Communications: electrical – Land vehicle alarms or indicators – Of burglary or unauthorized use
Reexamination Certificate
1999-08-03
2001-06-05
Trieu, Van T. (Department: 2736)
Communications: electrical
Land vehicle alarms or indicators
Of burglary or unauthorized use
C340S432000, C340S568100, C340S571000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06243005
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to electronic seals generally, and particularly to a self-locking electronic seal.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Electronic tags are known that can be attached to an object and monitored, sensed, or interrogated for purposes of preventing theft of or tampering with the object. For example, applicant/assignee's U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/815,389, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference, describes a battery-operated electronic seal that, when tampered with, communicates via a transceiver to a detection system for providing an alarm signal or other indication, and thereby detect the tampering and/or removal of the seal from an object sealed or tagged therewith. One of the electronic seals described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/815,389 employs resistive wires which when tampered with provide an indication of such tampering.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention seeks to provide improvements to the electronic seal described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/815,389 which employs resistive wires. In the seal of the present invention, there is a locking element which selectively lockingly engages a wire, and the locking element can be unlocked only by means of an external switch.
There is thus provided in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention an electronic seal including a housing, alarm circuitry which when actuated provides an alarm signal, a wire extending from the housing and in electrical communication with the alarm circuitry, a locking element which selectively lockingly engages the wire to the housing, and a switch external to the housing in electrical communication with the locking element which selectively unlocks the locking element to release the wire.
In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention the switch is mounted on an external surface of the housing.
Further in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention the switch includes a coded switch.
Still further in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention the external switch includes a remote control device.
Additionally in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention the external switch includes a computer terminal in wireless communication with the housing.
In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention the locking element includes a solenoid which selectively lockingly engages the wire.
Further in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention the solenoid includes a tongue which selectively protrudes from the solenoid and fixedly clamps the wire.
Still further in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention the wire is connected to an electrical jack and the solenoid includes a tongue which selectively protrudes from the solenoid and fixedly clamps the jack.
Additionally in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention the wire is wound around a bobbin and the solenoid selectively fixedly clamps the bobbin, thereby also clamping the wire.
There is also provided in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention an electronic seal including a housing including alarm circuitry, the alarm circuitry when actuated providing an alarm signal, a wire extending from the housing and in electrical communication with the alarm circuitry, the wire being attached at a first point and at a second point thereof to the housing, a portion of the wire between the first and second points, called a tying portion, being suitable for tying an object, wherein tampering with the tying portion actuates the alarm circuitry, and an adjustment device for adjusting a length of the tying portion.
In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention the adjustment device includes a yoke for wrapping therearound the tying, portion.
Further in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention an electrical element is disposed through the yoke, the electrically element being in electrical communication with the alarm circuitry, wherein a change in an electrical parameter of the electrical element is communicated to the alarm circuitry for actuation thereof
Still further the adjustment device includes a tightening device to which the wire is attached, the tightening device permitting the wire to be drawn out of and to be pulled into the housing, and substantially fixing the wire at the second point thereof Preferably the tightening device includes a locking element which selectively lockingly engages the wire.
Additionally in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention the tightening device includes a bobbin around which the wire is wound and a locking element which selectively lockingly engages the bobbin.
In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention a portion of the wire forms part of a Wheatstone bridge, in electrical communication with the alarm circuitry, for measuring changes in electrical resistance of the wire.
Additionally in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention the first point is attached to an electrical connector in electrical communication with the alarm circuitry.
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patent: 4920334 (1990-04-01), DeVolpi
patent: 5097253 (1992-03-01), Eschbach et al.
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patent: 5408212 (1995-04-01), Mayers et al.
patent: 5408213 (1995-04-01), Ungarsohn
patent: 5749533 (1998-05-01), Daniels
patent: 5786759 (1998-07-01), Ling
patent: 5836002 (1998-11-01), Morstein et al.
patent: 5917405 (1999-06-01), Joao
patent: 0 773 521 (1997-05-01), None
Armoni Yehuda
Auerbach Michael
Haimovich Yosef
Abelman ,Frayne & Schwab
Hi-F-Tek Ltd.
Trieu Van T.
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