Method and apparatus for attaching a radio frequency transponder to an object

Claim 2

A transponder module comprising: a housing including a fastener having a head portion coupled to a screw portion, the head portion being formed from plastic and including a substantially flat surface formed opposite the screw portion, the head portion including a chamber; and a transponder contained in the chamber of the head portion.

Claim 3

The transponder module of claim 1 , wherein the head portion and the screw portion both are formed from molded plastic.

Claim 4

The transponder module of claim 1 , wherein the head portion includes a beveled slot formed in the substantially flat surface allowing the screw portion to be screwed into an object but not allowing removal of the fastener from the object.

Claim 5

The transponder module of claim 1 wherein the housing forms a one way screw and wherein the head portion is countersunk to wherein the housing does not protrude from the object.

Claim 6

The transponder module of claim 1 wherein the housing is formed from epoxy.

Claim 7

The transponder module of claim 1 wherein the housing is formed as a single piece.

Claim 8

The transponder module of claim 1 wherein the housing is formed as a single piece of molded epoxy.

Claim 9

A transponder module comprising: a molded plastic housing having a head portion and an attachment portion, the head portion including a chamber; and a RF transponder contained in the chamber of the head portion.

Claim 10

A transponder module comprising: a molded plastic housing having a head portion and an attachment portion, the head portion including a chamber; and a RF transponder contained in the chamber of the head portion.

Claim 11

The transponder module of claim 8 wherein the molded plastic housing comprises a molded epoxy housing.

Claim 12

The transponder module of claim 8 wherein the molded plastic housing comprises a screw.

Claim 13

The transponder module of claim 8 wherein the molded plastic housing comprises a snap.

Claim 14

The transponder module of claim 8 wherein the molded plastic housing comprises a button.

Claim 15

The transponder module of claim 8 wherein the molded plastic housing comprises a single-piece housing configured to be countersunk into an object.

Claim 16

The transponder module of claim 8 wherein the molded plastic housing comprises a single-piece, one-way, locking screw.

Claim 17

A transponder housing comprising: a plastic head configured to be countersunk and including a chamber configured to encapsulate a transponding module; and attachment means coupled to the plastic head.

Claim 18

A transponder housing comprising: a plastic head configured to be countersunk and including a chamber configured to encapsulate a transponding module; and attachment means coupled to the plastic head.

Claim 19

The housing of claim 15 wherein the attachment means comprises a screw, and the housing forms a single-piece, one-way, locking screw.

Claim 20

The housing of claim 15 wherein the attachment means comprises a snap.

Claim 21

The housing of claim 15 wherein the attachment means comprises a button hook.

Claim 22

The housing of claim 15 wherein the chamber houses a RF transponder.

Claim 25

The method of claim 20 wherein forming a housing includes forming a screw having the head coupled to a threaded shaft by molding plastic to form a countersunk screw.

Claim 26

The method of claim 20 wherein forming a housing includes forming a screw having the head coupled to a threaded shaft by molding plastic to form a one-way, locking screw.

Claim 27

The method of claim 20 wherein forming a housing includes forming a screw having the head coupled to a threaded shaft by molding epoxy to form a one-way, locking, countersunk screw.

Claim 28

A transponder module comprising: a housing including a fastener having a head portion coupled to a screw portion extending from the head portion and including an external thread, the head and screw portions being formed from non-ferrous materials, the head portion including a substantially flat surface formed opposite the screw portion and coupled to the screw portion via a beveled portion configured to countersink the head portion in response to the head portion being screwed into an object intended to bear the transponding module, the head portion including a slot having two sides, each side being partially bevelled and configured to facilitate one-way screw insertion of the screw portion and also configured to not facilitate removal thereof, the head portion including a chamber; and a transponder contained in the chamber of the head portion.

Claim 29

A transponder module comprising: a housing including a fastener having a head portion coupled to a screw portion extending from the head portion and including an external thread, the head and screw portions being formed from non-ferrous materials, the head portion including a substantially flat surface formed opposite the screw portion and coupled to the screw portion via a beveled portion configured to countersink the head portion in response to the head portion being screwed into an object intended to bear the transponding module, the head portion including a slot having two sides, each side being partially bevelled and configured to facilitate one-way screw insertion of the screw portion and also configured to not facilitate removal thereof, the head portion including a chamber; and a transponder contained in the chamber of the head portion.

Claim 30

The transponder module of claim 24 , wherein the head portion and screw portion comprise a one-piece molded epoxy resin housing.

Claim 31

The transponder module of claim 24 , wherein the screw portion comprises plastic.

Claim 32

A transponder module comprising: a housing including a fastener having a head portion coupled to a screw portion extending from the head portion and including an external thread, the head portion being formed from non-ferrous materials, the head portion including a substantially flat surface formed opposite the screw portion and coupled to the screw portion via a beveled portion configured to countersink the head portion in response to the head portion being screwed into an object intended to bear the transponding module, the head portion including a slot having two sides, each side being partially bevelled and configured to facilitate one-way screw insertion of the screw portion and also configured to not facilitate removal thereof, the head portion including a chamber; and a transponder contained in the chamber of the head portion.

Claim 33

A transponder module comprising: a housing including a fastener having a head portion coupled to a screw portion extending from the head portion and including an external thread, the head portion being formed from non-ferrous materials, the head portion including a substantially flat surface formed opposite the screw portion and coupled to the screw portion via a beveled portion configured to countersink the head portion in response to the head portion being screwed into an object intended to bear the transponding module, the head portion including a slot having two sides, each side being partially bevelled and configured to facilitate one-way screw insertion of the screw portion and also configured to not facilitate removal thereof, the head portion including a chamber; and a transponder contained in the chamber of the head portion.

Claim 34

The transponder module of claim 27 , wherein the head portion and the screw portion both are formed from molded plastic.

Claim 35

The transponder module of claim 27 , wherein the screw portion is formed from molded plastic.

Claim 36

A transponder module comprising: a housing including a fastener having a head portion coupled to a screw portion extending from the head portion and including an external thread, the head and screw portions forming a single piece of molded epoxy, the head portion including a substantially flat surface formed opposite the screw portion and coupled to the screw portion via a beveled portion configured to countersink the head portion in response to the head portion being screwed into an object intended to bear the transponding module, the head portion including a slot having two sides, each side being partially bevelled and configured to facilitate one-way screw insertion of the screw portion and also configured to not facilitate removal thereof, the head portion including a chamber; and a transponder contained in the chamber of the head portion.

Claim 37

A transponder module comprising: a housing including a fastener having a head portion coupled to a screw portion extending from the head portion and including an external thread, the head and screw portions forming a single piece of molded epoxy, the head portion including a substantially flat surface formed opposite the screw portion and coupled to the screw portion via a beveled portion configured to countersink the head portion in response to the head portion being screwed into an object intended to bear the transponding module, the head portion including a slot having two sides, each side being partially bevelled and configured to facilitate one-way screw insertion of the screw portion and also configured to not facilitate removal thereof, the head portion including a chamber; and a transponder contained in the chamber of the head portion.

Claim 38

A radio frequency transponder module comprising: a housing, the housing including: a shank portion including an external thread configured to be threadedly engaged to an object to be identified by the radio frequency transponder module, the shank portion tapering from a first diameter at a first end to a second diameter at a second end, the second end being larger than the first end; a first head portion having a first and second opposed surfaces, the first surface coupled to the second end of the shank portion, the head portion including a circular platform having a diameter greater than the second diameter, the head portion including a plurality of raised bumps extending outwardly from the second surface and defining therebetween an area; a second head portion comprising a non-ferrous material and including an annular wall and a top extending across an upper surface of the annular wall, the annular wall including a plurality of openings formed in a lower surface thereof, each of the openings being configured to mate to a respective one of the plurality of bumps to secure the second head portion to the first head portion and thereby enclose a cavity therebetween, the top including a plurality of arcuate blind openings formed therein; a third head portion comprising a non-ferrous material, the third head portion comprising a generally cylindrical shape and including a plurality of arcuate lugs formed on a lower surface of the generally cylindrical shape, each of the plurality of arcuate lugs being configured to mate with a respective one of the arcuate blind openings to secure the third head portion to the second head portion, the third head portion including a top surface having a slot formed therein having two sides, each side being partially bevelled and configured to facilitate one-way screw insertion of the shank portion and also configured to not facilitate removal thereof; and a radio frequency identification transponder contained in the cavity between the first and second head portions.

Claim 39

A radio frequency transponder module comprising: a housing, the housing including: a shank portion including an external thread configured to be threadedly engaged to an object to be identified by the radio frequency transponder module, the shank portion tapering from a first diameter at a first end to a second diameter at a second end, the second end being larger than the first end; a first head portion having a first and second opposed surfaces, the first surface coupled to the second end of the shank portion, the head portion including a circular platform having a diameter greater than the second diameter, the head portion including a plurality of raised bumps extending outwardly from the second surface and defining therebetween an area; a second head portion comprising a non-ferrous material and including an annular wall and a top extending across an upper surface of the annular wall, the annular wall including a plurality of openings formed in a lower surface thereof, each of the openings being configured to mate to a respective one of the plurality of bumps to secure the second head portion to the first head portion and thereby enclose a cavity therebetween, the top including a plurality of arcuate blind openings formed therein; a third head portion comprising a non-ferrous material, the third head portion comprising a generally cylindrical shape and including a plurality of arcuate lugs formed on a lower surface of the generally cylindrical shape, each of the plurality of arcuate lugs being configured to mate with a respective one of the arcuate blind openings to secure the third head portion to the second head portion, the third head portion including a top surface having a slot formed therein having two sides, each side being partially bevelled and configured to facilitate one-way screw insertion of the shank portion and also configured to not facilitate removal thereof; and a radio frequency identification transponder contained in the cavity between the first and second head portions.