The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
May. 30, 2000
Filed:
Jul. 08, 1998
Gary L Myers, Monee, IL (US);
William D Denison, Palos Hills, IL (US);
Paul D Caplinger, Tinley Park, IL (US);
Calin V Roatis, Des Plaines, IL (US);
Fort Lock Corporation, River Grove, IL (US);
Abstract
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 Once captured, the latching mechanism is then withdrawn within the vending machine to pull the door into the closed position wherein a gasket disposed between the door and the vending machine is substantially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.