Smart device programmable electronic luggage tag and bag mountings therefore

• US 9,918,537 B2
• Filed: 12/02/2015
• Issued: 03/20/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 04/01/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ViewTag, Co.
• Original Assignee: Vanguard Identification Systems Incorporated
• Inventors: Warther, Richard O.
• Primary Examiner(s): Mikels, Matthew
• Application Number:
  US14/957,219
• Publication Number:
  US 20160183653A1
• Time in Patent Office: 839 Days
• Field of Search: 235375, 235385, 235487, 235492, 340 10, 340572
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 13/42 Devices for identifying luggage; Means for attaching same
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/14 Digital output to display device ; Cooperation and interconnection of the display device with other functional units
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/04 characterised by the shape
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/06028 using bar codes
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/06187 with magnetically detectable marking
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07707 the visual interface being a display, e.g. LCD or electronic ink
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07726 the record comprising means for indicating first use, e.g. a frangible layer
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07749 the record carrier being capable of non-contact communication, e.g. constructional details of the antenna of a non-contact smart card
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/12 the marking being sensed by magnetic means
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/14 the marking being sensed by radiation
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/02 using a radio link

Abstract

Luggage tag has a body with one bistable electronic visual display assembly and one screen, a radio receiver and a processor configured to convert short range command signals detected by the receiver into signals suitable to modify the image on the display screen. A manually operated switch activates the receiver and processor with a battery for a short time period sufficient to receive the command signals and modify the display. The electric components are encapsulated with an RFID transponder assembly in one resiliently flexible, plastic laminate body or the transponder assembly is encapsulated in a planar, plastic laminate flap permanently attached to a separate rigid protective case housing the remaining electric components. The tag is secured to a bag with a flexible connector, under tension, to retain the tag in a fixed position always exposing the sole display screen.

Claims

1. An electronic luggage tag comprising:

a body having two adjoining through openings spaced less than four centimeters apart and located to permit the tag to be strapped to a handle of a bag through the openings;

a bistable electronic visual display assembly in the body and including a display screen visible outside the body;

a radio receiver in the body;

a processor in the body operably connecting the radio receiver with the display assembly to change an image shown on the display screen in response to external command signals received through the radio receiver;

a battery power supply in the body;

a manual input device located on the body for manual actuation and configured to selectively connect the battery power supply with the radio receiver and the processor to activate the radio receiver and the processor to reprogram an image displayed on the display screen in response to external command signals received by the radio receiver; and

a radio frequency identification transponder assembly in the body operating independently of the display assembly, radio receiver, processor, battery power supply and manual input device.

2. The electronic luggage tag of claim 1 where the radio frequency identification transponder assembly operates at an ultra high frequency (UHF).

3. The electronic luggage tag of claim 2 where the radio frequency identification transponder assembly is passive and powered to operate only by an external interrogation radio signal.

4. The electronic luggage tag of claim 1 in combination with a flexible connector passed through the two openings, the flexible connector being of a length sufficient to secure the tag to a handle of a bag.

5. The electronic luggage tag of claim 1 where the body comprises a hollow rigid case with the bistable electronic visual display assembly, radio receiver, processor, battery power supply and manual input device.

6. The electronic luggage tag of claim 5 where the hollow rigid case is assembled from high impact plastic components.

7. The electronic luggage tag of claim 5 where the hollow rigid case is assembled from metal and plastic components.

8. The electronic luggage tag of claim 5 where the body further comprises a planar, resiliently flexible flap containing the radio frequency identification transponder assembly, the flap being fixedly joined with the hollow, rigid, case.

9. The electronic luggage tag of claim 8 where planar, resiliently flexible flap includes a core formed by two sheets of flexible, material encapsulating the radio frequency identification transponder assembly, at least one of the two sheets being microporous polysilicate with a uniform porosity throughout of greater than thirty percent by volume and an average pore size of about one micron or less.

10. The electronic luggage tag of claim 8 where the case has a given stiffness to force applied to a major side and the flap has a stiffness before connection with the case to force applied to a major planar side of the flap less than the given stiffness of the case.

11. An electronic luggage tag comprising:

a body

a bistable electronic visual display assembly in the body and including a display screen visible outside the body;

a radio receiver in the body;

a processor in the body operably connecting the radio receiver with the display assembly to change an image shown on the display screen in response to external command signals received through the radio receiver;

a battery power supply in the body;

a manual input device located on the body for manual actuation and configured to selectively connect the battery power supply with the radio receiver and the processor to activate the radio receiver and the processor to reprogram an image displayed on the display screen in response to external command signals received by the radio receiver; and

a flexible connector attached to the tag, the flexible connector being of a length sufficient to secure the tag to a handle of a bag.

12. The electronic luggage tag of claim 11 where the flexible connector is elastic.

13. The electronic luggage tag of claim 11 further comprising a receiver capturing and retaining free ends of the flexible connector to secure the connector with a bag handle.

14. The electronic luggage tag of claim of claim 11 where the elastic flexible connector is a length of fabric with hook and loop fasteners.