Digital seal security system for side mounted swing-out type vehicle cargo access doors

Abstract

The system includes a digital counter adapted to display a number which is changed in response to an actuation signal. A lock assembly mounted to the cargo door is connected to the counter. The lock assembly has a hollow housing within which a member having a recess adapted to receive the handle is moveable by the handle between an unlocked position, wherein the door may be opened, and a locked position, in which the door is prevented from being opened. A magnetically actuated switch is mounted within the housing. The switch is adapted to generate an actuation signal to the digital counter in response to movement of the member within the housing from its locked position. The signal causes the counter to change the displayed number, indicating that the door may have been opened in transit.

Claims

1. A digital seal security system for use on a vehicle of the type having a cargo compartment with a side mounted swing-out type cargo access door, a rod moveably mounted on the door for controlling access to the cargo compartment, a handle attached to the rod for controlling the position of the rod, the system comprising a digital counter adapted to display a number which is changed in response to an actuation signal and a lock assembly associated with said counter, said lock assembly comprising a generally rectangular hollow housing fixed to the vehicle door, a member comprising a recess adapted to receive the handle and being moveable within said housing by the handle between an unlocked position wherein the rod may allow the door to be opened and a locked position in which the rod prevents the door from being be opened, a magnetically actuated switch mounted within said housing, said switch being connected to said digital counter and adapted to generate an actuation signal to said digital counter in response to movement of said member from its locked position within said housing.

2. The system of claim 1 further comprising a magnet situated within said housing and adapted to influence said switch to generate an actuation signal in response to movement of said member from its locked position within said housing.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein said switch is associated with one of said member or said housing and said magnet is associated with the other of said member or said housing.

4. The system of claim 2 wherein said switch is mounted to said housing and said magnet is mounted on said member.

5. The system of claim 2 wherein said member comprises a wall with an interior surface and said magnet is mounted on said interior surface of said member wall.

6. The system of claim 5 wherein said housing defines an interior space and wherein said switch is mounted within said interior space.

7. The system of claim 2 wherein said housing defines an interior space and wherein said switch is mounted within said interior space.

8. The system of claim 7 further comprising a support structure within said housing space for supporting said switch.

9. The system of claim 8 wherein said magnet is situated to influence said switch when said member is in its locked position within said housing.

10. The security system of claim 1 wherein said housing has an opening, and wherein said member recess is aligned with said housing opening in said unlocked position of said member.

11. The security system of claim 1 wherein said housing has an opening, and wherein said member recess is not aligned with said housing opening in said locked position of said member.

12. The system of claim 1 wherein said member is generally rectangular.

13. The system of claim 1 wherein said housing opening is inclined relative to the horizontal.

14. The security system of claim 1 wherein said member comprises an outwardly extending a wall and wherein said magnet is mounted on said wall.

15. The security system of claim 1 further comprising means for locking said member within said housing in said locked position.

16. The security system of claim 15 wherein said locking means comprises a protrusion associated with said member and mounted for movement between an extended position wherein said member is prevented from moving from said locked position and a retracted position wherein movement of said member within said housing from said locked position is not prevented.

17. The system of claim 16 wherein said locking means further comprises a key actuated lock cylinder which controls said position of said protrusion.

18. The system of claim 17 wherein said member comprises first and second spaced sides defining a space adapted to receive said locking means when said member is in said locked position.

19. The system of claim 1 wherein said magnetically actuated switch comprises a reed switch.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) To these and to such other objects that may hereinafter appear, the present invention relates to a digital security system for use with vehicles having side mounted swing-out type cargo access doors, as described in detail in the following specification and recited in the annexed claims, taken together with the accompanying drawings, in which like numerals refer to like parts in which:

(2) FIG. 1 is an elevation view of the rear of a truck of the type having an enclosed cargo compartment accessed through side mounted swing-out type cargo doors, each of which carries a rotatably mounted rod with a handle and a lock assembly adapted to engage the handle;

(3) FIG. 2 is a more detailed perspective view of the handle and lock assembly of FIG. 1, showing the lock assembly in its unlocked state;

(4) FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the lock assembly of FIG. 2, showing the handle receiving member within the lock housing in its locked position;

(5) FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the housing showing the switch support;

(6) FIG. 5 is an exploded view of the digital counter;

(7) FIG. 6 is a top plan view of the switch support;

(8) FIG. 7 is a bottom plan view of the handle receiving member;

(9) FIG. 8 is a bottom plan view of the housing with the handle receiving member in its unlocked position; and

(10) FIG. 9 is an exploded perspective view of the lock assembly and handle receiving member.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(11) The present invention is a digital seal security system designed for use on a vehicle such as a truck having an enclosed cargo compartment with a pair of side-mounted swing-out type cargo access doors 10. For each door 10, the system includes a lock assembly, generally designated A, mounted to the exterior of the door, a mechanical linkage, generally designated B, including a handle 14 pivotally connected to a vertically extending rod 16, and a digital counter, generally designated C, mounted to the exterior surface of the door.

(12) Rod 16 is rotatably mounted to the exterior of the door by brackets 15. The rod can be rotated about its vertical axis by movement of handle 14. When handle 14 is in a position generally parallel to the exterior of the door, handle 14 can be received within lock assembly A, as seen in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, In that position, rod 16 engages the truck frame and prevents the door from being opened. When handle 14 is moved away from lock assembly A, rod 16 is rotated to disengage the truck frame such that the door can be opened.

(13) At the top of rod 16 is a cam-shaped part 18. Part 18 cooperates with an aligned recess (not shown) in the door frame, which is part of the truck body, to engage and disengage the rod from the truck frame. Thus when the handle is parallel to the exterior of the cargo door, the cam at the top of the rod is in engagement with the frame of the truck and the door cannot be opened. When the handle is moved away from the lock assembly, the rod is rotated to a position wherein the cam is no longer in engagement with the truck frame and the door may be opened.

(14) Digital counter C, which includes a display 20 situated within a housing 22, is mounted to the exterior surface of the cargo door. Display 20 is driven by an electronics module 24 which is connected by a wire 26 to a power source, such as an internal or auxiliary battery (not shown). The display is connected by wires 28 to a magnetically actuated reed switch 30 to power the switch and receive actuation signals from the switch.

(15) The counter module includes a random number generator. After the cargo compartment is loaded, the cargo door is closed and the handle is secured within the lock assembly, the random number generator in the counter circuitry automatically generates a random number. That random number generated when the cargo is secured will appear on display 20 until an actuation signal is received by module 24 from switch 30.

(16) The random number on the display is noted by the shipper and conveyed to the intended recipient of the cargo located at the destination of the vehicle. The number can be conveyed to the recipient with the vehicle, for example as part of the shipping documents, or separately from the vehicle, for example through the Internet.

(17) Referring now to FIG. 3, lock assembly A includes a hollow, generally rectangular shaped housing 32 made of strong metal which is securely mounted to the exterior surface of the cargo access door. Housing 32 has a front wall 34 which has an opening 36. Opening 36 is situated such that handle 14 can pass through the front wall of the housing into the interior of the housing, as seen in FIG. 2.

(18) Handle 14 is pivotally connected to rod 16 by a connecting assembly including a pin 38 and a bracket 40, the latter of which surrounds and is fixed to the rod. That assembly allows the handle to pivot relative to the rod about the pin such that the handle can move up and down within the lock housing. As best seen in FIG. 4, the side walls 42 of the housing each have a rectangular cut-out portion 44 which forms part of opening 36. That cut-out portion 44 allows handle 14 to move vertically within the interior of the housing a short distance.

(19) Located within housing 32 is a handle receiving member 46. Member 46 can be moved by the handle within housing 32 between an unlocked position, seen in FIG. 2, and a locked position, seen in FIG. 3.

(20) As best seen in FIG. 9, member 46 has a front surface 48 which has an opening 50 essentially the same size and shape as opening 36 in housing 32. Opening 50 is the entrance to a cavity 52 formed within member 46. Cavity 52 is adapted to receive handle 14 when opening 50 in member 46 aligns with opening 36 in housing 32, which occurs when member 46 is in its unlocked position, as seen in FIG. 2.

(21) In that (unlocked) position, handle 14 can be moved into cavity 52 of member 46 as rod 16 is rotated such that cam 18 engages the door frame. Once the handle is situated within cavity 52, the handle can be moved upwardly relative to the housing to move member 46 to its locked position within housing 32, as seen in FIG. 3. In that (locked) position, the handle cannot move out of the housing to rotate rod 16 and the cam attached to the rod cannot disengage from the truck frame to allow opening of the cargo door.

(22) The magnetically actuated switch 30 is situated within the housing. Switch 30 acts to generate an actuation signal via wires 28 to the electronics module 24 of the display when the member is moved away from its locked position within the housing by the handle. That actuation signal causes module 24 to change the number on the display, indicating that the handle receiving member may have moved away from its locked position toward its unlocked position, freeing the handle from the housing. In that state, it is possible that the cargo access door may have been opened without authority and the cargo may have been tampered with.

(23) Switch 30 is mounted in a support 54 made of plastic or the like, as seen in FIG. 6. Support 54 is situated within housing 32 and fixed to the interior surface of the housing.

(24) As best seen in FIG. 7, which is a bottom view of member 46, the left portion of member 46 (as seen in the drawing) has two extending side wall portions 58, 60 which define a space therebetween. A permanent magnet 62 is affixed to the interior surface of wall 60. Magnet 62 is situated on wall 60 of member 46 such that the magnet is close enough to the switch to influence the switch when the member is in its locked position. As member is moved away from its lock position, the magnet no longer influences the switch. That causes the switch to change state and generate an actuation signal.

(25) As best seen in FIG. 4, housing 32 has a key operated lock cylinder 64 which is mechanically linked to a part 66 which carries a protrusion 68. Protrusion 68 is moved within part 66 between a retracted position and an extended position in response to the rotation of the key in cylinder 64. A lock cover 70 is pivotally attached to the top surface of housing 32 to keep dirt from entering the cylinder. Lock cylinder 64 and part 66 are situated within housing 32 such that when member 46 is in its locked position, cylinder 64 and part 66 are situated between walls 58 and 60 of member 46 and do not interfere with the movement of member 46 within the housing.

(26) Referring now to FIG. 9, housing 32 includes a bottom plate 72 with a cut-out 74 aligned with the lock cylinder 64 and part 66. Member 46 has a bottom plate 76 with a circular opening 78. When member 46 is in its locked position, the cylinder 64 can be actuated by a key to cause part 66 to move protrusion 68 from its retracted position to an extended position wherein the protrusion 68 can enter opening 78 in bottom plate 76. Once protrusion 68 enters opening 78, member 46 is prevented from moving from its locked position within the housing and the cargo door cannot be opened.

(27) In order to open the cargo door, the key must be inserted into cylinder 64 and rotated such that part 66 retracts protrusion 68. That causes the protrusion to retract from opening 78 to allow the handle to move member 46 away from its locked position within housing 32. Moving member 46 away from its locked position causes magnet 62 to move away from switch 30 such that magnet 62 will no longer influence switch 30. That causes the switch to generate an actuation signal to the counter C. Upon receiving the actuation signal, the electronics module of the counter causes the counter to change the displayed number, indicating that the cargo access door may have been opened.

(28) At the destination, the cargo recipient will compare the number displayed on the counter display with the number provided by the shipper, which was set when the cargo was secured by the shipper. If the numbers match, the cargo door could not have been opened during transit and the cargo could not have been tampered with. On the other hand, if the numbers do not match, the cargo door may have been opened and the cargo may have been tampered with during transit.

(29) Accordingly, the system of the present invention replaces the conventional plastic or metal physical seal as an indicator of possible cargo tampering and provides a much more accurate indication than a physical seal because it is not exposed to environmental conditions which may result in a false indication of possible tampering.

(30) While only a single preferred embodiment of the present invention is disclosed herein for purposes of illustration, it is obvious that many modifications and variations could be made thereto. It is intended to cover all of those modifications and variations, which fall within the scope of the present invention as defined by the following claims.