Fort Lock Corporation

Paul D Caplinger

Gary L Myers

Calin Vasile Roatis

William D Denison

A lock system for a tool container provides the convenience of remote control without compromising the simplicity of the manual key operation. The lock system has an electronically controlled actuating mechanism coupled to the locking mechanism for locking and unlocking the tool container. The coupling between the electronically controlled actuating mechanism and the locking system allows a user to manually override the electronically controlled actuating mechanism with the conventional key-turning operation.

Electronically controlled lock system for tool containers

A lock assembly for a vending machine is provided for locking and unlocking a movable door of the vending machine with a remotely controlled electronic latching mechanism. The lock assembly includes at least one keeper assembly disposed on the door of the vending machine and at least one latching mechanism disposed within the interior of the vending machine and positioned for selective interaction and engagement with the keeper assembly when the door is moved between open, intermediate, and closed positions. When the door is moved from the open position toward the intermediate position, the latching mechanism captures the keeper assembly. Once captured, the latching mechanism is then withdrawn within the vending machine to pull the door into the closed position wherein a gasket disposed between the door and the vending machine is substantially uniformly compressed and sealed around its periphery. The lock assembly is also provided with a remote control unit which provides instructions to the electronic circuitry of the locking mechanism. For example, when the door is in the closed position, the door may be opened by transmitting a remote control signal from the remote control unit to the electronic circuitry of the locking mechanism.

Lock assembly for vending machines and method for locking and unlocking

An electronically controlled security lock is provided for use with safes, vaults, hotel rooms, safe deposit boxes, and the like. The security lock includes a housing having an interior region, exterior surfaces, and an aperture therethrough with a pair of opposed channels. The security lock also includes a dead bolt which is slidably disposed within the aperture of the housing, an actuator with a movable plunger element such as an electromagnetic solenoid which is arranged within the interior region of the housing, and a linkage which connects the plunger element and the dead bolt. The linkage of the security lock includes a pin which is received by openings formed in the dead bolt and by the channels of the aperture. In operation, the plunger element of the actuator moves the linkage and the dead bolt when an electric current is passed through the actuator. More specifically, the dead bolt moves between a retracted position wherein the dead bolt is substantially withdrawn within the housing and an extended position wherein the dead bolt protrudes at least partially outwardly away from the housing. When the dead bolt is in the extended position, the pin of the linkage engages stops formed within the channels of the aperture and latches the dead bolt in the extended position. A spring is also provided between the actuator and the linkage for biasing the dead bolt towards the extended position.

Growing community of inventors

Tinley Park, IL, United States of America

Paul D Caplinger