Luggage identifier for air and rail travelers

• US 6,975,221 B2
• Filed: 01/02/2003
• Issued: 12/13/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 01/02/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Joan M. Monck
• Original Assignee: Joan M. Monck
• Inventors: Monck, Joan M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hofsass, Jeffery
• Assistant Examiner(s): PHAM, LAM P
• Application Number:
  US10/334,379
• Publication Number:
  US 20040130447A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,076 Days
• Field of Search: 340/539.1, 340/571, 340/572.1, 116/173
• US Class Current: 340/539.11
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 13/24 Devices for sound-producing, piercing, gas-discharging, or the like
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/24 Reminder alarms, e.g. anti-loss alarms

Abstract

A luggage identifier for air and rail travelers uniquely identifies a luggage piece on a airport carousel or train station conveyer belt. A battery powered remote radio wave transmitter carried by the passenger sends a radio wave to a battery powered receiving and activating mechanism associated with the luggage piece. The transmitted signal triggers a latch release mechanism connected to a flexible flagpole that is held under spring tension in the collapsed state. Upon being triggered, the latch release mechanism releases the flagpole, which is driven to an extended state under spring power. Identifiers carried by the flagpole are thereby moved into a conspicuously visible position, which facilitates identification of the luggage piece. The identifiers can comprise LED lights mounted on the flexible flagpole, a colored puffball, a name flag, and a sound generation mechanism. Additional identifiers can comprise a strip of light bulbs or LED lights disposed within cording of the luggage, a sewn-in housing light panel, and a privacy panel removably affixed to a sewn-in panel by hook and loop fasteners or the like. Flagpole extension proceeds to the extent permitted by the space available amongst contiguous luggage pieces. The component parts of the flagpole have sufficient flexibility to tolerate impact with adjacent objects, such as nearby baggage pieces or the edge of an airport carousel. Unique colors exhibited by the flag, and/or name identifiers on the pole operate to provide highly visible indicia that identify luggage or a backpack even in dimly lit areas.

Claims

1. A luggage identifier for air and rail travelers, comprising:

a. a battery powered remote radio wave activating transmitter means carried by the passenger for providing a transmitted radio signal to activate an identification means in a luggage piece;

b. a battery powered receiving and activating means connected to said luggage piece for receiving the transmitted radio signal and activating said identification means;

c. a triggered latch release means electrically connected to said receiving and activating means for triggering release of a flexible flagpole, which is moved by spring power from a collapsed state to a fully extended state, said trigger latch release means being activated by said receiving and activating means upon receipt of said transmitted radio signal;

d. a flexible flagpole collapsing means comprising a plurality of spring loaded hinges adapted to accommodate folding of the flexible flagpole into a small space, wherein it is held in a collapsed state by said triggered latch release means; and

e. an identification means carried by said flexible flagpole for facilitating identification of said luggage piece from amongst a plurality of substantially identical luggage pieces on a airport carousel or train station conveyor belt.

2. A luggage identifier for air and rail travelers as recited by claim 1, wherein the said triggered latch release means includes a latch adapted to away and thereby release a collapsed spring-loaded, flexible flagpole.

3. A luggage identifier for air and rail travelers as recited by claim 1, wherein said flexible flagpole collapsing means includes a plurality of straight sections of said flexible flagpole, said sections being connected with multiple hinges, and loaded with helical springs placed under tension by collapsing action of said sections.

4. A luggage identifier for air and rail travelers as recited by claim 1, wherein the said identification means includes a plurality of LED lights attached to the flexible flagpole and powered by flexible multi-filament flexible wiring.

5. A luggage identifier for air and rail travelers as recited by claim 1, wherein the said identification means includes a colored puffball.

6. A luggage identifier for air and rail travelers as recited by claim 1, wherein the said identification means includes a flag carrying a name identifier.

7. A luggage identifier for air and rail travelers as recited by claim 1, wherein the said identification means includes a sound generation means.

8. In a method for identifying a luggage piece on an airport carousel or train station conveyor belt, the improvement wherein a remote radio wave transmitter actuates a latch release means connected to a flexible flagpole that is held in a collapsed state under spring tension, driving said flagpole to an extended state under spring power, and causing identifiers carried by the flagpole to become visibly conspicuous, so that identification of said luggage piece from amongst a plurality of similarly shaped luggage pieces is facilitated.

9. A method for identifying a luggage piece, as recited by claim 8, wherein said identifiers include LED lights, a colored puffball, a name flag, a light strip disposed within a cording strip of said luggage piece, and a sewn-in housing light panel.