Method of improving airline luggage inspection

• US 7,021,537 B2
• Filed: 11/12/2003
• Issued: 04/04/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/12/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: David Tropp
• Original Assignee: David Tropp
• Inventors: Tropp, David
• Primary Examiner(s): Le, Thien M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Labaze, Edwyn
• Application Number:
  US10/706,500
• Publication Number:
  US 20050098629A1
• Time in Patent Office: 874 Days
• Field of Search: 235/384, 235/382, 235/380, 70284-285, 70/56, 702/78, 703/12, 703/31, 704/46, 283 68- 69, 283/74, 283/80
• US Class Current: 235/384
• 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: Y10T 70/7141 Combination and 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 an indicia thereon 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. A method of improving airline luggage inspection by a luggage screening entity, comprising:

making available to consumers a special lock having a combination lock portion and a master key lock portion, the master key lock portion for receiving a master key that can open the master key lock portion of this special lock, the special lock designed to be applied to an individual piece of airline luggage, the special lock also having an identification structure associated therewith that matches an identification structure previously provided to the luggage screening entity, which special lock the luggage screening entity has agreed to process in accordance with a special procedure,

marketing the special lock to the consumers in a manner that conveys to the consumers that the special lock will be subjected by the luggage screening entity to the special procedure,

the identification structure signaling to a luggage screener of the luggage screening entity who is screening luggage that the luggage screening entity has agreed to subject the special lock associated with the identification structure to the special procedure and that the luggage screening entity has a master key that opens the special lock, and

the luggage screening entity acting pursuant to a prior agreement to look for the identification structure while screening luggage and, upon finding said identification structure on an individual piece of luggage, to use the master key previously provided to the luggage screening entity to, if necessary, open the individual piece of luggage.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the master key lock portion includes a key hole on a bottom of the special lack that receives the master key.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein a step of making available to consumers a special lock involves mass producing the special lock and selling the special lock to the consumers.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the identification structure is located directly on the special lock.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein a step of making available to consumers a special lock involves mass producing the special lock and selling the special lock to the consumers.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the identification structure is integrally formed with the special lock.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the signaling involves a visual signal.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the signaling involves a visual signal.

10. The method of claim 4, wherein the identification structure is located directly on the special lock.

9. A method of improving airline luggage inspection by a luggage screening entity, comprising:

making available to consumers a special lock having a first lock portion and a master key lock portion, the master key lock portion for receiving a master key that can open the master key lock portion of this special lock, the special lock designed to be applied to an individual piece of airline luggage, the special lock also having an identification structure associated therewith that matches an identification structure previously provided to the luggage screening entity, which special lock the luggage screening entity has agreed to process in accordance with a special procedure,

marketing the special lock to the consumers in a manner that conveys to the consumers that the special lock will be subjected by the luggage screening entity to the special procedure,

the identification structure signaling to a luggage screener of the luggage screening entity who is screening luggage that the luggage screening entity has agreed to subject the special lock associated with the identification structure to the special procedure and that the luggage screening entity has a master key that opens the special lock, and

the luggage screening entity acting pursuant to a prior agreement to look for the identification structure while screening luggage and, upon finding said identification structure on an individual piece of luggage, to use the master key previously provided to the luggage screening entity to, if necessary, open the individual piece of luggage.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the identification structure is integrally formed with the special lock.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the signaling involves a visual signal.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein the signaling involves a visual signal.

14. A method of improving airline luggage inspection by a luggage screening entity, comprising:

making available to consumers a special lock having a combination lock portion and a master key lock portion, the master key lock portion for receiving a master key that cart open the master key lock portion of this special lock, the special lock designed to be applied to an individual piece of airline luggage, the special lock also having an identification structure associated therewith that corresponds with a corresponding identification structure previously provided to the luggage screening entity, which special lock the luggage screening entity has agreed to process in accordance with a special procedure,

marketing the special lock to the consumers in a manner that conveys to the consumers that the special lock will be subjected by the luggage screening entity to the special procedure,

the identification structure signaling to a luggage screener of the luggage screening entity who is screening luggage that the luggage screening entity has agreed to subject the special lock associated with the identification structure to the special procedure and that the luggage screening entity has a master key that opens the special lock, and

the luggage screening entity acting pursuant to a prior agreement to look for the corresponding identification structure while screening luggage and, upon finding said corresponding identification structure on an individual piece of luggage, to use the master key previously provided to the luggage screening entity to, if necessary, open the individual piece of luggage.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the identification structure is integrally formed with the special lock.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the signaling involves a visual signal.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein the signaling involves a visual signal.

18. A method of improving airline luggage inspection by a luggage screening entity, comprising:

making available to consumers a special lock having a first lock portion and a master key lock portion, the master key lock portion for receiving a master key that can open the master key lock portion of this special lock, the special lock designed to be applied to an individual piece of airline luggage, the special lock also having an identification structure associated therewith that corresponds with a corresponding identification structure previously provided to the luggage screening entity, which special lock the luggage screening entity has agreed to process in accordance with a special procedure,

marketing the special lock to the consumers in a manner that conveys to the consumers that the special lock will be subjected by the luggage screening entity to the special procedure,

the identification structure signaling to a luggage screener of the luggage screening entity who is screening luggage that the luggage screening entity has agreed to subject the special lock associated with the identification structure to the special procedure and that the luggage screening entity has a master key that opens the special lock, and

the luggage screening entity acting pursuant to a prior agreement to look for the corresponding identification structure while screening luggage and, upon finding said corresponding identification structure on an individual piece of luggage, to use the master key previously provided to the luggage screening entity to, if necessary, open the individual piece of luggage.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the identification structure is integrally formed with the special lock.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the signaling involves a visual signal.

21. The method of claim 18, wherein the signaling involves a visual signal.