Method of improving airline luggage inspection
View Patent ↗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.
1. A method of improving carrier baggage inspection by a baggage screening entity, comprising:
making available to consumers a special lock, having a combination lock portion and having a master key lock portion, the master key lock portion for receiving a master key that can open the master key lock portion of this special lock, the special lock designed to be applied to an individual piece of carrier baggage, the special lock also having an identification structure associated therewith that matches a corresponding identification structure previously provided to the baggage screening entity, which special lock the baggage screening entity has agreed to process in accordance with a special procedure,
marketing the special lock to the consumers in a manner that conveys to the consumers that the special lock will be subjected by the baggage screening entity to the special procedure,
the identification structure signaling to a baggage screener of the baggage screening entity that the baggage screening entity has agreed to subject the special lock associated with the identification structure to the special procedure, and
the baggage screening entity acting pursuant to a prior agreement to look for the identification structure while screening baggage and, upon finding said identification structure on an individual piece of baggage, to use the special procedure previously agreed to by the baggage screening entity to, if necessary, open the individual piece of baggage.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the master key lock portion includes a key hole in the special lock that receives the master key.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein a step of making available to consumers a special lock involves selling the special lock directly or indirectly to the consumers.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the identification structure is integrally formed with the special lock.
5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the signaling involves a visual signal.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the signaling involves a visual signal.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein a step of making available to consumers a special lock involves mass producing the special lock for ultimate provision to the consumer.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein a step of making available to consumers a special lock involves providing the identification structure to a third party and causing the especial lock to be made available to the consumer.
9. The method of claim 1 , wherein a step of making available to consumers a special lock means causing the special lock having the identification structure to be made available to the consumers.
10. A method of improving carrier baggage inspection by a baggage screening entity comprising:
making available to consumers a special lock, having a first lock portion and a master key lock portion, the master key lock portion for receiving a master key that can open the master key lock portion of this special lock, the special lock designed to be applied to an individual piece of carrier baggage, the special lock also having an identification structure associated therewith that matches a corresponding identification structure previously provided to the baggage screening entity which special lock the baggage screening entity has agreed to process in accordance with a special procedure,
marketing the special lock to the consumers in a manner that conveys to the consumers that the special lock will be subjected by the baggage screening entity to the special procedure,
the identification structure signaling to a baggage screener of the baggage screening entity that the baggage screening entity has agreed to subject the special lock associated with the identification structure to the special procedure, and
the baggage screening entity acting pursuant to a prior agreement to look for the identification structure while screening baggage and, upon finding said identification structure on an individual piece of baggage, to use the special procedure previously agreed to by the baggage screening entity to, if necessary, open the individual piece of baggage.
11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the identification structure is located directly on the special lock.
12. The method of claim 11 , wherein a step of making available to consumers a special lock involves selling the special lock directly or indirectly to the consumers.
13. The method of claim 10 , wherein the identification structure is located directly on the special lock.
14. The method of claim 13 , wherein a step of making available to consumers a special lock involves selling the special lock directly or indirectly to the consumers.
15. The method of claim 10 , wherein the identification structure is integrally formed with the special lock.
16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the signaling involves a visual signal.
17. The method of claim 10 , wherein the signaling involves a visual signal.
18. The method of claim 10 , wherein a step of making available to consumers a special lock involves mass producing the special lock for ultimate provision to the consumers.
19. The method of claim 10 , wherein a step of making available to consumers a special lock involves providing the identification structure to a third party and causing the special lock to be made available to the consumers.
20. The method of claim 10 , wherein a step of making available to consumers a special lock means causing the special lock having the identification structure to be made available to the consumers.