Electronic Cam Lock For Cabinet Doors, Drawers And Other Applications
Patent No. US12020522 (titled "Electronic Cam Lock For Cabinet Doors, Drawers And Other Applications") was filed by Security People Inc on Jan 29, 2021.
What is this patent about?
’522 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 furniture. The background involves the need for a simple, reliable, and compact electronic locking solution that can fit into the existing standard openings designed for mechanical cam locks, eliminating the need for modifications to the furniture itself.
The underlying idea behind ’522 is to create an electronic cam lock that can be easily retrofitted into existing furniture by utilizing the same mounting footprint as a standard mechanical cam lock. This is achieved by integrating the necessary electronics, including a keypad or other access terminal, a battery compartment, and a mechanism to control the rotation of the cam, into a compact housing that attaches to the furniture using the existing cam lock opening.
The claims of ’522 focus on a method of operation for a cam lock on furniture. The method involves wirelessly receiving an access code , and if the code is valid, permitting manual operation of a knob or handle to shift a locking element. The cam lock includes a housing with electronics, an access terminal for receiving the code, an externally threaded cylinder shell extending through an opening in the panel, a nut to fix the housing to the panel, a rotatable core within the shell, a locking element coupled to the core, and a power terminal for receiving electric power.
In practice, the electronic lock replaces the mechanical cylinder of a traditional cam lock. The user enters a code via a keypad or uses a wireless access method. If the code is correct, the electronics disengage a blocking mechanism, allowing the user to manually turn a knob or handle. This rotation moves a cam or other locking element at the back of the lock, either engaging or disengaging it from a slot or ledge within the furniture, thereby locking or unlocking the drawer or cabinet.
The key differentiation from prior approaches lies in the compact integration of electronic access control into a form factor that is directly compatible with existing mechanical cam lock installations. Unlike some prior electronic locker locks that require significant modifications or additional housings on the inside of the cabinet, this design minimizes intrusion and complexity, making it a practical retrofit solution. The wireless access and external power options further enhance its usability and integration into networked access control systems.
How does this patent fit in bigger picture?
Technical landscape at the time
In the mid-2000s when ’522 was filed, electronic access control systems were at a time when systems commonly relied on physical contact with a memory device to authenticate access, when hardware or software constraints made wireless communication and low-power operation non-trivial, and at a time when integration of electronics into small form factors was typically implemented using discrete components.
Novelty and Inventive Step
The examiner approved the application because the prior art does not disclose or fairly suggest an electronic cam lock for cabinet doors, drawers, and other applications as claimed. Specifically, the examiner found that a prior art reference (Warren) discloses a cam lock with wireless access code reception, but it does not disclose a cam lock with an externally threaded cam lock cylinder shell extending from the rear of the housing, a nut to fix the housing to the panel, a rotatable core within the cylinder shell, and a locking element operatively coupled to the core and disposed within the furniture's interior.
Claims
This patent contains 10 claims, with claim 1 being the only independent claim. Independent claim 1 focuses on a method of operation for a cam lock on furniture, involving wireless access code reception and manual operation. The dependent claims generally elaborate on and refine the method described in the independent claim, adding details regarding wireless communication types, access code updates, usage information transmission, panel shifting, pin retraction, power source, locking element types, and housing placement.
Key Claim Terms New
Definitions of key terms used in the patent claims.
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Date
Description
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US12020522
- Application Number
- US17163300
- Filing Date
- Jan 29, 2021
- Status
- Granted
- Expiry Date
- Feb 25, 2029
- External Links
- Slate, USPTO, Google Patents