Tamper evident cargo container seal bolt lock
First Claim
1. A lock device comprising:
- a bolt member having a first end and a second end;
a receiving member configured to receive first end of the bolt member;
an encapsulant having a first end physically connected to the receiving member and a second end physically connected to the second end of the bolt member;
a sensory circuit disposed within the encapsulant and between the first and second ends of the encapsulant and configured to form a continuous electrical pathway that electrically connects the bolt member and the receiving member, wherein the sensory circuit is configured to detect an interruption of the continuous electrical pathway;
a conductive medium disposed within the encapsulant that connects the receiving member to the second end of the bolt member, wherein, within the encapsulant, the sensory circuit is coupled to the conductive medium, wherein the electrically conductive pathway is formed from the conductive medium and the sensory circuit when the first end of the bolt member is received by the receiving member; and
a communication circuit coupled to the sensory circuit and configured to transmit data indicative of the detected interruption.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Systems and methods for a tamper-evident cargo container seal bolt lock are disclosed herein. The device can include a receiving member, a conductive bolt member adapted to be snap-locked into the receiving member, and a plastic encapsulant which tethers the bolt member to the receiving member. The encapsulant can contain an electrically conductive medium, such as a wire, which runs from the receiving member to the second end of the bolt. A sensory circuit disposed within the receiving member can be configured to sense whether the circuit has been interrupted (e.g., if the bolt has been cut). In the event of an interruption, the circuit can record the present time and/or date in memory. An RFID transponder disposed within the encapsulant or the receiving member can then transmit the recorded date/time to an RFID interrogator if a dispute subsequently arises as to when the lock had been broken.
47 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A lock device comprising:
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a bolt member having a first end and a second end; a receiving member configured to receive first end of the bolt member; an encapsulant having a first end physically connected to the receiving member and a second end physically connected to the second end of the bolt member; a sensory circuit disposed within the encapsulant and between the first and second ends of the encapsulant and configured to form a continuous electrical pathway that electrically connects the bolt member and the receiving member, wherein the sensory circuit is configured to detect an interruption of the continuous electrical pathway; a conductive medium disposed within the encapsulant that connects the receiving member to the second end of the bolt member, wherein, within the encapsulant, the sensory circuit is coupled to the conductive medium, wherein the electrically conductive pathway is formed from the conductive medium and the sensory circuit when the first end of the bolt member is received by the receiving member; and a communication circuit coupled to the sensory circuit and configured to transmit data indicative of the detected interruption. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method comprising:
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detecting an interruption of a continuous electrical pathway electrically connected to a second end of a bolt member and a receiving member configured to receive a first end of the bolt member, the continuous electrical pathway electrically formed from a conductive medium and a sensory circuit when the first end of the bolt member is received by the receiving member, the sensory circuit disposed within an encapsulant connected to the receiving member and the second end of the bolt member and disposed between a first end of the encapsulant physically connected to the receiving member and a second end of the encapsulant physically connected to the second end of the bolt member, the conductive medium disposed within the encapsulant and connects the receiving member to the second end of the bolt member, and the sensory circuit is coupled to the conductive medium within the encapsulant; and transmitting data indicative of the interruption. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification