RFID Adapter and RFID Enabled Cargo Pallet

• US 20100288843A1
• Filed: 05/14/2009
• Published: 11/18/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/14/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nordisk Aviation Products AS (Transdigm Group Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Nordisk Aviation Products AS (Transdigm Group Incorporated)
• Inventors: Arnesen, Christian, Teien, Nils Martin
• Granted Patent: US 8,322,955 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 235/492
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07749 the record carrier being capable of non-contact communication, e.g. constructional details of the antenna of a non-contact smart card

Abstract

A radio frequency identification (“RFID”) apparatus includes a housing configured to mate with a channel of an extruded metal mounting system and a flange extending radially outwardly from the housing. The flange is configured to bear upon a lower portion of a channel lip to retain the housing within the channel. In addition, a seat is disposed within the housing to retain an RFID tag and a lock secures the housing at a particular location along the channel.

Claims

1. A radio frequency identification (“

RFID”

) apparatus comprising;

a housing configured to mate with a channel of an extruded metal mounting system;

a flange extending radially outwardly from the housing, the flange configured to bear upon a lower portion of a channel lip to retain the housing within the channel;

a seat disposed within the housing to retain an RFID tag; and

a lock to secure the housing at a particular location along the channel.

2. The RFID apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the seat includes a pair of opposing tabs configured to retain the RFID tag by clamping the RFID tag therebetween.

3. The RFID apparatus according to claim 2, wherein each tab of the pair of opposing tabs extends downward from an upper portion of the housing and includes a lip extending towards a centerline of the housing, the pair of opposing tabs being disposed symmetrically about the centerline.

4. The RFID apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the RFID apparatus is configured to fit into a groove disposed in the channel lip above the channel.

5. The RFID apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the flange is configured to fit into a cutout disposed in the channel lip.

6. The RFID apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the lock further comprises:

a nut;

a nut recess disposed in the housing, the nut recess configured to capture the nut;

a bolt having a threaded portion configured to mate with the nut; and

a disk secured to the housing by the bolt, the disk being configured to seat within the channel lip cutout, the disk being securely seated within the channel lip cutout in response to tightening the bolt.

7. The RFID apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the disk is offset from the flange and wherein in response to the RFID apparatus being slid along the channel so as to locate the disk at the channel lip cutout, the flange is disposed below the channel lip to secure the RFID apparatus in the channel.

8. The RFID apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the housing includes a polymeric material.

9. The RFID apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the polymeric material is essentially transparent to radio signals used to communicate with an RFID tag.

10. The RFID apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the lock further comprises:

a guide rod extending axially from an end of the housing;

a disk configured to slidably mate with the guide rod, the disk being captured between a distal end of the guide rod and the housing; and

a spring configured to urge the housing and the disk apart.

12. The RFID cassette according to claim 11, wherein the first pair of flanges extend radially outwardly from a lower portion of the elongated polymer housing.

13. The RFID cassette according to claim 12, further comprising:

a second pair of flanges, each of the second pair of flanges extending radially outwardly from a respective side of the pair of sides, the first pair of flanges and the second pair of flanges being spaced along the pair of sides.

14. The RFID cassette according to claim 11, wherein the clip includes a pair of opposing tabs configured to retain the RFID tag by clamping the RFID tag therebetween.

15. The RFID cassette according to claim 14, wherein each tab of the pair of opposing tabs extends downward from an upper portion of the elongated polymer housing and includes a lip extending towards a centerline of the elongated polymer housing, the pair of opposing tabs being disposed symmetrically about the centerline.

11. A radio frequency identification (“

RFID”

) cassette comprising;

an elongated polymer housing having a polymer being essentially transparent to radio signals used to communicate with an RFID tag, the elongated polymer housing comprising;

a top;

a bottom;

a pair of sides extending along a long axis of the elongated polymer housing; and

a centerline defined by a plane passing perpendicularly through the top and bottom and at a midpoint between the pair of sides;

a first pair of flanges, each of the first pair of flanges extending radially outwardly from a respective side of the pair of sides;

a recess disposed in the bottom, the recess including a clip to retain the RFID tag; and

a disk threadedly engaged to the elongated polymer housing, the disk being disposed along the centerline and offset from the first pair of flanges.

16. The RFID cassette according to claim 11, further comprising:

a female threaded insert disposed in the elongated polymer housing; and

a threaded rod configured to mate with the female threaded insert, the disk being captured by an enlarged head portion of the threaded rod.

17. The RFID cassette according to claim 16, wherein the disk is disposed at an upper portion of the elongated polymer housing.

18. A radio frequency identification (“

RFID”

) pallet system comprising;

a pallet comprising;

a panel to support a package of cargo;

an edge disposed about a perimeter of the panel, the edge including an extruded metal rail; and

a mounting system integrated into the extruded metal rail, the mounting system including a channel and a channel lip;

a housing configured to mate with the channel;

a flange extending radially outwardly from the housing, the flange configured to bear upon a lower portion of the channel lip to retain the housing within the channel;

a seat disposed within the housing to retain an RFID tag; and

a lock to secure the housing at a particular location along the channel.

19. The RFID pallet system according to claim 18, wherein the seat includes a pair of opposing tabs configured to retain the RFID tag by clamping the RFID tag therebetween.

20. The RFID pallet system according to claim 19, wherein each tab of the pair of opposing tabs extends downward from an upper portion of the housing and includes a lip extending towards a centerline of the housing, the pair of opposing tabs being disposed symmetrically about the centerline.

21. The RFID pallet system according to claim 18, wherein the RFID apparatus is configured to fit into a groove disposed in the channel lip above the channel.

22. The RFID pallet system according to claim 21, wherein the flange is configured to fit into a cutout disposed in the channel lip.

23. The RFID pallet system according to claim 22, wherein the lock further comprises:

a nut;

a nut recess disposed in the housing, the nut recess configured to capture the nut;

a bolt having a threaded portion configured to mate with the nut; and

a disk secured to the housing by the bolt, the disk being configured to seat within the channel lip cutout, the disk being securely seated within the channel lip cutout in response to tightening the bolt.

24. The RFID pallet system according to claim 23, wherein the disk is offset from the flange and wherein in response to the RFID apparatus being slid along the channel so as to locate the disk at the channel lip cutout, the flange is disposed below the channel lip to secure the RFID apparatus in the channel.

25. The RFID pallet system according to claim 18, wherein the housing includes a polymeric material.

26. The RFID pallet system according to claim 25, wherein the polymeric material is essentially transparent to radio signals used to communicate with an RFID tag.

27. The RFID pallet system according to claim 18, wherein the lock further comprises:

a guide rod extending axially from an end of the housing;

a disk configured to slidably mate with the guide rod, the disk being captured between a distal end of the guide rod and the housing; and

a spring configured to urge the housing and the disk apart.