Protective case

• US 10,443,273 B2
• Filed: 11/23/2016
• Issued: 10/15/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 11/24/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Leica Geosystems AG (Hexagon AB)
• Original Assignee: Leica Geosystems AG (Hexagon AB)
• Inventors: Harring, Thomas, Broder, Katherine, Bockem, Burkhard
• Primary Examiner(s): Tweel, Jr., John A
• Application Number:
  US15/779,058
• Publication Number:
  US 20180355638A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,056 Days
• Field of Search: 3405681
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 11/00 Receptacles for purposes not provided for in groups A45C1/00-A45C9/00 specially adapted for toiletry or cosmetic equipment A45D29/20, A45D44/18; travelling sewing kits A45F3/48
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 11/38 Camera cases, e.g. of ever-ready type
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 13/18 Devices to prevent theft or loss of purses, luggage or hand carried bags
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 2013/026 Inserts
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 73/0023 Containers, boxes, cases or the like, e.g. for compact discs or video-cassettes, specially adapted therefor
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 73/0082 for office machines, e.g. PC's, portable computers, typewriters, calculators
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 15/00 Surveying instruments or accessories not provided for in groups G01C1/00 - G01C13/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/16 Anti-theft; Abduction
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/88 Detecting or preventing theft or loss
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2101 Auditing as a secondary aspect
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2115 Third party
• CPC Class Codes: G12B 9/00 Housing or supporting of instruments or other apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: G12B 9/08 Supports; Devices for carrying
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/12 Detection or prevention of fraud
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/126 Anti-theft arrangements, e.g. protection against subscriber identity module [SIM] cloning
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/80 Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication

Abstract

A portable protective case for the safe transport and storage of measuring devices and other electrical equipment. The protective case is designed to protect a valuable and sensitive measuring device located inside it against theft, unauthorized use and/or potentially harmful environmental influences. The case comprises communication means for sending and receiving data via a wireless network, as well as for receiving localization data, which enable the communication unit to provide at least a rough location of the case.

Claims

1. A portable protective case for transporting an electrical measuring device, the portable protective case comprising:

an outer shell with internal cladding which encloses an interior space configured to accommodate the electrical measuring device, wherein the interior space has at least one mounting configured to accommodate a specific type of measuring device with known dimensions;

a handle configured to enable the protective case to be carried by a user;

a locking mechanism configured to enable the protective case to be opened by the user;

a communication unit integrated into the protective case;

a power supply unit having at least one accumulator for supplying power to the communication unit; and

a verification means for verifying a presence and an identity of the electrical measuring device in the interior space, wherein the communication unit is configured to;

retrieve data about the presence and identity of the electrical measuring device,

retrieve and send data via an external wireless network,

receive localization data that provides at least an approximate position of the protective case, and

create a movement profile, based on a plurality of derived positions of the protective case.

2. The portable protective case as claimed in claim 1, wherein the interior is filled with a carrier material and the at least one mounting is a recess in the carrier material with a shape corresponding to the electrical measuring device.

3. The portable protective case as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

the at least one mounting is configured for accommodating components of the electrical measuring device when the electrical measuring device is disassembled, or

the at least one mounting is designed for accommodating a spare part or accessory of the electrical measuring device.

4. The portable protective case as claimed in claim 1, wherein the communication unit is configured to exchange data with the electrical measuring device.

5. The portable protective case as claimed in claim 1, wherein the verification means comprise at least one camera, a proximity sensor, a barcode scanner or an RFID reader.

6. The portable protective case as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

the verification means comprise means for generating a wireless data network in the interior space, and

the communication unit is configured to exchange data with the measuring device via the wireless data network.

7. The portable protective case as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

a display unit for displaying information concerning the electrical measuring device located inside the interior space on the outer shell.

8. The portable protective case as claimed in claim 1, wherein the power supply unit is configured to additionally supply power to the electrical measuring device in the interior space.

9. The portable protective case as claimed in claim 1, wherein the communication unit is designed to set up a connection to the internet and to retrieve and send data over the Internet.

10. The portable protective case as claimed in claim 1, wherein the communication unit is further configured to:

maintain a connection to the at least one electrical measuring device, which is not located in the interior space of the protective case,

maintain a connection to a communication unit of at least one other protective case, and

establish a connection to a means of transport that accommodates the protective case.

11. The portable protective case as claimed in claim 1, wherein the communication unit is configured to retrieve the localization data via the wireless network.

12. The portable protective case as claimed in claim 1, wherein a GNSS receiver unit for determining the position of the case by means of a global satellite navigation system, wherein the communication unit is designed to receive the localization data from the GNSS receiver unit.

13. The portable protective case as claimed in claim 1, wherein the position of the protective case is determined to an accuracy of at least three hundred meters.

14. A portable protective case for transporting an electrical measuring device, the portable protective case comprising:

an outer shell with internal cladding which encloses an interior space configured to accommodate the electrical measuring device, wherein the interior space has at least one mounting configured to accommodate a specific type of measuring device with known dimensions;

a handle configured to enable the protective case to be carried by a user;

a locking mechanism configured to enable the protective case to be opened by the user;

a communication unit integrated into the protective case;

a power supply unit having at least one accumulator for supplying power to the communication unit; and

a verification means for verifying a presence and an identity of the electrical measuring device in the interior space, wherein the communication unit is configured to;

retrieve data about the presence and identity of the electrical measuring device,

retrieve and send data via an external wireless network,

receive localization data that provides at least an approximate position of the protective case, and

wherein the electrical measuring device has a known usage location, wherein the communication unit is configured to calculate a time remaining until arrival of the protective case at the usage location based on the identified position of the protective case and the known usage location of the measuring device from which the usage location can be determined.

15. The portable protective case as claimed in claim 14, wherein the communication unit is configured to exchange data with the electrical measuring device and based on a calculated time remaining, to automatically switch on the electrical measuring device and to transmit usage location-related data to the measuring device.

16. A system comprising:

a calculation unit, and

at least one protective case for transporting an electrical measuring device, the portable protective case comprising;

an outer shell with internal cladding which encloses an interior space configured to accommodate the electrical measuring device, wherein the interior space has at least one mounting configured to accommodate a specific type of measuring device with known dimensions;

a handle configured to enable the protective case to be carried by a user;

a locking mechanism configured to enable the protective case to be opened by the user;

a communication unit integrated into the protective case;

a power supply unit having at least one accumulator for supplying power to the communication unit; and

a verification means for verifying a presence and an identity of the electrical measuring device in the interior space, wherein the communication unit is configured to;

retrieve data about the presence and identity of the electrical measuring device,

retrieve and send data via an external wireless network, and

receive localization data that provides at least an approximate position of the protective case, and

create a movement profile, based on a plurality of derived positions of the protective case,

wherein the communication unit of the protective case and a computing unit are configured to exchange data via the wireless network, wherein the computing unit is designed to create the localization data and supply them to the communication unit.

17. The system of claim 16, comprising at least two protective cases, wherein the communication units are each configured to establish a connection to and exchange data with other communication units of other protective cases, which contain information about measuring devices located in the interior space of the protective cases.

18. A method for preparing a measuring device during transportation of the measuring device in an interior space of a case for use at a known location, the case including an outer shell with internal cladding which encloses an interior space configured to accommodate the electrical measuring device, wherein the interior space has at least one mounting configured to accommodate a specific type of measuring device with known dimensions, a handle configured to enable the protective case to be carried by a user, a locking mechanism configured to enable the protective case to be opened by the user, a communication unit integrated into the protective case, a power supply unit having at least one accumulator for supplying power to the communication unit, and a verification means for verifying a presence and an identity of the electrical measuring device in the interior space, the method comprising:

retrieving localization data providing at least a general localizability;

calculating, based on the localization data, of a rough position of the measuring device; and

calculating, based on the identified position and the known usage location, of a time remaining until arrival at the usage location.

19. The method as claimed in claim 18, wherein based on the calculated time remaining:

the measuring device is switched on; and

a rechargeable battery of the measuring device is charged.