Cargo vehicle security system and method of use

• US 8,959,838 B1
• Filed: 05/14/2013
• Issued: 02/24/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/18/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Marinelli, Vittorio
• Original Assignee: Marinelli, Vittorio
• Inventors: Marinelli, Vittorio
• Primary Examiner(s): Mitchell, Katherine
• Assistant Examiner(s): REPHANN, JUSTIN B
• Application Number:
  US13/894,376
• Time in Patent Office: 651 Days
• Field of Search: 491/41, 494/49, 292/137, 292/138, 292/144, 292/150, 292/163, 292/DIG.22, 160/201
• US Class Current: 49/449
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 5/12 slidable; foldable
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 5/14 of roller-blind type made of rigid elements
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 65/0021 for overhead or roll-up doors, e.g. garage doors
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 77/12 Automatic locking or unlocking at the moment of collision
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 81/04 Electrical electrical circuits E05B81/54
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 81/90 Manual override in case of power failure
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 83/12 for back doors of vans E05B83/04, E05B83/08 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/516 for trucks or trailers
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/532 Back doors or end doors
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/096 Sliding

Abstract

A vehicle door security system comprising at least one deadbolt and respective operational elements, wherein the deadbolt secures at least one of a pivoting door and a roll up cargo door. The deadbolt toggles between an engaging configuration and a released configuration. The deadbolt can include an inertial release mechanism that disengages the deadbolt from the engaging configuration when the vehicle is subjected to a sudden impact. Alternatively, the deadbolt can be opened using a manual release mechanism located externally from the vehicle.

Claims

1. A vehicle security system, the system comprising:

an inertial releasing deadbolt assembly to installed in a vehicle in an arrangement which employs a inertial safety releasing deadbolt to retain a pivotal door from opening when placed in an engaging configuration, wherein the inertial releasing deadbolt includes;

an inertial release mechanism that drives the inertial releasing deadbolt from the engaging configuration to a released configuration automatically when the vehicle is subjected to a sudden impact, wherein the inertial release mechanism is a weighted ring pivotally assembled to an inertial safety releasing deadbolt by an inertial release mechanism support element, wherein the inertial safety releasing deadbolt passes through an aperture of the weighted ring,

wherein the impact causes the weighted ring to strike the inertial safety releasing deadbolt resulting in a transition from the locking configuration to the released configuration.

2. A vehicle security system as recited in claim 1, further comprising a biasing element, wherein the biasing element provides a biasing force to the inertial releasing deadbolt.

3. A vehicle security system as recited in claim 1, further comprising a release controller wherein the release controller toggles the inertial releasing deadbolt from the engaging configuration to a released configuration automatically when at least one airbag is deployed, wherein the release controller transmits an electrical signal to an operational release subassembly and the operational release subassembly toggles the inertial releasing deadbolt from the engaging configuration to a released configuration.

4. A vehicle security system as recited in claim 1, the inertial releasing deadbolt further comprising a conically shaped engaging end, wherein the conically shaped engaging end is positioned to engage with a deadbolt engaging feature provided on the vehicle.

5. A vehicle security system as recited in claim 1, further comprising a deadbolt registration member having a deadbolt registration member aperture passing therethrough and concentric about a deadbolt registration member aperture central axis,

wherein the deadbolt registration member aperture central axis is in alignment with a deadbolt retention surface of the retention element.

6. A vehicle security system as recited in claim 5, the inertial releasing deadbolt further comprising a conically shaped engaging end located proximate the deadbolt registration member;

and

wherein the deadbolt registration member aperture is formed having an inverted frustum shape.

7. A cargo vehicle security system, the system comprising:

a roll up cargo door providing a first access to a cargo enclosed area of a cargo vehicle;

a roll up cargo door automated locking assembly comprising at least one locking bar moveably assembled to the roll up cargo door proximate a cargo door vertical edge, the at least one locking bar being in operable communication with a slip linkage, wherein the slip linkage is provided between a opener linkage arm driven by an automated opening drive mechanism and a linkage arm bracket assembled to the roll up cargo door, wherein the cargo door automated locking assembly refrains the roll up cargo door from opening when the cargo door automated locking assembly is placed in a locking configuration and enables motion of the roll up cargo door when the cargo door automated locking assembly is placed in an unlocked configuration;

a pivotal door providing a second access to a cargo enclosed area of a cargo vehicle; and

an inertial releasing deadbolt assembled to the cargo vehicle in an arrangement which retains the pivotal door from opening when placed in an engaging configuration, wherein the inertial releasing deadbolt includes at least one inertial release mechanism, wherein the at least one inertial release mechanism includes a weighted element connected to a release element, wherein the release element enables the weighted element to freely move in any substantially horizontal direction with respect to a substantially horizontal plane of the vehicle, wherein when the cargo vehicle is subjected to a sudden impact, the sudden impact forces the weighted element to move in a corresponding substantially horizontal direction with respect to the substantially horizontal plane of the vehicle, and the movement of the weighted element translates a motion to the release element, which toggles the inertial releasing deadbolt from the engaging configuration to the released configuration.

8. A cargo vehicle security system as recited in claim 7, wherein the inertial release mechanism is a weighted ring pivotally assembled about the inertial releasing deadbolt.

9. A cargo vehicle security system as recited in claim 7, further comprising a biasing element, wherein the biasing element provides a biasing force to the inertial releasing deadbolt.

10. A vehicle security system as recited in claim 7, further comprising a release controller wherein the release controller toggles the inertial releasing deadbolt from the engaging configuration to the released configuration automatically when at least one airbag is deployed, wherein the release controller transmits an electrical signal to an operational release subassembly and the operational release subassembly toggles the inertial releasing deadbolt from the engaging configuration to a released configuration.

11. A cargo vehicle security system as recited in claim 7, further comprising an external release mechanism in one of direct and indirect operational communication with the roll up cargo door automated locking assembly causing the at least one locking bar to, traverse from the locking configuration to an unlocked configuration.

12. A cargo vehicle security system as recited in claim 7, the inertial releasing deadbolt further comprising a conically shaped engaging end, wherein the conically shaped engaging end is positioned to engage with a deadbolt engaging feature provided on the cargo vehicle.

13. A cargo vehicle security system as recited in claim 7, further comprising a deadbolt registration member having a deadbolt registration member aperture passing therethrough, wherein a central axis of the deadbolt registration member aperture is in registration with a central longitudinal axis of the inertial releasing deadbolt.

14. A cargo vehicle security system as recited in claim 13, the inertial releasing deadbolt further comprising a conically shaped engaging end located proximate the deadbolt registration member;

and

wherein the deadbolt registration member aperture is formed having an inverted frustum shape.

15. A vehicle security system, the system comprising:

a deadbolt locking assembly assembled to a vehicle in an arrangement which retains a pivotal door from opening when placed in an engaging configuration, wherein the deadbolt locking assembly includes at least one emergency release mechanism that toggles an inertial releasing deadbolt from the engaging configuration to a released configuration,

wherein the at least one emergency release mechanism includes;

a mechanically operated manual release member accessible from an exterior of the vehicle;

and an inertial release mechanism which toggles the inertial releasing deadbolt from the engaging configuration to the released configuration automatically when the vehicle is subjected to a sudden impact, wherein the inertial release mechanism includes a weighted element connected to a release element, wherein the release element enables the weighted element to freely move in any substantially horizontal direction with respect to a substantially horizontal plane of the vehicle, wherein when the cargo vehicle is subjected to a sudden impact, the sudden impact forces the weighted element to move in a corresponding substantially horizontal direction with respect to the substantially horizontal plane of the vehicle, and the movement of the weighted element translates a motion to the release element, which toggles the inertial releasing deadbolt from the engaging configuration to the released configuration.

16. A vehicle security system as recited in claim 15, wherein the deadbolt locking assembly further comprises a deadbolt pin and the deadbolt pin is inserted between a pivoting door of the vehicle and a fixed doorframe section of the vehicle.

17. A vehicle security system as recited in claim 15, wherein the deadbolt locking assembly further comprises a deadbolt pin and the deadbolt pin is inserted between a first pivoting door of the vehicle and a second pivoting door of the vehicle.

18. A vehicle security system as recited in claim 15, the deadbolt locking assembly further comprising a remote control, wherein the remote control provides wireless operation of deadbolt locking assembly.

19. A vehicle security system as recited in claim 15, further comprising a roll up cargo door automated locking assembly including at least one locking bar moveably assembled to a roll up cargo door proximate a cargo door vertical edge, the at least one locking bar being in operable communication with at least one of an opener linkage arm and a slip linkage, wherein the cargo door automated locking assembly refrains the roll up cargo door from opening when the cargo door automated locking assembly is placed in a locking configuration and enables motion of the roll up cargo door when the cargo door automated locking assembly is placed in an unlocked configuration.