초록 ▼

A lock for retrofitting onto a drawer or a door includes a drawer having a front panel. The drawer slidingly engages an item of furniture having a front face that is positioned above the front panel when the drawer is closed. A bracket has a vertically disposed flat front plate, a horizontally dispo

A lock for retrofitting onto a drawer or a door includes a drawer having a front panel. The drawer slidingly engages an item of furniture having a front face that is positioned above the front panel when the drawer is closed. A bracket has a vertically disposed flat front plate, a horizontally disposed flat top plate, a vertically disposed fiat back plate, and a horizontally disposed motor platform that extends horizontally into an interior of the drawer. A motor having an output shaft is mounted on the motor platform. A latch supported by the motor platform is engaged by the output shaft. The latch is retracted when the drawer is unlocked and is extended to engage an interior side of the front panel of the furniture item when the drawer is locked.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A locking mechanism comprising: a bracket having a front portion defining a top front edge and a first plane, a back portion defining a top back edge and a second plane, and a top portion defining a third plane and connecting the top front edge of the front portion and the top back edge of the ba

1. A locking mechanism comprising: a bracket having a front portion defining a top front edge and a first plane, a back portion defining a top back edge and a second plane, and a top portion defining a third plane and connecting the top front edge of the front portion and the top back edge of the back portion, wherein the front portion, top portion and back portion of the bracket define an empty space between the first plane and the second plane beneath the third plane;a moveable latch and latch operator disposed in a housing connected to the back portion of the bracket and external of the empty space;a user interface operatively disposed on the front portion of the bracket and external of the empty space, wherein the user interface is in electrical communication with the latch operator to control movement of the latch. 2. The locking mechanism of claim 1, wherein the empty space of the bracket is adapted to receive and mount the bracket on an access panel of an enclosure to be locked, wherein only the access panel fills the empty space. 3. The locking mechanism of claim 2, wherein the user interface is a keypad mounted to the front portion of the bracket, substantially flush with an exterior face of the access panel. 4. The locking mechanism of claim 2, wherein the front portion of the bracket is adapted to slidably overlie a section of a front surface of the access panel, the top portion of the bracket is adapted to slidably overlie a top edge of the access panel, and the back portion of the bracket is adapted to slidably overlie a section of an interior surface of the access panel. 5. The locking mechanism of claim 2, wherein the empty space is unpenetrated except by the access panel when in place on the access panel. 6. The locking mechanism of claim 2, wherein the bracket is adapted to be freely movable on the access panel in an unsecured manner while in use on the access panel. 7. The locking mechanism of claim 1, wherein the housing is adjustably mounted to the back portion of the bracket via an adjustment bracket. 8. The locking mechanism of claim 1, wherein the latch operator comprises a latch actuator, control circuitry, and a power supply. 9. A locking mechanism for retrofitting onto an openable enclosure having at least one access panel and defining an interior and an exterior, the locking mechanism comprising: a generally U-shaped bracket having at least a first surface and a second surface, wherein the generally U-shaped bracket defines a space adapted to receive and freely mount the bracket on a top edge portion of the access panel of the enclosure;a user interface operatively positioned on the first surface of the bracket; anda moveable latch and latch operator positioned in a housing connected to the second surface of the bracket;wherein the user interface is in electrical communication with the latch operator to control movement of the latch between a locked position and an unlocked position. 10. The locking mechanism of claim 9, wherein the space of the bracket is adapted to receive and mount the bracket on an access panel of a drawer or a door, wherein only the access panel fills the space. 11. The locking mechanism of claim 9, wherein the first surface of the bracket is adapted to slidably overlie a section of a front surface of the access panel, and the second surface of the bracket is adapted to slidably overlie a section of an interior surface of the access panel. 12. The locking mechanism of claim 9, wherein the space is unpenetrated except by the edge portion of the access panel when in place on the access panel. 13. The locking mechanism of claim 9, wherein the bracket is adapted to be freely movable on the edge portion of the access panel in an unsecured manner while in use on the access panel. 14. The locking mechanism of claim 9, wherein the housing is adjustably mounted to the second surface of the bracket via an adjustment bracket. 15. The locking mechanism of claim 9, wherein the latch operator comprises a latch actuator, control circuitry, and a power supply. 16. A method for retrofitting a locking mechanism onto an openable enclosure having at least one access panel and defining an interior and an exterior, comprising the steps of: removably sliding a generally U-shaped bracket, having a user interface operatively positioned on a first surface of the bracket and a moveable latch and latch operator positioned in a housing connected to a second surface of the bracket, over a top edge portion of the access panel of the enclosure; andcontrolling movement of the latch between a locked position and an unlocked position via the user interface communicating with the latch operator electronically. 17. The method of claim 16, wherein the access panel is one of a front panel of a drawer and a door. 18. The method of claim 16, wherein the first surface of the bracket is adapted to slidably overlie a section of a front surface of the access panel, and the second surface of the bracket is adapted to slidably overlie a section of an interior surface of the access panel. 19. The method of claim 16, wherein the bracket defines an empty space which is unpenetrated except by the edge portion of the access panel when in place on the access panel. 20. The method of claim 16, wherein the bracket is freely movable on the edge portion of the access panel in an unsecured manner while in use on the access panel. 21. The method of claim 16, further comprising the step of removing the bracket from the access panel solely by lifting the bracket, and repeating the steps of claim 16 with respect to another access panel. 22. The method of claim 16, further comprising the step of adjustably mounting the housing to the second surface of the bracket via an adjustment bracket. 23. The method of claim 16, wherein the latch operator comprises a latch actuator, control circuitry, and a power supply.