Safes & related locking enclosures

Abstract

Safes and related locking enclosures. In some embodiments, the locking enclosures may comprise a clutch mechanism configured to have an engaged configuration and a disengaged configuration. In the engaged configuration, the clutch mechanism may be configured to allow for transfer of torque to an element, such as a crank plate. In the disengaged configuration, the clutch mechanism may be configured to prevent or at least reduce such transfer of torque.

1 . A locking enclosure, comprising:
 a crank shaft;   a crank plate coupled with the crank shaft;   a locking mechanism, wherein the crank shaft is configured such that, following an unlocking of the locking mechanism, rotation of the crank shaft unlocks the safe to allow for access to an interior of the safe; and   a clutch mechanism coupled with the crank shaft and configured to have an engaged configuration and a disengaged configuration, wherein, in the engaged configuration, the clutch mechanism is configured to transfer torque from the crank shaft to the crank plate, wherein, in the disengaged configuration, the clutch mechanism is configured to allow the crank shaft to rotate with respect to the crank plate such that torque from the crank shaft is not transferred to the crank plate, and wherein the clutch mechanism comprises:
 a clutch housing; 
 a plurality of ball bearing openings positioned within the clutch housing; 
 a plurality of ball bearings positioned within the plurality of ball bearing openings; and 
 at least one spring member coupled to the clutch housing,
 wherein the clutch mechanism is configured such that, upon application of a predetermined amount of torque, the clutch mechanism is configured to enter the disengaged configuration, and 
 wherein the clutch mechanism is configured to allow for tuning a sensitivity of the clutch mechanism by adjusting the predetermined amount of torque. 
 
   
     
     
         2 . The locking enclosure of  claim 1 , wherein the clutch mechanism is configured to allow for tuning a sensitivity of the clutch mechanism by at least one of:
 being configured such that the clutch mechanism may be tuned by allowing a user to adjust the number of spring members such that the predetermined amount of torque varies depending upon the number of spring members; and   being configured such that the clutch mechanism comprises a retaining member operably coupled with the at least one spring member, and such that the clutch mechanism may be tuned by allowing a user to adjust a tightness of the retaining member.   
     
     
         3 . The locking enclosure of  claim 2 , wherein the retaining member comprises a threaded nut. 
     
     
         4 . The locking enclosure of  claim 3 , wherein the threaded nut is configured to, upon rotation, adjust the force on the at least one spring member to allow a user to adjust the predetermined amount of torque. 
     
     
         5 . The locking enclosure of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one spring member comprises a plurality of stacked spring members. 
     
     
         6 . The locking enclosure of  claim 5 , wherein the predetermined amount of torque varies depending upon at least one of the number of spring members and the orientation of the spring members relative to one another. 
     
     
         7 . The locking enclosure of  claim 5 , wherein the plurality of stacked spring members comprise Belleville washers. 
     
     
         8 . The locking enclosure of  claim 1 , wherein the locking enclosure comprises a safe. 
     
     
         9 . A safe, comprising:
 a clutch mechanism configured to have an engaged configuration and a disengaged configuration, wherein, in the engaged configuration, the clutch mechanism is configured to allow for a transfer of torque to open the safe, wherein, in the disengaged configuration, the clutch mechanism is configured to prevent the transfer of torque, and wherein the clutch mechanism comprises:
 a clutch housing; 
 at least one ball bearing opening positioned within the clutch housing; 
 at least one ball bearing positioned within the at least one ball bearing opening; and 
 at least one spring member coupled to the clutch housing,
 wherein the clutch mechanism is configured such that, upon application of a predetermined amount of torque, the clutch mechanism is configured to enter the disengaged configuration, and wherein the safe is configured such that the at least one spring member does not make direct contact with the at least one ball bearing. 
 
   
     
     
         10 . The safe of  claim 9 , wherein the clutch mechanism comprises a plurality of ball bearing openings positioned within the clutch housing and a plurality of ball bearings positioned within the plurality of ball bearing openings. 
     
     
         11 . The safe of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 a crank shaft; and   a rotatable crank plate rotatably coupled about the crank shaft, wherein, in the engaged configuration, the clutch mechanism is configured to allow for transfer of torque from the crank shaft to the rotatable crank plate, and wherein, in the disengaged configuration, the clutch mechanism is configured to allow the crank shaft to rotate with respect to the rotatable crank plate such that torque from the crank shaft is not transferred to the rotatable crank plate.   
     
     
         12 . The safe of  claim 9 , further comprising a locking element configured to lock the safe upon rotation of the locking element. 
     
     
         13 . The safe of  claim 12 , wherein the locking element comprises a crank plate. 
     
     
         14 . The safe of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 a rotatable handle;   a locking mechanism configured to allow for selective locking and unlocking of the safe to allow for access to an interior of the safe in an unlocked configuration, wherein the locking mechanism is operably coupled with the clutch mechanism such that the clutch mechanism will enter the disengaged configuration upon rotation of the rotatable handle while the locking mechanism is in a locked configuration.   
     
     
         15 . The safe of  claim 9 , wherein the at least one ball bearing is positioned within the at least one ball bearing opening in the engaged configuration, and wherein the at least one ball bearing opening has a diameter less than a diameter of the at least one ball bearing such that the at least one ball bearing cannot pass through the at least one ball bearing opening. 
     
     
         16 . A locking enclosure, comprising:
 a locking element configured to lock the locking enclosure upon rotation of the locking element; and   a clutch mechanism operably coupled with the locking element, wherein the clutch mechanism comprises:
 a clutch housing comprising at least one ball bearing opening extending fully through the clutch housing; and 
 at least one ball bearing configured to fit within the at least one ball bearing opening; 
 wherein the clutch mechanism is configured to transfer torque to the locking element at least partially using the at least one ball bearing, 
 wherein, upon application of a predetermined amount of torque, the clutch mechanism is configured to disengage the at least one ball bearing from the locking element such that torque is not transferred to the locking element from the at least one ball bearing, and 
 wherein the clutch mechanism is tunable such that the predetermined amount of torque is selectable by a user. 
   
     
     
         17 . The locking enclosure of  claim 16 , wherein the locking element comprises a rotatable crank plate. 
     
     
         18 . The locking enclosure of  claim 16 , wherein the clutch mechanism is tunable by at least one of:
 being configured such that the clutch mechanism may be tuned by allowing a user to adjust the number of spring members such that the predetermined amount of torque varies depending upon the number of spring members; and   being configured such that the clutch mechanism comprises a retaining member operably coupled with the at least one spring member, and such that the clutch mechanism may be tuned by allowing a user to adjust a position of the retaining member relative to the at least one spring member.   
     
     
         19 . The locking enclosure of  claim 18 , wherein the clutch mechanism is tunable by being configured such that the clutch mechanism comprises a retaining member operably coupled with the at least one spring member and such that the clutch mechanism may be tuned by allowing a user to adjust a position of the retaining member relative to the at least one spring member, and wherein the retaining member comprises a threaded retaining member such that the position of the retaining member relative to the at least one spring member may be adjusted by rotating the retaining member. 
     
     
         20 . The locking enclosure of  claim 16 , wherein the at least one spring member comprises a plurality of stacked spring members, and wherein the clutch mechanism is tunable by being configured such that a user may add to or remove spring members from the plurality of stacked spring members.