Security system for cargo trailers

• US 20060117820A1
• Filed: 11/14/2005
• Published: 06/08/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 02/06/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Gerald F. Chalko Jr, Kurt A. Moldenhauer, Maciej Labowicz, Peter W. Mirabella, William P. Lanigan
• Original Assignee: Gerald F. Chalko Jr, Kurt A. Moldenhauer, Maciej Labowicz, Peter W. Mirabella, William P. Lanigan
• Inventors: Moldenhauer, Kurt A., Mirabella, Peter W., Chalko, Gerald F. Jr., Labowicz, Maciej, Lanigan, William P.
• Application Number:
  US11/272,649
• Publication Number:
  US 20060117820A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 70/279.100
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 33/0222 Connecting elements between stanchions, e.g. roof supporting elements, stiffeners non-fixed roofs B60J7/00; securing and covering of load B60P7/00
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 2047/0023 Nuts or nut-like elements moving along a driven threaded axle
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/1021 Motor
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/5978 With switch
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/7062 Electrical type [e.g., solenoid]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/7107 And alternately mechanically actuated by a key, dial, etc.
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/7113 Projected and retracted electrically

Abstract

A cargo transportation device has a container including a cargo door accessible from the outside for closing the container and being movable from an open position to a closed position. A security system is provided that includes a latching device on the inside of the container, the latching device having a latch, a screw for moving the latch between an open position and a closed position, and a rotary motor for turning the screw. The security system has a latch receiving device, adapted to receive the latch, on the inside of the container. A controller operates a motor to turn a screw in one direction and thereby moves the latch from its unlocked position to its locked position. The controller also can operate the motor to turn the screw in the direction opposite of said one direction thereby moving the latch from its locked position in the latch receiving device to its unlocked position.

Claims

1. A method of operating a security system for a cargo container including a cargo door, a latch, and an electronic controller configured to control movement of the latch, the method comprising:

monitoring the cargo door to detect a change in the cargo door'"'"'s position;

monitoring the latch to detect a change in the latch'"'"'s position;

determining whether the latch or the cargo door changed position;

determining whether user input regarding the position of the cargo door or the latch is received within a predetermined time period; and

moving the latch to a first position in response to either the latch or the door changing position and a failure to receive user input, within a predetermined time period, regarding the position of the cargo door or the latch.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of monitoring the cargo door comprises monitoring the cargo door to detect when the cargo door moves to a closed position.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the step of moving the latch comprises moving the latch to a locked position in response to the cargo door moving to the closed position, and wherein the user input comprises a command from the user to move the latch to the closed position.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of monitoring the latch comprises monitoring the latch to detect when the latch moves to an unlocked position.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the step of moving the latch comprises moving the latch to a locked position in response to the latch moving to an unlocked position, and wherein the failure to receive user input comprises failing to detect that the door is moved to an open position.

6. A method comprising:

positioning a security system, including a latch and an electronic controller configured to move the latch, in a cargo container having a cargo door;

storing a number of permitted attempts to move the latch to a first position;

receiving a request to move the latch to the first position;

determining whether a number of previous attempts to move the latch to the first position is less than the number of permitted attempts;

attempting to move the latch to the first position if the number of previous attempts is less than the number of permitted attempts.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the steps of attempting to move the latch comprises moving the latch toward a locked position.

8. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

moving the latch to a second position if the latch does not reach the first position.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the step of moving the latch to the second position comprises moving the latch to an unlocked position.

10. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

incrementing the number of previous attempts.

11. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

setting the number of attempts to zero if the latch is successfully moved from the first position to the second position or from the second position to the first position.

12. A method comprising:

positioning a security system, including a latch and an electronic controller configured to move the latch, in a cargo container having a cargo door;

receiving a request to move the latch to a first position;

determining whether the door is in a first state;

if the door is in the first state, then the moving the latch to the first position; and

if the door is not in the first state, then not moving the latch to the first position.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the step of receiving comprises receiving a request to move the latch to a locked position.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the step of verifying comprises verifying that the door is closed.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

moving the latch to the locked position if the doors is closed.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

receiving a command indicating that the latch can be moved to the locked position if the door is open,

moving the latch to the locked position if the door is open.

17. A method comprising:

positioning a security system, including a latch and an electronic controller configured to move the latch, in a cargo container having a cargo door wherein the electronic controller is configured to move the latch to a first position in response to receipt of a signal over a first communication channel and to move the latch to a second position in response to receipt of a signal over a second communication channel;

receiving a data transmission from a key fob over a third communication channel;

preventing movement of the latch in response to receipt of a signal over the first channel or the second channel in response to receipt of the data transmission.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the step of receiving the data transmission comprises receiving a single signal.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the step of receiving the data transmission comprises receiving a plurality of signals.

20. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

receiving another data transmission from the key fob over the third channel, and in response to receipt of the other data transmission, permitting movement of the latch in response to receipt of a signal over the first channel or the second channel.