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.
Claims14
A lock mechanism comprising:
- a frame;
- an actuator mounted on the frame, and movable between a retracted position and an extended position;
- a first linkage member connected to a portion of the actuator;
- a second linkage member connected to the frame at a fixed position, the second linkage member being rotatably connected to the first linkage member, the second linkage member comprising a portion that contacts a section of the first linkage member when the actuator is in the extended position and will move out of contact with the section when the actuator is in the retracted position;
- a third linkage member rotatably connected to the second linkage member;
- and
- a rotatable cam connected to the frame, the rotatable cam having a receiving portion configured to receive and secure a member of a lock structure in a locked position;
- wherein the rotatable cam is rotatably connected to the third linkage member.
A lock mechanism comprising:
- a frame;
- an actuator mounted on the frame, the actuator configured to move from a retracted position to an extended position;
- a first linkage member mechanically connected to the actuator;
- a second linkage member mechanically connected to the first linkage member and mechanically connected to a guide member, wherein the guide member contacts a portion of the first linkage member when the actuator is in the extended position and is moved out of contact with the portion when the actuator is in the retracted position;
- a third linkage member mechanically connected to the second linkage member;
- and
- a rotatable cam having a receiving portion, the rotatable cam mechanically connected to the third linkage member such that movement of the actuator 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;
- wherein the receiving portion is configured to receive and secure a member of a lock structure in a locked position.
A method of operating a lock mechanism to secure a member of a lock structure, the method comprising:
- moving an actuator, which is mounted on a frame, from a retracted position to an extended position, thereby generating a first force;
- and
- transferring to a rotatable cam at least a portion of the first force via a mechanical connection with a first linkage member, a second linkage member and a third linkage member, the rotatable cam being connected to the frame and having a receiving portion, and the rotatable cam rotating in response to the transferred force so as to receive and secure a member of a lock structure within the receiving portion.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.