Portable inspection containers

Abstract

The present invention provides improved methods and systems of the X-ray scanning of personal items. The present invention subjects personal items to a securable container that is controlled and amenable to X-ray screening. A portable container transparent to X-ray radiation is used for scanning personal items such as wallets, cameras, and keys which are normally not a part of a passenger's baggage. Personal items are placed in the container, which is then locked. The locked container is allowed to go through the X-ray device that generates images of the enclosed items. After being scanned the container is unlocked and the items can be removed. Preferably, the container lock has a cam, which is engaged with the groove when it is in the closed state. The key of the lock cannot be withdrawn when the lock is in the open state, thereby preventing passengers from accidentally leaving with the key in hand. The key can be removed from the lock only when it is in the closed state. It is further preferred for each lock to have a uniquely shaped key to lower the risk that a single key can be used to unlock multiple containers. For production purposes, the keys can be formed into a variety of geometric shapes, each of said shapes uniquely defining a lock structure.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A portable security container for storing articles for passage through a scanning device wherein the articles are carried by persons intending to enter into an area secured by said scanning device, comprising: 
 a container floor and plurality of container walls integrally formed with said floor wherein the floor and plurality of walls together form a lower compartment region;    a lid connected to the lower compartment region and movable between an open and a closed state with respect to said lower compartment region;    a locking device for securing the lid to the lower compartment region; and    a key for moving said locking device into a lock position to secure the lid in the closed state and for moving said locking device into an unlocked position to permit the lid to be in the open state, wherein the key is not removable from the locking device when the locking device is in the unlocked position.    
     
     
         2 . The container of  claim 1  wherein the lid is connected to the lower compartment region by a plurality of pivot posts formed on the lower compartment region fitted into a plurality of holes formed in the lid.  
     
     
         3 . The container of  claim 1  wherein the lower compartment region is divided into regions by a plurality of dividing walls.  
     
     
         4 . The container of  claim 3  wherein at least one of the regions is rectangular.  
     
     
         5 . The container of  claim 1  wherein said key comprises a head and body having a cross-section and the locking device comprises a keyway having a shape complementary to said body cross-section.  
     
     
         6 . The container of  claim 5  wherein the body cross-section is round.  
     
     
         7 . The container of  claim 5  wherein the body cross-section is square.  
     
     
         8 . The container of  claim 5  wherein the body cross-section is oval.  
     
     
         9 . A locking device for use in a portable security container wherein said container stores articles for passage through a scanning device and wherein said articles are carried by persons intending to enter into an area secured by said scanning device, comprising: 
 a key having a head and a body wherein the body has a geometrically shaped cross-section;    a housing defining an enclosure; and    a lock mounted inside the said housing, the said lock having a keyway accessible from the exterior of said housing;    wherein the lock is adapted to operably receive the body of said key in the keyway and to move between a locked state, wherein the key is insertable into and removable from the keyway, and an open state, wherein the key is not removable from the keyway.    
     
     
         10 . The container of  claim 9  wherein the body cross-section is round.  
     
     
         11 . The container of  claim 9  wherein the body cross-section is square.  
     
     
         12 . The container of  claim 9  wherein the body cross-section is oval.  
     
     
         13 . The locking device of  claim 9 , wherein the lock comprises a cam that is movable with the movement of the keyway.  
     
     
         14 . The locking device of  claim 13  further comprising a slot to engage the cam when the lock is in the locked state.  
     
     
         15 . The locking device of  claim 9  wherein a plurality of grooves are present on an inner surface of the lock, said grooves engage the key when the lock is in the open state.  
     
     
         16 . A method for x-ray scanning a plurality of articles by storing them in at least one securable container, said container having a lid, a base, a lock, a keyway formed integrally with said lock, and a key lodged within the keyway, comprising: 
 providing a plurality of containers proximate to an x-ray device;    inserting said articles in at least one of said containers;    closing the container by positioning the lid over, and in contact with, the base;    moving the key in the keyway of the lock so that the lock comes to a closed state and the key can be withdrawn from the lock;    placing the container on a conveyor belt leading into and through the x-ray device;    removing the container from the conveyor belt after the container passes through the x-ray device;    inserting the key in the keyway of the lock and moving the key so that the lock comes to an open state; and    opening the container by moving the lid away from the base.    
     
     
         17 . The container of  claim 16  wherein the lid is connected to the base by a plurality of pivot posts formed on the base fitted into a plurality of holes formed in the lid.  
     
     
         18 . The container of  claim 16  wherein the base is divided into regions by a plurality of dividing walls.  
     
     
         19 . The container of  claim 16  wherein said key comprises a head and body having a cross-section and the keyway has a shape complementary to said body cross-section.  
     
     
         20 . The container of  claim 19  wherein the body cross-section is round.