ADVERTISING TRAYS FOR SECURITY SCREENING
20180208411 ยท 2018-07-26
Assignee
Inventors
Cpc classification
B65G47/74
PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
B65G49/00
PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
B62B3/006
PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
B65D25/205
PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
B62B3/10
PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
G01V5/22
PHYSICS
A47B81/00
HUMAN NECESSITIES
B65D85/00
PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
G09F23/00
PHYSICS
International classification
B65G49/00
PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
G09F23/00
PHYSICS
B65D85/00
PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
B62B3/00
PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
B65D1/34
PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
G01V5/00
PHYSICS
A47B81/00
HUMAN NECESSITIES
B62B3/10
PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
Abstract
A system and device for use in a security area, and more particularly, a rack system and holding device for placing various objects that are processed through a security area are taught.
Claims
1. A system comprising: a security scanning device through which objects may be passed, having a proximate end and a distal end, a plurality of trays, and a plurality of tray carts adapted to receive said trays, wherein said plurality of said trays are provided in a first tray cart at said proximate end of said scanning device, and wherein said trays are adapted to be passed through said scanning device at said proximate end, and wherein said trays are received in a second tray cart after passing through said scanning device at said distal end of said scanning device, and wherein said second cart is adapted to be relocated to said proximate end of said scanning device.
2. The system of claim 1, wherein said scanning device comprises a device selected from the group consisting of a manual inspection station, an x-ray machine, a conveyor belt, and a particulate matter sensor.
3. The system of claim 1, wherein a plurality of said trays comprises nestable trays.
4. The system of claim 1, further comprising the step of substituting a third tray cart containing a plurality of trays for said first tray cart.
5. The system of claim 1, wherein said tray cart comprises a roughly rectangular base having a bottom surface and a top surface, a plurality of wheels attached to said bottom surface, and a vertical positioning member attached to said top surface.
6. A method comprising positioning a first tray cart containing trays at the proximate end of a scanning device through which objects may be passed, wherein said scanning device comprises a proximate end and a distal end, removing a tray from said first tray cart, passing said tray through said scanning device from said proximate end through to said distal end, providing a second tray cart at said distal end of said scanning device, receiving said tray passed through said scanning device in said second tray cart.
7. The method of claim 6, wherein said scanning device comprises a device selected from the group consisting of a manual inspection station, an x-ray machine, a conveyor belt, and a particulate matter sensor.
8. The method of claim 6, wherein a plurality of said trays comprises nestable trays.
9. The method of claim 8, wherein said nestable trays further comprise exposed sides capable of displaying advertising.
10. The method of claim 6, wherein one or more of said tray carts is adapted to permit substantial visual inspection of a plurality of trays placed thereon.
11. The method of claim 6, wherein said tray carts are adapted to be rollable.
12. The method of claim 6, further comprising the step of repositioning said second tray cart from said distal end to said proximate end.
13. The method of claim 6, wherein a plurality of said trays are adapted to receive an item selected from the group consisting of a laptop computer, a video camera, a camera, a purse, a coat, a pair shoes, and an umbrella.
14. The method of claim 6, wherein a plurality of said trays are adapted to receive an item selected from the group consisting of a cell phone, a pager, a wallet, a set of keys, and a personal digital assistant.
15. The method of claim 6, wherein one or more of said tray carts comprises restraining walls that are substantially transparent.
16. The method of claim 6, wherein one or more of said tray carts comprises a tray platform further comprising a resilient member.
17. The method of claim 6, further comprising the step of providing a third tray cart.
18. The method of claim 6, further comprising the step of substituting a third tray cart containing a plurality of trays for said first tray cart.
19. An apparatus for use as a tray cart for securing a facility comprising a roughly rectangular base having a bottom surface and a top surface, a plurality of wheels attached to said bottom surface of said base, and a vertical positioning member attached to said top surface of said base, wherein said vertical member comprises at least one approximately C-shaped tubular member having a first end and a second end, wherein said first end and said second end are connected to said base.
20. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein said apparatus is adapted to receive two differentially sized stacks of trays.
21. A tray for use in a security scanning system comprising, a base having a first surface and a second surface, four containing walls extending approximately vertically from said base, shock absorbing material on said first surface of said base, and wherein said one or more of said walls displays a tag number.
22. The system of claim 1, wherein said trays are adapted to display advertising on an interior bottom surface of said trays.
23. The method of claim 6, wherein said trays are adapted to display advertising on an interior bottom surface of said trays.
24. The system of claim 1, wherein said plurality of said trays are adapted to display a tag number.
25. The method of claim 6, wherein said plurality of said trays are adapted to display a tag number.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
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DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0039] It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the particular methodology, compounds, materials, manufacturing techniques, uses, and applications described herein, as these may vary. It is also to be understood that the terminology used herein is used for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only, and is not intended to limit the scope of the present invention. It must be noted that as used herein and in the appended claims, the singular forms a, an, and the include the plural reference unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Thus, for example, a reference to a tray is a reference to one or more tray and includes equivalents thereof known to those skilled in the art. Similarly, for another example, a reference to a step or a means is a reference to one or more steps or means and may include sub-steps and subservient means. All conjunctions used are to be understood in the most inclusive sense possible. Thus, the word or should be understood as having the definition of a logical or rather than that of a logical exclusive or unless the context clearly necessitates otherwise. Structures described herein are to be understood also to refer to functional equivalents of such structures. Language that may be construed to express approximation should be so understood unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.
[0040] Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meanings as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. Preferred methods, techniques, devices, and materials are described, although any methods, techniques, devices, or materials similar or equivalent to those described herein may be used in the practice or testing of the present invention. Structures described herein are to be understood also to refer to functional equivalents of such structures. All references cited herein are incorporated by reference herein in their entirety.
[0041] The present invention provides a tray and a system that can be used in security areas to provide efficient movement of loose items, laptop computers and electronic equipment from a starting point to an ending point. Specifically, the present invention may be used in an area such as an airport security checkpoint that may have a metal detector present that a person has to walk through. As the person walks through the security checkpoint they may have to remove such items such as wallets, keys, change and other small objects which are placed into a tray which is either then hand checked or placed through an x-ray machine separate from the metal detector. At the same time, if a person has a item such as a laptop computer or electronic equipment such as a video camera or digital camera, they are instructed to place such items into a larger size tray which is then passed through an x-ray machine and/or hand checked.
[0042] The present invention allows for a system of uniform sizing of the trays in which items are to be placed so that the trays may easily be stacked and transported after they are used. The trays also have specified areas to allow for advertising materials to be attached. These advertising materials may be changed as often as necessary so that different companies' advertisements can be represented on the trays without the need for manufacturing new trays.
[0043] In an alternative embodiment the advertising materials can be permanently attached to the trays. The trays can be a disposable type that are replaced after the advertisement becomes outdated or worn and a new tray is made.
[0044] The present invention has various sized trays which can be used to hold larger items such as cameras, laptop computers or purses and a second smaller size which can be used when items such as keys, wallets, cell phones, PDAs and watches are to be removed and placed in a tray for inspection.
[0045] The present invention also involves a system for transporting the trays and using the trays of the present invention from the starting point in the security checkpoint to the ending point in the security checkpoint. The system includes a first tray or cart that holds several empty trays in a organized stacked manner so that a tray can be removed when needed. The tray is then used by the user and passes through the security checkpoint. After the contents are taken out of the tray the empty tray is then inserted into a second rack that is identical to the first rack. The trays are then stacked in the second rack so that the empty trays are conveniently stored for later use. After the second rack is completely filled with empty trays the second rack can be moved to the position of the first rack, and the empty trays are ready to be used again as needed.
[0046] The present invention provides a cost effective way of providing security trays for a security checkpoint while at the same time generating revenue from the advertising that is contained thereon. Further, the present system provides an efficient system for moving the trays for use and removal after they are used.
[0047] Security checkpoints are both a time consuming and frustrating part of traveling for frequent fliers and people on vacation alike. The present invention provides a system of speeding up the process of processing people through these checkpoints to decrease the likelihood of delays for travelers. The present invention also has the advantage of increasing passenger flow through checkpoints and increasing traveler satisfaction due to the lack of delays.
[0048] Referring to
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[0055] The window 36 has an inner recess 40 that is created by the outer surface 32 of the first wall and an outer cover 38 that is attached over the first wall 16 outer surface 32. The outer cover 38 can be made of a transparent or translucent material depending on the user's needs. It is envisioned that a portion of the peripheral edge of the window 36 is either adhesively or molded into the outer surface 32 of the first wall 16, however, an open portion 31 is allowed to remain so that an advertisement 42 can be placed in the recess 40. Between the outer surface 32 and the outer cover 38 the inner recess 40 is formed which is sized to allow an advertisement material 42 to be placed within the inner recess 40. The advertisement 42 can be made of a thin paper-like material or any other material such as a plastic or metal provided that it fits within the inner recess 40. The advertisement 42 is preferably of flat configuration and has an outer surface having printing thereon with this side being positioned adjacent the outer cover 38 so that it can be seen through the transparent or translucent outer cover 38. It is envisioned that a seal 43 can be placed above the inner recess 40 to close off the space between the outer cover 38 and the outer surface 32 to prevent the advertisement 42 from falling out of the inner recess 40. The seal 43 can have a hinged type construction that allows the seal 43 to be selectively moved to either prevent or allow material to be removed from the inner recess 40. The seal 43 is also envisioned to be a removable friction type material such that it can be removed when needed but does not easily fall out of the recess 40.
[0056] An advantage of the present invention is that various advertisements 42 can be easily interchanged in the windows 36 when needed because the advertisements are not permanent.
[0057] In an alternative embodiment, the advertisement 42 can be permanently attached to any of the walls of the tray. It is envisioned that the advertisement 42 can be permanently attached to (referring to
[0058] An advantage to the alternative embodiment of a permanent advertisement 42 being attached to the tray is that new trays are constantly being made as the older trays are either used or worn. These trays can be of a disposable variety and can be recycled after they are no longer used. Another advantage to the alternative embodiment of the present invention is that the recycling of trays constantly provides a clean and uniform look to all checkpoint areas since the trays that are being used are in good condition.
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[0061] An advantage of this nesting system is that when the trays are not being used, they can be easily be stacked for storage and used at a later time. A further advantage of the nesting system is that since the advertisements are on the outer surface of the tray the advertisements can be seen at all times thereby increasing the visibility of the advertising to potential consumers which are the people being processed through the security checkpoint.
[0062] An alternative embodiment of the tray is shown in
[0063] Referring to
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[0065] After the second cart 110 is completely filed with empty trays 106 and 108, the second cart 110 can be moved to the position of the first cart 102 prior to the security point 104 and provide empty trays for people going through the security point 104. After the first cart 102 is depleted of trays 106 and 108 the first cart 102 can be moved to the location of the second cart 110 to then receive empty trays at the end of the security point 104. The rotation of the security carts 102 and 110 and the trays 106 and 108 creates an efficient and convenient way to transport the trays from the beginning to the end of the security point 104.
[0066] It is envisioned that a third cart 103 can be used in addition to the first cart 102 and the second cart 110. The third cart 103 can be used as a back up or spare cart with empty trays 106 and 108 contained within it to be placed in the position of the first cart 102 when needed to further speed up the process of providing trays to people going through the security checkpoint. The third cart 103 can also be used in addition to the second cart 110 as an area to place the empty trays 106 and 108 after they are used. The use of the third cart 103 further facilitates the flow of the trays 106 and 108 from the beginning to the end of the security checkpoint such as times when peak travel and passenger volume is experienced at an airport security checkpoint.
[0067] Referring to
[0068] The second cart 110 is an identical cart to the first cart 102, therefore, it is not described in detail.
[0069] An advantage to the present system is that the first cart 102 and second cart 110 are identical carts, thus when one cart is completely filled it can be moved to the proper location where needed. In the alternative, when one cart is completely erupted it can be moved to the appropriate area to be later filled with trays 106 and 108.
[0070] Furthermore, when there is a high volume of people being processed through the checkpoint, a third cart 103 can be used to hold the trays 106 and 108 to further speed up the movement of the trays 106 and 108 from the end point of the security checkpoint to be transported to the starting point of the security checkpoint.
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[0079] Although the illustrated embodiments of the present invention have been described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings, it is understood that the invention is not limited to those precise embodiments and that various other changes and modifications may be effected thereon by one skilled in the art without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention, and that it is intended to claim all such changes and modifications as fall within the scope of the invention.