Tamper evident cargo container seal bolt lock

• US 9,624,692 B2
• Filed: 08/31/2015
• Issued: 04/18/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 03/19/2012
• 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:
  US14/841,666
• Publication Number:
  US 20150368930A1
• Time in Patent Office: 596 Days
• Field of Search: 340541, 340542, 3405681, 3405721, 340650-652
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2211/00 Anti-theft means
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2401/00 Tamper-indicating means relating to aerosol containers B65D83/224
• 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: E05B 17/00 Accessories in connection with locks buffers E05F5/00; means for preventing rattling of wings E05F7/04; means for taking the weight of the wing E05F7/06
• 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 2047/0067 Monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 2047/0072 Operation
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 2047/0097 including means for monitoring voltage, e.g. for indicating low battery state
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 39/005 Locks with means for tracking the location of locked items, e.g. freight containers
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 39/04 with counting or registering devices time recording locks G07C1/32
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 73/0017 Anti-theft devices, e.g. tags or monitors, fixed to articles, e.g. clothes, and to be removed at the check-out of shops
• 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: G07C 1/32 Time-recording locks
• 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: H05K 999/99 dummy group
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/625 Operation and control
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/8081 Electric
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/8216 Tampering detector

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.

Claims

1. A bolt lock device comprising:

a bolt member;

a receiving member adapted to receive the bolt member; and

a tethering member comprising a conductive medium and adapted to tether the bolt member and the receiving member to one another;

wherein;

the bolt member, the receiving member, and the conductive medium are adapted to form a continuous electrical circuit when the bolt member has been received in the receiving member; and

the electrical circuit comprises memory and is configured to detect an interruption in a continuity of the electrical circuit.

2. The bolt lock device of claim 1, wherein the bolt member is adapted to conduct electrical current.

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 tethering member comprises plastic.

5. The bolt lock device of claim 1, wherein the electrical circuit is configured to detect an interruption in the continuity of the electrical circuit at least in part by transmitting an electrical current.

6. The bolt lock device of claim 5, wherein the electrical circuit is configured to transmit the electrical current at periodic intervals.

7. The bolt lock device of claim 1, wherein in response to detecting an interruption in the continuity of the electrical circuit, the electrical circuit is further configured to record a current date and time in the memory.

8. The bolt lock device of claim 1, wherein the electrical circuit further comprises a transponder, an antenna, and a battery.

9. The bolt lock device of claim 8, wherein the transponder, the antenna, and the battery are disposed within the receiving member.

10. The bolt lock device of claim 8, wherein the transponder, the antenna, and the battery are disposed within the tethering member.

11. The bolt lock device of claim 8, wherein the transponder comprises a radio frequency identification (RFID) chip.

12. The bolt lock device of claim 8, wherein the battery comprises one of a cell battery and a thin-film battery.

13. The bolt lock device of claim 8, wherein the battery is adapted to electrically couple to the electrical circuit only when the bolt member has been received in the receiving member.

14. The bolt lock device of claim 1, wherein the receiving member further includes a first electrical contact and a second electrical contact, and wherein a first end of the conductive medium is electrically connected to the first electrical contact within the receiving member.

15. The bolt lock device of claim 14, wherein a second end of the conductive medium is electrically connected to a first end of the bolt member.

16. The bolt lock device of claim 14, wherein when the bolt member has been received in the receiving member, a second end of the bolt member is electrically connected to the second electrical contact within the receiving member.

17. The bolt lock device of claim 14, wherein the electrical circuit further comprises a transponder and an antenna residing within the receiving member, wherein the transponder is configured to store a unique identifier associated with the bolt lock device, and wherein the transponder includes the first electrical contact.

18. The bolt lock device of claim 14, wherein the electrical circuit further comprises a transponder and an antenna residing within the tethering member, wherein the transponder is configured to store a unique identifier associated with the bolt lock device.

19. The bolt lock device of claim 18, wherein the transponder is electrically coupled to the first electrical contact within the receiving member via the conductive medium.

20. A bolt lock device comprising:

a bolt member;

a receiving member adapted to receive the bolt member; and

a tethering member comprising a conductive medium and adapted to tether the bolt member and the receiving member to one another;

wherein;

the bolt member, the receiving member, and the conductive medium are adapted to form a continuous electrical circuit when the bolt member has been received in the receiving member; and

the electrical circuit comprises a serial bus connection and is configured to detect an interruption in a continuity of the electrical circuit.

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

receiving a bolt member of the bolt lock in a receiving member of the bolt lock, the receiving member of the bolt lock being connected to the bolt member of the bolt lock via a tethering member comprising a conductive medium and adapted to tether the bolt member and the receiving member to one another;

forming a continuous electrical circuit comprising the bolt member, the receiving member, and the conductive medium when the bolt member has been received in the receiving member;

detecting an interruption in a continuity of the electrical circuit; and

in response to detecting an interruption in the continuity of the electrical circuit, recording a current date and time.

22. The method of claim 21, further comprising:

receiving a read request from an external device; and

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

23. The method of claim 22, wherein transmitting the data comprising the recorded date and time to the external device further comprises wirelessly transmitting the data comprising the recorded date and time to the external device.

24. The method of claim 22, wherein transmitting the data comprising the recorded date and time to the external device further comprises transmitting the data comprising the recorded date and time to the external device over a serial bus cable.

25. The method of claim 21, wherein detecting an interruption in the continuity of the electrical circuit comprises transmitting an electrical current at periodic intervals.