Back to results
US 10,920,470 B2Granted
Lock mechanism for securing a lockable volume
AssigneeUnited States Postal Service
InventorsDonald E. Irwin, Nan K. McKenzie, William Albert Tartal, Victoria K. Stephen, Michael J. Amato
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A lock and method of locking a lockable volume is described. The lock may be located on a door of a lockable volume, such as a locker configured to hold an item. The lock may comprise a post and a cam, the cam having an opening corresponding to the size and shape of the post. The cam is rotatable about an axis, wherein the rotation of the cam about the axis releasably secures the post within the opening, thereby locking the door to which the post is attached.
Claims11
A lock mechanism comprising:
- a frame;
- an actuator mounted on the frame, the actuator having a moveable portion movable between a retracted position and an extended position;
- a first linkage member connected to the moveable portion of the actuator;
- a second linkage member connected to the frame at a fixed position, the second linkage member being rotatably connected to the first linkage member, the second linkage member comprising a bumper that contacts a section of the first linkage member when the moveable portion of the actuator is in the extended position and will move out of contact with the section when the moveable portion of the actuator is in the retracted position;
- a third linkage member rotatably connected to the second linkage member and to a rotating plate;
- and
- a rotatable cam rotatably connected to the rotating plate, the rotatable cam having a receiving portion configured to receive and secure a member of a lock structure in a locked position.
4 more elements
A lock mechanism comprising:
- a frame;
- an actuator mounted on the frame, the actuator having a moveable portion, the moveable portion configured to move from a retracted position to an extended position;
- a first linkage member mechanically connected to the moveable portion of the actuator and comprising a guiding surface and a seated portion;
- a second linkage member mechanically connected to the first linkage member and mechanically connected to a roller member, wherein when the moveable portion of the actuator is moved to the extended position, the movement of the second linkage member allows the roller member to move along the guiding surface of the first linkage member until the roller member reaches the seated portion and wherein the roller member moves out of contact with the first linkage member when the moveable portion of the actuator is in the retracted position;
- a third linkage member mechanically connected to the second linkage member and to a rotating plate;
- and
- a rotatable cam having a receiving portion, the rotatable cam mechanically connected to the rotating plate such that movement of the moveable portion of the actuator from the retracted position to the extended position transfers a force through the first, second and third linkage members, the rotating plate, and to the rotatable cam to cause rotation of the rotatable cam from a first position to a second position;
- wherein the receiving portion is configured to receive and secure a member of a lock structure in a locked position.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.