Vehicle Safe with Remote Access Control and Reversible Mounting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle lock systems lack secure and portable solutions that prevent theft, as they are either not resistant to breach or can be easily removed and opened by thieves, and do not provide easy access for authorized users.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle safe with a remote access system, made of plate steel, featuring a recessed door and reversible mounting to a vehicle baseplate, using a fob for keyless entry and a two-stage security system, including a GPS tracker for location monitoring and an auxiliary power source for continued operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional locked compartments are used in vehicles, then valuables are protected to some extent, but the compartments are not resistant to breach and can be easily accessed via interior release mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The vehicle security system is divided into two independent parts: the vehicle's original locking mechanism and the separate secure container with its own independent locking system. This segmentation ensures that compromising the vehicle's locking system does not provide access to the valuables inside the container.
Solution Approach 2:
The secure container is nested within the vehicle's interior space, creating a container-within-a-container configuration. The container has its own walls, locking mechanism, and security features independent of the vehicle's structure, providing layered security where the inner container protects valuables even if the outer vehicle compartment is breached.
2Ease of operation
If traditional safes are made portable for easy access, then they are easily removed by thieves and become targets for theft
Solution Approach 1:
The container is pre-installed and securely mounted to the vehicle's structure before use. The mounting system includes structural attachments that make removal difficult without specialized tools or significant force, so the preparatory mounting action prevents easy theft while maintaining accessibility during authorized use.
Solution Approach 2:
A remote wireless communication system acts as an intermediary between the authorized user and the container's locking mechanism. The user can lock, unlock, and monitor the container remotely via wireless signals, eliminating the need for physical contact with the container while maintaining secure access control.
3Reliability
If locked containers are made permanent to prevent removal, then they cannot be easily transported or exchanged between vehicles
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting system transitions between two states: a locked state where the container is securely attached to the vehicle structure, and an unlocked state where it can be easily removed. The dynamic mounting mechanism allows the container to be firmly fixed during normal use but readily removable when needed, adapting to different operational requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The container can be temporarily 'discarded' from one vehicle and 'recovered' in another. The standardized mounting interface allows the container to be removed from its current vehicle and reinstalled in a different vehicle, providing versatility for users who need to secure valuables in multiple vehicles without being permanently bound to one location.
4Ease of operation
If remote access systems are added to safes, then authorized access is improved, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The manual mechanical locking system is supplemented or replaced with an electronic locking mechanism controlled by wireless signals. This substitution allows remote operation of the lock through electronic communication, enabling authorized access without physical presence while integrating seamlessly with the existing mechanical structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The remote access system uses universal wireless communication protocols that can interface with various mobile devices and control systems. The system performs multiple functions including remote locking, unlocking, status monitoring, and alarm notification, consolidating these capabilities into a single integrated control interface that reduces overall system complexity despite the added functionality.
Data Source
AI summary
A remote access locking system and transportable secure containers are provided with a wireless key fob and optional tamper alarm, location transponder and reversible coupling to secure the container to a vehicle element or to a mounting plate that is fixed to the vehicle. The wireless fob sends wireless command signals to a controller that authenticates the signal and locks or unlocks the container door. The controller may also have a sound generator configured to produce a characteristic chirp when the lock is locked or unlocked by the controller that is different from the vehicle door chirp. The wireless fob for the container may stand alone or have a coupling joining the container fob with a conventional wireless entry fob for a vehicle. The system may also use secondary security measures such as RFID tags for two step authentication.