(a) Field
The subject matter disclosed generally relates to the field of locking devices for securing goods. More particularly, the subject matter relates to electronic locking devices for securing goods.
(b) Related Prior Art
Following an important study, it has been demonstrated that the lack of security on construction sites may lead to direct and indirect annual losses estimated to approximately 100 millions $ in Canada and to 1 billion $ in the United States. Studies also revealed that about 75% of stolen equipment on construction sites are tools and building materials, that 60% of construction sites in operation have been stolen in the last 2 years, and that 72% of sites have been stolen more than five times in 3 years.
Construction sites and buildings need to be protected during construction with adequate devices to protect heavy equipment, such as, without limitation, machinery, construction trailers, containers, miscellaneous equipments and the like. These construction sites also need protection against elements, such as fire, water infiltration or vandalism. The same problems apply to any equipment which is mobile such as, without limitation, bicycles, motorcycles, boats, heavy bags or casings and the like. In fact, these problems apply to any goods which can be secured using conventional locking devices.
A lot of locking devices now on the market are available for these specific purposes. However, these locking devices often includes deficiencies such as, without limitation, permanently fixed equipment, fixed permanent control panels, intervention of a technician to change the components and the like.
There is therefore a need for an improved electronic locking device for securing goods.
According to an embodiment, there is provided an electronic locking device for securing goods comprising: a locking mechanism; an electrically conductive link used for forming a closed loop to the locking mechanism for securing the goods and for forming a closed electrical circuit; and a mobile communication device connected to the closed electrical circuit and being in communication with at least one of a plurality of access points of an external network, the external network sending an advisory message upon tampering with at least one of the closed electrical circuit, the mobile communication device and the locking mechanism.
According to another embodiment, the electronic locking device further comprises a casing comprising a main frame and a cover portion releasably connected to the main frame, the main frame receiving the locking mechanism and at least a portion of the electrically conductive link on one side and the mobile communication device on another side, the cover portion for covering at least one of: the locking mechanism, the at least a portion of the electrically conductive link and the mobile communication device.
According to a further embodiment, the electronic locking device further comprises an electronic circuit board for receiving at least one of: the locking mechanism, at least a portion of the electrically conductive link and the mobile communication device.
According to yet another embodiment, the electronic locking device further comprising a power supply integrated on the electronic circuit board.
According to another embodiment, the electronic circuit board further includes a power supply status indicator for indicating a power proportion remaining for operating the electronic locking device.
According to a further embodiment, the power supply status indicator comprises a LED.
According to yet another embodiment, the locking mechanism comprises one of: a mechanical locking mechanism, an electromechanical locking mechanism, a digital locking mechanism, a removable key locking mechanism, a combination locking mechanism, a magnetic locking mechanism, a card reader locking mechanism, a cam locking mechanism, a child safety locking mechanism, a keycard locking mechanism, a time locking mechanism and any combination thereof.
According to another embodiment, the electrically conductive link comprises: an internal cable having two ends to be coupled with the locking mechanism, the internal cable defining a length; an electrically conductive cable for at least partially covering the internal cable along its length, the electrically conductive cable for forming the closed loop to the locking mechanism and for forming the closed electrical circuit; and a protective cable for covering the internal cable and the electrically conductive cable, the protective cable being made of a material defining high strength properties.
According to a further embodiment, the internal cable is made of a lifting cable and further wherein the material of the protective cable comprises a para-aramid synthetic fiber.
According to yet another embodiment, the external network allows sms communication, radio frequency communication and cellular communication.
According to another embodiment, the mobile communication device further includes a GSM card for storing and communicating information with the external network.
According to a further embodiment, the electronic locking device further comprises a GPS integrated device on one of: the locking mechanism, at least a portion of the electrically conductive link and the mobile communication device.
According to yet another embodiment, the electronic locking device further comprises a communication push button for communicating information in real time with the external network.
According to another embodiment, the mobile communication device further includes a mobile communication indicator for indicating a mobile communication reception level for operating the electronic locking device.
According to a further embodiment, the electronic locking device further comprises an alarm device connected to the mobile communication device for emitting an alarm when the external network sends the advisory message upon tampering with at least one of the closed electrical circuit, the mobile communication device and the locking mechanism.
According to yet another embodiment, the mobile communication device comprises at least one of: a wireless mobile communication device, a cellular mobile communication device and a radio frequency communication device.
According to another embodiment, there is provided an electronic locking device for securing goods comprising: a locking mechanism; an electrically conductive link used for forming a closed loop to the locking mechanism for securing the goods and for forming a closed electrical circuit; and an electronic circuit board for electrically connecting the locking mechanism and the electrically conductive link, the electronic circuit board having: a mobile communication device connected to the closed electrical circuit and in communication with at least one of a plurality of access points of an external network, the external network sending an advisory message upon tampering with at least one of the closed electrical circuit, the mobile communication device and the locking mechanism; and a power supply for operating the mobile communication device.
According to a further embodiment, the mobile communication device comprises at least one of: a wireless mobile communication device, a radio frequency communication device and a cellular mobile communication device.
According to another embodiment, there is provided an electrically conductive link for forming a closed loop to a locking mechanism of an electronic locking device for securing the goods, the electrically conductive link comprising: an internal cable having two ends to be coupled with the locking mechanism, the internal cable defining a length; an electrically conductive cable for at least partially covering the internal cable along its length, the electrically conductive cable for forming the closed loop to the locking mechanism and for forming a closed electrical circuit; and a protective cable for covering the internal cable and the electrically conductive cable, the protective cable being made of a material defining high strength properties.
According to a further embodiment, the material of the protective cable comprises a para-aramid synthetic fiber.
Features and advantages of the subject matter hereof will become more apparent in light of the following detailed description of selected embodiments, as illustrated in the accompanying figures. As will be realized, the subject matter disclosed and claimed is capable of modifications in various respects, all without departing from the scope of the claims. Accordingly, the drawings and the description are to be regarded as illustrative in nature, and not as restrictive and the full scope of the subject matter is set forth in the claims.
Further features and advantages of the present disclosure will become apparent from the following detailed description, taken in combination with the appended drawings, in which:
It will be noted that throughout the appended drawings, like features are identified by like reference numerals.
In embodiments there are disclosed electronic locking devices for securing goods and electronic locking cables for electronic locking devices.
Referring now to the drawings and more particularly to
The main frame 15 of the electronic locking device 10 receives the locking mechanism 12 and at least a portion of the electrically conductive link 14 on one side 21 and the mobile communication device 20 on another side 23. The cover portion 13 covers at least one of the locking mechanism 12, the at least a portion of the electrically conductive link 14 and the mobile communication device 20. As shown in
According to another embodiment and referring to
As better shown in
It is to be noted that the ends 52, 53 of the electrically conductive link 14 are configured such as to interlock with receiving interlocking sections 58 located on the main frame 15 of the electronic locking device 10 (
As shown in
In use, a user the ends 52, 53 of the electrically conductive link with the locking mechanism 12 such as to form the closed loop to the locking mechanism 12 for securing the goods and for forming the closed electrical circuit. Then, the user may lock the locking mechanism 12 in its locked position. The external network will send an advisory message upon tampering with at least one of the closed electrical circuit, the mobile communication device 20 and the locking mechanism 12.
According to another embodiment and referring now to
According to an embodiment, the internal cable 14a is made of a lifting cable and the material of the protective cable 14c includes a para-aramid synthetic fiber, such as, without limitation, Kevlar™. The lifting cable may include steel or any other suitable material.
The electronic locking device 10 may include components made of polymeric material, of metallic material and of any other suitable material. The electronic locking device 10 is configured such as to allow the components to be covered by the cover portion 13 and the main frame 15 such as to allow a user to use his electronic locking device 10 in different conditions (i.e., indoor, outdoor, in the rain, the snow and the like).
The presence of the electrically conductive cable allows the user to be informed in real time when the electrically conductive link 14 is tampered by another person.
Referring now to
The advisory message 26 can be sent to a central office or agency, to the mobile device (not shown) of a user/owner of the electronic locking device 10 (i.e., by SMS, by email, by voice message, and the like), or to any other device to which the user/owner of the electronic locking device 10 has access and which will advising him/her of the breach of security.
According to another embodiment and referring now to
According to another embodiment, the locking mechanism 12 of the electronic locking device 10 may include, without limitation, one of: a mechanical locking mechanism, an electromechanical locking mechanism, a digital locking mechanism, a removable key locking mechanism, a combination locking mechanism, a magnetic locking mechanism, a card reader locking mechanism, a cam locking mechanism, a child safety locking mechanism, a keycard locking mechanism, a time locking mechanism, any suitable combination and the like.
According to another embodiment, the electrically conductive link 14 of the electronic locking device 10 may include, without limitation, one of: an electrically conductive chain, an electrically conductive rope, an electrically conductive attach, an electrically conductive line, an electrically conductive fastener, an electrically conductive cable, an electrically conductive wire, any suitable combination and the like.
According to another embodiment, the power supply 30 of the electronic locking device 10 may include, without limitation, one of a regulated power supply, an energy storage power supply, a battery power supply, a fuel cells power supply, a generator power supply, an alternator power supply, a solar power supply, a DC power supply, an AC power supply, a linear regulated power supply, a switched-mode power supply, a programmable power supply, an uninterruptible power supply, a high-voltage power supply, a rechargeable power supply, any combination and the like.
According to another embodiment and still referring to
According to another embodiment, the power supply 30 of the electronic locking device 10 may have autonomy of about 20 hours to about 200 hours.
According to another embodiment and still referring to
According to another embodiment, the electronic locking device 10 may further include a communication push button 40 (
According to another embodiment and referring now to
According to another embodiment and referring now to
According to another embodiment and referring now to
More particularly, the GSM card 32 may be compatible with a mobile network as the external network 24 and may be included in the group consisting of, without limitation, Bell Mobility, Solo, Rogers Wireless, Fido, Chatr, Telus Mobility, Mike, Clearnet, Koodo, Sask Tel Mobility, MTS Mobile, Videotron Cellulaire, Mobilicity, Public Mobile, Virgin Mobile, AT&T, Verizon Wireless, AT&T Mobility, Sprint Nextel, Sprint Network, Nextel Network, Boost Mobile, Virgin Mobile USA, Assurance Wireless, T-Mobile USA, TracFone Wireless, NET10, Straight Talk, SafeLink Wireless, Clearwire, CLEAR, MetroPCS, Cricket, U.S. Cellular, Qwest Wireless, C Spire Wireless, Alltel, Cincinnati Bell Wireless, nTelos, Frawg, SouthernLINC, Movida Wireless, GCI Wireless, CGI Network, Alaska DigiTel Network, Bluegrass Cellular, Alaska Communications Systems, any suitable combination and the like.
The electronic locking device 10 may be used in many applications such as, without limitation, in the protection of heavy machinery and tools on construction sites, in the protection against intrusion, in the protection of construction materials, in the protection of containers and the like. The electronic locking device 10 may also be used with bicycles, motorcycles, boats, and to any goods which can be secured using conventional locking devices.
According to another embodiment, the mobile communication device 20 may include, without limitation, at least one of a wireless mobile communication device, a cellular mobile communication device, a radio frequency (i.e., RF) communication device and the like for providing a large diversity in the operation of the electronic locking device 10.
It is to be noted that the external network 24 may send the advisory messages 26 upon tampering with at least one of the closed electrical circuit 18, the mobile communication device 20 and the locking mechanism 12 directly to a user, via a sms communication for example, or to a supporting software. After analyzing a plurality of advisory messages 26, the software may generate a plurality of different kinds of reports to a user. For example, the report may include a time period, external weather data and movement detection data, time of the advisory messages, electronic locking device activation events, electronic locking device deactivation events, video events and the like.
According to another embodiment, the mobile communication device 20 of the electronic locking device 10 may be linked with an alarm system (not shown) such as to inform its user of the tampering.
According to another embodiment, the electrically conductive link 14 may include a sealant material at its ends 52, 53, thereby allowing the electronic locking device 10 to be watertight.
While preferred embodiments have been described above and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, it will be evident to those skilled in the art that modifications may be made without departing from this disclosure. Such modifications are considered as possible variants comprised in the scope of the disclosure.
This application claims priority under 35 USC §119(e) of U.S. provisional patent application 61/668,620 filed on Jul. 6, 2012, the specification of which is hereby incorporated by reference.
Number | Date | Country | |
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61668620 | Jul 2012 | US |