Patent ID: 7828345

Claim:
A shipping container security system for a shipping container, comprising: (a) an RF data communications device, comprising, (i) electronics for storing and communicating data associated with the shipping container, mounted on an interior surface of a cross-wise door beam of the shipping container, the electronics including, (A) a microprocessor, (B) memory for storing data, and (C) a radio communication component configured to wirelessly communicate data, (ii) a power source for powering the electronics, and (iii) an antenna mounted on an exterior surface of the cross-wise door beam of the shipping container for facilitating wireless data communications by the radio communication component; and (b) an RF device mounted on an interior surface of a door of the shipping container and configured to form a short-range communication link with the radio communication component inside the shipping container via the antenna mounted on the exterior of the shipping container when the RF device and the radio communication component are within radio communications range; (c) wherein the RF device is mounted on the interior surface of the door such that, (i) the RF device and the radio communication component are within radio communications range when the door is closed, and (ii) the RF device and the radio communication component are outside of radio communications range when the door is opened, whereby the opening and closing of the door of the shipping container is determinable; further comprising a seal lock module located on an exterior surface of a door of the shipping container, the seal lock module comprising, (a) a bolt comprising, (i) a shaft having a proximal portion and a distal portion, and (ii) a head located at the proximal portion of the shaft, the head being wider than the distal portion of the shaft, (iii) wherein the shaft of the bolt extends through an opening in a hasp of the door of the shipping container such that the shaft of the bolt must be withdrawn from the opening of the hasp in order to open the door of the shipping container without causing structural damage to the shipping container, the head of the bolt being too wide to pass through the opening in the hasp of the door of the shipping container; (b) a locking body having a passageway with an open end through which the distal portion of the shaft of the bolt is received and retained in locking engagement such that the distal portion of the shaft is kept from being withdrawn from the open end of the passageway, the locking body being too wide to pass through the opening in the hasp of the door of the shipping container, whereby the shipping container door may be sealed shut; and (c) a housing connected to the locking body such that the housing and locking body are rotatable relative to each other, the housing being removably mounted to the exterior surface of the door of the shipping container, whereby the locking body does not freely swing on the distal portion of the shaft of the bolt during movement of the shipping container.