Digital vehicle cargo security system

• US 20090002143A1
• Filed: 06/20/2008
• Published: 01/01/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/26/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Babaco Alarm Systems Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Babaco Alarm Systems Incorporated
• Inventors: Haber, Greg
• Granted Patent: US 8,004,393 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/426.230
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/0092 for cargo, freight or shipping containers and applications therefore in general
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2209/62 Comprising means for indicating the status of the lock
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00174 Electronically operated locks; Circuits therefor; Nonmechanical keys therefor, e.g. passive or active electrical keys or other data carriers without mechanical keys mechanical locks with electric permutation E05B49/00; arrangements for sensing or reading record carriers G06K7/00; electronic switching H03K17/00

Abstract

The security system determines if the cargo area of a vehicle may have been opened in transit between a loading location and a destination location. The vehicle has an enclosed cargo area with a cargo door and lock. The system includes a digital counter which displays a number set thereon after the cargo area has been secured by locking the cargo door lock or by closing the cargo door. If a magnetic reed switch senses the unlocking of the cargo door lock or the opening of the cargo door after the cargo area has been secured, it causes the number on the counter to change. The set number is forwarded to the destination location by entering it on the shipping documents or transmitting it electronically. At the destination location, it can be determined if the cargo area may have been accessed in transit by comparing the set number forwarded to the recipient by the shipper with the number displayed on the counter when the vehicle reaches the destination location.

Claims

1. A method for determining if the cargo in a vehicle may have been accessed during transit between a first location and a second location, the vehicle being of the type having an enclosed cargo area which can be secured to prevent access thereto and having a digital counter with a display, means for setting the number on the counter, means for sensing whether the cargo area may have been accessed and for changing the number on the counter in response thereto, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) Loading cargo into the vehicle cargo area with the vehicle at the first location,

(b) Securing the cargo area of the vehicle;

(c) Setting the number on the counter after the cargo area has been secured;

(d) Forwarding the set number to the second location;

(e) Changing the number on the counter if the cargo area may have been accessed;

(f) Moving the vehicle to the second location;

(g) Observing the number on the display when the vehicle reaches the second location;

(h) Comparing the forwarded number and the observed number; and

(i) determining whether the forwarded number and the observed number are the same or different.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the vehicle has a cargo door which can be closed to secure the cargo area and wherein the step of securing the cargo area comprises the step of closing the cargo door.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the step of changing the number on the counter comprises the step of sensing the opening of the cargo door and changing the number on the counter in response thereto.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the vehicle has a cargo door with a lock which can be locked to secure the cargo area and wherein the step of securing the cargo area comprises the step of locking the cargo door lock.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the step of changing the number on the counter comprises the step of sensing the unlocking of the cargo door lock and changing the number on the counter in response thereto.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of forwarding the set number comprises the step of entering the set number on the shipping documents.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the shipping documents with the entered number are carried by the vehicle to the second location.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of forwarding the set number comprises the step of transmitting the set number to the second location separately from the vehicle.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of forwarding the set number comprises the step of transmitting the set number to the second location electronically.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the step of electronically transmitting the set number comprises the step of transmitting the set number to the second location via the Internet.

11. The method of claim 9 wherein the step of electronically transmitting the set number comprises the step of transmitting the set number to the second location by a wireless communications device.

12. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of fixing the display to the exterior of the vehicle.

13. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of setting the number comprises the step of generating a random number.

14. Apparatus for determining if a cargo area of a vehicle may have been accessed during transit between a first location and a second location, the vehicle being of the type having an enclosed cargo area that can be secured, the apparatus comprising:

a digital counter having a display;

means for setting the number on the counter after the cargo area is secured;

means for sensing whether the cargo area may have been accessed after the cargo area is secured and for changing the number on the counter in response thereto; and

means for forwarding the number set on the counter to the second location, so that it can be determined at the second location if the cargo area may have been accessed in transit by comparing the set number and the number displayed on the counter when the vehicle reaches the second location.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the vehicle has a cargo door which can be closed to secure the cargo area.

16. The method of claim 15 further comprising means for sensing whether the cargo door has been opened and for changing the number on the counter in response thereto.

17. The method of claim 14 wherein the vehicle has a cargo door with a lock which may be locked to secure the cargo area.

18. The method of claim 17 further comprising means for sensing whether said lock has been unlocked and for changing the number on the counter in response thereto.

19. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein said forwarding means comprises shipping documents with the set number entered thereon.

20. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein said forwarding means comprises means for transmitting the set number to the second location electronically.

21. The apparatus of claim 20 wherein said electronic transmitting means comprises means for forwarding the set number to the second location via the Internet.

22. The apparatus of claim 20 wherein said electronic transmitting means comprises means for forwarding the set number to the second location via a wireless device.

23. The apparatus of claim 14 further comprising means for fixing said counter display to the exterior of the vehicle.

24. The apparatus of claim 14 further comprising means for enclosing said counter display in a weatherproof enclosure.

25. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein said sensing means comprises a switch.

26. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein said sensing means comprises a magnetic switch.

27. The apparatus of claim 26 wherein said cargo door lock has an enclosure and wherein said magnetic switch is situated within lock enclosure.

28. The apparatus of claim 27 wherein said counter display is situated on the exterior of said lock enclosure.