Electronic cam lock for cabinet doors, drawers and other applications

• US 9,273,492 B2
• Filed: 04/14/2014
• Issued: 03/01/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 05/31/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Security People Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Security People Incorporated
• Inventors: Gokcebay, Asil T.
• Primary Examiner(s): GALL, LLOYD A
• Application Number:
  US14/252,647
• Publication Number:
  US 20150211258A1
• Time in Patent Office: 687 Days
• Field of Search: 70 77- 88, 702/77, 702/781, 702/782, 702/783, 702/787, 702/791, 702/83, 702/831, 312/215, 312/216, 312/219
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 2047/0094 Mechanical aspects of remotely controlled locks
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 47/06 Controlling mechanically-operated bolts by electro-magnetically-operated detents
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 65/025 for lockers
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 65/46 for drawers
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 65/462 for two or more drawers
• CPC Class Codes: E05C 1/04 with operating handle or equivalent member rigid with the bolt
• CPC Class Codes: E05C 3/042 the handle being at one side, the bolt at the other side or inside the wing
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00642 by battery
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00936 for key cabinets
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2209/04 Access control involving a hierarchy in access rights
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/0069 actuated in a predetermined sequence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/7068 Actuated after correct combination recognized [e.g., numerical, alphabetical, or magnet[s] pattern]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/713 Dogging manual operator

Abstract

A cam lock for cabinets, drawers, drug cabinets, credenzas, sliding doors, lockers, mail boxes and other door type applications is compact in size, fits an existing cam lock opening and provides electronic access via a keypad or other electronic access. Using batteries, such as AAA size batteries or smaller, the lock has electronics that release a lock turn knob or handle when the correct code is entered. Preferably a set of electronic contacts is included at an accessible position on the lock housing to allow both master access and power jumping with a common manager'"'"'s implement, for situations of lost codes and/or battery failure. In a particular embodiment the lock is long, narrow and low in profile so as to fit on the margin of a steel or wood file cabinet, compatible with the cam lock opening already provided.

Claims

1. An electronic cam lock on a door, cabinet, panel or drawer in a cabinet or furniture that provides ingress and no egress without a mechanical key, comprising:

a compact housing containing electronics and having a terminal enabling entry of a code by a user, such code when properly entered causing the electronics to permit access, the housing being positioned on and affixed to a panel of said door or other structure of said cabinet or furniture to which the lock is affixed,

a cam lock cylinder unit extending from a back side of the housing, in a standard cam lock size, with a lock driver in the cylinder unit, engaged with a latch device at the inside of the door or panel of said cabinet or furniture, and including a knob or handle on the housing for operating the lock manually without a mechanical key to rotate the lock driver when permitted by the electronics, and

a power source connected to power the electronics.

2. The electronic cam lock of claim 1, wherein the power source comprises a battery compartment positioned on the housing such that, when the housing is secured against a panel of a door, cabinet or drawer, the battery compartment is accessible from outside the panel.

3. The electronic cam lock of claim 1, wherein the terminal includes an input for an IButton or wireless access user credential for inputting a code to the lock.

4. The electronic cam lock of claim 1, wherein the housing further includes an antenna for wireless network connection.

5. The electronic cam lock of claim 4, the lock and antenna being equipped for NFC communication, and wherein the electronics of the lock include means for NFC communication with a NFC-equipped hand-held device used in proximity to the lock to access the lock, and means for recording and storing lock usage information, such that a hand-held device can be used in proximity of the lock to read audit trail information including lock usage information.

6. The electronic cam lock of claim 1, wherein the cam lock is connected in a network of a series of similar cam lock devices, and wherein the electronics include a programmable memory that can be programmed via the network to control what codes have access to the electronic cam lock.

7. The electronic cam lock of claim 4, wherein the cam lock is connected in a network of a series of similar cam lock devices, and wherein the electronics include a programmable memory that can be programmed via the network to control what codes have access to the electronic cam lock.

8. The electronic cam lock of claim 1, wherein the electronics include a programmable memory and the cam lock includes an antenna and near-field communication device connected to the antenna for communicating with a hand-held wireless device used in proximity to the lock and capable of programming the programmable memory to control what codes have access to the electronic cam lock.

9. The electronic cam lock of claim 1, wherein the housing is mounted on an inside surface of said panel of said door or other structure, the panel having one or more openings through which the knob or handle and the terminal extend so as to be accessible from the front side of the panel.

10. The electronic cam lock of claim 9, wherein the terminal comprises a keypad, with keys of the keypad extending through openings in the panel.

11. The electronic cam lock of claim 1, wherein the electronics include a programmable memory and the cam lock includes an antenna and near-field communication device connected to the antenna for communicating with a hand-held wireless device for accessing the lock when the hand-held wireless device is used in proximity to the lock.

12. The electronic cam lock of claim 11, wherein the electronics further include means for recording and storing lock usage information, such that a hand-held device can be used in proximity of the lock to read audit trail information including lock usage information.

13. The electronic cam lock of claim 1, wherein the housing includes contacts for receiving electronically a master code or user code to open the cam lock.

14. The electronic cam lock of claim 1, wherein the cam lock cylinder unit fits a standard cam lock opening in the panel and extends therethrough.

15. The electronic cam lock of claim 1, the housing further including an antenna, and the lock and antenna being equipped for Bluetooth communication, and wherein the electronics of the lock include means for Bluetooth communication with a Bluetooth-equipped hand-held device used in proximity to the lock to access the lock, and means for recording and storing lock usage information, such that a hand-held device can be used in proximity of the lock to read audit trail information including lock usage information.

16. The electronic cam lock of claim 1, wherein the electronics include a programmable memory and the cam lock includes an antenna and Bluetooth communication device connected to the antenna for communicating with a Bluetooth-equipped hand-held wireless device used in proximity to the lock and capable of programming the programmable memory to control what codes have access to the electronic cam lock.

17. The electronic cam lock of claim 3, wherein the lock is equipped for Bluetooth communication, for access by a Bluetooth-enabled wireless access user credential for inputting a code to the lock.

18. The electronic cam lock of claim 1, wherein the electronics include a programmable memory and the cam lock includes an antenna and Bluetooth communication device connected to the antenna for communicating with a Bluetooth-equipped hand-held wireless device for accessing the lock when the hand-held wireless device is used in proximity to the lock.

19. The electronic cam lock of claim 1, wherein the power source comprises a battery compartment positioned on the housing such that, with the housing secured on a panel of a door, cabinet or drawer, the battery compartment is accessible via a battery access door.

20. The electronic cam lock of claim 1, wherein the power source comprises a battery compartment positioned on the housing such that, with the housing secured on a panel of a door, cabinet or drawer, the battery compartment is accessible without removing the lock housing from the panel.