Electronic lock

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12529245-B2
Application number	US-202318169082-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 14, 2023
Priority date	May 15, 2018
Publication date	Jan 20, 2026
Grant date	Jan 20, 2026

Abstract

A lock can include a motor assembly, a gear assembly, and an unlocking assembly. The motor assembly can include a motor and a drive shaft. The gear assembly can include a cam, a pinion gear, and a pinion. The pinion gear can include a plurality of teeth disposed along only a portion of a perimeter of the pinion gear. The pinion gear can be configured to engage the pinion. The pinion can be configured to translate laterally to release a biasing member to unlock a door of a container.

First claim

What is claimed is:

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.

Assignees

• United States Postal Service

Inventors

• Tartal William Albert
• Yessin Gabriel Michael

Classifications

• G07C9/00563

  using personal physical data of the operator, e.g. finger prints, retinal images, voicepatterns · CPC title

• E05B2047/0095

  Mechanical aspects of locks controlled by telephone signals, e.g. by mobile phones · CPC title

• E05B2047/0084

  Key or electric means; Emergency release · CPC title

• E05B2047/0021

  Geared sectors or fan-shaped gears · CPC title

• E05B2047/002

  Geared transmissions · CPC title