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US 11,629,905 B2Granted
Cooler lock
AssigneeTriTeq Lock and Security, LLC
InventorsWilliam Denison, Calin Roatis
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A cooler access control system locks a cooler when occurrence of an event is detected that requires limiting access to the inside of the cooler. Examples of such events include the loss of power to the cooler for a predetermined period of time, the opening of the cooler door for longer than an allowed time, the loss of functionality of a temperature probe and others. In an embodiment, a service mode is supported wherein the door is left unlocked despite the occurrence of such an event, to allow a stocker or other personnel to leave the cooler door open while stocking the cooler with product.
Claims49
A vending enclosure system comprising:
- an enclosure body, the enclosure body having walls forming a product storage vending area for storing a plurality of products;
- an enclosure door operatively connected to the enclosure body, the enclosure door having a closed position and an opened position such that when the enclosure door is in the closed position, the product storage vending area is isolated, and when the enclosure door is in the opened position, the product storage vending area is accessible for allowing a consumer to select one or more of the plurality of products;
- a locking element being on a first one of the enclosure body and the enclosure door;
- a locking mechanism mounted to a second one of the enclosure body and the enclosure door and configured to selectively lock and unlock the enclosure door;
- the locking mechanism being in a locked position during stand-by operation of the vending enclosure, and being configured to move to an unlocked position upon presentation of an unlock signal;
- an access control system comprising a plurality of controllers for selectively locking and unlocking the vending enclosure, wherein the plurality of controllers comprises a first controller operatively connected to a second controller, wherein the first controller comprises a first microcomputer and the second controller comprises a second microcomputer;
- an electronic interface adapted to selectively signal the first controller to present the unlock signal to the locking mechanism to make the plurality of products accessible by the consumer;
- the second controller comprising a patron payment device configured to communicate patron payment information;
- and
- wherein at least one of the first controller and the second controller is configured to detect an event resulting in a change in temperature of the enclosure, wherein the event presents a risk of spoilage of one or more food products in the product storage vending area, and in response, to restrict access by the consumer to the product storage vending area, wherein restricted access occurs after the temperature of the product storage vending area transitions from a predetermined temperature level or limit for a period of one or more minutes.
7 more elements
A vending enclosure system comprising:
- an enclosure body, the enclosure body having walls forming a product storage vending area for storing a plurality of products;
- an enclosure door operatively connected to the enclosure body, the enclosure door having a closed position and an opened position such that when the enclosure door is in the closed position, the product storage vending area is isolated, and when the enclosure door is in the opened position, the product storage vending area is accessible for allowing a consumer to select one or more of the plurality of products;
- a locking element being on a first one of the enclosure body and the enclosure door;
- a locking mechanism mounted to a second one of the enclosure body and the enclosure door and configured to selectively lock and unlock the enclosure door;
- the locking mechanism being in a locked position during stand-by operation of the vending enclosure, and being configured to move to an unlocked position upon presentation of an unlock signal;
- an access control system comprising a plurality of controllers for selectively locking and unlocking the vending enclosure, wherein the plurality of controllers comprises a first controller operatively connected to a second controller, wherein the first controller comprises a first microcomputer and the second controller comprises a second microcomputer;
- an electronic interface adapted to selectively signal the first controller to present the unlock signal to the locking mechanism to make the plurality products accessible by the consumer;
- wherein the second controller is connected to one of a local area network and a wide area network for communicating patron identification information;
- and
- wherein at least one of the first controller and the second controller is configured to detect an event resulting in a change in temperature of the enclosure, wherein the event presents a risk of spoilage of one or more food products in the product storage vending area, and in response, to restrict access by the consumer to the product storage vending area, wherein restricted access occurs after the temperature of the product storage vending area transitions from a predetermined temperature level or limit for a period of one or more minutes.
7 more elements
An enclosure access control system for selectively locking and unlocking an enclosure having an enclosure body and an enclosure door which define a product storage area, the product storage area capable of storing a plurality of products, the product storage area being accessible by consumers after the door is unlocked and when the door is open, the system comprising:
- a locking element being on a first one of the enclosure body and the enclosure door;
- a locking mechanism mounted to a second one of the enclosure body and the enclosure door, and configured to selectively lock and unlock the enclosure door to the enclosure body;
- a first controller comprising a patron payment device, the patron payment device comprising a first microcomputer configured to communicate patron payment information;
- and
- a second controller comprising a second microcomputer operatively connected to the locking mechanism, the locking mechanism being configured in a locked condition during stand-by operation and being configured to selectively move to an unlocked condition by the second controller for allowing the plurality of products to be selectable by a patron;
- wherein at least one of the first controller and the second controller is configured to detect an event resulting in a change in temperature of the enclosure, wherein the event presents a risk of spoilage of one or more food products in the product storage area, and in response, to restrict access by the consumer to the product storage area, wherein restricted access occurs after the temperature of the product storage area transitions from a predetermined temperature level or limit for a period of one or more minutes;
- and
- wherein the first controller and the second controller are operatively connected.
5 more elements
An enclosure access control system for selectively locking and unlocking an enclosure having an enclosure body and an enclosure door which define a product storage area, the product storage area capable of storing a plurality of products, the product storage area being accessible by consumers after the door is unlocked and when the door is open, the system comprising:
- a locking element being on a first one of the enclosure body and the enclosure door;
- a locking mechanism mounted to a second one of the enclosure body and the enclosure door, and configured to selectively lock and unlock the enclosure door to the enclosure body;
- a first controller comprising a first microcomputer operatively connected to one of a local area network and a wide area network for communicating a patron identification information;
- a second controller comprising a second microcomputer operatively connected to the locking mechanism, the locking mechanism being configured in a locked condition during stand-by operation and selectively being configured to selectively move to an unlocked condition by the second controller for allowing the plurality of products to be selectable by a patron;
- wherein at least one of the first controller and the second controller is configured to detect an event resulting in a change in temperature of the enclosure, wherein the event presents a risk of spoilage of one or more food products in the product storage area, and in response, to restrict access by the consumer to the product storage area, wherein restricted access occurs after the temperature of the product storage area transitions from a predetermined temperature level or limit for a period of one or more minutes;
- and
- wherein the first controller and the second controller are operatively connected.
4 more elements
A vending enclosure system comprising:
- an enclosure body, the enclosure body having walls forming a product storage vending area for storing a plurality of products;
- an enclosure door operatively connected to the enclosure body, the enclosure door having a closed position and an opened position such that when the enclosure door is in the closed position, the product storage vending area is isolated, and when the enclosure door is in the opened position, the product storage vending area is accessible for allowing a consumer to select one or more of the plurality of products
- a locking element being on a first one of the enclosure body and the enclosure door;
- a locking mechanism mounted to a second one of the enclosure body and the enclosure door and configured to selectively lock and unlock the enclosure door;
- the locking mechanism being in a locked position during stand-by operation of the vending enclosure, and being configured to move to an unlocked position upon presentation of an unlock signal;
- an access control system comprising a plurality of controllers for selectively locking and unlocking the vending enclosure, wherein the plurality of controllers comprises a first controller operatively connected to a second controller, wherein the first controller comprises a first microcomputer and the second controller comprises a second microcomputer;
- an electronic interface adapted to selectively signal the first controller to present the unlock signal to the locking mechanism to make the plurality of products accessible by the consumer;
- the second controller comprising a patron payment device configured to communicate patron payment authorization information;
- and
- wherein at least one of the first controller and the second controller is configured to detect an event resulting in a change in temperature of the enclosure, wherein the event presents a risk of spoilage of one or more food products in the product storage vending area, and in response, to restrict access by the consumer to the product storage vending area, wherein restricted access occurs after the temperature of the product storage vending area transitions from a predetermined temperature level or limit for a period of one or more minutes.
7 more elements
The vending enclosure system in accordance with 31, wherein at least one of the first controller and the second controller and the electronic interface is adapted to communicate a parameter of the vending enclosure over a wide area network.
An enclosure access control system for selectively locking and unlocking an enclosure having an enclosure body and an enclosure door which define a product storage area, the product storage area capable of storing a plurality of products, the product storage area being accessible by consumers after the door is unlocked and when the door is open, the system comprising:
- a locking element being on a first one of the enclosure body and the enclosure door;
- a locking mechanism mounted to a second one of the enclosure body and the enclosure door, and configured to selectively lock and unlock the enclosure door to the enclosure body;
- a first controller comprising a patron payment device, the patron payment device comprising a first microcomputer configured to communicate patron payment authorization information;
- and
- a second controller comprising a second microcomputer operatively connected to the locking mechanism, the locking mechanism being configured in a locked condition during stand-by operation and being, configured to selectively move to an unlocked condition by the second controller for allowing the plurality of products to be selectable by a patron;
- wherein at least one of the first controller and the second controller is configured to detect an event resulting in a change in temperature of the enclosure, wherein the event presents a risk of spoilage of one or more food products in the product storage area, and in response, to restrict access by the consumer to the product storage area, wherein restricted access occurs after the temperature of the product storage area transitions from a predetermined temperature level or limit for a period of one or more minutes;
- and
- wherein the first controller and the second controller are operatively connected.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.