KEYLESS LOCKING SYSTEM FOR TOOL BOXES

• US 20100223966A1
• Filed: 05/18/2010
• Published: 09/09/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/26/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: T & E Concrete Incorporated
• Original Assignee: T & E Concrete Incorporated
• Inventors: Ennis, Richard, Ennis, Thomas
• Application Number:
  US12/782,391
• Publication Number:
  US 20100223966A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 70/159
• CPC Class Codes: B25H 3/02 Boxes
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 2047/0094 Mechanical aspects of remotely controlled locks
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 65/52 Other locks for chests, boxes, trunks, baskets, travelling bags, or the like
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/5004 For antitheft signaling device on protected article
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/5544 Pivoted

Abstract

A system and method for locking a tool box is provided. The system utilizes a remote device transmitter and receiver that may be used in conjunction with each other to facilitate locking of a tool box. The system and method also utilizes a hand held remote control unit which incorporates the transmitter whereby when a user desires to lock and/or unlock the tool box, the user simply depresses a button on the remote and the receiver within the tool box causes for locking of the box. Additionally, the system and method may be utilized for a plurality of differing tool boxes allowing for a number of boxes to be locked with a single signal being sent to each box.

Claims

1. A system for remotely locking/unlocking a tool box, the system comprising:

a box having a container portion and a lid component;

a locking mechanism that attaches the container portion to the lid component;

an actuator arm wherein the actuator arm allows for the lid component to be detached and opened relative to the container portion; and

a receiver unit attached to the locking mechanism and actuator arm.

2. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

a remote transmitter that sends a wireless signal to the receiver unit.

3. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

an actuator unit having a shaft attached to the actuator arm to prevent movement of the actuator arm.

4. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

a solenoid and a shaft attached to the solenoid whereby when activated, the shaft interferes with the actuator arm thereby causing the arm to be disabled.

5. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

an alarm system attached to the locking mechanism whereby when the box is tampered with, the alarm system is activated to notify the remote transmitter of such interruption.

6. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

programming a plurality of different boxes with receiver units whereby a single remote transmitter may activate and/or deactivate a plurality of different receiver units thereby causing for the locking and/or unlocking of a plurality of boxes.

7. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

an actuator unit having a shaft attached to the actuator arm to prevent movement of the actuator arm whereby the actuator unit may be programmed to open at a pre-determined angle for entry into the box.

8. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

a transmitter and receiver unit which communicate with one another with the use of Radio Frequency.

9. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

a transmitter and receiver unit which communicate with one another with the use of infrared signals.

10. An apparatus utilized for remote communication with a container, the apparatus comprising:

a container box having an interior container portion and a top cover portion;

a locking mechanism attached to both the interior container portion and the top cover portion wherein the locking mechanism has a receiver unit container thereon;

an actuator arm wherein the actuator arm allows for the lid component to be detached and opened relative the container portion; and

said locking mechanism attached to the actuator arm.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, further comprising:

a hand held remote unit which activates the locking mechanism.

12. The apparatus of claim 10, further comprising:

a hand held remote unit having a transmitter which sends a signal to the receiver unit contained within the locking mechanism.

13. The apparatus of claim 10, further comprising:

a microprocessor in the locking mechanism whereby the microprocessor receives information from the receiver unit and instructs the locking mechanism and actuator arm to take the appropriate action.

15. The apparatus of claim 10 further comprising:

said actuator unit having a shaft attached to the actuator arm to prevent movement of the actuator arm whereby the actuator unit may be programmed to open at a pre-determined angle for entry into the box

16. The apparatus of claim 10, further comprising:

an alarm system attached to the locking mechanism whereby when the container box is tampered with, the alarm system is activated to notify the remote unit of such interruption.

17. The apparatus of claim 10, further comprising:

a plurality of container boxes with receiver units whereby a single remote unit may activate and/or deactivate a plurality of different receiver units thereby causing for the locking and/or unlocking of a plurality of container boxes.

18. The apparatus of claim 10, further comprising:

a solenoid and a shaft attached to the solenoid whereby when activated, the shaft interferes with the actuator arm thereby causing the arm to be disabled.

19. The apparatus of claim 10, further comprising:

an actuator unit having a shaft attached to the actuator arm to prevent movement of the actuator arm.

20. The apparatus of claim 10, further comprising:

an indicator on the remote unit to indicate when the container box has been tampered with whereby the indicator may be visual and auditory.

14. (canceled)