Abstract:
A reusable tamper indicating transport tube that can be used to securely transport large drawings and other documentation without damaging or distorting them. The tamper-evident tube comprises an outer tube, an inner tube, an outer cap, an inner tube cap, an inner tube locking mechanism, and an outer tube locking mechanism that is affixed to the peripheral surface of the outer cap.

Description:
FIELD OF INVENTION 
     The present invention pertains to special receptacles, and in particular to tamper indicating receptacles. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     In today&#39;s fast paced world of business, documents are often transported from one location to another and it is necessary to protect against loss, theft, and tampering. Therefore, there is a great need for a carrier that can securely transport large documents without damaging or distorting the documents while simultaneously deterring an unauthorized individual from viewing, stealing, or tampering with the contents of the tube. 
     The prior art includes well known commercial items including Pelican™ cases, Rifkin Bags, Carriers for Lefebure Tal-Air, and the Tranzporter Tube. Unlike the present invention, the prior art lacks features that would make any evidence of tampering easily visible and fails to incorporate security measures that would provide for added protection of documents. For instance, carriers like the Tranzporter tube fail to provide a high level of security because the interior insert is not lockable and the external casing is only secured by a zipper lock. Additionally, carriers like those used in the banking industry lack a locking mechanism inherently needed to secure the storage well. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,236,463, entitled “Tamper Proof Case for the Protection of Sensitive Papers,” discloses a hinged carrying case that includes an interior liner for holding sensitive papers. However the present invention does not employ an electrical circuit or any form of an igniter, as does U.S. Pat. No. 4,236,463 that would cause the papers to be charred if the case is tampered with. Additionally, the prior art doesn&#39;t allow for the secure transport of large drawings or documents. U.S. Pat. No. 4,236,463 is hereby incorporated by reference into the specification of the present invention. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,782,977, entitled “Tamper Resistant Container,” discloses a container that uses hasps to protect the contents of the container from tampering. While the present invention utilizes hasps, it also uses other means of securing the contents of the case in a way that is distinguishable from the device taught in U.S. Pat. No. 4,782,977. Additionally, the prior art doesn&#39;t allow for the secure transport of large drawings or documents without folding the documents. U.S. Pat. No. 4,782,977 is hereby incorporated by reference into the specification of the present invention. 
     Therefore, there is a need for a secure means of transporting large documents without damaging or destroying them. Such a need is met by the present invention. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is a reusable tamper indicating transport tube that can be used to transport large drawings and other documentation without damaging or destroying them. 
     Another object of the present invention is to make available a tamper indicating transport tube that would appeal to a broad spectrum of customers including the individual buyer, the business user, and the government user. 
     The tamper-evident transport tube which is the subject of this patent invention comprises an outer tube, an inner tube, an outer cap, an inner tube cap, an inner tube locking mechanism, and an outer tube locking mechanism that is affixed to the peripheral surface of the outer cap. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a an exploded view of the tamper resistant transport tube; and 
         FIG. 2  is a view of the outer tube of an alternate embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The present invention is a reusable tamper indicating transport tube that can be used to transport large drawings or documentation that may contain confidential information without wrinkling, damaging or destroying the documentation. This tube can be fabricated in a variety of sizes. 
       FIG. 1  is an exploded view of the secure nested tamper indicating transport tube  10 .  FIG. 1  depicts a tamper resistant tube  10  with an outer tube  11 , an inner tube  12 , and an outer cap  13 . 
     The outer tube  11  is a cylindrical device without any exposed seams on its surface and is seamless throughout the body, with the exception of an opening that receives the inner tube  12 . The use of a seamless body also prevents infiltration via the seams surrounding the outer cap  13 . Furthermore, a seamless body better displays any potential tampering to the outer tube  11 . The outer tube  11  has at least one ridge  14  that extend longitudinally across the internal surface of the outer tube  11 . Ideally, the outer tube  11  should have more than one ridge  14 . These ridges  14  are offset such that the inner tube  12  can rotate within a limited range of motion such that the locking mechanism  18  of the inner tube cap is accessible via the window  15  once the inner tube  12  is nested within the outer tube  11 . 
     The inner tube  12  is a cylindrical tube with at least one hasp  16  that is located on the outer surface of the inner tube  12 . The inner tube  12  ideally should have a plurality of hasps  16  that are spring-loaded and equal to the number of ridges  14  in the outer tube  11 . The inner tube  12  has an inner tube cap  17  that closes the inner tube  12 . Once the inner tube  12  is placed within the outer tube  11 , locking the inner tube&#39;s locking mechanism  18  on the inner tube cap  17  activates hasps  16 , causing the hasps  16  to pop out of the outward surface of the inner tube  12  and sit within the horizontal ridges  14  located on the internal surface of the outer tube  11 . 
     In using the transport tube  10 , the inner tube  12  receives the documents and is secured by the inner tube cap  17  on the inner tube  12  by activating a first locking mechanism  18 . Once the inner tube  12  is secure, the inner tube  12  is inserted into the outer tube  11  such that the locking mechanism  18  on the inner tube  12  is visible through the window  15  on the outer tube  11 . The transport tube  10  can then be fully secured by rotating the outer cap  13  and activating the locking mechanism  19  on the outer cap  13  into a locked position. The rotating action of the outer cap  13  causes the inner tube  12  to rotate, moving the hasps within the ridges. Additionally, the rotation of the outer cap  13  simultaneously rotates the inner tube  12  such that the locking mechanism  18  on the inner tube  12  is no longer accessible through the window  15  on the outer tube  11 . 
     In an alternate embodiment, as depicted in  FIG. 2 , the outer tube  20  is a cylindrical tube that is double walled, i.e., it has an outer shell  21 , an internal surface (not shown), and a nested tube  22 . The nested tube  22  which receives the inner tube (not shown) has at least one ridge  24 . Here, the nested tube  22  forms an interior area  23  between the outside surface of the nested tube  22  and the internal surface of the outer shell  21 . The interior area  23  is lined with a material that contains a tamper-indicating substance or fluid (not shown) such that if the lining surrounding the interior area  23  is punctured, the substance or fluid leaks out into the interior area  23  to indicate that tampering has occurred. While the tamper-indicating substance or fluid can be of a varying nature, it is ideally a viscous fluid that is a different color than the color of the transport tube. Like the outer tube  11  in the first embodiment of the transport tube  10  in  FIG. 1 , the other tube  20  in this embodiment, as shown in  FIG. 2 , can also have multiple ridges  24  on the inside surface of the nested tube  22 . These ridges  24  are offset such that the inner tube  12  from  FIG. 1  can rotate within a limited range of motion such that the locking mechanism  18  of the inner tube cap  17  is accessible via the window  25  once the inner tube  12  is nested within the outer tube  11 , 20 . 
     With regard to the manufacturing of the present invention, the preferred embodiment includes integrated locking mechanisms on both the outer tube  11 ,  20  and the inner tube  12  that are composed of an immovable lock. However, it is conceivable that a variety of locks can be incorporated into this design. Additionally, the transport tube  10  can be made using a variety of materials but the preferred embodiment should be fabricated from opaque hard plastics so that the tube  10  cannot be accessed by cracking the case and tampering attempts will be visible easily. As stated before, all surfaces of the outer tube  11 ,  20 , the nested tube  22 , and the inner tube  12  should be seamless, i.e., there shouldn&#39;t be any exposed seams on the surface of the body in order to make it easier to inspect for point of content exfiltration attempts. In addition to hard plastics, the transport tube can also be made of stainless steel or lighter materials that indicate exposure to cutting, breakage, etc. Additionally, any embodiment of the transport tube  10  should be manufactured to withstand a drop such that “normal” usage will not result in a tamper event. 
     It is also understood that any embodiment of this invention Can include the use of plastic molded with fleck or some unique identifier to deter substitution of any part of the tube  10  that has been tampered with. Also, the outer tube  11 ,  20 , inner tube  12 , outer cap  13 , and inner tube cap  17 , can include serial numbers or other means to uniquely identify the tubes and caps to thwart substitution attack. The use of tamper-indicating features like tamper-indicating labels, serial numbers, and/or other unique identifiers (not shown) on the outer tube  11 ,  20 , inner tube  12 , outer cap  13  and inner tube cap  17  ensures the ability to recognize any attempt, by an unauthorized individual, to replace any of the components of the tube  10  and would automatically notify the rightful owner or receiver that the entire unit has been compromised. Alternative embodiments can also be designed such that specific areas are made thinner to make prying visible. 
     While the preferred embodiment has been disclosed and illustrated in detail, it should be understood that a variety of modifications and substitutions can be made to the present invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the claims.