Cooler Lock

• US 20140202220A1
• Filed: 06/28/2013
• Published: 07/24/2014
• 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
• Granted Patent: US 10,591,201 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 70/267
• 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 cooler access control system for controlling access to a cooler or freezer having a cooler body, the cooler body having an internal recess, and a cooler door hingedly connected to the cooler body, such that when the cooler door is closed to the cooler body the internal recess is inaccessible, the system comprising:

a striker being on a first one of the cooler body and the cooler door;

a lock mounted to a second one of the cooler body and the cooler door;

a key detector that generates a signal in response to detecting a key, and

a controller configured to detect an event that requires limiting access to the internal recess and, in response, to lock the cooler door to the cooler body by locking the strike within the lock.

2. The cooler access control system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the event that requires limiting access to the internal recess is an event that presents a risk of spoilage of one or more products within the internal recess.

3. The cooler access control system in accordance with claim 2, wherein the event that presents a risk of spoilage of one or more products within the internal recess is a loss of power to the cooler for longer than a predetermined period.

4. The cooler access control system in accordance with claim 2, wherein the event that presents a risk of spoilage of one or more products within the internal recess is an opening of the cooler door for longer than a predetermined period.

5. The cooler access control system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the event that requires limiting access to the internal recess is the occurrence of a predetermined time of day.

6. The cooler access control system in accordance with claim 5, wherein the controller is further configured to unlock the cooler door from the cooler body upon the subsequent occurrence of a second predetermined time of day.

7. The cooler access control system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to enter an extended time mode wherein the controller leaves the cooler door unlocked regardless of the occurrence of an event that would otherwise require limiting access to the internal recess.

8. The cooler access control system in accordance with claim 7, wherein the controller is further configured to exit the extended time mode after the expiration of a predetermined period.

9. The cooler access control system in accordance with claim 2, wherein the event that presents a risk of spoilage of one or more products within the internal recess is the detection of a fault associated with a temperature probe used to measure temperature within the internal recess.

21. The cooler access control system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the signal in response to detecting the key serves to unlock the cooler door.

22. The cooler access control system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the signal in response to detecting the key serves to reset the function of detecting the event that requires limiting access.

23. The cooler access control system in accordance with claim 1, wherein an actuator produces a signal to indicate the event requiring limiting access to the internal recess when actuated.

24. The cooler access control system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the cooler door is unlocked from the cooler body by operation of a manual release actuator inside the cooler.

25. The cooler access control system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the controller detects the cooler door is open.

26. The cooler access control system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the controller communicates a parameter of the cooler over a wide area network.

10. A method of controlling access to a cooler having a cooler body, the cooler body having an internal recess, and a cooler door hingedly connected to the cooler body, such that when the cooler door is closed to the cooler body the internal recess is inaccessible, and a lock for locking the cooler door closed, the method comprising:

measuring a plurality of parameters associated with the cooler;

based on the measured parameters, detecting an event that requires limiting access to the internal recess;

in response the detecting of an event that requires limiting access to the internal recess, triggering the lock to lock the cooler door closed; and

detecting a key, and in response to detecting the key, performing one of unlocking the lock to unlock the cooler door and resetting the function of detecting the event that requires limiting access to the internal recess.

11. The method of controlling access to a cooler in accordance with claim 10, wherein the event that requires limiting access to the internal recess is an event that presents a risk of spoilage of one or more products within the internal recess.

12. The method of controlling access to a cooler in accordance with claim 11, wherein the event that presents a risk of spoilage of one or more products within the internal recess is a loss of power to the cooler for longer than a predetermined period.

13. The method of controlling access to a cooler in accordance with claim 11, wherein the event that presents a risk of spoilage of one or more products within the internal recess is an opening of the cooler door for longer than a predetermined period.

14. The method of controlling access to a cooler in accordance with claim 10, wherein the event that requires limiting access to the internal recess is the occurrence of a predetermined time of day.

15. The method of controlling access to a cooler in accordance with claim 14, further comprising unlocking the cooler door from the cooler body upon the subsequent occurrence of a second predetermined time of day.

16. The method of controlling access to a cooler in accordance with claim 10, further comprising entering an extended time mode wherein the controller leaves the cooler door unlocked regardless of the occurrence of an event that would otherwise require limiting access to the internal recess.

17. The method of controlling access to a cooler in accordance with claim 16, further comprising exiting the extended time mode after the expiration of a predetermined period.

18. The method of controlling access to a cooler in accordance with claim 11, wherein the event that presents a risk of spoilage of one or more products within the internal recess is the detection of a fault associated with a temperature probe used to measure the air temperature within the internal recess.

19. A nontransitory computer-readable medium having thereon computer-executable instructions for controlling access to a cooler or freezer having a cooler body, the cooler body having an internal recess, and a cooler door hingedly connected to the cooler body, such that when the cooler door is closed to the cooler body the internal recess is inaccessible, and a lock for locking the cooler door closed, the computer-executable instructions comprising:

instructions for measuring a plurality of parameters associated with the cooler;

instructions for detecting an event that requires limiting access to the internal recess based on the measured parameters;

instructions for triggering the lock to lock the cooler door closed in response the detecting of an event that requires limiting access to the internal recess; and

instructions for detecting key to unlock the cooler door.

20. The nontransitory computer-readable medium in accordance with claim 19, wherein the event that requires limiting access to the internal recess is one of (1) the occurrence of a predetermined time of day and (2) the occurrence of an event that presents a risk of spoilage of one or more products within the internal recess.

27. A cooler access control system for controlling access to a cooler having a cooler body, the cooler body having an internal recess, and a cooler door hingedly connected to the cooler body, such that when the cooler door is closed to the cooler body the internal recess is inaccessible, the system comprising:

a striker being on a first one of the cooler body and the cooler door;

a lock mounted to a second one of the cooler body and the cooler door;

an actuator producing a signal to indicate the event requiring limiting access to the internal recess when actuated; and

a controller configured to detect an event that requires limiting access to the internal recess and, in response, to lock the cooler door to the cooler body by locking the strike within the lock.

28. The cooler access control system in accordance with claim 27, wherein the cooler door is unlocked from the cooler body by operation of a manual release actuator inside the cooler.

29. The cooler access control system in accordance with claim 27, wherein the controller detects the cooler door is open.

30. The cooler access control system in accordance with claim 27, wherein the controller communicates a parameter of the cooler over a wide area network.

31. The cooler access control system in accordance with claim 27, wherein the controller is further configured to enter an extended time mode wherein the controller leaves the cooler door unlocked regardless of the occurrence of an event that would otherwise require limiting access to the internal recess.

32. The cooler access control system in accordance with claim 31, wherein the controller is further configured to exit the extended time mode after the expiration of a predetermined period.

33. A refrigerated area access control system for locking potentially thawed or hazardous foods from access, comprising:

A latch mounted on a refrigerated cabinet or a door, and a strike being on the other of the refrigerated cabinet or the door;

A controller for controlling a locked position of the latch;

The latch being received with the strike while the door is in a closed position, the strike being allowed to be released from the latch to allow the door to be opened when the controller detects normal operating refrigeration that prevents the food from becoming thawed or hazardous; and

,

The strike being prevented from being released with the latch to prevent the door from opening when the controller detects a fault with the refrigeration that may cause the food to become thawed or hazardous.

34. The refrigerated area access control system in accordance with claim 33, wherein a user operated actuator produces a signal to indicate a fault event when actuated.

35. The refrigerated area access control system in accordance with claim 34 wherein the fault event is a failure of the refrigeration that may cause the food to become thawed or hazardous.

36. The refrigerated area access control system in accordance with claim 33, wherein the strike is allowed to be released from the latch by operation of a manual release actuator inside the cooler.

37. The refrigerated area access control system in accordance with claim 33, wherein the controller detects the cooler door is open.

38. The refrigerated area access control system in accordance with claim 33, wherein the controller communicates a parameter of the cooler over a wide area network.

39. The refrigerated area access control system in accordance with claim 33, wherein a signal is generated in response to detecting a key.

40. The refrigerated area access control system in accordance with claim 39, wherein the signal in response to detecting the key serves to allow the latch to allow the door to be opened.

41. The refrigerated area access control system in accordance with claim 39, wherein the signal in response to detecting the key serves to reset the function of defecting the fault with the refrigeration that may cause the food to become thawed or hazardous.

42. The refrigerated area access control system in accordance, with claim 33, wherein the controller is further configured to enter an extended time mode wherein the controller allows the door to be opened regardless of the occurrence of an event that would otherwise require prevent the door from being opened.

43. The refrigerated area access control system in accordance with claim 42, wherein the controller is further configured to exit the extended time mode after the expiration of a predetermined period.

44. The refrigerated area access control system in accordance with claim 33, wherein an unlock or a reset signal is detected during or after operation of a mechanical lock.