First filed in June 2009, the patent relates to a number of regularly used techniques.
The systems are built into Google's Android and Microsoft's Windows Phone 7, as well as the iPhone and iPad.
Apple's patent - US patent number 7657549 - reads: "A device with a touch-sensitive display may be unlocked via gestures performed on the touch-sensitive display.
"The device is unlocked if contact with the display corresponds to a predefined gesture for unlocking the device."
Earlier this month, Apple recently reported a net profit for the year to September 25th at $25.9 billion (£16.5 billion), up 85 per cent from the previous year.
Apple confirmed that it also sold 11.1 million iPads, a 166 per cent increase on last year.
Posted by Andre Dixon
