U.S. patent application number 11/150739 was filed with the patent office on 2006-12-14 for shielded retail packaging for transponder.
This patent application is currently assigned to MARK IV INDUSTRIES CORP.. Invention is credited to Joe Bianchini, Thua Van Ho, Paul Manuel, Rino Moretti.
Application Number | 20060278551 11/150739 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 37523167 |
Filed Date | 2006-12-14 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060278551 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Bianchini; Joe ; et
al. |
December 14, 2006 |
Shielded retail packaging for transponder
Abstract
A retail package for an activated transponder that prevents the
transponder from receiving or responding to interrogation signals
from a reader as the packaged transponder is shipped to retail
outlets or while the packaged transponder in the possession of a
retail purchaser but prior to the purchaser's intended use. The
retail packaging includes shielding material to attenuate RF
transmission sufficiently to prevent the accidental occurrence of a
transaction, such as a electronic vehicle toll transaction. Once
the transponder is removed from the packaging it may function
normally.
Inventors: |
Bianchini; Joe; (Toronto,
CA) ; Moretti; Rino; (Vaughan, CA) ; Manuel;
Paul; (North York, CA) ; Ho; Thua Van;
(Mississauga, CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
David M. Mundt;Cook, Alex, McFarron, Manzo
Cummings & Mehler, Ltd.
200 West Adams Street, Suite 2850
Chicago
IL
60606
US
|
Assignee: |
MARK IV INDUSTRIES CORP.
|
Family ID: |
37523167 |
Appl. No.: |
11/150739 |
Filed: |
June 10, 2005 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
206/463 ;
206/461; 206/471 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 75/54 20130101;
B65D 75/22 20130101; B65D 81/30 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
206/463 ;
206/471; 206/461 |
International
Class: |
B65D 73/00 20060101
B65D073/00 |
Claims
1. A retail package for a radio frequency (RF) transponder
comprising: a plastic package including a front half and a back
half connected by an integral hinge along one side, the front half
including a product bubble for containing the transponder; and a
shielding material disposed to cover at least a portion of the
transponder, wherein the shielding material attenuates RF signals
to prevent the transponder from communicating with remote
readers.
2. The retail package claimed in claim 1, wherein said shielding
material comprises front shielding material disposed to cover at
least a portion of the product bubble and back shielding material
disposed to cover at least a portion of the back half of the
plastic package.
3. The retail package claimed in claim 2, wherein said product
bubble includes forward extending walls and a front face and
wherein said front shielding material is disposed to cover said
front face.
4. The retail package claimed in claim 3, wherein said front
shielding material includes a cutout portion to expose a portion of
said front face.
5. The retail package claimed in claim 2, wherein the transponder
includes a front face and wherein said front shielding material
comprises a metalized material formed as a cap to fit over said
front face.
6. The retail package claimed in claim 2, wherein the retail
package further includes a product information card disposed
between the front half and the back half, said product information
card including said back shielding material.
7. The retail package claimed in claim 1, wherein said shielding
material comprises a metal alloy.
8. The retail package claimed in claim 7, wherein said metal alloy
comprises an aluminum alloy.
9. The retail package claimed in claim 7, wherein said shielding
material further comprises a substrate.
10. The retail package claimed in claim 9, wherein said substrate
comprises paper.
11. The retail package claimed in claim 9, wherein said metal alloy
is laminated on said substrate.
12. The retail package claimed in claim 1, wherein said shielding
material includes an adhesive and wherein said shielding material
is applied to said plastic package.
13. The retail package claimed in claim 12, wherein said shielding
material is applied to the exterior of said product bubble.
14. The retail package claimed in claim 1, wherein the front half
of said plastic package further includes at least one rib proximate
a side of the product bubble, said rib projecting towards said back
half when said plastic package is in a closed configuration, and
whereby said at least one inward rib prevents a product insert from
sliding out of the product bubble.
15. The retail package claimed in claim 14, wherein the product
bubble includes a top side wall and a bottom side wall, and wherein
said at least one rib comprises an upper rib disposed proximate
said top side wall and a bottom rib disposed proximate said bottom
side wall.
16. The retail package claimed in claim 14, wherein said at least
one rib comprises a projection having an arcuate shape.
17. A packaged transponder for use in electronic payment
transactions, comprising: a transponder for engaging in RF
communications with remote readers to conduct electronic payment
transactions; a plastic package including a front half and a back
half connected by an integral hinge along one side, the front half
including a product bubble for containing said transponder; and a
shielding material disposed to cover at least a portion of said
transponder, wherein the shielding material attenuates RF signals
to prevent said transponder from communicating with said remote
readers.
18. The packaged transponder claimed in claim 17, wherein said
shielding material comprises front shielding material disposed to
cover at least a portion of the product bubble and back shielding
material disposed to cover at least a portion of the back half of
the plastic package.
19. The packaged transponder claimed in claim 18, wherein said
transponder includes a front face and wherein said front shielding
material comprises a metalized material formed as a cap to fit over
said front face.
20. The packaged transponder claimed in claim 17, wherein said
shielding material comprises a metal alloy and a substrate
material.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to retail packaging for a
transponder and, in particular, to shielded retail packaging that
attenuates RF communications so as to prevent the transponder from
communicating with a reader.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Many toll roads offer the convenience of conducting toll
transactions electronically with a vehicle-mounted transponder.
Such an electronic toll collection (ETC) system provides for
roadside readers at toll plazas or toll collection points in the
roadway. A roadside reader communicates with a transponder in a
passing vehicle using RF transmissions. The reader and transponder
negotiate a toll transaction, often debiting a toll charge from an
account associated with the transponder owner.
[0003] Such transponders are also useful in other applications
besides electronic toll collection. Other applications may include
automated parking transactions, automated drive-through payment,
customs duties or charges, and a range of other applications.
[0004] Transponders for electronic payments, like ETC, are
typically sold or distributed through retail kiosks or outlets. The
transponders may be sold or distributed by the toll road authority
or may be sold or distributed by third parties, such as convenience
stores and gas stations.
[0005] In many cases, the transponders are sold in an activated
state. Often, for promotional reasons, a transponder may be sold in
an active state with a pre-authorized cash value stored in an
associated account. For example, the transponder may be offered for
sale having $20.00 of stored value to encourage purchasers.
[0006] A problem that arises with the retail distribution of
activated transponders, or in the shipping or distribution of
activated transponders from a manufacturer to retail locations, is
that the transponder(s) may pass through a communication zone of a
reader. As a result, the transponder may respond to a reader
interrogation signal and the transponder and reader may conduct a
undesired transaction.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] The present invention provides a retail package for an
activated transponder that prevents the transponder from receiving
or responding to interrogation signals from a reader as the
packaged transponder is shipped to retail outlets or while the
packaged transponder in the possession of a retail purchaser but
prior to the purchaser's intended use. The retail packaging
includes shielding material to attenuate RF transmission
sufficiently to prevent the accidental occurrence of a transaction,
such as an electronic toll collection transaction. Once the
transponder is removed from the packaging it may function normally.
The packaging, or a portion thereof, may be retained by the retail
purchaser in order to selectively attenuate signal to or from the
transponder so as to prevent the occurrence of transactions.
[0008] In one aspect, the present invention provides a retail
package for a radio frequency (RF) transponder. The retail package
includes a plastic package having a front half and a back half
connected by an integral hinge along one side, the front half
including a product bubble for containing the transponder. The
retail package also includes a shielding material disposed to cover
at least a portion of the transponder, wherein the shielding
material attenuates RF signals to prevent the transponder from
communicating with remote readers.
[0009] Other aspects and features of the present invention will be
apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art from a review of the
following detailed description when considered in conjunction with
the drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0010] Reference will now be made, by way of example, to the
accompanying drawings which show an embodiment of the present
invention, and in which:
[0011] FIGS. 1 to 3 show an embodiment of a retail package in
closed configuration from various perspective views;
[0012] FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of the retail package in an
open configuration;
[0013] FIG. 5 shows a front view of the retail package in an open
configuration;
[0014] FIG. 6 shows a sectional view of the retail package from
FIG. 5 along the line A-A;
[0015] FIG. 7 shows a front view of an embodiment of the shielded
retail package;
[0016] FIG. 8 shows a sectional view of the shielded retail package
of FIG. 7;
[0017] FIG. 9 shows a sectional exploded view of an embodiment of
the shielded retail package;
[0018] FIGS. 10a and 10b diagrammatically show a perspective view
of an embodiment of a shielding sleeve;
[0019] FIG. 11 shows a sectional exploded view of an embodiment of
the retail package including the shielding sleeve of FIGS. 10a and
10b;
[0020] FIG. 12 shows a sectional exploded view of a further
embodiment of the retail package;
[0021] FIG. 13 shows the electric field patterns of the transponder
of FIG. 12 with and without the retail package of FIG. 12; and
[0022] FIG. 14 shows the magnetic field patterns corresponding to
the electric field patterns from FIG. 13.
[0023] Similar reference numerals are used in different figures to
denote similar components.
DESCRIPTION OF SPECIFIC EMBODIMENTS
[0024] Reference is first made to FIGS. 1 to 3, which show a retail
package 10 in closed configuration from various perspective views.
The retail package 10 includes a front half 12 and a back half 14
connected by a hinge 16. The front half 12 includes a product
bubble, designated generally as 18. This configuration may
sometimes be referred to as a "clamshell" package.
[0025] The retail package 10 may be created from a clear plastic so
as to allow for visual inspection of the contents of the package
and any product display information contained therein. In some
embodiments, the retail package 10 may be formed from polystyrene,
polypropylene, polyethylene, or polyvinylchloride. In one
embodiment, the retail package 10 may be thermoformed using
extruded plastic. In another embodiment, the retail package 10 may
be created using an injection molding process. Those of ordinary
skill in the art will be familiar with the creation of plastic
clamshell retail packaging and the selection of appropriate
materials and manufacturing processes.
[0026] Reference is now also made to FIGS. 4, 5, and 6. FIG. 4
shows a perspective view of the retail package 10 in an open
configuration. FIG. 5 shows a front view of the retail package 10
in an open configuration. FIG. 6 shows a sectional view of the
retail package 10 from FIG. 5 along the line A-A.
[0027] To assemble the retail package 10 for shipment and sale, the
product, i.e. the transponder, is placed within the product bubble
18 and the back half 14 and front half 12 are hingedly brought
together into a closed relationship. The walls of the product
bubble 18 and the back half 14 hold the transponder in place within
the retail package 10.
[0028] The front half 12 and back half 14 of the retail package 10
may be fixed in the closed position. In one embodiment, the front
half 12 and back half 14 maintain a closed position by way of a
friction fit. In another embodiment, the front half 12 includes
front side edges 20 and a front top edge 22, and the back half 14
includes back side edges 24 and a back top edge 26, and the
corresponding side edges 20, 24 and top edges 22, 26 are affixed to
each other in the closed position. For example, the edges 20, 22,
24, 26 may be bonded using adhesive or may be welded together.
Other mechanisms for affixing the front half 12 and back half 14 in
a closed position will be understood by those of ordinary skill in
the art.
[0029] In one embodiment, the front half 12 includes a front planar
portion 30 defining the front side edges 20 and the top edge 22 and
a dished-out portion 32 for containing a product card, pamphlet, or
other generally flat material. The back half 14 comprises an outer
back planar portion 34 defining the back side edges 24 and the back
top edge 26, an interior back planar portion 36, and a raised back
ridge 37 encircling the interior back planar portion 36. The raised
back ridge 37 fits within the dished-out portion 32 of the front
half 12 when the retail package 10 is in the closed position. In
one embodiment, the raised back ridge 37 may be sized to friction
fit into the dished-out portion 32 to provide for a friction fit
between the front half 12 and back half 14 while in the closed
position.
[0030] The front planar portion 30 may be provided with an aperture
38 sized to allow for hanging of the retail package 10 on a rod or
hook for retail display. A corresponding aperture 39 may be
provided in the outer back planar portion 34.
[0031] Reference is now made to FIG. 7, which shows a front view of
an embodiment of the shielded retail package 10, and to FIG. 8,
which shows a sectional view of the shielded retail package 10 of
FIG. 7.
[0032] The retail package 10 includes shielding material (shown
individually as 40a and 40b). The shielding material 40 comprises a
metalized material for blocking or attenuating RF signals. In one
embodiment, the shielding material 40 comprises aluminum or an
aluminum alloy. Other metals or metal alloys may also be used
provided they have the property of attenuating RF signals.
[0033] The shielding material 40 may include a substrate material
and the metal alloy. For example, the substrate may include a
fabric (e.g. polyester) or paper material (e.g. cardboard). The
metal alloy is laminated or applied to the substrate material to
form the shielding material 40. In one embodiment, the shielding
material 40 includes a cardboard product information card having an
aluminum alloy laminated onto its back surface and displaying
product information on its front surface. Such a product
information card may be contained in the retail package 10, for
example between the dished-out portion 32 and the interior back
planar portion 36. Other substrates and methods of application,
such as lamination, impregnation, etc., will be understood by those
of ordinary skill in the art. The method of application may be
selected on the basis of the type of metal alloy, the type of
substrate material, and the intended application.
[0034] In one embodiment, the shielding material 40 includes an
adhesive applied to one side of the substrate. The shielding
material 40 may therefore be adhesively affixed to the retail
package 10. For example, in one embodiment, the shielding material
40 may be adhesively attached to the product bubble 18 and/or to
the interior back planar portion 36, thereby shielding the contents
of the product bubble 18 from incoming RF signals and attenuating
outgoing RF signals. In one embodiment, the adhesive shielding
material 40 may be applied to the exterior of the retail package
10. For example, the shielding material 40 may be affixed to the
front exterior of the product bubble 18. In such an example, the
shielding material 40 may be applied in the form of a removable
label.
[0035] In some embodiments, the shielding material 40 may include
more than one piece of shielding material 40, such as front
shielding material 40a and back shielding material 40b, so as to
shield more than one side of a transponder from RF signals. The
front shielding material 40a may be disposed over a substantial
portion of the front of the product bubble 18. The back shielding
material 40b may be disposed over a substantial portion of the
interior back planar portion 36. In one embodiment, the back
shielding material 40b may be disposed over a part of the interior
back planar portion 36 corresponding to the location of the product
bubble 18 when in the closed position.
[0036] The front shielding material 40a may include one or more
cutout portions 40c to allow for a user or customer to view a
portion of the transponder contained within the retail package 10.
The cutout portion 40c may be located so as to expose a barcode,
serial number, or other product identifying or tracking feature.
The location of the cutout portion 40c is selected so as to expose
a desired view of the transponder, but to prevent substantial
leakage of RF signals into or out of the retail package 10.
Accordingly, the location of the cutout portion 40c is selected
keeping in mind the location and orientation of the antenna within
the transponder.
[0037] In one embodiment, the back shielding material 40b is
applied to a product information card disposed within the retail
package 10 in the region of the interior back planar portion 36.
The product information card may be visible through the retail
package 10 and may contain design logos, product trade-marks,
pricing information, and other marketing or product information,
especially in the upper front region visible through the surface of
the dished-out portion 32 of the front half 12. If the back surface
of the product information card does not feature any text or
graphics, then the back shielding material 40b may be applied to a
substantial part of the back surface. If the back surface is
required for text or graphics, then the back shielding material 40b
may be laminated between a front and back layer of paper or
cardboard upon which the text or graphics may be printed.
[0038] Whether or not multi-sided shielding is necessary to prevent
communications between a transponder and remote readers depends, in
part, upon the layout and configuration of the transponder and, in
particular, the location and configuration of its antenna. A
transponder having a directional sensitivity of a particular
orientation may only need shielding on one side in some
embodiments. In many embodiments, shielding of the transponder on
at least two sides may be advisable to prevent communications with
remote readers. In some embodiments, placing shielding material 40
on three or more sides may be desirable. For example, shielding
material 40 may be located on the sides of the product bubble
18.
[0039] Reference is now made to FIG. 9 in conjunctions with FIGS. 1
through 8. FIG. 9 shows a sectional exploded view of an embodiment
of the retail package 10. The retail package 10 includes the front
half 12, the back half 14, the shielding material 40. A transponder
50 is also shown. It will be seen that the transponder 50 features
an exterior having a shape corresponding to the shape of the
interior of the product bubble 18.
[0040] The shielding material 40 includes front shielding material
40a' and back shielding material 40b. The back shielding material
40b includes a product information card 42 upon which a metal alloy
44, such as aluminum, is laminated. The front shielding material
40a' is formed or shaped as a cap to fit over the front surface of
the transponder 50 and within the interior surface of the product
bubble 18.
[0041] The front shielding material 40a' in a cap form may be sized
so as to friction fit or snap fit over the face of the transponder
50. Advantageously, this permits the user to later use the front
shielding material 40a' to selectively shield the transponder 50
from communications once the remainder of the retail package 10 has
been discarded.
[0042] The retail package 10 may further include a product insert
46 such as a booklet, owner's manual, warranty information, or
other printed material. The product insert 46 may be placed in the
retail package 10 under the transponder 50 so as to hide it from
view while in the retail package 10.
[0043] To assemble an embodiment of the packaged product for
shipping or retail, the front shielding material 40a', the
transponder 50, and the product insert 46 are placed in the product
bubble 18, as shown in FIG. 9. The back shielding material 40b is
placed either within the interior back planar portion 36 or within
the dished-out portion 32 and the back half 14 is pivoted into the
closed position and sealed.
[0044] Referring still to FIGS. 1 to 9, it will be appreciated that
the product information card 42 may be constructed to have
dimensions corresponding to the area of the interior back planar
portion 36. In other words, when the retail package 10 is in the
closed position, the product information card 42 is maintained in
its position in the interior space defined by the surrounding
raised back ridge 37, the interior back planar surface 36 and the
dished-out portion 32. Thus, the text and graphics printed on the
front surface remains visible through the upper front half 12
irrespective of the orientation of the retail package 10.
[0045] It will also be appreciated that the product insert 46
placed under the transponder 50 may slide out from under the
transponder 50 if the retail package 10 is moved or shaken, such as
in the course of transportation. The product insert 46 may then
obscure a portion of the product information card 42 that is
intended to be seen by consumers. Accordingly, in one embodiment,
the retail package 10 includes downwardly depending retention ribs
52. Referring to FIGS. 4 through 9, the front half 12 may define a
top rib 52a formed adjacent the upper wall of the product bubble 18
and a bottom rib 52b formed adjacent the bottom wall of the product
bubble 18. It will be appreciated that the retail package 10 may,
in some embodiment, include ribs 52 located at the sides of the
product bubble 18 as well. In some embodiments, the transponder 50
itself features downwardly depending protrusions or features which
serve as ribs at the sides of the product bubble 18.
[0046] The ribs 52 may, in one embodiment, be arcuate, although it
will be appreciated that other shapes are also possible. The ribs
52 extend approximately the depth of the dished-out portion 32 such
that, when the retail package 10 is in the closed position, the
ribs 52 press the product information card 42 against the back half
14, leaving little or no space for the product insert 46 to slide
upward or downwards in the retail package 10.
[0047] Reference is now made to FIGS. 10 and 11 which depict an
embodiment wherein the shielding material 40 is employed in a
sleeve-type configuration. FIGS. 10a and 10b show a perspective
view of a shielding sleeve 140 for preventing RF communications
with a transponder in a retail package. FIG. 11 shows a sectional
exploded view of an embodiment of the retail package 10 including
the shielding sleeve 140 of FIGS. 10a and 10b.
[0048] The shielding sleeve 140 is sized so as to slide over an end
of the transponder 50. In particular, the sleeve 140 is intended to
fit over an end of the transponder 50 in which the antenna 150 is
disposed. The sleeve 140 thereby surrounds the antenna 150 location
on five sides, nearly enclosing the antenna 150.
[0049] In one embodiment, the sleeve 140 includes an upper portion
142 and an extended back portion 144. The extended back portion 144
is intended to cover the underside of the transponder 50, whereas
the upper portion 142 is intended to cover a portion of the top of
the transponder 50, but leave a part of the transponder 50
exposed.
[0050] Reference is now made to FIG. 12, which shows a sectional
exploded view of a further embodiment of the retail package 10. In
this embodiment, the retail package 10 includes a shielding sleeve
240 adapted to slide onto an end of the transponder 50. In
particular, the shielding sleeve 240 is adapted to slide onto the
end of the transponder 50 containing the antenna 150. The retail
package 10 further includes the back shielding material 40b.
[0051] The antenna 150 of the transponder 50 may be a mono-pole
type antenna having sensitivity to metal and metal alloys in close
proximity. In operation, the back shielding material 40b provides a
relatively infinite grounding effect vis-a-vis the antenna 150. The
shielding sleeve 240 provides additional RF attenuation. In
particular, the shielding sleeve 240 serves to prevent multi-paths
resulting from reflection and diffraction of RF signal paths.
[0052] By way of example, reference is now made to FIGS. 13 and 14.
FIG. 13 shows the electric field patterns of the transponder 50 of
FIG. 12 with and without the retail package 10 of FIG. 12. FIG. 14
shows the magnetic field patterns corresponding to the electric
field patterns from FIG. 13.
[0053] The present invention may be embodied in other specific
forms without departing from the spirit or essential
characteristics thereof. Certain adaptations and modifications of
the invention will be obvious to those skilled in the art.
Therefore, the above discussed embodiments are considered to be
illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being
indicated by the appended claims rather than the foregoing
description, and all changes which come within the meaning and
range of equivalency of the claims are therefore intended to be
embraced therein.
* * * * *