Improved flexible digitally printable and tamperproof suitcase locker

Abstract

The present invention is in the field of a flexible tamperproof suitcase locker, which is made of a flexible foil, a method of applying said suitcase locker, and various further applications thereof. Typically the present suitcase locker is of a one size fits all dimension, hence applicable to each and every suitcase. Further the foil typically has a clearly recognizable and differentiating print or the like.

Claims

1. Flexible suitcase locker (100) comprising a printable foil (10), wherein the foil (10) has a thickness of 40-200 m, wherein the foil (10) comprises at least one polymer wherein all wt. % are based on a total weight of the foil, wherein at at least one longitudinal end thereof the foil is provided with an adhesive (20), which adhesive upon application provides a bond between two ends, which adhesive upon application provides a bond between two ends that has a direct adhesive strength of >20 N/cm.sup.2 (ISO 8510-2:2006), and a removable strip (21) covering said adhesive, characterized in that the foil (10) comprises at least one opening (50) providing space for a suitcase handle, the opening comprising at least three incisions, a first horizontal incision (51), adjacent to either end of the horizontal incision two substantially circular incisions (52), wherein the two substantially circular incisions comprise, respectively at an left and right end of the three incisions, an inwardly extending indentation (54), wherein the indentation has at either side two curved sections (55), which curved sections have a smaller radius than the substantially circular incisions, the foil (10) has a width of 10-50 cm, a length of 150-200 cm, the foil (10) is tamperproof, the foil (10) is digitally printable, the foil (10) comprises 10-50 wt. % inorganic filler, the foil (10) has an ultimate tensile strength (ISO 1184, 25 C.) of 5-100 MPa, the foil (10) has a Youngs modulus of <2.5 GPa, the foil (10) has an elongation (ISO 1184) at break of >50%, the foil (10) has a coefficient of friction (film to film, untreated side to untreated side; ISO 8295) of 0.2-0.4 (dynamic), and the bond cannot be broken without deforming the foil.

2. Suitcase locker according to claim 1, wherein the three incisions form one combined incision, or wherein at least one incision is intermitted such that the foil apart from the incisions is integral (53).

3. Suitcase locker according to claim 1, comprising an adhesive strip (60) located adjacent to incision (51) for securing the foil around a grip.

4. Suitcase locker according to claim 1, wherein the adhesive (20) is a pressure sensitive adhesive, which adhesive upon application provides a bond between two ends that has a direct adhesive strength of >25 N/cm.sup.2 (ISO 8510-2:2006), and wherein the foil comprises pores and/or comprises pores after treatment, wherein pores are in a size range of 100-2500 nm.

5. Suitcase locker according to claim 1, wherein the foil has at least one of an ultimate tensile strength (ISO 1184, 25 C.) of 7-75 MPa, a Youngs modulus of <2.0 GPa, an elongation (ISO 1184) at break of >100%, a density of 1-1.2 g/cm.sup.3, and a coefficient of friction (film to film, un-treated side to untreated side; ISO 8295) of 0.25-0.35, and 0.3-0.5 (static).

6. Suitcase locker according to claim 1, wherein the foil has a glass transition temperature of <60 C. (ISO 11357-2:2013).

7. Suitcase locker according to claim 1, wherein the foil has a melt temperature of >70 C. (ISO 3146:2000).

8. Suitcase locker according to claim 1, wherein the inorganic filler is selected from calcium oxide, calcium carbonate, clays, silica-alumina clays, silica, talc, chalk, titanium oxide, and combinations thereof.

9. Suitcase locker according to claim 1, wherein the polymer is selected from polyolefines, polypropylene, polyethylene, high density PP and PE, biodegradable polymers, biobased polymers, and combinations thereof.

10. Suitcase locker according to claim 1, comprising an identifier (30) which is a laminate, wherein a near field communicator and chip are adhered to a first layer of the laminate and wherein the RFID and antenna are adhered to a second layer of the laminate such that upon delamination the NCF and chip are at least partly separated from the RFID.

11. Suitcase locker according to claim 10, wherein the identifier is adapted to provide wireless communication selected from at least one of radio frequency (RF), near field (NF), and near infra-red.

12. Suitcase locker according to claim 1, wherein the foil comprises pores and comprises pores after treatment, wherein the adhesive is selected from solvent based pressure sensitive adhesives, contact adhesives, two component adhesives, and hot melt adhesives.

13. Suitcase locker according to claim 1, wherein a foil part (22) is untreated up to at least 0.5 cm at either longitudinal side thereof, and wherein adhesive is applied to said untreated part.

14. Method of tracking, comprising providing a suitcase, applying the suitcase locker to the suitcase by wrapping the locker around the suitcase and adhering the two ends to one and another, characterized in that a suitcase locker according to claim 1 is provided, wherein the foil has a width of 15-50 cm, a length of 150-200 cm, the foil is tamperproof, the foil is digitally printable, the foil comprises 10-50 wt. % inorganic filler, and the bond cannot be broken without deforming the foil, and optionally scanning the identifier therewith providing a unique code, at a distance of 0.1-500 cm.

15. Method according to claim 14, wherein the unique code is coupled to at least one of flight and personal data.

16. Method according to claim 14, wherein the unique code of the identifier is entered into a database.

17. Method according to claim 14, wherein a location of the suitcase is followed over time by wireless determining the location of the identifier.

18. Method according to claim 14, wherein the suitcase locker is visually or optically scanned for tampering.

19. Opening (50) for use in a Suitlocker comprising at least three incisions, a first horizontal incision (51), adjacent to either end of the horizontal incision two substantially circular incisions (52), wherein the two substantially circular incisions comprise, respectively at an left and right end of the three incisions, an inwardly extending indentation (54), wherein the indentation has at either side two curved sections (55), which curved sections have a smaller radius than the substantially circular incisions.

Description

FIGURES

[0047] FIGS. 1a-h: schematic layout, application and scanning of the present suitlocker 100.

[0048] FIGS. 2a-e show the improved opening.

[0049] FIG. 3: schematic layout of an exemplary identifier.

[0050] FIG. 4: schematic layout of an exemplary identifier.

[0051] FIG. 5: flow diagram.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0052] FIGS. 1a-c: schematic layout of the present suitlocker 100. Therein a foil 10, an adhesive 20 provided at a back side thereof, a removable strip 21 on the adhesive, a wireless identifier 30 and an incision 50 are shown. Such a foil may for instance be provided, on demand, by Kivo Plastic Verpakkingen B.V., Volendam, the Netherlands, which foil may be referred to as Renewable biobased HDPE foil, which foil comprises 16 wt. % CaO and 1.8 wt. % TiO.sub.2. FIGS. 1d-f show application of the present suitlocker on a suitcase. FIGS. 1g-h show wireless scanning of the present suitlocker.

[0053] FIG. 2a shows a foil section comprising at least three incision 50, a first horizontal incision 51, adjacent to either end of the horizontal incision two substantially circular incisions 52, wherein the two substantially circular incisions comprise, respectively at an left and right end of the three incisions, an inwardly extending indentation 54, wherein the indentation has at either side two curved sections 55, which curved sections have a smaller radius than the substantially circular incisions, which are further detailed in FIG. 2b shows two incisions at the side. Also intermitted incisions, i.e. integral foil parts, 53 are shown, as well as an adhesive strip 60. Sections inside incisions 52 may be folded away when wrapping the foil around a suitcase. Also incision 51 may be intermitted, typically in the middle thereof. Of course the present opening may be rotated 90 degrees, becoming vertical, in view of other types of suitcases and grips thereof. FIG. 2c shows an example. FIG. 2d shows a complete suitlocker with an openings. FIG. 2e shows two exemplary openings. Therein clearly intermitted sections 53 are shown.

[0054] FIG. 3: schematic layout of an exemplary identifier. Therein two layer of a laminate are shown.

[0055] FIG. 4: schematic layout of an exemplary identifier. Therein an IC EM4423 (of EM Microelectronic Marin SA) with a 1920 bit memory, a face material a, an antenna of aluminum b operating at 860-960 MHz, a PET substrate c, an adhesive RA-5 d, and a black paper with silicon liner e are shown.

[0056] FIG. 5: shows a flow diagram with typical elements when travelling with in this case an airplane.

Example

[0057] The invention is further detailed by the accompanying example, which is exemplary and explanatory of nature and are not limiting the scope of the invention. To the person skilled in the art it may be clear that many variants, being obvious or not, may be conceivable falling within the scope of protection, defined by the present claims.

[0058] The table below present typical actions taken on an airport and by a user/traveler. In addition it shows tracking and tracing of the present suitcase and hence functionality of the present suitcase locker.

TABLE-US-00001 (table part 1, left part) Location Event Action Function Step 1 Home Baggage packing Apply sleeve Seal baggage Increase identification (personal/object) Create personal account Fill in Flight Data Pair Flight Data (E-ticket) Add Sleeve Add Sleeve ID (NFC serial code) Add extra Sleeves (if Add extra Sleeves ID (NFC serial code) applicable) Check-in Check-in as passenger (PNR) Measures distance to airport Calculates time to travel to airport Shows boarding countdown timer Step 2 Transit Travel to airport Geographical Measures distance to airport movement Calculates time to travel to airport Shows boarding countdown timer Show travel status & best travel options Step 3 Arrival Arrival at airport Entering Airport premises Start of Suitlocker in- Measure distance to baggage drop- venue navigation off/terminal (App) Guide to baggage drop-off point Start of airport Show baggage location (on user baggage tracking request) (when in use) Calculates time to boarding call Show boarding countdown timer Step 4 Stroll Start of Airport Entering passenger Calculates time to boarding call time Passenger waiting area Experience Show boarding countdown timer Show in-app gestures (advertising, duty- free shopping, food & beverage) Step 5 Boarding Start of boarding Passenger process enplanement Calculates time to boarding call Show boarding countdown timer Boarding Show baggage status Start of In-Flight Passenger In-Flight modus Step 6 Destination Arrival at Entering Airport destination premises Start of Suitlocker in- Measure distance to baggage carousel venue navigation (App) Guide to baggage carousel Start of airport Show baggage location (on user baggage tracking request) (when in use) Step 7 Pick-Up Baggage Pick-Up Actual baggage Pick- Allow mobile phone to scan NFC tag Up from carrousel Show travel status & best in-venue navigation options Step 8 Transit Travel from Geographical Show travel status & best travel options airport to final movement destination Table part 2 (right part) Background Process (Suit- Customs/ Third locker Database) Airport Airline Security Party Step 1 Create User Data Record (UDR) Add Flight Data to UDR Add NFC serial code to UDR NFC serial code database lookup, compare with RFID code, add to UDR NFC serial code database lookup, compare with RFID code, add to UDR Complete UDR Change user status Send Checked- Send Checked- Send Checked- In status to In status to In status Airport Airline Change NFC/RFID tag status Send baggage Send baggage Send baggage status to status to status Airport Airline Send baggage Send baggage Send baggage data to Airport data to Airline data Monitor actual Flight Data events/changes Monitor traffic events/changes Monitor actual Flight Data Step 2 events/changes Monitor traffic events/changes Calculate best travel options Step 3 Monitor actual Flight Data events/changes Record baggage drop-off Send baggage Send baggage Send baggage drop status to drop status to drop status Airport Airline Compare boarding data, Open personal data & baggage data passenger profile for LBS/LBM Start baggage tracking (Retrieve (Retrieve (Retrieve baggage status) baggage status) baggage status) Monitor actual Flight Data events/changes Monitor boarding Step 4 events/changes Monitor actual Flight Data events/changes Calculate best boarding gate Step 5 navigation options Compare boarding data, personal data & actual in-venue location Monitor actual Flight Data events/changes Monitor boarding events/changes Change to In-Flight modus Compare Compare Changes Change passenger status passenger status passenger status passenger with boarding with boarding & boarding list profile for list list IFE Change to destination modus Step 6 Monitor actual baggage events/changes Record baggage unloading Send baggage Send baggage Send baggage status to status to status Airport Airline Compare boarding data, Open personal data & baggage data passenger profile for LBS/LBM Start baggage tracking (Retrieve (Retrieve (Retrieve baggage status) baggage status) baggage status) Monitor actual baggage events/changes Compare boarding data, Step 7 personal data & baggage data Record baggage Pick-Up Record Record Record (RFID scan leaving baggage baggage Pick-Up baggage Pick-Up baggage Pick-Up area towards customs/exit) Change passenger profile for LBS/LBM Open to connect-to/retrieve Send Checked- Send Checked- Send Checked- Change Step 8 3rd party data/software Out status to Out status to Out status passenger Airport Airline profile for LBS/LBM