Patent ID: 6902214

Claim:
An electromechanical lock adapted to selectively permit first and second structures from moving apart from one another when in a first state and to prevent said first and second structures from moving apart when in a second state, comprising: (a) a housing having an interior with an entryway and adapted to mount on said first structure; (b) a latching assembly disposed in the interior of said housing, said latching assembly including: (1) a pair of opposed latch elements each movable between a capture state and a release state; (2) a pair of spring elements each operative to bias a respective one of said latch elements into the capture state; (3) an arming member movable between a first position and a second position, (i) said arming member including a pair of pins each operative when said arming member is in the first position to engage a respective one of said latch elements whereby said latch element is in the release state, (ii) each said pin permitting its respective said latch element to move into the capture state when said arming member is in the second position, (4) a biasing element associated with said arming member and operative to urge said arming element into the first position with a first force, (c) an armature adapted to mount on said second structure, said latching assembly and said armature positionable such that said armature can be docked in the entryway in a received state relative to said latching assembly; and (d) an electromagnetic device disposed on said arming element, said electromagnetic device being switchable between an “on” condition and an “off” condition such that when said armature is in the received state and said electromagnetic device is in an “on” condition, said electromagnetic device being operative to magnetically engage said armature with a sufficient magnetic force to overcome said first force whereby movement of said armature away from the received state causes said arming element to move into the second position and said latching elements to move into the capture state.