Method of facilitating screening of airline luggage

• US 8,145,576 B2
• Filed: 01/12/2004
• Issued: 03/27/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 11/12/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: David Tropp
• Original Assignee: Iowa Hawkeyes LLC
• Inventors: Tropp, David
• Primary Examiner(s): Plucinski, Jami A
• Assistant Examiner(s): Chumpitaz, Bob R.
• Application Number:
  US10/756,531
• Publication Number:
  US 20050154605A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,997 Days
• Field of Search: 705/1, 705/317, 705/325, 704/60, 70/21, 70/22, 70/25, 70/58, 70/69, 340/5.64, 235/384, 292/315, 292/328
• US Class Current: 705/325
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 35/105 Locks allowing opening by official authorities, e.g. master key opening of luggage locks by customs officials
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 37/0034 actuated by either
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 67/00 Padlocks permutation locks E05B37/00; Details thereof
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0241 Advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/265 Personal security, identity or safety
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 99/00 Subject matter not provided for in other groups of this subclass
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/491 Distorted shackle
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/413 Padlocks
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/415 Combination and/or key-controlled
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/417 Combination-controlled
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/424 Sliding
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/7141 Combination and key
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/7147 Combination or key

Abstract

Method of making airline luggage inspection secure while accommodating the needs of the traveler comprises making a special lock available to airline travelers, the special lock having a combination lock portion and a master key lock, the master key lock portion receiving a master key that can open the master key lock portion of any special lock of this type. The special lock is designed to be applied to an individual piece of airline luggage and has indicia conveying to luggage purchasers that the special lock is “approved”by a luggage screening authority and conveying to the luggage screening authority that the special lock can be opened using the master key. The method includes providing the luggage screening authority directly or indirectly with exclusive access to the master key. The manufacturers and/or provider of the master key and special lock retain copies of the master key.

Claims

1. A method of improving security of luggage of airline travelers through the use of a class of locks with which airline travelers can secure their luggage, said class comprising a multiplicity of special locks that differ from each other but a luggage screening authority for airline luggage can open and re-lock with a single configuration of a master key without cutting the lock, said multiplicity of special locks including sub-types having different sizes, different manufacturing designs and styles, and different methods of locking and unlocking by airline travelers, said special locks including first portions configured to be locked and unlocked by air travelers and second portion configured to be unlocked by the luggage screening authority with the master key to thereby open the special locks without cutting or breaking them, said method comprising:

(a) entering into an agreement with the luggage screening authority that the authority will maintain the master key to unlock the special locks therewith during luggage screening of said luggage, using said master key to unlock the second portions of said special locks and thus the special locks;

(b) causing a class of special locks for a luggage to be provided to airline travelers;

(c) wherein;

(i) said class of special locks includes locks that differ from each other in size, manufacturing design and style, and method of locking and unlocking by the airline travelers;

(ii) each of the locks in said class of special locks comprises special indicia configured to remain a part of the lock while the lock is securing said luggage, and to remain visible and conspicuous even when the first portion of the lock is and remains locked to secure the luggage;

(iii) said indicia (1) conveying to the luggage screening authority that the lock is in said class of special locks that the luggage screening authority would open and re-lock for screening luggage without cutting the lock, and (2) conveying to air travelers that the lock is in said class of locks that the screening authority would open and re-lock without cutting the lock;

(iv) said special indicia are in addition to any name on the lock of a manufacturer or a seller of the lock;

(v) each of the locks in said class of special locks comprises at least one of said first lock portions, each first lock portion being operable multiple times by an airline traveler to lock the traveler'"'"'s luggage with the lock and thereafter to open the lock;

(vi) the first lock portions including combination locks and as well as locks with other lock mechanisms within said class of special locks; and

(vii) each lock in said class of special locks further comprises at least one of said second lock portions, each second lock portion being operable by the screening authority but not the air traveler to repeatedly open and re-lock the lock without cutting the lock even when the first portion of the lock is and remains locked;

(d) supplying, in response to entering into an agreement the luggage screening authority with at least one master key configured to open each lock of said multiplicity of special locks including said sub-type having different sizes, different manufacturing designs and styles, and different methods of locking and unlocking by airline travelers;

(e) said at least one master key being configured to repeatedly open and re-lock each of a plurality of the locks in said class of locks while the first portion of the lock is and remains locked when the screening authority subjects the travelers'"'"' luggage to said special screening procedure; and

(f) said master key configuration being associated with said class of locks having said indicia;

(g) causing said multiplicity of special locks including said sub-type having different sizes, different manufacturing designs and styles, and different methods of locking and unlocking by airline travelers to be distributed to a multiplicity of air travelers for locking luggage by locking said first lock portion, said distributing comprising conveying to the air travelers that the special lock will be subjected by the screening authority to a special screening procedure;

(h) applying said special locks to air travelers'"'"' luggage to secure the luggage against opening without cutting or breaking, the special locks or the luggage.

2. The method of claim 1 in which said providing the class of special locks comprises providing in said class both special locks having a mechanical second lock portion and special locks having an electronic second lock portion.

3. The method of claim 2 in which said supplying the screening authority with at least one master key comprises supplying at least one mechanical master key configured to open and re-lock a plurality of the special locks in said class that comprise a mechanical second lock portion and at least one electronic master key configured to open and re-lock a plurality of the special locks in said class of special locks that comprise an electronic second lock portion.

4. A method of improving security of luggage of airline travelers through the use of a class of locks with which airline travelers can secure their luggage, said class comprising a multiplicity of special locks that differ from each other but a luggage screening authority for airline luggage can open and re-lock with a single configuration of a master key without cutting the locks, said multiplicity of special locks including sub- types having different sizes, different manufacturing designs and styles, and different methods of locking and unlocking by airline travelers, said special locks including first portions configured to be locked and unlocked by air travelers and second portion configured to be unlocked by the luggage screening authority with the master key to thereby open the special locks without cutting or breaking them, said method comprising:

(a) causing the providing to air travelers of a class of said special locks for airline travelers luggage;

(b) entering into an agreement with the luggage screening authority that the authority will maintain the master key to unlock the special locks therewith during luggage screening of said luggage, using said master key to unlock the second portions of said special locks and thus the special locks;

(c) wherein;

(i) said class of special locks includes locks that differ from each other in size, manufacturing design and style, and method of locking and unlocking by the airline travelers;

(ii) each of the locks in said class of special locks comprises special indicia configured to remain a part of the lock while the lock is securing said luggage, and to remain visible and conspicuous even when the first portion of the lock is and remains locked to secure the luggage;

(iii) said indicia (1) conveying to the luggage screening authority that the lock is in said class of special locks that the luggage screening authority would open and re-lock for screening luggage without cutting the lock, and (2) conveying to air travelers that the lock is in said class of locks that the screening authority would open and re-lock without cutting the lock;

(iv) said special indicia are in addition to any name on the lock of a manufacturer or a seller of the lock;

(v) each of the locks in said class of special locks comprises at least one of said first lock portions, each first lock portion being operable multiple times by an airline traveler to lock the traveler'"'"'s luggage with the lock and thereafter to open the lock;

(vi) the first lock portions including combination locks and as well as locks with other lock mechanisms within said class of special locks; and

(vii) each lock in said class of special locks further comprises at least one of said second lock portions, each second lock portion being operable by the screening authority but not the air traveler to repeatedly open and re-lock the lock without cutting the lock even when the first portion of the lock is and remains locked;

(d) causing said multiplicity of special locks including said sub-type having different sizes, different manufacturing designs and styles, and different methods of locking and unlocking by airline travelers to be distributed to a multiplicity of air travelers for locking luggage by locking said first lock portion, said distributing comprising conveying to the air travelers that the special lock will be subjected by the screening authority to a special screening procedure;

(e) supplying the screening authority with at least one master key configured to open each lock of said multiplicity of special locks including said sub-type having different sizes, different manufacturing designs and styles, and different methods of locking and unlocking by airline travelers;

(f) said at least one master key being configured to repeatedly open and re-lock each of a plurality of the locks in said class of locks while the first portion of the lock is and remains locked when the screening authority subjects the travelers'"'"' luggage to said special screening procedure; and

(g) said master key configuration being associated with said class of locks having said indicia.

(h) using the master key by the luggage screening authority in accordance with the agreement to open said second portions of the special locks, and thus the special locks, during luggage screening of said luggage without cutting or breaking the special locks or the luggage.

5. The method of claim 4 in which said providing the class of special locks comprises providing in said class both special locks having a mechanical second lock portion and special locks having an electronic second lock portion.

6. The method of claim 5 in which said supplying the screening authority with at least one master key comprises supplying at least one mechanical master key configured to open and re-lock a plurality of the special locks in said class that comprise a mechanical second lock portion and at least one electronic master key configured to open and re-lock a plurality of the special locks in said class of special locks that comprise an electronic second lock portion.