Multiple Compartment Time Lockable Device, System, Software, and Mechanism

Abstract

A system with multiple compartments each lockable until a user specified time and/or for a user specified duration.

Claims

1. A device with two or more time locking compartments that can be locked until user set times.

2. An embodiment of claim 1 with wireless communication functionality that can receive input from a wireless transmitting device.

3. An embodiment of claim 1 further comprising a port for an external power supply.

4. An embodiment of claim 1 further comprising a controller that uses an algorithm to predict user desired unlocking times for individual compartments.

5. An embodiment of claim 1 wherein a rotating piece of the device allows access to one compartment at a time.

6. An embodiment of claim 5 wherein an enclosure exists in the center of the device further comprising a locking mechanism.

7. An embodiment of claim 5 wherein an enclosure exists in the center of the device further comprising buttons or actuators the used by the user to interface with the device.

8. An embodiment of claim 5 wherein an enclosure exists in the center of the device further comprising a display.

9. An embodiment of claim 5 wherein an enclosure exists in the center of the device further comprising a timing device.

10. An embodiment of claim 5 wherein an enclosure exists in the center of the device further comprising control board and electronics.

11. An embodiment of claim 5 wherein an enclosure exists in the center of the device further comprising a battery.

12. A rotational motion control mechanism that uses the interaction of a series of one or more slots and one or more actuators to prevent and/or enable rotation.

13. An embodiment of claim 12 wherein rotation can be prevented and/or enabled in one direction or both directions at the same time.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0040] FIGS. 1A-B illustrate various views of the compartment portion of the multiple compartment time lockable device.

[0041] FIGS. 2A-B illustrate various views of the physical enclosing mechanism portion of the multiple compartment time lockable device.

[0042] FIG. 3 illustrates a views of the battery cover portion of the multiple compartment time lockable device.

[0043] FIGS. 4A-B illustrate various views of the electronics and locking mechanism enclosure portion of the multiple compartment time lockable device.

[0044] FIGS. 5A-B illustrate various views of the control enclosure top cover portion of the multiple compartment time lockable device.

[0045] FIG. 6 illustrates a view of the silicone button structure portion of the multiple compartment time lockable device.

[0046] FIGS. 7A-B illustrate various views of the printed circuit board portion of the multiple compartment time lockable device.

[0047] FIG. 8 illustrates a view of the potentiometer gear portion of the multiple compartment time lockable device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0048] The current application and embodiments relate to a real time lockable storage device, system, and software.

[0049] It should be understood that real time lockable refers to a system that is locked until a user set time wherein the set time may be any predetermined time (e.g. 6:00 pm on Monday). This does not preclude other mechanisms from overriding one or more locking mechanisms as discussed in the Summary of the Invention.

[0050] In one embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1-5, the time lockable container is separated into 3 major components: the compartments 100, the physical enclosing mechanism 101, and the electronics and locking mechanism enclosure whose outer portion is made out of the control enclosure top cover 112 and the outer control enclosure shell 105.

[0051] The compartments 100 may be comprised of two or more separate compartments 143, each individually accessible by the user.

[0052] The physical enclosing mechanism 101 is able to rotate above the compartments 100 to allow access to one compartment at a time via an opening 130 in the physical enclosing mechanism 101. The rotation is facilitated and kept smooth by the use of many low friction semi-spherical contact points 104. The physical enclosing mechanism 101 is held in place in between the compartments 100 and the outer control enclosure shell 105 through the use of the low friction semi-spherical contact points 104. The semi-spherical contact points 104 exist between the physical enclosing mechanism 101 and both the compartments 100 and the outer control enclosure shell 105.

[0053] The electronics and locking mechanism enclosure is fully made up of the outer control enclosure shell 105, the separate gear 106 with gear shaft 107, rotary encoder 108, main control printed circuit board (PCB) 109, LCD display 110, silicone button structure 121, control enclosure top cover 112, PCB screws, solenoids 114, and control enclosure top cover to outer shell screws.

[0054] The physical enclosing mechanism 101 forms an interface with the electronics and locking mechanism enclosure 102 that enables the device electronics and software systems to learn the angular position of the physical enclosing mechanism 101. In this preferred embodiment, this is done with a mating set of gears. One gear 116 is built into the physical enclosing mechanism 101, while the other gear 106 is separate and attaches to a rotary encoder 108 via the rotary encoder shaft 117 and the shaft 107 leading off the separate gear 106. The gear 106 rotates on low friction semi-spherical contact points 118 similar to the semi-spherical contact points 104. The rotary encoder 108 is attached directly to the bottom of the main control PCB 109.

[0055] The main control PCB 109 is attached to the control enclosure top cover 112 with three PCB screws. An LCD backlight 120 is attached to the top of the main control PCB 109. An LCD display 110 is attached to the top of the main control PCB 109 on top of the LCD backlight 120. The LCD display 110 forms a seal with the control enclosure top cover 112 when the main control PCB 109 is attached to the control enclosure top cover 112. A silicone structure 121 that forms the silicone buttons 122 and main silicone structure 123 rests on the top of the main control PCB 109. It is held in place by the four screw shafts 124 between the control enclosure top cover 112 and the outer control enclosure shell 105, the three screw shafts 125 between the control enclosure top cover 112 and the main control PCB 109, the silicone button holes 126 in the control enclosure top cover, the LCD backlight 120, the LCD display 110, and the silicone pad positioning structures 127.

[0056] The silicone buttons 122 form 10 buttons for each digit from 0 to 9, making it very easy to input time and to select compartments 143. A software algorithm easily extrapolates the unlocking time to all available compartments 143. This algorithm relies on the user first inputting the unlock time using the silicone buttons 122 for one or more compartments 143, and then automatically making a best guess for the unlocking times of the other compartments 143. The user can view these results by pressing the button corresponding to the individual compartment 143 they are interested in and edit the times until satisfied with the results. The user then locks all compartments 143, or just the compartments 143 the user selects using the silicone buttons 122. In addition to the 10 buttons for each digit from 0 to 9, there are also functional buttons that serve different purposes depending on the state of the device.

[0057] LED lights 128 are mounted on the underside of the main control PCB 109. Holes in the main control PCB 109 allow the LED light to project up under the silicone buttons 122. The silicon buttons 122 are formed from translucent silicone to allow the light of the LEDs 128 to project up through the silicone buttons 122 so that the user can see the light. This light can be used to signal lots of useful information, including but not limited to, compartment selection, compartment unlocking, compartment locking, low battery, status indicators, and system settings. The LEDs 128 may be different colors or multi-color LEDs.

[0058] The physical enclosing mechanism 101 has edges 146 which hang over the sides of the compartments 100 to prevent prying up. In between the edges 146 and the compartments 100 are another set of low friction semi-spherical contact points 129 to reduce friction and ensure correct positioning. More low friction semi-spherical contact points 131 keep the physical enclosing mechanism gliding above the compartments 100.

[0059] To correctly position the physical enclosing mechanism 101 between the compartments 100 and the outer control enclosure shell 105, standoffs 132 are used. Through these six standoffs 132, screws 133 are inserted to firmly join the compartments 100 and the outer control enclosure shell 105.

[0060] More mounting holes 134 are present on the bottom of the compartments and used to mount a battery holder 135. To connect the battery holder 135 to the main control PCB 109, a hole 136 is made in the compartments 100. A hole 137 is also made in the outer control enclosure shell 105. This allows for easy assembling of the device.

[0061] The battery holder 135 is positioned to restrict access to the screws 133 holding the compartments 100 together with the outer control enclosure shell 105.

[0062] A battery cover 138 is used to cover up the battery holder 135 during normal use. This battery cover 138 has two extrusions 139 which slide into two holes 140 in the compartments 100. This battery cover also has a bendable locking mechanism 141 that interacts with the compartments 100 to lock the battery cover 138 in place during normal use. The bendable locking mechanism 141 allows access to the battery holder 135 when necessary.

[0063] A groove 142 is made around the base of the compartments 100 to allow easy picking up of the device when it is on a flat surface such as a table. This groove 142 also makes the device easier to hold.

[0064] In some embodiments one or more extrusions from the device allow the device to increase stability when the device is placed on its side. These extrusions can be placed so that the display is oriented in a manner easy for the user to read. The extrusions can also make it possible for the physical enclosing mechanism 101 to rotate while the device is on its side.

[0065] In some embodiments the memory used to store compartment opening times is preserved during power fail. Therefore the system returns to its previous state when power is restored.

[0066] The one or more solenoids 114 control rotation of the physical enclosing mechanism 101 and thus access to any individual compartment or compartments 143. This is done by the design of slots 144 in the physical enclosing mechanism 101 that align with the solenoids 114. This design of the slots 144 allows for independent control of rotation directions using the solenoids 114. Rotation can be enabled in one direction, the other direction, or both directions by engaging one or more solenoids 114. When the solenoids 114 are in their extended state, they prevent rotation in one or more directions due to contact with the slots 144.

[0067] When the solenoids 114 are unpowered, they attempt to resume their extended state. This means that during a power fail, the compartments are automatically locked.

[0068] The unique, particular pattern of slots 144 allows the entire system to be controlled with a minimum number of actuators. In this particular embodiment, two solenoids 114 are used. One solenoid prevents rotation clockwise and one solenoid prevents rotation counterclockwise. In this way, the system can allow rotation in only one direction, providing access only to a specific compartment 143.

[0069] As mentioned above, in some embodiments this device can be connected to others by way of radio waves, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, or other communication mechanisms. This allows for advanced modes and controls as mentioned above.

[0070] Several embodiments have been described herein that are exemplary of the invention. One skilled in the art will recognize additional embodiments within the scope and spirit of the present invention.