IL137516A - Carrier for electronic seal - Google Patents

Description

CARRIER FOR ELECTRONIC SEAL HI-G-TEK LTD. D»vi po->'5- '>n C: 39080 39080hig.doc 24-Jul-00 CARRIER FOR ELECTRONIC SEAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to electronic seals generally, and particularly to a carrier for an electronic seal for securing and protecting cargo containers, trailers and the like.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Electronic seals are known that can be attached to an object and monitored, sensed, or interrogated for purposes of preventing theft of or tampering with the object. For example, applicant/assignee's US Patent 6,002,343, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference, describes a battery-operated electronic seal that, when tampered with, communicates via a transceiver to a detection system for providing an alarm signal or other indication, and thereby detect the tampering and/or removal of the seal from an object sealed or tagged therewith. One of the electronic seals described in US Patent 6,002,343 employs resistive wires which when tampered with provide an indication of such tampering.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention seeks to provide a novel device and method for attaching an electronic seal to a cargo container. In the invention, the electronic seal is mounted on a carrier that snaps onto a closure bar of a cargo container. The carrier does not require any tools or mounting holes for attaching to the container, and is quickly and reliably secured to the container even during transportation of cargo. The snap-on attachment permits the carrier to be easily and quickly removed from the container. The electronic seal preferably has a seal wire which is looped through a staple of hasp of the container.

It is noted that throughout the specification and claims the term "container" encompasses any kind of container or trailer for hauling or storing goods therein.

There is thus provided in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention a carrier for an electronic seal, including a mounting surface for mounting thereon an electronic seal, and an arm extending from the mounting surface, the arm being adapted to be snapped onto a portion of a container.

In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention the arm is constructed of a material with sufficient resilience and strength such that the arm is adapted to remain snapped onto the portion of the container during transportation of the container.

Further in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention the arm has a generally arcuate portion which is adapted to be snapped onto a portion of a container.

Still further in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention the mounting surface further includes at least one wall extending therefrom.

In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention the mounting surface is formed with at least one hole for passing therethrough at least one of a wire and a wire connector. The electronic seal preferably includes a seal wire adapted to be looped through a staple of a hasp of a container.

There is also provided in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention a method for assembling an electronic seal to a container, including providing a carrier including a mounting surface for mounting thereon an electronic seal, and an arm extending from the mounting surface, the arm being adapted to be snapped onto a portion of a container, mounting an electronic seal on the mounting surface, and snapping the arm onto a portion of a container.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The present invention will be understood and appreciated more fully from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the drawing in which: Fig. 1 is a simplified pictorial illustration of a carrier for an electronic seal constructed and operative in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Reference is now made to Fig. 1 which illustrates a carrier 10 for an electronic seal 12 constructed and operative in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Carrier 10 preferably includes a mounting surface 14 for mounting thereon electronic seal 12. An arm 16 preferably extends from mounting surface 14, which is adapted to be snapped onto a portion, such as an external structure 18, of a container 20. For example, structure 18 may be an external closure bar. Mounting surface 14 and arm 16 are preferably constructed as one unitary piece, such as by injection molding from an engineering plastic. The material used to construct arm 16 (such as polyphenylene oxide, for example) preferably has sufficient resilience and strength such that arm 16 remains snapped onto the external structure 18 during transportation of container 20. In the illustrated embodiment, arm 16 has a generally arcuate portion which is adapted to be snapped onto the round closure bar of container 20.

One or more walls 22 preferably extend from mounting surface 14. Mounting surface 14 is preferably formed with one or more holes 24 for passing therethrough a seal wire 26 or wire connector 28.

Electronic seal 12 is preferably constructed as disclosed in US Patent 6,002,343, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. Electronic seal 12 preferably includes seal wire 26 which can be looped through a staple 30 of a hasp 32 of container 20.

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.

Claims (9)

C L A I M S What is claimed is:

1. A carrier for an electronic seal, comprising: a mounting surface for mounting thereon an electronic seal; and an arm extending from said mounting surface, said arm being adapted to be snapped onto a portion of a container.

2. The carrier according to claim 1 wherein said arm is constructed of a material with sufficient resilience and strength such that said arm is adapted to remain snapped onto the portion of the container during transportation of the container.

3. The carrier according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein said arm has a generally arcuate portion which is adapted to be snapped onto the portion of the container.

4. The carrier according to any of the preceding claims wherein said mounting surface further comprises at least one wall extending therefrom.

5. The carrier according to any of the preceding claims wherein said mounting surface is formed with at least one hole for passing therethrough at least one of a wire and a wire connector.

6. The carrier according to any of the preceding claims and comprising an electronic seal mounted on said carrier.

7. The carrier according to claim 6 wherein said electronic seal comprises a seal wire adapted to be looped through a staple of a hasp of a container.

8. A method for assembling an electronic seal to a container, comprising: providing a carrier comprising a mounting surface for mounting thereon an electronic seal, and an arm extending from said mounting surface, said arm being adapted to be snapped onto a portion of a container; mounting an electronic seal on said mounting surface; and snapping said arm onto a portion of a container.

9. The electronic seal according to any of claims 1-7 and substantially as described hereinabove. For the Applicant, Advocates & Patent Attorneys C:39080