Secure Web Accessed Box

• US 20090237207A1
• Filed: 05/12/2009
• Published: 09/24/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 08/19/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Key Systems Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Key Systems Incorporated
• Inventors: Eckerdt, George H., Mastrodonato, George
• Granted Patent: US 8,704,635 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/5.730
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/33 by means of a password
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/025 for remote control or remote monitoring of applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/12 specially adapted for proprietary or special-purpose networking environments, e.g. medical networks, sensor networks, networks in vehicles or remote metering networks

Abstract

A web accessed security box includes a web server that can communicate with a web browser to control access and account for asset events that occur when the box is used. A personal identifier must be satisfied to open a drawer of the box. A latching system uses both an access solenoid for normal opening and closing in response to the personal identifier, and an emergency release solenoid having a separate power supply to open the box when the access solenoid is disabled. Several features make the box secure against weather and tampering.

Claims

1. A security box containing a security asset, the box being adapted to control access to the security asset and to produce asset event information, the security box comprising:

an access solenoid arranged to control an openable closure of the box;

a personal identifier arranged to actuate the access solenoid to allow opening of the closure to gain access to the box;

a web server arranged to produce, transmit, and receive the information;

a power source for the access solenoid, the personal identifier, and the web server; and

an emergency solenoid actuatable by an emergency voltage to release the closure to gain access to the box during an emergency that disables the access solenoid.

2. The security box of claim 1 wherein the web server is adapted to communicate with a web browser to receive instructions and inquiries and to send information.

3. The security box of claim 1 wherein the closure is spring biased toward movement in an opening direction so that pushing the closure against the spring bias when the access solenoid is actuated allows a pin of the access solenoid to retract and thereby allows the spring bias to move the closure toward an open position.

4. The security box of claim 1 wherein a latch element is engaged by both the access solenoid and the emergency release solenoid so that the access solenoid releases from the latch and moves with the closure when the access solenoid is actuated, and the latch moves with the access solenoid and the closure when the emergency solenoid is actuated.

5. The security box of claim 1 wherein the power source is a power over ethernet connection.

6. The security box of claim 1 wherein the openable closure is a drawer that closes flush within a housing where a housing rim and a drawer periphery are tapered and coated with a non-stick material.

7. The security box of claim 1 wherein the web server communicates with a network via a cell phone modem.

8. The security box of claim 1 wherein the openable closure is a drawer, a housing for the drawer includes a wiring tray detented in a position within the housing, the housing includes a receptacle, a power over ethernet connection is plugged into the receptacle, the wiring tray is also plugged into the receptacle, and the wiring tray includes a flexible cable providing communication with the web server and the access solenoid.

9. The security box of claim 1 wherein the access solenoid can be actuated from a remote location.

10. A security box containing and controlling access to a security asset, the security box having an openable closure, and the security box comprising:

an access solenoid engaging a latch to hold the closure closed;

a personal identifier arranged to actuate the access solenoid to release the access solenoid from the latch and thereby allow the closure to open the box;

a source supplying power to the personal identifier and to the access solenoid; and

an emergency release solenoid actuatable by an emergency voltage to release the latch engaged by the access solenoid so that the closure can be opened when the access solenoid is unactuated but the emergency solenoid is actuated.

11. The security box of claim 10 including a web server powered by the source and adapted to communicate with a web browser to send and receive security asset event information.

12. The security box of claim 10 wherein the latch is moveable with the access solenoid and the closure element when the emergency release solenoid is actuated.

13. The security box of claim 10 wherein the emergency voltage is derived from a battery remote from the box.

14. The security box of claim 10 wherein the closure is a drawer.

15. The security box of claim 14 wherein a face of the drawer closes flush with a housing.

16. The security box of claim 15 wherein a gap around the drawer face is tapered and coated with a non-stick material.

17. A security box containing and controlling access to a security asset, the security box comprising:

a moveable latch engaged by an access solenoid to hold the box closed;

an emergency solenoid engaging the latch to hold the latch normally against movement; and

the emergency release solenoid being powered remotely to release the latch for movement with the access solenoid to open the box during an emergency that disables the access solenoid.

18. The security box of claim 17 wherein a closure of the box is spring biased to open and is arranged so that the closure can be pushed against the spring bias when the access solenoid is actuated to release a pin of the access solenoid for retraction from the latch to allow the closure to open.

19. The security box of claim 17 wherein the box contains a web server adapted to communicate with a web browser to send and receive information.

20. The security box of claim 17 wherein the box includes a personal identifier arranged to actuate the access solenoid.

21. The security box of claim 17 wherein the remote power for the emergency solenoid is a battery.

22. The security box of claim 17 wherein a power over ethernet connection to a housing of the box powers a web server, a personal identifier, and the access solenoid.

23. The security box of claim 22 wherein the housing includes a receptacle, the box includes a drawer, a wiring tray of the drawer is detented within the housing and plugged into the receptacle which also receives the internet connection.

24. The security box of claim 17 wherein the box includes a drawer that is mounted flush within a housing, and confronting peripheries of the drawer and the housing are coated with a non-stick material.

25. The security box of claim 17 wherein the access solenoid can be actuated from a remote location.

26. A security box containing and controlling access to a key, the security box comprising:

a web server arranged to produce, transmit and receive information relating to the key;

a personal identifier arranged to allow access to the box;

the web server being adapted to communicate with a web browser; and

communication between the web browser and the web server being adapted to control the personal identifier and to receive information from the box involving access to the key.

27. The security box of claim 26 wherein the web server and the personal identifier are energized by a power over ethernet connection.

28. The security box of claim 26 wherein a cell phone modem provides communication between the web server and the web browser.

29. The security box of claim 26 wherein the box includes a drawer, and the key is in the drawer.

30. The security box of claim 29 wherein a housing for the drawer receives a power over ethernet connector, and a wiring tray detented within the housing plugs into the receptacle and includes a flexible cable communicating with the web server and the personal identifier.

31. The security box of claim 26 including an access solenoid responsive to the personal identifier to open the box.

32. The security box of claim 26 including an emergency solenoid adapted to allow opening of the box when the access solenoid is disabled.

33. The security box of claim 26 wherein the access solenoid can be actuated from a remote location.