Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 03120460 2021-05-21
SECURE PORTABLE ENCASEMENT
Inventors: Hugh David Geoffrey McLean and Niall English
[0001] (Intentionally left blank)
[0002] (Intentionally left blank)
BACKGROUND
[0003] This application discloses an invention which is related, generally and
in
various embodiments, to a conveniently enabled securement system including a
portable
encasement that is capable of providing secure storage.
[0004] There is a need for a portable secure encasement such as a backpack
having
locking and security features. In particular there is a need for a portable
secure encasement
for transporting goods from place to place while ensuring their security
throughout.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0005] Various embodiments of the invention are described herein in by way of
example in conjunction with the following figures, wherein like reference
characters
designate the same or similar elements.
[0006] FIG. la illustrates various embodiments of a conveniently enabled
securement
system including a portable secure encasement that is capable of providing
secure storage and
that is capable of inseparably interacting with a common docking unit in
accordance with the
present invention;
[0007] FIG. lb illustrates various embodiments of a conveniently enabled
securement
system including a portable secure encasement that is capable of providing
secure storage and
that is capable of inseparably interacting with a common docking unit in
accordance with the
present invention;
[0008] FIG. 2 illustrates various embodiments of a portable secure encasement
in
accordance with the present invention;
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[0009] FIG. 3 illustrates various embodiments of a mounting scheme within the
trunk
or boot of an automobile for securely mounting the common docking unit in
accordance with
the present invention;
[0010] FIG. 4 illustrates various embodiments of a common docking unit in
accordance with the present invention;
[0011] FIG. 5 illustrates various embodiments of the system that allow for
contactless
authentication and system to use feedback in accordance with the present
invention;
[0012] FIG. 6 illustrates various embodiments of a portable secure encasement
having
a top openable door in accordance with the present invention;
[0013] FIG. 7 illustrates various embodiments of a secure portable encasement
having
an opening system wherein the top door is securable to the body of the secure
portable
encasement via an internal securement mechanism FIG. 8a illustrates various
embodiments of
the conveniently enabled securement system unmated to the common docking unit
in
accordance with the present invention;
[0014] FIG. 8b illustrates a cross sectional view of various embodiments of
the
conveniently enabled securement system illustrating how the conveniently
enabled
securement system mates the secure portable encasement seat onto the common
docking unit
such that the inseparably interaction is engaged in accordance with the
present invention;
[0015] FIG. 9a illustrates various embodiments of the conveniently enabled
securement system mated to the common docking unit in accordance with the
present
invention;
[0016] FIG. 9b illustrates a cross sectional view of various embodiments of
the
conveniently enabled securement system illustrating how the conveniently
enabled
securement system mates the secure portable encasement seat onto the common
docking unit
such that the inseparably interaction is engaged in accordance with the
present invention;
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[0017] FIG. 10 illustrates various embodiments of a mechanism for enabling the
engagement of inseparable interaction between the secure portable encasement
and the
common docking unit in accordance with the present invention;
[0018] FIG. 11 illustrates various embodiments of a mechanism for enabling the
engagement of inseparable interaction of the secure portable encasement with
the common
docking unit in accordance with the present invention;
[0019] FIG. 12a illustrates a perspective view of various embodiments of the
secure
portable encasement having an integral retractable cable and retracting cable
mating
receptacle for securing the secure portable encasement while away from a
common docking
unit in accordance with the present invention;
[0020] FIG. 12b illustrates a cross sectional view of various embodiments of
the
secure portable encasement having an integral retractable cable and retracting
cable mating
receptacle for securing the secure portable encasement while away from a
common docking
unit in accordance with the present invention;
[0021] FIG. 13 illustrates a schematic view of various embodiments of the
enabling
electronics, control circuitry and related control/data information flow of
the conveniently
enabled securement system in accordance with the present invention;
[0022] FIG. 14a illustrates a perspective view of various embodiments of a
rack
mountable common docking unit showing a plurality of secure portable
encasements rack
mounted to the rack mountable common docking units in accordance with the
present
invention;
[0023] FIG. 14b illustrates a perspective view of various embodiments of a
rack
mountable common docking unit showing barren rack mountable common docking
units in
accordance with the present invention;
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[0024] FIG. 15a illustrates a perspective view of various embodiments of a
soft
secure portable encasement in accordance with the present invention;
[0025] FIG. 15b illustrates a front view of various embodiments of a soft
secure
portable encasement in accordance with the present invention;
[0026] FIG. 16a illustrates a perspective view of various embodiments of a
soft
secure portable encasement having a mechanism for securing the contents of the
soft secure
portable encasement within the encasement and an internally accessible simple
cable docking
mechanism for engaging and disengaging the inseparable interaction between the
soft secure
portable encasement and a common docking unit in accordance with the present
invention;
[0027] FIG. 16b illustrates a perspective view of various embodiments of a
soft
secure portable encasement having a mechanism for securing the contents of the
soft secure
portable encasement within the encasement;
[0028] FIG. 16c illustrates a perspective view of various embodiments of a
soft
secure portable encasement having a mechanism for securing the contents of the
soft secure
portable encasement within the encasement;
[0029] FIG. 16d illustrates a perspective view of various embodiments of a
locking
mechanism;
[0030] FIG. 16e illustrates a front view of various embodiments of the locking
mechanism;
[0031] FIG. 16f illustrates an exploded view of various embodiments of a
locking
mechanism;
[0032] FIG. 17a illustrates a cut away perspective view illustrating various
embodiments of a soft secure portable encasement showing an embodiment of the
mechanism
enabling the engagement and disengagement of the inseparable interaction with
a common
docking unit in accordance with the present invention;
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[0033] FIG. 17b illustrates a cut away top view illustrating various
embodiments of a
soft secure portable encasement showing an embodiment of the mechanism
enabling the
engagement and disengagement of the inseparable interaction with a common
docking unit in
accordance with the present invention;
[0034] FIG. 17c illustrates a more detailed view of an embodiment of the
mechanism
enabling the engagement and disengagement of the inseparable interaction with
a common
docking unit in accordance with the present invention shown in FIG. 17a;
[0035] FIG. 17d illustrates a partial cross-sectional view of an embodiment of
the
mechanism enabling the engagement and disengagement of the inseparable
interaction with a
common docking unit in accordance with the present invention;
[0036] FIG. 18a illustrates a close-up perspective view of the mechanism
enabling the
engagement and disengagement of the inseparable interaction with a common
docking unit;
[0037] FIG. 18b illustrates a close-up top view of the mechanism enabling the
engagement and disengagement of the inseparable interaction with a common
docking unit;
[0038] FIG. 19a shows a front view of the backpack according to an alternative
embodiment of the invention;
[0039] FIG. 19b shows a front view of the backpack of 19a with the front panel
in
dotted lines;
[0040] FIG. 20a shows a rear perspective view of a cut-resistant molded shell
according to an alternative embodiment of the invention;
[0041] FIG. 20b shows a front perspective view of a the cut-resistant molded
shell of
FIG. 20a;
[0042] FIG. 20c shows a cross-sectional view of a the cut-resistant molded
shell of
FIG. 20a;
[0043] FIG. 20d shows a detail of the cross-sectional view FIG. 20c;
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[0044] FIG. 21a shows a rear view of an embodiment of the backpack;
[0045] FIG. 21b shows a detail view of the lock in FIG. 21a;
[0046] FIG. 22a shows a rear view of another embodiment of the backpack;
[0047] FIG. 22b shows another rear view of the backpack of FIG. 22a;
[0048] FIG. 22c shows a detail view of the lock in FIG. 22h;
[0049] FIG. 22d shows a rear view of the backpack of FIG. 22a securely
attached to a
pole;
[0050] FIG. 23a shows a side view of another embodiment of the backpack;
[0051] FIG. 23b shows another side view of the backpack of FIG. 23a;
[0052] FIG. 23c shows a detail view of the lock in FIG. 23h;
[0053] FIG. 23d shows another side view of the backpack of FIG. 23a;
[0054] FIG. 24a shows a side view of another embodiment of the backpack;
[0055] FIG. 24b shows another side view of the backpack of FIG. 23a;
[0056] FIG. 24c shows a detail view of FIG. 24b;
[0057] FIG. 25a shows a detail view of another embodiment;
[0058] FIG. 25b shows a detail view of the embodiment of FIG. 25a
[0059] FIG. 25c shows a detail view of the embodiment of FIG. 25a;
[0060] FIG. 25d shows a detail view of the embodiment of FIG. 25a;
[0061] FIG. 25e shows a detail view of the embodiment of FIG. 25a;
[0062] FIG. 25f shows a detail view of the embodiment of FIG. 25a;
[0063] FIG. 26a shows a detail view of the another embodiment of the backpack;
[0064] FIG. 26b shows a detail view of the another embodiment of the backpack;
[0065] FIG. 27a shows a front exploded view of the another embodiment of the
backpack; and
[0066] FIG. 27h shows an unexploded view of the backpack in FIG. 27a.
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DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0067] It is to be understood that at least some of the figures and
descriptions of the
invention have been simplified to illustrate elements that are relevant for a
clear
understanding of the invention, while eliminating, for purposes of clarity,
other elements that
those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate may also comprise a portion
of the invention.
However, because such elements are well known in the art, and because they do
not facilitate
a better understanding of the invention, a description of such elements is not
provided herein.
[0068] Referring now to the drawings, wherein like reference numbers are used
herein to designate like elements throughout, the various views and
embodiments of a
conveniently enabled securement system including portable secure encasements
and common
docking units are illustrated and described, and other possible embodiments
are described.
The figures are not necessarily drawn to scale, and in some instances the
drawings have been
exaggerated and/or simplified in places for illustrative purposes only. One of
ordinary skill in
the art will appreciate the many possible applications and variations based on
the following
examples of possible embodiments.
[0069] FIG. la and lb are perspective views of various embodiments of a
conveniently enabled securement system 10 and 10' including a hard portable
secure
encasement 100 and a hard portable secure encasement 100' adapted for storing
long items
which may be for example a rifle or other firearm. The hard portable secure
encasements 100
and 100' according to various embodiments may be a safe, a strongbox, a safe-
deposit box, a
coffer, a money box, a cashbox, a cash register drawer, a gun case or any
similar type of
container into which one may put valuable goods, objects or documents. The
hard portable
secure encasements 100 and 100' according to various embodiments are capable
of providing
secure storage, and capable of inseparably interacting with a common docking
unit 200 when
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the hard portable secure encasements 100 or 100' are received by the common
docking unit
200 and a user engages the system's 10 and 10' conveniently enabled securement
functionality. As will be appreciated by the following description encasement
100 is capable
of operating in system 10', and encasement 100' is similarly capable of
operating in system
10, by virtue of the common docking unit.
[0070] The hard portable secure encasements 100 and 100' and common docking
unit
200 of the various embodiments depicted in FIGS. la and lb are configured with
dimensional
tolerances sufficient to allow a common docking unit 200 to flushly receive
the hard portable
secure encasements 100 and 100' such that the common docking unit 200 is
entirely
subsumed within the underside of the casing 135 or 135' of the hard portable
secure
encasements 100 and 100' without any play or excess space between the common
docking
unit 200 and the underside of the casing 135 or 135' of the hard portable
secure encasement
100 or 100'.
[0071] To facilitate the receiving of the hard portable secure encasement 100
or 100'
onto a common docking unit 200 the underside of the casing 135, 135' of the
hard portable
secure encasements 100, 100' in the embodiments depicted are formed with a
recessed
portion of substantially the same dimensions of the common docking unit 200;
and, to enable
the inseparable interaction between the hard portable secure encasement 100 or
100' and a
common docking unit 200 each hard portable secure encasements 100 and 100'
includes, in
the embodiments depicted, a male securement mechanism 105 (for example see
FIGS. 10 and
11) arranged on the periphery of the recessed portion of a hard portable
secure encasement
for interacting with the female securement mechanism 210 of the common docking
unit 200.
[0072] In practice, the common docking unit 200 is strongly and securely
mounted to
a fixed object (for example see FIGS. 10 and 11) using the strongly secure
mounting
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mechanisms 220. It will be appreciated that the strongly secure mounting
mechanism 220
may for example be a bolt, or alternatively may be a weld, or an epoxy, or any
other suitable
means of strongly securing the common docking unit 200 to a fixed, and
preferably
immovable, surface, or in another preferred embodiment a mobile fixed surface
such as in an
automobile. A hard portable secure encasement 100, 100' may be dimensionally
configured
such that when it is received by the common docking unit 200, which is
strongly mounted to
a fixed mounting structure, the casing of the hard portable secure encasement
100 may be
substantially, and preferably completely, flush with the mounting structure,
thereby
preventing access to the common docking unit 200, the male mechanism 105 (for
example
see FIGS. 10 and 11) and female mechanisms 210, which mechanisms 105, 210 when
engaged cause the hard portable secure encasement 100 and the common docking
unit 200 to
inseparably interact with each other until disengaged.
[0073] Various additional features are depicted that further enable the
convenient
operation of the conveniently enabled securement system 10. According to
various
embodiments, the system 10 may include for example an opening system
comprising a top
door 110, 110'. The top door 110, 110' may be secured with an internal
securement
mechanism 125 (an example of which is illustrated at FIG. 7), which may be,
for example, in
various embodiments retractable steel bolts which are received by the internal
strong
structure of the hard secure portable encasement 100 or 100'. It will be
appreciated that the
internal securement mechanism 125 can be of any suitable type, for example in
various
embodiments the internal securement mechanism 125 may be two steel bolts
having a
diameter of 15 mm, but it will be appreciated that such bolts serving as the
internal
securement mechanism may be of any suitable size so long as they are capable
of providing a
desired level of security. The system 10 may alternatively include a two-stage
opening
system including a side door 112, 112' in addition to top door 110, 110'. When
closed, top
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door 110, 110' secures side door 112, 112'. Additionally, the system 10 may
include a
carrying handle 130 or 130' for ease of transport; a remote receiver (not
shown) which may
be identified by an icon 150 or 150' on the surface of the hard portable
secure encasement
100 or 100'; and, a machine-to-human feedback mechanism 160 or 160', which for
example,
may be an array of LEDS configured to illuminate in certain configurations in
order to
convey information to a human user. One will appreciate that any suitable
feedback
mechanism will suffice, for example the feedback mechanism could be a digital
display, and
LCD display or an audible sound. In another embodiment, the feedback mechanism
is a
vibration in the body of the case that can be felt by the user.
[0074] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of various embodiments of a hard portable
secure
encasement 100 that is capable of providing secure storage. The casing body of
the hard
portable secure encasement 100 (and similarly 100' illustrated in FIG. lb),
including top door
110 (or 110'), is formed from any suitable material that prevents a determined
attacker from
readily gaining access to the contents (not shown) of the hard portable secure
encasement 100
(or 100'). For example, the casing body is formed from a suitable material
such as, but not
limited to, structural plastic, reinforced thermoplastic acrylic, glass filled
nylon, fiberglass,
acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS), structural foam, carbon fiber, other
polymer materials,
other woven fibrous material, other woven fibrous polymers, aluminum, steel,
other suitable
metals, etc., or any combination of such suitable materials. It will also be
appreciated that the
hard portable secure encasement can be formed into any suitable shape,
symmetrical or
asymmetrical, and for example may be adapted for the storage of long firearms
as depicted in
FIG. lb. As will be appreciated the casing body may also be adapted to house
small arm
firearms, such as a pistol.
[0075] In various embodiments, for example, the hard portable secure
encasement,
for example 100, is constructed in a box shape having substantially
rectangular sides and
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dimensions of 350 mm tall by 430 mm long by 170 mm deep. It will be further
appreciated
that the dimensions of the components of the system (for example a hard
portable secure
encasement 100, a soft portable secure encasement 600 and the common docking
unit 200)
are not restricted by anything other than the practicality of use of the
intended system by a
user and the contents intended for sectu-ement within a respective encasement,
for example
100 or 100'. It will also be appreciated that the edges where the various
sides meet may be
square or beveled, and that any hinging mechanisms allowing top door 110 or
110' to
hingeably open are entirely contained within the hard portable secure
encasement 100 or 100'
when the top door 110 or 110' is closed and secured, thereby preventing any
tampering with
such hinges by a would be intruder or thief. The various embodiments depicted
in FIG. 2
additionally include an integral retractable cable 170 or 170' and retracting
cable mating
receptacle 180 or 180'. The combination of the integral retractable cable 170
(or 170') and
the retractable cable mating receptacle 180 (or 180') allow a user to strongly
secure the hard
portable secure encasement 100 (or 100') or alternatively soft portable secure
encasement
600, such as a backpack, (an example of which is illustrated at FIGS. 15a,
15b) when a
common docking unit is not readily available.
[0076] FIG. 3 depicts a schematic view 300 of various orientations in which a
common docking unit 200 may be strongly securely mounted within the trunk or
boot of an
automobile. It will be appreciated that the common docking unit 200 may in
various
embodiments be strongly securely mounted to any suitable fixed, or mobile,
structure.
Preferably when secured to a mobile structure the mobile structure is
otherwise securable, for
example an automobile trunk. Preferably when secured to a fixed structure,
such a structure
itself is immovable. Other examples (not shown) of mounting structures are
concrete slabs
which are configured to accept mounting screws (not shown), the bed of a
truck, the floor of
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a house, a fixed steel beam, or any structure suitable for securely mounting
structures thereto,
by for example a bolt, or a weld, or any suitable means.
[0077] FIG. 4 depicts a common docking unit 200 that is capable of receiving a
hard
portable secure encasement 100, 101' (FIG. la. lb) or a soft portable secure
encasement 600
(an example of which is illustrated at FIG. 15a) such that the respective
encasement and the
common docking unit 200 are capable of inseparably interacting. The common
docking unit
200 of the various embodiments depicted includes a common docking unit body
240 having a
female securement mechanism 210, preferably two female securement mechanisms
210
arranged opposite of or distally from each other, and is preferably strongly
securely mounted
using to a fixed object or mobile object (not shown) using the strongly secure
mounting
mechanisms 220. Here, the strongly secure mounting mechanisms 220 are shown as
through-
holes capable of receiving a bolt or screw, but it will be appreciated that
any strongly secure
mounting mechanism or means will suffice (for example a metal to metal weld,
or a strong
epoxy, or a glue, or a clamp). It will be appreciated that the common docking
unit body 240
may be singularly formed as a molded object of any suitable material, or it
may be comprised
of a body housing (not shown) containing various internal workings (not shown)
of the
common docking unit. For example, in various embodiments the body may be
formed of a
body housing in which resides a steel plate, in which case the body is formed
to assist proper
reception of a portable secure encasement while the steel plate provides the
strong
securement mountable functionality. In other embodiments, the common docking
unit may be
shaped metal, die cast, or an extruded metal body, and subjected to various
cutting, drilling,
taping machining operations. It will be appreciated that the common docking
unit may be
formed or assembled from any suitable materials and in any configuration that
allows for
strongly secure mounting and inseparable interaction with a portable secure
encasement, for
example 100.
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[0078] Additionally, it will be appreciated that the common docking unit may
be
configured with either a male securement mechanism, a female securement
mechanism 210
as depicted or any other suitable securement mechanism, and that the remote
securement
mechanism actuation mechanism may reside in either the portable secure
encasement 100,
100', 600, or in the common docking unit 200 (in which case the system 10, 10'
may be
configured such that the respective secure encasements instead have a passive
securement
mechanism). It will be further appreciated that the common docking unit 200
may have any
suitable dimensional configuration, so long as the receiving portion of the
attendant secure
encasements is suitably shaped. In one embodiment for example the common
docking unit
has a length of 250 mm a height of 27 mm and a width of 75 mm, while in
another
embodiment the common docking unit may be cylindrical in shape with a radius
of
approximately 200 mm and a height of 30 mm. In any case, it will be
appreciated that the
size and shape of the common docking unit is necessarily derived in relation
to the design,
shape and size of a corresponding secure portable encasement while also taking
into
consideration the intended contents of such a secure portable encasement and
the level of
security deemed necessary. It will be further appreciated that the dimensions
of the
components of the system (for example a hard portable secure encasement 100, a
soft
portable secure encasement 600 and the common docking unit 200) are not
restricted by
anything other than the practicality of use of the intended system by a user
and the contents
intended for securement within a respective encasement.
[0079] FIG. 5 illustrates various embodiments of a remote interaction device
190 for
interacting with a hard portable secure encasement 100. In the embodiments
depicted in FIG.
a user using RFID based embodiment of remote interaction device 190 may, for
example,
interact with the hard portable secure encasement 100 (or 100') in order to
engage the
docking securement mechanism of the hard portable secure encasement 100 such
that the
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hard portable secure encasement 100 inseparably interacts with a common
docking unit 200.
Alternatively, for example, a user may use the remote interaction device 190
in order to
disengage the internal securement mechanism 125 of the portable secure
encasement thereby
allowing a user to open the top door 110 (or 110'). For example, the user may
hold the RFID
chip within a certain proximity of a logo or other indicia 150, 150' which
identifies the
location of a remote receiver (not show) within the hard portable secure
encasement 100,
101' for less than one second to disengage the internal securement mechanism
125
(illustrated in FIG. 7) and for two or more seconds to disengage the male
securement
mechanism 105 from the female securement mechanism 210 of the common docking
unit
200.
[0080] FIG. 5 also illustrates various embodiments having a machine-to-human
feedback mechanism 160. It will be appreciated that this machine-to-human
feedback
mechanism 160 or 160' can be of any suitable design, for example, as depicted
in FIG. 5 the
machine-to-human feedback mechanism is a series of LEDs which are configured
to light in
particular combinations, with each combination being a specific message
tailored to provide
the user with information relevant to the current user interaction with the
convenient
securement system 10, for example, one light may indicate that the male
securement
mechanism 105 is engaged with the female securement mechanism 210 of a common
docking unit 200 yet the internal securement mechanism 125 is not engaged
while five lights
may mean that all securement mechanisms are engaged indicating the system is
providing
maximum security of the contents contained within a hard portable secure
encasement 100.
The use of an icon 150 and LEDs 160 for indicating information to a user
simplifies the
interaction while overcoming language barriers. It will also be appreciated
that any suitable
icons may be used to convey relevant information to a user, and that any
machine-to-human
feedback mechanism internal or external to the secure encasement may be
employed in
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concert with a portable secure encasement 100, 100', 600 in order to convey
information
about the system 10 to a user.
[0081] It will be further appreciated that in various embodiments the common
docking unit 200 may be configured with the circuitry (not shown) and
mechanisms (not
shown) necessary to enable human-to-machine and machine to human interaction.
For
example, while hereinabove the common docking unit 200 has been described as
operating in
a passive manner, it is within the scope and intention of this invention that
the common
docking unit may have active components for engaging securement mechanisms and
thereby
causing the common docking unit 200 and, for example, the hard portable secure
encasement
100 to engage in inseparable interaction until the common docking unit 200
disengages the
securement mechanisms. In these cases, a user may wish to remotely interact
with the
common docking unit 200, for example in a situation where a user has a bank of
common
docking units 200 for storing a bank of portable secure encasements (for
example as depicted
in FIG. 14a) and has a need to be able to remotely disengage individual
portable secure
encasements on an as needed basis.
[0082] FIGS. 6 and 7 illustrate the operation of an embodiment of the opening
system. FIG. 6 shows the closed top door 110. A user opens the top door 110 by
first
disengaging the internal securement mechanism 125 using, for example, an RFID
type
remote interaction device 190, and then by lifting an opening latch 140, or
the carrying
handle 130, the top door 110 hingeably opens. It will be appreciated that the
opening system
may be designed, configured and operated in any suitable manner that does not
interfere with
either the strongly securing of casing of the hard portable secure encasement
100, 100' or the
inseparable interaction of the hard portable secure encasement 100, 100' with
a common
docking unit 200. FIG. 7 illustrates various embodiments of the hard portable
secure
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encasement unsecured and opened with internal securement mechanism 125 and
pins 126
visible.
[0083] FIGS. 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b and 10, and 11 illustrate how various embodiments
of the
hard portable secure encasement 100 and 100' are received by the common
docking unit 200.
The embodiments depicted in FIG. 8a illustrate that a hard portable secure
encasement 100 is
placed over and on a common docking unit 200 which is configured to receive
the
encasement 100. The common docking unit 200 is strongly securely mounted to a
fixed
mounting surface 260 by bolts 250 (shown in FIG. 8b) received by the strong
mounting
mechanism 220 and embedded into fixed mounting surface 260. FIG. 8b illustrate
a cutaway
view of a hard portable secure encasement 100 that is received by a common
docking unit
200 such that the encasement 100 and common docking unit 200 are engaging in
inseparable
interaction, with male securement mechanism 105 engaged with female securement
mechanism 210. FIG. 9a shows encasement 101' received by a common docking unit
(not
visible) such that the underside 135' of encasement 101' is substantially
flush fixed mounting
surface 260. FIG. 9b illustrate a cutaway view of a hard portable secure
encasement 100' that
is received by a common docking unit 200 such that the encasement 100' and
common
docking unit 200 are engaging in inseparable interaction, with male securement
mechanism
105' engaged with female securement mechanism 210. FIG. 9b also illustrates
bolts 250
passing through strong mounting mechanism 220 to secure the common docking
unit to the
fixed mounting surface 260.
[0084] FIGS. 10 and 11 illustrate cut away cross sectional views of both the
hard
portable secure encasement 100 and the common docking unit 200 showing
embodiments of
the securement mechanisms 105 and 210 and illustrating how they engage to
inseparably
interact.
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[0085] FIG. 10 illustrates various embodiments of the male securement
mechanism
105 and the female securement mechanism 210. As illustrated the male
securement
mechanism 105 is a sprung pin having a beveled end which when the hard
portable secure
encasement 100 is properly placed over the common docking unit 200 aligns such
that the
beveled end 106 of the sprung pin interacts with a lip of the female
securement mechanism
210 forcing the sprung pin of the male mechanism 105 first away from the
female securement
mechanism 210 against the tensions of one or more springs such that once the
male
mechanism 105 passes beneath the lip of the female securement mechanism 210
the spring
107 force pushes the end of male securement mechanism 105 into the female
securement
mechanism 210. While in an unsecured state only the beveled end of the male
securement
mechanism 105 resides within the female securement mechanism 210, allowing a
user to
easily remove the hard portable secure encasement 100 from the common docking
unit by
lifting the hard portable secure encasement 100 causing the beveled end of the
male
securement mechanism to interact with the lip of the female securement
mechanism again
forcing the sprung pin to retract away from the lip and therefore pass out of
the female
securement mechanism.
[0086] In various embodiments, the female securement mechanism is merely a
passive receptacle as illustrated in FIG. 10, however it would be appreciated
that the female
securement mechanism 210 can alternatively be any suitable securement
mechanism
configured to allow inseparable interaction with a mating securement mechanism
of a
portable securement encasement. Similarly, it will be appreciated that while
in the various
embodiments illustrated in FIG. 10 the male securement mechanism 105 is
depicted as a steel
sprung bolt, it would be appreciated that the male securement mechanism 105
can be any
suitable securement mechanism configured to allow inseparable interaction with
a mating
securement mechanism of a common docking unit.
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[0087] FIG. 11 depicts various embodiments of the male and female securement
mechanisms 105 and 210 in a secured state such that the securement mechanisms
105 and
210 are inseparably interacting. In the embodiments illustrated, to place the
system 10 into a
secured state a motor 108 driven locking pin 115 engages the male securement
mechanism
105 by forcing it to the maximum extent possible into the female securement
mechanism
thereby preventing removal of the hard portable securement encasement 100 from
the
common docking unit 200. It will be appreciated that because the docking unit
is preferably
shaped to be flush with the body of the encasement 100, there is no play or
movement or
shifting of the encasement in relation to the common docking unit, such that
when the
securement mechanisms 105, 210 are engaged, the encasement 100 and the common
docking
unit are inseparable until the securement mechanisms 105, 210 are disengaged.
Also
depicted in FIGS. 10 and 11, is the strongly securely mounting of the common
docking unit
200 to a mounting surface 260 using strongly secure mounting mechanisms 220,
through
which bolts 250 are passed and embedded in the fixed mounting surface 260.
[0088] The various embodiments depicted in FIGS. 10 and 11 illustrate the
strongly
secure mounting mechanisms 220 are receptacles comprising a narrow base
receptacle below
a wider up receptacle each of which are configured to receiving a mounting
bolt 250, having
a diameter of the upper receptacle portion of mechanism 220, through the
mechanism 220,
which bolt 250 inseparably interacts with the mounting surface 260 by being
threaded into
the mounting surface 260. The bolt having a wider head portion cannot pass
through the
narrow base receptacle and thereby allows for the application of a force to
the narrow base
receptacle as the mounting bolt 250 is threaded further into the mounting
surface 260. It will
be appreciated, however, that the strongly secure mounting mechanisms 220 may
be any
suitable strongly secure mounting mechanism that will effectively and
inseparably bind the
common docking to the mounting surface without interfering with the
inseparable interaction
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between the hard portable secure encasement 100 and the common docking unit
200. FIG.
11 furthermore illustrates that when properly seated and received onto the
common docking
unit 200, the hard portable securement encasement 100 sits flush, or
substantially flush, with
the mounting surface 260.
[0089] It will be appreciated that any of the male securement mechanism 105,
the
female securement receptacle 210, the sprung bolt 105, the driving pin 115 and
the secure
mounting mechanisms 220 may be formed or constructed of any suitable material
capable of
providing the secure interactions between the various identified mechanisms.
[0090] FIG. 12a is a perspective view of various embodiments, with particular
emphasis on various embodiments of an integral retractable cable 170 and
corresponding
retractable cable mating receptacle 180. FIG. 12b illustrates a cutaway view
of encasement
100. In the embodiments described in FIG. 12a, when a user is in a location
where a
common docking unit, for example 200, is not available the user may secure the
hard portable
secure encasement using the retractable cable 170. To do so, the user would
extend the
retractable cable 170 from the body of the secure portable encasement 100 wrap
it around a
fixed object (not shown), and insert the cable securement mechanism 175 into
the retractable
cable mating receptacle 180. Once inserted the cable securement mechanism 175
engages
with the cable mating receptacle 180 such that the two inseparably interact.
Once engaged,
the cable is effectively inseparably bound to the hard portable secure
encasement at each end
and around the fixed object and thus is secured to the fixed object.
[0091] The engagement of the cable securement mechanism 175 and the
retractable
cable mating receptacle 180 may occur automatically, or may require some human-
to-
machine interaction between a user and the portable secure encasement, for
example by using
remote interaction device 190. To disengage the cable securement mechanism 175
from the
retractable cable mating receptacle 180, the user may disengage, for example
with device
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190, the inseparable interaction between the two, 175 and 180, thus releasing
the retractable
cable 170 allowing it to retract within the body of the hard secure portable
encasement 100,
as illustrated in FIG. 12b, where it may be contained on a reel mechanism 171.
It will be
appreciated that the retractable cable 170, the cable securement mechanism
175, the cable
retaining reel mechanism 171, and retractable cable mating receptacle 180 may
be formed,
assembled or constructed of any suitable materials. It will be further
appreciated that while
FIGS. 12a and 12b depicts the retractable cable 170 and retractable cable
mating mechanism
180 within a hard portable secure encasement 100, they can also be employed
within a soft
portable secure encasement 600.
[0092] FIG. 13 describes a schematic view of control components 400 for
enabling
the functionality of a conveniently enabled securement system, for example 10.
In the
various embodiments described by FIG. 13 the illustrated control components
shown are
housed within a hard portable secure encasement, for example 200. Comprising
the control
components 400 are a microcontroller 410, external securement mechanism motor
controllers
420 and internal securement mechanism motor controllers 430, external
securement
mechanism position sensors 440 and internal securement bolt sensors 445, a
battery 450, a
charging and battery management control circuit 470, a machine-to-human
feedback control
circuit 480, a human-to-machine interaction device receiver 490, such as an
RFID receiver, a
BLUETOOTHTM receiver, a WIFI receiver, an optical receiver, or any other
suitable remote
receiver capable with interacting with a corresponding remote interaction
device 190. Also
shown are an AC-DC power supply 460, which may be internal or external to the
encasement, as well as a remote interaction device 190.
[0093] The motor control 430 provides the driving forces to engage or
disengage the
internal securement mechanisms, for example 125, which secure the top door
110. 110' to the
casing of the hard portable secure encasement 100, and motor control 420
provides the
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driving forces for engaging or disengaging the external securement mechanism,
for example
the male securement mechanism 105, which inseparably interact with securement
mechanisms of a common docking unit, for example 200. The bolt position sensor
440
monitors and communicates the position of an external securement mechanism,
for example a
male securement mechanism 105, while the bolt position sensor 445 monitors and
communicates the position of an internal securement mechanism, for example
125.
[0094] The battery 450 provides power to the various components illustrated in
the
schematic view of control components 400, and may be one or more of any
suitable battery
having a long life, for example a Lithium ion battery. The charging and
battery management
control circuit 470 may monitor and communicate the remaining charge of the
battery 450
and when the portable secure encasement receives power from a source, for
example an AC-
DC power supply 460, circuit 470 may control the recharging of the battery
450. The
machine-to-human feedback control circuit may receive information from various
components directly or via the micro controller 410 and may convert that
information to a
human readable format, for example lighting a series of LEDs in a particular
sequence, or
sending output to a display device.
[0095] The human-to-machine interaction device control circuit 490 receives
input
from an input device, for example a remote interaction device 190 or a manual
input
mechanism, and converts that input into a machine readable format and forwards
that
converted input to the microcontroller 410 which translates the converted
input into a series
of commands issued to the various components, for example upon receiving input
from a
remote interaction device 190 the human-to-machine interaction device control
circuit
converts the input into machine readable format and sends the converted input
to
microcontroller 410 which interprets the command as, for example, an
instruction to engage
the internal securement mechanism 125, and thereafter the microcontroller 410
issues a
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command to the motor control 430 which provides driving force to the internal
securement
mechanism 125 thereby engaging, for example, steel bolts from the top door
into the casing
of the portable secure encasement 100, subsequently the bolt position sensor
445 monitor the
position of the engaging steel bolts of the internal securement mechanism 125
and when the
engagement is complete the bolt position sensor 445 issues a communication in
machine
readable format to the microcontroller 410 to inform the microcontroller 410
that the internal
securement mechanism has been engaged. Thereafter, the microcontroller issues
a command
corresponding to the engagement of the internal securement mechanism 125 to
the machine-
to-human interaction control circuit 480 which receives the command and
converts it to a
human readable format by, for example lighting a particular sequence or series
of LEDs.
[0096] Microcontroller 410 comprises a microcontroller and attendant memory
415
and processor 416 wherein the attendant memory 415 contains instructions which
when
executed by the attendant processor 416 cause the microcontroller to receive
communications
between the various components illustrated in the schematic view of control
components 400,
translate those communications into corresponding commands, and then issue
those
commands to the designated component. For example, when the charging and
battery
management control circuit 470 senses that the battery charge is low, it
issues a
communication to the microcontroller which interprets the communication into a
series of
commands, for example a command to the machine-to-human interaction mechanism
480 and
a command to the motor controllers 420 and 430, subsequently the machine-to-
human
interaction mechanism 480 displays, for example a series of LEDs indicating
that the battery
has little charge and the motor controllers 420 and 430 interpret their
respective command to,
for example prohibit disengaging of the securement mechanisms.
[0097] It will be appreciated that the above examples are intended for
illustrative
purposes only and that in practice the communications issued and received by
any component
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of the conveniently enabled securement system 10 may be any suitable
communications. It
will also be appreciated that in various embodiments of the system 10 there
may be a desire
for communications between a portable secure encasement, for example 100, and
a common
docking unit, for example 200, in which case the respective portable secure
encasement and
common docking unit will contain the necessary circuitry and mechanisms for
providing a
communications channel between the two and for relaying information between
the two.
Such a communication channel may be a wireless communication channel or a
wired channel
that is established when the securement mechanisms 105 and 210 are engaged.
[0098] FIGS. 14a and 14b illustrate various embodiments of a rack 500 of
common
docking units 520 for storing a set 510 of hard portable secure encasements
100. FIG. 14b
also depicts an empty rack of common docking units capable of storing portable
secure
encasements 100. It will be appreciated that the rack 500 can be adapted for
storing any
portable secure encasement 100, 100' and 600 or otherwise so long as the
encasement has a
securement mechanism capable of securely interacting with the common docking
units 520.
As shown in FIG. 14b, the common docking units 520 shown here are formed of
two separate
formed metal plates, which may be secured to the rack 500 by for example a
weld.
[0099] FIGS. 15a and 15b illustrates various embodiments of a soft portable
secure
encasement 600. Contents reside within the soft portable secure encasement 600
and are so
secured within the encasement 600 by, for example a combination lock
constituting a locking
mechanism 660 (shown in FIGS. 16a, 16b, 16 c, 16d, 16 e and 160 that secures a
securable
mouth opening 625 (shown in FIGS. 16a, 16b and 16c) which as depicted in FIGS.
15a and
15b are hidden beneath soft top cover 630. FIG. 15b illustrates the encasement
600 secured to
a common docking unit (not visible) that is secured to a fixed surface 260, by
bolts 250,
which are visible by virtue of a cutaway view of the surface 260. The casing
of the soft
portable secure encasement may be formed from a cable webbing (not shown)
running
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throughout the casing 650, which is covered by a soft, aesthetically pleasing,
shell, for
example giving it the appearance of a knapsack or book bag. Alternatively, the
casing 650 of
the soft portable secure encasement 600 may be a cut proof fabric material, in
which case the
cable webbing is not required.
[00100] Any suitable cut proof fabric material may be used to form the casing
650, for
example, Cut-Tex Pro, developed by PPSS Group of Whitfield Business Park,
Knaresborough HG5 8BS, UK. In such a case the casing 650 formed of Cut-Text
Pro may
be for example 1 mm thick, and is internally overlock stitched to protect the
seams. In
various embodiments, the cut proof fabric material may be sewn into a separate
bag, which
may be constructed like a standard backpack, but with no base. These two
components, the
cut proof material and the separate bag, are then sewn together to leave a
tube of at least the
cut proof fabric at the base. Into the tube of fabric, an inner plastic part
is inserted inside the
tube, and is clamped to an external strong plastic base 668, thereby wedging
the fabric tube in
between the walls of the two plastic parts. This prevents the necessity of a
seam at the
junction between the fabric and the base of the bag, which may be a point of
intrusion. As
shown in FIG. 17d, the fabric tube is attached to plastic base 668 by screws.
[00101] When the soft top cover is closed over the mouth opening 625 it is
secured
using connector straps 640. The soft portable secure encasement 600 may be
carried via a
carrying handle 610 or carrying straps 620. It will be appreciated that the
soft top cover 630,
carrying handle 610, and carrying straps 620 may or may not also have a cable
webbing
running throughout depending on the level of security desired, or
alternatively will also be
made of cut proof fabric, in such away the carrying straps may be protected
from a would be
thief attempting to cut the straps 620 while the encasement 600 is being
carried during
transport.
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[00102] FIG. 16a, 16b and 16c illustrate various embodiments of a soft
portable secure
encasement 600 with soft top cover 630 removed and so showing the securable
mouth
opening 625 and corresponding locking mechanism 660, which may be, for
example, a
combination lock. FIG. 16a provides a perspective view of the soft portable
secure
encasement 600 with the locking mechanism 660 (FIGS. 16d, 16e and 160
disengaged from
the securement cable 665. Securement cable 665 may for example run through a
seam in the
mouth portion of the casing 650 such that two pins 667 are exposed which are
capable of
securely interacting with the locking mechanism 660. Securement cable 665 may
be double
parallel cables to prevent the roll top from being accessed. FIG. 16b
illustrates various
embodiments of encasement 600 with the pins 667 of the cable 665 engaged with
the locking
mechanism 660. In order to secure the mouth opening 625 of the encasement 600,
the mouth
opening portion of the casing 650 may be formed to have an excess length of
cut proof fabric,
or fabric lined with cable webbing, that extends away from the mouth in a tube
like manner,
which excess length would be closed and rolled over several times (as would be
done with a
standard roll top dry bag), and then the cable 665 would be cinched over the
rolled excess
fabric, and secured by the interaction of the pins 667 and the locking
mechanism 660 thus
preventing access to the internal compai intent (not shown) of the soft
portable secure
encasement 600.
[00103] FIG 16c provides another perspective view of various embodiments of
the soft
secure portable encasement 600, and further demonstrating how the soft secure
portable
encasement 600 is capable of being secured when a common docking unit 200 is
not
available. Carrying straps 620 may comprise, for example, a steel cable 622
running through
the length of the strap. Steel cable 622 may be adapted to have a loop portion
at one end, and
strap 620 may be adapted with a connector 624 which allows one end of strap
620 to be
disengaged from the body of the encasement 600. By disengaging connector 624,
cable 622
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of strap 620 may be used to secure the soft secure portable encasement 600 to
a fixed object
by passing pin 667 through the loop end of cable 622, and then securing pins
667 to the
locking mechanism 660.
[00104] Referring to FIGS. 16d, 16e and 16f, locking mechanism 660 is
preferably a
double sided combination lock having an internal mechanism with two
independent and
separately movable latches 663 allowing two separate pins 667 (FIG. 16c)
locked into one
combination lock. Pins 667 are preferably rectangular in cross-section (FIG.
16a) so that the
mouth opening portion of the casing 650 cannot be unrolled providing access to
the contents.
Both latches 663 and pins 667 include hook portions 663a and 667a,
respectively, which
cooperate with one another to form a secure releasable locking arrangement.
Locking
mechanism 660 includes a combination lock mechanism 664 having individually
rotatable
locking rollers 677 for which a user may enter in a unique unlock code by
rotating the rollers
677 to an unlock position. Referring to FIG. 16f, which shows pins 667
partially disengaged
from latches 663, locking mechanism 660 further includes a rear casing 661 and
a front
support plate 671 forming a housing for a latch mount release box 662. Latch
mount release
box 662 includes the two independent latches 663, a release button 673 and a
locking spindle
674. Latch mount release box 662 can slide vertically against a spring 659
within rear casing
661. Latches 663 are each biased by a spring 675. Locking spindle 674 engages
with the
lock rollers 677 of combination lock mechanism 664. When release button 673 is
pressed
down, latch mount release box 662 slides down against spring 659 causing both
latches 663
to move downwards to release hook portions 663a and 667a of latches 663 and
pins 667 from
one another. If the lock rollers 677 of combination lock mechanism 664 are in
a lock
position, spindle 674 prevents latch mount release box 662 from moving
downward, thus
preventing the hook portions 663a and 667a of latches 663 and pins 667 from
releasing from
one another. As shown in FIG. 16f, hook portions 663a and 667a of latches 663
and pins 667
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are preferably rectangular to prevent the hook portions 663a and 667a from
turning in locking
mechanism 660. However, other non-rotatable shapes could be used. The
independent and
separately movable latches 663 allow for each end of cable 665 to be secured
separately
rather than at the same time.
[00105] FIGS. 17a, 17b, 17c and 17d depict the internal mechanism allowing a
user to
engage and disengage the soft secure portable encasement 600 from a common
docking unit.
Soft portable secure encasement 600 is capable of inseparably interacting with
the common
docking unit 200 via an external securement mechanism, for example a male
securement
mechanism 680 which is shown in FIGS. 17a and 17b from an internal perspective
passing
through secure base 668 into a portion of the base adapted to receive a common
docking unit
669. FIG. 17a provides a cutaway perspective view of a portion of a soft
portable secure
encasement 600 illustrating the external securement mechanism 680 and its male
securement
mechanism 681 and disengagement mechanism 695 which is actuated by pull tab
670. Pull
tab 670 preferably includes a plastic release bracket 670a (FIG. 16a) to allow
the user to use
the release bracket as a trigger. The release bracket 670a may include a two-
way hoop and
loop closure tab fastened over the release bracket 670a to add extra
protection against being
able to release the release bracket 670a from outside of the encasement. In
the embodiments
depicted a male type external securement mechanism 680 inseparably interacts
with a
common docking unit's 200 female type securement mechanism 210 that is
received into
base portion 669.
[00106] According to the various embodiments depicted and referring to FIGS.
17a,
17b, 17c, 17d, 18a and 18b, the external securement mechanism 680 includes a
male
securement mechanism 681 having a male engagement pin 682 biased and
telescopically
engaged within a male engagement body 681 by a spring 683 disposed within male
engagement body 681. Male engagement body 681 and male engagement pin includes
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aligned through slots 681a and 682a, respectively. Male engagement pin 682
includes a
beveled or angled end 682b. A lever 685 is attached to external securement
mechanism 680
and includes a lever arm 685a which is insertable through aligned through
slots 681a and
682a to retain male engagement pin 682 correctly aligned within male
engagement body 681.
Lever 685 further includes a pivot 685b. The male securement mechanism 681
engages with
the common docking unit's 200 female type securement mechanism 210, as with
the hard
secure portable encasement 100 or 100', by applying a downward force to the
soft portable
secure encasement 600 which causes the angled end 682b of the male engagement
pin 682 of
securement mechanism 680 to push the external securement mechanism 680 away
from the
common docking unit against a lever 685 attached to securement mechanism 680,
which
opposes an applied force provided by the male securement mechanism 681, for
example a
spring 683, such that once the external securement mechanism 680 passes into
the level of the
common docking unit's female type securement mechanism 210 the force provided
by male
securement mechanism 681 causes the external securement mechanism 680 to
inseparably
interact with the common docking unit 200 until the disengagement mechanism
695 is
actuated. To disengage the soft portable secure encasement 600 from the common
docking
unit 200, a user may pull on a draw tab 670 which conveys a force through the
disengagement mechanism 695, for example in the embodiments depicted a cable,
to a lever
685 attached to securement mechanism 680, causing lever 685 to pivot about
pivot 685b and
lever arm 685a to move outwardly within aligned through slots 681a and 682a
which pulls
the male engagement pin 682 against the applied spring 683 force thereby
disengaging the
external securement mechanism 680 from the common docking unit 200. As will be
appreciated any suitable mechanism may serve as the external securement
mechanism 680
such that it enables inseparable interaction between the soft portable secure
encasement 600
and the common docking unit 200.
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[00107] Referring to FIGS. 19a-27b, embodiments of a backpack or other soft-
sided
encasement which has security features which prevent theft of contents secured
within the
backpack or theft of the backpack itself are shown. In the illustrated
embodiments, the
encasement is a backpack, designated generally by reference numeral 700.
Backpack 700
includes a body 712 and a pair of backpack straps 714 configured to permit
backpack 700 to
be worn on the back of a user. Body 712 includes a front portion 716, a rear
portion 718, a
top portion 720, a bottom portion 722 and two side portions 724. Body 712
further includes
an exterior portion 726, and further includes an interior portion 728 (FIG.
26a) configured to
hold contents.
[00108] The exterior portion 726 may include a fabric outer covering
730
formed from a cut-proof or cut-resistant fabric such as that discussed above
with reference to
the soft portable secure encasement 600 having a cut-resistant level of at
least 4 and
preferably at least 7 in accordance with ANSI/ISEA 105 standard (2016 ed.).
[00109] The interior portion 728 (FIG. 26a) may include an inner
fabric lining
732 formed from a waterproof fabric, for example, polyvinyl chloride fabric.
[00110] Referring to FIGS. 20a-20d and FIG. 26, in this embodiment, a
substantially rigid, cut-resistant molded shell 734 is substantially L-shaped
and is configured
to be disposed between the fabric outer covering 730 and the inner fabric
lining 732 (FIG. 26)
in the rear portion 718, top portion 720, bottom portion 722 and side portions
724 of body
712. Accordingly, cut-resistant molded shell 734 has a rear portion 736, a top
portion 738, a
bottom portion 740 and side portions 742. In this embodiment, cut-resistant
molded shell 734
is formed from an injection molded plastic, such as injected molded polymers
including glass
fibers. Other than an edge portion 735, cut-resistant molded shell 734 is
configured to be
substantially cut-resistant or cut-proof. Edge portion 735 encircles the top
portion 738, the
bottom portion 740 and the side portions 742 of cut-resistant molded shell
734. Edge portion
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735 is thinner than the remaining portion of cut-resistant molded shell 734
and is configured
to allow the fabric outer covering 730 and the inner fabric lining 732 to be
sewn directly to
the cut-resistant molded shell 734. For example, the normal thickness of cut-
resistant molded
shell 734 is 3 mm but the edge portion 735 is reduced to 1.4 mm so that a
needle is able to
punch through the edge portion 735 during stitching of the fabric outer
covering 730 and the
inner fabric lining 732 to the edge portion 735.
[00111] Referring to FIG. 19b, in this embodiment, a front panel 744
is
disposed between the outer fabric shell 730 and the inner fabric lining 732 in
the front portion
716 of body 712. The front panel 744 may be configured to stop slash and grab
robberies and
prevent undesired access to the contents by preventing slashing or cutting of
the exterior
portion 726 of the backpack. In this embodiment, front panel 744 is formed
from a
polycarbonate sheet cut to the shape of the front portion 716 of body 712.
[00112] Referring to FIG. 21a, in this embodiment, the rear portion
718 of the
body 712 is cushioned with two back foam panels 750 disposed between the rear
portion 736
of cut-resistant molded shell 734 and the fabric outer covering 730.
[00113] Referring to FIG. 22a, in this embodiment, the rear portion
718 of the
body 12 further includes a zippered rear stash pocket 752.
[00114] Referring to FIG. 19a, in this embodiment, the front portion
716 of the
body 712 further includes a zippered front stash pocket 754.
[00115] Referring to FIG. 19b, in this embodiment, the side portions
724 of the
body 712 further include zippered side stash pockets 756.
[00116] Referring to FIG. 21a, in this embodiment, backpack straps 714
are
connected to the rear portion 718 of body 712 at top portions thereof.
Backpack straps 714
are formed from, for example, foam covered in the same fabric as body 712. The
body-
facing side 758 (FIG. 23a) of backpack straps 714 may be lined in a mesh
fabric.
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[00117] Referring to FIG. 21a, a first securement strap 760 is
connected to a
lower portion 762 of each of the backpack straps 714. A second securement
strap 764 is
connected to each backpack strap 714 at the lower portion 762 thereof above a
respective first
securement strap 760. Note the proximal ends of second securement straps 764
are blocked
in this view by lock cover flaps 765. A third securement strap 766 is
connected to the rear
portion 718 of body 712 near the bottom portion 722 of body 712. Each first
securement
strap 760 is configured to connect with a third securement strap 764 utilizing
quick release
connectors 768 disposed on the distal ends of first and third securement
straps 760, 766.
Each second securement strap 764 is configured to connect with the second
connecting strap
764 on the opposite backpack strap 714 utilizing quick release connectors 768
disposed on
the distal ends of second securement straps 764. First, second and third
securement straps
760, 764, 766 are formed from, for example, a woven nylon.
[00118] Referring to FIGS. 22a-22d and 26a, backpack 700 may include a
backpack strap securement cable 770 which ensures that backpack straps 714
cannot be cut
through and backpack 700 is still secured and locked. Cable 770 may be, for
example, a 5
mm plastic coated steel cable. Cable 770 extends through the backpack straps
714 and cut-
resistant molded shell 734. Cut-resistant molded shell 734 anchors cable 770
to backpack
700 by having cable 770 thread through holes 774, 775 in cut-resistant molded
shell 734.
Specifically, as shown in FIG. 22a-, cable 770 extends from a first hole 774
in the lower
portion 762 of one the backpack straps 714, through the interior of the upper
portion 772 said
backpack strap 714 , through a first hole 774 in the rear portion 736 of the
cut-resistant
molded shell 734, between the cut-resistant molded shell 734 and the inner
fabric lining 732
(FIG. 26a) , through a second hole 775 in the rear portion 736 of the cut-
resistant molded
shell 734, into the interior of the upper portion 772 the other backpack strap
714 and out
though a second hole 776 in the lower portion 762 of the other backpack strap
714 such that
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first and second ends 778, 780 of the cable 770 extend outside the backpack
straps 714. The
first and second ends 778, 780 of the cable 770 have locking features which
allow the first
and second ends 778, 780 to be secured and locked together. In the illustrated
embodiment,
the first end 778 of the cable 770 is, for example, a female end having a
rotating tumbler
combination lock 782, and the second end 780 is a male end insertable into the
female end
778 and lockable by rotating the rotating tumbler combination lock 782. This
allows the
backpack 700 to be secured on secure fixtures other than the docking unit 200
described
above and below.
[00119] FIG. 22d shows cable 770 secured around a pole 771, for
example, by
locking the first and second ends 778, 780 with lock 780. A personal
identification number
(PIN) may be entered into the lock 780 to release the cable 770.
[00120] Referring to FIGS. 23a-24c, 26a and 26b, embodiments are shown
having a heavy-duty waterproof backpack zipper 784 which is configured to
selectively open
and close an opening 786 to the interior portion 728 of body and is protected
from attack. As
shown in FIGS. 23a and 23h, backpack zipper 784 may include a lock 794a. As
shown in
FIG. 23b, a heavily cut-resistant flap 796 is attached to the side portions
724 and top portion
720 of body 712 and extends rearwardly to selectively cover the zipper 784.
[00121] Referring to FIGS. 24a-25f, embodiments are shown in which
with the
flap 796 itself is held down by a cable 798a or 798b. The side portions 724
and top portion
720 of body 712 include a plurality of cable receiving elements, for example,
pillars 800
having a loop 802a (FIG. 24c) or through hole 802b (FIGS. 25a-25f). The cable
receiving
elements 800 are secured to pillar receiving holes 803 (FIGS. 20a-20d) in the
side portions
742 and top portion 738 of cut-resistant molded shell 734 through the fabric
outer covering
730. In the illustrated embodiment, there are four cable receiving elements
800: one cable
receiving element 800 on each side portion 724 and two cable receiving
elements 800 on
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each top portion 720 of body 712. At least one of the cable receiving elements
800a disposed
on one of the side portion 724 of body 712 includes a second through hole 802c
(FIGS. 25e-
250. In this embodiment, there are also four corresponding holes or slots 804
disposed on
the flap 796 and configured to receive a corresponding cable receiving element
800. Holes or
slots 804 are reinforced with grommets. In order to secure flap 796 over
zipper 784, flap 796
is folded down over a closed and locked zipper 784 such that each cable
receiving element
800 on body 712 is inserted into a corresponding grommeted hole 804 on flap
796. Cable
798b has a first end 805 which is threadable through the through holes 802c in
cable
receiving elements 800 (FIG. 25d). A second end 806 of cable 798b is enlarged
such that it is
not able to be threaded through the through holes 802b in cable receiving
elements 800 (FIG.
25c). Cable 798b is threaded through the through holes 802b and a lock 808
(FIG. 25g-250,
for example, a padlock is inserted through the second through hole 802c on the
at least one of
the cable receiving elements 800 disposed on one of the side portion 724 of
body 712. Lock
808 is then locked preventing cable 798b from being withdrawn through the
cable receiving
elements 800.
[00122] Referring to FIGS. 26a and 26b, in this embodiment, zipper 784
may
be a two-way zipper extending from a side portion 724, across the top portion
720 and to the
opposite side portion 724 of body 712. Zipper 784 includes two sliders 788
arranged in a
head-to-head fashion. Each slider 788 includes a male locking element 790
configured to be
received in a female locking element 792 of a combination lock 794b.
Combination lock
794b is attached through a rectangular hole 795 in the top portion 738 of cut-
resistant molded
shell 734 through the fabric outer covering 730 and is configured to lock the
sliders 788 of
zipper 784 in a closed position.
[00123] Referring to FIGS. 27a-27b, an embodiment is shown having a
detachable dock attachment 810 which is attached to the bottom of the backpack
700 by four
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thumb bolts 812 which can only be removed from the inside of the backpack 700
so, if it is
locked, the detachable dock attachment 810 cannot be removed from the backpack
700.
Thumb bolts 812 are insertable from the interior portion 728 of backpack 700
into
corresponding holes 813 in cut-resistant molded shell (FIGS. 20b -20c),
through
corresponding holes 815 in the outer fabric shell 730 and into corresponding
holes 817 in
detachable dock attachment 810. Detachable docking unit 810 allows backpack
700 the
option of having extra securement of attaching to a docking unit 200 when
desired or for the
removal of the detachable dock attachment 810 when a docking unit 200 will not
be
available. The detachable dock attachment 810 is selectively lockable with a
docking unit
(like docking unit 200, FIG. 17d) bolted to the floor, for example. The
functional elements
within dock attachment 810 are described in more detail above with reference
to the
embodiment of FIGS. 17a-18b. A release handle 814 (like handle 670, FIG. 17a)
is
configured to be attachable to detachable dock attachment 810 and to retract
male
engagement pins (like male engagement pins 682, FIG. 17d) within the dock
attachment 810
to release the backpack 700 from the docking unit (like docking unit 200) when
pulled. To
attach release handle 814 to detachable dock attachment 810, release handle
814 is insertable
from the interior portion 728 of backpack 700 into a corresponding holes 819
in cut-resistant
molded shell (FIG. 20b), through a corresponding holes 821 in the outer fabric
shell 730 to be
operatively connected to the male engagement pin within detachable dock
attachment 810.
[00124] Although the invention has been described in terms of
particular
embodiments in this application, one of ordinary skill in the art, in light of
the teachings
herein, can generate additional embodiments and modifications without
departing from the
spirit of, or exceeding the scope of, the described invention. Accordingly, it
is understood
that the drawings and the descriptions herein are proffered only to facilitate
comprehension of
the invention and should not be construed to limit the scope thereof
Modifications and
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variations can be made to the present security assembly without departing from
the spirit and
scope of the invention as defined by the following claims or their
equivalents. Hence, unless
changes otherwise depart from the scope of the invention, the changes should
be construed as
being included herein.
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