Door lock system for trailers and cargo containers

• US 20040055345A1
• Filed: 09/24/2003
• Published: 03/25/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 09/24/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Gregory B. Moore
• Original Assignee: Gregory B. Moore
• Inventors: Moore, Gregory B.
• Application Number:
  US10/671,187
• Publication Number:
  US 20040055345A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 70/257
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2325/205 Mobile phones
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/23 using manual input of alphanumerical codes
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/24 using electronic identifiers containing a code not memorised by the user
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2211/00 Anti-theft means
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 90/008 Doors for containers, e.g. ISO-containers locking E05B83/12
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 90/021 Flexible side walls or doors B65D88/125 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 2047/0016 with linearly reciprocating motion
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 2047/0057 Feeding
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 2047/0094 Mechanical aspects of remotely controlled locks
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 47/0012 with rotary electromotors actuators with rotary electromotors per se H02K7/06, H02K23/68
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 47/026 the bolt moving rectilinearly
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 65/0021 for overhead or roll-up doors, e.g. garage doors
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 81/58 including time control, e.g. for controlling run-time of electric motors
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 81/70 the wing position
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 81/82 using batteries other than the vehicle main battery
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 83/02 Locks for railway freight-cars, freight containers or the like; Locks for the cargo compartments of commercial lorries, trucks or vans
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/0092 for cargo, freight or shipping containers and applications therefore in general
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/0069 actuated in a predetermined sequence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/5978 With switch
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/7124 Retracted electrically only

Abstract

The door lock system for trailers and cargo containers comprises a linear actuator releasably mounted on a back plate member to slidably engage a sliding bolt with a receptor on a tubular frame member of the trailer or cargo container to prevent the opening of the trailer or cargo container doors. A controller unit has an integrated circuit configured to control the operation of the linear actuator and report the status of the door to a central location. A position switch is used to indicate whether the door is open or closed so that the controller unit can automatically engage the locking mechanism to lock the door as soon as it is closed. A keypad allows a user to enter a code to unlock the door. A radio in the controller unit permits wireless communication to report status and to allow central command control over the doors.

Claims

1. A door lock system for a door used in a trailer, said system comprising:

a door locking apparatus comprising a back plate member, an actuator mounted on said back plate member and a locking member attached to said actuator, said back plate member configured to be mounted on an interior surface of said trailer, said locking member having a first end and a second end, said first end of said locking member configured to prevent the opening of said door when said door lock system is in a locked position, said second end of said locking member connected to an actuating rod of said actuator, said actuator configured to operatively actuate said locking member so as to selectively lock said door;

a controller unit in communication with said door locking apparatus, said controller unit having computer circuitry and componentry configured to control the operation of said door locking apparatus; and

a keypad in communication with said controller unit, said keypad configured to transmit operational instructions to said controller unit.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein said trailer has a frame comprising a one or more tubular frame members, said first end of said locking member being configured to be slidably received in a receptor disposed in one of said one or more tubular frame members and cooperatively engaged therewith to prevent the opening of said door until an open command is received from said controller unit.

3. The system according to claim 2, wherein said locking member is configured to be slidably engaged with a header of said frame.

4. The system according to claim 2, wherein said locking member is configured to be slidably engaged with a threshold of said frame.

5. The system according to claim 2, wherein said door locking apparatus further comprises a tubular member mounted to said back plate member, said locking member is a sliding bolt slidably disposed in said tubular member and said receptor is a hole in said tubular frame member sized and configured to receive said sliding bolt.

6. The system according to claim 1, wherein said locking member is configured to operatively engage a receptor attached to a frame member of said trailer.

7. The system according to claim 1, wherein said actuating rod is releasably connected to said locking member and said actuator is releasably connected to said back plate member for selective disengagement of said actuator from said back plate member.

8. The system according to claim 1, wherein said back plate member is mounted to said door and said locking member cooperatively engages a frame member of said trailer to prevent the opening of said door.

9. The system according to claim 1, wherein said back plate member is mounted to a frame member of said trailer and said locking member cooperatively engages said door to prevent the opening of said door.

10. The system according to claim 1 further comprising a radio in communication with said controller unit.

11. The system according to claim 10, wherein said radio is configured for the transmission of signals across a wireless communication network.

12. The system according to claim 1, wherein said actuator is an electro-mechanical linear actuator.

13. The system according to claim 1, wherein said controller unit is operatively connected to a source of electrical power.

14. The system according to claim 1 further comprising a position switch in communication with said controller unit, said position switch configured to detect whether said door is in an open position or a closed position.

15. The system according to claim 14, wherein said position switch is a reed switch having a first magnet attached to said interior surface of said trailer and a second magnet attached to one of said door locking apparatus or said door.

21. The system according to claim 14, wherein said position switch is a reed switch having a first magnet attached to said interior surface of said trailer and a second magnet attached to one of said door locking apparatus or said door.

16. A door lock system for a door used in a trailer having a frame comprising one or more tubular frame members, said system comprising:

a door locking apparatus comprising a back plate member, a linear actuator mounted on said back plate member and a locking member attached to said linear actuator, said back plate member configured to be mounted on said door, said locking member having a first end and a second end, said first end of said locking member configured to be slidably received in a receptor disposed in one of said one or more tubular frame members and cooperatively engaged therewith to prevent the opening of said door when said door lock system is in a locked position, said second end of said locking member connected to an actuating rod of said linear actuator, said linear actuator configured to operatively actuate said locking member so as to selectively lock said door;

a controller unit in communication with said door locking apparatus, said controller unit having computer circuitry and componentry configured to control the operation of said door locking apparatus;

a position switch in communication with said controller unit, said position switch configured to detect whether said door is in an open position or a closed position; and

a keypad in communication with said controller unit, said keypad configured to transmit operational instructions to said controller unit.

17. The system according to claim 16, wherein said locking member is configured to be slidably engaged with a header of said frame.

18. The system according to claim 16, wherein said locking member is configured to be slidably engaged with a threshold of said frame.

19. The system according to claim 16, wherein said door locking apparatus further comprises a tubular member mounted to said back plate member, said locking member is a sliding bolt slidably disposed in said tubular member and said receptor is a hole in said tubular frame member sized and configured to receive said sliding bolt.

20. The system according to claim 16, wherein said actuating rod is releasably connected to said locking member and said linear actuator is releasably connected to said back plate member for selective disengagement of said linear actuator from said back plate member.