Abstract:
A remotely monitorable electronic locking device for use with a device including a conductive loop, the remotely monitorable electronic locking device including a locking element arranged to engage at least one end of the conductive loop, whereby disengagement of the locking element and the end of the conductive loop results in a monitorable event and a wireless communicator associated with the locking element operative to provide a remotely monitorable indication of the monitorable event.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates generally to locks and seals, and particularly to a remotely monitorable electronic locking device for use with a security net, mesh, sack of any other package for placing around cargo or assets and the like. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    It is essential to protect assets and cargo, freighted by ship, air, rail or truck, from tampering and theft. Valuable cargo passing through freight terminals is prone to attempts by unscrupulous persons to open the cargo and pilfer the contents. Thus, there is a well-established need for simple and efficient apparatus for monitoring cargo and alerting of attempts to tamper with or steal the contents. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    The present invention seeks to provide simple and efficient apparatus for monitoring assets and alerting of attempts to tamper with or steal the contents. 
         [0004]    There is thus provided in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention a remotely monitorable electronic locking device for use with a device including a conductive loop, the remotely monitorable electronic locking device including a locking element arranged to engage at least one end of the conductive loop, whereby disengagement of the locking element and the end of the conductive loop results in a monitorable event and a wireless communicator associated with the locking element operative to provide a remotely monitorable indication of the monitorable event. 
         [0005]    Preferably, disruption of the integrity of the conductive loop results in a monitorable event. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0006]    The present invention will be understood and appreciated more fully from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the drawings in which: 
           [0007]      FIG. 1  is a simplified illustration of a remote monitoring locking device for use with an electronic filament netting or packaging material integrally formed with an electronic filament netting, constructed and operative in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0008]      FIGS. 2A and 2B  are simplified illustrations of a remote monitoring locking device for use with a storage envelope or package, constructed and operative in accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention; and 
           [0009]      FIG. 3  is a simplified illustration of the remote monitoring locking device of  FIGS. 1-2B . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0010]    Reference is now made to  FIG. 1 , which is a simplified illustration of a remote monitoring locking device for use with an electronic filament netting. As seen in  FIG. 1 , an electronic filament netting  10 , preferably including a warp of a first plurality of wires  12  woven together with a weft of a second plurality of wires  14 , is electrically connected to a remotely monitorable electronic locking device  16 . Netting  10 , comprising wires  12  and  14 , is preferably constructed in accordance with the teachings of U.S. Pat. No. 6,144,298, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
         [0011]    As shown in  FIG. 1 , netting  10  may be draped over an object  18  to be protected, or alternatively, may be embedded in a material, such as a cloth or tarpaulin, suitable for draping over object  18 . After placing netting  10  over the object  18 , one of the connective ends of netting  10  is preferably passed through a loop  20  to secure the netting to object  18 . The connective ends of netting  10  are then preferably inserted into terminals  22  of remotely monitorable electronic locking device  16 . 
         [0012]    Remotely monitorable electronic locking device  16  preferably communicates with a remote monitoring station, such as a station  26 , preferably via a two-way wired or wireless communication link, such as an active RF link or other suitable communication link. Suitable controllers may be provided for remotely controlling any portion of remotely monitorable electronic locking device  16 . 
         [0013]    Reference is now made to  FIGS. 2A and 2B , which is a simplified illustration of a remote monitoring locking device for use with a storage envelope or package, such as for storing sensitive documents. As seen in  FIGS. 2A and 2B , a storage envelope  50  is positioned proximate to a loop  52  defining a storage location, such as on a shelf  54 . Documents  56  are then inserted into storage envelope  50 , which is then sealed with a sealing wire  58  passed therethrough. After passing sealing wire  58  through storage envelope  50 , one of the connective ends of sealing wire  58  is preferably passed through loop  52  to secure the netting to shelf  54 . The connective ends of sealing wire  58  are then preferably inserted into terminals  60  of a remotely monitorable electronic locking device  62 . 
         [0014]    Remotely monitorable electronic locking device  62  preferably communicates with a remote monitoring station, such as station  26  ( FIG. 1 ), preferably via a two-way wired or wireless communication link, such as an active RF link or other suitable communication link. Suitable controllers may be provided for remotely controlling any portion of remotely monitorable electronic locking device  62 . 
         [0015]    Reference is now made to  FIG. 3 , which is a simplified illustration of the remotely monitorable electronic locking device, such as locking device  16  of  FIG. 1  or locking device  62  of  FIG. 2B . As seen in  FIG. 3 , a remotely monitorable electronic locking device  70  preferably includes a sensing circuitry and transceiver portion  72  electrically connected, typically via wires  74  and  76 , with connectors  78  and  80  of cables  82  and  84 , such as connective ends of net  10  of  FIG. 1  or connective ends of sealing wire  58  of  FIG. 2 . At least one of connectors  78  and  80  preferably includes a lockable tip  86 , preferably formed with an undercut groove  88 , which is adapted for lockable engagement with a corresponding locking element  90  forming part of locking device  70 . Locking device  70  also defines a socket, which includes a magnet  92 . Locking device  70  is here shown to include a key-operated lock, it being appreciated that any other suitable type of lock may be employed. It is appreciated that locking device  70  is preferably lockable by means of a mechanical key. The locking engagement between connector  78  and locking element  90  is preferably such that without first unlocking the lock, it is impossible to remove connector  78  from engagement with the locking element  90 . 
         [0016]    At least one of connectors  78  and  80  preferably includes a series connected reed switch  94  which is closed by magnet  92  when connector  78  is in lockable engagement with locking element  90 . 
         [0017]    In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, sensing circuitry and transceiver portion  72  includes sensing circuitry  96  and an RF transceiver  98 . Sensing circuitry  96  is electrically coupled to connectors  78  and  80  and senses the integrity of a conductive loop which is defined by a device connected to connectors  78  and  80 , such as net  10  of  FIG. 1  or sealing wire  58  of  FIG. 2 , when the connector  78  is in lockable engagement with locking element  90 . 
         [0018]    Receiving an output from sensing circuitry  96  is transceiver  98 , which is operative to provide transmitted information indicating whether the conductive loop is intact. 
         [0019]    In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, transceiver  98  is operative to transmit status of the conductive loop at a selectable, preset interval to a remote monitoring station, such as a station  26  of  FIG. 1 . 
         [0020]    Conventional wireless monitoring circuitry (not shown) may be employed to receive information which is transmitted by RF transceiver  98  and indicates when the connector  78  is located in lockable engagement with locking element  90  and when the connector  78  is separated from locking element  90  due to disengagement of connector  78  and locking element  90  by using a key to unlock locking element  90 . It is appreciated that the provision of reed switch  94  and magnet  92  enables sensing circuitry  96  to sense when the connector  78  is located in lockable engagement with locking element  90  and also enables sensing circuitry  96  to sense when the integrity of the conductive loop has been altered, such as by tampering. 
         [0021]    It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that the present invention is not limited by what has been particularly shown and described hereinabove. Rather the scope of the present invention includes both combinations and subcombinations of the features described hereinabove as well as modifications and variations thereof which would occur to a person of skill in the art upon reading the foregoing description and which are not in the prior art.