Apparatus for securing drawer contents

Abstract

A cabinet having a plurality of drawers, each drawer having at least one compartment. The cabinet includes a computer and a panel pivotally coupled to one of the drawers. The panel is disposed in a covering relationship with the compartments within the drawer and includes at least one opening. The opening corresponds with the compartment. A cover is pivotally connected to the panel and covers the opening. A locking mechanism is interconnected with the drawer and the cover. The locking mechanism receives a signal from the computer to position it in one of a locked and unlocked position.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of retrofitting a kit for controlling contents into a preexisting cabinet, the cabinet including a drawer having a base wall and perimeter walls defining a compartment, the method comprising:
 providing a panel defining an opening;   attaching a cover to the panel, the cover being configured to selectively cover the opening;   securing the panel to the drawer to substantially cover the compartment; and   connecting the panel to a control center, the control center being operable to selectively allow movement of the cover relative to the panel to provide access to the compartment in the drawer through the opening in the panel.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the drawer has a drawer height, and wherein securing the panel to the drawer includes securing the panel to the drawer such that the drawer with the panel and the cover secured thereon has a height at most equal to the drawer height. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the drawer is slidable into and out of the cabinet, and wherein securing the panel to the drawer includes securing to the panel to the drawer such that the panel does not interfere with sliding movement of the drawer. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the cabinet includes a lock mechanism configured to inhibit sliding movement of the drawer out of the cabinet, and wherein the method further comprises connecting the lock mechanism to the control center, the control center being operable to selectively unlock the lock mechanism. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein attaching the cover to the panel includes pivotally attaching the cover to the panel to selectively cover the opening. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising attaching a locking mechanism to one of the cover and the panel, the locking mechanism being operable to selectively engage the other of the cover and the panel to lock the cover in a position covering the opening. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , further comprising connecting the locking mechanism to the control center, the control center being operable to selectively actuate the locking mechanism to unlock the cover from the panel. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the locking mechanism includes a solenoid, and wherein connecting the locking mechanism to the control center includes connecting the solenoid to the control center such that the control center selectively actuates the solenoid. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein providing the panel includes providing the panel with a locking device, and wherein securing the panel to the drawer includes engaging a portion of the drawer with the locking device. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the locking device includes a rod, and wherein engaging a portion of the drawer with the locking device includes extending the rod into at least one of the perimeter walls of the drawer. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the locking device includes a key mechanism coupled to the rod, and wherein securing the panel to the drawer includes actuating the key mechanism to move the rod relative to the drawer. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein securing the panel to the drawer also includes pivotally attaching a first edge of the panel to the drawer by a hinge, and wherein the locking device is supported on a second edge of the panel opposite from the hinge. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the cabinet includes a plurality of drawers, each drawer having a base wall and perimeter walls defining a compartment, and wherein the method further comprises:
 providing a plurality of panels, each panel defining an opening;   attaching a cover to each of the plurality of panels, each cover being configured to selectively cover the opening of a corresponding panel;   securing each panel to one of the plurality of drawers to substantially cover the corresponding compartment; and   connecting each panel to the control center, the control center being operable to selectively allow movement of each cover relative to the corresponding panel to provide access to the corresponding compartment in the corresponding drawer through the corresponding opening in the corresponding panel.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 positioning a plurality of indicators on the cabinet, each indicator corresponding to one of the plurality of drawers; and   connecting the plurality of indicators to the control center, the control center being operable to trigger each indicator to identify which of the plurality of drawers contains a desired item.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the base wall and the perimeter walls of the drawer define a plurality of compartments, and wherein the method further comprises attaching a plurality of covers to the panel, each cover being configured to selectively cover one of the plurality of compartments. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 positioning a plurality of indicators on the panel, each indicator corresponding to one of the plurality of covers; and   connecting the plurality of indicators to the control center, the control center being operable to trigger each indicator to identify which of the plurality of compartments in the drawer contains a desired item.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 positioning a take switch on the panel; and   connecting the take switch to the control center, the control center being operable to record removal of an item from the compartment when the take switch is actuated.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 positioning a return switch on the panel; and   connecting the return switch to the control center, the control center being operable to register an increase in quantity of items within the compartment when the return switch is actuated.   
     
     
         19 . A method of retrofitting a kit for controlling contents into a preexisting cabinet, the cabinet including a plurality of drawers, each drawer having a base wall and perimeter walls defining a plurality of compartments, the method comprising:
 providing a plurality of panels, each panel defining a plurality of openings;   attaching a plurality of covers to each of the plurality of panels, each cover being configured to selectively cover one of the plurality of openings of the corresponding panel;   attaching a plurality of locking mechanisms to each of the plurality of panels, each locking mechanism corresponding to one of the plurality of covers on the corresponding panel and being operable to selectively engage the one of the plurality of covers to lock the one of the plurality of covers in a position that covers the corresponding opening;   positioning a plurality of indicators on each of the plurality of panels, each indicator corresponding to one of the plurality of covers;   securing each panel to one of the plurality of drawers to substantially cover the plurality of compartments in the corresponding drawer; and   connecting each locking mechanism and each indicator to a control center, the control center being operable to independently actuate each of the plurality of locking mechanisms to selectively unlock each cover from the corresponding panel and operable to trigger each of the plurality of indicators to identify which of the plurality of compartments in a particular drawer contains a desired item.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein each drawer has a drawer height, and wherein securing each panel to the one of the plurality of drawers includes securing each panel to the one of the plurality of drawers such that the one of the plurality of drawers with the corresponding panel and the corresponding covers secured thereon has a height that is at most equal to the drawer height.