US5835012A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Protective device for storage and transport containers
Assignee: Wilk Patent Development Corp
•
Filing: 1997-06-18
•
Granted: 1998-11-10
•
Expires: 2017-06-18
Abstract
Abstract A protective method for storage and transport containers comprises a sensor for detecting orientation, an attachment element for securing the sensor to a container, and an alarm operatively coupled to the sensor for generating a cognizable alert signal upon detection by the sensor that the container is in an orientation other than a predetermined preferred orientation. The alarm may include an electroacoustic transducer and means for reproducing a voice message. A timer operatively connected to the sensor measures a time interval during which the container is in an orientation other than the preferred orientation. A memory is operatively connected to the timer for automatically storing the time interval in encoded form. A mechanism and/or circuit may be operatively connected to the timer and the memory for deactivating the timer and for locking the memory to ensure integrity of contents of the memory upon an opening of the container. The method may also include a detector for measuring temperature. The alarm is operatively connected to the detector for generating a cognizable indicator signal upon measurement of a temperature beyond a pre-established threshold. The timer is operatively connected to the temperature detector for measuring a time period during which the container is in a temperature range beyond the threshold, while the memory is operatively connected to the timer for automatically storing the time period in encoded form.
Inventors
- 👤 Peter J. Wilk
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 16:49
CPC Classifications
G; G07; G07C; G07C5/00; G07C5/08; G07C5/0841; G07C5/085; G07C5/008; G08; G08B; G08B13/00; G08B13/02; G08B13/14; G08B13/1436
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
139 words
A protective device for storage and transport containers, comprising: sensing means for detecting a physical condition of a predetermined kind; attachment means for securing said sensing means to a container; a timer operatively connected to said sensing means for determining that the detected physical condition has continued longer than a preselected duration, said timer further including a timing means operatively connected to said sensing means for measuring a time interval indicating the duration of the detected physical condition; a memory means operatively connected to said timing means for automatically storing said time interval in encoded form; and a wireless telecommunications transmitter operatively connected to said timer for establishing a wireless telecommunications link to a predetermined remote receiver and transmitting, over said link to said receiver, a message that said detected physical condition has existed longer than said predetermined duration.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
139 words
A protective device for storage and transport containers, comprising: sensing means for detecting a physical condition of a predetermined kind; attachment means for securing said sensing means to a container; a timer operatively connected to said sensing means for determining that the detected physical condition has continued longer than a preselected duration, said timer further including a timing means operatively connected to said sensing means for measuring a time interval indicating the duration of the detected physical condition; a memory means operatively connected to said timing means for automatically storing said time interval in encoded form; and a wireless telecommunications transmitter operatively connected to said timer for establishing a wireless telecommunications link to a predetermined remote receiver and transmitting, over said link to said receiver, a message that said detected physical condition has existed longer than said predetermined duration.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
32 words
The device defined in claim 1 wherein said physical condition is orientation, said sensing means including components for detecting that the container is in an orientation other than a predetermined preferred orientation.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
38 words
The device defined in claim 2, wherein said timing means is operatively connected to said sensing means such that said time interval measures a duration in which the container is in an orientation other than said preferred orientation.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
45 words
The device defined in claim 3, further comprising means operatively connected to said timing means and said memory means for deactivating said timing means and for locking said memory means to ensure integrity of contents of said memory means upon an opening of the container.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
29 words
The device defined in claim 1 wherein said physical condition is temperature, said sensing means including means for detecting that the container has a temperature beyond a predetermined threshold.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
37 words
The device defined in claim 5, wherein said timing means is operatively connected to said sensing means such that said time period measures a duration in which the container is in a temperature range beyond said threshold.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
157 words
A method for use in protecting contents of storage and transport containers, comprising: automatically and at least periodically monitoring a storage and transport container with fragile contents to detect whether the container has a pre-established physical condition; in the event that the container has the pre-established physical condition, automatically determining whether the container has had the pre-established physical condition for a time interval longer than a preselected duration automatically measuring a time interval during which the pre-established physical condition is determined and automatically storing said time interval in encoded form in a memory; upon determining that the container has had the pre-established physical condition for a time interval longer than said preselected duration, establishing a wireless telecommunications link to a predetermined remote receiver; and upon the establishing of said link, transmitting, over said link to said receiver, a message that the container has had the pre-established physical condition for a time interval longer than said preselected duration.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
157 words
A method for use in protecting contents of storage and transport containers, comprising: automatically and at least periodically monitoring a storage and transport container with fragile contents to detect whether the container has a pre-established physical condition; in the event that the container has the pre-established physical condition, automatically determining whether the container has had the pre-established physical condition for a time interval longer than a preselected duration automatically measuring a time interval during which the pre-established physical condition is determined and automatically storing said time interval in encoded form in a memory; upon determining that the container has had the pre-established physical condition for a time interval longer than said preselected duration, establishing a wireless telecommunications link to a predetermined remote receiver; and upon the establishing of said link, transmitting, over said link to said receiver, a message that the container has had the pre-established physical condition for a time interval longer than said preselected duration.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method defined in claim 7 wherein said physical condition is an orientation other than a predetermined preferred orientation, the monitoring of said container including detecting that the container is in an orientation other than said preferred orientation.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method defined in claim 8, wherein said step of automatically measuring said time interval comprises automatically measuring a time interval during which the container is in an orientation other than said preferred orientation.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method defined in claim 9, further comprising locking said memory to ensure integrity of contents of said memory upon an opening of the container.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method defined in claim 7 wherein said physical condition is a temperature beyond a predetermined threshold, the monitoring of said container including detecting that the container has a temperature in a range beyond said predetermined threshold.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method defined in claim 11, wherein said step of automatically measuring said time interval comprises automatically measuring a time interval during which the container is in a temperature range beyond said threshold.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method defined in claim 7, further comprising automatically generating an alarm signal cognizable within a region about said container, upon detecting that the container has said pre-established physical condition.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method defined in claim 13 wherein the generating of said alarm signal includes producing a sound wave via an electroacoustic transducer.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method defined in claim 14 wherein the producing of said sound wave includes producing a voice message.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3961323A
Cited
US3909568A
Cited
US4462023A
Cited
US4685061A
Cited
US4688244A
Cited
US4750197A
Cited
US5027105A
Cited
US4841285A
Cited
US5347274A
Cited
US5051725A
Cited
US5153561A
Cited
US5392031A
Cited
US5528228A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2001-11-09 | 2002-05-11 | 2002-11-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-11-09 | 2006-05-11 | 2006-11-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-11-09 | 2010-05-11 | 2010-11-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |