Systems and apparatus for secure shipping

• US 7,088,257 B2
• Filed: 11/15/2004
• Issued: 08/08/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/10/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: David Weekes
• Original Assignee: David Weekes
• Inventors: Weekes, David
• Primary Examiner(s): Wu, Daniel
• Assistant Examiner(s): Bugg, George A.
• Application Number:
  US10/986,864
• Publication Number:
  US 20050275553A1
• Time in Patent Office: 631 Days
• Field of Search: 340/652
• US Class Current: 340/652
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 13/14 of bar fastenings
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 13/18 Devices to prevent theft or loss of purses, luggage or hand carried bags
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 13/24 Devices for sound-producing, piercing, gas-discharging, or the like
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2203/10 Transponders
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2211/00 Anti-theft means
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 29/00 Sacks or like containers made of fabrics; Flexible containers of open-work, e.g. net-like construction
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/126 for a housing, e.g. a box, a safe, or a room
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/186 using light guides, e.g. optical fibres

Abstract

A container is provided. The container includes a casing having an opening for admitting contents into the container. A matrix of conductive lines extends across at least a portion of the casing. A sensor senses a breach of integrity of the matrix. An indicator indicates a breach of integrity of the container when the sensor senses a breach of integrity of the matrix. A system is also provided. The system includes a monitoring network and a container. The container includes a casing having an opening for admitting contents into the container. A matrix of conductive lines extends across at least a portion of the casing. A sensor senses a breach of integrity of the matrix. An interface transmits a signal to the monitoring network when the sensor senses a breach of integrity of the matrix, the signal indicating a breach of integrity of the container.

Claims

1. A container comprising:

a casing, the casing having an opening for admitting contents into the container;

a matrix of conductive lines extending across at least a portion of the casing;

a brace, the brace including;

a sensor for sensing a breach of integrity of the matrix;

an indicator operable to indicate a breach of integrity of the container when the sensor senses a breach of integrity of the matrix; and

a lock for locking the opening in a closed position, the lock comprising a plurality of tracks for engaging corresponding knobs located on the casing.

2. The container of claim 1, wherein the casing consists essentially of a mesh.

3. The container of claim 1, wherein the matrix comprises conductive lines contained within a mesh.

4. The container of claim 1, wherein the matrix comprises conductive lines.

5. The container of claim 4, wherein the conductive lines comprise at least one of (a) electrically conductive lines and (b) light conductive lines.

6. The container of claim 4, wherein the sensor senses a breach of integrity of the matrix by sensing an open circuit between the ends of one of the conductive lines.

7. The container of claim 1, wherein the indicator comprises at least one of a visual indicator or an audio indicator.

8. The container of claim 1, wherein the indicator comprises a signal transmitted to an electronic monitoring network.

9. The container of claim 1, wherein the lock comprises a biometric scanner for unlocking the lock.

10. The container of claim 1, further comprising:

a sensor for sensing a breach of integrity of the lock; and

the indicator being operable to indicate a breach of integrity of the container when the sensor senses a breach of integrity of the lock.

20. The container of claim 1, wherein the plurality of tracks include a plurality of parallel tracks.

21. The container of claim 20, wherein the plurality of parallel tracks have an open end for recieving the corresponding knobs and a closed end, the lock operable to lock the knobs at the closed end of the corresponding tracks.

22. The container of claim 21, wherein the plurality of parallel tracks have a bend between the open end and the closed end.

11. A system comprising:

an electronic monitoring network; and

a container, the container comprising;

a casing, the casing having an opening for admitting contents into the container;

a matrix of conductive lines extending across at least a portion of the casing;

a sensor for sensing a breach of integrity of the matrix; and

an interface operable to;

transmit a breach signal to the monitoring network when the sensor senses a breach of integrity of the matrix, the signal indicating a breach of integrity of the container; and

recieve a check signal from the monitoring network, and transmit an error signal to the monitoring network if the interface determines that shipping information contained in the check signal does not match shipping information contained in a memory.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the matrix comprises conductive lines.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the conductive lines comprise at least one of (a) electrically conductive lines and (b) light conductive lines.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein the sensor senses a breach of integrity of the matrix by sensing an open circuit between the ends of one of the conductive lines.

15. The system of claim 11, further comprising a lock for locking the opening in a closed position.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the lock comprises a biometric scanner for unlocking the lock.

17. The system of claim 15, further comprising:

a sensor for sensing a breach of integrity of the lock; and

the interface being operable to transmit a signal to the monitoring network when the sensor senses a breach of integrity of the lock, the signal indicating a breach of integrity of the container.

18. The system of claim 11, wherein the monitoring network comprises a plurality of monitors.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the monitors each comprise a wireless interface.

23. The system of claim 11, wherein the shipping information includes information identifying at least one of:

(a) a container number, (b) an origin of the container, (c) a destination of the container, (d) a shipper of the container, and (e) a flight number for the container.

24. The system of claim 15, wherein the lock comprises a plurality of parallel tracks for engaging corresponding knobs located on the casing.

25. The system of claim 24, wherein the plurality of parallel tracks have an open end for recieving the corresponding knobs and a closed end, the lock operable to lock the knobs at the closed end of the corresponding tracks.

26. The container of claim 25, wherein the plurality of parallel tracks have a bend between the open end and the closed end.