US 11,739,562 B2
Modular clutching mechanism
Douglas A. Holmes, Golden, CO (US); Kenton H. Barker, Colorado Springs, CO (US); Aditya S. Heblikar, Ballari (IN); Nagesh Varadaraju, Bangalore (IN); Vijayakumar Mani, Bangalore (IN); Preethi M. Yogaraj, Bangalore (IN); Adithya G. Shetty, Mangalore (IN); and Sushanth Kondi, Bangalore (IN)
Assigned to Schlage Lock Company LLC, Carmel, IN (US)
Filed by Schlage Lock Company LLC, Carmel, IN (US)
Filed on Aug. 11, 2020, as Appl. No. 16/990,429.
Application 16/990,429 is a continuation of application No. 16/043,844, filed on Jul. 24, 2018, granted, now 10,738,506.
Prior Publication US 2020/0370338 A1, Nov. 26, 2020
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. E05B 47/00 (2006.01); E05B 47/06 (2006.01)
CPC E05B 47/0692 (2013.01) [E05B 47/0012 (2013.01); E05B 2047/002 (2013.01); E05B 2047/0026 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A system, comprising:
a lock apparatus, comprising:
a housing assembly; and
a manual actuator mounted for rotation relative to the housing assembly; and
a self-contained modular clutch assembly, comprising:
a casing configured for mounting in the housing assembly;
a first hub rotatably mounted in the casing and configured for connection with the manual actuator;
a second hub rotatably mounted in the casing and configured for connection with a retraction member;
a clutch lug movably mounted in the casing and operable to selectively rotationally couple the first hub and the second hub; and
an electrically-actuated drive assembly operable to drive the clutch lug between a disengaged position and an engaged position to selectively rotationally couple the first hub and the second hub, the drive assembly including an electrical connector that is accessible from outside the casing; and
wherein the self-contained modular clutch assembly is operable to be installed to the lock apparatus without opening the casing.