Life Raft Container Security System and Method

• US 20060266007A1
• Filed: 08/07/2006
• Published: 11/30/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/30/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Vane Line Bunkering, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Vane Line Bunkering, Inc.
• Inventors: Brophy, Kevin, Hornig, Frank, Hughes, C. Duff
• Application Number:
  US11/462,919
• Publication Number:
  US 20060266007A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 53/445
• CPC Class Codes: B63C 9/22 Devices for holding or launching life-buoys, inflatable life-rafts, or other floatable life-saving equipment equipment for handling life-boats or the like B63B23/00

Abstract

A method comprises providing a container having a first container portion and a second container portion, placing an inflatable life raft within the container, placing a transmitter mechanism adjacent the container, and automatically detecting whether a tamper condition has occurred. The tamper condition comprises at least one of the following: removal of the life raft from the container; an increase in distance between the first and second container portions; and a change in position of at least a portion of the life raft relative to one of the portions of the container. The transmitter mechanism is adapted and configured to transmit a signal upon the detection of the tamper condition.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

providing a container having a first container portion and a second container portion;

placing an inflatable life raft within the container;

placing a transmitter mechanism adjacent the container;

automatically detecting whether a tamper condition has occurred, the tamper condition comprising at least one of the following;

removal of the life raft from the container;

an increase in distance between the first and second container portions; and

a change in position of at least a portion of the life raft relative to one of the portions of the container;

the transmitter mechanism being adapted and configured to transmit a signal upon the detection of the tamper condition.

2. A method comprising:

providing a container having a first container portion and a second container portion;

placing an article within the container;

placing a transmitter mechanism adjacent the container;

automatically detecting whether a removed tamper condition has occurred, the removed tamper condition comprising a condition in which the article is removed from the container;

automatically detecting whether a distance increase tamper condition has occurred, the distance increase tamper condition comprising an increase in distance between the first and second container portions; and

automatically detecting whether a position change tamper condition has occurred, the position change tamper condition comprising a change in position of at least a portion of the article relative to one of the portions of the container.

3. A method comprising:

providing a container having a first container portion and a second container portion;

placing an inflatable life raft within the container;

automatically detecting whether a tamper condition has occurred, the tamper condition comprising at least one of the following;

removal of the life raft from the container, an increase in distance between the first and second container portions, and a change in position of at least a portion of the life raft relative to one of the portions of the container;

intermittently transmitting a status signal, the status signal being a tamper signal if after a point in time the tamper condition is detected via the detecting step, the status signal being a non-tamper signal if after the point in time the tamper condition is not detected via the detecting step, the tamper signal being different than the non-tamper signal.