Cart locking device
View Patent ↗A locking system for a cart having at least one drawer movable between an open position and a closed position. The locking system includes a cam that is movable between a locked position, wherein the drawer of the cart is prevented from moving between the closed and open positions, and an unlocked position, wherein the drawer is released for movement between the closed and open positions. A manually actuated lock mechanism is coupled to the cam and is operable to move the cam between the locked and unlocked positions. An electronically actuated lock mechanism cooperates with the manually actuated lock mechanism to permit automatic operation of the locking system.
1. A locking system for a cart having at least one drawer movable between an open position and a closed position, the locking system comprising:
a cam operatively coupled to the drawer and having an unlocked position wherein the drawer is movable between the open position and the closed position, and having a locked position wherein the drawer is not moveable from the closed position;
a manually actuated lock mechanism operable to permit manual manipulation of said cam between said locked position and said unlocked position; and
an electronically actuated lock mechanism cooperating with said manually actuated lock mechanism to automatically move said cam between said locked position and said unlocked position;
wherein said manually actuated lock mechanism comprises:
a lock core coupled to said cam and configured for manual manipulation between a first position corresponding to said locked position of said cam, and a second position corresponding to said unlocked position of said cam, and
a lock catch having an engaged condition wherein said lock core is secured against movement from said first position to said second position, and a disengaged condition wherein said lock core is moveable between said first position and said second position.
2. The locking system of claim 1 , wherein said lock core is biased in a direction toward said second position.
3. The locking system of claim 1 , wherein said lock core comprises a lock pin engageable with said lock catch when said lock core is in said first position, said lock pin actuable to selectively disengage said lock catch.
4. The locking system of claim 1 , wherein said electronically actuated lock mechanism comprises:
a release member operable to move said lock catch from said engaged condition to said disengaged condition, and to move said lock core between said first position and said second position.
5. The locking system of claim 4 , wherein said electronically actuated lock mechanism further comprises a drive motor operatively coupled to said release member and configured to move said release member in a direction toward said second position of said lock core to thereby move said cam to said unlocked position, and to move said release member in a direction toward said first position of said lock core to thereby move said cam to said locked position.
6. A locking system for a cart having at least one drawer moveable between an open position and a closed position, the locking system comprising:
a cam operatively coupled to the drawer and having an unlocked position wherein the drawer is movable between the open position and the closed position, and having a locked position wherein the drawer is not moveable from the closed position;
a manually actuated lock mechanism operable to permit manual manipulation of said cam, selectively, from said locked position toward said unlocked position, and from said unlocked position toward said locked position; and
an electronically actuated lock mechanism cooperating with said manually actuated lock mechanism to automatically move said cam selectively from said locked position toward said unlocked position, and from said unlocked position toward said locked position.
7. The locking system of claim 6 , further comprising at least one sensor configured to detect when said cam is in said locked position.
8. The locking system of claim 6 , wherein said electronically actuated lock mechanism further comprises an input device for receiving an input parameter, and wherein said electronically actuated lock mechanism moves said cam from said locked position to said unlocked position when said input parameter corresponds to a parameter for allowing access to the cart.
9. The locking system of claim 8 , wherein said input device is a keypad for receiving an input code, and said electronically actuated lock mechanism moves said cam from said locked position to said unlocked position when said input code corresponds to a stored value.
10. A lockable cart, comprising:
a cart chassis;
at least one drawer supported on said cart chassis and moveable between an open position and a closed position;
a cam operatively coupled to said drawer and having an unlocked position wherein said drawer is movable between said closed position and said open position, and having a locked position wherein said drawer is not movable from said closed position;
a manually actuated lock mechanism operable to permit manual manipulation of said cam between said locked position and said unlocked position; and
an electronically actuated lock mechanism cooperating with said manually actuated lock mechanism to automatically move said cam between said locked position and said unlocked position, and to automatically move said cam between said unlocked position and said locked position.
11. A method of operating a lockable drawer of a cart, wherein the drawer is movable between an open position and a closed position, the method comprising:
selectively operating a manually actuated lock mechanism coupled to the drawer and movable between a locked condition wherein the drawer is prevented from being moved from the closed position to the open position, and an unlocked condition wherein the drawer is released for movement between the closed position and the open position, and
selectively operating an electronically actuated lock mechanism coupled to the drawer and cooperating with the manually actuated lock mechanism to automatically move the manually actuated lock mechanism between the locked condition and the unlocked condition, and to automatically move the manually actuated lock mechanism between the unlocked condition and the locked condition.
12. The method of claim 11 , wherein selectively operating the manually actuated lock mechanism further comprises manually manipulating the manually actuated lock mechanism.
13. The method of claim 11 , wherein selectively operating the manually actuated lock mechanism further comprises actuating the electronically actuated lock mechanism to move the manually actuated lock mechanism from the unlocked condition to the locked condition.
14. The method of claim 12 , further comprising operating the electronically actuated lock mechanism to move the manually actuated lock mechanism from the unlocked condition to the locked condition.
15. The method of claim 13 , further comprising manually moving the manually actuated lock mechanism from the unlocked condition to the locked condition.