Secondary door and temperature control system and method

Abstract

An inner or secondary door and temperature control system for use on a vehicle or trailer having a storage compartment and a first or primary door associated with a first entry or entryway into the storage compartment. The secondary door provides a moveable barrier or door that is situated in operative relationship to the first entry or entryway associated with the first door in order to prevent thermal loss from the storage compartment area during deliveries or at times when the first door is open.

1 . A method for maintaining a desired temperature in a storage compartment of a vehicle or trailer, said vehicle or trailer comprising a first door associated with an entryway of said storage compartment, said method comprising the steps of:
 providing a moveable barrier having a first end moveably mounted to said vehicle or trailer, said moveable barrier controlling heat exchange through said entryway between said storage compartment and an outside area while said first door is in an open position; and   moving said moveable barrier from a closed position, during which said moveable barrier closes said entryway, and said open position during which a user may pass through said entryway.   
     
     
         2 . The method as recited in  claim 1  wherein said method further comprises the steps of:
 providing a track above said entryway;   providing a plurality of wheels on said first end of said moveable barrier;   said plurality of wheels cooperating with said track to enable said first end and said moveable barrier to be moved generally horizontally or laterally away from said entryway.   
     
     
         3 . The method as recited in  claim 1  wherein said method further comprises the step of:
 monitoring a user's use of said moveable barrier.   
     
     
         4 . The method as recited in  claim 3  wherein said method further comprises the step of:
 monitoring a time during which said moveable barrier was in said open position.   
     
     
         5 . The method as recited in  claim 3  wherein said method further comprises the step of:
 determining a number of times said moveable barrier was moved to said open position.   
     
     
         6 . The method as recited in  claim 1  wherein said method further comprises the step of:
 causing said moveable barrier to be biased toward said closed position.   
     
     
         7 . The method as recited in  claim 1  wherein said method further comprises the step of:
 retaining said moveable barrier in said open position for a predetermined time.   
     
     
         8 . The method as recited in  claim 1  wherein said method further comprises the step of:
 automatically closing said moveable barrier after a predetermined time   
     
     
         9 . The method as recited in  claim 8  wherein the method further comprises the step of:
 providing a warning or alarm when said moveable barrier moves to said closed position.   
     
     
         10 . The method as recited in  claim 7  wherein an electromagnetic latch on said vehicle or trailer performs said retaining step. 
     
     
         11 . The method as recited in  claim 10  wherein said electromagnetic latch comprises a timer for releasing said moveable barrier after said predetermined time to enable it to return to said closed position. 
     
     
         12 . The method as recited in  claim 10  wherein said predetermined time is at least 30 seconds. 
     
     
         13 . The method as recited in  claim 1  wherein said first end is a top of said moveable barrier. 
     
     
         14 . The method as recited in  claim 1  wherein said moveable barrier is a secondary access door mounted on said vehicle or trailer, said method comprising the steps of:
 retaining said secondary access door in said open position for a first predetermined time; and   generating an alarm indicating movement of said secondary access door away from said open position after a second predetermined time.   
     
     
         15 . The method as recited in  claim 14  wherein said first predetermined time is greater than said second predetermined time. 
     
     
         16 . The method as recited in  claim 14  wherein said method further comprises the step of:
 generating a count of a number of times said secondary access door is moved to said open position.   
     
     
         17 . The method as recited in  claim 14  wherein said retaining step further comprises the step of:
 energizing an electromagnet that cooperates with a target to perform said retaining step.   
     
     
         18 . The method as recited in  claim 16  wherein said method further comprises the steps of:
 using said count to determine a number of secondary access door cycles for a delivery route;   determining an average number of delivery items per said number of secondary access door cycles;   evaluating a delivery driver's performance using said average number of delivery items per said number of secondary access door cycles.   
     
     
         19 . The method as recited in  claim 18  wherein said evaluating step comprises the steps of:
 determining an actual number of delivery items per said number of secondary access door cycles;   taking action relative to said delivery driver if an actual number of said number of secondary access door cycles is less than said average number of delivery items per said number of secondary access door cycles.   
     
     
         20 . A method for controlling a temperature in a storage compartment of a delivery vehicle or trailer having a primary access door mounted to a first wall of said delivery vehicle or trailer to provide access to said storage compartment and a secondary access door mounted to said delivery vehicle or trailer in opposed relationship to said primary access door, said method comprising the steps of:
 retaining said secondary access door in an open position for a first predetermined time; and   generating an alarm indicating movement of said secondary access door away from said open position after a second predetermined time.   
     
     
         21 . The method as recited in  claim 20  wherein said first predetermined time is greater than said second predetermined time. 
     
     
         22 . The method as recited in  claim 20  wherein said method further comprises the step of:
 generating a count of a number of times said secondary access door is moved to said open position.   
     
     
         23 . The method as recited in  claim 22  wherein said retaining step further comprises the step of:
 energizing an electromagnet to perform said retaining step, said electromagnet cooperating with a target mounted on said secondary access door.   
     
     
         24 . The method as recited in  claim 22  wherein said method further comprises the steps of:
 using said count to determine a number of secondary access door cycles for a delivery route;   determining an average number of delivery items per number of secondary access door cycles;   evaluating a delivery driver's performance using said average number of delivery items per number of secondary access door cycles.   
     
     
         25 . The method as recited in  claim 24  wherein said evaluating step comprises the steps of:
 determining an actual number of delivery items per number of secondary access door cycles;   taking action relative to said delivery driver if said actual number of delivery items per number of secondary access door cycles is greater than said average number of delivery items per number of secondary access door cycles.