IP Library Granted Patent US 8,234,304
Granted Patent B2
US 8,234,304 · App. 12/269,110 · Granted Jul 31, 2012

Traceable and theft deterrent reclaimable product

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,234,304
App. No.
12/269,110
Granted
Jul 31, 2012
Kind
B2
Abstract

A theft deterrent cable may be provided. First, a plurality of unique codes may be created. Then a plurality of indicia may be placed periodically and longitudinally on the cable. The plurality of indicia may respectively correspond to the plurality of unique codes. In a database, the plurality of unique codes may be assigned to an organizational entity. The organizational entity may comprise a first enterprise. Next, an indication that the cable is to be transferred from the first enterprise to a second enterprise may be received. In response to the received indication, the plurality of unique codes may be assigned in the database from the organizational entity comprising the first enterprise to the organizational entity comprising a second enterprise.

Claims (71)

1. A method for providing a theft deterrent cable, the method comprising:

creating a plurality of unique codes;

providing a plurality of indicia periodically and longitudinally on the cable, the plurality of indicia respectively corresponding to the plurality of unique codes; and

assigning, in a database, the plurality of unique codes to an organizational entity, the organizational entity comprising a first enterprise;

receiving an indication that a portion of the cable is to be transferred from the first enterprise to a second enterprise; and

re-assigning in the database, in response to the received indication, a portion of the plurality of unique codes from the organizational entity comprising the first enterprise to the organizational entity comprising a second enterprise, the portion of the plurality of unique codes corresponding to a portion of the plurality of indicia having been placed on the portion of the cable that is to be transferred from the first enterprise to the second enterprise.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein assigning in the database, in response to the received indication, the plurality of unique codes from the organizational entity comprising the first enterprise to the organizational entity comprising the second enterprise wherein the second enterprise comprises at least one of the following: an enterprise purchasing the cable, an enterprise that is to distribute the cable, an enterprise for which the cable is being manufactured, and an enterprise that is to install the cable.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

receiving an input;

determining if the input corresponds to any one of the plurality of unique codes;

determining, when it is determined that the input corresponds to the any one of the plurality of unique codes, the organizational entity to which the plurality of unique codes are assigned; and

transmitting an output indicating the determined organizational entity.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein creating the plurality of unique codes comprises creating the plurality of unique codes wherein each of the plurality of unique codes comprises a unique sequential number.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein creating the plurality of unique codes comprises creating the plurality of unique codes wherein each of the plurality of unique codes comprises a unique sequential number and indicates at least one of the following: a date the cable was manufactured, a manufacturing line on which the cable was manufactured, a license under which certain rights are granted, a particular specification under which the cable was manufactured, and a plant where the cable was manufactured.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein providing the plurality of indicia periodically and longitudinally on the cable comprises providing the plurality of indicia periodically and longitudinally on the cable a predetermined distance apart, each one of the plurality of indicia including a sequential number being incremented by an amount equal to the predetermined distance.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein providing the plurality of indicia periodically and longitudinally on the cable comprises providing the plurality of indicia periodically and longitudinally on the cable no more than two feet apart.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein providing the plurality of indicia periodically and longitudinally on the cable comprises providing the plurality of indicia periodically and longitudinally on the cable no more than one foot apart.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein providing the plurality of indicia periodically and longitudinally on the cable comprises providing the plurality of indicia on an exterior of the cable.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein providing the plurality of indicia periodically and longitudinally on the cable comprises providing the plurality of indicia on an exterior of any layer of the cable.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein providing the plurality of indicia periodically and longitudinally on the cable comprises providing the plurality of indicia on an exterior of a conductor of the cable.

12. The method of claim 1 , wherein providing the plurality of indicia periodically and longitudinally on the cable comprises providing the plurality of indicia on a conductor of the cable wherein the conductor comprises one of the following: copper and aluminum.

13. The method of claim 1 , wherein providing the plurality of indicia periodically and longitudinally on the cable comprises providing the plurality of indicia on the cable while the cable is moving on a production line during manufacture of the cable.

14. The method of claim 1 , wherein providing the plurality of indicia periodically and longitudinally on the cable comprises providing the plurality of indicia on the cable with a laser.

15. The method of claim 1 , wherein providing the plurality of indicia periodically and longitudinally on the cable comprises providing the plurality of indicia on the cable wherein the plurality of indicia are visually perceivable by a person.

16. The method of claim 1 , wherein providing the plurality of indicia periodically and longitudinally on the cable comprises providing the plurality of indicia on an exterior of a conductor of the cable wherein the conductor is stranded and wherein each one of the plurality of indicia is place to fit on strands of the conductor.

17. The method of claim 1 , wherein assigning, in the database, the plurality of unique codes to the organizational entity, the organizational entity comprising the first enterprise wherein the first enterprise comprises at least one of the following: an enterprise purchasing the cable, an enterprise that is to distribute the cable, an enterprise for which the cable is being manufactured, and an enterprise that is to install the cable.

18. The method of claim 1 , wherein providing the plurality of indicia periodically and longitudinally on the cable comprises providing the plurality of indicia a predetermined distance apart.

19. The method of claim 18 , further comprising calculating a value for the predetermined distance based upon at least one of the following: a desired writing quality for the plurality of indicia, a number of characters to be written for each the plurality of indicia, and a line speed at which the cable is being manufactured.

20. A computer-readable storage medium which stores a set of instructions which when executed performs a method for providing a theft deterrent cable, the method executed by the set of instructions comprising:

receiving an indication that a portion of the cable is to be transferred from a first enterprise to a second enterprise, the cable having a plurality of indicia placed periodically on the cable, the plurality of indicia respectively corresponding to a plurality of unique codes;

re-assigning in a database, in response to the received indication, a portion of the plurality of unique codes from an organizational entity comprising the first enterprise to the organizational entity comprising the second enterprise, the portion of the plurality of unique codes corresponding to a portion of the plurality of indicia having been placed on the portion of the cable that is to be transferred from the first enterprise to the second enterprise;

receiving an input;

determining if the input corresponds to any one of the plurality of unique codes;

determining, when it is determined that the input corresponds to the any one of the plurality of unique codes, the organizational entity to which the plurality of unique codes are assigned; and

transmitting an output indicating the determined organizational entity.

21. A system for providing a theft deterrent cable, the system comprising:

a memory storage device; and

a processing unit coupled to the memory storage device, wherein the processing unit is operative to:

create a plurality of unique codes;

assign, in a database, the plurality of unique codes to an organizational entity, the organizational entity comprising a first enterprise, the cable having a plurality of indicia placed periodically on the cable, the plurality of indicia respectively corresponding to a plurality of unique codes;

receive an indication that a portion of the cable is to be transferred from the first enterprise to a second enterprise;

re-assign in the database, in response to the received indication, a portion of the plurality of unique codes from the organizational entity comprising the first enterprise to the organizational entity comprising a second enterprise, the portion of the plurality of unique codes corresponding to a portion of the plurality of indicia having been placed on the portion of the cable that is to be transferred from the first enterprise to the second enterprise;

receive an input from a reclaimer enterprise to which a sub-portion of the portion of the cable was presented for sale, the input being derived from an indicia on the sub-portion of the portion of the cable that was presented for sale;

determine that the input corresponds to a one of the plurality of unique codes;

determine, when it is determined that the input corresponds to the one of the plurality of unique codes, the organizational entity to which the one of the plurality of unique codes is assigned; and

transmit an output indicating the determined organizational entity.

22. A method for providing a theft deterrent cable, the method comprising:

creating a plurality of unique codes;

for each of a plurality of indicia having a first piece and a second piece, alternating providing, for each of the plurality of indicia, the first piece and the second piece periodically on the cable, the plurality of indicia respectively corresponding to the plurality of unique codes; and

assigning, in a database, the plurality of unique codes to an organizational entity, the organizational entity comprising a first enterprise.

23. The method of claim 22 , wherein alternating providing the first piece and the second piece comprises alternating providing the second piece comprising a sequential number portion configured to indicate a linear distance.

24. The method of claim 22 , wherein alternating providing the first piece and the second piece comprises alternating providing the first piece indicating a date the cable was manufactured.

25. The method of claim 22 , wherein alternating providing the first piece and the second piece comprises alternating providing the first piece indicating a manufacturing line on which the cable was manufactured.

26. The method of claim 22 , wherein alternating providing the first piece and the second piece comprises alternating providing the first piece indicating a license under which certain rights are granted.

27. The method of claim 22 , wherein alternating providing the first piece and the second piece comprises alternating providing the first piece indicating a particular specification under which the cable was manufactured.

28. The method of claim 22 , wherein alternating providing the first piece and the second piece comprises alternating providing the first piece indicating a plant where the cable was manufactured.

29. A method for providing a theft deterrent product, the method comprising:

creating a plurality of unique codes;

providing a plurality of indicia periodically and longitudinally on the product, the plurality of indicia respectively corresponding to the plurality of unique codes;

assigning, in a database, the plurality of unique codes to an organizational entity, the organizational entity comprising a first enterprise;

receiving an indication that a portion of the product is to be transferred from the first enterprise to a second enterprise; and

re-assigning in the database, in response to the received indication, a portion of the plurality of unique codes from the organizational entity comprising the first enterprise to the organizational entity comprising a second enterprise, the portion of the plurality of unique codes corresponding to a portion of the plurality of indicia having been placed on the portion of the product that is to be transferred from the first enterprise to the second enterprise.

30. The method of claim 29 , wherein assigning in the database, in response to the received indication, the plurality of unique codes from the organizational entity comprising the first enterprise to the organizational entity comprising the second enterprise wherein the second enterprise comprises at least one of the following: an enterprise purchasing the product, an enterprise that is to distribute the product, an enterprise for which the product is being manufactured, and an enterprise that is to install the product.

31. The method of claim 29 , further comprising:

receiving an input;

determining if the input corresponds to any one of the plurality of unique codes;

determining, when it is determined that the input corresponds to the any one of the plurality of unique codes, the organizational entity to which the plurality of unique codes are assigned; and

transmitting an output indicating the determined organizational entity.

32. The method of claim 29 , wherein creating the plurality of unique codes comprises creating the plurality of unique codes wherein each of the plurality of unique codes comprises a unique sequential number.

33. The method of claim 29 , wherein creating the plurality of unique codes comprises creating the plurality of unique codes wherein each of the plurality of unique codes comprises a unique sequential number and indicates at least one of the following: a date the product was manufactured, a manufacturing line on which the product was manufactured, a license under which certain rights are granted, a particular specification under which the product was manufactured, and a plant where the product was manufactured.

34. The method of claim 29 , wherein providing the plurality of indicia periodically and longitudinally on the product comprises providing the plurality of indicia periodically and longitudinally on the product a predetermined distance apart, each one of the plurality of indicia including a sequential number being incremented by an amount equal to the predetermined distance.

Assignments (6)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jul 31, 2025
From: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
To: SOUTHWIRE COMPANY, LLC; COLEMAN CABLE, LLC; TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH, LLC; SUMNER MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LLC; MADISON ELECTRIC PRODUCTS, LLC; NOVINIUM, LLC; NOVINIUM HOLDINGS, INC.; WATTEREDGE, LLC; TAPPAN WIRE & CABLE, LLC; UNITED COPPER INDUSTRIES, LLC; TOPAZ LIGHTING COMPANY LLC; OBI PARTNERS, LLC; WIIP, INC.
Reel/Frame 072299/0141 →
TERMINATION AND RELEASE OF INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY SECURITY AGREEMENTS Recorded Oct 23, 2024
From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS AGENT
To: SOUTHWIRE COMPANY, LLC; COLEMAN CABLE, LLC (F/K/A COLEMAN CABLE, INC.); TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH, LLC (F/K/A TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH CORPORATION); SUMNER MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LLC; MADISON ELECTRIC PRODUCTS, LLC; NOVINIUM, LLC; WATTEREDGE, LLC; TAPPAN WIRE & CABLE, LLC; UNITED COPPER INDUSTRIES, LLC; TOPAZ LIGHTING COMPANY LLC; OBI PARTNERS, LLC; WIIP, INC.
Reel/Frame 069235/0104 →
CONVERSION Recorded Jun 26, 2014
From: SOUTHWIRE COMPANY
To: SOUTHWIRE COMPANY, LLC
Reel/Frame 033244/0787 →
GRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENT RIGHTS Recorded Feb 21, 2014
From: SOUTHWIRE COMPANY, LLC; COLEMAN CABLE, INC.; TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH CORPORATION
To: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 032308/0469 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Feb 12, 2014
From: SOUTHWIRE COMPANY, LLC; COLEMAN CABLE, INC.; TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH CORPORATION
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 032251/0277 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 26, 2009
From: HOLCOMBE, CHARLES L.; SPRUELL, STEPHEN L.; BURCHFIELD, RONALD J.; GODFREY, CAROL J.; WARE, JOHN N., JR.; EASTERWOOD, EDWARD J., JR.; HULLENDER, FRANK; WILSON, W. STEVE
To: SOUTHWIRE COMPANY
Reel/Frame 022176/0488 →