Abstract:
A container enclosing an interior and having at least one door that can be displaced from a closed position preventing access to the interior, and an open position providing access to the interior; the container including: a first recess, the recess being in the door; an insert projecting into the recess so as to extend outwardly therefrom to provide an insert portion outside the slot; a second recess, the second recess being in a part of the container other than the door; a second insert, the second insert projecting inwardly of the second recess so as to extend outwardly therefrom to provide an insert portion outside the second recess; and wherein when the door is in the closed position the portions are adjacently located so that when secured together movement of the door toward the open position is inhibited.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to containers to receive a seal to indicate whether the container has been opened or tampered with, and more particularly but not exclusively to a reusable container with radio frequency identification seal. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    A radio frequency identification (RFID) label or tag (the terms label and tag are used interchangeably in this document) is a label or tag that includes electronics enabling the label or tag to store information that can be read by a remote reading device using radio frequency (RF) communications means. A pressure sensitive (i.e. self-adhesive) RFID label or tag is attached to a surface by means of pressure sensitive adhesive on the RFID label or tag. 
         [0003]    A pressure sensitive RFID label or tag can incorporate tamper indication, such that its RFID function is modified if the RFID label or tag is applied to a surface and subsequently tampered by being partially or completely removed from the surface. In this way the tamper status of the RFID label can be monitored remotely and automatically by using an RFID reading device. 
         [0004]    A tamper indicating RFID label can be used to seal a container. The integrity of the container can then be monitored remotely and automatically by using an RFID reading device to monitor the tamper status of the tamper indicating RFID label. 
         [0005]    Reusable containers are commonly used to store and transport commercial goods (such as pharmaceutical products) or sensitive items (such as classified documents or secure electronic equipment). Using a pressure sensitive tamper indicating RFID label to seal such a reusable container provides a fast and easy way to determine whether the container has been opened. The RFID label may include a writable electronic memory and so may store information regarding the contents of the container. The tamper indicating RFID label will be removed and will usually be discarded when the container is opened. 
         [0006]    A disadvantage of using a pressure sensitive tamper indicating RFID label to seal a reusable container is that after removal the RFID label leaves an adhesive residue that may also include portions of the label electronics. In order for a new tamper indicating RFID label applied to the container to provide reliable RFID function it is necessary to clean off the residue left by the previous RFID label. This is time consuming and inconvenient. If the residue is not removed, residual electronic portions of the previous RFID label (commonly residual portions of the RF antenna) may interfere with the RFID performance of a new RFID label applied over the residue. 
       OBJECT OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    It is the object of the present invention to overcome or substantially ameliorate at least one of the above disadvantages. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0008]    There is disclosed herein a container enclosing an interior and having at least one door that can be displaced from a closed position preventing access to said interior, and an open position providing access to said interior; the container including: 
         [0009]    a first recess, said recess being in said door; 
         [0010]    an insert projecting into said recess so as to extend outwardly therefrom to provide an insert portion outside the slot; 
         [0011]    a second recess, said second recess being in a part of said container other than said door; 
         [0012]    a second insert, said second insert projecting inwardly of said second recess so as to extend outwardly therefrom to provide an insert portion outside said second recess; and wherein 
         [0013]    when said door is in said closed position the portions are adjacently located so that when secured together movement of the door toward the open position is inhibited. 
         [0014]    Preferably, the container includes a seal secured to said portions thereby inhibiting movement, of the door toward the open position, without causing alteration of the seal. 
         [0015]    Preferably, said inserts are sufficiently rigid to inhibit deformation of the inserts permitting withdrawal of the inserts from the recesses without alteration of the seal. 
         [0016]    Preferably, said container has a hollow body surrounding said interior, with said door being pivotally attached to said body so as to be moved angularly between the open and closed positions. 
         [0017]    Preferably, said container includes a hollow body surrounding said interior, with said door is removably attached to said body so as to be displaceable relative to the body between the open and closed positions. 
         [0018]    Preferably, the container includes a second door, said second door being located adjacent the first door and including said second recess, said second door also being movable between an open position and a closed position with respect to said interior. 
         [0019]    Preferably, one of the doors must be displaced toward the open position thereof before the other door can be displaced toward the open position. 
         [0020]    Preferably, said second door is pivotally attached to the body so as to be angularly movable between the open and closed positions. 
         [0021]    Preferably, the second door is removably attached to the body so as to be displaceable between the open and closed positions. 
         [0022]    Preferably, said seal is an RFID label. 
         [0023]    Preferably, said RFID label is altered in a detectable manner if tampered with by movement of the/each door toward the open position. 
         [0024]    Preferably, said RFID label has an RFID function, said function being disabled if the label is tampered with by any movement of the or each door towards the open position thereof. 
         [0025]    Preferably, the container further includes an RFID tag that is to receive or store a code identifying the container. 
         [0026]    Preferably, said tag contains information identifying said label. 
         [0027]    Preferably, the container further includes a sensor to provide a signal containing information in respect of the container, and a storage means operatively associated with the sensor to receive said signal to store said information. 
         [0028]    Preferably, the container further includes a detector to generate a signal indicative in respect of whether the container has been penetrated, and a storage means to receive the signal from the detector to store said information. 
         [0029]    Preferably, the container further includes a transmitter to transmit information from the or each storage means. 
         [0030]    Preferably, the container includes at least one RFID reader to read said RFID label, said reader being adapted to store information in respect of said RFID label. 
         [0031]    Preferably, said reader is also adapted to transmit information stored in the reader. 
         [0032]    Preferably, each insert is slidably located in its respective recess. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0033]    Preferred forms of the present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein: 
           [0034]      FIG. 1  is a schematic illustration of a container; 
           [0035]      FIG. 2  is a schematic illustration of a cross sectional view of the container of  FIG. 1  with the container doors partly open; 
           [0036]      FIG. 3  is a schematic illustration of a cross sectional view of the container of  FIG. 1  with the container doors closed; 
           [0037]      FIG. 4  is a schematic illustration of one of the doors of the container of  FIG. 1 , and an insert that is inserted into a recess in the door; 
           [0038]      FIG. 5  is a schematic illustration of the top of the container of  FIG. 1  after the container doors are closed and sealed, showing how the door inserts and tamper indicating RFID label are applied; 
           [0039]      FIG. 6  is a schematic illustration of a cross sectional view of a portion of the doors of the container of  FIG. 1  after the doors have been closed and the container sealed using a tamper indicating RFID label; 
           [0040]      FIG. 7  is a schematic illustration of a cross sectional view of the container of  FIG. 1  with the container doors closed and sealed as illustrated schematically in  FIG. 6 , showing additional components that may be included with the container to enhance the functionality of the container. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0041]    The present invention will be described in a preferred form in relation to a rectangular container  100  that is illustrated schematically in  FIG. 1 . The container  100  has two doors  101  and  102  that open outwards (and in some designs may be removable) to allow access to the inside of the container  100 . It should be appreciated that the principles described herein could be applied to containers of other shapes and containers that have a single door or more than two doors  101  and  102 . The container  100  includes a hollow body  110  surrounding the interior  111  of the container  100 . Preferably the door  101  and  102  and pivotally attached to the side walls  112  and  113  of the body  110 . 
         [0042]      FIG. 2  is a schematic illustration showing the container  100  in end cross sectional view, with the sectioning plane being a vertical plane defined by the line A-A of  FIG. 1 . In the illustration of  FIG. 2  the container is shown with the doors  101  and  102  partly open. The container doors  101  and  102  pivot around hinges  201  and  202  and close as indicated by the arrows  203  and  204 . The doors  101  and  102  may in some embodiments be designed to interlock as they close. The designs of the doors  101  and  102  and the hinges  201  and  202  may allow the doors  101  and  102  to be removed from the container  100  when they are open. In the present embodiment the door  102  has a flange  205  that is part of the door  102  and extends under the door  101  when the two doors  101  and  102  are closed. Consequently in the embodiment of  FIG. 2  the door  102  must be closed before the door  101 , and the door  101  must be opened before the door  102 . If an attempt is made to open the door  102  first, the flange  205  of the door  102  will force the door  101  to open further than the door  102  while they are in contact. 
         [0043]    In the present preferred embodiment an insert  206  is inserted into a recess (or pocket) in the door  101  as indicated by the arrow  207 , and similarly an insert  208  is inserted into a recess (or pocket) in the door  102  as indicated by the arrow  209 . 
         [0044]      FIG. 3  is a schematic illustration corresponding to the illustration of  FIG. 2  but with the doors  101  and  102  closed. After the doors  101  and  102  are closed the inserts  206  and  208  cannot be removed without opening at least one of the doors  101  and  102 . After the doors  101  and  102  are closed at least part of each insert  206  and  208  is exposed on the outside of the container  100 , as described below. 
         [0045]    Preferably, but not necessarily, the flange  205  may extend most or all of the way under the door  101  to the hinge  201 , thereby making it as difficult as possible to open the doors  101  and  102  without moving the inserts  206  and  208  apart from each other. In some embodiments the flange  205  may engage with the hinge  201  in such a manner as to prevent the door  102  from being opened at all until the door  101  has been substantially or fully opened. In some embodiments the design of the door  102  may be such that the flange  205  can be retracted into the door  102  so as to minimize the size of the door  102  when the door  102  is open. In some embodiments the flange  205  may not be continuous along the length of the door  102  but instead may comprise one or more discrete extensions to the door  102 . 
         [0046]      FIG. 4  is a schematic illustration of the door  101  before the insert  206  is inserted into the recess  401  in the door  101 . The recess  401  of  FIG. 4  is in the form of a rectangular slot, the inner perimeter of which is indicated in  FIG. 4  by the dotted line  402 , and the insert  206  is inserted into the recess  401  by sliding it into the slot as indicated by the arrow  403 . In the embodiment of  FIG. 4  part of the insert  206  is exposed after the insert  206  has been inserted into the recess  401 . The insert  206  can only be removed from the recess  401  by sliding it out of the recess  401 , which is not possible when both of the doors  101  and  102  are closed (see the illustration of  FIG. 3 ).  FIG. 4A  is a sectional end view, through the section B-B, of the door  101  and insert  206 . The insert  208  fits into a recess in the door  102  in a similar manner. 
         [0047]      FIG. 5  is a plan view of the container  100  with the doors  101  and  102  closed, showing the inserts  206  and  208  in place in the doors  101  and  102 . As in the illustration of  FIG. 4 , the dashed line  501  shows the outline of the insert  206  within the recess in the door  101 , while the dashed line  502  shows the outline of the insert  208  within the recess in the door  102 . As illustrated in  FIG. 5 , a portion of each of the inserts  206  and  208  is exposed on the outside of the container  100  after the container is closed. Furthermore, the inserts  206  and  208  are adjacent to each other after the doors  101  and  102  are closed, and neither insert can be removed from the container without opening either or both of the doors  101  and  102  and thereby moving one of the inserts  206  and  208  relative to the other. 
         [0048]    A pressure sensitive (i.e. self-adhesive) tamper indicating RFID label  503  is applied to the exposed portions of the inserts  206  and  208  such that part of the label  503  is applied to each insert. In this embodiment no portion the label  503  is applied to the container  100  or to either of the doors  101  and  102 . 
         [0049]    Optionally, but not necessarily, additional latching or locking mechanisms  504  may be used to secure the doors  101  and  102  closed. 
         [0050]      FIG. 6  is a schematic illustration of a cross-sectional view, taken through the section C-C shown in  FIG. 5 , of a portion of the doors  101  and  102  in the region of the inserts  206  and  208 . In  FIG. 6  it can be seen that the insert  206  slides into a recessed groove in the door  101  and the insert  208  slides into a recessed groove in the door  102 . The recessed grooves in the doors  101  and  102  extend around three sides of each of the inserts  206  and  208 , as illustrated by the dashed lines  501  and  502  in  FIG. 5 , so that the inserts  206  and  208  cannot be removed from the doors  101  and  102  when the doors  101  and  102  are closed. The pressure sensitive tamper indicating RFID label  503  is applied across both inserts  206  and  208 , but preferably does not contact the container  100  or either door  101  or  102 . 
         [0051]    Preferably the inserts  206  and  208  will be made from a material (such as a plastic) that does not interfere with the RF performance of the RFID label  503 . 
         [0052]    Preferably the pressure sensitive RFID label  503  will be configured to indicate tampering, such that its RFID function will be modified if it is partially or completely removed from either the insert  206  or the insert  208 . 
         [0053]    In one preferred embodiment the RFID label  503  may include a disable-on-removal feature, such that its RFID function is disabled if it is tampered by being partially or completely removed from either the insert  206  or the insert  208 . This disable-on-removal feature may result from (i) using a strong adhesive to attach the RFID label  503  to the inserts  206  and  208 , so that the RFID label  503  is damaged when removed; or (ii) including in the design of the RFID label  503  certain weak points that are intended to break or separate or fail in some way if the RFID label  503  is removed from the insert  206  or the insert  208 ; or (iii) other deliberately introduced design element(s) that result in modification to the RFID performance of the RFID label  503  if it is partially or completely removed from the insert  206  or the insert  208 . 
         [0054]    One technique for providing a disable-on-removal feature in the RFID label  503  is described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,888,509. In that application, a tamper indicating label is described. The label may include RFID components and an electrically conductive tamper portion coupled to the RFID components. In some embodiments the tamper portion may constitute all or part of the RF antenna of the RFID label. The tamper portion should be constructed from a destructible electrically conducting material such as electrically conductive ink. The tamper portion can be formed such that it is damaged when the label is tampered by being removed from a surface to which it has been applied, thereby modifying or disabling the RFID function of the RFID label. In one embodiment, adhesion characteristics of the tamper portion are adapted to break apart or otherwise damage the tamper portion when the RFID label is tampered, for example, by partial or complete removal from a surface to which it has been applied. In this way the RFID capability of the RFID label may be disabled when the tamper portion is damaged, indicating tampering. In one embodiment the RFID label may be attached to a surface by means of an adhesive layer, with the tamper portion positioned between the RFID label substrate (that includes the RFID components) and the adhesive layer. One or more layers of adhesion modifying formulation may be applied in a specified pattern between the RFID label substrate and the layer of adhesive, with the layers of adhesion modifying material modifying (by selectively increasing or decreasing) the adhesion of the layers that they separate, and thereby promoting damage to the tamper portion if the RFID label is tampered or removed from a surface to which it has been applied. Since the tamper portion is electrically connected to the other RFID components in the RFID label, and may form part of the RFID components of the label, the RFID function of the label may be modified or disabled completely if the RFID label is applied to a surface and subsequently tampered by being partially or completely removed from the surface. 
         [0055]    The container  100  may be used to store or transport goods that interfere with the RF performance of the RFID tag  503 . To ensure consistent performance of the RFID tag  503  an RF ground plane—typically an electrically conductive layer such as a layer of metal—may be included directly underneath the location of the RFID label  503 . In  FIG. 6  a ground plane  601  is illustrated on the inside of the flange  205  directly underneath the RFID label  503 . In those embodiments where one or more ground planes are included, the design of the RFID label  503  may be adjusted to provide optimum RFID performance of the label  503  talking into account the proximity of the ground plane(s). It should be appreciated that the inclusion of a ground plane, such as the ground plane  601 , is not a requirement and in some embodiments a ground plane will not be provided. 
         [0056]    From the descriptions of  FIGS. 1 to 6  it can be seen that once the container  100  is closed and the tamper indicating RFID label  503  is applied to the inserts  206  and  208 , it will be impossible to open the container doors  101  or  102  without tampering the RFID label  503  and thereby modifying its RFID performance characteristics, which modification can be detected by an RFID reading device. Conversely, if the RFID label  503  reads normally this can be regarded as an indication that the container doors  101  and  102  have not been opened since the RFID label  503  was applied. 
         [0057]    The tamper indicating RFID label  503  may include a read-only or a read-write data storage memory. Typically the RFID label  503  will store a unique identification code, which may be permanently encoded in the label  503 , and may also be recorded with information relating to the contents of the container  100 . 
         [0058]    In some embodiments the container  100  may include a permanently affixed RFID tag (the container tag) containing a code (the container ID) that identifies the container  100 .  FIG. 7  is a schematic illustration of the container  100  with a container tag  701  applied to the inside of the container wall. In some embodiments the container tag  701  may be embedded within the material of the container  100 . In some embodiments the container ID may be recorded into the memory of the RFID label  503  in order to match the RFID label  503  to the container  100 . In some embodiments the unique ID code of the RFID label  503  (stored in the memory of the RFID label  503 ) may be recorded into the memory of the container tag  701  in order to match the RFID label  503  to the container  100 . 
         [0059]    A typical scenario for use of the container  100  could be as follows. The container  100  may be used to securely transport items—for example, pharmaceutical goods or classified documents—from one location to the other. At the point of origin the container  100  may be packed with items. The inserts  206  and  208  may be placed in the container doors  101  and  102 , the container doors  101  and  102  closed, and the tamper indicating RFID label  503  applied to the inserts  206  and  208 . In some embodiments the ID code stored in the RFID label  503  may be recorded in the container tag  701  (if present) or the container ID (stored in the container tag  701 , if present) may be recorded in the RFID label  503 , or both. Information regarding the container contents may be recorded in the RFID label  503  or in the container tag  701 . The container  100  may then be transported to a destination location. At the destination the RFID label  503  may be read (using an RFID reader) to determine whether or not it has been tampered. If the result of reading the RFID label indicates that the label  503  has been tampered, the intended recipient of the container  100  may take appropriate action or refuse delivery of the container. If the result of reading the RFID label  503  indicates that the label  503  is untampered, the information stored in its memory may be read and processed. If a container tag  701  is used, information in the container tag  701  may be read and processed, which may include cross-referencing this information with information stored in the RFID label  503 , as described above. When the container  100  is to be opened the RFID label  503  will be removed and discarded, the doors  101  and  102  will be opened, and the inserts  206  and  208  will be removed and discarded. Since the adhesive RFID label  503  was only applied to the inserts  206  and  208 , there is no adhesive residue to clean off the container  100  or the doors  101  and  102 . Another shipping operation can then be undertaken with new inserts  206  and  208 , and a new tamper indicating RFID label  503 . 
         [0060]    In addition to the advantage of there being no adhesive clean-up after removal of the RFID label  503 , a further advantage of the present invention is that the material used to make the inserts  206  and  208  can be matched to the adhesive of the RFID label  503  to provide optimum tamper indicating performance of the RFID label  503  over the required environmental operating conditions. This can be done without having to compromise the properties of the material used to make the container  100 . 
       Variations on the Preferred Embodiments 
       [0061]    It should be appreciated that many variations are possible on the above described preferred embodiments, while still falling within the general scope of the present invention. Several non-limiting examples of such variations will now be described. 
         [0062]    In one variation on the above described embodiments more than one pair of inserts  206  and  208  may be used when closing a container—for example, it there are two or more openings to the container. 
         [0063]    In another variation on the above described embodiments the inserts  206  and  208  may be held in the doors  101  and  102  by means of a “click-in” or “snap-in” mechanism that does not prevent the inserts being removed but does prevent them falling out. 
         [0064]    In another variation on the above described embodiments the container  100  may have a single door opening (rather than a pair of doors), and one of the inserts  206  or  208  may be inserted into a recess in the single door, with the other insert being inserted into an adjacent recess in the body of the container  100 . 
         [0065]    In another variation on the above described embodiments one of the inserts  206  or  208  may have the RFID label  503  pre-applied to it or integrated into it, so that after closing of the doors  101  and  102  the unapplied portion of the RFID label  503  is then applied to the other insert. 
         [0066]    In another variation on the above described embodiments the tamper indicating RFID label  503  may be a passive RFID label that does not carry an on-board power source and so will respond to a query from an RFID reader, but will not actively and independently generate an RF signal. 
         [0067]    In another variation on the above described embodiments the tamper indicating RFID label  503  may be an active label that includes an internal power source (such as a battery) and is thereby capable of initiating an RF signal to be read by an external RFID reader. In some embodiments an active tamper indicating RFID label  503  may be configured to generate an RF signal or internally store indicative data when a tampering even occurs to the label  503 . A disadvantage of this variation is that active RFID labels are usually significantly more expensive than passive RFID labels, and the RFID label  503  is a consumable item that must be replaced each time the container  100  is sealed. Hence it is generally advantageous to use a lower-cost passive RFID label for the tamper indicating RFID label  503 . 
         [0068]    In another variation on the above described embodiments an RFID reader  702  (see the illustration of  FIG. 7 ) may be housed within or on the container  100  in such a manner that the reader  702  is able to read the tamper indicating RFID label  503 . The RFID reader  702  may in turn be connected to a device  703  within or on the container  100  that includes a communications capability, such as a wireless communications capability, and provides the ability to:
       accept data from the RFID reader  702  and communicate the reader data to a remote external device; or   receive data from a remote external device and query the RFID reader  702  according to the data so received.       
 
         [0071]    In this way it will be possible to determine remotely whether the tamper indicating RFID label  503  has been tampered and therefore whether the container  100  has been opened. The device  703  may preferably be powered by an internal power source (such as a battery). In one embodiment the device  703  may store the container ID instead of the container ID being stored in a separate RFID tag  701  attached to or embedded in the container. The device  703  may include additional capabilities, including but not limited to:
       a clock; or   a means to determine position, such as a global positioning system means; or   sensors to detect specified chemicals; or   sensors to detect light or other radiation; or   sensors to detect sound; or   sensors to detect motion or orientation; or   other sensors.       
 
         [0079]    Data derived from such additional capabilities may be communicated via the communications capability of the device  703  to a remote external device, along with data derived from the RFID reader  702 . The RFID reader  702  and device  703  may be contained within a single housing. The RFID reader  702 , or the antenna of the RFID reader  702 , may be mounted on the inside of the door  101  or the door  102  in order to be in close proximity to the tamper indicating RFID label  503 . 
         [0080]    In another variation on the above described embodiments the container may be equipped with a means to detect penetration of any of the container walls or of either of the doors  101  or  102 . This may be important in order to detect when surreptitious access has been gained to the container interior by making a hole in a container wall or door, or by separating the container walls along an edge. In one embodiment of the present variation the walls of the container  100  and each of the container doors  101  and  102  may incorporate an electrical penetration-detection grid, the electrical properties of which may be modified if a hole of greater than specified dimensions is made in the grid. The device  703  may include a means to monitor, either using wired or wireless methods, the electrical properties of each of the penetration-detection grids in the container  100  and container doors  101  and  102 , thereby providing a means to determine whether the container  100  or container doors  101  and  102  have been penetrated. The device  703  may further provide a means to store or communicate to a remote external device information indicating whether or not the container  100  or container doors  101  and  102  have been penetrated. 
         [0081]    In another variation on the above described embodiments the container  100  may be a collapsible container. 
         [0082]    In another variation on the above described embodiments ridges or other raised areas may be provided on the outside of the container doors  101  and  102  in the vicinity of the tamper indicating RFID label  503  in order to provide protection against the label  503  being damaged due to impact. 
         [0083]    In another variation on the above described embodiments the inserts  206  and  208  may be made somewhat smaller than the recesses that house the inserts, in order to allow the inserts to move a small amount within the recesses, thereby minimizing the possibility that any physical distortion of the container  100  or container doors  101  and  102  (that may occur, for example, in transit) will be transferred to the inserts  206  and  208 , and to the RFID label  503 , and thereby lead to a “false tamper” of the RFID label  503  (i.e. a tamper of the RFID label  503  that is not the result of someone trying to open the container  100 ). 
         [0084]    It should be appreciated that the devices and methods described herein may be used to seal any type of container, including a housing or casing for an item of electrical or electronic equipment. In this case it may be important for warranty or maintenance purposes to know whether the item of equipment has been accessed in an unauthorized manner. 
         [0085]    In respect of the abovementioned inserts  206  and  208 , it should be appreciated the inserts  206  and  208  are sufficiently rigid to inhibit their removal without damaging the RFID label  503 . For example the inserts  206  and  208  may be made of generally rigid plastics material. The inserts  206  and  208  are slidably located in their respective recesses  401 . 
         [0086]    Each of the inserts  206  and  208  projects inwardly of the respective recess  401  so that each insert  206  and  208  has an enclosed portion  114  located in the associated recess  401 , and an exposed portion  115  located outside the associated recess  401 , with the exposed portions  115  being located adjacent each other when the doors  101  and  102  are in the closed position, thus permitting the application of the RFID label  503  thereto.