Cooler lock

• US 10,520,242 B2
• Filed: 05/19/2017
• Issued: 12/31/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 01/18/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Triteq Lock & Security LLC
• Original Assignee: Triteq Lock & Security LLC
• Inventors: Denison, William, Roatis, Calin
• Primary Examiner(s): Cuomo, Peter M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): McClure, Morgan J
• Application Number:
  US15/600,350
• Publication Number:
  US 20170254584A1
• Time in Patent Office: 956 Days
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 2047/0024 Cams
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 2047/0069 bolt position
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 47/00 Operating or controlling locks or other fastening devices by electric or magnetic means electric permutation locks E05B49/00
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 47/0001 with electric actuators; Constructional features thereof for vehicles E05B81/04
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 47/0012 with rotary electromotors actuators with rotary electromotors per se H02K7/06, H02K23/68
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 47/0603 the detent moving rectilinearly
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 65/0046 with a bifurcated bolt
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 65/0811 the bolts pivoting about an axis perpendicular to the wings
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 73/00 Devices for locking portable objects against unauthorised removal; Miscellaneous locking devices motorcycle helmets A42B3/0413; supporting arrangements specially adapted for fastening helmets B62J11/24; gun racks A47B81/005; showcases with theft protection A47F3/002; anti-theft means for peg-boards, grids or rods for hanging merchandise A47F5/0861; show stands, hangers, shelves with provision against unauthorised removal A47F7/024; for self-service hand-carts A47F10/04; locking skis A63C11/004; locking bolts, nuts or pins F16B41/00
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 73/0005 using chains, cables or the like chain- or cable-locks of the padlock type E05B67/003; lockable clothing hangers or hanger racks E05B69/006
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 73/0017 Anti-theft devices, e.g. tags or monitors, fixed to articles, e.g. clothes, and to be removed at the check-out of shops
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 73/0082 for office machines, e.g. PC's, portable computers, typewriters, calculators
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 23/028 Details
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/40 Portable
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/5009 For portable articles
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/625 Operation and control
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/70 Operating mechanism
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/7006 Predetermined time interval controlled

Abstract

A cooler access control system locks a cooler when occurrence of an event is detected that requires limiting access to the inside of the cooler. Examples of such events include the loss of power to the cooler for a predetermined period of time, the opening of the cooler door for longer than an allowed time, the loss of functionality of a temperature probe and others. In an embodiment, a service mode is supported wherein the door is left unlocked despite the occurrence of such an event, to allow a stocker or other personnel to leave the cooler door open while stocking the cooler with product.

Claims

1. A lock for a food storage vending cooler or freezer having a cabinet, a door on the cabinet, the door and the cabinet together defining a refrigerated food storage vending area, and cooler controller circuitry to detect a fault event presenting a risk of the temperature of the refrigerated food storage vending area to exceed 42 degrees F. and requiring the door to be locked, the lock comprising:

a locking mechanism mounted on the cabinet external of the refrigerated food storage vending area, the locking mechanism including a latch and at least one base having an opening, the latch being adjacent to the at least one base;

a locking element mounted on the door and configured to enter the opening of the at least one base when the door is closed;

wherein the latch is adapted to releasably engage the locking element, the latch being mounted for movement between a latched position and an unlatched position, wherein the latch has a locking element engaging surface, is biased in the unlatched position, and is adapted to move to the latched position upon the locking element engaging the locking element engaging surface of the latch;

the locking mechanism further including an electronically-actuated latch engaging member adapted to selectively engage the latch to lock the latch in the latched position; and

lock controller circuitry associated with the electronically-actuated latch engaging member, for controlling movement of the electronically-actuated latch engaging member, wherein the lock controller circuitry is communicably linked to the cooler controller circuitry;

wherein the lock controller circuitry is configured to maintain the electronically-actuated latch engaging member in a position out of engagement with the latch when the door is closed to the cabinet to permit unsecured access to the refrigerated food storage vending area during operation of the food storage vending cooler or freezer at or below a temperature of 42 degrees F.

2. The lock of claim 1, wherein the locking element comprises a strike mounted to a strike base.

3. The lock of claim 2, wherein the strike is in a fixed position relative to the door and is positioned in a horizontal plane.

4. The lock of claim 3, wherein the strike base is positioned in a vertical plane.

5. The lock of claim 2, wherein the strike is U-shaped and is adapted to move in a horizontal plane relative to the locking mechanism.

6. The lock of claim 2, wherein the strike base is positioned in the opening of the at least one base when the door is closed.

7. The lock of claim 2, wherein the at least one base includes a first base having an opening and a second base having an opening, wherein the strike is positioned in the opening of the first base when the door is closed, and wherein the strike base is positioned in the opening of the second base when the door is closed.

8. The lock of claim 1, wherein the opening of the at least one base is defined in part by at least one angled surface.

9. The lock of claim 1, wherein the electronically-actuated latch engaging member is biased to a locked position.

10. The lock of claim 9, further comprising a motor actuated cam adapted to selectively move the electronically-actuated latch engaging member to an unlocked position.

11. The lock of claim 10, wherein the latch is in an unlocked and latched position when the door is closed.

12. The lock of claim 10, wherein the lock controller circuitry energizes the motor actuated cam upon receipt of an electronic access signal.

13. The lock of claim 12, wherein the lock controller circuitry receives the electronic access signal from a remote interface, wherein the electronic access signal travels via the internet or wide area network.

14. The lock of claim 1, wherein the lock controller circuitry is configured to control movement of the electronically-actuated latch engaging member in a position into engagement with the latch when the door is closed to the cabinet to restrict unsecured access to the refrigerated food storage vending area when the refrigerated food storage vending area is at room temperature.

15. The lock of claim 1, wherein the locking mechanism is mounted on or in a vertical edge of the cabinet.

16. The lock of claim 1, wherein the latch is mounted for rotational movement.

17. The lock of claim 1, wherein the latch has a blocking surface, separate from the engaging surface, adapted to block the locking element from being disengaged from the latch when the electronically-actuated latch engaging member is engaged with the latch.

18. The lock of claim 1, wherein the locking element comprises at least two surfaces on perpendicular planes to each other that reside inside the lock opening in the engaged position.

19. The lock of claim 1, wherein the lock controller circuitry provides for the electronically-actuated latch engaging member to be in secured engagement with the latch after the temperature level of the refrigerated food storage vending area has exceeded 42 degrees F. for a time period of one or more minutes.

20. The lock of claim 19, wherein the time period of one or more minutes is 30 minutes.

21. The lock of claim 1, wherein the lock controller circuitry refrains from providing for the electronically-actuated latch engaging member to be in secured engagement with the latch so that the refrigerated food storage vending area remains accessible when the temperature of the refrigerated food storage vending area is rapidly changing at temperatures above 42 degrees F.

22. The lock of claim 21, wherein the lock controller circuitry provides for the electronically-actuated latch engaging member to be in secured engagement with the latch after the temperature of the refrigerated food storage vending area stops changing rapidly and remains above 42 degrees F.

23. A food storage vending cooler or freezer comprising:

a cabinet;

a door on the cabinet such that when the door is closed, the door and the cabinet together define a refrigerated food storage vending area;

cooler controller circuitry for detecting a fault event presenting a risk of the temperature of the refrigerated food storage vending area to exceed 42 degrees F. and requiring the door to be locked;

at least one base provided on the cabinet, the at least one base having an opening;

a locking mechanism having a latch, the locking mechanism being mounted adjacent to the at least one base and external of the refrigerated food storage vending area;

a locking element mounted on the door and configured to enter the opening of the at least one base when the door is closed;

wherein the latch is adapted to releasably engage the locking element, the latch being mounted for movement between a latched position and an unlatched position, wherein the latch has a locking element engaging surface, and wherein the latch is biased in the unlatched position, and is adapted to move to the latched position upon the locking element engaging the locking element engaging surface of the latch;

the locking mechanism further including an electronically-actuated latch engaging member adapted to selectively engage the latch to lock the latch in the latched position; and

lock controller circuitry associated with the electronically-actuated latch engaging member, for controlling movement of the electronically-actuated latch engaging member, wherein the lock controller circuitry is configured to be in communication with the cooler controller circuitry;

wherein the lock controller circuitry is configured to maintain the electronically-actuated latch engaging member in a position out of engagement with the latch when the door is closed to the cabinet to permit unsecured access to the refrigerated food storage vending area during operation of the food storage vending cooler or freezer at or below a temperature of 42 degrees F.

24. The food storage vending cooler or freezer of claim 23, wherein the locking element comprises a strike mounted to a strike base.

25. The food storage vending cooler or freezer of claim 24, wherein the strike and strike base are in a fixed position relative to the door, and wherein the strike is positioned in a horizontal plane and the strike base is positioned in a vertical plane.

26. The lock of claim 24, wherein the at least one base includes a first base having an opening and a second base having an opening, wherein the strike is positioned in the opening of the first base when the door is closed, and wherein the strike base is positioned in the opening of the second base when the door is closed.

27. The food storage vending cooler or freezer of claim 23, wherein the latch has a blocking surface, separate from the engaging surface, adapted to block the locking element from being disengaged from the latch when the electronically-actuated latch engaging member is engaged with the latch.

28. The food storage vending cooler or freezer of claim 23, wherein the locking element comprises at least two surfaces on perpendicular planes to each other that reside inside the lock opening in the engaged position.

29. The food storage vending cooler or freezer of claim 23, wherein the lock controller circuitry provides for the electronically-actuated latch engaging member to be in secured engagement with the latch after the temperature level of the refrigerated food storage vending area has exceeded 42 degrees F. for a time period of one or more minutes.

30. The food storage vending cooler or freezer of claim 23, wherein the lock controller circuitry refrains from providing for the electronically-actuated latch engaging member to be in secured engagement with the latch so that the refrigerated food storage vending area remains freely accessible when the temperature of the refrigerated food storage vending area is rapidly changing at temperatures above 42 degrees F.

31. The food storage vending cooler or freezer of claim 30, wherein the lock controller circuitry provides for the electronically-actuated latch engaging member to be in secured engagement with the latch after the temperature of the refrigerated food storage vending area stops changing rapidly and remains above 42 degrees F.

32. A food storage vending cooler or freezer and access control system for locking an unlocked, refrigerated food storage vending cooler or freezer, comprising:

a food storage vending cooler body and a food storage vending cooler door operatively connected to the food storage vending cooler body, the food storage vending cooler body having walls forming a refrigerated food storage vending area defined by a perimeter of the walls of the food storage vending cooler body and the food storage vending cooler door when closed to the food storage vending cooler body, wherein the refrigerated food storage vending cooler or freezer is adapted to provide refrigerated air at or below 42 degrees F. throughout the refrigerated food storage vending area, wherein the refrigerated food storage vending area is adapted to store a plurality of food products which present a risk of spoiling when exposed to an air temperature above 42 degrees F., and wherein when the food storage vending cooler door is closed to the food storage vending cooler body the plurality of food products in the refrigerated food storage vending area is conditioned by the refrigerated air provided throughout the refrigerated food storage vending area;

cooler controller circuitry for detecting a fault event presenting a risk of the temperature of the refrigerated food storage vending area to exceed 42 degrees F. and requiring the door to be locked;

a locking mechanism mounted on the food storage vending cooler body, the locking mechanism having an opening;

a locking element mounted on the door and configured to enter the opening of the locking mechanism when the door is closed;

wherein the locking mechanism includes a latch adapted to releasably engage the locking element, the latch being mounted for movement between a latched position and an unlatched position, wherein the latch has a locking element engaging surface, is biased in the unlatched position, and is adapted to move to the latched position upon the locking element engaging the locking element engaging surface of the latch;

wherein the locking mechanism further includes an electronically-actuated latch engaging member adapted to selectively engage the latch to lock the latch in the latched position; and

lock controller circuitry associated with the electronically-actuated latch engaging member, for controlling movement of the electronically-actuated latch engaging member, wherein the lock controller circuitry is communicably linked to the cooler controller circuitry;

wherein the lock controller circuitry is configured to maintain the electronically-actuated latch engaging member in a position out of engagement with the latch when the door is closed to the cabinet to permit unsecured access to the refrigerated food storage vending area during operation of the food storage vending cooler or freezer at or below a temperature of 42 degrees F.