Packaging closures integrated with disposable RFID devices

• US 7,887,755 B2
• Filed: 09/20/2006
• Issued: 02/15/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/20/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Callahan Cellular LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Binforma Group Limited Liability Company (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Carey, Brian James, O'Shea, Michael Donald, Madsen, Gary Fabian, Mingerink, Corey Benjamin, Ashenbrenner, Frederick Karl
• Primary Examiner(s): Warden; Jill
• Assistant Examiner(s): Handy; Dwayne K
• Application Number:
  US11/524,002
• Publication Number:
  US 20080069736A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,609 Days
• Field of Search: 422/102, 340/571, 340/572.1, 340/572.3, 340/572.7, 340/572.8, 340/572.9, 206/205, 206/206, 206/216, 206/223, 206/459.1, 206/459.5, 206/569
• US Class Current: 422/547
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0066 Blowers or centrifugal pumps
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/06 Respiratory or anaesthetic masks
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/107 in the inspiratory path
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/1095 in the connecting tubes
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3633 thermally insulated
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/42 Reducing noise
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/8206 battery-operated
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 11/0005 Components or details of single units wherein the flow is effected by a pump B05B11/1042
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 11/0029 Valves not actuated by pressure B05B11/0032, B05B11/0094 take precedence; automatically opened during actuation of a spray pump B05B11/1053
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 11/1057 Triggers, i.e. actuation means consisting of a single lever having one end rotating or pivoting around an axis or a hinge fixedly attached to the container, and another end directly actuated by the user
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2203/10 Transponders
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 23/00 Details of bottles or jars not otherwise provided for closure-securing elements B65D45/00
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 25/205 Means for the attachment of labels, cards, coupons or the like; cards or coupons for the other types of rigid or semi-rigid containers B65D25/36 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 33/1625 Small plates or the like made of one piece and presenting slits or a central aperture to jam the neck of the bag
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 33/2508 using slide fasteners with interlocking members having a substantially uniform section throughout the length of the fastener; Sliders therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 5/4212 Information or decoration elements, e.g. content indicators, or for mailing B65D5/522 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 75/52 Details
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07381 with deactivation or otherwise incapacitation of at least a part of the circuit upon detected tampering
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07798 part of the antenna or the integrated circuit being adapted for rupturing or breaking, e.g. record carriers functioning as sealing devices for detecting not-authenticated opening of containers electronic seals G09F3/03

Abstract

A packaging system (20), has a container (22) which delimits a container volume which can hold at least one unit-measure or unit-quantity of a selected commodity or article (24). The container includes at least one access portion (26) that can provide a selective closed arrangement and a selective open arrangement. An electronic data mechanism (28) can be operatively connected to the container (22), and can be operatively configured to electronically transpond or otherwise transmit data to a reader mechanism (30). A deactivation mechanism (32) can be operatively connected to the container (22) and to the electronic data mechanism (28), and can be operatively configured to selectively disable the electronic data mechanism.

Claims

1. A packaging system, comprising:

a container comprising an access portion configured to be selectively moved between a first position in which an interior of the container is substantially enclosed and a second position in which the interior of the container is at least partially exposed;

an electronic data mechanism operatively connected to the container and configured to electronically communicate with a reader mechanism; and

a component carried by the container and operatively connected to the container and the electronic data mechanism, wherein the component is configured to selectively enable and disable the electronic data mechanism based on the position of the access portion.

2. The packaging system of claim 1 wherein the component is configured to manually disable the electronic data mechanism.

3. The packaging system of claim 1 wherein the electronic data mechanism comprises an RFID tag.

4. The packaging system of claim 1 wherein the access portion includes an access flap.

5. The packaging system of claim 1 wherein the access portion includes an access lid.

6. The packaging system of claim 1 wherein the access portion includes a screw-on, access lid.

7. The packaging system of claim 1 wherein the electronic data mechanism comprises an RFID tag including a data memory portion and an antenna portion.

8. The packaging system of claim 1 wherein:

the electronic data mechanism comprises an RFID tag including a data memory portion operatively connected to an antenna portion; and

the component is configured to selectively disconnect the data memory portion from the antenna portion.

9. The packaging system of claim 1 wherein:

the electronic data mechanism includes a data memory portion operatively connected to an antenna portion;

the component is configured to selectively disconnect the data memory portion from the antenna portion; and

the component is further configured to selectively reconnect the data memory portion to the antenna portion in an operative configuration.

10. The packaging system of claim 1 wherein:

the electronic data mechanism is an RFID tag comprising a data memory portion operatively connected to an antenna portion;

the component is configured to selectively disconnect the data memory portion from the antenna portion; and

the component is further configured to selectively reconnect the data memory portion to the antenna portion with an operative mechanical connection.

11. The packaging system of claim 1, further comprising a first counter operatively connected to the reader mechanism, wherein the first counter is configured to record a number of times that the component is operated to selectively disable the electronic data mechanism.

12. The packaging system of claim 11, further comprising a timer operatively connected to the reader mechanism, wherein the timer is configured to provide determination of a number of times that the component is operated during a predetermined time period.

13. The packaging system of claim 12 wherein the first counter is an electronic counter, and the timer is an electronic timer.

14. The packaging system of claim 11, further comprising a second counter operatively connected to the reader mechanism, wherein the second counter is configured to record a number of times that the component is operated to selectively re-enable the electronic data mechanism.

15. The packaging system of claim 1 wherein:

the electronic data mechanism includes a data memory portion connected to an antenna portion;

the data memory portion of the electronic data mechanism is operatively connected to the access portion of the container; and

the antenna portion of the electronic data mechanism is operatively connected to a section of the container that is spaced from the access portion.

16. The packaging system of claim 1 wherein:

the electronic data mechanism includes a data memory portion connected to an antenna portion;

the antenna portion of the electronic data mechanism is operatively connected to the access portion of the container; and

the data memory portion of the electronic data mechanism is operatively connected to a section of the container that is spaced from the access portion.

17. The packaging system of claim 1 wherein:

the electronic data mechanism includes a data memory portion operatively connected to an antenna portion;

the component is configured to manually disconnect the data memory portion from the antenna portion; and

the component is further configured to manually reconnect the data memory portion to the antenna portion.

18. The packaging system of claim 17, further comprising:

a first electronic counter operatively connected to the reader mechanism and configured to record a number of times that the component is operated to selectively disable the electronic data mechanism; and

a second electronic timer operatively connected to the reader mechanism and configured to provide a determination of a number of times that the component is operated during a predetermined time period to selectively re-enable the electronic data mechanism.

19. An apparatus, comprising:

a container including an access portion selectively movable between a first position in which an interior of the container is at least partially exposed and a second position in which the interior of the container is substantially enclosed;

a data tag carried by the container and configured to communicate with a data tag reader; and

means for selectively activating and deactivating at least a portion of the data tag based on the position of the access portion, wherein the means for selectively activating and deactivating is carried by the container.

20. The apparatus of claim 19 wherein the means for selectively activating and deactivating is configured to manually disable the data tag.

21. The apparatus of claim 19 wherein:

the data tag comprises an RFID tag having a data memory portion connected to an antenna portion; and

the means for selectively activating and deactivating is configured to selectively disconnect the data memory portion from the antenna portion, and is further configured to selectively reconnect the data memory portion to the antenna portion with an operative mechanical connection.

22. The apparatus of claim 19 wherein the container comprises a pouch, box, carton, can, bottle, bag, blister-pack, or combinations thereof.

23. The apparatus of claim 19 wherein the access portion comprises at least one of the following:

an access lid, a screw-on lid, a zipper, a closure tab, or a flap.

24. A container, comprising:

an RFID data tag configured to communicate with a data tag reader, wherein the RFID data tag is at least proximate to an access portion of the container, and wherein the access portion is movable between a first arrangement in which an interior volume of the container is at least partially accessible and a second arrangement in which the interior volume of the container is generally inaccessible; and

a component carried by the container and operably coupled to the RFID data tag, wherein the component is configured to selectively enable and disable the RFID data tag based on the arrangement of the access portion.