Apparatus for electronically determining whether a tax for a product has been paid

• US 20050127155A1
• Filed: 02/13/2004
• Published: 06/16/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/12/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Francis M. Claessens, Timo W. Kipp
• Original Assignee: Francis M. Claessens, Timo W. Kipp
• Inventors: Kipp, Timo W., Claessens, Francis M., Palmer, John P.
• Granted Patent: US 7,048,179 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 235/375
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2203/10 Transponders
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 55/02 Locking devices; Means for discouraging or indicating unauthorised opening or removal of closure B65D41/32 takes precedence; protective covers for bottles B65D23/08; protective cap-like outer covers for bottle or jar closures B65D41/62; pressure-applying means B65D45/00; closures with means for discouraging unauthorised opening or removal of closures B65D50/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/04 characterised by the shape
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/073 Special arrangements for circuits, e.g. for protecting identification code in memory protection against unauthorised use of computer memory G06F12/14
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07758 arrangements for adhering the record carrier to further objects or living beings, functioning as an identification tag
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07798 part of the antenna or the integrated circuit being adapted for rupturing or breaking, e.g. record carriers functioning as sealing devices for detecting not-authenticated opening of containers electronic seals G09F3/03
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/207 Tax processing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 215/901 Tamper-resistant structure
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/13 Tracers or tags

Abstract

An apparatus for electronically determining whether a tax or duty has been paid for the contents of that container. A radio frequency identification (RFID) tag is placed on the container which includes information indicative of whether the tax has been paid. The RFID tag includes a substrate, a radio frequency transceiver circuit mounted upon the substrate and connected to an antenna having a fixed length that is also mounted upon the substrate, and, preferably, a protrusion affixed to or a slot in the substrate. Preferably, the RFID tag is placed within the container'"'"'s cap, such that, when mounted on the container, the cap mates with a ratchet wheel connected to the container that engages the protrusion or slot such that removing the cap from the container will cause the substrate to fracture and thereby cause the RFID tag to become permanently disabled.

Claims

1. An apparatus for use in tracking whether a tax has been paid for a closed container, comprising;

a radio frequency identification tag comprising a substrate and a radio frequency transceiver circuit adapted to transmit a signal upon receipt of a transmit command and mounted upon said substrate; and

a container, said radio frequency identification tag mounted on said container, said radio frequency identification tag containing information indicating that the tax for said container has been paid.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein, said information comprises a unique predetermined code.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a cap for said container having a closed end and an open end, said radio frequency identification tag mounted on an inner surface of said cap; and

an engagement member interconnecting said substrate and said container such that removing said cap from said container results in the fracture of said substrate thereby causing said radio frequency identification tag to become permanently disabled.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said radio frequency identification tag further comprises an antenna having a fixed length mounted upon said substrate and connected to said radio frequency transceiver circuit and a first interconnection means on said substrate, said apparatus further comprising:

a cap for said container having a cylindrical portion, a closed end of said cylindrical portion and an open end of said cylindrical portion, said radio frequency identification tag mounted on an inner surface of said cylindrical portion of said cap adjacent to said closed end such that said first connection means faces centrally inward; and

a second interconnection means connected to said container for engaging said first interconnection means when said cap is installed on said container such that removing said cap from said container will exert force on said substrate resulting in the fracture of said substrate thereby causing said radio frequency identification tag to become permanently disabled.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said radio frequency identification tag further comprises an antenna having a fixed length mounted upon said substrate and connected to said radio frequency transceiver circuit and a protrusion affixed to said substrate, said apparatus further comprising:

a cap for said container having a cylindrical portion, a closed end of said cylindrical portion and an open end of said cylindrical portion, said radio frequency identification tag mounted on an inner surface of said cylindrical portion of said cap adjacent to said closed end such that said protrusion extends centrally inward; and

ratcheting means connected to said container for engaging said protrusion when said cap is installed on said container such that removing said cap from said container will exert force on said substrate resulting in the fracture of said substrate thereby causing said radio frequency identification tag to become permanently disabled

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said radio frequency identification tag further comprises an antenna having a fixed length mounted upon said substrate and connected to said radio frequency transceiver circuit and a slot in said substrate, said apparatus further comprising:

a cap for said container having a cylindrical portion, a closed end of said cylindrical portion and an open end of said cylindrical portion, said radio frequency identification tag mounted on an inner surface of said cylindrical portion of said cap adjacent to said closed end such that said slot faces centrally inward; and

ratcheting means connected to said container for engaging said slot when said cap is installed on said container such that removing said cap from said container will exert force on said substrate resulting in the fracture of said substrate thereby causing said radio frequency identification tag to become permanently disabled

7. A radio frequency identification tag for use in tracking whether a tax has been paid for a closed container comprising:

a substrate and a radio frequency transceiver circuit adapted to transmit a signal upon receipt of a transmit command and mounted on said substrate, said radio frequency identification tag containing information indicating that the tax for the container has been paid.