Cooler lock

A refrigerated food storage vending area access control system for locking an unlocked food storage vending refrigerator to prevent access to potentially thawed or hazardous foods, the food storage vending refrigerator having a food storage vending body and a food storage vending door operatively connected to the food storage vending body, the food storage vending body having walls forming a food storage vending refrigerator cabinet defined by a perimeter of the walls of the food storage vending body and the food storage vending door when closed to the food storage vending body, wherein the food storage vending refrigerator includes a single air conditioning unit for providing refrigerated air at or below 42 degrees F. consistent throughout the food storage vending refrigerator cabinet, wherein the refrigerated food storage vending refrigerator cabinet 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 door is closed to the food storage vending body the plurality of food products in the food storage vending refrigerator cabinet is conditioned by the refrigerated air provided throughout the food storage vending refrigerator cabinet, the refrigerated food storage vending area access control system comprising:

• a locking mechanism mounted on the food storage vending door, and a locking element being on the other of the food storage vending body or door, the locking mechanism being in an unlocked position when a temperature of the refrigerated air in the food storage refrigerator cabinet is at or below a temperature of 42 degrees F., such that the food storage vending refrigerator cabinet is publicly accessible by vendees during that period of time except upon an occurrence of an event resulting in a change in a temperature of the refrigerated air in the food storage vending refrigerator cabinet that presents a risk of spoilage of one or more food products within the food storage vending refrigerator cabinet;
• a controller for controlling actuation of the locking mechanism, wherein the controller is configured to permit public access to the refrigerated food storage vending area such that the locking mechanism is maintained in an unlocked position when a temperature of the refrigerated air in the refrigerated food storage vending area is at or below a temperature of 42 degrees F.;
• the locking mechanism being selectively engageable with the locking element while the food storage vending door is in a closed position to selectively lock and unlock the food storage vending door to the food storage vending body, the food storage vending door being unlocked when the controller detects normal operating refrigeration that prevents the food from becoming thawed or hazardous, the food storage vending door being locked by the controller actuating the locking mechanism when the controller detects a fault event with the refrigeration resulting in a change in temperature of the food storage vending refrigerator cabinet that may cause the food to become thawed or hazardous, wherein actuation of the locking mechanism occurs after the temperature of the refrigerated air in the food storage vending refrigerator cabinet has exceeded 42 degrees F. for a time period of one or more minutes;
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• at least two power sources, each configured to independently power the system.

A food storage vending cooler access control system for locking an unlocked food storage vending cooler or freezer having a food storage vending cooler body and a food storage vending cooler door operatively connected to the food storage vending 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 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;
• the locking mechanism being in an unlocked position for at least a period of time when a temperature of the refrigerated air in the refrigerated food storage vending area is at or below a temperature of 42 degrees F., such, that the refrigerated food storage vending area is publicly accessible by vendees during that period of time except upon an occurrence of an event resulting in a change in the temperature of the refrigerated air in the refrigerated food storage vending area that requires locking the unlocked food storage vending cooler or freezer;
• a controller configured to permit public access to the refrigerated food storage vending area such that the locking mechanism is maintained in an unlocked position when a temperature of the refrigerated air in the refrigerated food storage vending area is at or below a temperature of 42 degrees F., wherein the controller is further configured to detect an event resulting in a change in the temperature of the refrigerated air in the refrigerated food storage vending area that requires locking the unlocked food storage vending cooler or freezer, wherein the event which requires locking the unlocked food storage vending cooler or freezer is a temperature level of the refrigerated food storage vending area corresponding to potential spoilage of one or more food products being achieved or exceeded for longer than a period of time and, in response, to actuate the locking mechanism to lock the food storage vending cooler door to the food storage vending cooler body if the temperature is not rapidly changing and the temperature of the refrigerated air in the refrigerated food storage vending area has exceeded 42 degrees F. for a time period of one or more minutes, and to not actuate the locking mechanism if the temperature is rapidly changing;
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• a secured unlocking implement independent from the controller to selectively unlock the locking mechanism after the detection of an event that requires locking the unlocked food storage vending cooler or freezer.