Security Device for Mobile Retail Cart

• US 20100050709A1
• Filed: 12/02/2006
• Published: 03/04/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/02/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Keith Neville
• Original Assignee: Keith Neville
• Inventors: Neville, Keith
• Application Number:
  US12/517,158
• Publication Number:
  US 20100050709A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 70/158
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 2047/0067 Monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 47/02 Movement of the bolt by electromagnetic means; Adaptation of locks, latches, or parts thereof, for movement of the bolt by electromagnetic means by means in the striker E05B63/248
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00912 for safes, strong-rooms, vaults or the like
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/554 Cover, lid, cap, encasing shield
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/7062 Electrical type [e.g., solenoid]

Abstract

A security device (10) is provided for a mobile retail cart (12) having a lockable compartment (16) for storing goods to be sold. The security device comprises an electronic lock unit for securing a closure (14) of the compartment, the electronic lock unit including means (21) for reading an electronic key device and means (23) for locking and unlocking the closure in response thereto. A memory records data read from the electronic key device and information relating to the locking and/or unlocking of the compartment. The security device is suitable for use as an airline security device for a retail cart for storing goods to be sold on board an aircraft.

Claims

1. A security device for a mobile retail cart having a lockable compartment for storing goods to be sold, the security device comprising:

an electronic lock unit for securing a closure of said compartment, the electronic lock unit including means for reading an electronic key device and means for locking and unlocking said closure in response thereto; and

memory means for recording data read from said electronic key device and information relating to the locking and/or unlocking of the compartment.

2. The security device of claim 1, wherein the means for reading an electronic key device is a smart card reader for reading information from a smart card.

3. The security device of claim 1, wherein the means for locking and unlocking the closure comprises an electromagnetic locking mechanism.

4. The security device of claim 3, wherein the electromagnetic locking mechanism comprises a solenoid.

5. The security device of claim 1, further comprising a sensor for sensing each time the closure is locked and unlocked.

6. The security device of claim 1, wherein the memory means stores information on whether a smart card is valid or invalid.

7. The security device of claim 6, further comprising means for restricting or denying access to the goods stored in the cart by blocking an invalid smart card.

8. The security device of claim 1, wherein the information relating to the locking and/or unlocking of the compartment includes one or more of:

the identity of a smart card inserted into the smart card reader;

the time of unlocking and/or locking of the compartment; and

whether an attempt to unlock or lock the compartment was successful.

9. The security device of claim 1, further comprising an RFID scanner for scanning RFID tag identifiers provided on goods stored within the lockable compartment of the cart.

10. The security device of claim 9, wherein the memory means additionally stores information from the RFID scanner.

11. The security device of claim 9, further comprising means for checking the stock of goods within the compartment to confirm the presence or absence of each item.

12. The security device of claim 11, wherein the means for checking the stock provides an indication of whether any goods have been erroneously removed without a corresponding sale.

13. The security device of any of claim 9, wherein the RFID scanner is further operable for scanning an RFID label sealing a container, envelope or cash bag to identify the presence thereof, wherein opening of the container, envelope or cash bag destroys the RFID label.

14. The security device of claim 1, the security device being an airline security device for a retail cart for storing goods to be sold on board an aircraft.

15. A retail cart comprising a lockable compartment for storing goods to be sold on board an aircraft and a security device comprising:

an electronic lock unit for securing a closure of said compartment, the electronic lock unit including means for reading an electronic key device and means for locking and unlocking said closure in response thereto; and

memory means for recording data read from said electronic key device and information relating to the locking and/or unlocking of the compartment.

16. An airline retail shopping system comprising:

a retail cart with a lockable compartment for storing goods to be sold on board an aircraft;

a security device comprising an electronic lock unit for securing a closure of said compartment, the electronic lock unit including means for reading an electronic key device and means for locking and unlocking said closure in response thereto; and

memory means for recording data read from said electronic key device and information relating to the locking and/or unlocking of the compartment; and

a processing device for downloading and/or analysing information from the security device.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the processing device is configured to disable access to the cart if any goods have been erroneously removed without a corresponding sale.

18. The system of claim 16, wherein the processing device is configured to analyse the data to provide an indication of any one or more of:

goods removed from the cart;

whether the removal was authorised or unauthorised by comparison with a record of the goods sold;

the identification of the smart cart that unlocked the cart for removal of an item of goods;

the time of unlocking and/or locking of the closure;

whether any invalid attempts to lock/unlock the closure were made; and

whether any access to the cart was disabled.

19-20. -20. (canceled)