Lockable enclosure system

• US 9,988,191 B2
• Filed: 07/10/2014
• Issued: 06/05/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 07/10/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Wireless Resident Nurse Alert Technology Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Wireless Resident Nurse Alert Technology Incorporated
• Inventors: Norris, Joseph
• Primary Examiner(s): Stashick, Anthony
• Assistant Examiner(s): Van Buskirk, James M
• Application Number:
  US14/328,110
• Publication Number:
  US 20150014319A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,426 Days
• Field of Search: 220324
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 41/02 Caps or cap-like covers without lines of weakness, tearing strips, tags, or like opening or removal devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1626 with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2200/1633 Protecting arrangement for the entire housing of the computer
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/18 Telephone sets specially adapted for use in ships, mines, or other places exposed to adverse environment H04M1/19 takes precedence

Abstract

A lockable sealable enclosure system with a lockable lid openable, and re-lockable, through use of a locking tool. The enclosure system comprises a bottom container, which can optionally support a transparent film to provide water-resistance to the container, secured by a cover. The cover is provided with securing members which lockingly engage the bottom container. A lock release tool comprises latching members for engagement with the securing members, and a cam and cam followers which operate on the latching members are operably able to pull the securing members outwards to release the locked engagement. The enclosure system can include a shock and water resistant wireless pager enclosure.

Claims

1. A lockable enclosure system comprising:

i) a bottom portion with an open top and comprising a pair of opposed first and second side walls and a pair of opposed first and second end walls, each of said walls comprising a substantially planar upper edge region and a perimetric flange, the first and second side walls and the first end wall each further comprising engagement members extending normally from the perimetric flange;

ii) a removable cover comprising;

(1) a plurality of securing members each extending from outer edges of the cover, the securing members being adapted to lockably engage the first and second side walls and the first and second end walls;

(2) recess regions between the securing members adapted to receive and engage the engagement members; and

iii) a lock release tool comprising

(a) a base plate configured to be receivable over the removable cover;

(b) a plurality of latch members each adapted to engage a respective one of the securing members;

(c) a cam assembly and a plurality of cam followers each cam follower being operatively connected to a respective one of the latch members; and

(d) a rotatable handle operatively connected to the cam assembly to move the cam followers selectively between a minimum engaged position in which the latch members are secured to the removable cover, and a maximum engaged position in which pressure exerted by the cam followers moves the latch members to pull the securing members away from the first and second side walls and the first and second end walls to release the removable cover,

wherein;

a) the cam assembly includes a central handle base attached to a wheel, the wheel comprising at least three grooves arranged in a pinwheel pattern around the central handle base, each groove having a seat at an extremity thereof;

b) the base plate includes three tracks, each track positioned within each one of the grooves;

c) within each groove is a rotation element consisting of a pin element inserted into a bushing, such that the pin element is positioned along the track;

d) each cam follower is operatively connected to a respective pin element;

such that when the wheel rotates, the pin element moves from a position proximal the central handle base to a position distal to the central handle base, and when the pin element is at a position distal to the central handle base, the bushing sits in the seat of the groove thereby locking the cam assembly.

2. The lockable enclosure system according to claim 1, wherein the removable cover further comprises a planar outer surface including a central aperture.

3. The lockable enclosure system according to claim 1, wherein the removable cover comprises a solid planar outer surface.

4. The lockable enclosure system according to claim 1, wherein when the cam followers are in the maximum engaged position, the cam assembly is in a locked position thereby preventing the securing members from returning to the enclosure walls.

5. A lockable enclosure system comprising:

i) a bottom portion with an open top and comprising first and second side walls and first and second end walls, each of said walls comprising a substantially planar upper edge region and a perimetric flange;

ii) a removable cover comprising a plurality of securing members each extending from outer edges of the cover, the securing members being adapted to lockably engage the first and second side walls and the first and second end walls; and

iii) a lock release tool configured to be receivable over the removable cover comprising

(a) a plurality of latch members each adapted to engage a respective one of the securing members;

(b) a cam assembly and a plurality of cam followers, each cam follower being operatively connected to a respective one of the latch members; and

(c) a rotatable handle operatively connected to the cam assembly to move the cam followers selectively between a minimum engaged position in which the latch members are secured to the removable cover, and a maximum engaged position in which pressure exerted by the cam followers moves the latch members to pull the securing members away from the first and second side walls and the first and second end walls to release the removable cover,

wherein;

a) the cam assembly includes a central handle base attached to a wheel, the wheel comprising at least three grooves arranged in a pinwheel pattern around the central handle base, each groove having a seat at an extremity thereof;

b) the base plate includes three tracks, each track positioned within each one of the grooves;

c) within each groove is a rotation element consisting of a pin element inserted into a bushing, such that the pin element is positioned along the track;

d) each cam follower is operatively connected to a respective pin element;

such that when the wheel rotates, the pin element moves from a position proximal the central handle base to a position distal to the central handle base, and when the pin element is at a position distal to the central handle base, the bushing sits in the seat of the groove thereby locking the cam assembly.

6. The lockable enclosure system according to claim 5, wherein the lock release tool further comprises a base plate, the base plate being configured to be receivable over the removable cover.

7. The lockable enclosure system according to claim 5, wherein the first and second side walls are opposite one another, and the first and second end walls are opposite one another.

8. The lockable enclosure system according to claim 5, wherein the side walls and the end walls each further comprise engagement members extending normally from the perimetric flange.

9. The lockable enclosure system according to claim 8, wherein the removable cover further comprises recess regions between the securing members adapted to receive and engage the engagement members of the perimetric flange.

10. The lockable enclosure system according to claim 5, wherein when the cam followers are in the maximum engaged position, the cam assembly is in a locked position thereby preventing the securing members from returning to the enclosure walls.

11. A lockable enclosure system for a wireless device, the system comprising:

(i) an enclosure comprising;

(a) a bottom portion with an open top and comprising a base, a pair of opposing first and second side walls and a pair of opposing first and second end walls, each said wall comprising a substantially planar upper edge region and a perimetric flange, the first and second side walls and the first end wall each further comprising engagement members extending normally from the flange, the second end wall comprising a protrusion defining a recess region, the bottom portion being adapted to receive and releasably secure the wireless device in a snug fit and to cushion the wireless device from shock;

(b) a flexible, tear-resistant transparent film capable of accepting and transmitting pressure inputs to the wireless device, the film being configured to extend over and cover the common plane and be supported by the said walls and to completely cover the wireless device;

(c) a removable cover having a lower surface adapted to press the film against the said walls to produce a water-resistant seal about the wireless device and comprising;

(1) a planar outer surface including a central display aperture;

(2) three securing members each extending from a respective one of three outer edges of the cover, the securing members being adapted to lockably engage the first and second side walls and the first end wall of the enclosure;

(3) recess regions between the three securing members adapted to receive and engage the engagement members; and

(4) a projecting member extending from the fourth outer edge of the cover, adapted to be received in the recess region of the enclosure;

and

(ii) a lock release tool comprising;

(a) a base plate configured to be receivable over the cover;

(b) three latch members each adapted to engage a respective one of the three securing members;

(c) a cam assembly and a plurality of cam followers each cam follower being operatively connected to a respective one of the three latch members; and

(d) a rotatable handle operatively connected to the cam assembly to move the cam followers selectively between a minimum engaged position in which the latch members are secured to the removable cover of the enclosure, and a maximum engaged position in which pressure exerted by the cam followers moves the latch members to pull the three securing members away from the enclosure walls to release the cover from the enclosure,

wherein when the cam followers are in the maximum engaged position, the cam assembly is in a locked position thereby preventing the securing members from returning to the enclosure walls, and

wherein;

a) the cam assembly includes a central handle base attached to a wheel, the wheel comprising at least three grooves arranged in a pinwheel pattern around the central handle base, each groove having a seat at an extremity thereof;

b) the base plate includes three tracks, each track positioned within each one of the grooves;

c) within each groove is a rotation element consisting of a pin element inserted into a bushing, such that the pin element is positioned along the track;

d) each cam follower is operatively connected to a respective pin element;

such that when the wheel rotates, the pin element moves from a positional proximal the central handle base to a position distal to the central handle base, and when the pin element is at a position distal to the central handle base, the bushing sits in the seat of the groove thereby locking the cam assembly.

12. The lockable enclosure system according to claim 11, wherein the projecting member of the cover includes a bore adapted to receive a hinge pin securable within the recess region of the enclosure.

13. The lockable enclosure system according to claim 12, wherein the hinge pin is removably securable.

14. The lockable enclosure system according to claim 13, further comprising reinforcements secured within the bottom portion and substantially adjacent to each said wall.

15. The lockable enclosure system according to claim 14, wherein the reinforcements comprise compressible material or thickened sections of the bottom portion.

16. The lockable enclosure system according to claim 11, wherein the bottom portion of the enclosure further comprises a sub-enclosure adapted to receive an additional device.

17. The lockable enclosure system according to claim 16, wherein the additional device is selected from a passive location identification element and an active tracking device.