Power-activated cam lock
AssigneeSmart Armor Protected, LLC
InventorsJustin Zastrow, Ira Hayes, William Birgen
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
In general, the present invention is incorporated in a cam lock housing that is securable relative to a drawer or door. Coupled to the cam lock housing is an actuator package. The actuator package of this exemplary cam lock system can include a retractable geared plate or tongue, a micro gear motor, a controller, and a power system. In operation, the drive gear/pinion causes lateral displacement of tongue towards or away from a latch in order to lock or unlock the item. As such, a medicine cabinet (or similar), can be remotely locked or unlocked. Alternatively, rotation of a physical key within the cam lock rotates the cam lock housing and the tongue towards or away from a latch so that the cam lock can also be operated manually.
Claims13
A lock for a drawer or door comprising:
- a cam lock having a cam lock housing that is securable relative to the drawer or door,
- a circular drive gear driven by a motor and power source within a drive gear housing,
- a tongue having an outer linear gear edge and a longitudinal interior aperture, the outer linear gear edge interfaces with the drive gear and operation of the drive gear causing the tongue to move laterally relative to the cam lock housing, the longitudinal interior aperture dimensioned to receive a guide nut, the guide nut and the longitudinal interior aperture configured so that the tongue rotates about the guide nut when the guide nut rotates,
- wherein operation of the drive gear causes lateral displacement of the tongue towards or away from a latch and rotation of a physical key within the cam lock rotates the guide nut.
A remotely controllable cam lock system for engaging or disengaging with a catch e comprising:
- a cam lock configured to rotate an actuator package coupled to the cam lock;
- the actuator package comprising:
- a retractable plate configured to engage or disengage with a catch,
- a plate driving motor, coupled to the plate and configured to drive the plate into or out of the catch,
- a controller, communicably connected to the plate driving motor and configured to receive a control signal from the remote control and activate or deactivate the plate driving motor accordingly, and
- a power system, electrically connected, and configured to provide electric power, to the plate driving motor and the controller.
A remotely controllable plate system for retrofitting an existing cam lock, the cam lock comprising a housing and a cam cylinder, the cam cylinder rotating within the housing when turned by a key, the remotely controllable plate system comprising:
- a plate, the plate configured to engage or disengage with a catch;
- a plate driving motor, the driving motor coupled to the plate and configured to drive the plate linearly into or out of the catch;
- a controller, the controller communicably connected to the plate driving motor and configured to receive a control signal from a remote control and activate or deactivate the plate driving motor;
- and
- a power system, the power system electrically connected, and configured to provide electric power, to the plate driving motor and the controller, wherein
- the plate system is coupled to the cam cylinder so that the entire remotely controllable plate system rotates when the cam cylinder rotates.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.