Reed switch apparatus and method of using same

• US 10,198,921 B2
• Filed: 01/12/2017
• Issued: 02/05/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 02/19/2003
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Trackit Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Glendell N. Gilmore
• Inventors: Gilmore, Glendell N.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Hung T
• Application Number:
  US15/404,518
• Publication Number:
  US 20170124820A1
• Time in Patent Office: 754 Days
• Field of Search: 3405456, 3405457, 3405459, 340541, 340542, 34042628, 340547, 335205, 335206, 335207
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 25/02 Internal fittings of containers made by folding or erecting blanks made of paper B65D5/44
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 88/00 Large containers component parts, details or accessories B65D90/00; construction or assembling of bulk storage containers employing civil engineering techniques in situ or off the site E04H7/00; gas holders of variable capacity F17B; vessels for containing or storing compressed, liquefied or solidified gases F17C
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 88/12 specially adapted for transport associated with vehicles, see the relevant subclasses of B60 - B64
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 90/008 Doors for containers, e.g. ISO-containers locking E05B83/12
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/08 by opening, e.g. of door, of window, of drawer, of shutter, of curtain, of blind
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 1/66 Contacts sealed in an evacuated or gas-filled envelope, e.g. magnetic dry-reed contacts
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 36/0006 Permanent magnet actuating reed switches H01H35/147 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 36/0046 Limit switches, also fail-safe operation or anti-tamper considerations
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 50/16 Magnetic circuit arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49764 with testing or indicating
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining

Abstract

A transportable container assembly including a transportable container defining an enclosed interior space and having an opening member cooperatively engaging a mounting frame. The opening member has a closed position and an open position and access to the interior space is permitted in the open position. A localized device or system is attached to the transportable container and is coupled to an electrical power source. A reed switch apparatus coupled to the transportable container communicates the position of the opening member to the localized device or system. The localized device or system provides a localized function depending on the reported position of the opening member. The localized function includes at least one of a group consisting of a local lighting function, local locking mechanism action and local refrigeration system action/function. The localized device or system communicates the position of the opening member to a remote device or system at a location remote from the transportable container. The remote device or system is capable of providing remote monitoring and control functions or actions at the transportable container depending on the communicated position of the opening member.

Claims

1. A transportable storage container, comprising:

a container body enclosing an interior space and having an opening;

a door attached to said container body and configured to cover said opening when closed;

a reed switch apparatus positioned at an interface between said container body and said door;

an actuation magnet attached to said container body or said door, said magnet arranged to be in close proximity to said reed switch apparatus when said door is closed, and to be distant from said reed switch apparatus when said door is open, whereby said reed switch apparatus is capable of determining whether said door is open or closed;

a local GPS device or system in wired communication with said reed switch apparatus that receives information from said reed switch apparatus about the open or closed position of said door; and

a remote device or system in communication with said local GPS device or system via satellite transmission.

2. The transportable storage container of claim 1, wherein said local GPS device or system determines a time and location at which said door was opened or closed relative to the position of the door reported by the status of the reed switch wired to said GPS device or system.

3. The transportable storage container of claim 1, wherein said reed switch apparatus is in wired communication with at least one other localized device or system configured to provide a localized function depending on the position of said door, wherein said localized function includes at least one from a group consisting of a local lighting function, local locking or unlocking mechanism function, and local refrigeration system function.

4. The transportable storage container of claim 1, wherein said local GPS device or system comprises a GPS receiver and transmitter providing two-way satellite communication for remote monitoring and localized remote control functions or action, wherein said GPS receiver and transmitter includes local inputs/outputs and follower indication circuits to provide local control and monitoring of at least one of a light, an alarm indication alert, refrigeration control, opening lock/unlock control, and transportable container tracking, all depending on the position of said opening member being monitored by said reed switch apparatus.

5. The transportable storage container of claim 1, wherein said reed switch apparatus or said local GPS device or system are powered by a battery.

6. The transportable storage container of claim 5, further comprising a solar panel attached to said storage container for charging said battery.

7. A method for securing a transportable storage container having a door, comprising the steps of:

attaching a reed switch apparatus to the storage container at a location near the door and configured to determine whether the door is open or closed;

communicating information on the open or closed state of the door from said reed switch apparatus to a localized device or system;

transmitting said information from said localized device or system to a remote device or system.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising the step of controlling a localized device or system function of said transportable storage container via two-way wireless communication with said remote device or system.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein said localized function is at least one of a lighting function, a locking or unlocking function, a refrigeration function, and an alarm function dependent on a wired communication between reed switch apparatus and local device or system.

10. The method of claim 8, further comprises transmitting from said localized device or system to said remote device or system information regarding a time and location relative to the position of the door reported by the status of the reed switch apparatus reporting to said remote device or system and waiting for a response reply control command from remote device or system to local device or system.