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US 2018/0202204 A1Published application
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
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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.
Claims20
A lock mechanism comprising:
- a frame configured to support components of the lock mechanism;
- a piston comprising a housing and a shaft which is extendable from the housing such that a forward portion of the shaft travels along the longitudinal axis of the shaft outward from a retracted position near the housing to an extended position;
- a first linkage member rotatably connected at a first end portion to the forward portion of the shaft, the first linkage member having a depression in its upper surface;
- a second linkage member rotatably connected to the frame at a fixed position, the second linkage member rotatably connected at a first end portion to a second end portion of the first linkage member;
- a third linkage member rotatably connected at a first end portion to a second end portion of the second linkage member;
- a rotatable cam connected at its axis of rotation to the securing surface, the rotatable cam having a first arm extending outward from a first portion of the rotating cam, and having a second arm extending outward from a second portion of the rotating cam, the rotating cam additionally having a receiving portion defined therein, the receiving portion configured to receive and secure a part therein, wherein the rotatable cam is rotatably connected at a mid outer portion to a second end portion of the third linkage member;
- a first bumper located on the securing surface;
- and
- a second bumper located on the securing surface.
6 more elements
A lock mechanism comprising:
- a piston having a shaft that travels from a retracted position to an extended position;
- a first linkage member mechanically connected at a first end to the shaft;
- a guide member;
- a second linkage member mechanically connected to the first linkage member and mechanically connected to the guide member so as to rotate about the guide member;
- a third linkage member mechanically connected to the second linkage member;
- and
- a rotatable cam mechanically connected to the third linkage member such that extension of the shaft from the retracted position to the extended position transfers a force through the first, second and third linkage members to the rotatable cam to cause rotation of the rotatable cam from a first position to a second position.
4 more elements
A lock mechanism comprising:
- a first movable member;
- a rotatable cam configured to receive and secure a member of a lock structure in a locked position, and further configured to rotate between a first position and a second position;
- and
- a plurality of linkage members mechanically connected to the first movable member and the rotatable cam such that movement of the first movable member transmits a force through the plurality of linkage members so as to cause rotation of the rotatable cam between the first and second positions.
1 more element
A method of operating a lock mechanism, comprising:
- moving a shaft in a piston between a retracted position and an extended position, wherein said movement produces a force;
- transferring the force through a plurality of linkage members to a rotatable cam configured to receive and secure a member of a lock structure in a locked position, wherein the member of the lock structure is received by the rotatable cam when the cam is in a first position;
- and
- rotating the rotatable cam, in response to receipt of the transferred force, into a second position which secures the member of the lock structure in the locked position.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.