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US 7,631,526 B2Granted
Enclosure having exchangable lock assembly
OwnerRandy L. Squierinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An enclosure suitable for housing equipment for which controlled access is desirable. The enclosure has at least one, preferably two, enclosure doors secured by securing assemblies selected from a group consisting of a lock cylinder assembly, an electronic lock assembly, a quarter-turn latch assembly, a compression latch assembly, a folding T latch assembly, a lift and turn compression latch assembly, a pawl/cam action latch assembly, a multi-point latch assembly and a bolt assembly for securing to a rotary latch. Each securing assembly is secured to a mounting plate so that the respective securing assemblies may be easily exchanged within a standardized opening in the respective enclosure doors.
Claims18
An enclosure suitable for restricting access to equipment stored within the enclosure, the enclosure comprising:
- a plurality of sides;
- an interior space defined in part by the plurality of sides;
- wherein at least one of the plurality of sides includes a first door and a first side opening through which the interior space is accessible when the first door is in a first open position, the first door having an interior side, an exterior side and a first lock assembly opening which is defined by a plurality of edges;
- wherein the plurality of edges interconnect with each other to fully surround the lock assembly opening;
- and
- a first lock assembly secured at least partially within the first lock assembly opening such that the first door can be secured in a second closed position, wherein access to the interior space via the first side opening is prevented by the first door when the first door is in the second closed position;
- the first lock assembly including:
- a mounting plate having an interior surface and an exterior surface;
- a lock actuation mechanism;
- and
- a securing mechanism secured proximate the interior surface of the mounting plate;
- wherein the lock actuation mechanism can actuate the securing mechanism so that the securing mechanism can prevent the first door from being opened when the first door is in the second closed position;
- wherein the interior surface of the mounting plate is secured against the exterior side of the first door proximate at least one of the edges of the first lock assembly opening so that the first lock assembly is effectively secured to the first door;
- wherein the mounting plate and the securing mechanism are on opposite sides of the first door.
11 more elements
An enclosure suitable for restricting access to equipment stored within the enclosure, the enclosure comprising:
- a plurality of sides;
- a frame including upright supports;
- an interior space defined in part by the plurality of sides;
- wherein one of the plurality of sides includes a first door and a first side opening through which the interior space is accessible when the first door is in a first open position, the first door having an interior side, an exterior side and a lock assembly opening which is defined by a plurality of edges;
- wherein the plurality of edges interconnect with each other to fully surround the first lock assembly opening;
- wherein a second side of the plurality of sides includes a second door and a second side opening through which the interior space is accessible when the second door is in a first open position;
- a first lock assembly secured at least partially within the lock assembly opening such that the first door can be secured in a second closed position when access to the interior space via the first side opening is prevented by the first door;
- the first lock assembly including:
- a mounting plate having an interior surface and an exterior surface;
- a lock actuation mechanism;
- and
- a securing mechanism secured proximate the interior surface of the mounting plate;
- wherein the lock actuation mechanism can actuate the securing mechanism so that the securing mechanism can prevent the first door from being opened when the first door is in the second closed position;
- wherein the interior surface of the mounting plate is secured against the exterior side of the first door proximate at least one of the edges of the first lock assembly opening so that the first lock assembly is effectively secured to the first door;
- wherein the mounting plate and the securing mechanism are on opposite sides of the first door.
12 more elements
A method of accessing an interior space within an enclosure;
- the method comprising the steps of:
- providing an enclosure suitable for restricting access to equipment stored within the enclosure, the enclosure including:
- a plurality of sides;
- an interior space defined in part by the plurality of sides;
- wherein at least one of the plurality of sides includes a first door and a first side opening through which the interior space is accessible when the first door is in a first open position, the first door having an interior side, an exterior side and a first lock assembly opening which is defined by a plurality of edges;
- wherein the plurality of edges interconnect with each other to fully surround the lock assembly opening;
- and
- a first lock assembly secured at least partially within the first lock assembly opening such that the first door can be secured in a second closed position, wherein access to the interior space via the first side opening is prevented by the first door when the first door is in the second closed position;
- the first lock assembly including:
- a mounting plate having an interior surface and an exterior surface;
- a lock actuation mechanism;
- and
- a securing mechanism secured proximate the interior surface of the mounting plate;
- wherein the lock actuation mechanism can actuate the securing mechanism so that the securing mechanism can prevent the first door from being opened when the first door is in the second closed position;
- wherein the interior surface of the mounting plate is secured against the exterior side of the first door proximate at least one of the edges of the first lock assembly opening so that the first lock assembly is effectively secured to the first door;
- wherein the mounting plate and the securing mechanism are on opposite sides of the first door;
- wherein a second side of the plurality of sides includes a second door and a second side opening through which the interior space is accessible when the second door is in a first open position and the second door includes an interior door release having a latch;
- opening the first door to gain access to the interior space;
- and
- actuating the latch to release the second door so that access to the interior spaces is possible through the second side opening.
17 more elements
A method of securing a securing mechanism to a door of an enclosure suitable for restricting access to equipment stored within the enclosure so that the securing mechanism is easily disengaged from the door, the method comprising the steps of:
- providing an enclosure including:
- a plurality of sides;
- an interior space defined in part by the plurality of sides;
- wherein at least one of the plurality of sides includes a first door and a first side opening through which the interior space is accessible when the first door is in a first open position, the first door having an interior side, an exterior side and a lock assembly opening that is defined by a plurality of edges;
- wherein the plurality of edges interconnect with each other to fully surround the lock assembly opening;
- providing a first lock assembly;
- the first lock assembly including:
- a mounting plate having an interior surface and an exterior surface;
- a lock actuation mechanism;
- and a securing mechanism secured proximate the interior surface of the mounting plate;
- wherein the lock actuation mechanism can actuate the securing mechanism so that the securing mechanism can prevent the first door from being opened when the first lock assembly is secured to the first door and the first door is secured in a second closed position;
- securing the first lock assembly to the first door such that first lock assembly is secured at least partially within the first lock assembly opening such that the first door can be secured in a second closed position, wherein access to the interior space through the first side opening is prevented by the first door when the first door is in the second closed position;
- wherein the interior surface of the mounting plate is secured against the exterior side of the first door proximate at least one of the edges of the first lock assembly opening so that the first lock assembly is effectively secured to the first door;
- wherein the mounting plate and the securing mechanism are generally located on opposite sides of the first door.
11 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.