SYSTEMS, METHODS AND PRODUCTS FOR SHIPPING PASSENGER/INDIVIDUAL BELONGINGS FOR TRAVEL

• US 20080188979A1
• Filed: 10/03/2007
• Published: 08/07/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/03/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Beth W. Mcintire, Judith N. Stimson, Sarah L. Moshe
• Original Assignee: Beth W. Mcintire, Judith N. Stimson, Sarah L. Moshe
• Inventors: Stimson, Judith N., Moshe, Sarah L., McIntire, Beth W.
• Granted Patent: US 8,359,121 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/229
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 13/08 Decorative devices for handbags or purses
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 13/42 Devices for identifying luggage; Means for attaching same
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 5/04 Trunks; Travelling baskets

Abstract

Described are systems, methods and products for the shipment of passenger or other traveler containers, e.g. containing personal items for use during travel. In certain aspects, systems and methods for such shipment involve the use of transport vessels other than those that will be occupied by a passenger during travel, e.g. cargo vessels or vehicles.

Claims

1. A method for arranging for transportation of containers of an airline passenger from an origin location to a destination location via a flight taken from an origin airport to a destination airport, the origin location and destination location being distinct from the origin airport and the origin location, respectively, the method comprising:

entering origin location information, passenger airline flight information, destination location information, and container information for the passenger into a database;

arranging for collection of the container at the origin location;

arranging for ground transport of the container to the origin airport;

arranging for air transport of the container to the destination airport on a non-passenger flight; and

arranging for ground transport of the container from the destination airport to the destination location.

2. The method of claim 1, also comprising maintaining updated information concerning container location and delivery status in a database.

3. The method of claim 2, also comprising communicating the updated information to the passenger.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein said communicating comprises electronically communicating the updated information to the passenger.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein said electronically communicating is over a communications network.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein said communications network is the Internet.

7. The method of claim 4, wherein said electronically communicating is over a wireless system.

8. The method of claim 1, also comprising maintaining a Web interface for receiving the origin location information, passenger airline flight information, destination location information, and container information from the passenger.

9. A method for arranging for transportation of container of an airline passenger from an origin location to a destination location via a flight taken from an origin airport to a destination airport, the origin location and destination location being distinct from the origin airport and the origin location, respectively, the method comprising:

entering origin location information, destination location information, container information, original shipping date information, and return shipping date information for the passenger into a database;

arranging for collection of the container at the origin location on the original shipping date;

arranging for ground transport of the container to the origin airport after collection at the origin location;

arranging for air transport of the container to the destination airport on a non-passenger flight;

arranging for ground transport of the container from the destination airport to the destination location;

arranging for collection of the container at the destination location on the return shipping date;

arranging for ground transport of the container from the destination location to the destination airport after collection on the return shipping date;

arranging for air transport of the container to the origin airport from the destination airport on a non-passenger flight; and

arranging for ground transport of the container from the origin airport to the origin location.

10. The method of claim 9, also comprising maintaining updated information concerning container delivery status in a database.

11. The method of claim 10, also comprising communicating the updated information to the passenger.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein said communicating comprises electronically communicating the updated information to the passenger.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein said electronically communicating is over a communications network.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein said communications network is the Internet

15. The method of claim 12, wherein said electronically communicating is over a wireless system.

16. The method of claim 9, also comprising maintaining a Web interface for receiving the origin location information, destination location information, container information, original shipping date information, and return shipping date information from the passenger.

17. The method of claim 9, also comprising entering passenger flight information for the passenger in a database.

18. The method of claim 9, also comprising providing to the passenger a coding element for association with one or more pieces of the container.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein said coding element is a bar code.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein said providing comprises electronically communicating information for creation of said coding element.

21. A method for arranging for shipment of container of an individual from the individual'"'"'s origin location to the individual'"'"'s destination location, and back, the method comprising:

entering the individual'"'"'s origin location information, the individual'"'"'s destination location information, the individual'"'"'s container information, the individual'"'"'s original shipping date information, and the individual'"'"'s return shipping date information into a database;

arranging for collection of the container at the individual'"'"'s origin location on the original shipping date;

arranging for transport of the container to the individual'"'"'s destination location;

arranging for collection of the container at the individual'"'"'s destination location on the return shipping date; and

arranging for transport of the container from the individual'"'"'s destination location to the individual'"'"'s origin location.

22. A container for shipment of personal belongings of an individual, comprising:

a container; and

visible indicia carried upon an external surface of the container simulating an appearance of a luggage bag;

wherein said visible indicia include at least one image simulating the appearance of a luggage bag handle, a luggage bag latch, a luggage bag zipper, a luggage bag surface texture, and/or luggage bag seam.