Information carrier for movement-responsive switch

• US 5,877,685 A
• Filed: 09/27/1995
• Issued: 03/02/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Lennart Eriksson
• Original Assignee: Lennart Eriksson
• Inventors: Eriksson, Lennart
• Primary Examiner(s): Mullen, Jr., Thomas J.
• Application Number:
  US08/525,776
• Time in Patent Office: 1,252 Days
• Field of Search: 340/545, 340/541, 340/568, 340/825.31, 340/825.32, 340/825.34, 340/572, 235/375, 235/380, 235/382, 235/382.5, 235/385, 346/42, 346/33 R, 705/22, 705/28
• US Class Current: 340/545.1
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 1/00 Registering, indicating or recording the time of events or elapsed time, e.g. time-recorders for work people registering or indicating the working of machines or vehicles G07C3/00, G07C5/00
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/18 Status alarms G08B21/02 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 3/0305 characterised by the type of seal used
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 3/0329 having electronic sealing means

Abstract

A sealing method by means of which breaking of a seal is detected at least subsequently. The method is mainly characterized by recording breaking of the seal in a readable manner with the aid of an updatable information carrier (2). The invention also relates to a sealing arrangement.

Claims

1. An assembly comprising:

a door mounted in, and for movement with respect to, a door frame;

an electrical switch activated in response to movement of a portion of said door away from said door frame;

an information carrier mounted on said door frame and recording each activation of said switch;

a clock unit mounted on said door frame for suppiling a date and clock time to said information carrier for recordation thereof each time said switch is activated; and

an acknowledgment unit in contact with said information carrier for transmitting the identity of a person opening said door for recordation by said information carrier.

2. An assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein said switch comprises a permanent magnet activated switch mounted on said door frame, and further comprising a permanent magnet mounted in said door for cooperation with said switch.

3. An assembly as recited in claim 2 wherein said door is hinged at a first side thereof, and wherein said magnet is mounted in a second side of said door opposite said first side.

4. An assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein said electrical switch is mounted on said door frame, and wherein said information carrier also records each deactivation of said switch.

5. An assembly as recited in claim 4 wherein said door is hinged at a first side thereof and wherein said electrical switch is mounted on said door frame adjacent a second side of said door, opposite said first side.

6. An assembly as recited in claim 1 further comprising an information carrier reader in operative contact with said information carrier.

7. An assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein said information carrier is a smart card.

8. An assembly comprising:

goods having an actuator mounted therein;

a surface having an electrical switch activated by said actuator mounted therein positioned under said actuator of said goods; and

an information carrier mounted in said surface and recording each activation of said electrical switch.

9. An assembly as recited in claim 8 further comprising a clock unit for supplying a date and clock time to said information carrier for recordation thereof each time said switch is activated.

10. An assembly as recited in claim 9 wherein said switch comprises a permanent magnet activated switch, and wherein said actuator comprises a permanent magnet.

11. An assembly as recited in claim 9 further comprising an information carrier reader operative in contact with said information carrier.

12. An assembly as recited in claim 8 further comprising an information carrier reader operative in contact with said information carrier.

13. An assembly as recited in claim 8 wherein said switch comprises a permanent magnet activated switch, and wherein said actuator comprises a permanent magnet.