Storage compartment security system

• US 6,843,084 B2
• Filed: 01/22/2003
• Issued: 01/18/2005
• 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:
  US10/349,227
• Publication Number:
  US 20030106356A1
• Time in Patent Office: 727 Days
• Field of Search: 702/08, 702/10, 702/15, 70423-428, 704/55, 702/24, 70D/IG.31, 70D/IG.63, 292/336.3, 292/DIG.31
• US Class Current: 70/208
• 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 2047/0017 with rotary motion
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 47/0012 with rotary electromotors actuators with rotary electromotors per se H02K7/06, H02K23/68
• 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 9/06 with three or more sliding bars for watertight doors in bulkheads of vessels B63B43/24, B63B43/32; for safe doors E05B65/0075; covers or similar closures for pressure vessels F16J13/00
• CPC Class Codes: E05C 9/12 with rack and pinion mechanism E05C9/021, E05C9/041 take 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 292/31 : Lever operator, flush
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/57 : Operators with knobs or handles
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/5761 : Retractable or flush handle
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/577 : Locked stationary
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/5832 : Lock and handle assembly
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/7079 : Key rotated [e.g., Eurocylinder]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/7102 : And details of blocking system [e.g., linkage, latch, pawl, spring]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/7955 : Keyhole guards
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/7977 : Key-controlled
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/8649 : Keyhole covers

Abstract

A security system for a storage container including a latch assembly disposed on an interior side of a door for latching the door in a closed position with the storage container. A plurality of reciprocating latch elements are included in the latch assembly for latching the door in a closed position with the storage container. 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 an elongated shaft connected to an operator on the container exterior. A tamper-resistant control blocks access to the master lock assembly from outside the storage container whereby access to the container interior is prevented when the latch assembly is closed and the master lock assembly is in an engaged position.

Claims

1. A security system for preventing unauthorized access to a storage container having an entryway for allowing access to a container interior, and a door for closing said entryway and preventing access to said container interior, said security system comprising:

a latch assembly carried by said door on an interior side of said door, said latch assembly having a closed position for latching said door to prevent access through said entryway to said storage container, and an open position in which said door may be opened to allow access through said entryway to said storage container;

an operator disposed on an exterior side of said door outside said container, said operator having an elongated shaft extending through said door for operating said latch assembly through said door;

a master lock assembly carried on the interior side of said door for interlocking with said elongated shaft to prevent movement of the latch assembly between said open and closed positions;

a removable master lock actuator operable from the exterior side of said storage container for operating said master lock assembly through a keyhole in said door;

a tamper-resistant control carried by said door for controlling access to said master lock assembly through said keyhole;

wherein said tamper-resistant control has a deployed position in which said keyhole is blocked by said tamper-resistant control to prevent said removable master lock actuator from accessing said master lock assembly through said door, and a retracted position wherein said keyhole is open and said removable master lock actuator may be inserted through said door to operate said master lock assembly; and

,

including a housing disposed on said exterior side of said door having a recess for receiving said operator;

said keyhole for said master lock actuator passing through said housing and said door to provide access for operating said master lock assembly; and

said tamper-resistant control comprising a slide-bolt, said slide bolt being mounted within said recess beneath said operator and movable between deployed and retracted positions to block and open said key hole.

2. A security system for preventing unauthorized access to a storage container having an entryway for allowing access to a container interior, and a door for closing said entryway and preventing access to said container interior, said security system comprising:

a latch assembly carried by said door on an interior side of said door, said latch assembly having a closed position for latching said door to prevent access through said entryway to said storage container, and an open position in which said door may be opened to allow access through said entryway to said storage container;

an operator disposed on an exterior side of said door outside said container having an elongated shaft extending through said door for operating said latch assembly through said door;

a master lock assembly carried by said door on the interior side of said storage container for interlocking with said elongated shaft to prevent movement of the latch assembly between said open and closed positions;

a removable master lock actuator operable from the exterior side of said storage container for operating said master lock assembly through a keyhole in said door;

a tamper-resistant control carried by said door for controlling access to said master lock assembly through said keyhole;

wherein said tamper-resistant control has a deployed position in which said keyhole is blocked by said tamper-resistant control to prevent said removable master lock actuator from accessing said master lock assembly through said door, and a retracted position wherein said keyhole is open and said removable master lock actuator may be inserted through said door to operate said master lock assembly;

including a housing disposed on said exterior side of said door having an operator slot for receiving said operator;

said keyhole for said master lock actuator passing through said housing and said door to provide access for operating said master lock assembly; and

said tamper-resistant control comprising a slide-bolt disposed within said housing for moving between said deployed and retracted positions to block and open said keyhole, respectively; and

wherein said operator has a first position recessed within said operator slot for preventing operation of said tamper-resistant control, and a second position extended out from said operator slot allowing operation of said tamper-resistant control between said deployed and retracted positions.

3. The security system of claim 2 wherein said slide-bolt includes a tab for interlocking with said operator when recessed in said housing in said first position to lock said slide-bolt in said deployed position to block access to said master lock assembly.

4. A locking mechanism for a movable closure of a storage container comprising:

an operator including a shaft mounted on said closure, said operator being longitudinally movable between an inoperative first position and an operative second position;

a housing having a recess mounted on a first side of said closure, said recess being operative to receive and secure said operator against rotation when in said first position;

a lock assembly carried by said operator on said first side of said closure in axially spaced position relative to said shaft, said lock assembly being operable to selectively secure said operator within said recess and in said first position;

a removable lock assembly actuator for moving said lock assembly between a locked condition in engagement with said recess and an unlocked condition separated from said recess allowing longitudinal movement of said operator into said second and operative position;

a master lock having a locking part, carried on a second side of said closure and radially spaced from said operator shaft, said master lock having a locked condition in which said locking part engages with said shaft locking said shaft against rotation in both said first and second positions and an unlocked condition in which said locking part is radially spaced from said shaft freeing said shaft for rotation in said second position;

a removable master lock actuator for actuating said master lock to position said locking part in engagement with said shaft and spaced from said shaft; and

a master lock passageway through said housing, said closure and into said master lock allowing insertion and removal of said master lock actuator.

5. The lock mechanism of claim 4, wherein one of said lock assembly and said master lock is an electronic locking mechanism controlled by an encoded actuator.

6. The lock mechanism of claim 4, including a slide bolt carried by said housing, said slide bolt being movable between a first position blocking said master lock passageway and a second position clear of said master lock passageway.

7. The lock assembly of claim 4, including a slide bolt mounted within said recess of said housing, said slide bolt being movable between a first position which permits movement of said operator into said first position within said recess and blocks said master lock passageway and a second position which prevents said operator from moving into said first position within said recess and uncovers said master lock passageway.

8. The lock mechanism of claim 4, including a latch actuator carried by said operator shaft and reciprocal latch elements carried by said closure, wherein rotation of said latch actuator causes reciprocal movement of said latch elements between a latched position or an unlatched position.

9. The lock mechanism of claim 4 wherein said master lock actuator is operative to move said locking part between engaged and disengaged positions with said shaft with said operator in either of said first and second positions.

10. A lock mechanism for a container having first and second doors for controlling access of said container:

an operator including an operator shaft mounted on and extending through said first door, said operator being mounted on a first side of said doors and being movable longitudinally between an inoperative first position and an extended operative second position, said operator and operator shaft, when rotated in said second position, controlling a plurality of longitudinally reciprocal latch elements carried by said first door between latched and unlatched positions;

a second operator mounted on an inner side of said second door, said second operator being rotatable between a first locking position and a second unlocked position, said second operator controlling a plurality of reciprocal second latch elements carried on said second door between latched and unlatched positions;

a housing mounted on an outer side of said first door, said housing including a recess for receiving the first operator in said first and inoperative position;

a lock assembly movable between a locked and unlocked condition carried by said operator in position axially spaced from said shaft, said lock assembly, in said locked condition, engaging with said recess locking said operator in said recess in said inoperative first position, said lock assembly in said unlocked condition, allowing axial movement of said operator into said second and operative position;

a master lock assembly mounted on an inner side of said first door in position radially spaced from said shaft, said master lock assembly having a locking part radially movable between a position spaced from said operator shaft and a position in engagement with said operator shaft, said locking part being operative to lock said operator shaft against rotation with said operator in said first and second positions; and

a removable lock assembly actuator and a removable master lock assembly actuator for operating said lock assembly and said master lock assembly between locked and unlocked positions.

11. The lock mechanism of claim 10 including a master lock passageway through said housing and said first door for allowing passage of said master lock assembly actuator to and from said master lock;

assembly and

a slide bolt carried within said recess and movable between a blocking position closing said master lock passageway and a non-blocking position clearing said master lock passageway.

12. The lock mechanism of claim 10 including a slide bolt carried within said recess and movable between a blocking and a clear position, said operator when in said recess maintaining said bolt in said blocking position and said bolt in said clear position preventing movement of said operator into said recess.