MOBILE TOOL FACILITY

• US 20100277277A1
• Filed: 04/29/2009
• Published: 11/04/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/29/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: JS2 Logistic Solutions LLC
• Original Assignee: Job Site Resources LLC
• Inventors: Hall, Kevin, Green, Michael
• Granted Patent: US 8,686,831 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/5.72
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00793 by Hertzian waves
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00912 for safes, strong-rooms, vaults or the like
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/28 the pass enabling tracking or indicating presence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/308 Combination lock
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/7028 Electric
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/7057 Permanent magnet
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/7068 Actuated after correct combination recognized [e.g., numerical, alphabetical, or magnet[s] pattern]

Abstract

A mobile tool facility is provided having a container configured to be moved to a plurality of locations. A portal system is positioned in an interior of the container and spaced from a container end allowing access to the portal system. The portal system is operable to control access into and out of the container. A radio frequency shield wall is positioned in the interior of the container and spaced from the portal system allowing access between the portal system and the shield wall. The shield wall is configured to reduce an amount of electromagnetic energy entering the interior of the container. An auxiliary power unit associated with the container is operable to provide power to the portal system. A plurality of items stored in the interior of the container in a controlled space is available to be removed from the container through the portal system by an authorized individual.

Claims

1. A mobile tool facility comprising:

a container configured to be moved to a plurality of locations, the container including an interior and end providing access to the interior;

a portal system positioned in and rigidly coupled with a bottom surface of the interior of the container, the portal system spaced from the container end to allow access to the portal system, the portal system operable to control access into and out of the container;

a radio frequency shield wall positioned in the interior of the container and spaced from the portal system to allow access between the portal system and the shield wall, the shield wall configured to reduce an amount of electromagnetic energy entering the interior of the container;

an auxiliary power unit (APU) associated with the container and operable to provide power to the portal system and container; and

a plurality of items stored in the interior of the container in a controlled space defined by the shield wall and interior walls of the container, the plurality of items being available to be removed from the container through the portal system by an authorized individual.

2. The mobile tool facility of claim 1, wherein the container is a standard 53 foot semi-trailer.

3. The mobile tool facility of claim 1, wherein the container is a standard 40 foot container box.

4. The mobile tool facility of claim 1, further comprising:

an HVAC system, the HVAC system operable to control an environment on the inside of the container.

5. The mobile tool facility of claim 1, wherein the portal system comprises:

a top section having a first and a second end;

a first vertical section having a top end that is fixedly coupled to the first end of the top section,

a second vertical section having a top end that is fixedly coupled to the second end of the top section, the first and second coupled sections being designed to be placed at an access point of the controlled space, the first and second coupled section being further designed to form a portal area that the authorized individual enters and exits;

a computing device that is configured to track inventory stored in the controlled space, the computing device being housed in at least one of the first and second vertical sections; and

a locking door that engages the top, first and second vertical sections, the locking door being configured to prevent an unauthorized user from entering and exiting the controlled space, the locking door being coupled to the computing device, the computing device being configured to receive input from an individual at the portal area and unlock the locking door based on the received inputs from the individual.

6. The mobile tool facility of claim 5, further comprising:

a surrounding structure, the surrounding structure juxtaposed the first and second vertical sections and contacting surfaces of the interior of the container filling any openings between the first and second vertical sections and the surfaces of the interior of the container;

the surrounding structure further contacting the top section and contacting a top surface of the interior of the container filling any openings between the top section and the top surface of the interior.

7. The mobile tool facility of claim 5, wherein the shield wall includes a door, the mobile tool facility further comprising:

a first electromagnetic lock coupled to the locking door of the portal system; and

a second electromagnetic lock coupled to the door of the shield wall,

wherein, the computing device is configured to control a release of the first and second electromagnetic locks in response to the input from the individual.

8. The mobile tool facility of claim 5, wherein the portal system further comprises:

a radio frequency (RF) reader, the RF reader configured to read data from an RF identification tag (RFID tag) associated with an item of the plurality of items, and further configured to transmit the data read to the computing device.

9. The mobile tool facility of claim 1, further comprising:

an antenna, the antenna positioned on an outer surface of the container, and configured to provide wireless internet access to the computing device.

10. The mobile tool facility of claim 1, further comprising:

a camera system, the camera system including at least one camera device configured to take a digital picture of the authorized individual upon entering or exiting the portal area, the at least one camera device mount to a first or second side of the portal device.

11. The mobile tool facility of claim 1, wherein the container is a standard semi-trailer, the mobile tool facility further comprising:

an HVAC unit, the HVAC unit mounted on a truck cab, the HVAC unit is configured to regulate the climate on the inside of the container.

12. The mobile tool facility of claim 1, wherein the container is a first container and includes a first side access door positioned to allow access into and out of the controlled space, the mobile tool facility further comprising:

a second container including a second side access door,

wherein the second container is positioned proximate the first container such that the first and second side access doors are essentially aligned, allowing authorized users access to the second container through the first and second side access doors.

13. A method of retrieving an item from a mobile tool facility, the method comprising:

entering a controlled access area of a container configured to be moved to a plurality of locations and having an interior to store a plurality of items;

entering user access information to a portal system positioned in and rigidly couple with a bottom surface of the container;

in response to access being granted to a user;

entering the interior of the container through the portal system to retrieve at least one item of the plurality of items;

exiting the interior of the container through the portal system with the at least one item; and

automatically reading data from an RFID data tag associated with the at least one item and associating the at least one item with the user by the portal system.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

in response to access being denied to the user;

preventing access to the interior of the container; and

logging the denied access.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

capturing a picture of the user after being denied access by the portal system.

16. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

capturing a picture of the user entering the portal system after being granted access.

17. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

unlocking a door on the portal system to allow access to the interior of the container; and

in response to the door being held open for a set period of time, sounding an alarm.

19. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

capturing a picture of the user entering the portal system after being granted access.

18. A method of returning an item to a mobile tool facility, the method comprising:

entering a controlled access area of a container configured to be moved to a plurality of locations and having an interior to store a plurality of items;

entering user access information to a portal system positioned in and rigidly couple with a bottom surface of the container;

in response to access being granted to a user;

entering the interior of the container through the portal system to return at least one item of the plurality of items;

at the portal system, automatically reading data from an RFID data tag associated with the at least one item and disassociating the at least one item from the user by the portal system; and

exiting the interior of the container through the portal system.

20. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

unlocking a door on the portal system to allow access to the interior of the container; and

in response to the door being held open for a set period of time, sounding an alarm.