Method and apparatus for providing a personal item drop off/return service at security checkpoints

• US 20040010430A1
• Filed: 10/30/2002
• Published: 01/15/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 07/11/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Laura Cinquini
• Original Assignee: Laura Cinquini
• Inventors: Cinquini, Laura, McBride, Allen J.
• Granted Patent: US 7,065,492 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/7
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 17/00193 Constructional details of apparatus in a franking system
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 2017/0004 Determining the location of mailpieces outside apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 2017/00209 Mailbox, i.e. container for outgoing mail
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 2017/00225 Vending machine or POS (Point Of Sale) apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/0014 for vending, access and use of specific services not covered anywhere else in G07F17/00 meter-controlled dispensing of liquid, gas or electricity G07F15/00

Abstract

An apparatus and method provide a personal item return service to an owner of a personal item that is subject to confiscation before the owner is admitted through a security checkpoint and into a secure area downstream of the security checkpoint. The security checkpoint can be located at a transportation center (airport, bus or train) or any entrance to a secure area at a building or sports arena. The owner can purchase from a vending machine or kiosk a container having sufficient pre-paid postage based on the size or weight of the item, and mail the item to a destination selected by the owner. The service is located adjacent to the security checkpoint so that the owner need not lose his/her place in the security line.

Claims

1. A method for dropping off items before admittance through a security checkpoint, comprising:

determining that at least one item may not be allowed to pass through the security checkpoint;

determining a container size for shipment of the at least one item;

purchasing a container having sufficient pre-paid postage based on at least one of a size and weight of the at least one item;

placing the at least one item in the container;

placing a mailing address on the container; and

placing the container in a courier drop-off box.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising locating the courier drop-off box adjacent to the security checkpoint.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of selecting the container from a plurality of containers having different postage amounts.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein a postage amount is selected by the user and then affixed to the container.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the container and postage are purchased from a vending machine.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the container and postage are purchased from a kiosk.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of weighing the at least one item to determine the proper postage.

8. The method of claim 5, further comprising the step of scanning information into the vending machine with at least one of a credit card, a debit card and a passenger ticket.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the information is at least one of a mailing address for the at least one item and a billing address.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the container and a service of delivering the container are provided by a commercial courier service.

11. An apparatus for dropping off items before admittance through a security checkpoint, comprising:

a container dispensing element adjacent to the security checkpoint that dispenses containers for holding at least one item;

a purchasing element adjacent to the security checkpoint that allows a user to purchase a container; and

a drop-off box adjacent to the security checkpoint that allows the user to drop off the at least one item for subsequent pick-up and delivery.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the container is one of a box, a tube, an envelope and a padded envelope.

13. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the container has a prepaid postage amount affixed to the container for selection by the user, based on at least one of a size and a weight of the at least one item.

14. The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising a postage dispensing element adjacent to the security checkpoint, for dispensing postage for the container separately to the user for placement on the container.

15. The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising a weighing element adjacent to the security checkpoint, for weighing the at least one item to determine proper postage.

16. The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising a scanner adjacent to the security checkpoint, for scanning information into the apparatus with at least one of a credit card, a debit card and a passenger ticket.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the information is at least one of a mailing address for the at least one item and a billing address.

18. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the container and a service of delivering the container are provided by a commercial courier service.

19. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein at least one of the container dispensing element, purchasing element, postage dispensing element, weighing element and scanning element are provided in a vending machine adjacent to a security checkpoint.

20. A method for providing a personal item return service to an owner of a personal item subject to confiscation before the owner is admitted through a security checkpoint and into a secure area downstream of the security checkpoint, the method comprising:

providing to the owner a container having sufficient pre-paid postage based on at least one of a size and a weight of the personal item to mail the personal item to a destination selected by the owner; and

accepting the container into a storage area for subsequent pick-up and delivery of the container to the selected destination.

21. The method of claim 20, further comprising locating the storage area adjacent to and upstream of the security checkpoint.

22. The method of claim 20, further comprising selling the container having the prepaid postage to the owner.

23. The method of claim 20, further comprising offering to the owner a plurality of containers having different amounts of pre-paid postage.

24. The method of claim 20, wherein the owner is provided with the container adjacent to and upstream of the security checkpoint.

25. The method of claim 20, wherein the owner is provided with the container within the secure area downstream of the security checkpoint.