Tamper evident cargo container seal bolt lock
First Claim
1. A bolt lock device comprising:
- a bolt member comprising;
a shaft comprising a first end and a second end; and
a lock groove formed in the shaft;
a sensory circuit comprising memory, a first electrical contact and a second electrical contact;
a receiving member adapted to receive the first end of the shaft including the lock groove; and
a tethering member comprising a conductive medium and adapted to tether the bolt member and the receiving member,wherein;
the bolt member and the first contact and the second contact of the sensory circuit are adapted to form a continuous electrical circuit when the bolt member has been received in the receiving member;
the lock groove is configured to lock the bolt member to the receiving member when the bolt member has been received in the receiving member; and
the sensory circuit is configured to detect an interruption in a continuity of the electrical circuit.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Systems and methods for a tamper-evident cargo container seal bolt lock are disclosed herein. The device can include a receiving member, a conductive bolt member adapted to be snap-locked into the receiving member, and a plastic encapsulant which tethers the bolt member to the receiving member. The encapsulant can contain an electrically conductive medium, such as a wire, which runs from the receiving member to the second end of the bolt. A sensory circuit disposed within the receiving member can be 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 present time and/or date in memory. An RFID transponder disposed within the encapsulant or the receiving member can then transmit the recorded date/time to an RFID interrogator if a dispute subsequently arises as to when the lock had been broken.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A bolt lock device comprising:
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a bolt member comprising; a shaft comprising a first end and a second end; and a lock groove formed in the shaft; a sensory circuit comprising memory, a first electrical contact and a second electrical contact; a receiving member adapted to receive the first end of the shaft including the lock groove; and a tethering member comprising a conductive medium and adapted to tether the bolt member and the receiving member, wherein; the bolt member and the first contact and the second contact of the sensory circuit are adapted to form a continuous electrical circuit when the bolt member has been received in the receiving member; the lock groove is configured to lock the bolt member to the receiving member when the bolt member has been received in the receiving member; and the sensory circuit is configured to detect an interruption in a continuity of the electrical circuit. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method for electronically detecting whether a bolt lock has been tampered with, the method comprising:
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receiving a bolt member in a receiving member, the receiving member being connected to the bolt member via a tethering member comprising a conductive medium and adapted to tether the bolt member and the receiving member to one another; locking the bolt member to the receiving member via a lock groove formed in the bolt member when the bolt member has been received in the receiving member; forming a continuous electrical circuit comprising the bolt member, the receiving member, and the conductive medium when the bolt member has been received in the receiving member; detecting an interruption in a continuity of the electrical circuit with a sensory circuit comprising memory; and in response to detecting an interruption in the continuity of the electrical circuit, recording a current date and time in the memory. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification