Granted Patent B2

US 12,529,245 · App. 18/169,082 · Granted Jan 20, 2026

Inventors: William Albert Tartal (Baltimore, MD); Gabriel Michael Yessin (Baltimore, MD)

Assignee: United States Postal Service

E05B47/0603A47G29/141A47G29/20E05B47/0012E05B65/06G07C9/00563A47G2029/146A47G2029/149E05B2047/0017E05B2047/002E05B2047/0021E05B2047/0084E05B2047/0095

Abstract

Claims (31)

1 . A method of operating a lock, the method comprising:

engaging an end of a rack with a locking member to retain a door in a closed position, wherein the rack comprises a plurality of teeth;

rotating, via a motor, a pinion gear, the pinion gear comprising a plurality of teeth;

engaging one or more of the plurality of teeth of the pinion gear with one or more of the plurality of teeth of the rack;

moving the rack in a first direction by the engagement of the one or more teeth of the pinion gear with the one or more of the plurality of teeth of the rack;

disengaging the end of the rack from the locking member;

further rotating the pinion gear to a position where the plurality of teeth of the pinion gear do not engage any of the plurality of teeth of the rack;

contacting, via the teeth of the pinion gear or a cam connected to the pinion gear, a switch proximate the pinion gear;

deactivating the motor in response to contacting the switch; and

moving, via a first biasing element, the rack in a second direction.

2 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising exerting, via a second biasing member, a force against the locking member, wherein exerting a force against the locking member causes the door to open upon the rack disengaging the locking member.

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the switch is located proximate the rack so as to deactivate the motor after the pinion gear reaches an angular orientation at which the teeth of the pinion gear do not engage the teeth of the rack.

4 . The method of claim 3 , wherein the cam is connected to the pinion gear such that the switch is contacted by the cam when the pinion gear reaches the angular orientation in which the teeth of the pinion gear do not engage the teeth of the rack.

5 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising transferring, via a power receiver, electrical power to the motor, the power receiver configured to receive electrical power from a wireless power source external to the receptacle.

6 . The method of claim 5 , further comprising activating, via a processor in communication with the power receiver, the motor based at least in part on receiving and verifying a security credential from a wireless power source in proximity to the power receiver.

7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the locking member is positioned on the door.

8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the locking member is positioned on a wall of a receptacle.

9 . A method of operating a lock, the method comprising:

engaging an end of a rack with a first locking member to retain a door in a closed position, wherein the rack comprises a plurality of teeth;

turning a key in a key lock mechanism, the key lock mechanism coupled to a locking arm, and wherein turning the key in a first direction causes the locking arm to disengage a second locking member;

rotating, via a motor, a pinion gear, the pinion gear comprising a plurality of teeth;

engaging one or more of the plurality of teeth of the pinion gear with one or more of the plurality of teeth of the rack;

moving the rack in a first direction by the engagement of the one or more teeth of the pinion gear with the one or more of the plurality of teeth of the rack;

disengaging the end of the rack from the first locking member;

further rotating the pinion gear to a position where the plurality of teeth of the pinion gear do not engage any of the plurality of teeth of the rack;

moving, via a first biasing element, the rack in a second direction; and

turning the key in the key lock mechanism, where turning the key in a second direction causes the locking arm to engage the second locking member of the door of the receptacle to retain the door in a closed position.

10 . The method of claim 9 , further comprising:

receiving a security credential from a mobile device; and

upon receiving the security credential, activating the motor.

11 . The method of claim 10 , wherein activating the motor further comprises receiving, via a power receiver, electrical power from the mobile device and transferring the electrical power to the motor.

Assignments (1)

Continuity (4)

References Cited (78)