IP Verse

Electronic Cam Lock For Cabinet Doors, Drawers And Other Applications

Patent No. US10909789 (titled "Electronic Cam Lock For Cabinet Doors, Drawers And Other Applications") was filed by Security People Inc on Apr 6, 2017.

What is this patent about?

’789 is related to the field of electronic locks , specifically those designed as replacements for traditional mechanical cam locks used in cabinets, drawers, lockers, and similar applications. The background involves the need for a simple, reliable, and compact electronic locking solution that can fit into the existing standard openings or shells of conventional cam, plunger, or cabinet locks, thereby enabling easy retrofitting without requiring modifications to the furniture or fixture.

The underlying idea behind ’789 is to create a self-contained electronic lock that integrates the necessary electronics, user interface (keypad, electronic key reader, or NFC), and power source (batteries) into a single, compact housing. This housing is designed to either directly replace the entire mechanical cam lock or, more commonly, to replace the removable plug of an existing cam lock cylinder. The key insight is to maintain the standard dimensions and mounting configurations of traditional cam locks, allowing for a seamless upgrade to electronic access control.

The claims of ’789 focus on an electronic cam lock device that can be mounted on a door, cabinet, panel, or drawer. The device includes a compact housing with electronics, a user interface for code entry, and a cam lock plug unit extending from the back of the housing. This plug unit is designed to fit into a standard cam lock cylinder shell. The device also features a knob or handle for manual operation when permitted by the electronics, and a battery compartment for power. A key aspect is that the housing is a self-contained unit, comprising the sole housing and electronics of the cam lock device.

In practice, the invention allows a user to enter a code via a keypad or present an electronic key to gain access. Upon successful authentication, the electronics retract a slidable member, allowing the knob or handle to be turned, which in turn rotates the cam or locking element at the back of the lock. This disengages the lock from a slot or ledge, enabling the door or drawer to be opened. The device is powered by batteries housed within the unit, making it independent of external power sources.

The invention differentiates itself from prior approaches by offering a compact, all-in-one electronic lock that can be easily retrofitted into existing mechanical cam lock installations. Unlike some prior electronic locking systems that require additional housings or electronics on the inside of the cabinet or drawer, ’789 maintains a clean and unobtrusive design, with only the cam lock cylinder unit or a simple driver extending into the interior space. This simplifies installation and ensures compatibility with a wide range of furniture and fixture types.

How does this patent fit in bigger picture?

Technical landscape at the time

In the mid-2000s when ’789 was filed, electronic access control was at a time when systems commonly relied on physical tokens or keypads for authentication rather than more advanced biometric methods. At this time, embedded systems had limited processing power and memory, which meant that complex algorithms for security and user interface were non-trivial. At a time when X was typically implemented using Y, low-power wireless communication was becoming more prevalent, but wired connections were still common for many applications.

Novelty and Inventive Step

The application was subject to multiple office actions. Claims were objected to for informalities and rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 over prior art references. Arguments were presented by the applicant. A final rejection was issued. The prosecution record does NOT describe the technical reasoning or specific claim changes that led to allowance.

Claims

There are 76 claims in total, with independent claims numbered 1, 21, 34, 35, 46, 51, 52, 62, 66, and 71. The independent claims generally focus on electronic cam lock devices and assemblies with a housing containing electronics, a user access terminal, and a manually operable knob or handle. The dependent claims generally elaborate on specific features, components, and configurations of the electronic cam lock devices and assemblies described in the independent claims.

Key Claim Terms New

Definitions of key terms used in the patent claims.

Term (Source)Support for SpecificationInterpretation
Cam lock plug unit
(Claim 1)		“From the back of the housing in one embodiment extends the cam lock cylinder unit of conventional cam lock size, and with a length to fit the application, i.e. the depth of material and configuration where mounted. The rear-extending cylinder unit may have an external thread, so that a nut or threaded ring is tightened down to firmly retain the cylinder and housing in place. In other embodiments a dummy plug can extend back from the housing unit, or simply a driver or spindle.”A component extending from the back of the housing that fits into a standard cam lock cylinder shell, allowing the electronic cam lock device to be used with existing cam lock systems.
Locking element
(Claim 21, Claim 34, Claim 35, Claim 46, Claim 51, Claim 66)		“Essentially the only element at the back side of the door, drawer or panel is the rear-extending cam lock cylinder unit itself, with attached cam positioned to engage with a ledge or slot or other hardware to retain the door(s) or panel locked. In some embodiments the rear-extending element is a dummy plug or driver.”A component (cam, bolt, or latch) operatively coupled to the rotatable core and disposed at an end of the rotatable core opposite the housing, which is used to engage with a strike or other locking bars, cams or apparatus.
Rotatable core
(Claim 21, Claim 34, Claim 35, Claim 46, Claim 51)		“Essentially the only element at the back side of the door, drawer or panel is the rear-extending cam lock cylinder unit itself, with attached cam positioned to engage with a ledge or slot or other hardware to retain the door(s) or panel locked. In some embodiments the rear-extending element is a dummy plug or driver.”A component operatively coupled to the knob or handle and extending from the rear side of the housing through an opening in the door or panel, which is used to transfer the rotational motion of the knob or handle to the locking element.
Selectively operable knob or handle
(Claim 21, Claim 34, Claim 35, Claim 46, Claim 51, Claim 52, Claim 62, Claim 66)		“The compact electronic locking device in one embodiment has a knob or handle that can rotate the cam lock cylinder plug when such manual rotation is permitted by the lock electronics. In one preferred form, the invention is embodied in a cam lock for a door, cabinet or drawer and includes a compact housing containing electronics and having a keypad or other terminal enabling entry of codes by a user, a cam cylinder unit or driver extending from a back side of the housing, in a standard cam lock size adapted to fit through a standard cam lock opening in a cabinet or door for extending therethrough, and with a knob or handle on the housing for operating the cam lock manually when permitted by the electronics.”A knob or handle on the housing that can be used to manually operate the cam lock, but only when permitted by the electronics.
Standard cam lock cylinder shell
(Claim 1)		“Metal and wood file cabinets, desk and cabinet drawers, locker doors, access panels and doors, mail boxes, dispensers and other secure situations often utilize relatively simple lock mechanisms known as cam locks. Such cam locks may or may not involve a camming action. In one of the simplest forms, a cam lock on a cabinet door typically fits in a ¾ inch diameter D-shaped or double D-shaped hole and, at the back side of the cam lock cylinder unit, has a metal blade or arm called a cam that rotates when the key is turned, from a position disengaged from surrounding cabinet hardware to a position of engagement in a slot or behind a ledge of the surrounding cabinet hardware.”A pre-existing component in a door, cabinet, panel, or drawer that the cam lock plug unit is designed to fit into.

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US10909789

SECURITY PEOPLE INC
Application Number
US15481402
Filing Date
Apr 6, 2017
Status
Granted
Expiry Date
May 30, 2027
External Links
Slate, USPTO, Google Patents