Suitcase locating device

• US 6,304,183 B1
• Filed: 12/15/2000
• Issued: 10/16/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 12/15/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Charles O. Causey
• Original Assignee: Charles O. Causey
• Inventors: Causey, Charles O.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wu, Daniel J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): PHAM, TOAN NGOC
• Application Number:
  US09/737,793
• Time in Patent Office: 305 Days
• Field of Search: 340/572.1, 340/568.1, 340/539, 340/571, 340/825.49, 340/815.45, 340/10.1, 340/10.51, 340/10.52
• US Class Current: 340/572.1
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0216 Alarm cancellation after generation
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0286 Tampering or removal detection of the child unit from child or article
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0288 Attachment of child unit to child/article
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/24 Reminder alarms, e.g. anti-loss alarms

Abstract

A suitcase locating device for quickly finding luggage in an airport luggage pick-up area. The suitcase locating device includes a housing. The housing has a top surface, a bottom surface, a front side, a back side, a first side wall and a second side wall. The housing is generally hollow. The top surface has a plurality of bar code indicia thereon. The bar code indicia is unique to the housing. A microprocessor actuates a plurality of lights and decodes a received signal. The microprocessor is securably mounted in the housing. A power supply for powering the microprocessor is operationally coupled to the microprocessor. Each of a plurality of lights is mounted in and is generally flush with the top surface of the housing. Each of the lights is electrically coupled to the microprocessor. A receiving means for receiving a signal is securely positioned in the housing and operationally coupled to the microprocessor. Each of a pair of straps for removably placing around a suitcase has a first end and a second end. Each of the first ends is securely attached to the first side wall, and each of the second ends is attached to the second side wall. An actuating means for sending a signal to the receiving means is adapted for selectively turning the lights on and off. The actuating means comprises a remote control device.

Claims

1. A suitcase location and security system, said system being removably mountable to a suitcase and a handle thereof, said system comprising:

a housing, said housing having a top surface, a bottom surface, a front side, a back side, a first side wall and a second side wall, said housing being generally hollow, said top surface having a plurality of bar code indicia thereon, said bar code indicia being unique to said housing;

a microprocessor, for actuating a plurality of lights and for decoding a received signal, said microprocessor being securably mounted in said housing;

a power supply for powering said microprocessor, said power supply being operationally coupled to said microprocessor;

a plurality of lights, each of said lights being mounted in and being generally flush with said top surface of said housing, each of said lights being electrically coupled to said microprocessor;

a receiving means for receiving a signal, said receiving means being securely positioned in said housing and operationally coupled to said microprocessor;

a means for coupling said housing to said suitcase;

an actuating means for sending a signal to said receiving means, said actuating means being adapted for selectively turning said lights on and off, said actuating means comprising a remote control device; and

a plurality of dials, each of said dials being rotatably coupled to a peripheral edge of said housing, each of said dials having airport indicia thereon for indicating a plurality of airports and flight numbers, each of said dials having a window associated therewith extending through said top surface.

2. The suitcase location and security system as in claim 1, wherein said means for coupling said housing to said suitcase comprises:

a pair of straps for removably placing around the suitcase, each of said straps having a first end and a second end, each of said first ends being securely attached to said first side wall, each of said second ends being attached to said second side wall.

3. The suitcase location and security system as in claim 2, wherein said system further includes:

a speaker for emitting a sound, said speaker being mounted on said housing;

each of said second ends of said straps movably extending through said second side wall, a switch member being positioned in said housing and securely attached to each of said second ends of said straps, said switch member being operationally coupled to said microprocessor, wherein slack in tension in said straps actuates said switch member such that a first securing means is defined; and

said actuating means being adapted for turning said first securing means on and off, wherein said speaker sounds an alarm if said first security device is turned on and said straps are removed from said suitcase.

4. The suitcase location and security system as in claim 3, further including:

a second security device, said second security device comprising a circuit, said circuit including a conduit extending outwardly of said housing, said conduit having a first end operationally coupled to said microprocessor and a second end having a male plug electrically coupled thereto, said male plug being removably insertable into a female plug extending into said front side of said housing, said female plug being operationally coupled to said microprocessor; and

said actuating means being adapted for selectively turning said second security device on and off, wherein said speaker sounds an alarm if said second security device is turned on and said circuit is broken.

5. The suitcase location and security system as in claim 4, further including:

a transponder for sending a signal, said transponder being securely mounted in said housing and operationally coupled to said microprocessor, said transponder being adapted for emitting an unique signal for locating said housing.

6. The suitcase location and security system as in claim 3, further including:

a transponder for sending a signal, said transponder being securely mounted in said housing and operationally coupled to said microprocessor, said transponder being adapted for emitting an unique signal for locating said housing.

7. The suitcase location and security system as in claim 2, wherein said straps further comprise:

each of said straps being resiliently elastic, each of said straps having a break therein such that each of said straps has a first portion and a second portion removably coupled together with a fastening means.

8. The suitcase location and security system as in claim 1, further including:

a transponder for sending a signal, said transponder being securely mounted in said housing and operationally coupled to said microprocessor, said transponder being adapted for emitting an unique signal for locating said housing.

15. The suitcase location and security system as in claim 1, further including:

a transponder for sending a signal, said transponder being mounted in said housing and being operationally coupled to said microprocessor, said transponder being adapted for emitting an unique audible signal for facilitating locating of said housing by a user.

9. A suitcase location and security system, said system being removably mountable to a suitcase and a handle thereof, said system comprising:

a housing, said housing having a top surface, a bottom surface, a front side, a back side, a first side wall and a second side wall, said housing being generally hollow, said top surface of said housing having a plurality of holes therethrough, said top surface having a plurality of bar code indicia thereon, said bar code indicia being unique to said housing, said back surface having personal information indicia thereon;

a plurality of dials, each of said dials being rotatably coupled to a peripheral edge of said housing, each of said dials having airport indicia thereon for indicating a plurality of airports and flight numbers, each of said dials having a window associated therewith extending through said top surface;

a microprocessor, said microprocessor being adapted for sending a signal to a transponder, for actuating a plurality of lights, for sending a sound signal to a speaker, and for decoding a received signal, said microprocessor being securable mounted in said housing;

a power supply for powering said microprocessor, said power supply being operationally coupled to said microprocessor, said power supply being positioned in said housing, said power supply comprising a battery;

a speaker for emitting a sound, said speaker being securely mounted in said housing and positioned generally adjacent to said holes in said top surface;

a plurality of lights, each of said lights being mounted in and being generally flush with said top surface of said housing, each of said lights being electrically coupled to said microprocessor, each of said lights having a different color;

a receiving means for receiving a signal, said receiving means being securely positioned in said housing and operationally coupled to said microprocessor;

a transponder for sending a signal, said transponder being securely mounted in said housing and operationally coupled to said microprocessor, said transponder being adapted for emitting an unique signal for locating said housing;

a first security device, said first security device comprising a pair of straps, each of said straps having a first end and a second end, each of said first ends being securely attached to said first side wall, each of said second ends movably extending through said second side wall, a switch member being positioned in said housing and securely attached to each of said second ends of said straps, said switch member being operationally coupled to said microprocessor, wherein slack in said straps actuates said switch member, each of said straps being resiliently elastic, each of said straps having a break therein such that each of said straps has a first portion and a second portion removably coupled together with a fastening means, said fastening means comprising a hook and loop fastening means, wherein said straps are placeable around the suitcase;

a second security device, said second security device comprising a circuit, said circuit including a conduit extending outwardly of said housing, said conduit having a first end operationally coupled to said microprocessor and a second end having a male plug electrically coupled thereto, said male plug being removably insertable into a female plug extending into said front side of said housing, said female plug being operationally coupled to said microprocessor;

an actuating means for sending a signal to said receiving means, said actuating means being adapted for selectively turning said first and second security devices on and off and for turning said lights on and off, wherein said speaker sounds an alarm if said first security device is turned on and said straps are removed from said suitcase, wherein said speaker sounds an alarm if said second security device is turned on and said circuit is broken, said actuating means comprising a remote control device.

10. The suitcase location and security system as in claim 9, further including:

a card having credit and personal information thereon linking said bar-code indicia to said card; and

a scanner adapted for scanning said information on said card and said housing.

11. A suitcase location and security system comprising:

a housing having an interior, an outer surface of said housing having bar code indicia marked thereon, said bar code indicia being unique to said housing;

at least one lights mounted on said housing;

a receiving means in said housing for receiving a signal and generating a received signal;

a microprocessor mounted in said housing and being operationally connected to said at least one light for actuating said at least one light and being operationally connected to said receiving means for decoding the received signal;

a means for coupling said housing to a suitcase;

an actuating means for sending a signal to said receiving means, said actuating means being adapted for selectively causing said at least one light to turn on and turn off, said actuating means permitting remote control of said microprocessor through said receiving means;

at least two dials being rotatably mounted on said housing, a first one of said dials having indicia marked thereon for indicating a plurality of airports, a second one of said dials having indicia marked thereon for indicating a plurality of flight numbers, each of said dials being positioned adjacent to a window formed in said housing for exposing a portion of said dial through said window to show one of said indicia.

12. The suitcase location and security system as in claim 11, wherein said means for coupling said housing to said suitcase comprises a strap for removably placing around the suitcase, said strap having a first end and a second end, said ends of said strap being secured to opposite locations on said housing.

13. The suitcase location and security system as in claim 12, wherein said system further includes:

a sound emitter mounted on said housing for emitting a sound and being operationally connected to said microprocessor;

the second end of said strap being removably connected to a switch member located in said housing, said switch member being operationally coupled to said microprocessor and being adapted for detecting slack in tension in said strap in a manner such that said microprocessor actuates said sound emitter when slack in tension in said strap is detected.

14. The suitcase location and security system as in claim 13, further including:

a secondary security device comprising a circuit including a conductive cord extending outwardly of said housing, said conductive cord having a first end fixedly coupled to housing and a second end of said conductive cord having a plug coupled thereto, said plug being removably insertable into a socket extending into said housing, said conductive cord and said socket being electrically connected to said microprocessor such that insertion of said plug into said socket closes said circuit through said conductive cord and removal of said plug from said socket or breakage of said conductive cord opens said circuit, said microprocessor being adapted to sound an alarm through said sound emitter if said circuit is broken.