Electronically Augmented Smart Lock for Trash Containers
AssigneeShervin Moloudi
InventorsDhruv Thukral, Viviane Soraya Ghaderi, Shervin Moloudi
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Abstract
A smart lock that can be built into or mounted onto a trash container with a lid and a can consists of two interlocking parts. The smart lock contains a primary lock operably connected to a secondary lock. The primary lock can be opened in presence of the trash collection vehicle or by a command from the owner. The secondary lock can be opened by the same conditions or when it senses mechanical and gravitational movement characteristics of the collection process, only when the first lock is open. Each lock comprises a timer and electronic circuitry that detects authorized commands and opens the lock.
Claims31
A trash container locking mechanism comprising:
- a top part attached or built into the container lid;
- a bottom part attached or built into the can;
- a locking mechanism consisting of at least two locks;
- a primary lock operably connected to a secondary lock to conditionally allow or disallow the unlocking of the secondary lock;
- a sensor that detects the condition required to allow the unlocking of the primary lock;
- a timer that locks the primary lock after a specified time following the unlocking of the primary lock;
- a secondary lock;
- a sensor that detects the condition required to allow the unlocking of the secondary lock;
- a gating mechanism that allows the unlocking of the secondary lock only if the primary lock is unlocked;
- a timer that locks the secondary lock after a specified time following the unlocking of the secondary lock;
- a battery or energy harvesting mechanism to supply power to the lock;
- a state machine that implements the locking and unlocking algorithm;
- and
- a fault detection mechanism that can unlock or lock the smart lock according to a predefined setting.
The trash container locking mechanism of claim 22 wherein the sensor for the secondary lock detects a motion signature unique to the collection process.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.