Portable asset dispensing device

• US 8,570,169 B2
• Filed: 01/15/2010
• Issued: 10/29/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 01/15/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: JS2 Logistic Solutions LLC
• Original Assignee: Job Site Resources LLC
• Inventors: Green, Michael, Hall, Kevin
• Primary Examiner(s): Bugg, George
• Assistant Examiner(s): Afrifa-Kyei, Anthony D
• Application Number:
  US12/688,049
• Publication Number:
  US 20110178630A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,383 Days
• Field of Search: 340/540
• US Class Current: 340/540
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/30 Transportation; Communications
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/40 Business processes related to the transportation industry shipping G06Q10/083
• 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: G07F 17/10 for means for safe-keeping of property, left temporarily, e.g. by fastening the property

Abstract

A portable dispensing device is provided having a container configured to be moved to a plurality of locations. An access point at an opening of the container controls access into and out of the container. A scale is coupled to a bin within the container and is configured to measure a weight of the bin and contents of the bin. A computing device is in electrical communication with the access point and the scale and configured to allow or deny access to the container as well as receive the measured weight from the scale to determine a number of items in the bin. The computing device further associates an item removed from the bin with the individual or credits an item returned to the bin with the individual when the individual exits the container.

Claims

1. A portable dispensing device comprising:

a container configured to be moved to a plurality of locations, the container including an interior and an end;

an access point positioned at the end of the container and configured to control access by an authorized individual into and out of the container;

a plurality of bins and a plurality of scales disposed within the interior of the container, where each bin is independently coupled to one of the plurality of scales for measuring a weight of the bin and its contents; and

a computing device in electrical communication with the access point and configured to allow or deny access to the container, the computing device being in electrical communication with each scale and configured to receive the measured weight from each scale and determine a number of items in each bin based on the measured weight, the computing device being configured to associate an item added to or removed from each bin with the authorized individual upon that individual exiting the container.

2. The portable dispensing device of claim 1, wherein the container is selected from a group consisting of an eight foot standard container box, a ten foot standard container box, a 20 foot standard container box, a standard 40 foot container box, a 53 foot container, and combinations thereof.

3. The portable dispensing device of claim 1, further comprising:

an HVAC system, the HVAC system operable to control an environment in the interior of the container.

4. The portable dispensing device of claim 1, further comprising:

an electromagnetic lock operably coupled to a door of the access point, wherein, the computing device is configured to control the electromagnetic lock in response to an input from the individual.

5. The portable dispensing device of claim 4, further comprising:

an emergency door release, wherein the emergency door release is configured to release the electromagnetic lock allowing access to the interior of the container and triggering an alarm.

6. The portable dispensing device of claim 1, further comprising:

an antenna positioned on an outer surface of the container, and configured to provide wireless interne access to the computing device.

7. The portable dispensing device of claim 1, further comprising:

a camera system including at least one camera device configured to take a visual image of the authorized individual upon entering or exiting the access point, the at least one camera device mounted within the interior of the container.

8. The portable dispensing device of claim 1, further comprising:

a shelving unit where each scale is coupled thereto to prevent removal of the scale from the interior of the container.

9. The portable dispensing device of claim 1, further comprising:

a second container disposed proximate the first container, the second container including a plurality of bins and scales disposed therein, where each bin is independently coupled to one of the plurality of scales for measuring a weight of the bin and its contents; and

a defined passageway coupling the first container and second container to one another to allow direct access between the interiors of the first container and second container.

10. The portable dispensing device of claim 9, wherein the computing device is in electrical communication with each scale disposed in the first and second containers and is configured to receive the measured weight from each scale and determine a number of items in each bin disposed in the first and second containers based on the measured weight, the computing device being configured to associate an item added or removed from each bin with the authorized individual upon that individual exiting the first container.

11. The portable dispensing device of claim 1, further comprising a sensor disposed along a floor of the container and positioned adjacent to the access point, the sensor being in electrical communication with the computing device for detecting a presence of an authorized individual inside the container.

12. A method of monitoring inventory stored in a portable container, the container having a defined interior and including a lockable access point disposed at one end thereof, a shelving unit disposed in the container for supporting at least two or more bins and scales, where each bin is independently coupled to its respective scale for measuring a weight of the bin and inventory contained in the bin, and a computing device in electrical communication with the access point and with each scale, the method comprising:

receiving user access information at the access point;

allowing access to the interior of the container to an authorized user;

detecting when the authorized user exits the interior of the container through the access point;

after the detecting step, measuring the weight of each of the at least two or more bins with its respective independently coupled scale disposed in the container; and

determining if a quantity of inventory in each of the two or more bins changed based on the weight measurements.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising sensing the presence of the authorized user in the container.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising enabling a locking mechanism to prohibit access to the interior of the container after the sensing step.

15. The method of claim 12, further comprising triggering the measuring step once the authorized user has exited the container and a door at the access point is securely closed.

16. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

determining if the user access information satisfies criteria for an authorized user; and

unlocking the access point if the user access information satisfies the criteria.

17. The method of claim 12, further comprising preventing access to the interior of the container to more than one authorized user.

18. The method of claim 12, wherein the determining step comprises:

determining if an item of inventory was added to or removed from each of the two or more bins; and

if it is determined an item was added to one of the two or more bins, determining based on the weight measurement of that bin if the item was added to the correct bin.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising associating an item added to or removed from a bin to the authorized user.

20. The method of claim 12, further comprising identifying the authorized user from the user access information and at least one image-capturing device.