IP Library Granted Patent US 9,129,496
Granted Patent B1
US 9,129,496 · App. 14/292,042 · Granted Sep 8, 2015

Rotatable tags for automated location and monitoring of moveable objects and related systems

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,129,496
App. No.
14/292,042
Granted
Sep 8, 2015
Kind
B1
Abstract

A rotatable tag is provided that is configured to be affixed to a moveable object, the tag includes a housing configured to provide an increased volume and occupy a relatively small amount of surface area on the object to which the tag is affixed. The rotatable tag is configured to transmit information related to the tag and/or an environment surrounding the tag. Related systems are also provided herein.

Claims (26)

1. A rotatable tag configured to be affixed to a moveable object comprising:

a housing configured to provide an increased volume and occupy a relatively small amount of surface area on the moveable object to which the tag is affixed,

the housing including a first portion that includes at least two different patterns and a second portion that is positioned over the first portion, the second portion being rotatable about the first portion;

internal electronics that communicate via radio signal, wherein the radio signal includes at least data indicating one of a plurality of states of the moveable object that correspond to a rotational position of the second portion relative to the first portion.

2. The rotatable tag of claim 1 , wherein the tag has a cylindrical shape.

3. The rotatable tag of claim 1 , wherein the tag is further configured to visually indicate at least one state of the moveable object such that the at least one state of the moveable object is discernable from a distance.

4. The rotatable tag of claim 3 , wherein the at least one state of the moveable object comprises available for use, in use, needs cleaning and/or needs service.

5. The rotatable tag of claim 3 , wherein:

the second portion includes at least a portion of which is translucent, positioned over the first portion, and configured to rotate to reveal one of the at least two different patterns through the translucent portion of the second portion, wherein each of the at least two patterns is indicative of a state of the plurality of states of the moveable object.

6. The rotatable tag of claim 1 , wherein the tag is intrinsically safe such that it can be used in an oxygen rich environment.

7. The rotatable tag of claim 1 , wherein the tag is configured to transmit automatically, responsively or synchronously.

8. The rotatable tag of claim 1 , wherein the housing includes at least one sensor and wherein the at least one sensor comprises a temperature sensor, a motion sensor, a humidity sensor, a gas sensor, a carbon monoxide sensor, an accelerometer or a gyroscope.

9. The rotatable tag of claim 1 , wherein the tag is configured to transmit and/or receive information.

10. The rotatable tag of claim 1 , wherein the housing further includes a battery, a radio transceiver and micro-circuitry.

11. A rotatable tag configured to be affixed to a moveable object comprising:

a housing having a first portion that includes at least two different patterns and a second portion at least a portion of which is translucent, positioned over the first portion, and configured to rotate to reveal one of the at least two different patterns through the translucent portion of the second portion,

internal electronics that communicate data indicating one of a plurality of states of the moveable object that correspond to a rotational position of the second portion relative to the first portion.

12. The rotatable tag of claim 11 , wherein the tag is further configured to visually indicate at least one state of the object such that the at least one state of the moveable object is discernable from a distance.

13. The rotatable tag of claim 12 , wherein each of the at least two patterns is indicative of a state of the moveable object.

14. The rotatable tag of claim 12 , wherein the at least one state of the moveable object comprises available for use, in use, needs cleaning and/or needs service.

15. The rotatable tag of claim 11 , wherein the tag is further configured to provide an increased volume and occupy a relatively small amount of surface area on the object to which the tag is affixed.

16. The rotatable tag of claim 11 , wherein the tag has a cylindrical shape.

17. The rotatable tag of claim 11 , wherein the tag is intrinsically safe such that it can be used in an oxygen rich environment.

18. The rotatable tag of claim 11 , wherein the tag is configured to transmit automatically, responsively or synchronously.

19. The rotatable tag of claim 11 , wherein the housing includes at least one sensor and wherein the at least one sensor comprises a temperature sensor, a motion sensor, a humidity sensor, a gas sensor, a carbon monoxide sensor, an accelerometer or a gyroscope.

20. The rotatable tag of claim 11 , wherein the tag is configured to transmit and/or receive information.

Assignments (7)
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jul 8, 2021
From: TELETRACKING TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; TELETRACKING GOVERNMENT SERVICES, INC.
To: THE HUNTINGTON NATIONAL BANK
Reel/Frame 056805/0431 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE CONVEYANCE TYPE PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL: 056756 FRAME: 0549. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jul 7, 2021
From: THE HUNTINGTON NATIONAL BANK
To: TELETRACKING TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
Reel/Frame 056784/0584 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jul 2, 2021
From: THE HUNTINGTON NATIONAL BANK
To: TELETRACKING TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
Reel/Frame 056756/0549 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Oct 25, 2019
From: SCHULIGER, BRIAN E; NASH, STEPHEN P; GORI, FRANK J; SHAHADE, LORETTA M
To: TELETRACKING TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
Reel/Frame 050828/0039 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Oct 23, 2019
From: TELETRACKING TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
To: THE HUNTINGTON NATIONAL BANK
Reel/Frame 050809/0535 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Apr 12, 2019
From: TELETRACKING TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
To: SCHULIGER, BRIAN E; NASH, STEPHEN P; GORI, FRANK J; SHAHADE, LORETTA M
Reel/Frame 050160/0794 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 30, 2014
From: JACKSON, STEPHEN S.
To: TELETRACKING TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
Reel/Frame 032999/0766 →