Container with a selective opening and closing mechanism

Abstract

A system and apparatus which includes one or more locking container devices comprising a closeable container for holding at least one object; lock coupled to the container and moveable between a lock position and an unlock position; and programmable timer circuit for actuating the lock at a programmed time which is either specified or randomly set. The container device alternatively includes a receiving component for sensing a change an external condition including but not limited to, geographic location, temperature, sound and one or more predetermined operations. The timer circuit is alternatively unlocked by receiving an unlock signal via an appropriate communication medium from a remote source. The container device also includes a transmitter for transmitting an appropriate signal to the remote source. An interface terminal is coupled to the remote source and configured to accept at least one external condition instruction to be transmitted to the receiving component.

1 . A locking container device comprising:
 a. a closeable container for holding at least one object;   b. a lock coupled to the container and moveable between a lock position and an unlock position; and   c. a programmable circuit for automatically actuating the lock between the lock position and the unlock position at an automatically assigned unlock time, wherein the lock is moved to the lock position at activation and does not move to the unlock position until the unlock time.   
     
     
         2 . The container device according to  claim 1  wherein the object within the container is inaccessible until the unlock time. 
     
     
         3 . The container device according to  claim 1  wherein the unlock time is a specified time. 
     
     
         4 . (canceled) 
     
     
         5 . The container device according to  claim 1  further comprising a display for displaying an amount of time remaining until the unlock time. 
     
     
         6 - 15 . (canceled) 
     
     
         16 . A portable locking container device comprising:
 a. a closeable container for holding at least one object;   b. a lock coupled to the container and moveable between a lock position and an unlock position and further wherein the container automatically opens upon the lock moving to the unlock position at an automatically assigned unlock time;   c. an electronic sensor for sensing a change in at least one external condition; and   d. a circuit coupled to the electronic sensor and for actuating the lock to move between the lock position and the unlock position in response to the change in the external condition.   
     
     
         17 . The container device according to  claim 16  wherein the external condition is signal dependent, wherein the circuit actuates the lock to move between the lock position and unlock position upon the sensor receiving an unlock signal from a remote source location. 
     
     
         18 . The container device according to  claim 17  further comprising a transmitter for transmitting an appropriate signal to the remote source. 
     
     
         19 . The container device according to  claim 17  wherein the external condition is time dependent. 
     
     
         20 . The container device according to  claim 19  wherein the time dependent external condition is selected to be a desired time. 
     
     
         21 . (canceled) 
     
     
         22 . The container device according to  claim 17  wherein the circuit further comprises a timer circuit for actuating the lock a selected amount of time after receiving the activation signal. 
     
     
         23 . The container device according to  claim 22  further comprising a display for displaying the selected amount of time. 
     
     
         24 . The container device according to  claim 17  wherein the external condition is a geographically dependent parameter, wherein the circuit instructs the lock to move between the lock position and unlock position when the container is in an appropriate geographical location. 
     
     
         25 . The container device according to  claim 17  wherein the external condition is dependent on one or more predetermined operations being satisfied. 
     
     
         26 . The container device according to  claim 17  wherein the external condition is temperature dependent. 
     
     
         27 - 30 . (canceled) 
     
     
         31 . The container device according to  claim 17  wherein the unlock signal is sent via wireless medium. 
     
     
         32 . The container device according to  claim 17  wherein the unlock signal is sent via a hard-wire medium. 
     
     
         33 . The container device according to  claim 17  further comprising an interface terminal coupled to the remote source location, the interface terminal configured to accept at least one external condition instruction to be transmitted to the circuit. 
     
     
         34 . A selectively locking container device comprising:
 a. a container for holding one or more objects;   b. a lock for locking the container, wherein the lock is moveable between a lock position and an unlock position; and   c. a circuit for selectively moving the lock between the lock position and the unlock position upon receiving an unlock signal from a remote transmitting source at an automatically assigned unlock time.   
     
     
         35 . The container device according to  claim 34  wherein the circuit further comprises a receiver for receiving the unlock signal. 
     
     
         36 . The container device according to  claim 34  wherein the circuit further comprises a transmitter for transmitting an appropriate signal to the remotely located source. 
     
     
         37 . The container device according to  claim 34  wherein the unlock signal transmitted via a wireless medium. 
     
     
         38 . The container device according to  claim 34  wherein the unlock signal is transmitted via a hard-wired medium. 
     
     
         39 . The container device according to  claim 35  wherein the receiver further includes a sensor, wherein circuit moves the lock between the lock position and the unlock position in response to the sensor sensing a change from a first environmental state to a second environmental state. 
     
     
         40 . The container device according to  claim 39  wherein the first and second environmental states are dependent on at least one predetermined operation being satisfied. 
     
     
         41 . The container device according to  claim 39  wherein the first and second environmental states are temperature dependent. 
     
     
         42 . (canceled) 
     
     
         43 . The container device according to  claim 34  wherein the activation signal includes a time component instruction, wherein the time component instruction instructs the circuit to actuate the lock at a specific time. 
     
     
         44 . The container device according to  claim 43  wherein the specific time provided by the time component instruction is predetermined. 
     
     
         45 . (canceled) 
     
     
         46 . The container device according to  claim 34  wherein the unlock signal includes a geographical component instruction, wherein the circuit actuates the lock to move between the lock position and unlock position when the container is in a specific geographical location specified by the geographical component instruction. 
     
     
         47 . The container device according to  claim 34  wherein the circuit is placed in an operating mode upon receiving an operation signal from the remotely located source. 
     
     
         48 . The container device according to  claim 34  wherein the container automatically opens upon the lock moving to the unlock position. 
     
     
         49 . The container device according to  claim 34  wherein the container unlocks and is manually openable upon the lock moving to the unlock position. 
     
     
         50 . The container device according to  claim 34  further comprising an interface terminal coupled to the remote source location, the interface terminal configured to accept at least one external condition instruction to be transmitted to the circuit. 
     
     
         51 - 66 . (canceled)