Vending lock
AssigneeTriTeq Lock and Security, LLC
InventorsWilliam Denison, Calin Roatis
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A cooler and freezer access control system locks a cooler or freezer when occurrence of an event is detected that requires limiting access to the inside of the cooler or freezer. Examples of such events include the loss of power to the cooler or freezer for a predetermined period of time, the opening of the cooler or freezer 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 or freezer door open while stocking the cooler or freezer with product.
Claims89
1-20. (canceled)
An enclosure access control system for selectively unlocking an enclosure having an enclosure body and at least one enclosure door which define a product storage area for storing one or more products, the product storage area being accessible by consumers after the at least one enclosure door is unlocked and when the at least one enclosure door is open, the system comprising:
- a locking element on a first one of the enclosure body and the at least one enclosure door;
- a locking mechanism on a second one of the enclosure body and the at least one enclosure door, and the locking mechanism configured for at least one of locking the at least one enclosure door to the enclosure body and unlocking the at least one enclosure door to the enclosure body;
- at least one controller comprising a first microcomputer connected to one of a local and a wide area network for communicating patron identification information;
- the at least one controller comprising a second microcomputer configured to perform control logic for determining transitioning the locking mechanism from locked to unlocked, the control logic determining the transitioning from locked to unlocked subsequent to one of a consumer purchase and a consumer authorization to make a purchase;
- and
- the at least one controller being in communication with the locking mechanism, the locking mechanism being configured in a locked condition during stand-by operation and being configured to selectively move to an unlocked condition upon receiving an unlock signal.
An enclosure access control system for selectively unlocking an enclosure having an enclosure body and at least one enclosure door which define a product storage area for storing one or more products, the product storage area being accessible by consumers after the at least one enclosure door is unlocked and when the at least one enclosure door is open, the system comprising:
- a locking element on a first one of the enclosure body and the at least one enclosure door;
- a locking mechanism on a second one of the enclosure body and the at least one enclosure door, and the locking mechanism configured for at least one of locking the at least one enclosure door to the enclosure body and unlocking the at least one enclosure door to the enclosure body;
- at least one controller comprising a first microcomputer connected to one of a local area and a wide area network for communicating an unlock signal;
- the at least one controller configured to receive the unlock signal from an electronic interface, the unlock signal generated by the electronic interface subsequent to one of a consumer purchase and a consumer authorization to make a purchase;
- the at least one controller comprising a second microcomputer, the second microcomputer being in communication with the first microcomputer to receive the unlock signal, the locking mechanism being configured in a locked condition during stand-by operation and being configured to selectively move to an unlocked condition upon receiving the unlock signal.
An enclosure access control system for selectively unlocking an enclosure having an enclosure body and at least one enclosure door which define a product storage area for storing one or more products, the product storage area being accessible by consumers after the at least one enclosure door is unlocked and when the at least one enclosure door is open, the system comprising:
- a locking element on a first one of the enclosure body and the at least one enclosure door;
- a locking mechanism on a second one of the enclosure body and the at least one enclosure door, and the locking mechanism configured for at least one of locking the at least one enclosure door to the enclosure body and unlocking the at least one enclosure door to the enclosure body;
- a first and a second controller for selectively unlocking the enclosure, the first controller comprising a first microcomputer, the first controller operatively connected to the second controller, the second controller comprising a second microcomputer;
- at first controller comprising a patron payment device configured to communicate one of patron payment and patron payment authorization information;
- the second controller being configured to be in communication with the locking mechanism, the locking mechanism being configured in a locked condition during stand-by operation and being configured to selectively move to an unlocked condition upon receiving an unlock signal from the second controller.
An enclosure access control system for selectively unlocking an enclosure having an enclosure body and at least one enclosure door which define a product storage area for storing one or more products, the product storage area being accessible by consumers after the at least one enclosure door is unlocked and when the at least one enclosure door is open, the system comprising:
- a locking element on a first one of the enclosure body and the at least one enclosure door;
- a locking mechanism on a second one of the enclosure body and the at least one enclosure door, the locking mechanism configured for at least one of locking the at least one enclosure door to the enclosure body and unlocking the at least one enclosure door to the enclosure body;
- a controller configured to one of generating an unlock signal and receiving an unlock signal from an electronic interface, the unlock signal generated subsequent to one of a consumer purchase and a consumer authorization to make a purchase;
- the controller being further configured to be in communication with the locking mechanism, the locking mechanism being configured in a locked condition during stand-by operation and being configured to selectively move to an unlocked condition upon receiving the unlock signal;
- and
- the controller comprising an output communication port configured to communicate at least one lock operation parameter.
An enclosure access control system for selectively unlocking an enclosure having an enclosure body and at least one enclosure door which define a product storage area for storing one or more products, the product storage area being accessible by consumers after the at least one enclosure door is unlocked and when the at least one enclosure door is open, the system comprising:
- a locking element on a first one of the enclosure body and the at least one enclosure door;
- a locking mechanism on a second one of the enclosure body and the at least one enclosure door, the locking mechanism configured for at least one of locking the at least one enclosure door to the enclosure body and unlocking the at least one enclosure door to the enclosure body;
- a controller configured to one of generating an unlock signal and receiving an unlock signal from an electronic interface, the unlock signal generated subsequent to one of a consumer purchase and a consumer authorization to make a purchase;
- the controller being further configured to be in communication with the locking mechanism, the locking mechanism being configured in a locked condition during stand-by operation and being configured to selectively move to an unlocked condition upon receiving the unlock signal;
- and
- wherein the product storage area contains one or more food products, wherein the controller is further configured to detect an event resulting in a change in temperature of the product storage area, wherein the event presents a risk of spoilage or thawing of the one or more food products in the product storage vending area, and in response, to restrict access by the consumers to the product storage vending area, wherein restricted access occurs after the temperature of the product storage area transitions from a predetermined temperature level or limit for a period of one or more minutes.
An enclosure access control system for selectively unlocking an enclosure having an enclosure body and at least one enclosure door which define a product storage area for storing one or more products, the product storage area being accessible by consumers after the at least one enclosure door is unlocked and when the at least one enclosure door is open, the system comprising:
- a locking element on a first one of the enclosure body and the at least one enclosure door;
- a locking mechanism on a second one of the enclosure body and the at least one enclosure door, the locking mechanism configured for at least one of locking the at least one enclosure door to the enclosure body and unlocking the at least one enclosure door to the enclosure body;
- a controller configured to one of generating an unlock signal and receiving an unlock signal from an electronic interface, the unlock signal generated subsequent to one of a consumer purchase and a consumer authorization to make a purchase;
- the controller being further configured to be in communication with the locking mechanism, the locking mechanism being configured in a locked condition during stand-by operation and being configured to selectively move to an unlocked condition upon receiving the unlock signal;
- and
- a manual actuator configured to manually actuate the locking mechanism to unlock the at least one enclosure door from the enclosure body during a service operation.
An enclosure access control system for selectively unlocking an enclosure having an enclosure body and at least one enclosure door which define a product storage area for storing one or more products, the product storage area being accessible by consumers after the at least one enclosure door is unlocked and when the at least one enclosure door is open, the system comprising:
- a locking element on a first one of the enclosure body and the at least one enclosure door;
- a locking mechanism on a second one of the enclosure body and the at least one enclosure door, the locking mechanism configured for at least one of locking the at least one enclosure door to the enclosure body and unlocking the at least one enclosure door to the enclosure body;
- a controller configured to one of generating an unlock signal and receiving an unlock signal from an electronic interface, the unlock signal generated subsequent to one of a consumer purchase and a consumer authorization to make a purchase;
- the controller being further configured to be in communication with the locking mechanism, the locking mechanism being configured in a locked condition during stand-by operation and being configured to selectively move to an unlocked condition upon receiving the unlock signal;
- and
- a manual release actuator in the product storage area of the enclosure body for manually actuating the locking mechanism to unlock the at least one enclosure door.
An enclosure access control system for selectively unlocking an enclosure having an enclosure body and at least one enclosure door which define a product storage area for storing one or more products, the product storage area being accessible by consumers after the at least one enclosure door is unlocked and when the at least one enclosure door is open, the system comprising:
- a locking element on a first one of the enclosure body and the at least one enclosure door;
- a locking mechanism on a second one of the enclosure body and the at least one enclosure door, the locking mechanism configured for at least one of locking the at least one enclosure door to the enclosure body and unlocking the at least one enclosure door to the enclosure body;
- a controller configured to one of generating an unlock signal and receiving an unlock signal from an electronic interface, the unlock signal generated subsequent to one of a consumer purchase and a consumer authorization to make a purchase;
- the controller being further configured to be in communication with the locking mechanism, the locking mechanism being configured in a locked condition during stand-by operation and being configured to selectively move to an unlocked condition upon receiving the unlock signal;
- and
- a data connection port configured to communicate a fault condition of the system;
- and a visual indication device operatively connected to the data connection port configured to indicate the fault condition of the system.
An enclosure access control system for selectively unlocking an enclosure having an enclosure body and at least one enclosure door which define a product storage area for storing one or more products, the product storage area being accessible by consumers after the at least one enclosure door is unlocked and when the at least one enclosure door is open, the system comprising:
- a locking element on a first one of the enclosure body and the at least one enclosure door;
- a locking mechanism on a second one of the enclosure body and the at least one enclosure door, the locking mechanism configured for at least one of locking the at least one enclosure door to the enclosure body and unlocking the at least one enclosure door to the enclosure body;
- a controller configured to receiving an unlock signal from an electronic interface, the unlock signal generated subsequent to one of a consumer purchase and a consumer authorization to make a purchase;
- the electronic interface comprising a plurality of data input ports configured for detecting at least one unlock signal;
- the controller being further configured to be in communication with the locking mechanism, the locking mechanism being configured in a locked condition during stand-by operation and being configured to selectively move to an unlocked condition upon receiving the unlock signal.
An enclosure access control system for selectively unlocking an enclosure having an enclosure body and at least one enclosure door which define a product storage area for storing one or more products, the product storage area being accessible by consumers after the at least one enclosure door is unlocked and when the at least one enclosure door is open, the system comprising:
- a locking element on a first one of the enclosure body and the at least one enclosure door;
- a locking mechanism on a second one of the enclosure body and the at least one enclosure door, the locking mechanism configured for at least one of locking the at least one enclosure door to the enclosure body and unlocking the at least one enclosure door to the enclosure body;
- a controller configured to one of generating an unlock signal and receiving an unlock signal from an electronic interface, the unlock signal generated subsequent to one of a consumer purchase and a consumer authorization to make a purchase;
- the controller being further configured to be in communication with the locking mechanism, the locking mechanism being configured in a locked condition during stand-by operation and being configured to selectively move to an unlocked condition upon receiving the unlock signal;
- and
- a data connection port configured to communicate a temperature of the system;
- and
- a visual indication device operatively connected to the data connection port configured to indicate the temperature of the system.
An enclosure access control system for selectively unlocking an enclosure having an enclosure body and at least one enclosure door which define a product storage area for storing one or more products, the product storage area being accessible by consumers after the at least one enclosure door is unlocked and when the at least one enclosure door is open, the system comprising:
- a locking element on a first one of the enclosure body and the at least one enclosure door;
- a locking mechanism on a second one of the enclosure body and the at least one enclosure door, the locking mechanism having an opening, the locking mechanism further including a latch configured to rotate to an open position within the opening, and the latch further configured to rotate to a closed position, the locking mechanism further including an electronically actuated latch engaging member adapted to engage the latch, and the lock mechanism configured for at least one of locking at least one enclosure door to the enclosure body and unlocking at least one enclosure door to the enclosure body;
- a controller configured to one of generating an unlock signal and receiving an unlock signal from an electronic interface, the unlock signal generated subsequent to one of a consumer purchase and a consumer authorization to make a purchase;
- and
- the controller being further configured to be in communication with the locking mechanism, the locking mechanism being configured in a locked condition during stand-by operation and being configured to selectively move the latch engaging member to an unlocked condition upon receiving the unlock signal.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.