Cooler Lock

• US 20170254584A1
• Filed: 05/19/2017
• Published: 09/07/2017
• 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 10,520,242 B2
• Time in Patent Office: 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 cooler or freezer having a cabinet, a door on the cabinet, and a cooler controller to detect a fault event requiring the door to be locked, the lock comprising:

a locking mechanism mounted on the cabinet, 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;

the locking mechanism including 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;

the locking mechanism further including a motorized latch engaging member adapted to selectively engage the latch to lock the latch in the latched position; and

a lock controller adapted to control the motorized latch engaging member, wherein the lock controller is communicably linked to the cooler controller.

2. The lock of claim 1, wherein the locking element is a U-shaped strike.

3. The lock of claim 2, wherein the U-shaped strike is in a fixed position relative to the door.

4. The lock of claim 3, wherein the U-shaped strike is positioned in a horizontal plane.

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

6. The lock of claim 1, wherein the locking element engaging surface is positioned in the opening of the locking mechanism when the door is closed.

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

8. The lock of claim 7, wherein the at least one angled surface is adapted to help guide the locking element to engage the locking element engaging surface of the latch when the door is closed.

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

10. The lock of claim 9, wherein the latch is in a locked and latched position when the door is closed.

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

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

13. The lock of claim 11, wherein the lock controller is adapted to energize the motor actuated cam upon receipt of an electronic access signal.

14. The lock of claim 13, wherein the lock controller is adapted to receive the electronic access signal from a remote interface, wherein the electronic access signal travels via the internet or wide area network.

15. The lock of claim 1, wherein the lock is mounted along 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 motorized 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 is adapted to engage the motorized latch engaging member with the latch after the temperature level of an internal recess of the cabinet 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 is adapted to refrain from engaging the motorized latch engaging member with the latch so that an internal recess of the cabinet remains freely accessible when the temperature of the internal recess is rapidly changing at temperatures above 42 degrees F.

22. The lock of claim 21, wherein the lock controller is adapted to engage the motorized latch engaging member with the latch after the temperature of the internal recess stops changing rapidly and remains above 42 degrees F.

23. A cooler or freezer comprising:

a cabinet;

a door on the cabinet such that when the door is closed, the door and cabinet together define an internal recess;

a cooler controller adapted to detect a fault event requiring the door to be locked;

a locking mechanism mounted on the cabinet, 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;

the locking mechanism including 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, 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 a motorized latch engaging member adapted to selectively engage the latch to lock the latch in the latched position; and

a lock controller adapted to control the motorized latch engaging member, wherein the lock controller is communicably linked to the cooler controller.

24. The cooler or freezer of claim 23, wherein the locking element is a U-shaped strike.

25. The cooler or freezer of claim 24, wherein the U-shaped strike is in a fixed position relative to the door.

26. The 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 motorized latch engaging member is engaged with the latch.

27. The 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.

28. The cooler or freezer of claim 23, wherein the lock controller is adapted to engage the motorized latch engaging member with the latch after the temperature level of the internal recess has exceeded 42 degrees F. for a time period of one or more minutes.

29. The cooler or freezer of claim 23, wherein the lock controller is adapted to refrain from engaging the motorized latch engaging member with the latch so that the internal recess remains freely accessible when the temperature of the internal recess is rapidly changing at temperatures above 42 degrees F.

30. The cooler or freezer of claim 29, wherein the lock controller is adapted to engage the motorized latch engaging member with the latch after the temperature of the internal recess stops changing rapidly and remains above 42 degrees F.