Sealing System for Sealing of Doors of Transport Vehicles

• US 20130044007A1
• Filed: 03/23/2011
• Published: 02/21/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 03/29/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Deutsche Post AG
• Original Assignee: Deutsche Post AG
• Inventors: Paavilainen, Samuli
• Granted Patent: US 9,053,643 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/945
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 3/0292 tamper indicating labels
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 3/03 of security seals means for indicating unauthorised opening of container closures B65D, e.g. B65D27/30, B65D55/02; theft deterrent tags E05B73/0017

Abstract

Described herein is a seal, having a tape-like shape, for doors of transport vehicles, attachable to the doors to indicate closure. The door includes a first area to be positioned onto the door and a second area to be positioned onto an area-around the door. The seal also includes an indicator suitable to be activated after attaching the seal to the transport vehicle—and suitable to send-out a warning signal-in case the seal is detached or damaged after activation of the indicator. A portable logging device for sealing doors of transport vehicles includes a data insert unit to insert a specific type of transport vehicle and to insert the executed attachment of a seal to a certain door, to record sealing the door.

Claims

1-15. -15. (canceled)

16. A seal, preferably having a tape-like shape, for sealing of doors of a transport vehicle, preferably an aircraft, attachable to the doors to indicate closure of a door comprising a first area to be positioned onto the door and a second area to be positioned onto an area around the door, wherein the seal further comprises an indication means suitable to be activated after attaching the seal to the transport vehicle and suitable to send-out a warning signal in case of a detached or damaged seal after activation of the indication means.

17. The seal of claim 16, wherein the first area and the second area are arranged to apply an adhesive and/or magnetic force to the door and the area around the door in order to be attached.

18. The seal of claim 16, wherein the seal further comprises an identification means providing a machine-readable code suitable to be read by a portable logging device after attaching the seal at least to the door.

19. The seal of claim 16, wherein the indication means comprises a control means to detect a detaching or damaging of the seal and to subsequently provide a detection signal, preferably an electronic signal.

20. The seal of claim 19, wherein the indication means comprises a sending means, preferably a RFID chip, suitable to send out the warning signal as a response to the detection signal provided by the control means.

21. The seal of claim 16, wherein the seal further comprises a lighting unit to emit light after activation.

22. A portable logging device for sealing of doors of transport vehicles comprising a data insert unit to insert a particular type of the transport vehicles and to insert the executed attachment of a seal to a certain door to record a sealing of the door, and a data unit suitable to store inserted data, wherein the seal, preferably having a tape-like shape, for sealing of doors of a transport vehicle, preferably an aircraft, attachable to the doors to indicate closure of a door comprising a first area to be positioned onto the door and a second area to be positioned onto an area around the door, wherein the seal further comprises an indication means suitable to be activated after attaching the seal to the transport vehicle and suitable to send-out a warning signal in case of a detached or damaged seal after activation of the indication means.

23. The portable logging device of claim 22, wherein the seal comprises an identification means providing a machine-readable code and the portable logging device further comprises a reading unit to read the machine-readable code and the data unit stores the machine-readable code.

24. The portable logging device of claim 23, wherein the portable logging device further comprises a display unit for displaying a location of each door of the particular type of the transport vehicles, wherein the seal is attached, and correlates a location of a door with the machine-readable code of the identification means of the seal attached to this door.

25. The portable logging device of claim 24, wherein the portable logging device comprises a data connection unit suitable to transfer stored data to a computer system and/or update data stored in the data unit, preferably via a wireless data connection.

26. A sealing system for sealing of doors of transport vehicles comprising:

multiple seals, preferably having a tape-like shape, for sealing of doors of a transport vehicle, preferably an aircraft, attachable to the doors to indicate closure of a door comprising a first area to be positioned onto the door and a second area to be positioned onto an area around the door, wherein the seals further comprise an indication means suitable to be activated after attaching the seal to the transport vehicle and suitable to send-out a warning signal in case of a detached or damaged seal after activation of the indication means;

at least one portable logging device for sealing of doors of transport vehicles comprising a data insert unit to insert a particular type of the transport vehicles and to insert the executed attachment of one of the multiple seals to a certain door to record a sealing of the door, and a data unit suitable to store inserted data; and

a clearance system comprising a computer system for receiving and storing data from the portable logging device, suitable to receive the warning signal from the seal and to provide an alarm signal at least inside a clearance area as a response of the received warning signal.

27. The sealing system of claim 26, wherein the clearance system further comprises multiple receiving stations arranged at different suitable places within the clearance area to receive the warning signal from any location in the clearance area accessible for transport vehicles.

28. A method for operating a sealing system, comprising:

attaching at least one seal to each door of a transport vehicle;

activating an attached seal via an indication means after attaching the attached seal to the transport vehicle; and

sending out a warning signal by the attached seal in case of the attached seal being detached or damaged after activation of the indication means.

29. The method of claim 28, further comprising:

inserting a particular type of the transport vehicle into a portable logging device,

inserting an execution of attaching the attached seal to a certain door into the portable logging device via a data insert unit, preferably by reading a machine-readable code provided by an identification means of the attached seal; and

storing the inserted data in a data unit of the portable logging device.

30. The method of claim 29, further comprising:

receiving and storing data inserted to the portable logging device from a portable device in a computer system, preferably via a wireless data connection;

receiving a warning signal from the attached seal in case of a detached seal or a damaged seal; and

providing an alarm signal at least inside a clearance area in response to receiving the warning signal.