Remotely or locally actuated refrigerator lock with temperature and humidity detection

• US 7,728,711 B2
• Filed: 01/16/2007
• Issued: 06/01/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/29/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: S&S X-Ray Products Incorporated
• Original Assignee: S&S X-Ray Products Inc.
• Inventors: Shoenfeld, Norman A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Zimmerman; Brian A
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lau; Kevin
• Application Number:
  US11/653,726
• Publication Number:
  US 20070125100A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,232 Days
• Field of Search: 624/41, 624/40, 621/25, 621/26, 700/237, 700/232, 700/231, 700/213, 700/90, 700/236, 700/242, 700/244, 70/85, 70/77, 70/57, 702/64, 702/63, 702/62, 702/66, 702/67, 702/77, 702/75, 702/80, 221/15, 221/154, 221/2, 221/3, 340/309.15, 340/568.1, 340/540, 340/500, 340/5.73, 340/5.7, 340/5.2, 340/5.1, 340/825, 368/10, 702/177, 702/176, 702/127, 702/187
• US Class Current: 340/5.73
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 2217/05 Animals comprising random inserted nucleic acids (transgenic)
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3561 local, e.g. within room or hospital
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3592 using telemetric means, e.g. radio or optical transmission
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3606 cooled
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/60 with identification means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/44 having means for cooling or heating the devices or media
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 2047/0017 with rotary motion
• 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 47/0012 with rotary electromotors actuators with rotary electromotors per se H02K7/06, H02K23/68
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 63/24 Arrangements in which the fastening members which engage one another are mounted respectively on the wing and the frame and are both movable, e.g. for release by moving either of them operating or controlling locks using electric or magnetic means in the striker or on the frame E05B47/0046, adaptation of locks locking the bolt by an electromagnet in the striker E05B47/0696, locks with means carried by the bolt for interlocking with the keeper and having additional bolt in the striker E05B63/128; hasp locks E05B65/48
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 65/52 Other locks for chests, boxes, trunks, baskets, travelling bags, or the like
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2600/07 Remote controls
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2700/02 Humidity
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 23/028 Details
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2400/36 Visual displays
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2700/02 Sensors detecting door opening
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2700/08 Sensors using Radio Frequency Identification [RFID]
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2700/12 Sensors measuring the inside temperature
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 29/003 for movable devices
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 29/006 Safety devices
• CPC Class Codes: G01K 1/022 : for recording
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2333/70596 : Molecules with a "CD"-designation not provided for elsewhere in G01N2333/705
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/0092 : for cargo, freight or shipping containers and applications therefore in general
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/0069 : actuated in a predetermined sequence
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00896 : specially adapted for particular uses
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/7051 : Using a powered device [e.g., motor]

Abstract

A remotely or locally actuable refrigerator door lock has a body portion that is attached to the cabinet and a door portion that is attached to an edge of the door. A latch in the body portion engages a strike plate in the door portion and can be lifted out of engagement to open the refrigerator. The door lock assembly may be connected to a touch-screen device or via a USB or ethernet connection to a remote host computer. The host computer keeps an audit trail of the times and personnel accessing each refrigerator, and a temperature audit trail. The system may be used in hospital for controlling access to pharmaceuticals or may be used in a weight loss program. Temperature and humidity sensors are positioned within the refrigerator cabinet. The door lock may have battery power for portable or mobile applications.

Claims

1. A portable or mobile controlled temperature shipping cabinet and door lock therefor, wherein the shipping cabinet has a cabinet body in which temperature sensitive materials are to be stored and a door which closes against said cabinet body, the door lock having a body portion that mounts onto the cabinet body and a door portion that mounts onto the door to align with the body portion when the storage cabinet door is closed;

the door portion comprising

an enclosure that mounts to the door; and

a latch strike member within said enclosure;

the body portion comprising

an enclosure mounting to the cabinet body;

a latch member to engage said latch strike member;

a motor drive mechanism for selectively moving said latch member from engagement with said latch strike member to unlock the cabinet;

suitably programmed circuit means within the enclosure of the body portion for receiving commands specific to the door lock to actuate said motor drive to move the latch member out of engagement with said latch strike member; and

a battery power supply; and

a temperature monitor having a probe sensing temperature inside said cabinet, the monitor being coupled with said suitably programmed circuit means for communicating said temperature thereto;

further comprising

a humidity monitor having a probe sensing a humidity level inside said shipping cabinet, the monitor being coupled with said suitably programmed circuit means for communicating said humidity level thereto;

suitable software operative to prevent the motor drive from lifting said latch member out of engagement when said the temperature detected by said temperature monitor is outside a predetermined range; and

wherein said suitable software includes a provision for providing an ID code to a recipient of the shipping cabinet, wherein the ID code will identify whether the temperature detected by the temperature monitor has been outside the predetermined temperature range and whether the humidity detected by the humidity monitor has been outside a predetermined humidity range; and

wherein the recipient returns the ID code to the shipper to obtain an opening code for the lock and if the ID code indicates that the temperature and humidity have been maintained within the respective ranges, the shipper will provide the opening code, but if the ID code indicates that the temperature or the humidity has been outside the associated range, the shipper will not provide the opening code.

2. A portable or mobile controlled temperature storage cabinet and door lock therefor according to claim 1, further including software which includes audit trail means for recording a history of the temperature as detected by the temperature monitor.