Method and apparatus for toolbox inventory

• US 7,755,482 B2
• Filed: 08/29/2006
• Issued: 07/13/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/29/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: CMC, Inc., Electronic Inventory Systems Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Electronic Inventory Solutions Incorporated
• Inventors: Hubbard, Darryl G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Zeender; F. Ryan
• Assistant Examiner(s): Amsdell; Dana
• Application Number:
  US11/468,172
• Publication Number:
  US 20080059338A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,414 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 340/568.1
• CPC Class Codes: B25H 3/00 Storage means or arrangements for workshops facilitating access to, or handling of, work tools or instruments containers or packages with special means for dispensing contents B65D83/00; nail dispensers B25C3/00
• CPC Class Codes: B25H 3/028 by sliding extraction from within a common frame
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders

Abstract

A method and apparatus is provided for electronically inventorying an electronically locked and unlocked toolbox before and after RFID (Radio Frequency IDentified) tagged tools are accessed by an authorized user. A record is generated and stored of tools added and/or removed along with the identity of the accessing user. At anytime it is desired, a record may be generated of tagged tools in the toolbox or, alternatively, a list of tagged tools missing from assigned positions in the toolbox.

Claims

1. An electronic checkout system comprising:

an electronically lockable toolbox;

a plurality of RFID (radio frequency identification) tagged tools stored in said electronically lockable toolbox each of said RFID tagged tools having an RFID tag operating as an identifier for each of said tools;

a first RFID reader mounted on said electronically lockable toolbox, said first RFID reader adapted to read RFID tags for each of said tools to determine tools added as well as tools removed by an authorized user between an event signifying an unlocking and opening of the toolbox and an event signifying a complete closure and locking of said toolbox, said first RFID reader reading and recording the RFID tag for each of said tools which said authorized user removed from and/or added to said electronically lockable toolbox;

a close proximity second RFID reader mounted on said electronically lockable toolbox, said close proximity second RFID reader being adapted to read a user supplied RFID device, wherein said second RFID reader is configured to read the radio frequency identification device of said identification device and configured to determine when the individual attempting to close a toolbox is the same authorized individual user that caused the toolbox to be unlocked and opened, said second RFID reader further configured to activate a toolbox lock when it is determined that the individual attempting to close the toolbox is the same authorized user and all electrical contacts of the toolbox indicate a complete closure;

and an identification device having a radio frequency identification device imbedded therein, said identification device configured to enable a toolbox user to identify said user as an individual authorized to remove one or more of the plurality of RFID tagged tools from and/or add one or more of the plurality of RFID tagged tools to said electronically lockable toolbox.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein said second RFID reader reading the radio frequency identification device of said identification device is configured to determine when the individual attempting to open a toolbox is an authorized user, said second RFID reader further configured to de-activate a toolbox lock when it is determined that the individual attempting to open a toolbox is an authorized user.

3. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

a wireless link having an antenna, said wireless link being connected to a network;

a database connected to said network, said database including a list of employees authorized to remove said portable tools from and/or add tools to said toolbox and a list of any tagged tools not presently in appropriate positions within a given toolbox; and

transceiver means comprising a part of each of said first and second RFID readers, said transceiver means configured to communicate between said readers and said database.

4. An apparatus for providing radio frequency identification (RFID) tagged tool inventory control the apparatus comprising:

a toolbox configured with a plurality of recesses wherein at least some of said recesses conforms to the shape of given RFID tagged tools;

an electronically controlled lock coupled to said toolbox, said electronically controlled lock configured to activate while said toolbox is in a closed condition, said electronically controlled lock further configured to secure tools in said toolbox and operable when deactivated to allow access to said given RFID tagged tools in said toolbox;

a first RFID reader coupled to said toolbox, said first RFID reader configured to read each of the given RFID tagged tools in said toolbox;

a user identifier operable to generate a first event signal that a first identified user wishes to access the contents of said toolbox and to generate a second event signal when a second identified user wishes to close and secure access to the contents of said toolbox;

logic means, electrically connected to said electronically controlled lock, said first RFID reader and said user identifier, said logic means configured to;

(a) initiate a scan of one or more tagged tools in said toolbox upon receipt of said first event signal,

(b) record the identity of the first identified user initiating said first event signal,

(c) generate a first list of the one or more tagged tools detected in the toolbox,

(d) deactivate said lock means whereby the one or more tagged tools in the toolbox may be accessed,

(e) activate said lock whereby the one or more tagged tools in the toolbox may no longer be accessed upon receipt of said second event signal,

f) initiate a second scan of the one or more tagged tools in said toolbox,

(g) record the identity of the second identified user initiating said second event signal,

(h) generate a second list of the one or more tagged tools detected in the toolbox,

(i) generate after comparing said first and second list, a record of the one or more tagged tools removed and/or added to said toolbox between said first and second event signals, and

(j) determining if the second identified user is the same as the first identified user.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said user identifier comprises a close proximity RFID reader circuitry operable lo read a tagged identification and said logic means includes a transmitter configured send data related to at least one of the one or more tagged tools contained removed, added and/or missing from said toolbox to a remote database.

6. A method for providing radio frequency identification (RFID) RFID tagged tool inventory control of a toolbox, the method comprising:

reading RFID tags of a plurality of tools stored in the toolbox by a first RFID reader;

reading a radio frequency identification device by a second RFID reader to identify an authorized user accessing the toolbox;

preparing, by logic means connected to at least the first RFID reader, a first inventory list of all presently readable tools initially in said toolbox before allowing the authorized user access to said toolbox;

determining, by the logic means, if an individual attempting to close the toolbox is the same authorized user that caused the toolbox to be unlocked and opened;

activating a toolbox lock when it is determined that the individual attempting to close the toolbox is the same authorized user and all electrical contacts of the toolbox indicate a complete closure;

preparing, by the logic means, a second inventory list of all presently readable tools remaining in said toolbox upon completion of closing and locking of said toolbox; and

generating a record indicative of any differences between said first and second inventory lists for transmission to a database along with an indication of the authorized user that accessed the toolbox.

7. The method of claim 6 further comprising checking the identification of a user attempting access to said toolbox against a list of authorized users before allowing access to said toolbox.