Tamper evident cargo container seal bolt lock

• US 8,963,712 B2
• Filed: 03/08/2013
• Issued: 02/24/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 03/09/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Neology Incorporated (OEP Technologie BV)
• Original Assignee: Neology Incorporated (OEP Technologie BV)
• Inventors: Mullis, Joe, Kruest, James Robert
• Primary Examiner(s): MULLEN, THOMAS J
• Application Number:
  US13/791,419
• Publication Number:
  US 20130233035A1
• Time in Patent Office: 718 Days
• Field of Search: 340/541, 340/542, 340/568.1, 340/572.1, 340/572.8, 340/572.9, 340/650, 340/651, 340/652
• US Class Current: 340/542
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 17/22 Means for operating or controlling lock or fastening device accessories, i.e. other than the fastening members, e.g. switches, indicators E05B39/00 - E05B45/00 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 45/06 Electric alarm locks E05B45/005 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07798 part of the antenna or the integrated circuit being adapted for rupturing or breaking, e.g. record carriers functioning as sealing devices for detecting not-authenticated opening of containers electronic seals G09F3/03
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 3/0317 having bolt like sealing means means for preventing relative axial movement of a pin, spigot, shaft or the like and a member surrounding it F16B21/00
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 3/0329 having electronic sealing means
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 3/0335 using RFID tags
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/8081 Electric

Abstract

Systems and methods for a tamper-evident cargo container seal bolt lock are disclosed herein. The device can include a bolt member having a conductive medium running the axial length of the bolt, and a receiving member for locking the bolt into place. A battery-driven sensory circuit including a memory, a processor, and a timing circuit can be disposed within the receiving member such that a continuous circuit is formed from one circuit pin over the conductive medium through the length of the bolt and back to a second pin. The sensory circuit is 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 time and/or date in memory. This information can then be transmitted to an RFID reader/interrogator if a dispute arises as to when the lock had been broken.

Claims

1. A bolt lock device comprising:

a bolt member comprising an electrically conductive medium running between a first end of the bolt member and a second end of the bolt member; and

a receiving member adapted to receive the first end of the bolt member, the receiving member comprising a battery-operated sensory circuit with memory and pins adapted to form an electrically conductive pathway through the conductive medium of the bolt member after the first end of the bolt member has been inserted into the receiving member;

wherein the sensory circuit is adapted to detect whether the circuit has been interrupted and record in the memory the date and time that the circuit was interrupted.

2. The bolt lock device of claim 1, wherein the bolt member comprises metal.

3. The bolt lock device of claim 1, wherein the conductive medium comprises electrical wiring.

4. The bolt lock device of claim 1, wherein the conductive medium comprises metal.

5. The bolt lock device of claim 1, wherein the conductive medium is electrically insulated from a structural portion of the bolt member.

6. The bolt lock device of claim 1, wherein the conductive medium is disposed within an electrically insulated core of a predetermined diameter.

7. The bolt lock device of claim 1, wherein the second end of the bolt member comprises an electrically conductive head having a diameter that is larger than the diameter of the rest of the bolt member.

8. The bolt lock device of claim 7, wherein the conductive medium is adapted to electrically interface with the conductive head.

9. The bolt lock device of claim 1, wherein the receiving member further comprises a serial bus connection, wherein a transponder circuit is adapted to transmit the date and time that the circuit was interrupted over the serial bus connection.

10. The bolt lock device of claim 1, wherein the receiving member further comprises a transponder circuit, wherein the transponder circuit is adapted to wirelessly transmit the date and time that the circuit was interrupted to an interrogating device.

11. The bolt lock device of claim 10, wherein the transponder circuit comprises an RFID chip.

12. The bolt lock device of claim 1, wherein the receiving member further comprises a battery.

13. The bolt lock device of claim 12, wherein the battery comprises a cell battery.

14. The bolt lock device of claim 12, wherein the battery comprises a thin-film battery.

15. The bolt lock device of claim 12, wherein the battery is adapted to electrically connect with the sensory circuit only if the first end of the bolt member has been inserted into the receiving member.

16. A method for electronically detecting whether a bolt lock has been tampered with, the method comprising:

receiving a first end of a bolt member in a receiving member, wherein the bolt member comprises an electrically conductive medium running between the first end of the bolt member and a second end of the bolt member, and wherein the receiving member comprises a battery-operated sensory circuit with memory and pins adapted to form an electrically conductive pathway through the conductive medium of the bolt member after the first end of the bolt member has been inserted into the receiving member;

detecting whether the sensory circuit has been shorted; and

in the event of a detected short, recording the current date and time in the memory.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

receiving a request for memory content from an external device; and

in response to the request, transmitting data indicating the recorded date and time to the external device.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the request is an interrogation signal transmitted from an RFID reader.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein transmitting data indicating the recorded date and time to the external device further comprises wirelessly transmitting data indicating the recorded date and time to the external device.