Electronic interlock for storage assemblies

• US 5,805,074 A
• Filed: 07/02/1992
• Issued: 09/08/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 04/05/1990
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Meridian Inc (Millerknoll Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Meridian Inc (Millerknoll Incorporated)
• Inventors: Miller, David E., Warren, Edward L., Arter, James
• Primary Examiner(s): Horabik, Michael
• Application Number:
  US07/909,102
• Time in Patent Office: 2,259 Days
• Field of Search: 340/825.3, 340/825.31, 340/825.32, 340/825.33, 340/825.34, 340/825.35, 340/572, 340/426, 109/7, 70/78, 70/85, 70/278, 70/280, 70/282, 312/183, 312/187, 312/215, 312/220, 312/222, 209/610, 209/611, 235/382, 235/382.5, 221/215, 221/7, 221/86, 221/89-91, 221/125, 221/155
• US Class Current: 340/5.54
• 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 65/462 for two or more drawers
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/0069 actuated in a predetermined sequence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/5097 Cabinet

Abstract

An electronic interlock for locking a file cabinet (10, 100) and for limiting the number of drawers (14, 114) to be accessed at any given time. An input keyboard (20, 120) receives an input code to be compared with a prestored access code. If the codes do not match, an unlock signal is not produced. If the input code matches the access code, a processor (28, 148) renders the storage assembly (10, 110) accessible. The processor (28, 128) will receive a drawer selection number from the input keyboard (20, 120) user and will unlock a lock (16, 116) associated with the selected drawer (14, 114). Sensors (34, 134) sense the position of the drawers (14, 114) and disable the processor (28, 128) when one of the drawers (14, 114) is in the open position.

Claims

1. A storage assembly (100) comprising:

housing means (12,112) defining an enclosure;

a plurality of storage units (14,114) to be supported by said housing means (12,112) for moving between a closed position and an open position;

a plurality of independent locking means (16,116) associated with said plurality of storage units (14,114) each having a locked condition for locking said associated storage unit (14,114) in said closed position in response to a lock signal and an unlocked condition for unlocking and allowing said associated storage unit (14,114) to move to said open position in response to an unlock signal,

electrical control means (18,110) connected to said locking means (16,116) for locking and unlocking said locking means (16,116);

said control means (18,110) including input means (20,120) for receiving an input code and a selection number representative of a particular storage unit (14,114), data memory means (22,

     162) for independently storing an access code and at least one unit assignment number associated with the access code, and processor means (24,

     148) for receiving and comparing said access code with said input code and comparing said unit assignment number with said selection number to produce said unlock signal to only one of said locking means (16,116) associated with said particular storage unit (14,114) corresponding to said selection number when said comparisons have a predetermined relationship and only when all of said storage units (14,114) are in said closed position thereby preventing production of said unlock signal when at least one of said storage units is in said open position.

2. An assembly as set forth in claim 1 further characterized by said processor means (224, 148) including selection means for retrieving said unit assignment numbers associated with said access code equal to said input code and comparing a selection number from said input means to said unit assignment numbers to allow opening of said storage unit (14, 114) associated with said selection number when said selection number equals one of said unit assignment numbers.

3. An assembly as set forth in claim 2 further characterized by including interface means (42, 142) for communicating with an external computer for transferring information regarding access and changing information stored in said data memory means (22, 162).

4. An assembly as set forth in claim 1 further characterized by said control means (110) including reset button means (128) for producing a reset signal.

5. An assembly as set forth in claim 4 further characterized by said processor means (148) including reset access means for receiving said reset signal and a new access code from said input means (120) and for replacing said access code in said data memory means (162) with said new access code.

6. A file cabinet assembly (100) comprising:

housing means (12,112) defining an enclosure;

a plurality of storage filing units (14,114) to be supported within said housing (12,112) for moving between a closed position and an open position;

locking means (16,116) supported within said housing means (12,112) and associated with said plurality of storage units (14,114) having a locked condition for locking said plurality of storage units (14,

     114) in said closed position in response to a lock signal and an unlock condition for unlocking and allowing said plurality of storage units (14,114) to move to said open position in response to an unlock signal,

electrical control means (18,

     110) connected to said locking means (16,116) and supported by said housing means (12,112) for locking and unlocking said locking means (16,116);

said control means (18,

     110) including input means (20,

     120) connected and supported within said housing means (12,112) to be accessed external said housing means (12,112) for receiving an input code, data memory means (22,

     162) for storing an access code, and processor means connected to said input means and said data memory means and said locking means for receiving and comparing said access code with said input code to produce said unlock signal when said access code equals the input code;

said plurality of storage units (14,114) including a first and second storage unit, and said housing means defining at least two openings for receiving said first and second storage units, a first of said openings including access to said control means (110); and

said control means (18,110) including reset button means (128) accessible through said first of said openings for producing a reset signal upon actuation thereof, and reset access means for receiving said reset signal and a new access code from said input means and for replacing said access code in said data memory means with said new access code whereby access must be obtained within said first storage unit in order to change said access code.

7. An assembly as set forth in claim 6 wherein said data memory means stores a plurality of access codes, said processor means include means for receiving said reset signal and allowing replacement of said access code when only one access code is stored in said data memory means.

8. A file cabinet assembly (100) comprising:

housing means (12,112) defining an enclosure;

a plurality of storage filing units (14,114) to be supported within said housing (12,112) for moving between a closed position and an open position;

locking means (16,116) supported within said housing means (12,112) and associated with said plurality of storage units (14,114) having a locked condition for locking said plurality of storage units (14,

     114) in said closed position in response to a lock signal and an unlock condition for unlocking and allowing said plurality of storage units (14,114) to move to said open position in response to an unlock signal;

electrical control means (18,

     110) connected to said locking means (16,116) and supported by said housing means (12,112) for locking and unlocking said locking means (16,116);

said control means (18,

     110) including input means (20,

     120) connected and supported on said housing means (12,112) to be accessed external said housing means (12,112) for receiving an input code and a selection number representative of a particular storage unit (14,114), data memory means (22,

     162) for storing an access code and a plurality of unit assignment numbers associated with the access code and each identifying different storage units, and processor means (24,

     148) for receiving and comparing said input code with said access codes to determine a match, and upon a match, comparing said selection number with said unit assignment number associated with said matched access code to produce said unlock signal to said locking means for allowing opening of the selected particular storage unit;

said control means (110) including timing means (135) for establishing a time delay after a match of said input code with an access code and after the input of the selection number within which time any of the storage units associated with the access code may be sequentially opened and closed upon input of the selection number matching the unit assignment number without requiring reinput of said input code.

9. A file cabinet assembly (100) comprising:

housing means (12,

     112) defining an enclosure;

a plurality of storage units (14,

     114) slideably supported by said housing means (12,

     112) for sliding between a closed position and an open position;

a plurality of electronically controlled independent locking means (16,

     116) for receiving power and each operatively associated with one of said storage units (14,

     114) and having a locked condition for contact and locking said storage units (14,

     114) in said closed position in response to a lock signal and having an unlocked condition for unlocking and allowing said storage units (14,

     114) to slide to said open position in response to an unlock signal and for maintaining said storage units (14,

     114) in said closed position and locked in response to discontinuation of power,

electrical control means (18,

     110) connected to said locking means (16,

     116) for locking and unlocking said locking means (16,

     116);

said control means (18,

     110) including input means (20,

     120) for receiving an input code, data memory means separate from said input means (20,

     120) for storing a plurality of access codes and unit assignment numbers associated with each of the access codes, position means operatively connected to said storage units (14,

     114) for producing an enable signal only when all of said storage units (14,

     114) are in said closed position and a disable signal when at least one of said storage units (14,

     114) is in said open position, and processor means connected to said input means (20,

     120) and said data memory means (22,

     162) and said position means and connected independently to each of said locking means for receiving and comparing said access code with said input code to produce said unlock signal to only one of said locking means identified by the associated unit assignment number when said access code equals said input code and said enable signal is received and for limiting opening to only one of said storage units (14,

     114) while the remaining storage units (14,

     114) are maintained in said closed position with the associated locking means (16,

     116) locked so that all of said storage units (14,

     114) must be in the closed position in order to unlock said only one storage unit (14,

     114) and move said only one storage unit to the open position.

10. An assembly as set forth in claim 9 further characterized by data memory means (20, 162) including access memory and unit assignment memory for storing at said access codes and at least one unit assignment number associated with each of said storage units (14, 114).

11. An assembly as set forth in claim 10 further characterized by said processor means (224, 148) including selection means for retrieving said unit assignment number associated with said access code equal to said input code and comparing a selection number from said input means to said unit assignment numbers to allow opening of said storage unit (14, 114) associated with said selection number when said selection number equals one of said unit assignment numbers.

12. An assembly as set forth in claim 11 further characterized by said control means (110) including timing means (135) for establishing a time delay after comparison of said input code with an access code and after the input of selection codes within which time said unlock signal will be produced to a selected storage unit (114), and after opening of a selected storage unit.