceiver, and a force sensor;
a foot attached to a lower end of the DC-powered linear actuator;
the foot to be extended in a lock state or retracted in an unlock state;
a power supply;
the power supply to provide electrical power to the at least one electronics module and the DC-powered linear actuator; and
an extended lip.
2 . The remotely-controlled door locking apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising:
the DC-powered linear actuator comprising a movable piston; and
the foot being attached to the lower end of the moveable piston.
3 . The remotely-controlled door locking apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising:
the radio transceiver being integrated with and in electronic communication with the controller; and
the radio transceiver being adapted to communicate wirelessly with a remote smart device using short-range RF communications.
4 . The remotely-controlled door locking apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising:
the controller being a microcontroller;
the controller being adapted to communicate wirelessly via the radio transceiver and the remote smart device; and
the controller being adapted to send control signals to any other electronic device located on the rear plate.
5 . The remotely-controlled door locking apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising:
the controller further comprising a battery level measurement circuit;
the battery level measurement circuit being adapted to sense a battery voltage; and
the controller being adapted to send a signal to the remote smart device with the battery energy or voltage level obtained from the battery level measurement circuit.
6 . The remotely-controlled door locking apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising:
the actuator control circuitry being adapted to control the actuator via a motor control signal, based upon a user signal received from the controller, the controller receiving the user signal from the remote smart device.
7 . The remotely-controlled door locking apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising:
the force sensor being adapted to sense a movement condition of the door; and
the controller being adapted to generate an audible alarm and a message signal when the force sensor senses a movement condition of the door, the audible alarm and message signal being transmitted to the remote smart device.
8 . The remotely-controlled door locking apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising:
the removable cover including a cutout for the movable piston, the cutout being adapted to allow the movable piston to retract and extend.
9 . The remotely-controlled door locking apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising:
the power supply comprising one or more rechargeable batteries; and
the power supply further comprising a charging circuitry adapted to recharge the one or more rechargeable batteries via an external power source.
10 . The remotely-controlled door locking apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising:
an upper bracket;
the upper bracket supporting the dc-powered linear actuator; and
the upper bracket being enclosed within the removable cover.
11 . The remotely-controlled door locking apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising:
a lower bracket; and
the lower bracket being connected to the rear plate to support the lower end of the actuator.
12 . The remotely-controlled door locking apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising:
the remote smart device being adapted with a display, a lock icon, an unlock icon, a low battery life indicator, and a sensor alarm status indicator;
the controller further comprising an under-voltage circuit;
the under-voltage circuit being adapted to sense a battery voltage; and
the controller being adapted to send a signal to the remote smart device upon the under-voltage circuit sensing a low battery voltage.
13 . A remotely-controlled door locking apparatus comprising:
a rear plate for attachment against a surface of a door;
the rear plate being removably attached against the surface of the door using a non-marring adhesive;
a removable cover on the rear plate;
a DC-powered linear actuator enclosed within the removable cover and connected to the rear plate;
at least one electronics module attached to the rear plate;
a foot attached to a lower end of the DC-powered linear actuator;
the foot to be extended in a lock state or retracted in an unlock state;
a power supply;
an extended lip;
the DC-powered linear actuator comprising a movable piston;
the foot being attached to the lower end of the moveable piston;
the at least one electronics module further comprising a printed circuit board, a controller, actuator control circuitry, a radio transceiver, and a force sensor;
the removable cover including a cutout for the movable piston, the cutout being adapted to allow the movable piston to retract and extend;
the power supply comprising one or more rechargeable batteries;
the power supply to provide electrical power to the at least one electronics module and the DC-powered linear actuator;
the power supply further comprising a charging circuitry adapted to recharge the one or more rechargeable batteries via an external power source;
an upper bracket;
the upper bracket supporting the dc-powered linear actuator;
the upper bracket being enclosed within the removable cover;
a lower bracket;
the lower bracket being connected to the rear plate to support the lower end of the actuator;
the controller further comprising a battery level measurement circuit;
the battery level measurement circuit being adapted to sense a battery voltage; and
the controller being adapted to send a signal to the remote smart device with the battery energy or voltage level obtained from the battery level measurement circuit; and
the remote smart device being adapted with a display, a lock icon, an unlock icon, a low battery life indicator, and a sensor alarm status indicator.
14 . The remotely-controlled door locking apparatus of claim 13 , further comprising:
the radio transceiver being integrated with and in electronic communication with the controller; and
the radio transceiver being adapted to communicate wirelessly with a remote smart device using short-range RF communications.
15 . The remotely-controlled door locking apparatus of claim 13 , further comprising:
the controller being a microcontroller;
the controller being adapted to communicate wirelessly via the radio transceiver and the remote smart device; and
the controller being adapted to send control signals to any other electronic device located on the rear plate.
16 . The remotely-controlled door locking apparatus of claim 13 , further comprising:
the controller further comprising an under-voltage circuit;
the under-voltage circuit being adapted to sense a battery voltage; and
the controller being adapted to send a signal to the remote smart device upon the under-voltage circuit sensing a low battery voltage.
17 . The remotely-controlled door locking apparatus of claim 13 , further comprising:
the actuator control circuitry being adapted to control the actuator via a motor control signal, based upon a user signal received from the controller, the controller receiving the user signal from the remote smart device.
18 . The remotely-controlled door locking apparatus of claim 13 , further comprising:
the force sensor being adapted to sense a movement condition of the door; and
the controller being adapted to generate an audible alarm and a message signal when the force sensor senses a movement condition of the door, the audible alarm and message signal being transmitted to the remote smart device.
19 . A remotely-controlled door locking apparatus comprising:
a rear plate for attachment against a surface of a door;
the rear plate being removably attached against the surface of the door using a non-marring adhesive;
a removable cover on the rear plate;
a DC-powered linear actuator enclosed within the removable cover and connected to the rear plate;
the DC-powered linear actuator comprising a movable piston;
at least one electronics module attached to the rear plate;
the at least one electronics module further comprising a printed circuit board, a microcontroller, actuator control circuitry, a radio transceiver, and a force sensor;
the radio transceiver being integrated with and in electronic communication with the controller;
the radio transceiver being adapted to communicate wirelessly with a remote smart device using short-range RF communications;
the controller being a microcontroller;
the controller being adapted to communicate wirelessly via the radio transceiver and the remote smart device;
the controller being adapted to send control signals to any other electronic device located on the rear plate;
the controller further comprising a battery level measurement circuit;
the battery level measurement circuit being adapted to sense a battery voltage;
the controller being adapted to send a signal to the remote smart device showing the battery energy or voltage level obtained from the battery level measurement circuit;
the actuator control circuitry being adapted to control the actuator via a motor control signal, based upon a user signal received from the controller, the controller receiving the user signal from the remote smart device;
the force sensor being adapted to sense a movement condition of the door;
the controller being adapted to generate an audible alarm and a message signal when the force sensor senses a movement condition of the door, the audible alarm and message signal being transmitted to the remote smart device;
the controller further comprising an under-voltage circuit;
the under-voltage circuit being adapted to sense a battery voltage;
the controller being adapted to send a signal to the remote smart device upon the under-voltage circuit sensing a low battery voltage;
a foot attached to a lower end of the movable piston;
the foot to be extended in a lock state or retracted in an unlock state;
the removable cover including a cutout for the movable piston, the cutout being adapted to allow the movable piston to retract and extend;
an extended lip;
a power supply;
the power supply comprising one or more rechargeable batteries;
the power supply to provide electrical power to the at least one electronics module and the DC-powered linear actuator;
the power supply further comprising a charging circuitry adapted to recharge the one or more rechargeable batteries via an external power source;
an upper bracket;
the upper bracket supporting the dc-powered linear actuator;
the upper bracket being enclosed within the removable cover;
a lower bracket;
the lower bracket being connected to the rear plate to support the lower end of the actuator; and
the remote smart device being adapted with a display, a lock icon, an unlock icon, a low battery life indicator, and a sensor alarm status indicator.