Tamper evident cargo container seal bolt lock

• US 10,119,301 B2
• Filed: 06/09/2017
• Issued: 11/06/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 03/09/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Neology Incorporated (OEP Technologie BV)
• Original Assignee: Neology Incorporated (OEP Technologie BV)
• Inventors: Mullis, Joe, Kruest, James Robert
• Primary Examiner(s): Mullen, Thomas
• Application Number:
  US15/619,340
• Publication Number:
  US 20170284130A1
• Time in Patent Office: 515 Days
• Field of Search: 340541, 340542, 3405721, 3405728, 3405729, 340650-652
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 17/22 Means for operating or controlling lock or fastening device accessories, i.e. other than the fastening members, e.g. switches, indicators E05B39/00 - E05B45/00 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 45/06 Electric alarm locks E05B45/005 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07798 part of the antenna or the integrated circuit being adapted for rupturing or breaking, e.g. record carriers functioning as sealing devices for detecting not-authenticated opening of containers electronic seals G09F3/03
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 3/0317 having bolt like sealing means means for preventing relative axial movement of a pin, spigot, shaft or the like and a member surrounding it F16B21/00
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 3/0329 having electronic sealing means
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 3/0335 using RFID tags
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/8081 Electric

Abstract

Systems and methods for a tamper-evident cargo container seal bolt lock are disclosed herein. The device can include a bolt member having a conductive medium running the axial length of the bolt, and a receiving member for locking the bolt into place. A battery-driven sensory circuit including a memory means, a processor, and a timing circuit can be disposed within the receiving member such that a continuous circuit is formed from one circuit pin over the conductive medium through the length of the bolt and back to a second pin. The sensory circuit is configured to sense whether the circuit has been interrupted (e.g., if the bolt has been cut). In the event of an interruption, the circuit can record the time and/or date in memory. This information can then be transmitted to an RFID reader/interrogator if a dispute arises as to when the lock had been broken.

Claims

1. A bolt lock device, comprising:

a receiving member comprising an electrical interface adapted to receive a first end of a locking member that, in response to receiving the first end of the locking member, forms a continuous circuit by an electrically conductive pathway through a conductive medium running within the locking member from the first end and along an axial length of the locking member; and

a transponder coupled to the continuous circuit and configured to;

store a unique identifier associated with the bolt lock device, and

transmit the identifier in response to a query.

2. The bolt lock device as recited in claim 1, wherein the transponder is further configured to:

store data with respect to at least one of the following;

a nature of a shipment, and one or more contents of the shipment; and

transmit at least a portion of the data in response to the query.

3. The bolt lock device as recited in claim 1, wherein the transponder includes a radio frequency identification (RFID) chip, and wherein the transponder is configured to transmit the identifier over a wireless connection.

4. The bolt lock device as recited in claim 1, wherein the transponder is connected to a serial bus, and wherein the transponder is configured to transmit the identifier over a wired connection.

5. A bolt lock device, comprising:

a bolt member comprising an electrically conductive medium running between a first end of the bolt member and a second end of the bolt member;

a receiving member adapted to receive the first end of the bolt member, the receiving member comprising a battery-operated sensory circuit with memory and pins adapted to form a continuous circuit by an electrically conductive pathway through the conductive medium of the bolt member after the first end of the bolt member has been inserted into the receiving member; and

wherein the sensory circuit is coupled to a transponder configured to;

store a unique identifier associated with the bolt lock device, and

transmit the identifier in response to a query.

6. The bolt lock device as recited in claim 5, wherein the sensory circuit is adapted to detect an interruption in the sensory circuit.

7. The bolt lock device as recited in claim 6, wherein the sensory circuit is further adapted to record in the memory a date and time of the interruption in response to detecting the interruption in the sensory circuit.

8. The bolt lock device as recited in claim 7, wherein the transponder is further configured to transmit the date and time of the interruption in response to the query.

9. A method, comprising:

forming a continuous circuit in response to receiving a first end of a locking member at an electrical interface of a receiving member by an electrically conductive pathway through a conductive medium running within the locking member from the first end and along an axial length of the locking member;

storing an identifier associated with a bolt lock device in a transponder within the bolt lock device, wherein the transponder is coupled to the continuous circuit; and

transmitting the identifier in response to a query.

10. The method as recited in claim 9, further comprising:

storing data with respect to at least one of the following;

a nature of a shipment, and one or more contents of the shipment; and

transmitting at least a portion of the data in response to the query.

11. The method as recited in claim 9, further comprising receiving a first end of a bolt member of the locking member in the receiving member, wherein the bolt member comprises an electrically conductive medium running between the first end of the bolt member and a second end of the bolt member, wherein the receiving member comprises a battery-operated sensory circuit with memory and pins adapted to form the continuous circuit by an electrically conductive pathway through the conductive medium of the bolt member after the first end of the bolt member has been inserted into the receiving member, and wherein the sensory circuit is coupled to the transponder.

12. The method as recited in claim 11, further comprising detecting an interruption in the sensory circuit.

13. The method as recited in claim 12, further comprising recording a date and time of the interruption in response to detecting the interruption in the sensory circuit.

14. The method as recited in claim 13, further comprising transmitting the date and time of the interruption in response to the query.

15. The method as recited in claim 9, wherein the transponder includes a radio frequency identification (RFID) chip, and wherein the transponder is configured to transmit the identifier over a wireless connection.

16. The method as recited in claim 9, wherein the transponder is connected to a serial bus, and wherein the transponder is configured to transmit the identifier over a wired connection.