Beverage container authenticity and provenance devices and methods

• US 8,854,213 B2
• Filed: 05/18/2011
• Issued: 10/07/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 02/22/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: LBV Holdings LLC
• Original Assignee: LBV Holdings LLC
• Inventors: Adstedt, Kjell Roland, Sternberg, Joakim Alexander
• Primary Examiner(s): Mehmood, Jennifer
• Assistant Examiner(s): Casillashernandez, Omar
• Application Number:
  US13/110,839
• Publication Number:
  US 20110215160A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,238 Days
• Field of Search: 340/568.1, 340/540, 340/500, 340/572.8
• US Class Current: 340/572.8
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2203/02 Labels
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2203/10 Transponders
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 39/00 Closures arranged within necks or pouring openings or in discharge apertures, e.g. stoppers lids or covers B65D43/00; with additional securing elements B65D45/00
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 41/00 Caps, e.g. crown caps or crown seals, i.e. members having parts arranged for engagement with the external periphery of a neck or wall defining a pouring opening or discharge aperture; Protective cap-like covers for closure members, e.g. decorative covers of metal foil or paper B65D45/00 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49002 Electrical device making

Abstract

An RFID label comprising an RFID circuit and an RFID antenna, 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 method comprising:

integrating an RFID label, the RFID label comprising an RFID circuit and an antenna and being directly rendered inoperable when subject to a first level of force, into the capsule of a wine or spirits bottle by one of etching the antenna into the capsule or masking the antenna into the capsule;

affixing a security label over the capsule and the bottle using an adhesive, whereby the RFID label 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 when the capsule is removed, the security label causes tearing of the capsule and at least a first portion of the capsule affixed with the security label remains with the security label and a second portion of the capsule is removed, whereby the first portion and the second portion are separated from each other;

wherein when the first portion is separated from the second portion, the RFID label is rendered inoperable.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the security label or a chemical agent associated with the security label with 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 RFID label is affixed to the bottle at least two locations to prevent removal of the closure or security label without rendering the security label inoperable.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the RFID antenna is a monopole antenna comprising substantially the entire capsule.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the RFID antenna is etched into the capsule.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the RFID antenna is applied by a mask into the capsule.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein one of the RFID circuit or the RFID antenna is affixed to the wine bottle and the other of the RFID circuit and the RFID antenna is substantially affixed to the capsule, whereby removal of the capsule severs the RFID antenna from the RFID circuit rendering the RFID tag inoperable.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the capsule comprises a monopole RFID antenna.