Method and apparatus for providing a personal item drop off/return service at security checkpoints

• US 7,065,492 B2
• Filed: 10/30/2002
• Issued: 06/20/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 07/11/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Laura Cinquini
• Original Assignee: Laura Cinquini
• Inventors: Cinquini, Laura, McBride, Allen J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Weiss, John G.
• Assistant Examiner(s): PLUCINSKI, JAMISUE A
• Application Number:
  US10/283,317
• Publication Number:
  US 20040010430A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,329 Days
• Field of Search: 705/1, 705/401, 705/402, 705/406, 705/407
• US Class Current: 705/60
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 17/00193 Constructional details of apparatus in a franking system
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 2017/0004 Determining the location of mailpieces outside apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 2017/00209 Mailbox, i.e. container for outgoing mail
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 2017/00225 Vending machine or POS (Point Of Sale) apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/0014 for vending, access and use of specific services not covered anywhere else in G07F17/00 meter-controlled dispensing of liquid, gas or electricity G07F15/00

Abstract

An apparatus and method provide a personal item return service to an owner of a personal item that is subject to confiscation before the owner is admitted through a security checkpoint and into a secure area downstream of the security checkpoint. The security checkpoint can be located at a transportation center (airport, bus or train) or any entrance to a secure area at a building or sports arena. The owner can purchase from a vending machine or kiosk a container having sufficient pre-paid postage based on the size or weight of the item, and mail the item to a destination selected by the owner. The service is located adjacent to the security checkpoint so that the owner need not lose his/her place in the security line.

Claims

1. A method for mailing items that may not be allowed to pass through a security checkpoint and into a secure area adjacent to the security checkpoint, comprising:

selecting a desired container for shipment of at least one item based on at least one of an estimated size and weight of the at least one item from a plurality of different sized containers, each container having different pre-paid postage amounts based on at least one of the size of the container and the estimated weight of the at least one item, each differently sized container having a different sales price;

purchasing the desired container at a location adjacent to the security checkpoint;

placing the at least one item in the container;

placing a mailing address on the container; and

placing the container in a courier drop-off box located adjacent to the security checkpoint.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the desired container is purchased from a kiosk.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of weighing the at least one item to determine the desired container having sufficient pre-paid postage.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the container and a service of delivering the container are provided by a commercial courier service.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the desired container is purchased from a vending machine.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising the step of scanning information into the vending machine with at least one of a credit card, a debit card and a passenger ticket.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the information is at least one of a mailing address for the at least one item and a billing address.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of selecting and purchasing the desired container occurs upstream of the security checkpoint.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of selecting and purchasing the desired container occurs downstream of the security checkpoint.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of selecting and purchasing the desired container occurs within the secure area.

11. An apparatus for mailing items that may not be allowed to pass through a security checkpoint and into a secure area adjacent to the security checkpoint, comprising:

a container dispensing element adjacent to the security checkpoint, the container dispensing element containing a plurality of different sized containers based on at least one of an estimated size and weight of the item to be mailed, each container having different pre-paid postage amounts based on at least one of the size of the container and the estimated weight of the item to be mailed, each differently sized container having a different sales price;

a purchasing element adjacent to the security checkpoint that allows a user to purchase a desired container from the container dispensing element;

a selection element adjacent to the security checkpoint that allows the user to select the desired container from the plurality of different sized containers and activate the container dispensing element to dispense the desired container when the purchasing element has confirmed payment of the sales price corresponding to the desired container; and

a drop-off box adjacent to the security checkpoint that allows the user to drop off the container for subsequent pick-up and delivery to a desired destination selected by the user.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the container is one of a box, a tube, an envelope and a padded envelope.

13. The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising a weighing element adjacent to the security checkpoint, for weighing the at least one item to determine proper postage.

14. The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising a scanner adjacent to the security checkpoint, for scanning information into the apparatus with at least one of a credit card, a debit card and a passenger ticket.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the information is at least one of a mailing address for the at least one item and a billing address.

16. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the container and a service for delivering the container are provided by a commercial courier service.

17. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the container dispensing element, the selection element, and the purchasing element, are provided in a vending machine.

18. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the container dispensing element, the purchasing element, the selection element, and the drop-off box are located adjacent to the security checkpoint and before the secure area at positions that allow the user to maintain the user'"'"'s place in line for admittance through the security checkpoint.

19. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the container dispensing element, the purchasing element, the selection element, and the drop-off box are located upstream of the security checkpoint.

20. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the container dispensing element, the purchasing element, the selection element, and the drop-off box are located downstream of the security checkpoint.

21. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the container dispensing element, the purchasing element, the selection element, and the drop-off box are located within the secure area.

22. A method for providing a personal item return service to an owner of a personal item, which may be subject to confiscation as the owner passes through a security checkpoint for entry into a secure area adjacent to the security checkpoint, the method comprising:

providing to the owner, adjacent to the security checkpoint, a a plurality of different sized containers, each container having different pre-paid postage amounts based on at least one of a size of the container and an estimated weight of the personal item to mail the personal item to a destination selected by the owner allowing a selection of a desired container from among the plurality of different sized containers; and

accepting the desired container into a storage area for subsequent pick-up and delivery of the container to the selected destination, the storage area being located adjacent to the security checkpoint.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the storage area is located upstream of the security checkpoint.

24. The method of claim 22, further comprising selling the desired container having the pre-paid postage to the owner.

25. The method of claim 22, wherein the owner is provided with the desired container downstream of the security checkpoint.

26. The method of claim 22, wherein the owner is provided with the desired container downstream of the security checkpoint.

27. The method of claim 26, further comprising allowing the owner to maintain the owner'"'"'s place in line for entrance into the secure area while providing the desired container and accepting the desired container into the storage area.

28. The method of claim 22, wherein the owner is provided with the desired container within the secure area.