Storage compartment security system

• US 6,705,136 B2
• Filed: 12/14/2001
• Issued: 03/16/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/30/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Porter Intermodal Corp.
• Original Assignee: Dave Porter
• Inventors: Porter, Dave
• Primary Examiner(s): Gall, Lloyd A.
• Application Number:
  US10/023,289
• Publication Number:
  US 20020178771A1
• Time in Patent Office: 823 Days
• Field of Search: 70D/IG.65, 70D/IG.63, 702/10, 702/787, 702/83, 702/791, 109/59.R, 109/59.T, 109/67, 292/254, 292/DIG.32, 292/DIG.21, 292/39, 292/DIG.18, 493/94, 493/95
• US Class Current: 70/210
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 13/004 by locking the spindle, follower, or the like
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 13/10 formed by a lock arranged in the handle
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 13/106 for handles pivoted about an axis perpendicular to the wing E05B13/101, E05B13/103, E05B13/105 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 17/185 pivoting about an axis perpendicular to the lock face
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 2047/0016 with linearly reciprocating motion
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 47/0002 with electromagnets
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 47/0004 said core being linearly movable
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 47/0603 the detent moving rectilinearly
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 47/0611 Cylinder locks with electromagnetic control
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 47/0673 with a rectilinearly moveable blocking element
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 5/003 Pop-out handles, e.g. sliding outwardly before rotation
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 83/02 Locks for railway freight-cars, freight containers or the like; Locks for the cargo compartments of commercial lorries, trucks or vans
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 83/12 for back doors of vans E05B83/04, E05B83/08 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E05C 7/04 for wings which abut when closed pillarless vehicle doors E05B83/38
• CPC Class Codes: E05C 9/041 with rack and pinion mechanism
• CPC Class Codes: E05C 9/043 with crank pins and connecting rods
• CPC Class Codes: E05C 9/046 with two interconnected mechanisms each driving one rod
• CPC Class Codes: E05C 9/048 externally mounted on the wing, i.e. surface mounted E05C9/008 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E05C 9/20 Coupling means for sliding bars, rods, or cables connecting means between actuating rods for vehicle door locks E05B79/14
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00769 with data transmission performed by wireless means
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/0092 : for cargo, freight or shipping containers and applications therefore in general
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00182 : operated with unidirectional data transmission between data carrier and locks
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/0069 : actuated in a predetermined sequence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 292/26 : Automatic undogging or reconnecting
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 292/32 : Freight car door fasteners
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 70/65 : Double door lock
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/0843 : Gear
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/18 : Free-end-engaging means
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/577 : Locked stationary
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/5978 : With switch
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/7102 : And details of blocking system [e.g., linkage, latch, pawl, spring]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/7107 : And alternately mechanically actuated by a key, dial, etc.
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/713 : Dogging manual operator

Abstract

A security system for a storage compartment including a latch assembly disposed on an interior side of a door for latching the door in a closed position with the storage compartment. A plurality of reciprocating latch elements are included in the latch assembly for latching the door in a closed position with the storage compartment. A latch actuator included in the latch assembly moves the latch elements to latch the door. A master lock assembly controls operation of the latch actuator by having a first locking part of the master lock assembly interlocking with a second locking part carried by the latch actuator. A tamper-resistant master lock control controls operation of the master lock assembly from outside the storage compartment whereby access to the compartment interior is prevented when the latch assembly is latched and the master lock assembly is in the locked position.

Claims

1. A security system of a storage compartment for securing first and second entryway doors of the storage compartment to prevent access to a compartment interior comprising:

a latch assembly including a primary and a secondary latch assembly;

said primary latch assembly carried by said first door for latching said first door in a closed position with said storage compartment;

said primary latch assembly being disposed entirely on an interior side of said first door within said compartment interior

said secondary latch assembly being carded by said second door for latching said second door in a closed position with said storage compartment;

said secondary latch assembly being disposed entirely on an interior side of said second door within said compartment interior;

a plurality of reciprocating latch elements included in said latch assemblies for latching said first and second doors with top and bottom portions of said storage compartment;

a horizontal reciprocating latch element included in said primary latch assembly for controlling said secondary latch assembly between latching and unlatching said second door;

a primary latch actuator included in said primary latch assembly said primary latch actuator being connected to certain of said latch elements for moving said certain latch elements to latch said first door with said storage comportment said primary latch actuator further acting to actuate said secondary latch assembly;

a secondary latch actuator included in said secondary latch assembly, said secondary latch actuator being controlled by said horizontal reciprocating latch element to position selected ones of said secondary reciprocating latch elements to latch said second door with said storage compartment and

said primary latch actuator comprises a rack pinion mechanism carried by said first door and having a pinion meshing with a plurality of toothed racks;

said operator engaging and rotating said pinion drives said racks;

said racks being connected to said main latch elements so that when said pinion is rotated by said operator said main latch elements latch said first door to said storage compartment and actuate said secondary latch assembly; and

a removable manually operable operator for operating said primary latch actuator on said interior side of said door;

whereby access to said compartment interior is prevented when said primary latch assembly and said secondary latch assembly are operated to latch said first and second doors ether and with said storage compartment.

2. The security system of claim 1 including reinforcing mounting plates affixed to said interior side of said first and second doors respectively, said primary latch actuator and said secondary latch actuator being carried by said mounting plates within said compartment.

3. The security system of claim 1 wherein said primary latch actuator includes a rotary hub carded by said interior side of said first door;

said operator being connectable to said rotary hub from outside said compartment and operable to rotate said hub; and

said primary latch elements being connected to said hub so that when said hub is rotated said primary latch elements are moved vertically and said horizontal latch element induces vertical movement of said secondary assembly.

4. The security system claim 1 including a securing bracket carded by said second door;

said securing bracket receiving said horizontal reciprocating latch element to secure said second door in a closed position with said first door.

5. A security system of a storage compartment for securing first and second entryway doors of the storage compartment to prevent access to a compartment interior comprising:

a latch assembly including a primary and a secondary latch assembly;

said primary latch assembly carried by said first door for latching said first door in a closed position with said storage compartment;

said primary latch assembly being disposed entirely on an interior side of said first door within said compartment interior;

said secondary latch assembly being carried by said second door for latching said second door in a closed position with said storage compartment;

said secondary latch assembly being disposed entirely on an interior side of said second door within said compartment interior;

a plurality of reciprocating latch elements included in said latch assemblies for latching said first and second doors with top and bottom portions of said storage compartment;

a horizontal reciprocating latch element included in said primary latch assembly for controlling said secondary latch assembly between latching and unlatching said second door;

a primary latch actuator included in said primary latch assembly said primary latch actuator being connected to certain of said latch elements for moving said certain latch elements to latch said first door with said storage compartment, said primary latch actuator further acting to actuate said secondary latch assembly;

a secondary latch actuator included in said secondary latch assembly, said secondary latch actuator being controlled by said horizontal reciprocating latch element to position selected ones of said secondary reciprocating latch elements to latch said second door with said storage compartment; and

said secondary latch actuator includes an abutment bar pivotally connected to an upper pivot arm and a lower pivot arm;

said upper and lower pivot arms each pivotally connected to one of said reciprocating latch elements so that when said abutment bar is operated, said pivot sins extend said reciprocating latch elements to latch said second door;

a removable manually operable operator for operating said primary latch actuator on said interior side of said door;

whereby access to said compartment interior is prevented when said primary latch assembly and said secondary latch assembly are operated to latch said first and second doors together and with said storage compartment.

6. The security system of claim 5 including a guide member carried by said abutment bar;

said guide member being received by a guide bracket carried on said interior side of said second door to maintain said abutment bar in fixed vertical alignment with said horizontal latch element.