ACCESS CONTROL SYSTEM FOR CABINETS COMPRISING LOCKED COMPARTMENTS

Technical Field

The present invention relates to access control, and in particular to access control to defined smaller confinements, such as cabinets and the like.

Technical BackRround The present applicant presently develops solutions for reduction of key handling in relation to home help service and has sold the idea to a number of local authorities. The general solution is that a Bluetooth® transmitter of a mobile phone is used to unlock a lock. A receiver is in turn connected to a preprogrammed circuit board controlled by the access key of the mobile phone. This technique is described in several applications by the applicant Phoniro AB.

Presently a significant amount of time is consumed when personnel have to retrieve a particular key in order to access a locked confinement. Within home help service this is a considerable problem since it forces the personnel to give attention to other things than the receiver of their service, the person in need of care. A specific problem occurs when refilling drugs at the location of a person receiving care, when personnel having different degrees of access, such as a (registered) nurse, an assistant nurse and the person receiving care must have different degrees of access to the drugs, which is regulated by medical legislation. Furthermore there is a problem related to loss of drugs from persons receiving care, e.g. due to stealing. One object of the present invention is thus to simplify the problems with handling of drugs within the home help service by providing a secure access system being easy to use, reducing the problems relating to drug handling and existing drug loss by increasing the reliability in relation to handling of drugs within the home help service, which may also decrease the risk of inappropriate medication. In Sweden today, there are no standardized medicine cabinets, rather most users utilize any cabinet or a box in which the drugs are placed in a Dosett® and/or an ApoDosl, or freely. Many users of today do not have any safe location in which the medications may be stored, rather relatives places the box containing the medications on a place where they are inaccessible for the user.

The problem area from which the present invention emanates is described above, yet the skilled person realizes that the system for access control may be used for other purposes where several access levels are needed.

Summary

The lock mechanism presently utilized by Phoniro AB had to be modified to fit the lock located in the most common medicine cabinets. Since medicine cabinets today use a different type of lock than entrance doors a new lock mechanism had to be developed. For achieving the objectives mentioned above and below there is provided a system for access control according to claim 1. The dependent claims define preferred embodiments.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Fig. 1-11 described in the following illustrates various aspects of the present invention.

Detailed Description

Without any order of priority there exist some desires regarding how the access control system should operate in regard of a medicine cabinet: Demands and desires

- Increase security for medicine cabinets

- Reduced need for key handling in the home help service

- The cabinet should be possible to install

- Should fit in a cupboard - Should be accessible with a key

- Should have room for Dosett®, ApoDos and jars for medical preparations

- Should have an attractive price, since the mechanism of today is expensive

- Should be possible to unlock without a key in the lock

- Operation should be understandable for all users - Obstruct unauthorized access

- Reduce size of present mechanism, since the one used today is too bulky for medicine cabinets

- The lock should contain control of medication

- It should be easy to service/repair the lock mechanism and exchange batteries.

Of these the increase of security of the cabinets a first main demand, since the medicine cabinets of today does not provide solutions being adequate for the control needed. A reduced utilization of keys is the second main claim of the group since it does not only make things easier for the involved personnel, but also saves time, the nurses do not have to look for keys. Also the environment benefits from the reduced number of car drives for retrieving keys.

The other demands mentioned in the list are not mandatory, yet they may be desirable for the use of the product and in optimizing the end product. The lost of demands has been the foundation for the product development during the course of the project.

A further desire was to provide a movable lock module, but during the project this proved itself to be a difficult task since all medicine cabinets look differently and there are no standardized cabinets. The group has therefore focused, due to a limited project time, on a lock module being movable between cabinets having a handle with a standard distance of 128 mm. This is obviously not a limitation for the invention as such, but only for the specific prototype produced.

LOCK TYPES

Hasp Lock - See Fig. 1 Hasp lock is the type of lock that is most common on present medicine cabinets.

With that in mind the project group came up with a design that may be used on both single and double cabinets. All components necessary for turning the lock; i.e. the motor, the batteries, the circuit board and the gear wheels will be built in a box resembling a VHS tape in order to maximize the space in the medicine cabinet. The box present on the inside of the door and coupled to the lock hasp makes it possible to turn the hasp a specific degree, the degree depending on the specific type of cabinet. The difference between a single and a double cabinet is that the latter comprises a board dividing the cabinet in two parts. The board does not only have a partition function, it also makes it possible to control the access to the cabinet depending on the level of access of a user. The partition board will act as a frame where the hasp enters a slit and engages the other door such that both doors may be locked. The idea is that if the look is only opened 45 degrees only one door will open since this leaves the hasp still engaging the dividing frame, and if it is opened 90 degrees both doors will open and one will obtain access to the entire cabinet.

Advantages

- Hasp locks are available in various lengths.

- No new components have to be developed.

- Most existing medicine cabinets have hasp locks, which means that there wil be no need for major modifications of the cabinet.

Disadvantages

- A key must be inserted in the lock in order for it to be lockable

- Mechanical issues

Sliding lock - see Fig. 2

The second suggested solution was a sling lock which in best suited for a double cabinet, while being possible to modify to a single cabinet. In this case too, the idea is to build a box comprising all components, which is arranged on the inside of one of the doors. Instead of a hasp, the idea in this case is to use a lock lever being provided with gear teeth at one side. The reason for this is that the motor is arranged coupled to the teeth and brings the lock lever back and forth through the slit in the partition board. Advantages

- A more robust construction

- Quite simple mechanical construction. Disadvantages

- The gear wheel on the motor has to be exchanged to a cylindrical since the existing is conical

- The number of revolutions for the motor have to be calculated

Click Lock - See Fig. 3

This solution is based on a small pin being coupled to an oval part being attached to the motor head. The motor used for this solution works differently from the one in the other solutions. It locks sideways instead of rotating. The motor with the pin is arranged on the short side of the cabinet, such that the hasp extends over the pin, making the lock disengage. When it is activated by a phone the pin easily slides below the hast. This solution is only realizable on a cabinet having a single door. Advantages

- The lock does not have to be disassembled

- Quite simple mechanical solution

Disadvantages

- Only works on single-door cabinets

- Choice of material for the pin; has to be durable and soft.

RELEASE MECHANISM

Semi-teethed gear wheel - see Fig. 4

This solution is based on that the hasp-lock mechanism is used, wherein the hasp is replaced with a completely new component, looking like a gear wheel provided with teeth on one half of the wheel. The reason for it being provided with teeth on the top is that it should be possible to open the cabinet using a key if needed, e.g. in case of failing batteries in the lock unit. The teeth engage with mating teeth of a lever (see Fig. 4), preferable a lock lever or other lever operatively connected to the lock lever.

Lock cylinder with pin — see Fig. 5 This version is based on that the inside of the lock cylinder is threaded, such that when the key is inserted into the lock and turned, part of the interior of the lock cylinder projects (A to B). This makes the interior operating like a pin, which in turn engages with a gear (D) and makes the gear rotate. When unlocking the key is turned back, wherein the pin releases the gear and the key may again be used as a released lock.

SELECTED SOLUTION Lock mechanism

After evaluation using an evaluation matrix the group decided to proceed with the sliding lock. This was selected despite the evaluation matrix showing that the hasp lock had advantages the reason being that the mechanical construction was simpler. The key does not have to be inserted in the lock for it to be lockable. To the benefit of the sliding lock was that it has more potential in regard of the inclusion of additional functions. One example of a function is to arranged the lock mechanism on a double cabinet, in which case the it may control the level of access for the users.

Release mechanism

After selecting the lock mechanism the semi-teethed gear wheel was selected as a solution to the release issue. The advantage is that the impact on the lock is small, since an extra component is screwed onto the outer part of the lock tube. This is an important aspect since the lock should be movable, this being one of the demands. See

Fig. 8 illustrating a lock tube and a semi-teethed gear wheel with lock assembly. The semi-geared gear wheel makes the lock maneuverable with the motor at the same time as a inserted key does not rotate. Additional components of the lock assembly are obvious to the skilled person.

Choice of material

The box in which the electronics are arranged are made from the same plastic as has been used by Phoniro in previos locks, i.e. PA6 with 30% glass. The gear rack (which in the illustrated embodiment is the lock lever), the gear wheel and the semi- teethed gear wheel are made in hardened free-cutting steel. The lock bows will be made from hot-dip galvanized steel plate, DX51+Zi00. The cabinet may be made from a particle board of sheet metal depending on the customer. A person skilled in the art realizes that the present invention is not limited to these materials, and that alternative materials are possible within the scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.

The present invention has resulted in a lock mechanism and a medicine cabinet providing a key-free alternative and a function for control of medication. In order to be granted access to the medicine cabinet a mobile phone is programmed with an access key. The basic technique for this is, as has been mentioned before, described in previous applications by the present applicant. In order to activate the cabinet being controlled by Bluetooth® technique a light knock on the cabinet is required. The product enables various levels of access depending on the level of authorization of the user in question, e.g. a (registered) nurse may have access to both compartments while assistant nurses only have access to the compartment containing the ApoDos and or Dosett®. This function is based on medical legislation where assistant nurses may not have access to jars for medical preparations.

The product comprises three main parts having different characteristics which are built-in in a box 10, which is described referring to Figs. 6 and 7. The box is screwed to the inside of one of the doors of the medicine cabinet (not shown). In order to attach the box 10 the same screws as a used for attaching the handle are used. It is thus a part of the nature of the invention that it is possible to retrofit without any major, if at all any, impact on the cabinet. The handles that have been chosen have a standard distance between the screws of 128 mm. In the box a motor 12 is arranged, the purpose of which is to move the lock lever 14 from an opened position to a locked position. The motor 12 is connected to a circuit board 16 (a control unit) being preprogrammed to

move the lock lever 14 a specific number of motor revolutions, depending on the level of authorization programmed to the telephone. The circuit board 16 and the motor 12 are connected with two lithium batteries of 3.6 V each (arranged in the tray inside of the battery panel 18). A micro switch (not shown) is arranged below the lock lever 14 in order to register when the lock lever is in a home position, i.e. when the cabinet is fully open. The reason is that the circuit board 19 should register when the compartment of the medicine cabinet containing the jars for medical preparations has been accessed. This implies that a log may be stored regarding opening and closing of the cabinet. When the cabinet is accessed using Bluetooth® technique this is registered in the log, and if the micro switch is activated as a result of the cabinet being opened with a key this is also registered. In the former case it is also registered which user that has accessed the cabinet (i.e. which phone has been used) and in the latter case it is registered that the cabinet has been opened using a key. This prevents someone from opening the cabinet and accessing the strong drugs without notice. I the box all electronics are enclosed in order to prevent the common user from access. When using a key to unlock, it will cause the semi-teethed gear wheel 20 to rotate and cooperate with the teeth 22 on the upper side of the lock lever, while the gear wheel 24 arranged on the motor shaft is cooperating with the teeth 26. The semi-teethed gear wheel 20 enables actuation of the lock with the aid of the motor without affection the semi-teethed gear wheel - and thus components connected thereto.

Figs. 1 Ia and l ib illustrate an inventive embodiment of a cabinet. The cabinet is illustrated from above, and it is readily understood how it may be possible to unlock one of the doors (see the right part of the drawing) by moving the lock lever 14 a first distance, such that it is extracted from a lock bow (40) arranged on said one of the doors. In order for the second door (see the left part of the drawing) to remain locked as the lock lever is in the present position e.g. a central post may be arranged in the cabinet, between the doors. By moving the lock lever further it will release from engagement with the central post, whereby also the second door may be opened. The central post may also comprise a constructional partition separating the two compartments.

Fig. 7 is a photography of a lock system according to one embodiment of the present invention, and apart from the position of the batteries the design is recognizable from Fig. 6. Note the micro switch 28.

Note that the inventive system also is suited for use with access-controlled system having more than two levels of access. A very simple adjustment of the

described system is to allow for the lock lever to be movable over a longer distance, over two or more cabinet doors.

ALTERNATIVE SOLUTION PROPOSAL Solution proposal 1 - Fig. 1

Hasp locks are the most commonly used locks for medicine cabinets and it seemed natural to try to find solutions. It is based on attaching a gear wheel around the lock tube, on the inside of the lock, which is driven by a motor having a gear wheel. The hasp is attached to the gear wheel, which will bring the hasp from a locked to an opened position (90 degrees).

Solution proposal 2 - Fig. 2

The sliding lock is based on that instead of a hasp, a bolt or a lock lever is brought back and forth through a hook, which in turn is holding the bolt to the second door or the side of the cabinet. The motor brings the bolt back and forth from an opened to a locked positon.

Solution proposal 3- Fig. 3

This solution is based on a small pin coupled to an oval component being attached to the head of the motor. The motor used for this solution operates differently from the other solutions. It locks by transversal motion instead of rotation. The motor with the pin is attached to the short side of the cabinet such that the hasp extends above the pin such that the lock is released.

Solution proposal 4 - Fig. 9

A more simple modification of the present lock module such that it fits to a lock resembling the ones normally arranged on garage doors of today, resulting in a robust and reliable construction.

Solution proposal 5 - Fig. 10

A solution based on Phoniro's key cylinder. Around the lock hasp a ring having a recess is arranged. When the hasp is in a locked position a pin secures the hasp, and when unlocking the pin is retracted and the hasp may be rotated.