US5656996A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Electronic security bonding device
Assignee: GLOBAL ASSOCIATES Ltd
•
Filing: 1996-03-13
•
Granted: 1997-08-12
•
Expires: 2016-03-13
Abstract
Abstract An electronic bonding device provides a seal for containers and equipment and allows the status of the seal to be remotely monitored. The device has a seal body housing sensing means and communication means, and sealing means for affixing the device to an item to be bonded. The sealing means comprises a line providing, between terminal end portions, a circuit having a detectible characteristic. In one embodiment, the circuit is an optical fiber light transmission circuit. Alternatively, the circuit may be an electrical circuit. A change in the circuit characteristic, e.g., a break in the continuity (optical or electrical), is sensed by the sensor and transmitted to a remote location by a transmitter, to indicate that tampering with the item has occurred. The line is provided with a protective sheath. In one embodiment, the sheath is a relatively flexible adhesive tape strip. In other embodiments, the sheath is a relatively rigid or flexible shackle member.
Inventors
- 👤 Peter Bennett Houser
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 16:51
CPC Classifications
G; G08; G08B; G08B13/00; G08B13/02; G08B13/06; G08B13/14; G08B13/1445; G08B13/1454; G09; G09F; G09F3/00; G09F3/02; G09F3/03; G09F3/0305; G09F3/0329; G09F3/0347; G09F3/0352; G09F3/0358; G09F3/0376
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
147 words
A bonding device for providing a seal and allowing remote electronic monitoring of the seal, comprising: sealing means for affixing said device to an item to be bonded, in a manner such that tampering with the item will disturb the sealing means, said sealing means comprising line means providing a circuit having first and second end terminals, said circuit exhibiting a detectible circuit characteristic; sensing means connectible to the first and second end terminals, said sensing means producing a signal indicating a disconnection of the sensing means from the first and second end terminals, and a change in said detectible circuit characteristic, indicating tampering with said sealing means; communicating means for transmitting said signal to a location remote from said bonding device; and a seal body engageable with said sealing means and supportable thereby, said seal body housing said sensing means and communicating means as a unit.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
147 words
A bonding device for providing a seal and allowing remote electronic monitoring of the seal, comprising: sealing means for affixing said device to an item to be bonded, in a manner such that tampering with the item will disturb the sealing means, said sealing means comprising line means providing a circuit having first and second end terminals, said circuit exhibiting a detectible circuit characteristic; sensing means connectible to the first and second end terminals, said sensing means producing a signal indicating a disconnection of the sensing means from the first and second end terminals, and a change in said detectible circuit characteristic, indicating tampering with said sealing means; communicating means for transmitting said signal to a location remote from said bonding device; and a seal body engageable with said sealing means and supportable thereby, said seal body housing said sensing means and communicating means as a unit.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
17 words
A bonding device according to claim 1, wherein said circuit comprises an optical fiber light transmission circuit.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
34 words
A bonding device according to claim 2, wherein said circuit characteristic comprises optical continuity between said first and second end terminals, and said change in the circuit characteristic comprises a loss of optical continuity.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
14 words
A bonding device according to claim 1, wherein said circuit comprises an electrical circuit.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
25 words
A bonding device according to claim 4, wherein said circuit characteristic comprises impedance, and said change in the circuit characteristic comprises a change in impedance.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
27 words
A bonding device according to claim 5, wherein said circuit characteristic comprises electrical continuity, and said change in the circuit characteristic comprises a loss of electrical continuity.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
24 words
A bonding device according to claim 1, wherein said line means consists of a single line extending between said first and second end terminals.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
24 words
A bonding device according to claim 1, wherein said line means comprises a plurality of lines extending between said first and second end terminals.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
18 words
A bonding device according to claim 1, wherein said line means is encased in a protective outer sheath.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
16 words
A bonding device according to claim 9, wherein said outer sheath is a relatively flexible sheath.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
15 words
A bonding device according to claim 10, wherein said relatively flexible sheath comprises Kevlar fiber.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
17 words
A bonding device according to claim 9, wherein said outer sheath comprises a relatively rigid shackle member.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
17 words
A bonding device according to claim 9, wherein said sheath comprises a relatively flexible adhesive tape strip.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
16 words
A bonding device according to claim 1, wherein said communicating means comprises a radio frequency transponder.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
18 words
A bonding device according to claim 1, further comprising an electrical power source housed within said seal body.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
14 words
A bonding device according to claim 15, wherein said power source comprises a battery.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
13 words
A bonding device according to claim 1, wherein said sensing means operates continuously.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
13 words
A bonding device according to claim 1, wherein said sensing means operates intermittently.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
24 words
A bonding device according to claim 1, wherein said sensing means operates in response to a seal status request received by the communicating means.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
43 words
A bonding device according to claim 1, further comprising signal processing and data storage means within said seal body, said signal processing means for receiving signals from said sensing means and producing data concerning the same, said storage means for storing said data.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
23 words
A bonding device according to claim 20, wherein said communicating means transmits said data in response to an externally generated seal status inquiry.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3639897A
Cited
US3656100A
Cited
US3961323A
Cited
US3688256A
Cited
US3848243A
Cited
US4768816A
Cited
US4811578A
Cited
US4883295A
Cited
US4627248A
Cited
US4877276A
Cited
US4996909A
Cited
US4688244A
Cited
US4750197A
Cited
US4816803A
Cited
US4811977A
Cited
US4990890A
Cited
US4946210A
Cited
US5025253A
Cited
US4920334A
Cited
US5050794A
Cited
US5005883A
Cited
US5189396A
Cited
US5056837A
Cited
US5120097A
Cited
US5125700A
Cited
US5127687A
Cited
US5247564A
Cited
US5284036A
Cited
US5443190A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2000-08-11 | 2001-02-10 | 2001-08-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2004-08-11 | 2005-02-10 | 2005-08-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2008-08-11 | 2009-02-10 | 2009-08-12 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |