MODULAR ACCESS CONTROL SYSTEM

• US 20080250726A1
• Filed: 04/10/2007
• Published: 10/16/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/10/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Modular Security Systems, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Modular Security Systems, Inc.
• Inventors: Slagel, David, Slagel, Robert
• Granted Patent: US 7,823,338 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 52/79.8
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 90/0013 Twist lock
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 90/008 Doors for containers, e.g. ISO-containers locking E05B83/12
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 1/3483 the supporting structure consisting of metal
• CPC Class Codes: E04G 27/00 Temporary arrangements for giving access from one level to another for men or vehicles, e.g. steps, ramps for scaffolds E04G5/10; gangways B63; lifts B66
• CPC Class Codes: E04H 1/1205 Small buildings erected in the open air E04H1/1272 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E04H 2001/1283 Small buildings of the ISO containers type
• CPC Class Codes: E04H 3/10 for meetings, entertainments, or sports
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 11/08 Turnstiles; Gates for control of entry or exit of persons, e.g. in supermarkets control gates on vehicles B60N5/00 ; bank protection devices E05G5/00; with registering means G07C9/10 ; coin-freed facilities for turnstiles G07F17/14
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 3/90 Revolving doors; Cages or housings therefor turnstiles E06B11/08
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 5/0008 Detecting hidden objects, e.g. weapons, explosives sorting of materials or articles according to radioactive properties B07C5/342; investigating or analysing materials by the use of wave or particle radiation G01N23/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 5/20 Detecting prohibited goods, e.g. weapons, explosives, hazardous substances, contraband or smuggled objects

Abstract

An access control system includes first and second portable containers. The first portable container comprises a first sidewall opening and the second portable container comprises a second sidewall opening. The portable containers are arranged such that the first sidewall opening in the first portable container communicates with the second sidewall opening in the second portable container. The first portable container comprises a passing room disposed in the first portable container. The passing room includes a barrier device located in the walkway defining a first space between a first passing room opening and the barrier device, and a second space between the barrier device and a second passing room opening. The access control system is constructed such that when the access control system is disposed between a first area and an enclosed second area ingress and egress from and to the second area is controlled by the access control system.

Claims

1. An access control system, comprising:

first and second portable containers, the first portable container comprising a first sidewall opening and the second portable container comprising a second sidewall opening, the portable containers being arranged such that the first sidewall opening in the first portable container communicates with the second sidewall opening in the second portable container,

wherein the first portable container comprises a passing room disposed in the first portable container, the passing room having a first passing room opening, and a second passing room opening, and a walkway in-between, the passing room comprising a barrier device located in the walkway but not connected to the first passing room opening or the second passing room opening, defining a first space between the first passing room opening and the barrier device, and a second space between the barrier device and the second passing room opening,

wherein the access control system is constructed such that when the access control system is disposed between a first area, outside the access control system and accessing the first passing room opening, and an enclosed second area, outside the access control system and accessing the second passing room opening, ingress and egress from and to the second area is controlled by the access control system.

2. The access control system of claim 1, wherein the passing room further comprises a security device providing authorization for an individual to enter into the second area.

3. The access control system of claim 2, wherein the security device includes one or more card readers, one or more metal detectors, one or more biometric readers, one or more iris scanners, one or more fingerprint readers, one or more facial recognition terminology, one or more explosive detectors, one or more weapon detectors, one or more electronic key locks, or one or more mechanical key locks, or a combination of two or more thereof.

4. The access control system of claim 2, wherein the at least one security device is located in the first space, the second space or both.

5. The access control system of claim 2, wherein the at least one security device is located outside the at least one passing room.

6. The access control system of claim 1, wherein the barrier device includes a turnstile, a sliding door, a revolving door, or moving bars or a combination thereof.

7. The access control system of claim 1, further comprising a fence at least partly forming the enclosure of the second area, wherein the fence is attached or adjacent to an outside surface of the first portable container and to an outside surface of the second portable container.

8. The access control system of claim 1, wherein the second portable container comprises a control room adjacent to the passing room.

9. The access control system of claim 8, wherein the control room comprises a control panel to control the barrier device in order for a guard and/or a supervisor to monitor the passing room while staying in the control room.

10. The access control system of claim 9, wherein the control panel comprises an alarm device which gives an alarm in case a problem occurs in the passing room.

11. The access control system of claim 8, wherein the control room comprises a detecting system for scanning belongings of individuals passing through the passing room.

12. The access control system of claim 11, wherein the detecting system comprises a detecting device and a conveyor in communication with the detecting device, the conveyor configured and arranged to direct the belongings to the detecting device.

13. The access control system of claim 12, wherein the detecting device is an electromagnetic detecting machine, a chemical detecting machine or a combination thereof.

14. The access control system of claim 13, wherein the electromagnetic detecting machine is ail x-ray machine.

15. The access control system of claim 8, wherein the second portable container further comprises a control room opening to directly access into the control room.

16. The access control system of claim 1, wherein the first container or the second container or both comprise one or more accessible panels configured to close one or more sidewall openings provided in the first container or the second container or both.

17. The access control system of claim 16, wherein the one or more accessible panel comprises a plurality of panel sections joined together using a joining material.

18. The access control system of claim 16, wherein the one or more accessible panels further comprises a locking mechanism configured to fasten the one or more accessible panels onto the one or more sidewall openings.

19. The access control system of claim 18, wherein the locking mechanism comprises a bar-like locking mechanism and a movable center lock, wherein the movable center lock is configured to attach the bar-like locking mechanism to the one or more accessible panel.

20. The access control system of claim 1, further comprising one or more anchoring device configured to attach the first portable container to the second portable container.

21. The access control system of claim 20, wherein the anchoring device comprises a plurality of links and a ratcheting device linked to the plurality of links.

22. The access control system of claim 21, wherein the plurality of links are configured to be fastened to a sidewall of the first portable container and the second portable container.

23. The access control system of claim 21, wherein the ratcheting device comprises one or more levers which when pivoted back and forth allow the ratcheting device to bring the plurality of links closer to each other.

24. The access control system of claim 1, wherein the first portable container or the second container or both is delivered in a turnkey state.

25. The access control system of claim 1, wherein features of the first portable container or the second container or both are customizable to meet specific needs of a user.

26. The access control system of claim 1, further comprises a cover material disposed above the first passing room opening, the second passing room opening, or both.

27. The access control system of claim 26, wherein the cover material is a retractable sheet of flexible material or a removable panel or the like.

28. The access control system of claim 1, further comprising a floor lining material disposed in a vicinity of a foot of the first passing room opening, the second passing room opening, or both.

29. The access control system of claim 28, wherein the floor lining material is a non-skid rubber liner or the like.

30. The access control system of claim 1, further comprising one or more air conditioning units, the one or more air conditioning units being disposed in the passing room, the control room or both.

31. The access control system of claim 30, wherein the one or more air conditioning units on a roof of the first portable container, on a roof of the second portable container or both.

32. A method of controlling passage between a first area and an enclosed second area, comprising:

disposing a first portable container and a second portable container adjacent to the first portable container between the first area and the enclosed second area such that passage between the first and the second areas must be through the first portable container,

wherein the first portable container includes at least one passing room allowing entry into the enclosed second area from the first area, the at least one passing room having at least a first opening and at least a second opening and a walkway in-between, the at least one passing room comprising at least one barrier device located in the walkway but not connected to the first opening or the second opening, defining a first space between the first opening and the barrier device, and a second space between the barrier device and the second opening.

33. The method of claim 32, wherein the disposing comprises disposing the first portable container such that the first opening and the second opening are located on opposite sides of a fence at least partially surrounding the enclosed second area.

34. The method of claim 32, further comprising controlling ingress and egress from and to the second area via a control room in the second portable container, the control room being adjacent to the at least one passing room.

35. The method of claim 34, wherein the controlling comprises authorizing entry of a person into the enclosed second area from the first area.

36. The method of claim 34, wherein the controlling comprises monitoring the at least one passing room.

37. The method of claim 34, wherein the controlling comprises controlling the at least one barrier device so as to authorize or deny entry into the enclosed second area.

38. The method of claim 32, further comprising connecting the first portable container and the second portable container together such that a first sidewall opening in the first container communicates with a second sidewall opening in the second portable container.

39. The method of claim 38, wherein the connecting comprises connecting the first portable container and the second portable container together using an anchoring device.

40. A method of manufacturing a portable access control system, comprising:

filling first and second standard shipping containers with material to be shipped at a first location;

shipping the first and second containers to a second location;

unloading the first and second containers at the second location;

disposing the first and second containers adjacent to each other such that an opening in the first container communicates with an opening in the second container; and

adding a barrier device within a passage room in the first container.

41. The method of claim 40, wherein the second location is overseas from the first location.

42. The method of claim 40, wherein the adding occurs proximate the second location relative to the first location.

43. The method of claim 40, further comprising connecting the first portable container and the second portable container together using an anchoring device.

44. The method of claim 40, further comprising configuring the second container as a control room for controlling the passage room.

45. An access control system, comprising:

a portable container having a passing room, the passing room having a first passing room opening and a second passing room opening, and a walkway in-between, the passing room comprising first and second spaced apart barrier devices located in the walkway but not connected to the first passing room opening or the second passing room opening, the first and second spaced apart barrier devices defining a first space between the first passing room opening and the first barrier device, a second space between the first barrier device and the second barrier device and a third space between the second barrier device and the second passing room opening,

wherein the access control system is constructed such that when the access control system is disposed between a first area, outside the access control system and accessing the first passing room opening, and an enclosed second area, outside the access control system and accessing the second passing room opening, ingress and egress from and to the second area is controlled by the access control system.

46. The access control system of claim 45, wherein the portable container further comprises a first and second external openings, wherein the first and second passing room opening are recessed relative to the first and second external openings.

47. The access control system of claim 46, wherein when the first and second external openings are closed, the passing room is isolated from outside environmental elements.

48. The access control system of claim 45, wherein the passing room further comprises a security device providing authorization for an individual to enter into the second area.

49. The access control system of claim 48, wherein the security device includes one or more card readers, one or more metal detectors, one or more biometric readers, one or more iris scanners, one or more fingerprint readers, one or more facial recognition terminology, one or more explosive detectors, one or more weapon detector, one or more electronic key locks, or one or more mechanical key locks, or a combination of two or more thereof.

50. The access control system of claim 48, wherein the security device is located in the first space, the third space or both.

51. The access control system of claim 48, wherein the security device is located outside the at least one passing room.

52. The access control system of claim 45, wherein the first barrier device or the second barrier device, or both include a turnstile, a sliding door, a revolving door, or moving bars or a combination thereof.

53. The access control system of claim 45, further comprising a fence at least partly forming the enclosure of the second area, wherein the fence is attached or adjacent to an outside surface of the portable container.

54. The access control system of claim 45, wherein the first space between the first barrier device and the first passing room opening includes a screening area.

55. The access control system of claim 54, wherein the screening area comprises a control panel to control the barrier device in order for a guard and/or a supervisor to monitor the passing room.

56. The access control system of claim 55, wherein the control panel comprises an alarm device which gives an alarm in case a problem occurs in the passing room.

57. The access control system of claim 54, wherein the screening area comprises a detecting system for scanning belongings of individuals passing through the passing room.

58. The access control system of claim 57, wherein the detecting system comprises a detecting device and a conveyor in communication with the detecting device, the conveyor configured and arranged to direct the belongings to the detecting device.

59. The access control system of claim 58, wherein the detecting device is an electromagnetic detecting machine, a chemical detecting machine or a combination thereof.

60. The access control system of claim 59, wherein the electromagnetic detecting machine is an x-ray machine.

61. The access control system of claim 45, wherein the second space includes a contraband detection device.

62. The access control system of claim 61, wherein the detection device includes a metal detection device, a drug detection device, a chemical detection device, an explosive detection device, a weapon detection device, or the like.

63. The access control device of claim 45, wherein the second space is configured to function as a trap.