U.S. patent application number 10/781209 was filed with the patent office on 2004-08-26 for security fastener and method of securing luggage.
This patent application is currently assigned to George E. Florek. Invention is credited to Florek, Kenneth F., Redburn, Loren.
Application Number | 20040164564 10/781209 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 29254672 |
Filed Date | 2004-08-26 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040164564 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Redburn, Loren ; et
al. |
August 26, 2004 |
Security fastener and method of securing luggage
Abstract
A fastener for securing an article having a first end
terminating in a stop member for substantially permanent insertion
into an article, requiring destruction of the fastener for removal,
a second end having an enlarged member and a connection member
between said first end and said second end, wherein the fastener
further comprises means for retaining security information. Also, a
method for securing an article, at least a portion of which is made
of a material through which a needle can pass, including the step
of passing a needle with a stop member of a fastener through the
material of the article to be secured, the fastener having a first
end terminating in the stop member, a second end having an enlarged
member and a connection member between the first end and the second
end, wherein removal of the fastener requires destruction of the
fastener.
Inventors: |
Redburn, Loren; (Weymouth,
MA) ; Florek, Kenneth F.; (Colts Neck, NJ) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Philip E. Roux
Clifford Chance Rogers & Wells LLP
200 Park Avenue
New York
NY
10166-0153
US
|
Assignee: |
George E. Florek
|
Family ID: |
29254672 |
Appl. No.: |
10/781209 |
Filed: |
February 17, 2004 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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10781209 |
Feb 17, 2004 |
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10422532 |
Apr 24, 2003 |
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10781209 |
Feb 17, 2004 |
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10123454 |
Apr 15, 2002 |
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6694655 |
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60376458 |
Apr 30, 2002 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
292/307R |
Current CPC
Class: |
G08B 13/2482 20130101;
G09F 3/0394 20130101; G09F 3/10 20130101; Y10T 292/48 20150401;
A45C 13/18 20130101; G09F 2003/0254 20130101; A45C 13/42
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
292/307.00R |
International
Class: |
B65D 027/30 |
Claims
1. A security fastener comprising a first end terminating in a stop
member for substantially permanent insertion into an article,
requiring destruction of the fastener for removal, a second end
having an enlarged member and a connection member between said
first end and said second end, wherein the fastener further
comprises means for retaining security information.
2. The security fastener of claim 1 wherein the stop member
comprises a T-shaped member for insertion into an article.
3. The security fastener of claim 1 wherein the means for retaining
security information is taken from the group consisting of writing,
printing, pre-printed labels, bar codes, radio frequency
technology, magnetic technology.
4. The security fastener of claim 3 wherein the means for retaining
security information is incorporated into at least a portion of a
separate tag having an aperture through which the fastener
passes.
5. The security fastener of claim 3 wherein the means for retaining
security information is incorporated into at least a portion of the
enlarged member.
6. A method of securing an article, at least a portion of which
comprises a material through which a needle can pass, comprising
the step of passing a needle with a stop member of a fastener
through the material of the article to be secured, said fastener
comprising a first end terminating in the stop member, a second end
having an enlarged member and a connection member between said
first end and said second end, wherein removal of said fastener
requires destruction of the fastener.
7. The method of claim 6 wherein the fastener further comprises
means for retaining security information is taken from the group
consisting of writing, printing, pre-printed labels, bar codes,
radio frequency technology and magnetic technology.
8. The method of claim 6 further comprising the steps of passing
the stop member of the fastener through a zipper of the article
prior to passing the stop member through the material of the
article.
9. The method of claim 6 further comprising the step of passing the
stop member through a security or identification tag prior to
passing the stop member through the material of the article.
10. The method of claim 6 further comprising the step of adding
security information to the fastener prior to passing the stop
member through the material of the article.
11. The method of claim 6 further comprising the step of searching
an article prior to passing the stop member through the material of
the article.
Description
REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] The present application is based on Provisional Patent
Application No. 60/376,458, filed on Apr. 30, 2002.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates to the field of security
devices and methods and, more particularly, to the area of securing
luggage by means which cannot be removed without destruction or
evidence of tampering.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Security has become an essential and primary element in
travel since terrorist activities have reached the United States.
The travel industry has taken a keen awareness to securing luggage
so that restricted items and materials are not brought onto planes
and the like where they can be used to overtake travel personnel or
injure passengers.
[0004] It is therefore an object of the present invention to
provide a security device and method that can secure a piece of
luggage without locking it but provides visual indication of
removal or tampering.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] These and other objects are achieved by the present
invention, directed to a security fastener and method of securing
luggage comprising a fastener for securing a closure device to the
luggage itself so that the luggage closure device cannot be opened
without destruction, visual indication or the inability to reattach
the fastener.
[0006] The security fastener preferably has a first end that passes
through the luggage closure and into the luggage and a second end
having an enlarged portion which prohibits the second end from
passing through the closure and maintains the closure device in a
particular location where the fastener is inserted into the
luggage. The fastener is preferably a standard tag fastener secured
on the luggage using a device such as a standard tagging gun having
a needle end which is inserted through an opening on the closure
and into the luggage material or luggage seam where the first end
of the fastener is embedded.
[0007] In the preferred embodiment the security fastener includes a
separate label or tag being capable of receiving identification
information.
[0008] Also in a preferred embodiment, the security fastener
includes a security identification feature such as radio frequency
or magnetic technology that can be traced or even tracked by
security personnel incorporated into the fastener or a tag attached
to the luggage by the fastener.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] The following drawings, in which like reference characters
indicate like parts, are intended only to illustrate the preferred
embodiments of the invention without limiting the invention in any
manner whatsoever, wherein:
[0010] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the fastener being secured
onto piece of luggage.
[0011] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the preferred fastener of
the present invention.
[0012] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of
the fastener of the present invention securing the closure of a
piece of luggage in a closed configuration.
[0013] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of
the present invention where the closure device is fastened to the
luggage by securing it to another cooperating closure device on the
luggage.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0014] As shown in the drawings, the present invention is directed
to a security fastening device and method of securing a piece of
luggage. The fastener can be in any form suitable of securing a
luggage closure device into fixed relation to a portion of the
luggage but incapable of removal without destruction, visual
indication or the inability to reattach the fastener.
[0015] In a preferred embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the fastener 2
preferably comprises a body having a first end with a T-shaped
member 6 and a second end with an enlarged member 8 with a
connection member 10 therebetween. The T-shaped member 6 is capable
of insertion through an opening in a luggage closure device, such
as a zipper 12, optionally through a security identification tag
14, and into the material or a seam of a piece of luggage 16 to be
secured (see FIGS. 1 and 3).
[0016] The fastener 2 of the preferred embodiment shown in FIGS.
1-3 is preferably a plastic tag fastener as known in the art of
clothing tagging and secured by a tagging gun 18, also well known
in the clothing tagging art. Although a variety of such tagging
guns and fasteners are available, suitable devices include the
TACH-IT.RTM. tagging gun and fasteners available from Interstate
Label Company and the PAXAR 3000 Series Tag Attacher available from
Monarch Marketing Systems, Inc. of Miamisburg, Ohio. Such tagging
guns 18 include a needle 20 and trigger 22 for attaching the
fastener 2, wherein the needle 20 passes through the material or a
seam of an item and the trigger 22 is then depressed to embed the
T-shaped portion 6 of the fastener through the material.
[0017] The identification or security tag 14 can be a standard tag
with passenger identification information either entered by the
passenger or a luggage attendant or can contain security
information such as that a piece of luggage has been searched and
by whom, where the luggage is destined, etc., in written, bar code
or other coded or uncoded form. In a variation, the tag 14 a
separate hanging item or a portion of the fastener 2 itself can
contain coded information in the form of radio frequency, magnetic
or other identification technology which is or will become known in
the security art for tracking the secured luggage 16. Preferably,
however, the tag 14 would be reinforced at least in the area of the
hole which accepts the connection member 10 of the fastener 2.
[0018] In the preferred method to secure a piece of luggage 16
using the fastener of FIGS. 1-3 described above, security personnel
having a tagging gun 18 passes the needle 20 of the gun through the
hole of a zipper 12, optionally through a security or
identification tag 14,and into the piece of luggage 16. In a piece
of luggage 16 made of a woven or porous material, such as nylon or
cotton duffel bags, ballistic nylon luggage or back packs, the
needle 20 can be inserted directly through the material an can be
inserted through the seam of a piece of luggage 16 made of leather,
vinyl or the like. In any event, the needle 20 is inserted into a
portion of the piece of luggage 16 in the area of the closed zipper
12. Once inserted into the material or seam of the luggage 16, the
security person depresses the trigger 22 and embeds the T-shaped
portion 6 of the fastener into the luggage.
[0019] Once the T-shaped portion 6 of the fastener 2 is embedded in
the luggage 16, the zipper 12 cannot be opened without breaking the
fastener 2. When a tag 14 is used with the fastener 2, the tag 14
will not be secured to the bag 16 and will therefore alert security
personnel that the luggage 16 is no longer secure.
[0020] The size and dimensions of the fastener 2 can be any that
suits the purpose of the present invention. For luggage 16 made of
a nylon material with a zipper that lays flat on the material and a
thin reinforced identification tag 14, a 1/2 or 3/4 inch fastener
available from Interstate Label Company would be suitable. Of
course, in particular circumstances other sizes could be used.
Additionally, it is contemplated that for additional security the
fasteners 2 can be made in a variety of colors or have enlarged
ends 8 in a variety of shapes. Thus, a particular travel location,
such as a particular airport, can change the color or shape of the
fastener 2 on a daily or suitable basis to ensure that unauthorized
persons cannot affix their own fasteners 2.
[0021] In an alternative embodiment, shown in FIG. 4, the fastener
2a is secured to itself through another portion of the luggage 16
other than through the material or a seam. In this embodiment, the
fastener 2a can be a Tagger Loc available from Paxar Corporation
under item no. Y06-006 (127 mm length) or item no. Y06-008 (203 mm
length). The self attaching fastener 2a is attached similar to the
straight fastener 2 but must pass through not only the closure
device of a piece of luggage 16 but also through another portion of
the luggage, such as a cooperating zipper 12 as shown in FIG. 4 or
through a loop or the like often found in the vicinity of the
closed zipper.
[0022] The method of attaching the alternative fastener 2a is very
similar to the method of attaching the straight fastener 2,
however, the end of the fastener 2a is inserted into an opening on
the fastener 2a rather than into the material or seam of the
luggage. Of course, a security or identification tag 14 can be used
with the self-engaging fastener 2a.
[0023] The security aspect of the identification tag of the present
invention ensures that a third party will not be able to access the
contents of a compartment when out of the owner's control or
control of security personnel. Additionally, security officials
such as airport personnel will be able to know that once an item
was checked and secured, other persons have not had access to the
interior of the luggage 16.
[0024] Of course, changes, modifications and variations to the
above obvious to those skilled in the art can be made without
deviating from the present invention. All such changes,
modifications, variations and the like are intended to fall within
the spirit and scope of this present invention.
* * * * *