Electronic cam lock for cabinet doors, drawers and other applications
A cam lock for cabinets, drawers, drug cabinets, credenzas, sliding doors, lockers, mail boxes and other door type applications is compact in size, fits an existing cam lock opening and provides electronic access via a keypad or other electronic access. Using batteries, such as AAA size batteries or smaller, the lock has electronics that release a lock turn knob or handle when the correct code is entered. Preferably a set of electronic contacts is included at an accessible position on the lock housing to allow both master access and power jumping with a common manager's implement, for situations of lost codes and/or battery failure. In a particular embodiment the lock is long, narrow and low in profile so as to fit on the margin of a steel or wood file cabinet, compatible with the cam lock opening already provided. The locks, NFC-enabled, can be used in securing delivery boxes to enable delivery access, when authorized.
1. A cam lock configured to be retrofitted onto a cam lock cylinder shell that is disposed on a door or panel, the cam lock comprising:
a housing containing electronics and having a terminal for receipt of an access code provided by a user;
a selectively rotatable knob or handle located on a front side of the housing for operating the cam lock manually;
a power terminal associated with the housing for receiving electric power, the power terminal in connection with the electronics;
a drive shaft extending from a rear side of the housing and operatively coupled to the knob or handle;
a rotatable plug unit configured to be selectively front loaded in the cam lock cylinder shell, the rotatable plug unit configured to operatively couple on a first end to the drive shaft, the rotatable plug unit further being configured to operatively couple to a locking element;
wherein the electronics are configured to permit rotation of the knob or handle upon receipt of a predetermined access code.
2. The cam lock of claim 1 , wherein the drive shaft includes an exterior profile, and the rotatable plug unit includes an internal profile complementary to the exterior profile of the drive shaft, wherein the drive shaft is releasably seated within the internal profile of the rotatable plug unit.
3. The cam lock of claim 1 , wherein the terminal includes a key pad.
4. The cam lock of claim 1 , wherein the terminal includes a receptacle for an electronic key.
5. The cam lock of claim 1 , wherein the terminal includes a wireless reader for receipt of an access code via a wireless signal.
6. The cam lock of claim 5 , wherein the wireless reader is configured to receive one or more of RFID, Bluetooth, NFC, or BLE wireless signals.
7. The cam lock of claim 1 , further comprising an antenna for wireless network connection.
8. The cam lock of claim 7 , wherein the cam lock is configured to be connected in a wireless network connection, and wherein the electronics include a programmable memory that can be programmed via the network to set access codes.
9. The cam lock of claim 1 , the housing further comprising a battery compartment for receiving one or more batteries, the power terminal comprising a battery terminal disposed in the battery compartment.
10. The cam lock of claim 9 , the housing including a removable cover, the removable cover providing selective access to the battery compartment when the housing is mounted to the cam lock cylinder shell.
11. The cam lock of claim 1 , further including contacts accessible on the housing for receiving jump power.
12. A cam lock assembly, comprising:
a cam lock cylinder shell extending through an opening in a door or panel of a furniture piece;
a locking element operatively mounted to the cam lock cylinder shell and disposed in an interior of the furniture piece, the locking element comprising a cam, a bolt, or a latch;
a housing disposed on an exterior side of the door or panel, the housing containing electronics and having a terminal for receipt of an access code provided by a user;
a selectively operable knob or handle located on a front side of the housing for operating the cam lock assembly manually;
a battery compartment disposed in the housing for receiving one or more batteries for providing power to the electronics;
a drive shaft extending from a rear side of the housing and operatively coupled to the knob or handle;
a rotatable plug unit disposed within the cam lock cylinder shell and operatively coupled to the drive shaft on a first end, the rotatable plug unit operatively coupled to the locking element on a second end, the first end being opposite the second end;
wherein the electronics are configured to permit rotation of the knob or handle upon receipt of a predetermined access code.
13. The cam lock assembly of claim 12 , the cam lock cylinder shell being externally threaded, the assembly further comprising a nut disposed on the external threads and fastening the cam lock cylinder shell to the door or panel.
14. The cam lock assembly of claim 12 , the locking element being affixed to a back end of the cam lock cylinder shell.
15. A method of retrofitting a key-operated mechanical cam lock with an electronic cam lock on a door or panel, the method comprising:
removing a front-loaded key-operated mechanical plug from a cam lock cylinder shell, the cam lock cylinder shell disposed on a door or panel, and a locking element disposed at an end of the cam lock cylinder shell distal from the door or panel, the locking element including a bolt, a latch, or a cam;
disposing a rotatable plug unit within the cam lock cylinder shell, wherein the rotatable plug unit operatively couples with the locking element;
mounting a housing to the door or panel, the housing containing electronics and having a terminal for receipt of an access code provided by a user, a selectively rotatable knob or handle disposed on a front side of the housing for operating the cam lock manually, a drive shaft extending from a rear side of the housing and operatively coupled to the knob or handle, and a power terminal for receiving electric power, the power terminal in connection with the electronics, wherein the drive shaft operatively couples with the rotatable plug unit;
transmitting a predetermined access code to the terminal; and
rotating the knob or handle, wherein rotation of the knob or handle shifts the locking element from a first position to a second position.
16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the drive shaft includes an exterior profile, and the rotatable plug unit includes an internal profile complementary to the exterior profile of the drive shaft, the method further comprising releasably seating the drive shaft within the internal profile of the rotatable plug unit.
17. The method of claim 16 , wherein the rotatable plug unit includes a connector, the method further comprising operatively connecting the connector to the locking element.
18. The method of claim 15 , wherein the rotatable plug unit includes a connector, the method further comprising operatively connecting the connector to the locking element.
19. The method of claim 15 , the housing further comprising a battery compartment for receiving one or more batteries, the power terminal comprising a battery terminal disposed in the battery compartment.
20. The method of claim 15 , wherein the access terminal comprises one or more of a keypad, a receptacle for an electronic key, and a wireless reader.
21. The method of claim 15 , further comprising an antenna for wireless network connection, the cam lock further configured to be connected in a wireless network connection, wherein the electronics include a programmable memory that can be programmed via the wireless network to set access codes.
22. A method of retrofitting a key-operated mechanical cam lock with an electronic cam lock on a door or panel, the method comprising:
front loading a rotatable plug unit within a cam lock cylinder shell, the cam lock cylinder shell disposed in a door or panel of a furniture piece, the cam lock cylinder shell having an open front end and a locking element disposed at a back end opposite the front end, the locking element including a bolt, a latch, or a cam disposed in an interior of the furniture piece, wherein the rotatable plug unit operatively couples with the locking element;
mounting a housing to the door or panel, the housing containing electronics and having a terminal for receipt of an access code provided by a user, a selectively rotatable knob or handle disposed on a front side of the housing for operating the cam lock manually, a drive shaft extending from a rear side of the housing and operatively coupled to the knob or handle, and a power terminal for receiving electric power, the power terminal in connection with the electronics, wherein the drive shaft includes a first profile, the rotatable plug unit includes a second profile, and the first profile operatively couples with the second profile;
transmitting a predetermined access code to the terminal; and
rotating the knob or handle, wherein rotation of the knob or handle shifts the locking element from a first position to a second position.
23. A cam lock assembly, comprising:
a cam lock cylinder shell extending through an opening in a door or panel;
a locking element operatively mounted to the cam lock cylinder shell and disposed on an interior side of the door or panel, the locking element comprising a cam, a bolt, or a latch;
a housing disposed on an exterior side of the door or panel, the housing containing electronics and having a terminal for receipt of an access code provided by a user;
a selectively operable knob or handle located on a front side of the housing for operating the cam lock assembly manually;
a battery compartment disposed in the housing for receiving one or more batteries for providing power to the electronics;
a drive shaft extending from a rear side of the housing and operatively coupled to the knob or handle;
a rotatable plug unit disposed within the cam lock cylinder shell and operatively coupled to the drive shaft on a first end, the rotatable plug unit operatively coupled to the locking element on a second end, the first end being opposite the second end; and
one or more fasteners extending through the door or panel and configured to secure the housing to the panel or door;
wherein the electronics are configured to permit rotation of the knob or handle upon receipt of a predetermined access code; and
wherein only the one or more fasteners is external to the cam lock cylinder shell and within the door or panel.