GB2463717A

GB2463717A - Baggage locator

Info

Publication number: GB2463717A
Application number: GB0817537A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Peter Russell Fleet
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2008-09-25
Filing date: 2008-09-25
Publication date: 2010-03-31
Also published as: EP2345014A1; GB0916859D0; GB0817537D0; GB2463792A; WO2010035045A1

Abstract

A baggage locator using a receiver unit 11 disposed on or within the baggage 10 and a separate transmitter unit 13. The receiver unit 11 receives an interrogation signal from the transmitter unit 13 and in response generates a locator signal to indicate the location of the baggage 10. The locator signal may be an audio signal which may be a beep. The time interval between beeps from the locator signal may increase as the transmitter unit 13 recedes from the receiver unit 11 and/or decrease as the transmitter unit 13 approaches the receiver unit 11. The locator signal may provide a display on the transmitter unit 13 based on the location of the baggage 10. The receiver unit 11 may be in the form of a tag which is releasably secured to the baggage 10 or the receiver unit 11 may be formed integrally with the baggage. The transmitter unit 13 may be hand-held.

Description

BAGGAGE LOCATOR

The present invention relates to a baggage locator and particularly, but not exclusively, to a baggage locator for locating a particular suitcase from amongst a number of similar suitcases.

It is common for persons to miss their suitcase or bag as it travels around a carousel at an aircraft terminal. This is easily done given the number of bags and quite often, the similarity of a person's bag to a number of other bags upon the carousel. As such, some travellers are left waiting at the carousel until the majority of the bags have been collected so that their bag can be identified more easily from the remaining few.

I have now devised a baggage locator which alleviates the above mentioned problems.

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a baggage locator, the baggage locator comprising a transmitter unit and a receiver unit, the receiver unit being disposed on or within the baggage and being arranged to receive an interrogation signal that is transmitted by the transmitter unit, wherein the receiver unit is arranged to generate a locator signal which is indicative of the location of the baggage, in response to the interrogation signal.

The locator signal thus enables a person to identify their baggage, for example a suitcase, from a number of suitcases.

Preferably, the locator signal comprises an audio signal. The audio signal is preferably emitted as a beep and is preferably emitted such that the time interval between consecutive beeps decreases as the transmitter unit approaches the receiver unit. Conversely, the time interval between consecutive beeps preferably increases as the transmitter unit recedes from the receiver unit Alternatively, or in addition thereto, the locator signal provides an indication on the transmitter unit of the location of the baggage.

The receiver unit is preferably housed within a tag that is releasably secured to the baggage. Alternatively, the receiver unit is preferably formed integrally with the baggage.

Preferably, the baggage comprises a bag or suitcase or similar.

The transmitter unit is preferably hand-held and preferably comprises attachment means for attaching to a key-ring, for example.

According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a bag, the bag comprising a receiver unit, the receiver unit being arranged to receive an interrogation signal that is transmitted by a transmitter unit, wherein the receiver unit is arranged to generate a locator signal which is indicative of the location of the bag, in response to the interrogation signal.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which; Figure 1 is a perspective view of the receiver unit of the baggage locator of the present invention, secured to a suitcase; Figure 2 is a perspective view of the transmitter unit of the baggage locator of the present invention, secured to a key-ring; and Figure 3 is a schematic illustration of the baggage locator in use.

Referring to Figure 1 of the drawings, there is shown a suitcase 10 comprising a tag 11 that is releasably secured to a handle 12, for example, of the suitcase 10. The tag 11 comprises a battery supply (not shown) for supplying electrical power to a receiver unit (not shown), itself housed within the tag 11. In an alternative embodiment, the battery supply (not shown) and receiver unit (not shown) may be formed integrally with the suitcase 10.

The receiver unit (not shown) is arranged to receive an interrogation signal from a transmitter unit 13, as shown in Figure 2 of the drawings. The transmitter unit 13 is a hand held device and comprises a battery supply (not shown) for supplying electrical power to the transmitter unit 13. The transmitter unit 13 comprises a housing 14 and an activation button 15 for activating the transmission of the interrogation signal. The interrogation signal is transmitted from the transmitter unit 13 through a window 16 disposed substantially at the front of the transmitter unit 13. The transmitter unit 13 further comprises attachment means, for example a ring 17, for securing the unit 13 to a key-ring 18, for example.

Upon receiving the interrogation signal, the receiver unit (not shown) is arranged to generate an audio signal, for example a repeating beep, from a transducer (not shown) that is housed within the tag 11 or which may be formed integrally with the suitcase 10. As the transmitter unit 13 approaches the receiver unit 11, then while the interrogation signal is being transmitted, the transducer (not shown) is arranged to transmit the audio signal, for example the beep, more frequently thereby indicating to the user 19 that they are approaching the suitcase 10. Conversely, if the transmitter unit 13 moves away from the receiver unit 11, then while the interrogation signal is being transmitted, the time interval between the beeps is arranged to decrease, thereby indicating to the user 19 that they are moving away from the suitcase 10.

Upon receiving the interrogation signal, the receiver unit (not shown) may be arranged to transmit an alternative or additional signal that is received by the transmitter unit 13. The alternative or additional signal provides a directional indication of the position of the suitcase on a display window (not shown) disposed upon the transmitter unit 13. Accordingly, when a user 19 is located near to a carousel 20 at an aircraft terminal for example, then upon activating the transmitter unit 13 via the button 15, the receiver unit (not shown) will serve to provide an indication to the user 19 of the position of the suitcase 10 as it approaches the user 19. Similarly, a user who has misplaced their baggage is permitted to readily locate their baggage by activating the transmitter unit 13 to interrogate the receiver unit (not shown).

From the foregoing therefore, it is evident that the baggage locator enables a user to readily identify their baggage amongst a number of bags, or to locate any misplaced baggage.

Claims

Claims 1. A baggage locator, the baggage locator comprising a transmitter unit and a receiver unit, the receiver unit being disposed on or within the baggage and being arranged to receive an interrogation signal that is transmitted by the transmitter unit, wherein the receiver unit is arranged to generate a locator signal which is indicative of the location of the baggage, in response to the interrogation signal.
2. A baggage locator according to claim 1, wherein the locator signal comprises an audio signal.
3. A baggage locator according to claim 2, wherein the audio signal is emitted as a beep.
4. A baggage locator according to claim 3, wherein the time interval between consecutive beeps decreases as the transmitter unit approaches the receiver unit.
5. A baggage locator according to claim 3, wherein the time interval between consecutive beeps increases as the transmitter unit recedes from the receiver unit
6. A baggage locator according to any preceding claim, wherein the locator : signal provides an indication on the transmitter unit of the location of the baggage. S... * S * *.
7. A baggage locator according to any preceding claim, wherein the receiver unit is housed within a tag that is releasably secured to the baggage.
8. A baggage locator according to any of claims ito 6, wherein the receiver unit is formed integrally with the baggage. *... * .
9. A baggage locator according to any preceding claim, wherein the baggage comprises a bag or suitcase or similar.
10. A baggage locator according to any preceding claim, wherein the transmitter unit is hand-held.
11. A baggage locator according to claim 10, wherein the transmitter unit comprises attachment means for attaching to a key-ring, for example.
12. A bag, the bag comprising a receiver unit, the receiver unit being arranged to receive an interrogation signal that is transmitted by a transmitter unit, wherein the receiver unit is arranged to generate a locator signal which is indicative of the location of the bag, in response to the interrogation signal.
13. A baggage locator substantially as herein described, with reference to the accompanying drawings.
14. A bag substantially as herein described, with reference to the accompanying drawings. * ..* S * * ** . **** * S ** a * * * S.. SS *5* a . . * . S * S. *S..... S *