Garment with embedded data

• US 7,195,165 B2
• Filed: 05/05/2005
• Issued: 03/27/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 05/05/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: George Wright IV, Pete Kesler
• Original Assignee: George Wright IV, Pete Kesler
• Inventors: Wright, George IV, Kesler, Pete
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee; Michael G.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Haupt; Kristy A.
• Application Number:
  US11/122,234
• Publication Number:
  US 20050252967A1
• Time in Patent Office: 691 Days
• Field of Search: 235/462.01, 235/449, 235/472.02
• US Class Current: 235/462.01
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/00 Administration; Management

Abstract

A system and method are provided for using machine-readable technology to uniquely identify garments and to associate the garments with particular users, wherein the machine-readable technology is designed to withstand the various environments that are imposed upon a garment during its lifetime. The machine-readable technology includes identification tracking markers such as bar codes, magnetic tags, and other identification tracking markers that withstand laundering, mending, sterilizing and other processing.

Claims

1. A system for identifying garments that include identification tracking markers located thereon the system comprising:

a detector that is configured to read the identification tracking markers;

a garment tracking module that is coupled to the detector for receiving an electronic signal representing the identification tracking markers;

a memory that includes at least an inventory of the garments, corresponding identification tracking markers, and corresponding tracking data history, wherein the tracking data history includes at least a history of users, locations, dates of use, and durations of use for each garment; and

a processor that is configured to;

receive the electronic signal, associate the electronic signal with a selected garment from the inventory of garments,

generate tracking data associated with the selected garment, and

store the generated tracking data in the memory.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the garments include at least one of hospital scrubs, lab coats, coveralls, smocks, and uniforms.

3. The system according to claim 1, wherein the identification tracking markers include at least one of optically readable markers and magnetically readable markers.

4. The system according to claim 3, wherein the optically readable markers include bar codes.

5. The system according to claim 1, wherein the detector includes at least one of use deployment detectors, in-use detectors, processing deployment detectors, and in-process detectors.

6. The system according to claim 1, wherein the processor employs hierarchical processing to associate the selected entity with the selected garment.

7. The system according to claim 1, wherein the garment tracking module receives the electronic signal in real-time.

8. The system according to claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to generate and store the tracking data for a corresponding garment in real-time.

9. The system according to claim 1, wherein the identification tracking markers include at least one optically readable marker printed using a combination of thermal transfer ink and a formulated substrate.

10. A method of identifying garments that include identification tracking markers located thereon, the method comprising:

reading the identification tracking markers;

receiving an electronic signal representing the identification tracking markers;

accessing a memory that includes at least an inventory of the garments, corresponding identification tracking markers, and corresponding tracking data history, wherein the tracking data history includes at least a history users, locations, dates of use, and durations of use for each garment;

associating the electronic signal with a selected garment from the inventory of garments;

generating tracking data associated with the selected garment; and

storing the generated tracking data in the memory.

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein the garments include at least one of hospital scrubs, lab coats, coveralls, smocks, and uniforms.

12. The method according to claim 10, wherein the identification tracking markers include at least one of optically readable markers and magnetically readable markers.

13. The method according to claim 12, wherein the optically readable markers include bar codes.

14. The method according to claim 10, wherein selecting the entity that corresponds to the selected garment is performed using hierarchical processing.

15. The method according to claim 10, wherein the electronic signal is received in real-time.

16. The method according to claim 10, wherein the tracking data is generated and stored in real-time.

17. The method according to claim 10, wherein the identification tracking markers include at least one optically readable marker printed using a combination of thermal transfer ink and a formulated substrate.

18. A system for identifying garments that include identification tracking markers located thereon and monitoring areas within an institution where the garments are located, the system comprising:

a detector that is configured to read the identification tracking markers;

a garment tracking module that is coupled to the detector for receiving an electronic signal representing the identification tracking markers;

a memory that includes at least an inventory of the garments, corresponding identification tracking markers, and corresponding tracking data history, wherein the tracking data history includes at least a history of users, locations, dates of use, and durations of use for each garment;

a processor that is configured to receive the electronic signal and associate the electronic signal with a selected garment from the inventory of garments; and

an alert generator that is configured to issue an alert when the selected garment is located in an unauthorized zone.

19. The system according to claim 18, wherein the garment tracking module receives the electronic signal in real-time.

20. The system according to claim 18, wherein the detector includes at least one of use deployment detectors, in-use detectors, processing deployment detectors, an in-process detectors.

21. The system according to claim 18, wherein the identification tracking markers include at least one optically readable marker printed using a combination of thermal transfer ink and a formulated substrate.