Container security and monitoring

• US 7,436,298 B2
• Filed: 10/27/2004
• Issued: 10/14/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/27/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Savi Technology Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Savi Technology Incorporated
• Inventors: Rajapakse, Ravindra U., Farrell, Steven J., Weidick, Mark S., Cova, Nicholas D., Goodell, John L., Schultheis, Edward D., Dawson, William S., Merritt, Kent G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Hung T.
• Application Number:
  US10/974,481
• Publication Number:
  US 20050134457A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,448 Days
• Field of Search: 3405451-5456, 340/539.1, 340/539.13, 340/539.26, 340/539.31, 340/540, 340/541, 340/572.1, 340/572.3
• US Class Current: 340/545.6
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2203/10 Transponders
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2211/00 Anti-theft means
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2590/0083 Computer or electronic system, e.g. GPS systems
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 88/121 ISO containers
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 90/22 Safety features floating covers B65D88/34; arrangements of indicating or measuring devices B65D90/48; fire-fighting A62C
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/08 by opening, e.g. of door, of window, of drawer, of shutter, of curtain, of blind
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/1481 with optical detection
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2462 Asset location systems combined with EAS inventory, tracking, logistic G06Q10/00; entrance control systems G07C9/00

Abstract

A device has a support that can resiliently and removably grip an edge portion of a member with first and second portions thereof disposed on opposite sides of the member. A further portion on the first portion can operatively couple sensing structure to an electrical conductor portion on the third portion. A different embodiment has a support that can resiliently and removably grip an edge portion of a member with first and second portions thereof disposed on opposite sides of the member. A further portion on the support has circuitry coupled to a wireless communication portion on the first portion. Another embodiment has a support with structure supported thereon, the support resiliently and removably gripping the edge portion of a movable door with first and second portions of the support disposed on opposite sides of the edge portion.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising a device that includes:

a support having spaced first and second portions, and adapted to resiliently and removably grip an edge portion of a member with said first and second portions disposed on opposite sides of the edge portion;

a wireless communication portion supported on said first portion of said support; and

a further portion supported on said support and having circuitry that is electrically coupled to said wireless communication portion.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said further portion is supported on said second portion of said support.

3. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said support includes a resilient clip, said first and second portions being respective spaced portions of said clip.

4. An apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said clip is approximately C-shaped and has a bight extending between said first and second portions thereof.

5. An apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said clip is a single integral part.

6. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said support has, on a side of one of said first and second portions facing the other thereof, gripping structure that resists removal of said support from the edge portion of a member.

7. An apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said gripping structure includes a plurality of bosses that project from said one of said first and second portions toward the other thereof.

8. An apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said gripping structure includes a sheet of non-slip material fixedly supported on said one of said first and second portions.

9. An apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said support includes a resilient clip, said first and second portions being respective spaced portions of said clip.

10. An apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein said support includes a third portion and said first and second portions each have an end coupled to said third portion;

and

wherein one of said first and second portions has, near an end thereof remote from said third portion, a surface oriented for engagement with part of the edge portion of a member so as to cause said first and second portions to be moved apart in response to movement of said support relative to the edge portion of a member as the support is being installed on the edge portion.

11. An apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said support includes a resilient clip, said first and second portions being respective spaced portions of said clip, and said third portion including a bight that extends between said first and second portions.

12. An apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein said support includes a third portion and said first and second portions each have an end coupled to said third portion;

and

wherein one of said first and second portions has, near an end thereof remote from said third portion, a surface oriented for engagement with part of the edge portion of a member in a manner resisting removal of said support from the edge portion.

13. An apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said support includes a resilient clip, said first and second portions being respective spaced portions of said clip, and said third portion including a bight that extends between said first and second portions.

14. An apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein said support includes a third portion and said first and second portions each have an end coupled to said third portion, said first and second portions each projecting outwardly from said third portion in approximately a first direction;

and

including an anti-tamper part projecting outwardly from said third portion in a second direction approximately opposite to said first direction.

15. An apparatus according to claim 1,

including a container having a door movable between open and closed positions, said door having an edge portion;

wherein said further portion is supported on said second portion of said support; and

wherein said support is removably supported on said edge portion of said door, with said wireless communication portion on an outer side of said door and said further portion on an inner side of said door.

16. An apparatus according to claim 15, wherein movement of said door between said open and closed positions is pivotal movement about a pivot axis, said pivot axis being located adjacent an edge of said door that is opposite from the edge portion on which said support is disposed.

17. An apparatus according to claim 16,

wherein said container includes a further door having an edge portion and movable between open and closed positions about a further pivot axis, said edge portions of said doors being adjacent when said doors are each in said closed position thereof;

and

wherein said device includes a sensing arrangement which sensor which, when said doors are each in said closed position thereof, can detect movement of said further door away from its closed position.

18. An apparatus according to claim 15, including a sensor disposed within said container and operatively coupled to said circuitry.

19. An apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said container is an ISO 668:

1995(E) Series 1 freight container.

20. An apparatus comprising a device that includes:

a support having spaced first and second portions and a third portion extending between said first and second portions, said support being adapted to resiliently and removably grip an edge portion of a member with said first and second portions disposed on opposite sides of the edge portion;

an electrical conductor portion which extends along said third portion and which can conduct at least one electrical signal therethrough; and

a further portion supported on said first portion of said support for operatively coupling said electrical conductor portion to sensing structure.

21. An apparatus according to claim 20, including a reader that is capable of wireless communication with tags, that is operatively coupled to said electrical conductor portion through said further portion, and that represents the sensing structure.

22. An apparatus according to claim 20, including a plurality of sensors that are operatively coupled to said electrical conductor portion through said further portion, and that collectively represent the sensing structure.

23. An apparatus according to claim 22, wherein said further portion is configured to provide modular coupling to each of said sensors.

24. An apparatus according to claim 20, including a wireless communication portion disposed on said second portion of said support and operatively coupled to said electrical conductor portion.

25. An apparatus according to claim 20, wherein said support includes a resilient clip, said first and second portions being respective spaced portions of said clip.

26. An apparatus according to claim 25, wherein said clip is approximately C-shaped and has a bight extending between said first and second portions thereof.

27. An apparatus according to claim 25, wherein said clip is a single integral part.

28. An apparatus according to claim 20, wherein said support has, on a side of one of said first and second portions facing the other thereof, gripping structure that resists removal of said support from the edge portion of a member.

29. An apparatus according to claim 28, wherein said gripping structure includes a plurality of bosses that project from said one of said first and second portions toward the other thereof.

30. An apparatus according to claim 28, wherein said gripping structure includes a sheet of non-slip material fixedly supported on said one of said first and second portions.

31. An apparatus according to claim 28, wherein said support includes a resilient clip, said first and second portions being respective spaced portions of said clip.

32. An apparatus according to claim 20,

wherein said first and second portions each have an end coupled to said third portion;

and

wherein one of said first and second portions has, near an end thereof remote from said third portion, a surface oriented for engagement with part of the edge portion of a member so as to cause said first and second portions to be moved apart in response to movement of said support relative to the edge portion as the support is being installed on the edge portion.

33. An apparatus according to claim 32, wherein said support includes a resilient clip, said first, second and third portions being respective portions of said clip.

34. An apparatus according to claim 20,

wherein said first and second portions each have an end coupled to said third portion;

and

wherein one of said first and second portions has, near an end thereof remote from said third portion, a surface oriented for engagement with part of the edge portion of a member in a manner resisting removal of said support from the edge portion.

35. An apparatus according to claim 34, wherein said support includes a resilient clip, said first, second and third being respective portions of said clip.

36. An apparatus according to claim 20,

including a container having a door which is movable between open and closed positions, and which has an edge portion;

and

wherein said support is removably supported on said edge portion of said door, with said further portion disposed on an inner side of said door.

37. An apparatus comprising a device that includes:

a container having a door which is movable between open and closed positions, and which has an edge portion; and

a device which includes a support and structure supported on said support, said support having spaced first and second portions disposed on opposite sides of said edge portion of said door, and said support resiliently and removably gripping said edge portion of said door.

38. An apparatus according to claim 37, wherein said container is an ISO 668:

1995(E) Series 1 freight container.

39. An apparatus according to claim 37,

wherein said container has a further door which is movable between open and closed positions and which has an edge portion, said doors each moving about a respective pivot axis disposed adjacent an edge thereof opposite from said edge portion thereof, and said edge portions of said doors being adjacent when said doors are each in said closed position thereof;

and

wherein said structure includes a sensing arrangement which, when said doors are each in said closed position thereof, can detect movement of said further door away from said closed position thereof.

40. An apparatus according to claim 37, wherein said structure includes:

a wireless communication portion supported on said first portion of said support; and

a further portion which is supported on said second portion of said support and which includes circuitry that is electrically coupled to said wireless communication portion, said wireless communication portion being disposed on an outer side of said door and said further portion being disposed on an inner side of said door.

41. An apparatus according to claim 37, wherein said support includes a resilient clip, said first and second portions being respective spaced portions of said clip.

42. An apparatus according to claim 41, wherein said clip is approximately C-shaped and has a bight extending between said first and second portions thereof.

43. An apparatus according to claim 41, wherein said clip is a single integral part.

44. An apparatus according to claim 37, wherein said support has, on a side of one of said first and second portions facing the other thereof, gripping structure that resists removal of said support from said edge portion of said door.

45. An apparatus according to claim 44, wherein said gripping structure includes a plurality of bosses that project from said one of said first and second portions toward the other thereof.

46. An apparatus according to claim 44, wherein said gripping structure includes a sheet of non-slip material fixedly supported on said side of said one of said first and second portions.

47. An apparatus according to claim 44, wherein said support includes a resilient clip, said first and second portions being respective spaced portions of said clip.

48. An apparatus according to claim 37,

wherein said support includes a third portion and said first and second portions each have an end coupled to said third portion;

and

wherein one of said first and second portions has, near an end thereof remote from said third portion, a surface oriented for engagement with part of said edge portion of said door so as to cause said first and second portions to be moved apart in response to movement of said support relative to said edge portion of said door as the support is being installed on said edge portion.

49. An apparatus according to claim 48, wherein said support includes a resilient clip, said first and second portions being respective spaced portions of said clip, and said third portion including a bight that extends between said first and second portions.

50. An apparatus according to claim 37,

wherein said support includes a third portion and said first and second portions each have an end coupled to said third portion;

and

wherein one of said first and second portions has, near an end thereof remote from said third portion, a surface oriented for engagement with part of said edge portion of said door in a manner resisting removal of said support from said edge portion.

51. An apparatus according to claim 50, wherein said support includes a resilient clip, said first and second portions being respective spaced portions of said clip, and said third portion including a bight that extends between said first and second portions.