Lock mechanism for securing a lockable volume

Abstract

A lock and method of locking a lockable volume is described. The lock may be located on a door of a lockable volume, such as a locker configured to hold an item. The lock may comprise a post and a cam, the cam having an opening corresponding to the size and shape of the post. The cam is rotatable about an axis, wherein the rotation of the cam about the axis releasably secures the post within the opening, thereby locking the door to which the post is attached.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A lock comprising:
 a post, which comprises:
 a shaft; 
 a neck connected to the shaft, the neck having a first diameter; and 
 a head, connected to the neck, the head having a second diameter, 
   wherein the second diameter is larger than the first diameter; and   a rolling cam having an opening formed in a first surface, wherein the first surface comprises an opening configured to receive the neck and the head of the post, and a securing portion configured to secure the neck and head of the post;   wherein the rolling cam rotates about an axis of rotation to selectively secure the post.   
     
     
         2 . The lock according to  claim 1 , wherein the first surface of the rolling cam is perpendicular to the axis of rotation. 
     
     
         3 . The lock according to  claim 1 , wherein the first surface of the rolling cam is parallel to the axis of rotation. 
     
     
         4 . The lock according to  claim 1 , wherein the post extends parallel to the axis of rotation of the rolling cam when the neck and head of the post are received in the opening of the rolling cam. 
     
     
         5 . The lock according to  claim 1 , wherein the post extends perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the rolling cam when the neck and head of the post are received in the opening of the rolling cam. 
     
     
         6 . The lock according to  claim 1 , wherein the opening of the rolling cam extends perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the rolling cam. 
     
     
         7 . The lock according to  claim 1 , wherein the opening of the rolling cam extends parallel to the axis of rotation of the rolling cam. 
     
     
         8 . The lock according to  claim 1 , wherein the opening of the rolling cam extends non-perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the rolling cam. 
     
     
         9 . A locking system comprising:
 a door comprising a post, the post comprising:
 a shaft; 
 a neck connected to the shaft, the neck having a first diameter; and 
 a head, connected to the neck, the head having a second diameter, 
   wherein the second diameter is larger than the first diameter, and wherein the post extends from the door; and   a lockable volume having a wall, the door being moveably attached to the lockable volume;   a rolling cam attached to the wall of the lockable volume, the rolling cam having an opening formed in a first surface, wherein the first surface comprises an opening configured to receive the neck and the head of the post, and a securing portion configured to secure the neck and head of the post; and   wherein the opening comprises a curved edge configured to contact the neck or the head of the post, and wherein the rolling cam rotates about an axis of rotation from an open to a closed position while the neck or head of the post is in contact with the curved edge, wherein the contact between the curved edge and the neck or head of the post causes the neck or head of the post to move into the securing portion; and   wherein, when the rolling cam rotates into the closed position, the door is securely locked.   
     
     
         10 . The locking system according to  claim 1 , wherein the post further comprises a head located at the second end and a neck located between the head and the first end. 
     
     
         11 . The locking system according to  claim 10 , wherein the head comprises a first dimension and the neck comprises a second dimension. 
     
     
         12 . The locking system according to  claim 11 , wherein the first dimension is larger than the second dimension. 
     
     
         13 . The locking system according to  claim 9 , wherein the cam rotates about an axis of rotation. 
     
     
         14 . The locking system according to  claim 13 , wherein the axis of rotation is perpendicular to the first surface. 
     
     
         15 . The locking system according to  claim 13 , wherein the axis of rotation is non-perpendicular to the first surface. 
     
     
         16 . The locking system according to  claim 13 , wherein the post extends from the door parallel to the axis of rotation of the cam when the second end of the post is received in the opening of the cam. 
     
     
         17 . The locking system according to  claim 13 , wherein the post extends from the door perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the cam when the second end of the post are received in the opening of the cam. 
     
     
         18 . The locking system according to  claim 13 , wherein the opening of the cam extends perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the cam. 
     
     
         19 . The locking system according to  claim 13 , wherein the opening of the cam extends parallel to the axis of rotation of the cam. 
     
     
         20 . The locking system according to  claim 13 , wherein the opening of the cam extends non-perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the cam. 
     
     
         21 . The locking system according to  claim 13 , wherein the rolling cam is connected to an actuator, and the actuator is driven by a piston, and is configured to rotate the rolling cam from the open position to the closed position. 
     
     
         22 . A method of securing a door with a lock, the method comprising:
 moving a door, the door comprising a post, from a first position to a second position, wherein, in the second position, the post is received in an opening in a surface of a cam, disposed in a wall; and   rotating the cam about an axis of rotation from a first position to a second position such that the opening in the surface of the cam secures the post and draws the door toward the wall, and prevents the door from being moved to the first position.   
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22 , further comprising rotating the cam about the axis of rotation from the second position to the first position, thereby aligning the opening with the post, allowing passage of the post out of the opening, such that the door can be moved to the first position. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23 , further comprising moving the door from the second position to the first position. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the opening in the surface of the cam extends perpendicular to the axis of rotation. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the opening in the surface of the cam extends parallel to the axis of rotation. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the opening in the surface of the cam extends non-parallel to the axis of rotation.