Security tag for shipping containers
阅读说明:本技术 用于运输集装箱的安全标签 (Security tag for shipping containers ) 是由 爱德华·J·格里塞迪克 马克·E·贝卢 于 2018-07-20 设计创作,主要内容包括:一种运输集装箱,包括壁、一个或多个门、锁定装置和安全装置。至少一个门能够在打开位置与关闭位置之间移动。所述锁定装置被配置成将所述至少一个门固定在其关闭位置。所述锁定装置限定开口并且包括第一紧固件和第二紧固件。所述紧固件中的至少一者附接至所述门。所述安全装置能够插入穿过所述锁定装置的所述开口。所述安全装置包括基本上覆盖所述第一紧固件的第一翼部和基本上覆盖所述第二紧固件的第二翼部,以基本上防止在所述安全装置插入穿过所述锁定装置的所述开口时接近所述第一紧固件和所述第二紧固件。还公开了其它示例性运输集装箱、安全装置等。(A shipping container includes a wall, one or more doors, a locking device, and a security device. At least one door is movable between an open position and a closed position. The locking device is configured to secure the at least one door in its closed position. The locking device defines an opening and includes a first fastener and a second fastener. At least one of the fasteners is attached to the door. The security device is insertable through the opening of the locking device. The security device includes a first wing substantially covering the first fastener and a second wing substantially covering the second fastener to substantially prevent access to the first fastener and the second fastener when the security device is inserted through the opening of the locking device. Other exemplary shipping containers, security devices, etc. are also disclosed.)
1. A shipping container for storing cargo, said shipping container comprising:
a plurality of walls defining a cargo storage area,
one or more doors coupled to at least one of the plurality of walls, at least one of the one or more doors movable between an open position exposing the cargo storage area and a closed position,
a locking device configured to secure the at least one door in its closed position, the locking device defining an opening and including a first fastener and a second fastener, at least one of the first fastener and the second fastener being attached to the at least one door, an
A security device insertable through the opening of the locking device, the security device including a first wing substantially covering the first fastener and a second wing substantially covering the second fastener to prevent access to the first and second fasteners when the security device is inserted through the opening of the locking device.
2. The shipping container of any preceding claim, wherein the first and second fasteners are attached to the at least one door.
3. The shipping container of any preceding claim, wherein the locking device is a first locking device, and wherein the security device is a first security device, the shipping container further comprising: a second locking device defining an opening and including a first fastener and a second fastener; and a second security device insertable through the opening of the second locking device, the second security device including a first wing and a second wing opposite the first wing, the first wing substantially covering the first fastener of the second locking device and the second wing substantially covering the second fastener of the second locking device when the second security device is inserted through the opening of the second locking device.
4. A transport container as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the security device is formed at least in part from plastics.
5. The shipping container of any preceding claim, wherein the security device comprises an identifier.
6. A transport container as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the security device comprises a generally hourglass shape.
7. The shipping container of any preceding claim, wherein at least one of the first and second wings comprises a generally elliptical shape.
8. The shipping container of any preceding claim, wherein at least one of the first wing and the second wing comprises a generally circular shape.
9. The shipping container of any preceding claim, wherein at least one of the first and second wings comprises a generally triangular shape.
10. The shipping container of any preceding claim, wherein at least one of the first and second fasteners comprises a bolt.
11. The transport container of any preceding claim, wherein the security device is configured for single use.
12. A transport container as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the security device comprises two members which are coupled together when the security device is inserted through the opening of the locking device.
13. A transport container as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the transport container is positionable on a semi-trailer.
14. A security device for a shipping container, the shipping container comprising: a plurality of walls defining a cargo storage area; one or more doors coupled to at least one of the plurality of walls, at least one of the one or more doors movable between an open position exposing the cargo storage area and a closed position; and a locking device configured to secure the at least one door in its closed position, the locking device defining an opening and including a first fastener and a second fastener, at least one of the first fastener and the second fastener being attached to the at least one door, the security device being adapted to be placed in the opening of the locking device, the security device being defined by a first end, a second end opposite the first end, and a neck between the first end and the second end, the security device comprising: a first wing comprising the first end and a portion of the neck; and a second wing including the second end and a portion of the neck, the first wing connectable with the second wing, the first wing and the second wing adapted to substantially cover the first fastener and the second fastener, respectively, to prevent access to the first fastener and the second fastener when the security device is placed in the opening of the locking device.
15. The security device of any preceding claim, wherein the first wing comprises a first connector and the second wing comprises a second connector corresponding to the first connector.
16. A security device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the security device is formed at least in part from plastics.
17. A security device as claimed in any preceding claim in which the security device comprises an identifier.
18. A security device as claimed in any preceding claim in which the security device is configured for single use.
19. The safety device of any preceding claim, wherein the safety device comprises a generally hourglass shape.
20. The security device of any preceding claim, wherein at least one of the first wing and the second wing comprises at least one of a generally elliptical shape, a generally circular shape, and a generally triangular shape.
Technical Field
The present disclosure generally relates to security tags for shipping containers.
Background
This section provides background information related to the present disclosure that is not necessarily prior art.
A shipping container is a container used for transporting and storing goods. Sometimes, the container includes a door locking mechanism to secure one or more doors of the container. In such an example, the door locking mechanism typically includes two bolts for securing the mechanism to the door. Sometimes, a label, seal, or metal tie is used on the mechanism to prevent a user from interfering with the mechanism. Typically, a tag, seal or metal tie can be inserted through an opening in the mechanism to identify whether the door has been opened. For example, if the tag, seal, or metal tie has been removed, the user may identify that the container door may have been fraudulently and/or prematurely opened.
Disclosure of Invention
This section provides a general summary of the disclosure, and is not a comprehensive disclosure of its full scope or all of its features.
According to one aspect of the present disclosure, a shipping container for storing goods is disclosed. The shipping container includes a plurality of walls defining a cargo storage area, one or more doors coupled to at least one of the plurality of walls, a locking device, and a security device. At least one of the one or more doors is movable between an open position exposing the cargo storage area and a closed position. The locking device is configured to secure the at least one door in its closed position. The locking device defines an opening and includes a first fastener and a second fastener. At least one of the first fastener and the second fastener is attached to the at least one door. The security device is insertable through the opening of the locking device. The security device includes a first wing substantially covering the first fastener and a second wing substantially covering the second fastener to prevent access to the first fastener and the second fastener when the security device is inserted through the opening of the locking device.
In accordance with another aspect of the present disclosure, a security device for a shipping container is disclosed. The shipping container includes: a plurality of walls defining a cargo storage area; one or more doors coupled to at least one of the plurality of walls, at least one of the one or more doors movable between an open position exposing the cargo storage area and a closed position; and a locking device configured to secure the at least one door in its closed position. The locking device defines an opening and includes a first fastener and a second fastener, at least one of the first fastener and the second fastener being attached to the at least one door. The security device is adapted to be placed in the opening of the locking device. The safety device is defined by a first end, a second end opposite the first end, and a neck between the first end and the second end. The safety device includes: a first wing comprising the first end and a portion of the neck; and a second wing including the second end and a portion of the neck. The first wing portion and the second wing portion are connectable. The first and second wings are adapted to substantially cover the first and second fasteners, respectively, when the security device is placed in the opening of the locking device to prevent access to the first and second fasteners.
Other aspects and areas of applicability will become apparent from the description provided herein. It should be understood that various aspects of the present disclosure may be implemented alone or in combination with one or more other aspects. It should also be understood that the description and specific examples herein are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure.
Drawings
The drawings described herein are for illustrative purposes only of selected embodiments and not all possible implementations, and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure.
Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a portion of a shipping container including a locking device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.
Fig. 2 is an enlarged front view of the locking device of fig. 1.
Fig. 3 is an enlarged front view of the locking device of fig. 2, with a portion of the locking device rotated.
FIG. 4 is an enlarged front view of the locking device of FIG. 2, wherein the fastener of the locking device is substantially covered by the security device.
Fig. 5 is a front view of a portion of a shipping container including a door in its open position according to another exemplary embodiment.
Fig. 6 is a front view of a security device including two oblong wings, according to yet another exemplary embodiment.
Fig. 7 is a front view of a security device including two triangular wings according to another exemplary embodiment.
Fig. 8 is a front view of a security device including triangular and circular wings, according to yet another exemplary embodiment.
Fig. 9 is a front view of a security device including an elliptical wing and a triangular wing according to another exemplary embodiment.
Figure 10 is a front view of a security device including two members having a female connector and a male connector according to yet another exemplary embodiment.
Fig. 11 is a front view of a security device including two triangular wings with sequential identifiers, according to another exemplary embodiment.
Corresponding reference numerals indicate corresponding parts and/or features throughout the several views of the drawings.
Detailed Description
Exemplary embodiments will now be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings.
The exemplary embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. Numerous specific details are set forth such as examples of specific components, devices, shapes and methods to provide a thorough understanding of embodiments of the present disclosure. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that specific details need not be employed, that example embodiments may be embodied in many different forms and that neither should be construed to limit the scope of the disclosure. In some example embodiments, well-known processes, well-known device structures, and well-known technologies are not described in detail.
The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular example embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting. As used herein, the singular forms "a", "an" and "the" are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. The terms "comprises" and "comprising," when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof. The method steps, processes, and operations described herein are not to be construed as necessarily requiring their performance in the particular order discussed or illustrated, unless specifically identified as an order of performance. It should also be understood that additional or alternative steps may be used.
Although the terms first, second, third, etc. may be used herein to describe various elements, components, regions, layers and/or sections, these elements, components, regions, layers and/or sections should not be limited by these terms. These terms may be only used to distinguish one element, component, region, layer or section from another region, layer or section. Terms such as "first," "second," and other numerical terms used herein do not imply a sequence or order unless clearly indicated by the context. Thus, a first element, component, region, layer or section discussed below could be termed a second element, component, region, layer or section without departing from the teachings of the example embodiments.
Spatially relative terms, such as "inner," "outer," "below," "lower," "above," "upper," and the like, may be used herein to facilitate describing one element or feature's relationship to another element or feature. Spatially relative terms may be intended to encompass different orientations of the device in use or operation in addition to the orientation depicted in the figures. For example, if the device in the figures is turned over, elements described as "below" or "beneath" other elements or features would then be oriented "above" the other elements or features. Thus, the exemplary term "below" can include both an orientation of above and below. The device may be otherwise oriented (rotated 90 degrees or at other orientations) and the spatially relative descriptors used herein interpreted accordingly.
A shipping container for storing cargo in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure is shown in fig. 1 and is generally indicated by
The
For example, between a shipping container leaving its shipping location and arriving at one or more destinations, the goods stored in the shipping container may be stolen by various people. Sometimes, during this time, a large amount of goods may be stolen without the recipient's knowledge. For example, in 2016, about 838 theft of shipments was recorded in the united states. In the united states alone, there are approximately 70 theft cases of cargo each month. A large theft may result in approximately 1.729 billion dollars of loss to recipients, carriers, and the like. This equates to an average loss of about $ 206,837 per batch.
To deter such theft, some shipping containers include a door locking mechanism having one or more fasteners (e.g., bolts, etc.). A conventional tag may then be coupled to the door locking mechanism and used (from time to time) to indicate whether the door has been opened (or otherwise tampered with) and to prevent unauthorized users from interfering with the door locking mechanism. However, and as recognized by the inventors of the present invention, a thief may be able to manipulate (e.g., move, etc.) a conventional tag and access the fasteners of the door locking mechanism. Once accessed, a thief may manipulate, break, remove (etc.) the fastener and/or the door locking mechanism in the event that the door locking mechanism is improperly opened. As a result, a thief can open the door and access the cargo in the shipping container.
Sometimes, a thief may remove the fastener (e.g., by drilling out the fastener, unscrewing the fastener, etc.) and the door locking mechanism, steal the cargo, and then replace, reinstall, etc. the fastener and door locking mechanism without tampering with, destroying, the conventional tag. Thus, a significant amount of time (e.g., weeks, months, etc.) may elapse before the recipient realizes that some or all of his goods have been stolen. For example, upon inspection, inventory (etc.) of goods and/or upon receipt of a bill, it may be recognized that a theft condition has occurred.
The present inventors recognize that the security device 116 (and/or other exemplary security devices disclosed herein) may be used to substantially cover other components of the fastener and/or locking device to prevent a thief from accessing the fastener and/or other components, as explained herein. Thus, the
As explained above, when the
In some embodiments, the
In other embodiments, the
In the illustrated embodiment, the
In the example of fig. 1-4, the
In the particular example of fig. 4,
In some embodiments, once the
As explained above, the
As shown in fig. 2-4, the
With continued reference to fig. 3, the
If the user wants to secure the
Referring back to fig. 1-4, the openings 126 (e.g.,
Each of the
As shown in fig. 1-4, a
As shown in fig. 1, the
Additionally, although the
As explained above, the security devices disclosed herein may be any suitable shape and/or size, including shapes and/or sizes configured to fit through openings in locking devices and cover adjacent fasteners. For example, and as shown in fig. 4, the
Additionally, the width of the middle portion of the
In other embodiments, the middle and
Additionally and/or alternatively, other security devices may be used to secure one or both
Additionally, and as explained above, the security device may be of one-piece construction, two-piece construction, or the like. For example, the
Further, the security device may include an identifier. For example, and as shown in fig. 7, 8, 10, and 11, the
The security device including the wings may be formed from any suitable material. Preferably, the security device is formed from one or more plastics, such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), High Density Polyethylene (HDPE), Low Density Polyethylene (LDPE), and the like. In other embodiments, the security device may be formed from another suitable material, including, for example, one or more metals, rubbers, and the like. In some embodiments, the security device may be formed from a combination of materials. For example, the security device may be formed from a combination of plastic and metal.
The wings disclosed herein may be any suitable shape, including those that are shaped and sized to prevent passage through an opening in a locking device and to cover an adjacent fastener, as explained above. For example, the wings may include an oval shape as shown in fig. 4, 6 and 9, a triangular shape as shown in fig. 7-11, a circular shape as shown in fig. 8, and the like.
Furthermore, the wings of the safety device may each have the same shape and/or size, as shown in fig. 6, 7, 10 and 11. Alternatively, the wings may have different shapes and/or sizes. For example,
The shipping containers disclosed herein may be used in a variety of different applications. For example, as shown in fig. 1, any of the transport containers disclosed herein may be a transport container on a semi-trailer towed by a semi-trailer. In other embodiments, the shipping container may be towed by ship, airplane, train, and/or any other suitable cargo towing device.
The foregoing description of the embodiments has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the disclosure. Individual elements or features of a particular embodiment are generally not limited to that particular embodiment, but, where applicable, are interchangeable and can be used in a selected embodiment, even if not specifically shown or described. It may also be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the disclosure, and all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the disclosure.