Traceable luggage bag and system

• US 6,476,718 B1
• Filed: 06/12/2000
• Issued: 11/05/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 06/12/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Safety Innovations, LLC
• Original Assignee: Christopher Leslie Mutlow Cartwright, John Mutlow Cartwright
• Inventors: Cartwright, Christopher Leslie Mutlow, Cartwright, John Mutlow
• Primary Examiner(s): Hofsass, Jeffery
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, HUNG T
• Application Number:
  US09/591,932
• Time in Patent Office: 876 Days
• Field of Search: 340/572, 340/572.7, 340/572.1, 340/568.1, 340/825.31, 340/572.4
• US Class Current: 340/572.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 17/00 Methods or arrangements for effecting co-operative working between equipments covered by two or more of main groups G06K1/00 - G06K15/00, e.g. automatic card files incorporating conveying and reading operations

Abstract

An apparatus for the unique and permanent identification of an article of luggage includes a microchip attached to the article of luggage. The microchip contains a unique identification number that uniquely identifies that particular article of luggage apart from all other articles of luggage. A data base is provided that includes a file appertaining to each article of luggage. The file includes the name and address of the owner of the article of luggage and is updated by the owner, as desired, to include his travel plans. Only the owner (or his representative) may change the contents of the file. Authorized users, such as airline companies, may view but not alter the contents of the file subsequent to a communication to the data base that includes the unique identification number and an authorized user identification number.

Claims

1. A traceable luggage bag and system, comprising:

(a) means for permanently identifying said luggage bag, said means for permanently identifying including a unique identification number that is permanently attached to said luggage bag;

(b) a data base, said data base containing a file of information pertinent to said luggage bag; and

(c) means for providing access to said file to a user and wherein said user includes an owner of said luggage bag and wherein said access to said file includes providing means for said owner to change at least a portion of the contents of said file.

2. The traceable luggage bag and system of claim 1 wherein said user is an authorized user.

3. The traceable luggage bag and system of claim 2 wherein said access to said file by said authorized user includes an ability to view the contents of said file and precludes an ability to change any of the contents of said file.

4. The traceable luggage bag and system of claim 2 wherein said authorized user includes an airline company.

5. The traceable luggage bag and system of claim 2 wherein said authorized user includes a commercial type of a carrier.

6. The traceable luggage bag and system of claim 2 wherein said authorized user includes a hotel.

7. The traceable luggage bag and system of claim 1 wherein said means for permanently identifying said luggage bag includes at least one bar code label that is permanently attached to said luggage bag.

8. The traceable luggage bag and system of claim 1 wherein said means for permanently identifying said luggage bag includes at least one microchip that is permanently attached to said luggage bag.

9. The traceable luggage bag and system of claim 1 wherein said means for permanently identifying said luggage bag is permanently attached to said luggage bag by a manufacturer at the time said luggage bag is manufactured.

10. The traceable luggage bag and system of claim 1 wherein said means for permanently identifying said luggage bag is permanently attached to said luggage bag after said luggage bag has been manufactured.

11. The traceable luggage bag and system of claim 1 wherein said means for providing access to said file is provided subsequent to a communication to said data base providing said unique identification number and an owner personal identification number to said data base and, wherein, said means for providing access includes means for changing the contents of said file.

12. The traceable luggage bag and system of claim 1 wherein said means for providing access to said file is provided subsequent to a communication to said data base providing said unique identification number and an authorized user identification number to said data base and, wherein, said means for providing access includes means for preventing said authorized user from changing the contents of said file.

13. A traceable luggage bag and system, comprising:

(a) a luggage bag having a predetermined size and shape;

(b) means for permanently identifying said luggage bag, said means for permanently identifying including a unique identification number that is permanently attached to said luggage bag;

(c) a data base, said data base containing a file of information pertinent to said luggage bag and wherein said unique identification number provides access to said data base and wherein said access to said data base provides a linkage with an owner of said luggage bag; and

(c) wherein said owner of said luggage bag is adapted to change at least a portion of the contents of said file and including at least one authorized user and wherein said authorized user is provided access to said unique identification number and wherein said unique identification number provides access for said authorized user to said data base and wherein said authorized user is permitted to view the contents of said file and is prevented from changing any of the contents of said file.

14. The traceable luggage bag and system of claim 13 including means for obtaining said unique identification number from said means for permanently identifying.