Cart locking device

A locking system for a cart having at least one drawer moveable between an open position and a closed position, and a drawer locking tab to selectively retain the drawer in the closed position and release the drawer for movement to the open position, the system comprising:

• a lock mechanism adapted to engage and disengage the drawer on the cart to selectively retain and release the drawer, the lock mechanism having a locked configuration wherein the drawer of the cart may not be opened and having an unlocked configuration wherein the drawer of the cart may be opened;
• an armature selectively engageable with the lock mechanism, the armature being engaged with the lock mechanism in the locked configuration;
• a drive mechanism coupled to the armature;
• a power supply electrically coupled to the drive mechanism to selectively energize the drive mechanism;
• and
• an input device for receiving an input code from a user, the input device being in electrical communication with the power supply and controlling current from the power supply to the drive mechanism such that current is provided to the drive mechanism to disengage the armature from the lock mechanism when in the locked configuration;
• the lock mechanism further comprising:
• a cam to engage and disengage the locking tab of the cart to selectively retain and release the drawer, respectively, and
• a handle having a first position corresponding to the locked configuration of the lock mechanism and a second position corresponding to the unlocked configuration of the lock mechanism,
• wherein the handle is coupled to the cam and rotatably and slidably mounted to the lock mechanism, and
• whereby the cam is movable to disengage the locking tab of the cart when the handle is moved from the first position to the second position by rotating and sliding the handle.

A locking system for a cart having at least one drawer moveable between an open position and a closed position, and a drawer locking tab to selectively retain the drawer in the closed position and release the drawer for movement to the open position, the system comprising:

• a lock mechanism adapted to engage and disengage the drawer locking tab to selectively retain and release the drawer, the lock mechanism having a locked configuration wherein the drawer of the cart may not be opened and having an unlocked configuration wherein the drawer of the cart may be opened;
• an armature selectively engageable with the lock mechanism, the armature being engaged with the lock mechanism in the locked configuration;
• a drive mechanism coupled to the armature;
• a power supply electrically coupled to the drive mechanism to selectively energize the drive mechanism;
• and
• an input device for receiving an input code from a user, the input device being in electrical communication with the power supply and controlling current from the power supply to the drive mechanism such that current is provided to the drive mechanism to disengage the armature from the lock mechanism when in the locked configuration;
• the lock mechanism further comprising:
• a housing having opposing first and second apertures each in communication with a central cavity,
• an elongated rod having a first end and a second end, the second end of the rod extending though the first aperture of the housing and into the cavity, the first end of the rod protruding from the housing,
• a cam surface on the first end of the rod engaging the drawer locking tab to retain the drawer in the closed position when the cam surface is moved in a direction away from the housing, and to disengage the drawer locking tab to release the drawer when the cam surface is moved in a direction toward the housing,
• a handle having a first end and a second end, the first end of the handle having a knob adapted to be grasped by the user, the second end of the handle extending into the cavity of the housing through the second aperture and being coupled to the second end of the rod, the handle being slidably and rotatably coupled to the housing whereby the cam surface of the rod is movable in a direction away from the housing to engage the drawer locking tab by sliding and rotating the handle to a first position, and the cam surface is movable in a direction toward the housing to disengage the drawer locking tab by rotating and sliding the handle to a second position, and
• a coil spring disposed within the central cavity and coupled to the handle to bias the handle toward the second position.

A locking system for a cart having a drawer locking tab and at least one drawer moveable between an open position and a closed position, the system comprising:

• a lock mechanism including a housing having opposing first and second apertures each in communication with a central cavity, the lock mechanism having a locked configuration wherein the drawer of the cart may not be opened and having an unlocked configuration wherein the drawer of the cart may be opened;
• an elongated rod having a first end and a second end, the second end of the rod extending though the first aperture of the housing and into the cavity, the first end of the rod protruding from the housing;
• a cam surface on the first end of the rod engaging the drawer locking tab to retain the drawer in the closed position when the cam surface is moved in a direction away from the housing, and to disengage the drawer locking tab to release the drawer when the cam surface is moved in a direction toward the housing;
• a handle having a first end and a second end, the first end of the handle having a knob adapted to be grasped by the user, the second end of the handle extending into the cavity of the housing through the second aperture and being coupled to the second end of the rod, the handle being slidably and rotatably coupled to the housing whereby the cam surface of the rod is movable in a direction away from the housing to engage the drawer locking tab by sliding and rotating the handle to a first position, and the cam surface is movable in a direction toward the housing to disengage the drawer locking tab by rotating and sliding the handle to a second position;
• and
• a coil spring disposed within the central cavity and coupled to the handle to bias the handle in a rotational direction toward the first position and in an axial direction toward the second position;
• an armature selectively engageable with the lock mechanism, the armature being engaged with the lock mechanism in the locked configuration;
• a solenoid coupled to the armature;
• a power supply electrically coupled to the solenoid to selectively energize the solenoid;
• an input device for receiving an input code from the user, the input device being in electrical communication with the power supply and controlling current from the power supply to the solenoid such that current is provided to the solenoid to disengage the armature from the locked mechanism when in the locked configuration;
• a manual override device including a yoke coupled to the armature, whereby actuation of the yoke moves the armature to disengage the lock mechanism and thereby permit the lock mechanism to be operated from the locked configuration to the unlocked configuration;
• and
• a key-operated lock coupled to the yoke, whereby operation of the key-operated lock actuates the yoke.

A lockable cart comprising;

• a frame;
• at least one drawer supported in the frame and moveable between an open position and a closed position;
• a lock mechanism adapted to engage and disengage the drawer on the cart to selectively retain and release the drawer, the lock mechanism having a locked configuration wherein the drawer of the cart may not be opened and having an unlocked configuration wherein the drawer of the cart may be opened;
• an armature selectively engageable with the lock mechanism, the armature being engaged with the lock mechanism in the locked configuration;
• a drive mechanism coupled to the armature;
• a power supply electrically coupled to the drive mechanism to selectively energize the drive mechanism;
• an input device for receiving an input code from a user, the input device being in electrical communication with the power supply and controlling current from the power supply to the drive mechanism such that current is provided to the drive mechanism to disengage the armature from the locked mechanism when in the locked configuration;
• and
• a manual override device, the override device comprising:
• a yoke coupled to the armature,
• whereby actuation of the yoke moves the armature to disengage the lock mechanism and thereby permit the lock mechanism to be operated from the locked configuration to the unlocked configuration, and
• a key-operated lock coupled to the yoke, whereby operation of the key-operated lock actuates the yoke.

A lockable cart comprising:

• a frame;
• at least one drawer supported in the frame and moveable between an open position and a closed position;
• a lock mechanism adapted to engage and disengage the drawer on the cart to selectively retain and release the drawer, the lock mechanism having a locked configuration wherein the drawer of the cart may not be opened and having an unlocked configuration wherein the drawer of the cart may be opened;
• an armature selectively engageable with the lock mechanism, the armature being engaged with the lock mechanism in the locked configuration;
• a drive mechanism coupled to the armature;
• a power supply electrically coupled to the drive mechanism to selectively energize the drive mechanism;
• an input device for receiving an input code from a user, the input device being in electrical communication with the power supply and controlling current from the power supply to the drive mechanism such that current is provided to the drive mechanism to disengage the armature from the locked mechanism when in the locked configuration;
• and
• a drawer locking tab to selectively retain the drawer in the closed position and to release the drawer for movement to the open position;
• wherein said lock mechanism is adapted to engage and disengage said drawer locking tab;
• the lock mechanism further comprising:
• a cam to engage and disengage the locking tab of the cart to selectively retain and release the drawer, respectively,
• a handle having a first position corresponding to the locked configuration of the lock mechanism and a second position corresponding to the unlocked configuration of the lock mechanism,
• wherein the handle is coupled to the cam and rotatably and slidably mounted to the lock mechanism, and
• whereby the cam is movable to disengage the locking tab of the cart when the handle is moved from the first position to the second position by rotating and sliding the handle.

A lockable cart comprising:

• a frame;
• at least one drawer supported in the frame and moveable between an open position and a closed position;
• a lock mechanism adapted to engage and disengage the drawer on the cart to selectively retain and release the drawer, the lock mechanism having a locked configuration wherein the drawer of the cart may not be opened and having an unlocked configuration wherein the drawer of the cart may be opened;
• an armature selectively engageable with the lock mechanism, the armature being engaged with the lock mechanism in the locked configuration;
• a drive mechanism coupled to the armature;
• a power supply electrically coupled to the drive mechanism to selectively energize the drive mechanism;
• an input device for receiving an input code from a user, the input device being in electrical communication with the power supply and controlling current from the power supply to the drive mechanism such that current is provided to the drive mechanism to disengage the armature from the locked mechanism when in the locked configuration;
• and
• a drawer locking tab to selectively retain the drawer in the closed position and to release the drawer for movement to the open position, wherein said lock mechanism is adapted to engage and disengage said drawer locking tab;
• the lock mechanism further comprising:
• a housing having opposing first and second apertures each in communication with a central cavity,
• an elongated rod having a first end and a second end, the second end of the rod extending though the first aperture of the housing and into the cavity, the first end of the rod protruding from the housing,
• a cam surface on the first end of the rod engaging the drawer locking tab to retain the drawers in the closed position when the cam surface is moved in a direction away from the housing, and to disengage the drawer locking tab to release the drawers when the cam surface is moved in a direction toward the housing,
• a handle having a first end and a second end, the first end of the handle having a knob adapted to be grasped by the user, the second end of the handle extending into the cavity of the housing through the second aperture and being coupled to the second end of the rod, the handle being slidably and rotatably coupled to the housing whereby the cam surface of the rod is movable in a direction away from the housing to engage the drawer locking tab by sliding and rotating the handle to a first position, and the cam surface is movable in a direction toward the housing to disengage the drawer rocking tab by rotating and sliding the handle to a second position, and
• a coil spring disposed within the central cavity and coupled to the handle to bias the handle toward the second position.