Cooler lock

A food storage vending cooler access control system for locking a refrigerated food storage vending cooler or freezer having a food storage vending cooler body and a food storage vending cooler door operatively connected to the cooler body, the food storage vending cooler body having walls forming a refrigerated food storage vending area defined by a perimeter of the walls of the food storage vending cooler body and the food storage vending cooler door when closed to the food storage vending cooler body, wherein the refrigerated food storage vending cooler or freezer includes a single air conditioning unit for providing refrigerated air at or below 42 degrees F. consistent throughout the refrigerated food storage vending area, wherein the refrigerated food storage vending area is adapted to store a plurality of food products which present a risk of spoiling when exposed to an air temperature above 42 degrees F., and wherein when the food storage vending cooler door is closed to the food storage vending cooler body the plurality of food products in the refrigerated food storage vending area is conditioned by the refrigerated air provided throughout the refrigerated food storage vending area, the system comprising:

• a locking element being on a first one of the food storage vending cooler body and the food storage vending cooler door;
• a locking mechanism mounted to a second one of the food storage vending cooler body and the food storage vending cooler door and configured to selectively engage the locking element to lock and unlock the food storage vending cooler door to the food storage vending cooler body;
• at least one controller configured to detect an event resulting in a change in temperature of the food storage vending cooler or freezer, wherein the event presents a risk of spoilage of one or more food products in the refrigerated food storage vending area, and, in response, to lock the food storage vending cooler door to the food storage vending cooler body, wherein locking occurs after the temperature level of the refrigerated food storage vending area has exceeded 42 degrees F. for a time period of one or more minutes;
• and
• wherein the at least one controller comprises a first microcomputer and a second microcomputer operatively connected;
• wherein the locking mechanism remains in an unlocked position and the refrigerated food storage vending area remains freely accessible when the temperature of the refrigerated food storage vending area is rapidly changing at temperatures above 42 degrees F.