Internal locking apparatus and methods for making and using same

Abstract

An internal locking system is disclosed, which utilizes electro-mechanical locking devices to lock and unlock lockable openings.

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         14 . An internal locking apparatus comprising:
 a housing adapted to be mounted in an interior or onto an interior surface of a container adjacent an openable member of the container, where the housing includes:
 a locking system adapted to transition between a first state and a second state, a locked state and an unlocked state, where the locking system includes a retractable locking member and where the member extends into an aperture in the container in the locked state and retracts from the aperture in the unlocked state, 
 an electronic control system in electrical communication with the locking system and including a command generator component adapted to generate and send commands to the locking system causing the locking system to transition between its two states, and 
 a power supply comprising a primary battery, a secondary battery and power management system adapted to provide electric power to the locking system and the electronic control system, where the secondary battery ensures there is sufficient power to open the locking system, if the primary battery fails or is incapable of opening the locking system, and where the power management system will not allow locking of the locking system, if the second battery is below a set voltage parameter, 
   where the housing includes no internal voids or cavities to minimize tampering and manipulation of the locking systems.   
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the locking system is an electro-mechanical device. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the electro-mechanical device is a worm screw drive, a linear actuator drive, a cam drive, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the container is a truck trailer, a cargo container, a building, a room, and storage area. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the openable member is a door. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the electronic control system further includes a receiver component capable of receiving an activation signal, where the activation signal causes the electronic control system to issue a state transition command to the locking system. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the electronic control system further includes a transmitter component capable of transmitting a completion signal, optionally monitoring a state of the locking system during transportation, and optionally capable of transmitting on request, intermittently, periodically or continuously a status signal. 
     
     
         21 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the electronic control system further includes
 a receiver component capable of receiving an activation signal and/or a verification signal, where the activation signal causes the command generator component to issue a state transition command to the locking system and the verification signal causes the command generator component to issue a an authentication command, and   a transmitter component capable of transmitting: (1) an authentication signal upon receiving an authentication command from the command generation component, where authentication signal is adapted to authenticate a received activation signal, (2) a completion signal, (3) a state of the locking system during transportation, and (4) optionally a status signal of an intermittent, period, or continuous basis.   
     
     
         22 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the electronic control system further includes an external entry component, where the external entry component is in communication with the other components of the electronic control system and is capable of generating a state transition signal to the command generator component, causing the locking system to transition between its two states. 
     
     
         23 . The apparatus of  claim 22 , wherein the external entry component includes an authentication component for authenticating use of the external entry component. 
     
     
         24 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , further including a mounting plate adapted to be mounted onto the interior surface of the container and adapted for the housing to be mounted on the mounting member.