# US 2017/0254584 A1 · Cooler Lock > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2017/0254584 A1 - Document ID: US20170254584A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 15/600,350 - Filed: 2017-05-19 - Published: 2017-09-07 - Earliest claimed: 2013-01-18 - Assignees: TriTeq Lock and Security, LLC - Inventors: William Denison; Calin Roatis - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20170254584A1 ## CPC - F25D 23/028: {Details} - E05B 47/0603: {the detent moving rectilinearly} - E05B 65/0046: {with a bifurcated bolt} - E05B 65/0811: {the bolts pivoting about an axis perpendicular to the wings} - E05B 47/00: Operating or controlling locks or other fastening devices by electric or magnetic means (electric permutation locks E05B49/00) - E05B 47/0001: {with electric actuators; Constructional features thereof (for vehicles E05B81/04)} - E05B 47/0012: {with rotary electromotors (actuators with rotary electromotors per se H02K7/06, H02K23/68)} - E05B 73/00: Devices for locking portable objects against unauthorised removal; Miscellaneous locking devices {(motorcycle helmets A42B3/0413; supporting arrangements specially adapted for fastening helmets B62J11/24; gun racks A47B81/005; showcases with theft protection A47F3/002; anti-theft means for peg-boards, grids or rods for hanging merchandise A47F5/0861; show stands, hangers, shelves with provision against unauthorised removal A47F7/024; for self-service hand-carts A47F10/04; locking skis A63C11/004; locking bolts, nuts or pins F16B41/00)} - E05B 73/0005: {using chains, cables or the like (chain- or cable-locks of the padlock type E05B67/003; lockable clothing hangers or hanger racks E05B69/006)} - E05B 73/0017: {Anti-theft devices, e.g. tags or monitors, fixed to articles, e.g. clothes, and to be removed at the check-out of shops} - E05B 73/0082: {for office machines, e.g. PC's, portable computers, typewriters, calculators} - E05B 2047/0024: {Cams} - E05B 2047/0069: {bolt position} - Y10T 70/40: Portable - Y10T 70/5009: For portable articles - Y10T 70/625: Operation and control - Y10T 70/70: Operating mechanism - Y10T 70/7006: Predetermined time interval controlled - F25D: REFRIGERATORS; COLD ROOMS; ICE-BOXES; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR (refrigerated showcases A47F3/04; thermally-insulated vessels for domestic use A47J41/00; refrigerated vehicles, see the appropriate subclasses of classes B60 - B64; containers with thermal insulation in general B65D81/38; heat-transfer, heat-exchange or heat-storage materials, e.g. refrigerants, or materials for the production of heat or cold by chemical reactions other than by combustion C09K5/00; thermally-insulated vessels for liquefied or solidified gases F17C; air-conditioning or air-humidification F24F; refrigeration machines, plants, or systems F25B; cooling of instruments or comparable apparatus without refrigeration G12B) - E05B: LOCKS; ACCESSORIES THEREFOR; HANDCUFFS - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## 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. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A lock for a cooler or freezer having a cabinet, a door on the cabinet, and a cooler controller to detect a fault event requiring the door to be locked, the lock comprising: a locking mechanism mounted on the cabinet, the locking mechanism having an opening; a locking element mounted on the door and configured to enter the opening of the locking mechanism when the door is closed; the locking mechanism including a latch adapted to releasably engage the locking element, the latch being mounted for movement between a latched position and an unlatched position, wherein the latch has a locking element engaging surface, is biased in the unlatched position, and is adapted to move to the latched position upon the locking element engaging the locking element engaging surface of the latch; the locking mechanism further including a motorized latch engaging member adapted to selectively engage the latch to lock the latch in the latched position; and a lock controller adapted to control the motorized latch engaging member, wherein the lock controller is communicably linked to the cooler controller. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The lock of claim 1, wherein the locking element is a U-shaped strike. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The lock of claim 2, wherein the U-shaped strike is in a fixed position relative to the door. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The lock of claim 3, wherein the U-shaped strike is positioned in a horizontal plane. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) The lock of claim 2, wherein the U-shaped strike is adapted to move in a horizontal plane relative to the locking mechanism. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The lock of claim 1, wherein the locking element engaging surface is positioned in the opening of the locking mechanism when the door is closed. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The lock of claim 1, wherein the opening of the locking mechanism is defined in part by at least one angled surface. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The lock of claim 7, wherein the at least one angled surface is adapted to help guide the locking element to engage the locking element engaging surface of the latch when the door is closed. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The lock of claim 1, wherein the motorized latch engaging member is biased to a locked position. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The lock of claim 9, wherein the latch is in a locked and latched position when the door is closed. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The lock of claim 9, further comprising a motor actuated cam adapted to selectively move the motorized latch engaging member to an unlocked position. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The lock of claim 11, wherein the latch is in an unlocked and latched position when the door is closed. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The lock of claim 11, wherein the lock controller is adapted to energize the motor actuated cam upon receipt of an electronic access signal. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The lock of claim 13, wherein the lock controller is adapted to receive the electronic access signal from a remote interface, wherein the electronic access signal travels via the internet or wide area network. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The lock of claim 1, wherein the lock is mounted along a vertical edge of the cabinet. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The lock of claim 1, wherein the latch is mounted for rotational movement. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The lock of claim 1, wherein the latch has a blocking surface, separate from the engaging surface, adapted to block the locking element from being disengaged from the latch when the motorized latch engaging member is engaged with the latch. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The lock of claim 1, wherein the locking element comprises at least two surfaces on perpendicular planes to each other that reside inside the lock opening in the engaged position. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) The lock of claim 1, wherein the lock controller is adapted to engage the motorized latch engaging member with the latch after the temperature level of an internal recess of the cabinet has exceeded 42 degrees F. for a time period of one or more minutes. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The lock of claim 19, wherein the time period of one or more minutes is 30 minutes. ### Claim 21 (depends on 1) The lock of claim 1, wherein the lock controller is adapted to refrain from engaging the motorized latch engaging member with the latch so that an internal recess of the cabinet remains freely accessible when the temperature of the internal recess is rapidly changing at temperatures above 42 degrees F. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) The lock of claim 21, wherein the lock controller is adapted to engage the motorized latch engaging member with the latch after the temperature of the internal recess stops changing rapidly and remains above 42 degrees F. ### Claim 23 A cooler or freezer comprising: a cabinet; a door on the cabinet such that when the door is closed, the door and cabinet together define an internal recess; a cooler controller adapted to detect a fault event requiring the door to be locked; a locking mechanism mounted on the cabinet, the locking mechanism having an opening; a locking element mounted on the door and configured to enter the opening of the locking mechanism when the door is closed; the locking mechanism including a latch adapted to releasably engage the locking element, the latch being mounted for movement between a latched position and an unlatched position, wherein the latch has a locking element engaging surface, and wherein the latch is biased in the unlatched position, and is adapted to move to the latched position upon the locking element engaging the locking element engaging surface of the latch; the locking mechanism further including a motorized latch engaging member adapted to selectively engage the latch to lock the latch in the latched position; and a lock controller adapted to control the motorized latch engaging member, wherein the lock controller is communicably linked to the cooler controller. ### Claim 24 (depends on 23) The cooler or freezer of claim 23, wherein the locking element is a U-shaped strike. ### Claim 25 (depends on 24) The cooler or freezer of claim 24, wherein the U-shaped strike is in a fixed position relative to the door. ### Claim 26 (depends on 23) The cooler or freezer of claim 23, wherein the latch has a blocking surface, separate from the engaging surface, adapted to block the locking element from being disengaged from the latch when the motorized latch engaging member is engaged with the latch. ### Claim 27 (depends on 23) The cooler or freezer of claim 23, wherein the locking element comprises at least two surfaces on perpendicular planes to each other that reside inside the lock opening in the engaged position. ### Claim 28 (depends on 23) The cooler or freezer of claim 23, wherein the lock controller is adapted to engage the motorized latch engaging member with the latch after the temperature level of the internal recess has exceeded 42 degrees F. for a time period of one or more minutes. ### Claim 29 (depends on 23) The cooler or freezer of claim 23, wherein the lock controller is adapted to refrain from engaging the motorized latch engaging member with the latch so that the internal recess remains freely accessible when the temperature of the internal recess is rapidly changing at temperatures above 42 degrees F. ### Claim 30 (depends on 29) The cooler or freezer of claim 29, wherein the lock controller is adapted to engage the motorized latch engaging member with the latch after the temperature of the internal recess stops changing rapidly and remains above 42 degrees F.