WO2004051500A1

WO2004051500A1 - Method and system for handling prohibited items in carry on luggage

Info

Publication number: WO2004051500A1
Application number: PCT/US2003/037431
Authority: WO
Inventors: Kendall Sierakowski; Christine Sierakowski
Original assignee: Okia, Llc
Priority date: 2002-11-27
Filing date: 2003-11-21
Publication date: 2004-06-17
Also published as: AU2003295828A1

Abstract

A method and system are described for the elimination of the need to surrender proscribed items by individuals at a security check point, such as passengers during the boarding process at airports and other public facilities, where individuals carrying containers (44), luggage, purses and the like are subject to having such containers searched for potentially dangerous or otherwise proscribed items. The method comprises the steps of i) separating a proscribed item that is subject to surrender from items that will pass security inspection, ii) placing the proscribed item in a suitable item container, iii) providing an address (46) for shipment of the proscribed item to a destination selected by the owner of the proscribed item or items, iv) placing the item container in a secure repository, v) removing the item container by an authorized individual and vi) depositing the item container with a suitable shipper for forwarding the proscribed item to the address selected by the owner of the proscribed item so that the proscribed item is not confiscated. The system includes at least one station comprising a vending unit for proscribed item containers and a secure repository in which the containers containing a proscribed item or items is deposited for subsequent shipment prior to passing the depositing individual through security screening.

Description

METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR HANDLING PROHIBITED ITEMS IN CARRY ON LUGGAGE

This application claims the priority of the filing date of Provisional Application 60/429,436, filed November 27, 2002, entitled METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR HANDLING PROHIBITED ITEMS IN CARRY ON LUGGAGE, which application is incorporated by reference herein.

Background of the Invention Since September 11, 2001 security at various venues such as travel locations has been significantly increased, particularly at airport boarding areas. Basically, individuals, such as ticketed passengers, must pass a security check point that normally includes a metal detector and an inspection of any containers, such as carry on luggage, purses, coolers and the like. Items found in such containers that are perceived to be potentially dangerous are seized and surrendered. Such items include scissors with pointed tips, box cutters, knives, sporting goods such as golf clubs, baseball bats and the like. The smaller items are often unintentionally placed in carry on along with personal care items and are not checked in at the ticketing counter. In order to avoid surrender of the items there are several options available, for example, stepping out of line and returning the item to baggage check-in or to the passenger's auto or to a person who is not boarding the flight or entering the venue from which the item is prohibited. This may be most inconvenient and often there no time to accomplish this and to avoid missing the departure time of the carrier, the individual surrenders the item. Besides the inconvenience of having to leave the line and return to baggage check in, loss of these item and the subsequent replacement of them can be impossible, expensive or inconvenient and some items that are perceived to be dangerous may have sentimental value. Surrendered items are not returned to the owner and are destroyed or otherwise disposed of.

Summary of the Invention The present invention relates to a method and system for the elimination of the need for collecting banned items from individuals at a security check point, such as passengers during the boarding process at airports and other public facilities, where individuals carrying containers, luggage, purses and the like are subject to having such containers searched for potentially dangerous or otherwise proscribed items. More particularly, the method of the invention comprises: i) separating a proscribed item that is subject to surrender from items that will pass security inspection, ii) placing the proscribed item in a suitable item container, iii) providing an address for shipment of the proscribed item to a destination selected by the owner of the proscribed item or items, iv) placing the item container in a secure repository, v) removing the item container by an authorized individual and vi) depositing the item container with a suitable ^■ shipper for forwarding the proscribed item to the address selected by the owner of the proscribed item so that the proscribed item is not surrendered.

In accordance with the invention the system includes at least one station comprising a vending unit for proscribed item containers and a secure repository in which the containers containing a proscribed item or items is deposited for subsequent shipment prior to passing the depositing individual through security screening. Preferably at least one station is located in the vicinity of the security check point. Brief Description of the Drawings

FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of a typical airport security check point that includes the system of the invention; and

FIG. 2 is an illustration of one embodiment of station of the system of the invention.

Description of the Invention

The inconvenience and potential financial loss that may be incurred when proscribed items are found during a security inspection is avoided by the provision of a shipping service in the vicinity of a security checkpoint. In accordance with the invention, item containers and suitable shipping bills are located in the vicinity of the security checkpoint. An individual passing through the checkpoint having possession of one or more proscribed items that are subject to surrender can avoid surrender by utilizing the system of the invention to ship the proscribed item to a desired address. As the individual passes through the check point and it is determined that he is in possession of a proscribed item or items, the individual may step out of line and deposit the items in item containers to be sent to a desired address such as the individual's home address or his destination address. The item container in which is deposited the proscribed item that would normally be confiscated is deposited in a secure repository and a desired shipping address is provided by the individual. In this manner the individual cannot recover the proscribed item until it is delivered to the shipping address. Upon depositing the proscribed items that would normally be surrendered, the individual may return to the line and be passed through security. The proscribed items are periodically collected from the secure repository by a person or persons having necessary security clearance for delivery to the shipper for shipment to the provided address. The system finds utility at any public facility that requires security screening prior to admittance. For example, public transportation facilities such as airport security checkpoints and bus and train stations will find use for the present invention. In addition other public facilities such as museums, office buildings, court houses, schools, sports stadiums, racetracks and concerts routinely conduct security before admittance.

As used herein the terms "shipping bill" and "address label" will be used interchangeably and shall mean any document or tag or label on which the address to which the proscribed item is to mailed or shipped.

For convenience, the invention will be described in connection with its use at an airport security checkpoint site and where the US Postal Service is employed as the shipper. However, it will be understood that the system and method for its employment will be identical in its use at other venues except for minor variation of the location of the station comprising the system and arrangement of the system components that are dictated by the type of venue and venue location. It will also be understood that other shippers may be employed as well as the US Postal service. Referring to the FIG. 1, a typical airport security screening area comprises an entry point

12 where ticketed passengers are checked by a Transportation Service Agency (TSA) employee, referred to as the TSA greeter 13, for proper boarding passes. Once passed by the TSA greeter 13, the passenger enters a restricted area leading to the security inspection lanes. Normally a second TSA employee 14 will be present to direct the passengers to a security inspection lane. As illustrated there are four security inspection lanes, 16, 18, 20 and 22, although the number of lanes may be greater or fewer than four. Preferably one lane, lane 16 in the present illustration, is designated as an express lane reserved normally for air crews and other employees who are also subject to a security check. Each security lane includes a metal detector 24 for screening the individual passenger, a conveyer belt 28 for conveying canyon items through an x-ray machine 32. A table 34 is provided for carryon luggage selected for hand search. An inspector 33 at each inspection lane, 16, 18, 20 and 22, inspects the carryon luggage and determines which items, if any, in the luggage are prohibited and they are separated from the carryon luggage. At least one law enforcement officer (LEO) position 34 is located for overview of the security area.

The system of the present invention comprises at least one station, shown generally as 40, located in the vicinity of the security screening area, preferably adjacent the carryon items inspection tables 32 and near the LEO position 34. Items that are identified as prohibited are immediately separated from the carryon luggage. If the passenger desires that the items not be confiscated he may step out of the line and proceed to the station 40 to deposit the items in a secure repository item for shipment to a desired location. Preferably, the station 40 is close to the inspection point so that the proscribed items are placed in the secure repository in the presence of an inspector and so that the station may also be supervised by a LEO who is posted at the inspection point. As shown most clearly in FIG. 2, the station 40 includes a vending unit 42 for containing and dispensing item containers 44 and address labels 46. The vending unit 42 is adapted to receive payment for the item container 44, and administrative and shipping fees. The item containers 44 may be automatically dispensed by vending machines of a type readily available. Preferably the vending unit 42 has a clear front panel that allows the passenger to see the selection of item containers that are available. Such machines normally include a built-in cash handling system and may include the ability to make change that adds to the convenience of use of the system. A fee schedule may be posted to allow the passenger to compute the cost of shipping the proscribed item. The vending unit 42 may also include provision for credit cards or paperwork authorizing charge on the passenger's charge card in the event the passenger desires to charge the cost of the service. It will be understood, however, that the vending unit 42 may be of a different configuration, for example the accepting of the purchase price and dispensing of item containers may be done manually. A table 41 is provided to give a working space for inserting items into the item container

44 and for entering the "ship to" address on the address label 46.

In the preferred embodiment shown in FIG.2 the dispensing unit 42 is a vending machine. Cash receipt receptacle 48 accepts the money for purchasing the item containers 44 and address labels 46. As mentioned, it is preferred that the money receipt slot 48 be of the type that accepts paper money and is capable of making change as required. The purchase fee includes the shipping fee or mailing fee for shipping the proscribed item and its container. Push buttons 50 allow the customer to select the size of the item container 44 that is needed. A scale may be provided for the customer to weigh the items so that he can more accurately select the correct fee to deposit. A chart or table may be provided with the fee required for a given weight range. The item containers 44 are dispensed through the dispensing slot 52. Conventionally designed commercially available dispensing machines are readily modified for the dispensing of the item containers 44.

The item containers 44 are provided in various sizes so that the passenger has an option as to the size of item container to purchase depending on the number and size of the items being posted. The item container may be any suitable container, preferably flexible, such as a plastic bag. The address label or shipping bill may packaged with the item container 44 or may dispensed separately. The system further includes a secure container repository 54 in which the item containers 44 and filled in address labels 46 are deposited. The repository 54 includes a deposit slot 56 of sufficient size to receive the item containers 44 and items contained therein but small enough to prevent an individual from reaching in to retrieve an item container from the repository. An access door 58 is provided to enable an authorized person to gain entrance to the container repository 54 to retrieve the item containers 44 from the repository. The access door is securely locked, such as for purposes of illustration, by a hasp and staple secured by a padlock, shown as 60. However, other types of locking mechanisms may be employed such as combination locks or dead bolts. Depending on the volume of passenger traffic at a given airport, the system can utilize more than one station 40. For example, a first station 40 can be installed at the location where passengers' boarding passes and tickets are checked by the TSA greeter 13 to make sure they have a valid ticket and boarding pass for a particular flight. At this location passengers who are aware that they have proscribed items in their carryon can dispose of them before the security inspection.. A second station 40 may be situated at the security inspection point as described above for items that the passenger was not aware were in his canyon luggage. It should also be clear that a single station 40 can include several container dispensing units 42 and several secure repositories 54.

In accordance with the method of the invention, proscribed items are separated from those items that will pass security inspection. This may occur voluntarily or at the security checkpoint. When the individual wishes to retain the proscribed item he then goes to a station 40 to purchase an item container 44 and address label 46. The proscribed item or items are placed in the item container along with the address label and any other paperwork, such as authority to charge the passenger's charge card and the container is sealed. The sealed item container 44 is deposited in the secure repository 54 and further access to the item container 44 by the individual is prohibited.

Preferably, the individual is given a pass to return to the front of the screening line after depositing the item container 44 and proscribed item in the secure repository 54. In the case of airport security such an individual can be permitted to complete the screening process through the express line that is normally provided for airport and airline employees. In this manner inconvenience to the individual and to other passengers in the regular screening line is minimized. As mentioned above, once the item container 44 is placed in the secure repository 54, it cannot be accessed by anyone other than a person authorized to unlock the access door 58 and remove the addressed item containers. Ordinarily such an authorized person will be an employee of the service operating the system. The authorized person transports the sealed item containers 44 to a central processing area for inspection to insure the address label and any other paperwork, such as insurance forms, are completed and checks to insure that payment includes shipping costs, such as postage, UPS or Federal Express fees or the like.

Depending on the nature of the item container 44 and the items placed in the container, it may be necessary to transfer the proscribed item to a more suitable shipping package. For example, for shipment through the mails, the item or items should be placed in a postal service approved package or when using a shipping service such as an UPS or Federal Express the item container 44 should be placed in the company's shipping package. It will be necessary to attach or reattach the addressed shipping or mailing label to the shipping package. In such a case the addressed label should be inserted in the item container 44 with the proscribed item or items and not be attached to the item container.

As will be understood, various arrangements which lie within the spirit and scope of the invention, other than those described in detail in the specification, will occur to those persons skilled in the art. It is therefor to be understood that the invention is to be limited only by the claims appended hereto.

Having described the invention, I claim:

Claims

1. A system for handling proscribed items to avoid surrender of said proscribed items, said system including at least one station comprising a vending unit for the dispensing of proscribed item containers and shipping bill and a secure repository for receiving said item containers containing said proscribed items whereby said proscribed items are subsequently recovered from said secure repository and forwarded to an address on said shipping bill.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein said vending unit is adapted to receive payment for said item container and administrative and shipping fees.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein said vending unit automatically dispenses said proscribed item container as selected by a user upon submission of an appropriate fee.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein said proscribed container and said shipping bill are manually dispensed.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein at least one said station is located in the vicinity of the security screening area.

6. At an airport security screening check point a system for handling proscribed items to avoid surrender of said proscribed items, said checkpoint including an entry point where ticketed passengers are checked for boarding documentation, a restricted area leading to at least one security inspection lane, said security inspection lane including a metal detector for screening the individual passenger a conveyer belt for conveying carryon items through an x-ray machine and a table provided for carryon luggage selected for hand search and separation of proscribed items prohibited from being carried on an aircraft, said proscribed items being subject to sunender, a system for securing said separated proscribed items for subsequent shipment to locations selected by individuals canying said proscribed items, said system comprising at least one station comprising a vending unit for the dispensing of proscribed item containers and shipping bills and a secure repository for receiving said item containers containing said proscribed items whereby said proscribed items are subsequently recovered from said secure repository, matched with their conesponding shipping bills and shipped to an address on said conesponding shipping bill.

7. The airport security screening check point of claim 6 wherein at least one said station is located in the vicinity of said security inspection lane.

8. The airport security screening check point of claim 6 wherein at least one said station is located in the vicinity of said enfry point.

9. A method for handling proscribed items to avoid the sunender thereof at a security checkpoint or the like, said method comprising the steps of: a. separating a proscribed item that is subject to be sunendered from items that will pass security inspection; b. placing the proscribed item in a suitable item container; c. providing an address for shipment of said proscribed item to a destination selected by an individual carrying said proscribed item; d. placing said item container in a secure repository whereby said proscribed item cannot be recovered by said individual; e. thereafter removing said proscribed item from said secure repository, said proscribed item being removed from said secure repository by an authorized individual; and f. depositing said proscribed item with its conesponding address with a suitable shipper for forwarding the proscribed item to the address selected by said individual; whereby sunender of said proscribed item is avoided.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein a shipping bill is provided with said proscribed item container and said address is entered thereon.