Patent Publication Number: US-11021894-B1

Title: Power-activated cam lock

Description:
FIELD OF INVENTION 
     This invention generally relates to mechanical fastening devices and more particularly pertains to cam lock systems, used in medical cabinets, showcases, file cabinets, tool chests, mailboxes, PO boxes, and so forth, for privacy and security reasons. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Traditional cam lock systems comprise a cam lock and a metal plate and are manually operated by turning a key. Most cam locks are cylindrical and configured to receive matching keys. When a key is inserted into a matching cam lock, the cam lock and the metal plate rotates with the key, generally ±90°, to engage or disengage with a catch or slot and lock or unlock the door, cabinets, drawers, or any items that the cam lock is attached to. If a user forgets to lock the door or cabinet, he/she has to physically be there to lock it or risk losing the security and/or privacy. Therefore, it is desirable to have a remotely-controllable, power-activated cam lock system working in parallel with a physical key lock system. 
     SUMMARY 
     The present invention is incorporated in a remotely-controllable, power-activated cam lock system. The system preferably comprises a cam lock, an actuator package coupled to the cam lock, a key, and a remote control. In an exemplary cam lock system, the cam lock is configured to receive and rotate with the key, preferably to a certain range of degrees, such as ±90°, or ±180°, when locking or unlocking. The actuator package of this exemplary cam lock system comprises a retractable geared plate or tongue, a micro gear motor, a controller, and a power system. The power system of this exemplary cam lock system is configured to provide electric power to the micro gear motor and the controller. In the exemplary cam lock system, the micro gear motor is configured to drive the plate back and forth, e.g. horizontally or vertically, radially/rotationally, or a combination thereof and the controller is configured to receive a control signal from the remote control to activate/deactivate the micro gear motor accordingly. 
     In operation, a user can lock a door by using the remote control of the exemplary cam lock system and unlock the door by either the remote control or manually with the key. To lock the door, a user uses the remote control to send a lock signal to the controller of the exemplary actuator package, and then the controller activates the micro gear motor to insert the plate into a catch or slot. To unlock the door, the user may use the remote control to send a unlock signal to the controller of the exemplary actuator package, and then the controller activates the micro gear motor to withdraw the plate from the catch or slot. Alternatively, the user may insert the key of the exemplary cam lock system into the cam lock and turn the whole exemplary cam lock system to a certain degree, such as 90°, to unlock the door. This way, if the power system of the exemplary cam lock system dies and the door is locked, i.e. the plate is inserted into the catch/slot, the user may still use the key to unlock and lock the door, just like with a traditional cam lock system. 
     The present invention utilizes a control/communication protocol with device(s) such as a home network hub, database, keypad, mobile phone, smart device, key fob, wearable, home integrated monitoring/control system, and portable wireless system. The communication protocol can implement any type of wireless devices including handheld scanners, cellphones, smartphones, tablets, key fobs, home monitoring/control interface units, etc. A communication protocol, such as Bluetooth, ISM (Industrial, Scientific, and Medical), ZigBee, Z-wave, Wifi, TinyMesh, or any other wireless communication protocol that can be utilized for data transference between the chosen device and this invention&#39;s wirelessly controlled compartment. 
     The transmitting and receiving of signals between the device and the compartment lock&#39;s controller/circuit board with firmware allows for unlocking or locking of aforementioned portable or stationary compartment(s). The remote device will send a secure command signal wireless to the lock controller (inside or outside of the compartment), which will in turn command the compartment lock to open. Sending the “open” command/signal can require a QR, proximity (0.1 to 30 feet), alphanumeric code, biometric entry or proximity based entry into the device in order to ensure security of the contents protected by the locked compartment. 
     In one configuration of this invention, the apparatus would lock its compartment automatically upon its closing. In other words, locking the compartment would not require a signal from the remote device. Only unlocking the compartment would require a signal from the remote device. Again, this is only one configuration of the invention. Requiring a signal from the device to unlock, open, close and lock the compartment is an equally viable configuration of this invention. 
     This invention creates the capability to secure items in a portable or stationary compartment. This invention is a lockable portable or stationary compartment that can contain features that can control the environment for the contents of said container. 
     Various embodiments may adopt various implementations or designs. The retractable plate of an alternate embodiment may work with a different type of motor, or mechanism, known in the art to drive the plate forward or backward, e.g. solenoid, stepper motor, thermal bimetallic actuator, piezoelectric actuator, heated gas piston actuator etc. Examples of the remote control may include a PC/cellphone APP that communicates with the controller of the exemplary actuator package by WIFI or Bluetooth signals, a simple device, like a garage door remote or a TV remote control, that communicates with the controller of the exemplary actuator package by radio or infrared signals, or any other suitable devices known in the art. Additionally, the key of an embodiment and the matching cam can be any types of suitable “key-cam combinations,” such as standard one-on-one keyed cam, a master-keyed cam, a keyless-slotted cam, a keyless-dial-combination cam, a combination-with-key-override cam, and so forth. Similarly, the cam lock of an embodiment can be of various shapes, including a knob cam, a T-handle cam, an L-handle cam, a wing-handle cam, and so on. Furthermore, an exemplary power system comprises three (3) AA batteries and a chamber housing the batteries. 
     It is an object of this invention to provide a remotely-controllable, power-activated cam lock system. 
     The features, functions, and advantages may be achieved independently in various embodiments of the disclosure or may be combined in yet other embodiments. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Embodiments of the disclosure will become more fully understood from the detailed description and the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the cam lock system; 
         FIG. 2  is a top side view of the embodiment in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a second perspective view of the embodiment in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a left side view of the embodiment in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a front view of the embodiment in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 6  is rear side view of the embodiment in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 7  is rear view of the embodiment in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 8  is a third perspective view of the embodiment in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 9  is a top plan view the embodiment in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 10  a fourth perspective view of the embodiment in 
         FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 11  is a front plan view of the embodiment in  FIG. 1 , with the cam lock removed; 
         FIG. 12  is a top plan view of the embodiment in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 13  is a cross sectional view, along A-A in  FIG. 12 , of the embodiment in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 14  is a cross sectional view, along B-B in  FIG. 12 , of the embodiment in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 15  is a rear view of the embodiment in  FIG. 1 , with the battery housing cover removed. 
         FIG. 16  illustrates one way to retrofit an existing cam lock to an actuator package. 
         FIG. 17  illustrates a cut view of  FIG. 16 , illustrating an embodiment of a connection between the cam lock housing and the actuator package using a king screw. 
         FIG. 18  is an exploded view of an exemplary embodiment of a power-activated cam lock. 
         FIG. 19  illustrates an embodiment of a power-activated cam lock mounted to a cabinet door. 
         FIG. 20  illustrates a cut view of embodiment of a power-activated cam lock mounted to a cabinet door. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The figures illustrate exemplary embodiments of a power-activated cam lock incorporating aspects of the invention. The aspects of the invention disclosed may be may scaled or modified for any and all cam lock types. It is contemplated that one application of the disclosed embodiment is to create a smart cam lock that is capable of being operated by remote control, while retaining the ability to be actuated manually by a key. The cam lock embodiment described herein is preferably selected, designed, retrofitted, configured, or assembled to augment a typical, existing cam lock. Accordingly, the features of the disclosed embodiment should not be construed as limiting any aspect of the invention. 
     In general, the present invention is incorporated in a cam lock  100  that is securable relative to a drawer or door. Coupled to the cam lock  100  is actuator package  200 . The actuator package of this exemplary cam lock system preferably includes a retractable geared plate or tongue, a micro gear motor, a controller, and a power system. 
     The actuator package  200  uses mechanical motion to move the tongue  210  out of place while still allowing the key cam to work as normal. While linear motion is presently preferred other means of mechanical motion (e.g., rotational or transitive mechanical motion) can also work. The tongue  210  of the cam lock is the part that is latched down to hold the door closed, this method provides a way to transpose the tongue  210  out of place with mechanical motion to allow a door to be unlocked while still allowing the cam lock to function manually. 
     Actuator package  200  preferably includes a circular drive gear  220  driven by a motor  230  and power source  242  within a drive gear housing  241 , and an arm/catch (or “tongue”)  210  having an outer linear gear edge  250  and a longitudinal interior aperture  260 . The outer linear gear edge  250  interfaces with the drive gear  220  and operation of the drive gear causes the tongue  210  to move laterally relative to the cam lock  100 . The longitudinal interior aperture  260  is dimensioned to receive a guide nut  282  as shown in  FIG. 16 . The cam lock  100  can be existing hardware and the actuator package  200  can be retrofit hardware. Or, cam lock  100  and actuator package  200  can be a single unit. 
     In operation, the drive gear/pinion  220  causes lateral displacement of tongue  210  towards or away from a latch in order to lock or unlock the item. As such, a medicine cabinet (or similar), can be remotely locked or unlocked. Alternatively, rotation of a physical key within the cam lock housing  28  rotates the cam cylinder  290 , guide nut  282  and the tongue  210  towards or away from a latch so that the cam lock can be operated manually. It is preferred that the actuator package  200  rotate with the tongue  210 . For example, the cam cylinder  290  can be configured to receive and rotate with the key, preferably to a certain range of degrees, such as ±90°, or ±180°, when locking or unlocking. In this way, and as shown in  FIG. 5 , the cam lock has at least two modes of operation: one, a linear extension and retraction of the tongue  210 , and two, a rotation of the tongue  210 . 
       FIGS. 1-19  illustrate a preferred embodiment of a remotely controllable cam lock system  10 . The preferred embodiment  10  comprises a cam lock  100 , a remotely controllable actuator package  200  coupled to the cam lock  100  with a fastener  28   o , a key (not shown), and a remote control (not shown). The cam lock  100  of the preferred embodiment  10  is configured to receive and rotate with the key. The actuator package  200  of this preferred embodiment  10  comprises a retractable plate or tongue  210  with linear gear, a micro gear motor  230 , a controller circuit PCBA  270 , and a power system  240 . The power system  240  of this exemplary cam lock system  10  includes a battery housing  241 , one or more batteries  242 , and a housing cover  243 . In the exemplary cam lock system  10 , the micro gear motor  230  is configured to drive the plate  210  horizontally, and the controller circuit  270  is configured to receive a control signal from the remote control and activate/deactivate the micro gear motor  230  accordingly. 
     The power system of this exemplary cam lock system is configured to provide electric power to the micro gear motor and the controller. In the exemplary cam lock system, the micro gear motor  230  is configured to drive the plate back and forth, e.g. horizontally or vertically, and the controller  270  is configured to receive a control signal from the remote control and activate/deactivate the micro gear motor  230  accordingly. 
     The preferred embodiment includes a self-contained power supply to power the container and accessories. This power supply can be charged through wired in, wireless, or natural power source. This power supply can be charged through a wall plug, solar panel, or wireless charging system. Likewise, the charging system can be coupled to recharge the battery. This can be supplied from a main power source from the electrical grid (wall plug) or a secondary source, solar panel or wireless charger. 
     The lock can be activated by one or a combination of electronic signals or manual activation, these activations can be wireless, biometric, key or code based. In addition to the locking system shown the drawings, there can also be a secondary lock added for overlock protection that can be a conventional lock, or electronic lock. 
     There are many ways the controller circuit  270  can receive a remote signal. A cam lock with integrated radio (e.g. Bluetooth®) to communicate with phone application for locking and unlocking the cam lock is one way. Other examples of the remote control include a PC/cellphone application that communicates with the controller of the exemplary actuator package by WIFI or Bluetooth signals. Or it could be a simple device, like a garage door remote or a TV remote control, that communicates with the controller of the exemplary actuator package by radio or infrared signals, or any other suitable devices known in the art. The lock-unlock command can be sent wirelessly from various remote devices including battery-less bluetooth key fobs. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 16-19 , the cam lock is secured in place with a bulkhead type fitting. As shown, the bulkhead fitting typically comprises a fastener  280  (such as a king bolt), a guide nut  282 , a bulkhead nut  284 , a bulkhead flange  286 , and a cam cylinder  290 . This fitting locks the cam lock in place by sandwiching the door  292  material between the bulkhead flange  286  and the bulkhead nut  284 . Example illustrations are provided in  FIGS. 19 and 20 . 
     In a retrofit situation, an existing cam lock can be modified to accept the actuator package  200 . The actuator package  200  can simply replace the regular (i.e., existing) tongue of the existing cam lock. One way to accomplish this is to remove the cam lock fastener  280  (king bolt), removing the existing cam lock tongue  210 . Next, replace the existing cam lock tongue  210  with the actuator package  200  and use that same fastener  280  to connect the cam lock  100  to the actuator package  200 . An example of this connection is shown in  FIGS. 16 and 17 . In the figures, fastener  280  is inserted through the actuator package  200  using a guide nut  282  to allow lateral movement of the tongue  210 . This fastener  280  secures the actuator package  200  to the existing cam lock  100  so that no replacement of the original cam lock is needed. 
     In operation, a user can lock and unlock a door by using the remote control of the exemplary cam lock system or a manual key. To lock the door, a user uses the remote control to send a lock signal to the controller  270  of the exemplary actuator package  200 , and then the controller activates the micro gear motor  230  to extend the plate  210  into a catch or slot. To unlock the door, the user may use the remote control to send an unlock signal to the controller  270  of the exemplary actuator package  200 , and then the controller activates the micro gear motor  230  to withdraw the plate  210  from the catch or slot. Alternatively, the user may insert the key of the exemplary cam lock system into the cam lock  100  and turn the cam cylinder  290 , which preferably turns the whole actuator package  200  via guide nut  282  to a certain degree, such as 90°, to unlock the door. This way, if the power system of the exemplary cam lock system dies and the door is locked, i.e. the plate is inserted into the catch/slot, the user may still use the key to unlock and lock the door, just like with a traditional cam lock system. 
     The preferred actuator package  200  has a controller  270  which interfaces with a software application installed on a remote device. An authorized individual, not necessarily the remote device user, may access this database to see when and where the lock was opened/closed/locked/unlocked. This invention could be used in a lock box, which may only be opened when the courier, equipped with the locking compartment, has the recipient enter the correct code, biometric or otherwise. The GPS location of the device along with the time would be uploaded to an internet accessible database, where it could be monitored by a supervisor or concerned party. 
     In yet another embodiment, a wireless and battery-free key fob or tag could be included on or in packaging to activate the lock. This could be advantageous in package delivery situation. A wireless sensor in the actuator package  200  could be configured to sense when a package having the key fob is close and allow for unlocking and locking events to be triggered. Alternatively, the wireless key fob could also be recognized when it is inside a container using an actuator package  200 . In this way, the key fob could update information stored in the actuator package  200  and transmit that information (such as “package delivered”) remotely using wi-fi or other communication protocol previously described. 
     Wireless Signal Protocol 
     Many communication protocols are already in existence and any of these may be used provided the device and the locking compartment share this protocol. A short list of possible protocols includes WIFI, Bluetooth, ISM (Industrial, Scientific, and Medical), ZigBee, Z-wave, TinyMesh, NBIoT, NFC, etc. A typical software and firmware architecture is illustrated below using Bluetooth. 
     Device Interface with User (the App) 
     It is assumed that the remote control device has one or more of the following interfaces:
         Screen   Keypad/Keyboard   Roller/tracking ball   Camera   Microphone   Speaker   Wireless transmitter/receiver capability or equivalent       

     For the purposes of this specification an “app” or application refers to a prepackaged software subroutine designed specifically for the said device&#39;s operating system. This app could interface with the user through voice, or a keypad combination on the device&#39;s touch screen. This interface could also receive status from the lock. Status may then be communicated to the user via the app. The device&#39;s speakers are utilized by the app to provide alerts. Audible alerts are presented for scheduled alarm notifications, loss of signal connection with the locking compartment and for low battery and dead battery notification. 
     Device Initial Pairing with Compartment Lock 
     Preventing a foreign or alien device from operating the compartment lock requires that an initial, one time pairing of the device to the lock&#39;s controller board be made. A code specific to the lock&#39;s controller must be entered into the device during this initial paring process. 
     Security Access 
     The use of the device to provide the unlocking signal allows for utilization of the devices integral hardware. Typical devices have a keyboard, a touch screen, speakers, microphones, and cameras. Typing a user defined alphanumeric code into the app&#39;s prompt using either the keyboard or touch pad or virtual keyboard will allow for opening of the compartment. Additionally, tracing a user defined pattern into the touch screen may also serve as the unlocking trigger. 
     Biometric Identification 
     Just as entering a code via a keyboard or tracing a pattern onto a touch screen may unlock the compartment, scanning the user&#39;s retina or a finger print, via a camera, or using voice recognition, may unlock in the case. 
     Power Management/Status Functions 
     The invention will be capable of providing the power level of the lock&#39;s battery via the device. If the battery is drained or disconnected, the device will alert the user that the lock&#39;s signal connection to the device is lost. 
     In the event power is lost while the mobile locking compartment is connected to the device, a lost connection alert/notification will be displayed by the app, visually via the device&#39;s screen and/or audibly via the device&#39;s speakers. 
     Proximity Functions 
     The ability for the device to locate the actuator package  200  (or “locking compartment”) if they are separated is possible with various communication protocols. This would be a desired feature if the compartment was lost or stolen. Activating the “Lost” module of the app installed in the device, would display a directional indication and distance to the compartment on the device&#39;s screen. 
     The ability of the compartment to alert the user of its location would require a speaker, or vibrator module. The ability of the device to alert the user of the compartment&#39;s location would require using the device&#39;s existing speaker and screen. The distance (detected signal strength of compartment&#39;s Bluetooth board) and direction would be displayed on the screen of the device and would change/update as the location of the device moved in relation to the lost/stolen compartment. A speaker could accompany the directional guidance offered by the device&#39;s screen. Another invention feature is the ability of the device to alert the user when the signal connection with the compartment is lost. 
     Various embodiments may adopt various implementations or designs. The retractable plate of an alternate embodiment may work with a different type of motor known in the art to drive the plate forward or backward. Additionally, the key of an embodiment and the matching cam can be any types of suitable “key-cam combinations,” such as standard one-on-one keyed cam, a master-keyed cam, a keyless-slotted cam, a keyless-dial-combination cam, a combination-with-key-override cam, and so forth. Similarly, the cam lock of an embodiment can be of various shapes, including a knob cam, a T-handle cam, an L-handle cam, a wing-handle cam, and so on. Furthermore, an exemplary power system comprises three (3) AA batteries and a chamber housing the batteries. 
     While embodiments of the disclosure have been described in terms of various specific embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that the embodiments of the disclosure may be practiced with modifications within the spirit and scope of the claims.