Electronic luggage ID tag

• US 10,121,101 B1
• Filed: 06/07/2017
• Issued: 11/06/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 06/07/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ViewTag, Co.
• Original Assignee: Vanguard Identification Systems Incorporated
• Inventors: Warther, Richard O.
• Primary Examiner(s): Le, Thien M
• Application Number:
  US15/616,350
• Time in Patent Office: 517 Days
• Field of Search: 235492
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 13/42 Devices for identifying luggage; Means for attaching same
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1656 Details related to functional adaptations of the enclosure, e.g. to provide protection against EMI, shock, water, or to host detachable peripherals like a mouse or removable expansions units like PCMCIA cards, or to provide access to internal components for maintenance or to removable storage supports like CDs or DVDs, or to mechanically mount accessories mounting of accessories to a computer display G06F1/1607; display hoods G06F1/1603; cooling arrangements for portable computers G06F1/203

Abstract

A programmable luggage tag comprising a programmable electronic visual display assembly including a display screen, a radio receiver, a processor operably connecting the display assembly with the radio receiver, the processor configured to permit programming of an image shown on the display screen in response to image commands received through the radio receiver, a unitary housing having first and second opposing major outer sides and first and second opposing minor outer sides arranged substantially perpendicularly to the first and second opposing major outer sides, the housing containing the display assembly, the radio receiver, and the processor, the first major outer side of the housing being substantially transparent, revealing the display screen, the housing configured to receive a cord through a first chamber integrally formed within the housing, and a planar flap fixedly connected with the second major outer side of the housing.

Claims

1. A programmable luggage tag comprising:

a programmable electronic visual display assembly including a display screen;

a radio receiver;

a processor operably connecting the display assembly with the radio receiver, the processor configured to permit programming of an image shown on the display screen in response to image commands received through the radio receiver;

a unitary housing having first and second opposing major outer sides and first and second opposing minor outer sides arranged substantially perpendicularly to the first and second opposing major outer sides, the housing containing the display assembly, the radio receiver, and the processor, the first major outer side of the housing being substantially transparent, revealing the display screen, the housing configured to receive a cord through a first chamber integrally formed within the housing; and

a planar flap fixedly connected with the second major outer side of the housing.

2. The programmable luggage tag of claim 1, wherein the flap includes a radio frequency identification transponder assembly.

3. The programmable luggage tag of claim 1, wherein the first opposing minor outer side of the housing includes a hole through which a first end of the first chamber is accessible.

4. The programmable luggage tag of claim 3, wherein the second major outer side of the housing includes a hollow tube through which a first end of a second chamber is accessible.

5. The programmable luggage tag of claim 4, wherein the flap further includes a hole substantially aligned with the hollow tube of the second major outer side of the housing.

6. The programmable luggage tag of claim 1, further comprising:

a second chamber integrally formed within the housing for receiving the cord.

7. The programmable luggage tag of claim 6, wherein the first opposing minor outer side of the housing includes a hole through which a first end of the first chamber is accessible, the second opposing minor outer side includes a hole through which a first end of the second chamber is accessible, the second major outer side of the housing includes a first hollow tube through which a second end of the first chamber is accessible and a second hollow tube through which a second end of the second chamber is accessible, the flap further includes first and second holes substantially aligned with the first and second hollow tubes of the second major outer side of the housing.

8. The programmable luggage tag of claim 1, further comprising:

a cord locking mechanism configured to activate an engagement mechanism which locks the cord into place within the luggage tag.

9. The programmable luggage tag of claim 1, wherein the housing has a housing stiffness and the flap has a flap stiffness, the flap stiffness being less than the housing stiffness.

10. The programmable luggage tag of claim 1, wherein the housing is constructed of a material selected from the group consisting of a polymeric material, a metal material, a combination of metal pieces, a combination of high impact plastic pieces, a combination of metal and plastic pieces, an assembly of metal and polymeric components.

11. The programmable luggage tag of claim 1, wherein the display screen is constructed of a polycarbonate material.

12. The programmable luggage tag of claim 1, wherein the housing further contains a battery and an input device exposed from the case for manual operation, the input device being configured to operably connect the battery with at least the processor and the radio receiver.

13. The programmable luggage tag of claim 1, wherein the radio receiver and the processor are configured for Bluetooth communication.

14. The programmable luggage tag of claim 1, wherein the radio frequency identification transponder assembly is configured for Ultra High Frequency operation.

15. The programmable luggage tag of claim 1, wherein the radio frequency identification transponder assembly is electrically isolated from the housing.

16. The programmable luggage tag of claim 1, wherein the radio frequency identification transponder assembly is passive and powered only from an external interrogation signal.

17. The programmable luggage tag of claim 1, wherein the display assembly includes a bistable display.