Beverage container authenticity and provenance devices and methods

• US 8,368,539 B2
• Filed: 03/24/2011
• Issued: 02/05/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 08/16/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Left Bank Ventures LLC
• Original Assignee: Left Bank Ventures LLC
• Inventors: Adstedt, Kjell Roland, Sternberg, Joakim Alexander
• Primary Examiner(s): Mehmood, Jennifer
• Assistant Examiner(s): SMALL, NAOMI J
• Application Number:
  US13/071,391
• Publication Number:
  US 20110169642A1
• Time in Patent Office: 684 Days
• Field of Search: 340/572.1, 340/572.3, 340/572.8
• US Class Current: 340/572.1
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2203/10 Transponders
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 55/028 initial opening or unauthorised access being indicated by the presence or absence of an audible or electrical signal
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 55/06 Deformable or tearable wires, strings, or strips containers specially constructed to be opened by tear-strips, strings or the like B65D17/00; caps or cap-like closures with tear-strips B65D41/32; Use of seals , e.g. destructible locking pins B65D55/022 takes precedence
• 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

An RFID label and optional secondary security label ensures the authenticity of a beverage contained in a beverage container. The RFID label cannot be removed without destroying the RFID label or rendering it inoperable. A secondary security label may be placed over the closure of the beverage container to provide a secondary measure against tampering as well as a visual indicator of authenticity. It is placed on a portion of the bottle, a portion of the beverage container'"'"'s closure, and the RFID label. An attempt to remove the secondary security label will also render the RFID label unusable.

Claims

1. A device comprising:

an RFID tag permanently affixed to a beverage container, wherein the RFID tag is affixed over a closure of the beverage container and at least a portion of the container, the RFID tag being directly rendered inoperable when subject to a first level of force; and

a security label affixed over at least a portion of the RFID tag with an adhesive, whereby the RFID tag is directly inactivated by removal of the security label, the adhesive requiring a second level of force to remove, the second level of force being greater than the first level of force;

wherein the RFID tag is disposed whereby the RFID tag is inactivated upon opening the beverage container; and

wherein the RFID tag is inactivated if it is removed from the beverage container.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein a chemical agent associated with the security label in a first visual appearance assumes a second visual appearance if the security label is tampered with or removed.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the beverage container is a wine bottle.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the RFID tag covers a portion of the beverage container in at least two locations to prevent removal of the closure without inactivation of the RFID tag.

5. The device of claim 4, wherein the closure is a capsule of a wine bottle.

6. A method comprising:

generating a unique electronic product code;

providing an RFID tag that communicates to an RFID reader at least the unique electronic product code, the RFID tag being directly rendered inoperable when subject to a first level of force;

allowing the RFID tag to be affixed to a beverage container such that the RFID tag is inactivated if it is removed from the beverage container or the beverage container is opened;

providing a security label affixed over at least a portion of the RFID tag with an adhesive;

allowing the RFID tag to be directly inactivated by removal of the security label, the adhesive requiring a second level of force to remove, the second level of force being greater than the first level of force; and

wherein at least provenance data is correlated with the electronic product code and the specific beverage container.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the beverage container is a wine bottle.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the electronic product code is correlated to the specific beverage container to which it is affixed.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein the RFID tag is affixed at the origin of the beverage container.

10. The method of claim 6, wherein the RFID tag is affixed after the authenticity of the beverage and beverage container are determined.

11. The method of claim 6, further comprising allowing a security label to be affixed over at least a portion of the RFID tag, whereby the RFID tag is inactivated if the security label is removed.

12. The method of claim 6, further comprising allowing a security label to be affixed over at least a portion of the RFID tag, whereby the security label or a chemical agent associated with the security label in a first visual appearance assumes a second visual appearance if the security label is tampered with or removed.

13. A method comprising:

authenticating as genuine a beverage contained in a beverage container; and

affixing an RFID tag to the bottle, whereby the RFID is inactivated if the beverage container is opened or if the RFID tag is removed, the RFID tag being directly rendered inoperable when subject to a first level of force;

providing a security label affixed over at least a portion of the RFID tag with an adhesive; and

allowing the RFID tag to be directly inactivated by removal of the security label, the adhesive requiring a second level of force to remove, the second level of force being greater than the first level of force;

wherein the beverage is wine and the beverage container is a wine bottle.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the authentication process comprises filling the beverage container with the beverage and closing the container.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the authentication process comprises a determination of the authenticity of the beverage contained in the beverage container after the beverage container is filled with the beverage and the container is closed.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein a security label is affixed to the RFID tag and at least one of the beverage container and a closure device, whereby the RFID tag is inactivated if the security label is removed.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the security label is placed at least around a circumference of an outer surface of the closure and around a circumference of an outer surface of the beverage container.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the beverage container is a wine bottle and the closure is a capsule.

19. The method of claim 13, further comprising a security label affixed over at least a portion of the RFID tag, whereby the security label or a chemical agent associated with the security label in a first visual appearance assumes a second visual appearance if the security label is tampered with or removed.