Method of improving airline luggage inspection

• US 9,879,447 B2
• Filed: 01/17/2013
• Issued: 01/30/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 11/12/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: David Tropp
• Original Assignee: David Tropp
• Inventors: Tropp, David
• Primary Examiner(s): Ouellette, Jonathan P
• Application Number:
  US13/744,261
• Publication Number:
  US 20130227995A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,839 Days
• Field of Search: 70 25, 70 21, 70 34, 70 38, 70409, 705 11-912
• 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 providers of the master key and special lock retain copies of the master key.

Claims

1. Special lock luggage locks each of which comprises:

a combination lock portion;

a master key lock portion; and

indicia configured to convey to travelers and to a luggage screening authority that the authority can open the lock with a master key operating the master key lock portion of any of said special lock luggage locks;

wherein;

the combination lock portion of a first one of said special lock luggage locks comprises a three-dial combination lock but the combination lock of a second one of said special lock luggage locks comprises a four-dial combination lock;

said master key lock portion of any of said special lock luggage locks opens with said master key despite the different combination lock portions of the first and second special lock luggage locks; and

said special lock luggage locks remain viable after being subjected to luggage screening and inspection by opening the locks with said master key.

2. The special lock luggage locks of claim 1, in which said indicia of each of the locks comprise the symbols TSA.

3. The special lock luggage locks of claim 1, in which said indicia identify each of said locks as a lock that the Transportation Security Administration or other luggage screening authority can open with said master key without breaking the lock.

4. The special lock luggage locks of claim 1, wherein said indicia are the same for all the special locks but are different from any model or manufacturer designation.

5. The special lock luggage locks of claim 1, in which each of the locks has a key hole on a bottom of the lock for said master key that opens the master key lock portion of any of the locks.

6. The special lock luggage locks of claim 1, in which the locks include plural locks in which the combination lock portion is a three-dial combination lock and plural locks in which the combination lock portion is a four-dial combination lock.

14. The special lock luggage locks of claim 5, in which the luggage screening authority is an entity authorized to screen luggage for security inspection.

7. Special lock luggage locks each of which comprises:

a second lock portion; and

indicia configured to convey to travelers and to a luggage screening authority that the authority can open the lock with a master key opening said master key lock portion of any of said special lock luggage locks;

wherein;

the second lock portion of a first one of said special lock luggage locks comprises one of the following lock mechanisms;

(i) a three-dial combination lock, (ii) a four-dial combination lock, and (iii) a lock mechanism other than a combination lock;

the second lock portion of a second one of the special lock luggage locks comprises one of said locking mechanisms (i), (ii), and (iii) but not the second locking mechanism in the first one of said special lock luggage locks; and

said master key lock portion of any of said special lock luggage locks opens with said master key despite their different second lock portions.

8. The special lock luggage locks of claim 7, in which the second lock portion of the first special lock luggage lock is a three-dial combination lock.

9. The special lock luggage locks of claim 7, in which the second lock portion of the first special lock luggage lock is a four-dial combination lock.

10. The special lock luggage locks of claim 7, in which the second lock portion of the second lock is a lock mechanism other than a combination lock.

11. The special lock luggage locks of claim 7, wherein said indicia are the same on all the special locks but are different from any model or manufacturer designation.

12. The special lock luggage locks of claim 7, in which the luggage screening authority is the U.S. Transportation Security Administration.

13. The special lock luggage locks of claim 7, in which the luggage screening authority is an entity authorized to open luggage of airline travelers.