Method of improving airline luggage inspection

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 indicia 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. Special lock luggage locks each of which comprises: a combination lock portion; a master key lock portion; and indicia configured to convey to travelers and to a luggage screening authority that the authority can open the lock with a master key operating the master key lock portion of any of said special lock luggage locks; wherein: the combination lock portion of a first one of said special lock luggage locks comprises a three-dial combination lock but the combination lock of a second one of said special lock luggage locks comprises a four-dial combination lock; said master key lock portion of any of said special lock luggage locks opens with said master key despite the different combination lock portions of the first and second special lock luggage locks; and said special lock luggage locks remain viable after being subjected to luggage screening and inspection by opening the locks with said master key.

2. The special lock luggage locks of claim 1, in which said indicia of each of the locks comprise the symbols TSA.

3. The special lock luggage locks of claim 1, in which said indicia identify each of said locks as a lock that the Transportation Security Administration or other luggage screening authority can open with said master key without breaking the lock.

4. The special lock luggage locks of claim 1, wherein said indicia are the same for all the special locks but are different from any model or manufacturer designation.

5. The special lock luggage locks of claim 1, in which each of the locks has a key hole on a bottom of the lock for said master key that opens the master key lock portion of any of the locks.

6. The special lock luggage locks of claim 1, in which the locks include plural locks in which the combination lock portion is a three-dial combination lock and plural locks in which the combination lock portion is a four-dial combination lock.

7. Special lock luggage locks each of which comprises: a second lock portion; and indicia configured to convey to travelers and to a luggage screening authority that the authority can open the lock with a master key opening said master key lock portion of any of said special lock luggage locks; wherein: the second lock portion of a first one of said special lock luggage locks comprises one of the following lock mechanisms: (i) a three-dial combination lock, (ii) a four-dial combination lock, and (iii) a lock mechanism other than a combination lock; the second lock portion of a second one of the special lock luggage locks comprises one of said locking mechanisms (i), (ii), and (iii) but not the second locking mechanism in the first one of said special lock luggage locks; and said master key lock portion of any of said special lock luggage locks opens with said master key despite their different second lock portions.

8. The special lock luggage locks of claim 7, in which the second lock portion of the first special lock luggage lock is a three-dial combination lock.

9. The special lock luggage locks of claim 7, in which the second lock portion of the first special lock luggage lock is a four-dial combination lock.

10. The special lock luggage locks of claim 7, in which the second lock portion of the second lock is a lock mechanism other than a combination lock.

11. The special lock luggage locks of claim 7, wherein said indicia are the same on all the special locks but are different from any model or manufacturer designation.

12. The special lock luggage locks of claim 7, in which the luggage screening authority is the U.S. Transportation Security Administration.

13. The special lock luggage locks of claim 7, in which the luggage screening authority is an entity authorized to open luggage of airline travelers.

14. The special lock luggage locks of claim 5, in which the luggage screening authority is an entity authorized to screen luggage for security inspection.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 is a front plan view of one embodiment of the special lock used in the method of the present invention in open position modified to show a key hole for a master key on the bottom.

(2) FIG. 2 is a front plan view of a second embodiment of the special lock used in the method of the present invention.

(3) FIG. 3 is a front plan view of a second embodiment of the special lock used in the method of the present invention modified to show a key hole for a master key on the bottom.

(4) FIG. 4 shows the special lock depicted in FIG. 1 in closed position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

(5) The method of the present invention includes the step of making a special lock available to airline travelers, the special lock having a combination lock portion and having a master key lock, the master key lock portion for receiving a master key that can open the master key lock portion of any special lock of this type, the special lock designed to be applied to an individual piece of airline luggage. The special lock also has indicia thereon conveying to luggage purchasers and to the luggage screening authority that the special lock is a lock that the luggage screening authority has agreed not to break. The indicia can state, for example, that the special lock is approved, accepted or authorized by the luggage screening authority. The term indicia is a broad term and can include the special lock having a distinctive physical characteristic such shape, texture, weight and/or other characteristic that makes it instantly recognizable by individuals working for the luggage screening authority who are specifically for that characteristic. Alternatively, a distinctive chemical or electronic characteristic can be usedin short any distinctive characteristic that can be instantly recognized by persons looking for it.

(6) The phrase any special lock of this type is intended to include special locks having a multiplicity of sub-types such as different sizes, different manufacturing designs or styles, etc.

(7) Besides making the special lock more valuable to prospective luggage purchasers or lock purchasers, such indicia also tells the luggage screening authority that the special lock can be opened by the luggage screening authority using the master key and that the special lock is among those locks that the luggage screening authority agrees not to break in order to inspect the luggage. The phrase approved, accepted or authorized is a broad phrase intended to include other words or terms that signify that the luggage screening authority agrees that locks having such indicia will not be broken into.

(8) The method of the present invention also includes the step of providing the luggage screening authority, directly or indirectly, with access to the master key. This step includes providing such access with the help of or in conjunction with another business entity, i.e. a third party. The access is to be exclusive except that one or more of the following entities may retain copies of the master key: the manufacturer of the special lock, since it may need to retool the special lock, the provider to the passengers of the special lock, which may or may not be the same as the manufacturers, the manufacturer and/or the provider of the master key to the luggage screening authority. It is anticipated that the manufacturer of the special lock will also provide the master key but other possibilities are also contemplated by the present invention.

(9) The step of providing access may be accomplished by delivering one or more master keys to the luggage screening authority or by delivering one or master keys to a company or organization whose responsibility it is to cause said one or more master keys to be delivered to the luggage screening authority.

(10) Access to the master key by the luggage screening authority includes having access to any appropriate number of such master keys by its workers or by any appropriate division of part of said luggage screening authority.

(11) Although the present invention is a method of improving the inspection of airline luggage, the method of the present invention makes use of an apparatus. This apparatus is a special lock. The special lock is illustrated by reference to the accompanying drawings. Consequently, the special lock used in the method of the present invention has been assigned reference numeral 10 Other elements have been assigned the reference numerals referred to below.

(12) Combination locks have certain advantages over locks with keys. For one thing, there is no need to fear loss of the key. Hence, it is advantageous to have combination locks on luggage used to fly with since flights tend to cause stress and stress can lead to loss of the key. Second, even if one has the key it takes time to retrieve it. If the luggage has to be opened suddenly then retrieval of the key is an inconvenience. Although combination locks require memorization of access to the coded combination, this is usually considered better than a key lock on balance to many passengers. Hence, there is a need for a method of improving luggage screening at airports that makes of a special lock that includes a unique combination but that is nonetheless convenient and secure for the passengers and for the airport luggage screening personnel.

(13) As seen from FIGS. 1-4, special lock 10 includes a combination lock portion 20 having a unique combination and a master key lock. The master key lock portion is opened by a master key that is inserted in key hole 30. Typically, although not necessarily, the key hole would be inconspicuously placed on the bottom of the special lock 10. The combination lock portion can be any kind of combination lock portion suitable for use with a piece of luggage at an airport. The combination can be a front dial that is turned or several dials that are turned to set the combination.

(14) Presently, the Transportation Security Administration, a division of the United States Department of Homeland Security has the task of screening travelers' luggage at airports. However, the term luggage screening authority is intended broadly to encompass both the Transportation Security Administration and any governmental entity or non-governmental organization whose task includes screening the luggage of travelers at airports in the United States or a non-governmental organization. Alternatively, the luggage screening authority can be a governmental entity or non-governmental organization whose task includes screening the luggage of travelers at airports in Canada or another country. Furthermore, the luggage screening authority is also intended to broadly include individual workers who screen luggage at airports and other personnel of the TSA or of some other entity or organization whose task it is to screen such luggage.

(15) Thus, the master key allows the authorized agency's workers to have the ability to open any of the luggage that the workers inspect in a manner without clipping the lock. The indicia notifies the luggage screening authority which pieces of luggage has locks that lock the master key opens and it notifying purchasers of the special lock of an added value of the special lock. Market research exists to support the fact that customers will spend significantly more on luggage if they know that it comes with a lock that the luggage screening authorities such as the TSA recognize as being openable by their master key and without forcibly opening the luggage.

(16) As seen in FIG. 2, the indicia 50 can take the form of a phrase approved by the TSA or any similar phrase or it can be anything else that conveys the approval, authority, acceptance etc. by the TSA or other relevant luggage screening authority. It should be understood that although one example of the indicia appears in FIG. 2 only, the other embodiments of the special lock used in the method of the present invention would also have the indicia.

(17) It should be noted that with the use of the special lock by the traveler, the traveler still selects a combination for the combination lock portion of the special lock 10 and the traveler has that combination for the combination lock portion part of the special lock. Accordingly, the traveler still has a useful secure lock after passing airport security. In addition, the luggage screening authority still maintains an effective and quick way of accessing airport luggage for inspection whenever it deems doing so necessary.

(18) It should be noted that the terms master key and master key lock portion are broad terms intended to also include electronic or other sensor mechanisms for opening up the master key lock portion in special lock 10. Thus, the method of the present invention contemplates using in certain embodiments a special lock 10 that makes use of an electronic sensor instead of a traditional physical key even though such a traditional physical key is what is typically understood by the term master key. In such a case the locking mechanism inside special lock 10 would not be a traditional master key lock mechanism but rather would be a locking mechanism that is opened by an electronic sensor.

(19) The present invention also contemplates that in certain embodiments other lock mechanisms besides a traditional combination lock can be used as one of the locks in special lock 10. Hence, in an alternative embodiment, the method would employ a first lock portion instead of a combination lock portion in special lock 10. The first lock portion can be any kind of locking mechanism useful for and easily accessible by the passenger.

(20) It is to be understood that while the method of this invention have been described and illustrated in detail, the above-described embodiments are simply illustrative of the principles of the invention. It is to be understood also that various other modifications and changes may be devised by those skilled in the art which will embody the principles of the invention and fall within the spirit and scope thereof. It is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described. The spirit and scope of this invention are limited only by the spirit and scope of the following claims.