Storage container

• US 20060217835A1
• Filed: 03/24/2006
• Published: 09/28/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/24/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Astra Gesellschaft Fur Asset Management mbH & Company KG
• Original Assignee: Astra Gesellschaft Fur Asset Management mbH & Company KG
• Inventors: Stobbe, Anatoli
• Application Number:
  US11/389,200
• Publication Number:
  US 20060217835A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/214
• CPC Class Codes: E05G 1/08 secured individually
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00936 for key cabinets
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00896 specially adapted for particular uses

Abstract

A storage container which can include a housing with lockable and unlockabe drawers and engagement mechanisms in the drawers for identification carriers with objects that are to be safeguarded. The storage container can further include a device for reading data stored in the identification carriers and an evaluation and control unit and a display device. The reading device includes transmission means that are arranged fixedly in the housing and associated to the drawers for contactless transmission of data between the identification carriers and the reading device. When the drawers are closed, the engaging mechanisms are positioned in the detection range of the associated transmission means.

Claims

1. A storage container for receiving particular identification carriers comprising:

a) a housing;

b) a plurality of drawers disposed in said housing that are lockable and unlockable;

c) a plurality of engagement mechanisms coupled to said plurality of said drawers for receiving the particular identification carriers;

d) at least one reading device for reading data stored in each identification carrier;

e) an evaluation and control unit; and

f) at least one display device

wherein said at least one reading device comprises a transmission means arranged fixedly on said housing and assigned to at least one of said plurality of drawers for contactless transmission of data and energy between the identification carriers and said at least one reading device, wherein plurality of said engagement mechanisms are positioned in a detection range of said assigned transmission means when said plurality of drawers are closed.

2. The storage container according to claim 1, wherein said transmission means include coils for inductive transmission of data.

3. The storage container according to claim 1, wherein said transmission means includes diodes for optical data transmission.

4. The storage container according to claim 1, wherein said plurality of engagement mechanisms have replaceable retaining elements, which are adapted to the shape of the identification carriers.

5. The storage container according to claim 1, wherein said plurality of engagement mechanisms include clamping or latching fixtures for securing the identification carriers.

6. The storage container according to claim 1, further comprising a plurality of locking mechanisms assigned to said plurality of drawers, and which lock said plurality of drawers automatically when said plurality of drawers are pushed in, the device further comprising a plurality of actuators which are activated by at least one of said evaluation and control unit to unlock said drawers.

7. The storage container according to claim 6, further comprising springs wherein said plurality of actuators are blocked by said springs tensioning said plurality of drawers and wherein said tension may be removed by pressing said drawers in.

8. The storage container according claim 1, wherein said display device includes a plurality of optical signal transmitters that are arranged in a fixed manner in said housing and assigned to said plurality of drawers, and wherein when plurality of drawers are closed, said optical signal transmitters are coupled to view boxes disposed on front panels of said drawers via optical fibres in said plurality of drawers.

9. The storage container according to claim 1, wherein said at least one reading device also includes at least one writing device for writing data contained in the identification carriers.

10. The storage container according to claim 1, wherein the identification carriers include housings with identification chips in which an identification number is stored, and each identification carrier further comprises a transmission means, and wherein additional objects are connected to the housings of each identification carrier via hard-wired connecting elements.

11. The storage container according to claim 10, wherein said additional objects are in the form of identification carriers include housings with identification chips in which an identification number is stored, and include transmission means.

12. The storage container according to claim 11, wherein the identification carriers are electronic car keys, a key number of which is able to be evaluated as an identification number by said at least one reading device.

13. The storage container according to claim 1, further comprising a plurality of insertion switches which are also arranged in said housing to verify the presence of the identification carriers or objects inserted in the engagement mechanisms, and wherein said plurality of insertion switches are connected to said evaluation and control device.

14. The storage container according to claim 11, wherein the identification carriers are electronic car keys, wherein said identification chips of which store vehicle data such as vehicle identification number, kilometres travelled, service data, error data, maximum speed, operating range, can be evaluated by the reading device.

15. The storage container according to claim 14, wherein variable vehicle data stored in the identification chip, such as maximum speed, operating range, is writable via the writing device in conjunction with a navigation device.

16. The storage container according to claim 1, wherein said housing further comprises additional compartments with fixed engagement mechanisms for the identification carriers and wherein said additional compartments are connected via non-detachable connecting elements with objects that are to be stored securely.

17. The storage container as in claim 6, wherein said plurality of actuators comprise at least one piezoelectric actuator.

18. The storage container as in claim 6, wherein said plurality of actuators comprise at least one magnetic electric actuator.

19. The storage container as in claim 6, wherein said plurality of actuators comprise at least one electromotive actuator.