Apparatus for securing drawer contents
AssigneeSupplyPro, Inc.
InventorsWilliam K. Holmes, Kent V. Savage, Charles A. Tyack
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A cabinet having a plurality of drawers, each drawer having at least one compartment. The cabinet includes a computer and a panel pivotally coupled to one of the drawers. The panel is disposed in a covering relationship with the compartments within the drawer and includes at least one opening. The opening corresponds with the compartment. A cover is pivotally connected to the panel and covers the opening. A locking mechanism is interconnected with the drawer and the cover. The locking mechanism receives a signal from the computer to position it in one of a locked and unlocked position.
Claims4
A kit for controlling the contents within a preexisting cabinet, the cabinet having a plurality of drawers, each drawer having at least one compartment, the kit comprising:
- a computer;
- a panel coupled to at least one of the drawers, the panel thereby covering the compartments within the drawer, and including at least one opening corresponding with the compartment;
- a cover connected to the panel and covering the opening;
- and
- a locking mechanism interconnected with the drawer and the cover, the locking mechanism receiving a signal from the computer to position it in one of a locked and unlocked position.
A kit for controlling the contents within a preexisting cabinet, the cabinet having a plurality of drawers, each drawer having a plurality of compartments, the kit comprising:
- a computer;
- a panel including a plurality of openings, each opening corresponding to one of the compartments;
- a plurality of covers, each cover coupled to the panel and movable between a closed position and an open position, each cover disposed in a covering relationship with one of the plurality of openings within the panel;
- and
- a plurality of locking mechanisms, each interconnected with one of the plurality of drawers and one of the plurality of covers, each locking mechanism receiving a signal from the computer to position it in one of a locked and unlocked position.
A method of dispensing items from a cabinet to a user, the cabinet including a computer and a plurality of drawers, each drawer having at least one compartment, the compartments covered by a cover, a locking mechanism operable to selectively maintain the cover in a locked position or an unlocked position, the method comprising:
- inputting an item identifier into the computer;
- determining which drawer contains the desired item;
- indicating the drawer containing the desired item;
- determining which compartment contains the desired item;
- and
- moving the locking mechanism of the cover corresponding to the compartment containing the item from the locked to the unlocked position.
A method of assembling a product using a cabinet having a plurality of compartments, each compartment including a switch, an LED, and a locking mechanism, the cabinet also including a graphical user interface and a selection device, the method comprising the acts of:
- initiating a display on the graphical user interface;
- using the selection device to indicate a desired item;
- illuminating at least one LED to guide a user to the desired one of the plurality of compartments;
- actuating a switch to actuate a locking mechanism;
- and
- removing the desired item.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.