ESTABLISHING THE INTEGRITY OF CONTAINER CONTENTS

• US 20090283434A1
• Filed: 03/24/2009
• Published: 11/19/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 05/19/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: William Eugene Hodge
• Original Assignee: William Eugene Hodge
• Inventors: Hodge, William Eugene
• Application Number:
  US12/409,566
• Publication Number:
  US 20090283434A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 206/459.100
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2590/0083 Computer or electronic system, e.g. GPS systems
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 90/00 Component parts, details or accessories for large containers B65D88/34 - B65D88/78 take precedence

Abstract

A method and associated apparatus are given for a novel way to overcome the difficulty of achieving absolutely certainty that the contents of a cargo container have not been accessed between the time it is packed and sealed at its point of origin and the time it is reopened at its destination. The concept is rather than to try to make the container impregnable, is to make certain that if the integrity of a container is violated, then than fact will be recorded without fail. The method consists of placing the cargo inside a secure enveloping structure, the physical continuity of which cannot be cut, or interrupted however briefly, without authorities being alerted. To achieve this the enveloping structure is made of semiconducting material. Immediately prior to sealing the contents at the point of origin a monitoring device housed inside the envelope is switched on. This device will monitor and record the temperature compensated electrical conductivity of the enveloping structure on a frequent and continual basis for the entire period of transit, the output of which will alert authorities of any interruption of continuity. The semiconductive material from which the secure envelope is made may be rigid and/or transparent. The envelope may be in the shape and size proportions of a typical metal freight container to facilitate its transportation to its destination in one of these common carriers.

Claims

1. A method to ensure that the enveloping structure of a secured container cannot be breached without such infringement being detected and being automatically recorded as it happens.

2. A container whose enveloping structure consists of an integrated semiconductive material which incorporates suitably deployed electrodes and insulators and a monitoring device capable of recording the time history of temperature compensated conductivity of the envelope.

3. A container whose enveloping structure consists of an integrated semiconductive transparent material which incorporates suitably deployed electrodes and insulators and a monitoring device capable of recording the time history of temperature compensated conductivity of the envelope.