System and method for retrofitting coin-operated lockers

• US 9,795,214 B2
• Filed: 04/21/2014
• Issued: 10/24/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 04/19/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Best Lockers, LLC (Assa Abloy AB)
• Original Assignee: Best Lockers, LLC (Assa Abloy AB)
• Inventors: Zaniker, John, Toibero, Dennis, Nelson, Scott
• Primary Examiner(s): Feild, Joseph
• Assistant Examiner(s): Mahase, Pameshanand
• Application Number:
  US14/257,810
• Publication Number:
  US 20150102711A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,282 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 47/00 Cabinets, racks or shelf units, characterised by features related to dismountability or building-up from elements A47B43/00, A47B45/00 take precedence; features for adjusting shelves or partitions A47B57/00
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 81/00 Cabinets or racks specially adapted for other particular purposes, e.g. for storing guns or skis
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 96/00 Details of cabinets, racks or shelf units not covered by a single one of groups A47B43/00 - A47B95/00; General details of furniture doors E06B
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/18 involving self-service terminals [SST], vending machines, kiosks or multimedia terminals
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3274 using a pictured code, e.g. barcode or QR-code, being displayed on the M-device
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3278 RFID or NFC payments by means of M-devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/342 Cards defining paid or billed services or quantities
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/347 Passive cards
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/352 Contactless payments by cards
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/4012 Verifying personal identification numbers [PIN]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/40145 Biometric identity checks
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0645 Rental transactions; Leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/12 comprising lockable containers, e.g. for accepting clothes to be cleaned
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 5/26 Interlocks, e.g. for locking the doors of compartments other than that to be used
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/04 by paper currency
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/10 together with a coded signal , e.g. in the form of personal identification information, like personal identification number [PIN] or biometric data

Abstract

A method of manufacturing an electromechanical locker system may include providing a set of lockers with coin-operated locks. The coin-operated locks may be removed from the set of lockers. A conduit may be extended along and connected to a frame member from which the coin-operated locks had previously been positioned. Electromechanical lock units may be attached to the conduit so as to replace the coin-operated locks. A retrofitted coin-operated locker bank may include a coin-operated locker bank including a multiple lockers having respective doors, where the coin-operated locker bank is free of coin-operated locks. A conduit may be connected to a frame member and extend vertically adjacent to the hinged doors of a column of lockers. Multiple electromechanical lock units may be attached to the conduit so as to replace the coin-operated locks.

Claims

1. A method of manufacturing an electromechanical locker system, said method comprising:

providing a set of lockers with coin-operated locks and first conduit configured to enable coins to traverse vertically from coin payment slots associated with the coin operated locks;

detaching the coin-operated locks from the set of lockers;

connecting a second conduit that extends along a frame member at which the coin-operated locks had previously been positioned and adjacent to and in front of the first conduit; and

attaching electromechanical lock units to the second conduit so as to replace the coin-operated locks.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein attaching the electromechanical lock units to the second conduit includes:

affixing a first portion of the electromechanical lock units to the second conduit; and

affixing a second portion of the electromechanical lock units to respective doors of the lockers.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein affixing the second portion includes affixing the second portion having a single member that performs functions of both (i) a handle for a user to open and close respective locker doors and (ii) a striker for the respective electromechanical lock units to secure the respective doors shut.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein affixing the first portion of an electromechanical lock unit to the conduit and affixing the second portion of the electromechanical lock unit to a door of a locker provides for the striker to engage the first portion when a door of the locker is closed.

5. The method according to claim 2, wherein affixing the first portion of the electromechanical lock units includes affixing keypads for users to engage to submit access codes to cause the electromechanical lock units to unlock.

6. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

extending at least one electrical conductor within the second conduit; and

connecting the at least one electrical conductor to the electromechanical lock units to power the electromechanical lock units.

7. The method according to claim 6, further comprising communicatively coupling the at least one electrical conductor to a data communications device that operates to communicate data over the at least one electrical conductor in a databus manner to communicate an access code to the electromechanical lock units.

8. The method according to claim 7, further comprising providing a kiosk for a user to interface to rent a locker, the kiosk being in communication with the electromechanical lock units via the at least one electrical conductor.

9. The method according to claim 8, wherein providing a kiosk further comprises providing a kiosk that is physically independent from the set of lockers.

10. The method according to claim 1, further comprising configuring the electromechanical lock units in a network, wherein each of the electromechanical lock units has a unique network address.

11. The method according to claim 1, wherein connecting a second conduit includes connecting multiple segments to form the second conduit, and wherein attaching the electromechanical lock units to the second conduit includes connecting an electromechanical lock unit to each segment of the second conduit.

12. The method according to claim 1, wherein connecting the second conduit includes connecting the second conduit in front of the first conduit.

13. The method according to claim 1,

wherein connecting the second conduit includes connecting the second conduit to extend outward from the set of lockers with coin-operated locks,

wherein attaching the electromechanical lock units includes attaching the electromechanical lock units to be parallel to respective doors of the lockers, and

further comprising attaching handles of the electromechanical lock units to the doors such that when the doors are closed, at least a portion of the handles engage respective electromechanical units that enable the doors to be secured closed when the respective electromechanical lock units are in a locked position.

14. A retrofitted coin-operated locker bank, comprising:

a coin-operated locker bank including a plurality of lockers having respective hinged doors, the coin-operated locker bank being free of coin-operated locks;

a first conduit configured to enable coins to traverse vertically from coin payment slots associated with the coin-operated locks;

a second conduit connected to a frame member, the second conduit extending vertically and being adjacent to the hinged doors of a column of lockers and adjacent to and in front of said first conduit; and

a plurality of electromechanical lock units being configured with the hinged doors of the lockers and said second conduit so as to replace the coin-operated locks.

15. The retrofitted coin-operated locker bank according to claim 14, wherein a first portion of each of said electromechanical lock units are affixed to said second conduit and a second portion of each of said electromechanical lock units are affixed to respective doors of the lockers.

16. The retrofitted coin-operated locker bank according to claim 15, wherein each of the second portions include a handle, and is configured to contact respective first portions of the electromechanical lock units connected to said second conduit when the doors are in a closed position.

17. The retrofitted coin-operated locker bank according to claim 16, wherein the handles include a striker, the striker extending through a front face of the first portion of said electromechanical lock units connected to said second conduit when the hinged doors are in the closed position.

18. The retrofitted coin-operated locker bank according to claim 14, further comprising at least one electrical conductor extending through said second conduit, and being electrically connected to said electromechanical lock units connected to said second conduit.

19. The retrofitted coin-operated locker bank according to claim 18, further comprising a kiosk in electrical communication with said at least one electrical conductor, and configured to enable a user to rent a locker from the plurality of lockers.

20. The retrofitted coin-operated locker bank according to claim 14, wherein said electromechanical lock units are configured on a communications network, each of the electromechanical lock units having a unique network address.

21. The retrofitted coin-operated locker bank according to claim 14, wherein said electromechanical lock units include a mechanism that, when operated by a renter, causes rental of an associated locker to end for the renter.

22. The retrofitted coin-operated locker bank according to claim 14, further comprising at least one kiosk being remotely located from a housing of said coin-operated locker bank.

23. The retrofitted coin-operated locker bank according to claim 14, wherein said second conduit extends outward from said coin-operated locker bank, and wherein said electromechanical lock units are mounted to be parallel to the doors of the lockers, the doors further including a handle mounted thereto such that when the doors are closed, at least a portion of the handles engage respective electromechanical lock units that enable the doors to be secured closed when the respective electromechanical lock units are in a locked position.

24. The retrofitted coin-operated locker bank according to claim 14, wherein said conduit includes:

a first member that extends along and is secured to a vertical frame member of the lockers;

a plurality of lock units connected to said first member; and

a plurality of second members that are respectively positioned in association with lockers along the vertical frame member, where said first member and said plurality of second members define a passageway of said second conduit within which electrical conductors are extendible, said plurality of second members defining openings through which a portion of the electromechanical lock units extend.

25. The retrofitted coin-operated locker bank according to claim 14, where said second conduit is connected in front of said first conduit.