Tag mounting device used for locating shipping containers and truck trailers

• US 7,475,814 B2
• Filed: 11/28/2005
• Issued: 01/13/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 11/28/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Zebra Technologies Corporation
• Original Assignee: Wherenet Corporation (Zebra Technologies Corporation)
• Inventors: Benner, Richard W., Wingo, Brett A., Johnson, Walter S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Thien; Le M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Mai; Thien T
• Application Number:
  US11/287,600
• Publication Number:
  US 20070119927A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,142 Days
• Field of Search: 235/385, 235/381, 235/384, 340/539.1, 340/539.13, 340/539.18
• US Class Current: 235/384
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2203/10 Transponders
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 90/00 Component parts, details or accessories for large containers B65D88/34 - B65D88/78 take precedence

Abstract

A tag mounting device can temporarily mount a tag transmitter on a shipping container or trailer for tracking location of the shipping container or trailer. The tag mounting device includes a mounting frame having a support leg with opposing ends. A clamp mechanism is carried by the support leg for clamping the support leg onto a rim of a container or trailer such that the support leg extends against a surface of the container or trailer. A tag support member extends outward from the support leg. A tag transmitter is carried by the tag support member and operative for transmitting wireless signals to at least one receiver for subsequent processing to determine the location of the tag transmitter and a container or trailer on which the tag mounting device is mounted.

Claims

1. A system for tracking a shipping container or a trailer within a monitored environment, comprising:

a tag mounting device adapted to be temporarily mounted to a container or trailer within the monitored environment, said tag mounting device comprising a mounting frame having a support leg with opposing ends, a clamp mechanism comprising a latch member carried by an end of the support leg and comprising a tongue member for extending into a rim on the container and lever carried by the latch member and adapted for clamping the support leg onto a rim of the container or trailer such that the support leg extends against a surface of the container or trailer, a tag support member extending outward from the other end of the support leg opposing the clamp mechanism, and a tag transmitter carried by the tag support member and operative for transmitting wireless signals;

at least one receiver positioned at a known location within the monitored environment that receives the wireless signals from the tag transmitter; and

a processor in communication with the at least one receiver for locating the tag transmitter and determining the location of the shipping container or trailer.

2. A system according to claim 1, wherein said mounting frame is substantially L-shaped, and said tag support member extends transverse from said support leg.

3. A system according to claim 1, wherein said latch member comprises a biasing member for biasing the support leg against a surface of the container or trailer when the tongue member engages the rim of the container or trailer.

4. A system according to claim 1, and further comprising a container insert removably mounted on the support leg and sized to be inserted into an opening on a container and securing the tag mounting device on the container with the support leg engaging a surface of the container.

5. A system according to claim 4, wherein said container insert is sized to space the clamp mechanism from a surface of the container such that the container insert supports the tag mounting device on the container.

6. A system according to claim 4, wherein said container insert tapers from the support leg outward to facilitate insertion of the container insert within an opening of the container.

7. A system according to claim 1, wherein said location processor is operative for correlating a wireless signal as a first-to-arrive signal and conducting differentiation of first-to-arrive signals for locating the tag transmitter.

8. A system according to claim 1, wherein said wireless signals comprise spread spectrum wireless RF signals.

9. A tag mounting device adapted for temporarily mounting a tag transmitter on a shipping container or trailer for tracking location of a shipping container or trailer, comprising:

a mounting frame having a support leg with opposing ends;

a clamp mechanism comprising a latch member carried by the support leg at one end and comprising a tongue member for extending into a rim on the container and a lever carried by the latch member for clamping the support leg onto a rim of a container or trailer such that the support leg extends against a surface of a container or trailer;

a tag support member extending outward from the other end of the support leg opposite the clamp mechanism; and

a tag transmitter carried by the tag support member and operative for transmitting wireless signals.

10. A tag mounting device according to claim 9, wherein said mounting frame is substantially L-shaped and said tag support member extends transverse from said support leg.

11. A tag mounting device according to claim 9, wherein said latch member comprises a biasing member for biasing the support leg against a surface of a container or trailer when the tongue member engages the rim of a container or trailer.

12. A tag mounting device according to claim 9, and further comprising a container insert removably mounted on the support leg and sized to be inserted into an opening of a container and securing the mounting frame on a container with the support leg engaging a surface of a container.

13. A tag mounting device according to claim 12, wherein said container insert is sized to space the clamp mechanism from a surface of a container such that the container insert supports the mounting frame on a container.

14. A tag mounting device according to claim 12, wherein said container insert tapers from the support leg outward to facilitate insertion of the container insert within an opening of a container.

15. A tag mounting device according to claim 9, wherein said wireless RF signals comprise spread spectrum wireless RF signals.

16. A method for tracking a shipping container or a trailer within a monitored environment comprising:

temporarily mounting a tag mounting device on a container or trailer by clamping a support leg of a mounting frame forming the tag mounting device onto a rim of the container or trailer such that the support leg extends against a surface of the container or trailer, wherein a tag support member extends outward from the support leg and carries a tag transmitter that transmits wireless signals;

receiving the wireless signals emitted from the tag transmitter within at least one receiver positioned at a known location within the monitored environment;

locating the tag transmitter and determining the location of the cargo container or trailer to which the tag mounting device is temporarily mounted; and

removably mounting a container insert on the support leg and inserting the container insert within a cavity on a container for securing the tag mounting device to the container.

17. A method according to claim 16, which further comprises pivoting a latch member for extending a tongue member into the rim of the cargo container or trailer.

18. A system for tracking a shipping container or a trailer within a monitored environment, comprising:

a tag mounting device adapted to be temporarily mounted to a container or trailer within the monitored environment, said tag mounting device comprising a mounting frame having a support leg with opposing ends, a clamp mechanism carried by an end of the support leg and adapted for clamping the support leg onto a rim of the container or trailer such that the support leg extends against a surface of the container or trailer, a tag support member extending outward from the other end of the support leg opposing the clamp mechanism, and a tag transmitter carried by the tag support member and operative for transmitting wireless signals;

at least one receiver positioned at a known location within the monitored environment that receives the wireless signals from the tag transmitter; and

a processor in communication with the at least one receiver for locating the tag transmitter and determining the location of the shipping container or trailer, and further comprising a container insert removably mounted on the support leg and sized to be inserted into an opening on a container and securing the tag mounting device on the container with the support leg engaging a surface of the container.

19. A system according to claim 18, wherein said container insert is sized to space the clamp mechanism from a surface of the container such that the container insert supports the tag mounting device on the container.

20. A system according to claim 18, wherein said container insert tapers from the support leg outward to facilitate insertion of the container insert within an opening of the container.