Monitorable locking assemblies

• US 8,068,027 B2
• Filed: 03/30/2005
• Issued: 11/29/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Capital Bank, NA, Hi-G-Tek, Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Hi-G-Tek, Ltd.
• Inventors: Golan, Eli, Auerbach, Micha, Zelzion, Alon, Cohen, Ronny, Shekel, Joseph, Eizen, Noach, Levy, Eli
• Primary Examiner(s): POPE, DARYL C
• Application Number:
  US10/593,553
• Publication Number:
  US 20080036596A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,435 Days
• Field of Search: 340/539.13, 340/573.1, 340/539.1, 340/539.11, 340/539.15, 340/539.32, 340/825.36, 340/825.49
• US Class Current: 340/542
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 39/00 Locks giving indication of authorised or unauthorised unlocking with key identification means E05B35/001; alarm locks E05B45/00
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 41/00 Locks with visible indication as to whether the lock is locked or unlocked indicator lights E05B17/10
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 45/005 Chain-locks, cable-locks or padlocks with alarms
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 67/003 Chain, wire or cable locks alarms therefor E05B45/005; E05B69/006 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/0092 for cargo, freight or shipping containers and applications therefore in general
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00896 specially adapted for particular uses
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 3/0329 having electronic sealing means
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 3/0352 using cable lock

Abstract

A key-operated remotely monitorable locking assembly including a key-operated lock including a lock body including a key operated locking assembly and a tamper monitorable lockable assembly which is selectably locked to the lock body by operation of the mechanical key operated locking assembly and a wireless communication circuit located in a least one of the lock body and the lockable assembly for providing a remotely monitorable indication of tampering with the lockable assembly.

Claims

1. A key-operated remotely monitorable locking assembly comprising:

a key-operated lock including;

a lock body including a key operated locking assembly;

a tamper monitorable lockable assembly which is selectably locked to said lock body by operation of said key operated locking assembly; and

a key insertion sensor operative to sense whether a key is operatively inserted in said key operated locking assembly; and

a wireless communication circuit located in at least one of said lock body and said lockable assembly for providing a remotely monitorable indication of tampering with said lockable assembly and a remotely monitorable indication of at least one of key insertion or the absence thereof,

said wireless communication circuit being operative to allow opening of said lock upon receiving a wireless authorization communication from a remote computer.

2. A key-operated remotely monitorable locking assembly according to claim 1 and wherein said wireless communication circuit is also operative for providing a remotely monitorable indication of at least one of locking and unlocking said lockable assembly to said lock body.

3. A key-operated remotely monitorable locking assembly according to claim 1 and wherein said wireless communication circuit is also operative for providing a remotely monitorable indication of at least one of presence and absence of said lockable assembly within said lock body.

4. A key operated remotely monitorable locking assembly according to claim 1 and wherein said tamper monitorable lockable assembly comprises a flexible sealing wire assembly.

5. A key operated remotely monitorable locking assembly according to claim 1 and wherein said key operated locking assembly is operated by at least one of a mechanical key, an electronic key and a combined mechanical-electronic key.

6. A key operated remotely monitorable locking assembly according to claim 1 and wherein said tamper monitorable lockable assembly includes at least one conductor disposed about a retaining element, said conductor being monitored by said wireless communication circuit.

7. A key operated remotely monitorable locking assembly according to claim 1 and also comprising at least one monitorable element disposed within said lock body and at least one detector operative to monitor the presence of said monitorable element at a predetermined location within said lock body.

8. A key operated remotely monitorable locking assembly according to claim 7 and wherein said monitorable element comprises a magnet.

9. A key operated remotely monitorable locking assembly according to claim 7 and wherein said detector comprises a reed switch.

10. A key operated remotely monitorable locking assembly according to claim 7 and wherein said detector comprises an RFID sensor.

11. A key operated remotely monitorable locking assembly according to claim 1 and wherein said tamper monitorable lockable assembly is entirely removable from said lock body.

12. A key operated remotely monitorable locking assembly according to claim 1 and wherein said tamper monitorable lockable assembly is tethered at one side thereof to said lock body.

13. A key operated remotely monitorable locking assembly according to claim 1 and wherein said wireless communication circuit is operative to provide a wireless indication if said tamper monitorable lockable assembly is unlocked from said lock body prior to receipt of wireless authorization by said wireless communication circuit.

14. A monitorable shipping container assembly comprising:

a shipping container body;

a remotely monitorable locking assembly comprising;

a key-operated lock including;

a lock body including a key operated locking assembly;

a tamper monitorable lockable assembly which is selectably locked to said lock body by operation of said key operated locking assembly; and

a key insertion sensor operative to sense whether a key is operatively inserted in said key operated locking assembly and

a wireless communication circuit located in at least one of said lock body and said lockable assembly for providing a remotely monitorable indication of tampering with said lockable assembly and a remotely monitorable indication of at least one of key insertion or the absence thereof;

a support on the exterior of said shipping container body for removably supporting said locking assembly onto said shipping container body; and

a support sensor for sensing when said locking assembly is located on said support,

wherein said wireless communication circuit is operative to allow opening of said lock upon receiving a wireless authorization communication from a remote computer and is also operative for providing a remotely monitorable indication responsive to an output of said support sensor indicating whether said locking assembly is located on said support.

15. A monitorable shipping container assembly according to claim 14 and wherein said wireless communication circuit is also operative for providing a remotely monitorable indication of at least one of locking and unlocking said lockable assembly to said lock body.

16. A monitorable shipping container assembly according to claim 14 and wherein said tamper monitorable lockable assembly comprises a flexible sealing wire assembly.

17. A monitorable shipping container assembly according to claim 14 and wherein said tamper monitorable lockable assembly comprises a shackle assembly.

18. A monitorable shipping container assembly according to claim 14 and wherein said key operated locking assembly is operated by at least one of a mechanical key, an electronic key and a combined mechanical-electronic key.

19. A monitorable shipping container assembly according to claim 14 and wherein said tamper monitorable lockable assembly includes at least one conductor disposed about a retaining element, said conductor being monitorable by said wireless communication circuit.

20. A monitorable shipping container assembly according to claim 14 and wherein said remotely monitorable locking assembly also comprises at least one monitorable element disposed within said lock body and at least one detector operative to monitor the presence of said monitorable element at a predetermined location within said lock body.

21. A monitorable shipping container assembly according to claim 20 and wherein said monitorable element comprises a magnet.

22. A monitorable shipping container assembly according to claim 20 and wherein said detector comprises a reed switch.

23. A monitorable shipping container assembly according to claim 20 and wherein said detector comprises an RFID sensor.

24. A monitorable shipping container assembly according to claim 14 and wherein said support sensor comprises a magnet sensor.

25. A monitorable shipping container assembly according to claim 14 and wherein said support sensor comprises an RFID sensor.

26. A monitorable shipping container assembly according to claim 14 and wherein said support sensor comprises a reed switch.

27. A remotely monitorable closure assembly comprising:

a key-operated closure assembly arranged for mounting on a first closure element and including;

a closure body;

a closure pin fixedly mounted onto said closure body;

a key insertion sensor operative to sense whether a key is operatively inserted in said key-operated closure assembly; and

a wireless communication circuit located in said closure body for providing a remotely monitorable indication of tampering with said closure assembly and a remotely monitorable indication of at least one of key insertion or the absence thereof; and

a closure pin receiver arranged for mounting on a second closure element cooperative with said first closure element, said closure pin receiver having at least a pin securing operative orientation and a pin releasing operative orientation, said wireless communication circuit being operative to allow opening of

said closure body upon receiving a wireless authorization communication from a remote computer.

28. A remotely monitorable closure assembly according to claim 27 and also comprising a key-operated lock associated with said closure pin receiver and being operative for selectably locking said closure pin receiver in said pin securing operative orientation.

29. A remotely monitorable closure assembly according to claim 27 and wherein said first and second closure elements are first and second doors which may be secured in a closed mutual orientation by said closure assembly.

30. A remotely monitorable closure assembly according to claim 27 and wherein said first and second closure elements are hatch portions of a tanker which may be secured in a closed mutual orientation by said closure assembly.

31. A remotely monitorable closure assembly according to claim 27 and wherein said first and second closure elements are output valve access elements of a tanker which may be secured in a closed mutual orientation by said closure assembly.

32. A remotely monitorable closure assembly according to claim 27 and also comprising a mounting element fixed to said first closure element and wherein said closure body is mounted onto said mounting element.

33. A remotely monitorable closure assembly according to claim 27 and wherein said closure pin includes at least one conductor forming an electrical circuit, said electrical circuit being operative to provide indication of tampering with said closure assembly to said wireless communication circuit.

34. A remotely monitorable closure assembly according to claim 27 and wherein said closure pin receiver also comprises at least one monitorable element operative to provide said wireless communication circuit with sensed information for monitoring the presence of said closure pin at a predetermined location within said closure pin receiver.

35. A remotely monitorable closure assembly according claim 34 and wherein said monitorable element comprises at least one magnet.

36. A remotely monitorable closure assembly according to claim 27 and wherein said wireless communication circuit is also operative for providing a remotely monitorable indication of at least one of said pin securing operative orientation and said pin releasing operative orientation.

37. A remotely monitorable closure assembly according to claim 27 and wherein shifting of said closure pin receiver between said pin securing operative orientation and said pin releasing operative orientation is governed by a spring loaded retaining assembly.

38. A remotely monitorable closure assembly according to claim 27 and wherein shifting of said closure pin receiver between said pin securing operative orientation and said pin releasing operative orientation is governed by rotation of a mechanical key disposed within said closure pin receiver.

39. A remotely monitorable closure assembly according to claim 27 and also comprising at least one pin receiver retaining element operative to retain a movable portion of said closure pin receiver within a remainder of said closure pin receiver.

40. A remote visual identification system comprising:

a controller; and

a plurality of wirelessly addressable displaceable visual indicators, each comprising;

a mounting element;

a selectably displaceable visual indicator mounted onto said mounting element;

an individually addressable visual indicator displacement assembly operative to selectably displace said visual indicator; and

a wireless communicator associated with said displacement assembly and operative to receive operational signals from said controller.

41. A remote visual identification system according to claim 40 and wherein said displacement assembly comprises:

a motor control circuit;

a motor controlled by said motor controlled circuit; and

a transmission controlled by said motor and being operative to position said visual indicator.

42. A remote visual identification system according to claim 40 wherein said visual indicator is selectably displaceable between an inoperative orientation and a visually indicating orientation by said motor and said transmission.