Methods, devices and systems for tracking vehicles

• US 10,315,622 B2
• Filed: 06/28/2018
• Issued: 06/11/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 03/20/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: FoxTrac Inc.
• Original Assignee: FoxTrac Inc.
• Inventors: Lisi, Marco
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran, Dalena
• Application Number:
  US16/022,352
• Publication Number:
  US 20180304855A1
• Time in Patent Office: 348 Days
• Field of Search: 701519, 3405724, 705 28, 705 1449
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/102 a signal being sent to a remote location, e.g. a radio signal being transmitted to a police station, a security company or the owner
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/33 of global position, e.g. by providing GPS coordinates
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/75 using transponders powered from received waves, e.g. using passive transponders , or using passive reflectors
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders

Abstract

There is provided a kit comprising a base member adapted to be releasably attached to an upper region of a vehicle; a pole member comprising a first end that is adapted to be releasably coupled to the base member; an identification tag adapted to be mounted on the pole member and at a predetermined distance from the first end; and a light adapted to be positioned on the pole member. Such a kit is quite useful for tracking vehicles such as vehicles left outdoors that can be covered with ice and snow.

Claims

1. A kit comprising:

a base member adapted to be releasably attached to an upper region of a vehicle;

a pole member comprising a first end that is adapted to be releasably coupled to the base member;

an identification tag adapted to be mounted on the pole member and at a predetermined distance from the first end; and

a light adapted to be positioned on the pole member,

wherein the identification tag is an RFID tag being associated to a unique identification code and the light is configured to be illuminated when the RFID tag is queried by a signal corresponding to the unique identification code.

2. The kit of claim 1, wherein the identification tag is adapted to be mounted at a second end of the pole member and at the predetermined distance from the first end.

3. The kit of claim 1, wherein the length of the pole member is about 30 cm to about 90 cm.

4. The kit of claim 1, wherein the predetermined distance is about 30 cm to about 90 cm.

5. The kit of claim 1, wherein when the pole member is coupled to the base member and the base member is attached to the upper region of the vehicle, the identification tag is positioned at a height of about 30 cm to about 60 cm above the roof of the vehicle.

6. The kit of claim 1, wherein the base member includes a suction cup.

7. The kit of claim 6, wherein the suction cup is releasably attachable to a windshield of the vehicle.

8. The kit of claim 6, wherein the suction cup is releasably attachable to a roof of the vehicle.

9. The kit of claim 6, wherein the suction cup is adapted to maintain a binding with the windshield or the roof of a vehicle at a temperature of about −

40 degrees Celsius to about 50 degrees Celsius.

10. The kit of claim 1, wherein the base member comprises a clip adapted to be mounted over a top edge of a scrollable window of the vehicle.

11. The kit of claim 10, wherein the clip comprises a first leg and a second leg opposite the first leg and wherein the pole member extends from the first leg.

12. The kit of claim 11, wherein the clip is mounted to the scrollable window through a pinching of the clip between the scrollable window and a bottom side of a roof of the vehicle.

13. The kit of claim 1, wherein the pole member is substantially flexible.

14. The kit of claim 1, wherein the light is adapted to be positioned at the second end of the pole member.

15. The kit of claim 1, further comprising a receiver adapted to be in signal communication with the light, the receiver being associated to a unique identification code and being configured to illuminate the light when a signal corresponding to the unique identification code is received thereat.

16. A method of mounting an identification device to a vehicle, the method comprising:

attaching a base member to an upper region of a vehicle;

positioning a pole member coupled to the base member to a substantially upright position, whereby a remotely readable tag positioned on the pole member is positioned to a predetermined height above the upper region of the vehicle; and

attaching a light to the pole member, the light being configured to be illuminated when a receiver in signal communication with the light receives a signal corresponding to a unique identification code associated to the receiver,

wherein the remotely readable tag is positioned at a height of at about 30 centimeters to about 90 centimeters above the upper region of the vehicle.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the upper region comprises one or more of a hood, side mirror, front windshield, rear windshield, side windows, roof and truck door of the vehicle.

18. The method of claim 16, further comprising positioning the remotely readable tag to the distal end of the pole member.

19. A kit comprising:

a base member adapted to be releasably attached to an upper region of a vehicle;

a pole member comprising a first end that is adapted to be releasably coupled to the base member;

an identification tag adapted to be mounted on the pole member and at a predetermined distance from the first end; and

a light adapted to be positioned on the pole member,

wherein when the pole member is coupled to the base member and the base member is attached to the upper region of the vehicle, the identification tag is positioned at a height of about 30 cm to about 60 cm above the roof of the vehicle.

20. A kit comprising:

a base member adapted to be releasably attached to an upper region of a vehicle;

a pole member comprising a first end that is adapted to be releasably coupled to the base member;

an identification tag adapted to be mounted on the pole member and at a predetermined distance from the first end;

a light adapted to be positioned on the pole member; and

a receiver adapted to be in signal communication with the light, the receiver being associated to a unique identification code and being configured to illuminate the light when a signal corresponding to the unique identification code is received thereat.