Electronic striker for releasing a compartment door and method of using the same

A method of using an electronic striker to release a door or access panel from a housing for the door or access panel, the method comprising:

• activating a motor of the electronic striker to move a plunger of the electronic striker from a withdrawn position, in which the plunger is withdrawn within a passageway, to a deployed position, in which the plunger is extended within the passageway;
• and
• simultaneously moving a pawl of the door or access panel during the activating step from a position in which the pawl is positioned within the passageway to a position in which the pawl is positioned either outside or substantially outside of the passageway, thereby releasing the door or access panel from the housing for the door or access panel.

A method of using an electronic striker in a manual override mode to release a door or access panel from a housing for the door or access panel, the method comprising:

• manually moving a plunger of the electronic striker from a withdrawn position, in which the plunger is withdrawn within a passageway, to a deployed position, in which the plunger is extended within the passageway;
• and
• simultaneously moving a pawl of the door or access panel during the manual movement step from a position in which the pawl is positioned within the passageway to a position in which the pawl is positioned either outside or substantially outside of the passageway, thereby releasing the door or access panel from the housing for the door or access panel.

A unidirectional worm gear comprising a body and teeth extending outwardly from the body, wherein each tooth has a sloped surface for meshing with a worm and a planar surface opposite the sloped surface.