Baggage claim ticket holder

• US 4,531,312 A
• Filed: 06/08/1981
• Issued: 07/30/1985
• Est. Priority Date: 06/08/1981
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Edward L. Gilkey
• Original Assignee: Edward L. Gilkey
• Inventors: Stoddart, Raymond
• Primary Examiner(s): Mancene, Gene
• Assistant Examiner(s): Contreras, Wenceslao J.
• Application Number:
  US06/271,474
• Time in Patent Office: 1,513 Days
• Field of Search: 40/16 R, 40/17 R, 40/486, 283/6
• US Class Current: 40/649
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 13/42 Devices for identifying luggage; Means for attaching same
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 3/18 Casings, frames or enclosures for labels

Abstract

A baggage tag retainer adaptable to be permanently bonded to the exterior of a luggage container. The retainer is shaped so as to detachably retain a conventional airline destination baggage claim tag and is marked with a permanent identification number that is concealed from view when the airline baggage tag is mounted in the retainer. By means of my invention, baggage destination tags will be more securely fixed to luggage so as to prevent loss of the tag during the normal handling of the luggage on conveyor systems and the luggage will be permanently identified with the owner, while all such owner identification is concealed from view of unauthorized persons during transport of the luggage.

Claims

1. A method of providing for identification and travel schedule of the user of an item of travel luggage to authorized personnel, while preventing disclosure of identification to others to whom the luggage may be visible utilizing a retainer comprising:

A housing formed with a top wall and a bottom wall that bound a shaped internal chamber which is open at the front end of the housing, said chamber being of a size to substantially enclose and frictionally retain a baggage claim tag of the size of the standard size destination and claim check tag employed by airlines, said housing formed with a transparent top wall fabricated so as to expose to view the exterior marked surface of a baggage claim tag enclosed in the said chamber or alternatively to expose to view the interior surface of the bottom wall of the housing together with identification located on said bottom wall of a size and shape so as to be visible to view only when said claim tag is not enclosed in said chamber,

said housing being fitted with means to fasten the said housing to the exterior of an item of luggage and said method comprising the following steps;

(a) registration with a service organization by the user of the indicia marked on his retainer unit so that the indicia serves as his coded identification with said service organization;

(b) Installation of the retainer unit on the exterior of an item of travel luggage by fastening the housing of the retainer to the exterior of the said item of luggage;

(c) Registration with said service organization of a travel plan and schedule of the user of the indicia together with authorization by the user to said service organization to permit the service organization to divulge the identification and schedules of the user to personnel of airlines and hotels upon receipt from the said personnel of identification information of said indicia as required;

(d) installation by the user, or by said personnel, of an airline baggage destination and claim check in the chamber of the retainer unit so as to conceal form view the indicia.