Secured bag locking and tracking device

• US 7,969,304 B2
• Filed: 04/29/2008
• Issued: 06/28/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 04/29/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: James Ensinger, Kerry S. Berland
• Original Assignee: James Ensinger, Kerry S. Berland
• Inventors: Berland, Kerry S., Ensinger, James
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee; Benjamin C
• Assistant Examiner(s): MEHRAVARI, PETER CYRUS
• Application Number:
  US12/111,644
• Publication Number:
  US 20090268989A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,155 Days
• Field of Search: 340/568.1, 340/568.3, 340/571, 340/572.1, 340/572.8, 340/572.9, 3406861-6866, 340/568.2, 700/228, 235375-385, 24/305.R
• US Class Current: 340/568.1
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2203/10 Transponders
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2211/00 Anti-theft means
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 33/1675 Hinged clips
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/15 Bag fasteners

Abstract

A secure container for controlling and monitoring access to at least one secured bag locking device is disclosed. The secure container is lockable to prevent access by unauthorized parties, and may include any feature of prior art secure containers, such as shock detection or a camera to photograph access. The secure container contains a number of rails to provide power to and monitor the status of docked secured bag locking devices. In addition, the secure container includes an antenna to allow secured devices to be tethered to it via communications with an active radio frequency identification tag secured to the tethered device.

Claims

1. A secure container for controlling and monitoring access to at least one secured bag locking device, said secure container having an interior and an exterior, said at least one secured bag locking device each including a clamp for securing a secured bag and a data port for communicating status information, said secure container comprising:

i) a secured locking device for restricting access to the interior of said secure container to authorized personnel;

ii) at least one secured bag docking position, said docking position including a power connection and a secured bag occupancy sensor for detecting whether a secured bag is docked when the at least one secured back locking device securing the secured bag is docked on the at least one secured back docking position;

iii) a scanner for querying at least one secured bag locking device; and

iv) an output device for generating a signal if said at least one secured bag locking device communicates that said clamp has been opened.

2. The secure container of claim 1 wherein said at least one secured bag locking device further includes a radio frequency identification tag and wherein said scanner includes an antenna adapted to communicate with said radio frequency identification tag.

3. The secure container of claim 1 wherein said at least one secured bag locking device further includes a first serial data bus transceiver and wherein said scanner includes a second serial bus transceiver adapted to communicate with said first serial bus transceiver.

4. The secure container of claim 1 wherein said at least one docking position each includes a rail, said rail including a positive contact pin, a negative contact pin, and a data pin.

5. The secure container of claim 2 wherein said radio frequency identification tag is an active radio frequency device tag, and wherein said scanner is adapted to communicate with said active radio frequency device tag within a predetermined distance of said secure container, and wherein said secured bag locking device further comprises an indicator to indicate whether the secured bag locking device is within said predetermined distance of said secure container based on communications between said antenna and said active radio frequency device tag.

6. The secure container of claim 5 further comprising a processor coupled to said scanner, and a display coupled to said processor, and wherein said processor causes said display to display the number of secured bag locking and tracking devices contained within the interior of said secure container and the number of secured bag locking and tracking devices within said predetermined distance of said secure container.