Lock assembly

A lock assembly for use in an enclosed structure housing a locking bar having a plurality of locking fingers includes a lock arm mechanism having a lock arm and a lock arm mounting assembly for mounting the lock arm mechanism in the enclosed structure. The lock arm causes a rigid finger on the locking bar to be raised and lowered and in doing so raises and lowers the locking bar.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field of the Invention 
The present invention relates generally to a security system for securing 
an enclosed structure, and more particularly to a lock assembly forming 
part of the security system. 
A security system with a distinctly different type of lock assembly and an 
enclosed structure, such as a cabinet or a cart, in which the security 
system can be incorporated are disclosed in commonly assigned U.S. Pat. 
No. 5,647,650, which is incorporated herein by reference. 
The lock assembly of the present invention is ideally situated for use in 
an enclosed structure and security system as shown in FIG. 1. In that 
figure, an enclosed structure 10 includes four flanged support posts 12 
for supporting two exterior side panels 14 and an unshown back panel. 
Interior side panels 16 are disposed side-by-side adjacent to the exterior 
side panels. Top and bottom platforms 18 and 20, respectively, complete 
the basic components of the enclosed structure. The completed structure 
forms a 3-sided enclosed frame, with the front side, or fourth side, open 
to slidably receive an array of drawers, shelves, etc. 
Each interior side panel 16 includes a corrugated interior surface 21 with 
an array of corrugations 23 adapted to receive the drawers, shelves, etc. 
The horizontal corrugations are uniformly spaced in the vertical 
direction. Small, semicircular openings 25 can be seen in the lateral 
front face of the interior side panel immediately below the end of each 
corrugation. The openings extend to the underside of each corrugation but 
cannot be seen in this view. The openings allow locking fingers, which 
will be positioned in the corrugations as discussed below, to move in and 
out of the corrugations as part of the security system. 
A main component of the security system of the '650 patent is an elongated 
locking bar 22 as shown in FIG. 2. The locking bar is equipped with a 
plurality of flexible locking fingers 24, or locking members, secured 
along its length. The locking bar 22 is positioned in an elongated 
recessed pocket 27 in the interior side panel 16 as shown in FIG. 3. When 
the locking bar is in position, each locking finger will be located in a 
corrugation of the interior side panel. 
With reference to FIG. 4, each locking finger includes a lateral arm 26 and 
an angular tip 28. The angular tip 28 is formed to have an angled face 32 
spanning an abutting face 34 and a front face 36. As seen in the figure, 
the lateral arm is angled and extends from a base plate 29, which is 
affixed to the locking bar. 
A partial front view of the corrugated side panel 16 with two locking 
fingers 24 is shown in FIG. 5. In this figure, the locking fingers 24 
extend through the openings 25 in the underside of the corrugations 23, 
and are thus in their locked position. In the locked position, the locking 
fingers will engage a notched channel or other corresponding element in a 
sliding frame of a drawer, tray, door, etc., and prevent it from being 
withdrawn. In this locked position, however, the shape and flexibility of 
the locking finger allows for an open drawer to be fully inserted and 
locked. More specifically, the angled face of the finger tip permits the 
sliding frame to impart an upward force to the locking finger, which in 
response will flex upwardly and allow the drawer to continue sliding until 
the notched channel receives the finger tip. At this point the locking 
finger will return to its unbiased state and lock the drawer. 
2. Description of the Prior Art 
In the security system disclosed in the '650 patent, the enclosed structure 
is secured (locked) and unsecured (unlocked) by directly engaging the 
locking bar. Lifting the locking bar raises the locking fingers out of the 
openings and unlocks the enclosed structure. In one embodiment, a cam 31 
engages the locking bar from below as shown in FIG. 3. The cam is rotated 
by an electric motor 33 to raise and lower the locking bar. In another 
embodiment, a mechanical locking mechanism employs an S-shaped link that 
is connected to a top portion of the locking bar. A pin operated by a key 
lock engages and rotates the link to raise and lower the locking bar. 
However, further improvements in a security system for an enclosed 
structure are desired. For example, it is desirable to provide a lock 
assembly with increased versatility and mobility, allowing it to be 
positioned at any desired height position in the enclosed structure and 
easily added or removed therefrom. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
It is a principal object of the invention to provide a lock assembly for 
use with an enclosed structure. 
It is an object of the invention to provide a lock assembly with superior 
versatility and ease of operation. 
It is a further object of the invention to provide a lock mechanism that 
readily can be located at different height positions in the enclosed 
structure. 
In accordance with one aspect of the invention, a lock assembly is provided 
for use in an enclosed structure housing a lock bar having a plurality of 
fingers secured thereto. The lock assembly comprises a lock arm mechanism 
including a lock arm, and a lock arm mounting assembly for mounting the 
lock arm mechanism in the enclosed structure. The lock arm causes a rigid 
finger on the lock bar to be raised and in so doing raises the lock bar. 
In another aspect of the invention a locking structure is formed of an 
enclosed structure including first and second sides having interior 
corrugated surfaces, and a lock bar having a plurality of flexible 
fingers, with the lock bar housed in the first side such that the fingers 
extend out of openings in the corrugated surface. A stabilizer is provided 
on the lock bar for rendering a designated one of the fingers inflexible, 
and locking means engages the designated finger to raise and lower the 
lock bar. 
In another aspect of the invention, the locking means includes a pivotable 
lock arm and an actuator extending from a first end of the lock arm for 
engaging the designated finger. 
In yet another aspect of the invention, a lock assembly for use with a lock 
bar having a plurality of flexible fingers includes stiffening means for 
rendering a designated finger substantially inflexible, and lock means for 
engaging the designated finger to raise and lower the lock bar. 
In another aspect of the invention, a locking structure comprises an 
enclosed structure including a plurality of flanged support posts and 
first and second sides having interior corrugated surfaces, and a locking 
bar having at least one locking member. The locking structure also 
includes a lock arm mechanism including means for raising the locking bar, 
a lock arm mounting assembly mounting the lock arm mechanism, and modular 
mounting means for mounting the lock arm mounting assembly to the flanged 
support posts. 
In still another aspect of the invention, a modular lock assembly for use 
in an enclosed structure housing a locking bar having at least one locking 
member includes a lock arm mechanism including an actuable lock arm, and a 
lock arm mounting assembly for mounting the lock arm mechanism in the 
enclosed structure. In addition, modular mounting means secures the lock 
arm mounting assembly to the enclosed structure, and locking means locks 
the enclosed structure when the lock arm is actuated. 
These and other objects, aspects, features and advantages of the present 
invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of 
the preferred embodiments taken in conjunction with the accompanying 
drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
FIGS. 6 and 7 illustrate two preferred embodiments of the invention, with 
both showing a modular enclosed structure, e.g., a cabinet 50, provided 
with a lock assembly 52 of the present invention. In FIG. 6 the lock 
assembly is positioned at the uppermost portion of the cabinet 50 and thus 
is considered to be a "top-mounted" lock assembly. The lock assembly 52 in 
FIG. 7 is a "mid-level" lock assembly, as it is mounted below the 
uppermost portion. As will be appreciated from the detailed discussion 
below, one of the benefits of the lock assembly of the present invention 
is that it can be positioned at any desired location along the entire 
height of the enclosed structure and in this sense is itself modular. 
By way of background information, the cabinet 50 itself in this 
non-limiting example utilizes a platform system comprised of flanged posts 
54 at each corner for receiving at least first and second side panels 56, 
a top assembly 58 and a bottom assembly 60. An unshown back panel would 
also normally be provided, although the back could be left open to 
slidably receive items. As discussed above, panels with corrugated 
interior surfaces 21 are provided opposite to both the first and second 
side panels for slidably receiving a drawer, shelf, door frame, etc. in 
the front opening 64 and, if desired, in the back opening. 
In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, a locking bar, 
which is preferably housed in a recessed pocket of the corrugated panel, 
is raised and lowered by engaging and lifting a designated locking finger 
on the locking bar. By causing a normally flexible finger to become 
substantially rigid as discussed below, raising and lowering that finger 
causes the locking bar to also be raised and lowered. This feature will be 
further explained with reference to FIGS. 8 and 9. 
FIG. 8 shows an interior side panel 16 with two locking fingers 24 in their 
"down" (i.e., locked) position in which the finger tips 28 extend through 
the openings 25 in the corrugations 23. 
In accordance with the present invention, a stabilizer 70, such as a pin or 
screw, is located directly above one of the fingers and secured to the 
locking bar. In this way, the flexibility of that designated finger 24' is 
effectively removed and it becomes substantially rigid. Thus, when the 
designated finger is lifted, the locking bar will also be raised. The 
stabilizer 70 positioned on the locking bar 22 can also be seen in FIG. 
10. If a pin is used, it can be fixed directly to the locking bar (e.g., 
welded) or inserted and secured in an opening in the locking bar. Of 
course, the stabilizer can be located at any desired position on the 
locking bar. 
As will be appreciated, alternative means for stabilizing, or stiffening, a 
flexible finger on the locking bar can be used without departing from the 
scope of the invention. This could include, as a non-limiting example, 
replacing the flexible finger altogether with a rigid finger. 
FIG. 9 shows the designated finger 24' being engaged and lifted by a rod 
72, or actuator, of a locking assembly that will be described below in 
detail. Since the designated finger cannot flex upwardly, lifting it also 
raises the locking bar and with it the other locking fingers. The fingers 
in FIG. 9 are thus located in their open, or unlocked, position. 
FIG. 11 is an exploded view of a lock arm mounting assembly 74 and a lock 
arm mechanism 76 in the top-mounted lock assembly of the present 
invention. The main components of the mounting assembly are a top frame 
78, a lock module bracket 80 and a lock face 82. These components are 
interconnected together, for example, by screws or rivets, and house 
therein a lock arm 84 of the lock arm mechanism. 
As seen in the perspective view of FIG. 11 and in the side elevational view 
of FIG. 12, the lock module bracket 80 can be formed of a single piece, 
e.g., of sheet metal, and shaped to have an inclined face 85, a top ledge 
86 to be connected to the top frame, and a lower flange 88 for connecting 
to the lock face. The lock module bracket also includes angled tabs 90 to 
be secured to the flanged support posts 54 by a self-locking cam nut 92. 
As shown in FIG. 13, the rectangularly-shaped cam nut 92 has alternating 
round 94 and square 96 shoulders and an internally threaded opening 98 for 
receiving a screw. 
To secure the lock module bracket 80 to the support posts, a screw is fed 
through the angled tab 90 and received in the cam nut, which is then 
positioned within a slot 91 formed between an adjacent pair of flanges. 
Alteratively, the cam nut can be prepositioned within the slot before 
receiving the screw. As the screw is turned, the cam nut will initially 
rotate 1/4 turn (i.e., 90.degree.) in the clockwise direction until its 
length becomes perpendicular to the length of the slot. At this point the 
square shoulders 96 will contact the interior surfaces of the slot and 
prevent further rotation of the cam nut. Continued tightening of the screw 
will secure the lock module bracket to the support posts. As will be 
appreciated, alternative means of securing the lock module bracket to the 
support posts can be used without departing from the scope of the 
invention. 
The top frame 78, which can also be made of sheet metal, includes a flat 
surface 100 with downturned edges 102 as shown in FIG. 11. The top frame 
is secured to threaded cores 93 in the flanged posts by, for example, 
screws or bolts 104 and to the lock module bracket 80 by, for example, 
rivets or screws 105. 
The lock face 82 has a front face 106, upper and lower edges 107 and 
beveled sides 108, and is preferably formed of a plastic material. The 
lower edge 107 of the lock face is secured to the lower flange 88 the lock 
module bracket 80 by, for example, rivets or screws. 
The lock arm mechanism 76 is shown in FIGS. 11 and 18 to include an 
elongated lock arm 84 that includes an offset portion 112 and is pivotally 
mounted to a bearing block 114 by a pin 116. The arm can be made of, for 
example, a plated metal. The bearing block is preferably secured to the 
lower flange 88 of the lock module bracket 80. An operating end 118 of the 
lock arm is connected to locking hardware 120, which is secured to the 
lock face 82 through an opening 122 therein. An actuating end 124 of the 
lock arm has a pin or rod 72 extending substantially perpendicular thereto 
for engaging the designated locking finger as discussed above. As best 
seen in FIGS. 8 and 9, the rod 72 is positioned in a corrugation of the 
corrugated side panel directly below the designated locking finger. 
The locking hardware includes a lock cam 126 for actuating the operating 
end 118 of the lock arm and also a lock housing 128 and lock core 130. The 
lock cam 126 is best seen in FIGS. 14 and 15 to include a base 132 having 
on its back surface a rim 134 and a raised frame 136. The front surface of 
the base has a cam guide 138 for contacting the lock arm. With reference 
to FIG. 16, the cam guide 138 has a minimal taper 140 on its outer edge. 
Operation of the lock mechanism, by turning a key 135, rotates the lock 
cam and serves to pivot the lock arm 84 about the pin 116. The pivoting 
lock arm moves the rod 72 up and down within the confines of the 
corrugation. 
As best seen in FIGS. 8 and 9, the lock arm is positioned to place the rod 
72 directly below the designated locking finger 24', while the stabilizer 
70 is placed directly above the locking finger. In this manner, when the 
lock arm is rotated in the counterclockwise direction, the rod will be 
lifted and in so doing will engage and raise the locking finger. The 
stabilizer prevents the locking finger from flexing, and therefore the 
upward force on the locking finger raises the entire locking bar, thus 
lifting all the locking fingers. When the lock arm pivots in the opposite 
direction, i.e., clockwise, the rod is lowered, allowing the designated 
locking finger and locking bar to also be lowered. The locking bar can be 
lowered solely by gravity and, if desired, by an additional biasing force 
such as a spring. 
The mid-level lock assembly is shown in FIG. 17. Since the mid-level lock 
assembly includes many of the same components as the top-mounted lock 
assembly, it will not be necessary to describe these common components in 
detail. The differences in this embodiment are embodied in a shelf 144, a 
modified lock module bracket 146 and a lock module tray 148. The lock 
module bracket and lock module tray are ideally formed out of sheet metal, 
while the shelf is preferably molded from plastic material. 
The bracket 146 is shaped to have a front face 150 with double-angled side 
tabs 152 on either end and front tabs 154 extending from the front face. 
As in the first embodiment, the lock module bracket is preferably secured 
to the flanged support posts by cam nuts 92 secured to the side tabs. The 
front tabs are for securing the bracket to the lock face 82 by, for 
example, screws or rivets, and the front face 150 is fixed to the shelf 
144 by screws or rivets as well. 
The top of the bracket has a stepped horizontal surface 155. 
The lock module tray 148 has a flat surface 156 with upturned lateral edges 
158 and a downturned front edge 160. Extending from the front edge 160 is 
a lower flange 162. As in the first embodiment, the lower flange is 
secured to a bottom surface of the lock face 82 and also receives the 
bearing block for rotatably supporting the lock arm. The lock arm 
mechanism housed in the lock arm mounting assembly is identical to that 
described above in the first embodiment. The tray and shelf can be 
supported laterally by the corrugated interior surfaces. 
In accordance with the present invention, the locking bar is raised and 
lowered by a modular lock assembly that can be provided at different 
heights, as desired, in the enclosed structure. In the first and second 
embodiments disclosed above, the lock assembly engages and raises a rigid 
finger (or locking member) on the locking bar to effect locking. It will 
be appreciated, however, that alternative means for raising and lowering 
the locking bar by the modular lock assembly can be provided without 
departing from the scope of the invention. For example, the lock arm 
mechanism can engage the locking bar directly or a rigid member (besides a 
locking finger) secured or connected to the locking bar. 
Although specific embodiments of the present invention have been described 
above in detail, it will be understood that this description is merely for 
purposes of illustration. Various modifications of and equivalent 
structures corresponding to the disclosed aspects of the preferred 
embodiments in addition to those described above may be made by those 
skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the present 
invention which is defined in the following claims, the scope of which is 
to be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass such 
modifications and equivalent structures.