Resilient member with wireless communication device

• US 6,720,865 B1
• Filed: 02/11/2000
• Issued: 04/13/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 02/11/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Mineral Lassen LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Marconi Intellectual Property (US) Inc. (Marconi Holdings Company Limited)
• Inventors: Ginn, Michael G., Forster, Ian J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Horabik, Michael
• Assistant Examiner(s): BANGACHON, WILLIAM L
• Application Number:
  US09/503,606
• Time in Patent Office: 1,523 Days
• Field of Search: 340/10.1, 340/10.2, 340/10.31, 340/10.33, 340/10.42, 340/10.4, 340/10.51, 340/568.1, 340/572.7, 340/572.8, 342/44, 342/50, 342/51, 235/385, 235/492, 482/49, 220/276, 220/256.1
• US Class Current: 340/10.1
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2203/10 Transponders
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 25/205 Means for the attachment of labels, cards, coupons or the like; cards or coupons for the other types of rigid or semi-rigid containers B65D25/36 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/077 Constructional details, e.g. mounting of circuits in the carrier
• 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

Abstract

An identification device for identifying a container via wireless communication device. The wireless communication device is attached to an elongated, resilient member having a default shape. The member is resiliently deformable from the default shape to conform to at least a portion of the container and is attached by the resiliency of the member. The containers may move through at least one interrogation point containing an interrogation reader that establishes communication between the identification device and an interrogation reader for monitoring the container.

Claims

1. An identification device comprising:

a wireless communication device having identifying indicia for identifying a container; and

an elongated, resilient member connected to said wireless communication device for mounting said device to said device to said container, said elongated resilient member adapted to be inwardly deformed from a default shape and returning towards said default shape such that the resilient member presses outwardly to hold the communication device against said container.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein said member has a ring shape.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein said resilient member has a substantially linear shape.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein said identification device includes an antenna and a transponder.

5. The device of claim 4, wherein said antenna is incorporated within said member.

6. An identification system comprising:

a container having a rim with an interior portion;

a resilient member adapted to be deformed from a default position and inserted within said interior portion of said rim and returning towards said default position to hold said resilient member against said rim; and

an identification device attached to said resilient member for positioning on said container, said identification device transmitting information regarding said container.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein said container has a substantially cylindrical shape for containing a material.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein said member is adapted to conform against a rim inner edge.

9. The system of claim 7, wherein said member is adapted to conform to a rim outer edge.

10. The system of claim 7, wherein said container further includes a lip extending from said rim.

11. The system of claim 8, further comprising a receiver for receiving signals transmitted from said identification device.

12. The system of claim 8, wherein said container and said member are the same color.

13. The system of claim 6, wherein the container is a beer keg.

19. The method of claim 12, further including a central control system in communication with said at least one interrogation point for monitoring the movement of the container.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein said identification device includes a memory for storing information regarding the container, and the identification device communicates the information to said at lease one interrogation point.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the interrogation point delivers information to the identification device which is stored in the memory.

22. The method of claim 19, wherein the interrogation reader obtains information from the identification device selected from the group consisting of date of manufacture, contents of the container, temperature of the contents, and pressure within the container.

14. An identification device comprising:

a wireless communication device; and

means for attaching said wireless communication device within a rim of a beer keg, said attaching means adapted to deform from a default shape for insertion into the rim and return towards the default shape to hold said wireless communication device within rim.

15. A method of identifying a container by attaching a resilient member with an identification device, the method comprising the steps of:

compressing a resilient member from a default shape;

releasing the member against at least a portion of the container;

releasing the member causing it to expand outwardly towards the default shape and attach to the container.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the resilient member is compressed and placed within an enclosed space on the container and upon releasing the member, expands to contact the enclosed space thereby attaching to the container.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the container is beer keg.

18. A method of monitoring a container by attaching an identification device and resilient member comprising the steps of:

deforming the resilient member from a default shape and placing the member within a lip of the container;

releasing the member causing it to deform towards the default shape and remain positioned within the lip of the container;

moving the container through at least one interrogation point containing an interrogation reader; and

establishing communication between the identification device and the interrogation reader for monitoring the container.