Privacy protection for electronic lock system

Claim 2

A door lock system comprising: door means having opposite first and second sides; latch means for latching said door means comprising a latch and first operating means at said first side for operating said latch; electronic lock means comprising an input means accessible at said first side for generating a first electrical signal in response to a pre-established input, said electronic lock means generating a lock release signal in response to said first electrical signal; engagement means engageable with a receiver for preventing operation of said latch; driving means responsive to said first electrical signal for engaging and disengaging said engagement means with and from said receiver; coupling means for coupling said driving means and said engagement means; and privacy means accessible at said second side of said door means for disabling said electronic lock means whereby said privacy means generates a second electrical signal, said second electrical signal preventing said electronic lock means from generating said lock release signal in response to said first electrical signal.

Claim 3

The door lock system of claim 1 wherein said electronic lock means further comprises microprocessor means and memory means wherein a privacy mode status is stored in said memory means when said second electrical signal is generated and wherein said microprocessor means prevents said electronic lock means from generating said lock release signal when said privacy mode status is stored in said memory means.

Claim 4

The door lock system of claim 2 wherein said privacy means further comprises second switch means wherein said second switch means generates a third electrical signal which disables said second electrical signal.

Claim 5

The door lock system of claim 3 wherein said privacy means further comprises means for operating said second switch means.

Claim 6

The door lock system of claim 4 wherein said switch operating means comprises a magnet.

Claim 7

The door lock system of claim 3 wherein said latch means automatically latches when said door means is closed.

Claim 8

The door lock system of claim 1 wherein said privacy means comprises first switch means and circuit means wherein said first switch means closes said circuit means to generate said second electrical signal.

Claim 9

The door lock system of claim 7 wherein said privacy means further comprises second switch means for opening said circuit means to remove said second electrical signal.

Claim 10

The door lock system of claim 7 wherein said first switch means is mounted on said door means second side.

Claim 11

The door lock system of claim 1 wherein said privacy means comprises first switch means and circuit means wherein said first switch means opens said circuit means to generate said second electrical signal.

Claim 12

The door lock system of claim 10 wherein said first switch means is mounted on said door means second side.

Claim 13

The door lock system of claim 10 wherein said privacy means further comprises second switch means for closing said circuit means to remove said second electrical signal.

Claim 14

Apparatus for selectively blocking the release of an electronic lock, said apparatus comprising microprocessor means and an electrical circuit having first switch means, said first switch means being operable between a first and a second position wherein said electrical circuit generates an electrical signal when said first switch means is in said first position, said microprocessor means blocking release of the electronic lock upon receipt of said electrical signal, said apparatus further comprising second switch means wherein said second switch means is operable to disable said electrical circuit.

Claim 15

Apparatus for selectively blocking the release of an electronic lock, said apparatus comprising microprocessor means and an electrical circuit having first switch means, said first switch means being operable between a first and a second position wherein said electrical circuit generates an electrical signal when said first switch means is in said first position, said microprocessor means blocking release of the electronic lock upon receipt of said electrical signal, said apparatus further comprising second switch means wherein said second switch means is operable to disable said electrical circuit.

Claim 16

The apparatus of claim 13 further comprising magnet means for operating said second switch means.

Claim 17

A door lock system comprising: door means having opposite first and second sides; lock means for locking and unlocking said door means; reader means comprising an input means accessible at said first side, said reader means generating a first electrical signal in response to a pre-established input; privacy means selectively operable for generating a second electrical signal,; release means for automatically generating a third electrical signal upon opening of said door means; microprocessor means for receiving said first, second and third electrical signals and selectively operating said lock means, wherein said microprocessor means initiates an unlocking operation by said lock means to unlock said door means upon receipt of said first electrical signal, said microprocessor means blocking said unlocking operation upon receipt of said second electrical signal, and said microprocessor means permitting said unlocking operation upon receipt of said third electrical signal.

Claim 18

A door lock system comprising: door means having opposite first and second sides; lock means for locking and unlocking said door means; reader means comprising an input means accessible at said first side, said reader means generating a first electrical signal in response to a pre-established input; privacy means selectively operable for generating a second electrical signal,; release means for automatically generating a third electrical signal upon opening of said door means; microprocessor means for receiving said first, second and third electrical signals and selectively operating said lock means, wherein said microprocessor means initiates an unlocking operation by said lock means to unlock said door means upon receipt of said first electrical signal, said microprocessor means blocking said unlocking operation upon receipt of said second electrical signal, and said microprocessor means permitting said unlocking operation upon receipt of said third electrical signal.

Claim 19

The door lock system of claim 15 wherein said microprocessor means further comprises memory means wherein a privacy mode status is stored in said memory means when said second electrical signal is generated and wherein said microprocessor means blocks said unlocking operation when said privacy mode status is stored in said memory means.

Claim 20

The door lock system of claim 16 wherein said third electrical signal causes said microprocessor means to remove said privacy mode status from said memory means.

Claim 21

The door lock system of claim 17 wherein said release means comprises switch means.

Claim 22

The door lock system of claim 18 wherein said release means further comprises means for automatically operating said switch means upon opening of said door means.

Claim 23

The door lock system of claim 19 wherein said switch operating means comprises a magnet.

Claim 24

The door lock system of claim 20 wherein said privacy means is accessible at said second side.

Claim 25

The door lock system of claim 15 wherein said first signal comprises a signal selected from a group of level one and level two signals and said microprocessor means blocks said unlocking operation upon receipt of a level one signal and said second electrical signal and said unlocking operation is permitted upon receipt of a level two signal and said second electrical signal.

Claim 26

The door lock system of claim 15 further comprising privacy override means for generating an override signal, wherein said microprocessor means permits said unlocking operation upon receipt of said override signal.

Claim 27

The door lock system of claim 23 wherein said override signal is transmitted from said reader means.

Claim 28

The door lock system of claim 23 wherein said privacy override means comprises input means accessible at said first side for receiving an override input.

Claim 29

The door lock system of claim 15 wherein said lock means automatically latches when said door means is in a closed position.

Claim 30

A door lock system comprising: door means having opposite first and second sides; latch means for latching said door means comprising a latch and first operating means at said first side for operating said latch; electronic lock means comprising an input means accessible at said first side for generating a first electrical signal in response to a pre-established input, said electronic lock means generating a lock release signal in response to said first electrical signal, said electronic lock means further comprising microprocessor means and memory means; engagement means engageable with a receiver for preventing operation of said latch; driving means responsive to said first electrical signal for engaging and disengaging said engagement means with and from said receiver; coupling means for coupling said driving means and said engagement means; privacy means for disabling said electronic lock means whereby said privacy means generates a second electrical signal, said second electrical signal preventing said electronic lock means from generating said lock release signal in response to said first electrical signal; and release means for generating a third electrical signal; wherein a privacy mode status is stored in said memory means when said second electrical signal is generated, said microprocessor means prevents said electronic lock means from generating said lock release signal when said privacy mode status is stored in said memory means, and wherein said third electrical signal causes said microprocessor means to remove said privacy mode status from said memory means.

Claim 31

A door lock system comprising: door means having opposite first and second sides; latch means for latching said door means comprising a latch and first operating means at said first side for operating said latch; electronic lock means comprising an input means accessible at said first side for generating a first electrical signal in response to a pre-established input, said electronic lock means generating a lock release signal in response to said first electrical signal, said electronic lock means further comprising microprocessor means and memory means; engagement means engageable with a receiver for preventing operation of said latch; driving means responsive to said first electrical signal for engaging and disengaging said engagement means with and from said receiver; coupling means for coupling said driving means and said engagement means; privacy means for disabling said electronic lock means whereby said privacy means generates a second electrical signal, said second electrical signal preventing said electronic lock means from generating said lock release signal in response to said first electrical signal; and release means for generating a third electrical signal; wherein a privacy mode status is stored in said memory means when said second electrical signal is generated, said microprocessor means prevents said electronic lock means from generating said lock release signal when said privacy mode status is stored in said memory means, and wherein said third electrical signal causes said microprocessor means to remove said privacy mode status from said memory means.