Patent ID: 8727392

Claim:
A method of providing controlled access to a cabinet of the type having an alternately openable and closeable door, the method comprising: providing a convertible latch kit including components for selective assembly, said convertible latch kit including: a housing; an electrically operated drive mechanism mounted in said housing and having an associated drive mechanism output, said drive mechanism output having a gear train, an output cam, an output cam pin, a slide, and a slide tab coupled to said slide and configured for engagement with said cam pin; a slam bolt configured to be mounted in said housing and to be retracted by the slide of said drive mechanism output; a spring configured to be cooperatively engageable with said slam bolt to provide a force thereto in the direction of extending said slam bolt from said housing; and a dead bolt configured to be mounted in said housing and to be selectively alternately retracted and extended by the slide of said drive mechanism output; determining whether such cabinet is of the type having an associated strike plate supported on a frame thereof, for use with a slam bolt configuration, or of the type having a recessed area formed in a frame thereof, for use with a dead bolt thereof; depending on such determination, selecting accordingly either of such slam bolt or dead bolt, respectively, for inclusion in such housing; mounting an electrical connector in such housing and configured to provide electrical connection to said electrically operated drive mechanism; and mounting such housing in such cabinet, supported on the door thereof and positioned so that the included bolt of such housing is interoperative with the frame of such cabinet for alternate locking and unlocking of the cabinet door.