Alarm system for cargo box

• US 3,952,295 A
• Filed: 08/02/1974
• Issued: 04/20/1976
• Est. Priority Date: 09/05/1972
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Gentex Corporation
• Original Assignee: Gentex Corporation
• Inventors: Luisada, August G., Frieder, deceased, Leonard P. Sr., Frieder, executor, by Leonard P. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Swann, III, Glen R.
• Application Number:
  US05/494,086
• Time in Patent Office: 627 Days
• Field of Search: 340/274 R, 340/274 C, 340/273
• US Class Current: 206/459.1
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2211/00 Anti-theft means
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 88/528 all side walls detached from each other to collapse the container
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/126 for a housing, e.g. a box, a safe, or a room

Abstract

An alarm system for a cargo box made up of a plurality of panels adapted to be assembled to form the box, in which each panel is provided with a conductor distributed throughout the panel, and in which the conductors of adjacent panels are connected in series when the box is assembled to complete a circuit including an alarm device when a lock is operated. The arrangement is such that the alarm system is silent so long as the conductors complete the circuit. When the circuit is broken with the lock still locked, the alarm system gives a signal indicating that an unauthorized person is attempting either to open the container or to break through a panel thereof in an effort to gain access to the contents.

Claims

1. A smooth operating cargo box including in combination, a base, side panels, a back panel, a front panel and a top panel, first interengageable means running along the side edges of said base and along the bottom edges of the side panels for connecting said side panels to said base, second interengageable means along the bottom and side edges of the back panel and along the back edge of the base and back edges of the side panels and responsive to sliding movement of the back panel from the inside toward the outside of said box in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the back panel for connecting the back panel to the base and side panels, third interengageable means comprising outwardly opening side hooks running along the front edges of the side panels and inwardly opening end hooks running along the side edges of the front panel responsive to pivotal movement of the front panel around its bottom edge in a direction from outside toward the inside of said box for connecting said front panel to said base and interengaging the front panel with the side panels, fourth interengageable means comprising outwardly opening side hooks running along the upper edges of the side panels and inwardly opening end hooks running along the side edges of the top panel and an inwardly opening side hook running along the rear edge of said top panel and an outwardly opening end hook running along the top edge of the back panel responsive to sliding movement of said top panel in the direction of the plane thereof from back to front of said box for connecting said top panel to said back and side panels, a latch for holding the front edge of the top panel down on the top edge of the front panel and means for producing a signal in response to unauthorized entry into said box.

2. a cargo box as in claim 1 in which said alarm means comprises an electrical conductor distributed throughout said panels.

3. A smooth operating cargo box including in combination, a base, side panels, a back panel, a front panel and a top panel, first interengageable means running along the side edges of said base and along the bottom edges of the side panels for connecting said side panels to said base, second interengageable means along the bottom and side edges of the back panel and along the back edge of the base and back edges of the side panels and responsive to sliding movement of the back panel from the inside toward the outside of said box in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the back panel for connecting the back panel to the base and side panels, third interengageable means along the bottom and side edges of the front panel and along the front of the base and front edges of the side panels responsive to pivotal movement of the front panel around its bottom edge in a direction from outside toward the inside of said box for connecting said front panel to said base and interengaging the front panel with the side panels, fourth interengageable means along the back and side edges of the top panel and along the top edge of the back panel and top edges of the side panels responsive to sliding movement of said top panel in the direction of the plane thereof from back to front of said box for connecting said top panel to said back and side panels, and means for producing a signal in response to unauthorized entry into said box.

4. A cargo box as in claim 3 in which said alarm means comprises an electrical conductor distributed throughout said panels.

5. A self-contained manually assemblable and disassemblable cargo box including in combination, a base, a pair of side panels, a back panel, a front panel and a top panel, first manually operable interengageable means running along the side edges of said base and along the bottom edges of the side panels for manually detachably connecting said side panels to said base, second manually operable interengageable means along the bottom and side edges of the back panel and along the back edge of the base and back edges of the side panels for manually detachably connecting the back panel to the base and side panels, third manually operable interengageable means running along the front edges of the side panels and along the side edges of the front panel for manually detachably connecting said front panel to said base and side panels, fourth manually operable interengageable means along the upper edges of the side panels and along the side edges of the top panel for manually detachably connecting the side panels to the top panel, fifth manually operable interengageable means along the rear edge of the top panel and the top edge of the back panel for manually detachably connecting said top panel to said back panel, respective continuous conductors distributed throghout said panels, alarm means comprising a source of power carried by one of said panels, a plurality of releasable electrical couplings responsive to operation of said interengageable means for interconnecting said conductors and for connecting said conductors in operative relationship with said alarm means.

6. A cargo box as in claim 5 including a lockoperated switch for activating said alarm means.

7. A self-contained cargo box as in claim 5 in which said alarm means an alarm device connected in parallel with said source and in which said interconnecting means connect said conductors in series with each other.