Electronic security apparatus and method for monitoring mechanical keys and other items
First Claim
1. A security container comprising:
- a lock;
an electronic lock control circuit for controlling operations of the lock;
a closure for containing an item to be protected, the closure being movable to an open position for receiving the item and a closed position in which the item contained in the closure is not accessible; and
a detector for detecting presence of the item in the closure, the detector and the closure being disposed such that the item in the closure is detectable by the detector when the closure is in the closed position, the electronic lock control circuit being configured to actuate the lock to lock the closure in the closed position only if the detector has detected the presence of the item in the closure at the closed position.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A security container with an electronic lock circuit is used to securely store mechanical keys or other valuable items. Items to be protected are placed in a secured location in the security container. A detector of the security container detects whether the items are indeed in the secured location, such as by means of receiving signals from a transponder attached to the items. The security container is locked only if the items are detected to be in the secured location. Audit trail records for the locking and unlocking events of the security container may be downloaded for analysis. A monitoring device with a location identification device, such as a GPS sensor, may be attached to items to be monitored for tracking locations and activities of the items.
84 Citations
25 Claims
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1. A security container comprising:
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a lock;
an electronic lock control circuit for controlling operations of the lock;
a closure for containing an item to be protected, the closure being movable to an open position for receiving the item and a closed position in which the item contained in the closure is not accessible; and
a detector for detecting presence of the item in the closure, the detector and the closure being disposed such that the item in the closure is detectable by the detector when the closure is in the closed position, the electronic lock control circuit being configured to actuate the lock to lock the closure in the closed position only if the detector has detected the presence of the item in the closure at the closed position. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A security storage system comprising:
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a security container having a lock, an electronic lock control circuit for controlling operation of the lock, and a closure for containing an item to be protected, the closure being movable to an open position for receiving the item and a closed position in which the item contained in the closure is not accessible, and a detector for detecting presence of the item in the closure, the detector and the closure being disposed such that the item in the closure is detectable by the detector when the closure is in the closed position;
a transponder attached to the item to be protected, the transponder generating a detection signal detectable by the detector when the transponder is contained in the closure in the closed position, the electronic lock control circuit being configured to actuate the lock to lock the closure in the closed position only if the detector has detected the presence of the transponder in the closure at the closed position. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A monitoring apparatus for tracking a location of an item being monitored, comprising:
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a location sensor for sensing a location of the apparatus;
an event sensor for sensing a parameter indicative of an event occurring to the monitoring apparatus;
a memory;
a microprocessor for processing readings of the location and motion sensors and storing audit records in the memory, the audit records having data indicative of the readings of the location and motion sensors and data providing timing information for the readings;
a communication component for transferring the audit data to an external device; and
means for attaching the monitoring apparatus to the item to be monitored. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25)
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Specification