Vehicle lock box

• US 8,892,457 B2
• Filed: 03/06/2009
• Issued: 11/18/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/06/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Laskowski & Squier, LLC
• Original Assignee: Laskowski & Squier, LLC
• Inventors: Laskowski, Edward Paul, Squier, Jason Glen
• Primary Examiner(s): Maguire, Lindsay M.
• Application Number:
  US12/399,660
• Publication Number:
  US 20100228666A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,083 Days
• Field of Search: 705/35, 705/39, 705/44, 705/13, 109/73, 414/233, 340/932.2
• US Class Current: 705/13
• CPC Class Codes: E04H 6/02 Small garages, e.g. for one or two cars attached to, or supported by, the vehicle B62D
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/10 specially adapted for electronic funds transfer [EFT] systems; specially adapted for home banking systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/40 Authorisation, e.g. identification of payer or payee, verification of customer or shop credentials; Review and approval of payers, e.g. check credit lines or negative lists

Abstract

A relocatable and remotely actuatable vehicle security system. In some embodiments, the vehicle security system includes a relocatable structure forming an enclosure over a parking surface and an electronic actuation system. The relocatable structure has a closeable opening through which a vehicle enters and leaves the enclosure. The electronic actuation system is configured to actuate a drive mechanism to close the opening or to expose the opening upon receipt of a remotely generated signal.

Claims

1. A system for securing a vehicle, the system comprising:

an enclosure formed by a multi-walled structure positioned on a parking surface and configured to receive a vehicle therein, the enclosure having a closeable opening through which the vehicle is accessible;

an enclosure identifier;

an attendant system remotely located from the enclosure and configured to control access to the vehicle through the opening, wherein the attendant system is further configured to receive user information to authorize a user and identify the authorized user with the enclosure identifier; and

an electronic actuation system configured to receive an activation signal from the remotely located attendant system and to deliver an actuation signal based on input from the authorized user, whereby the opening is covered or exposed;

wherein while the authorized user is authorized to access the enclosure, the enclosure is not available to other users.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the authorized user is an individual.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the enclosure identifier is unique to the enclosure.

4. The system of claim 2, wherein the individual authorized user controls access to the enclosure.

5. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a door that is extendable to cover the opening and retractable to expose the opening; and

a drive mechanism coupled to the door, the drive mechanism configured to receive the actuation signal and to extend or retract the door upon receipt of the actuation signal.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the drive mechanism is mounted within the enclosure and inaccessible from outside of the enclosure.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the attendant system comprises:

an attendant configured to receive a request for access to the enclosure; and

a transmitter for generating the activation signal.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the attendant is an automated system.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the transmitter is coupled to the automated system.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the multi-walled structure includes at least one wall comprising a skin coupled to a frame by coupling members having fasteners accessible only from inside of the enclosure.

11. A system for securing a vehicle, the system comprising:

an enclosure formed by a multi-walled structure positioned on a parking surface and configured to receive a vehicle therein, the enclosure having a closeable opening through which the vehicle is accessible;

an enclosure identifier;

an attendant system remotely located from the enclosure and configured to control access to the vehicle through the opening; and

an electronic actuation system configured to receive an activation signal from the remotely located attendant system and to deliver an actuation signal, whereby the opening is covered or exposed;

wherein the attendant system is configured to verify the enclosure is empty before receiving information from a user to authorize the user and identify the authorized user with the enclosure identifier;

wherein the electronic actuation system is configured to deliver the actuation signal based on input from the authorized user.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the authorized user is an individual and the individual authorized user controls access to the enclosure.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the attendant system comprises:

an attendant configured to receive a request for access to the enclosure; and

a transmitter for generating the activation signal.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the attendant is an automated system.