Field retrofittable refrigerator lock with audit trail

A method of controlling access to selected items, comprising the steps of:

• providing an enclosure for enclosing the selected items, the enclosure including at least an exterior portion and an access door;
• attaching a strike plate to the exterior portion;
• said strike plate being removably attachable to said exterior portion;
• attaching a housing containing a latch bolt, a drive motor, a microprocessor, a memory, and an access authorization circuit to the access door;
• said housing being removably attachable to said access door;
• programming the memory with a first predetermined plurality of code sequences;
• providing a predetermined plurality of users access to at least one of the first predetermined plurality of code sequences;
• and
• storing data in the memory corresponding to user identification and date and time of access,
• whereby an audit trail of access to the stored items may be maintained.

Lock assembly apparatus for retrofittable use with an enclosure of the type for enclosing selected items, and including at least an exterior portion and an access door, said apparatus comprising:

• a strike plate removably attachable to the exterior portion of an enclosure;
• a housing removably attachable to the access door of such enclosure;
• a latch bolt mounted in said housing and operatively configured to cooperate with said strike plate to inhibit relative movement between said strike plate and said latch bolt;
• a drive motor mounted in said housing and operatively configured to retract said latch bolt into said housing to allow relative movement between said strike plate and said latch bolt;
• a microprocessor mounted in said housing;
• a memory mounted in said housing;
• and
• an access authorization circuit associated with said housing for receiving access authorization request data from a user,
• wherein data received by said access authorization circuit is verified by said microprocessor by comparing the data to a plurality of valid data sequences whereby, upon validation, said microprocessor energizes said drive motor to operate said latch bolt for movement of said strike plate for corresponding opening or closing of the access door of the enclosure, and said microprocessor stores lock operation data in said memory to reflect an audit trail of access to selected items enclosed in such enclosure.