US7202785B2
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Mobile object tracking system
Assignee: Key Control Holding Inc
•
Filing: 2005-03-15
•
Granted: 2007-04-10
•
Expires: 2025-03-15
Abstract
Abstract A mobile object tracking system is provided for tracking the removal and use of specific objects within a group checked out from storage between the time the objects are checked out and the replacement of the objects in the storage. The system includes a system controller and a storage unit that receive and store a series of object carriers therein. Each object carrier includes a series of object holders in which id tags for the group of objects checked out of the storage are received. The object carrier monitors the time each object is removed from the object carrier, which information is thereafter communicated to the system controller.
Inventors
- 👤 William C. Maloney
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 16:25
CPC Classifications
G; G08; G08B; G08B13/00; G08B13/02; G08B13/14; G08B13/1445; G08B13/1454; G06; G06K; G06K17/00; G07; G07B; G07B15/00; G07B15/02; G07B15/04; G08B13/1427; G08B13/1463; G08B13/22; G08B13/24; G08B13/2402; G08B13/2405; G08B13/2414; G08B13/2417; G08B13/2428; G08B13/2431; G08B13/2434; G08B13/2448; G08B13/2451; G08B13/2462; G08B13/2465; G08B13/2468; G08B13/2471; G08B13/2474; G08B13/2477; G08B13/2482; G08B21/00; G08B21/02; G08B21/0202; G08B21/0227; G08B21/0286; G08B21/0288
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 38
Claim 1
Independent Claim
112 words
A portable object tracking system for tracking use of individual objects within a group of objects removed as a set, said system comprising: at least one portable object carrier having a series of object holders mounted thereon for receiving and releasibly mounting each of the objects of the set of objects to be tracked on said object carrier; a storage unit with at least one receptacle defined therein, said receptacle configured to receive a portable object carrier; a system controller for monitoring and recording usage information for the objects; and an identifier associated with each object received in said object holders for detecting placement and removal of objects within said object holders.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
112 words
A portable object tracking system for tracking use of individual objects within a group of objects removed as a set, said system comprising: at least one portable object carrier having a series of object holders mounted thereon for receiving and releasibly mounting each of the objects of the set of objects to be tracked on said object carrier; a storage unit with at least one receptacle defined therein, said receptacle configured to receive a portable object carrier; a system controller for monitoring and recording usage information for the objects; and an identifier associated with each object received in said object holders for detecting placement and removal of objects within said object holders.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
60 words
The system of claim 1 , wherein said storage unit has a plurality of receptacles defined therein and said system comprises a plurality of portable object carriers, wherein at least one portable object carrier has a plurality of object holders mounted thereon for receiving and releasibly mounting objects of a set of objects to be tracked on said object carrier.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
43 words
The system of claim 1 , wherein said storage unit comprises a cabinet with a door movable between an open position in which an object carrier can be removed and a closed position in which an object carrier is secured within said cabinet.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
20 words
The system of claim 3 , wherein said cabinet includes a lock for securing the door in the closed position.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
23 words
The system of claim 1 , wherein said receptacle in said storage unit is defined by carrier guides mounted in said storage unit.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
24 words
The system of claim 1 , said storage unit further comprising a carrier lock capable of securing an object carrier within said storage unit.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
14 words
The system of claim 1 , wherein said object carrier is rectangular in shape.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
14 words
The system of claim 1 , wherein an object holder comprises a support bracket.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
14 words
The system of claim 1 , wherein an object holder includes a biasing element.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
38 words
The system of claim 1 , further comprising at least one ID device attached to an object to be tracked, the ID device including an identification code associated with the object to which the ID tag is attached.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
15 words
The system of claim 10 , wherein said identification code is an optical bar code.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
18 words
The system of claim 11 , wherein said optical bar code is printed on a bar code strap.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
18 words
The system of claim 10 , wherein said identification code is electronically stored in a touch memory button.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
17 words
The system of claim 10 , wherein said identification code is electronically stored in a memory chip.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
18 words
The system of claim 10 , wherein said identification code is electronically stored in an electronic storage device.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
17 words
The system of claim 10 , wherein said identification code is electronically stored in an RFID device.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
19 words
The system of claim 1 , further comprising an interval timer associated with each object carried in a receptacle.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
120 words
A portable object tracking system for tracking use of individual objects within a group of objects removed as a set from a storage unit, said object tracking system comprising: a storage unit with at least one storage unit receptacle defined therein; at least one object carrier removably insertable into the storage unit receptacle, said object carrier comprising at least two object receptacles defined on said object carrier, said object carrier being capable of receiving and releasably mounting each of the objects of the set of objects to be tracked on said object carrier; and at least one sensor on said object carrier and associated with each receptacle; and a system controller for monitoring and recording usage information for the objects.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
120 words
A portable object tracking system for tracking use of individual objects within a group of objects removed as a set from a storage unit, said object tracking system comprising: a storage unit with at least one storage unit receptacle defined therein; at least one object carrier removably insertable into the storage unit receptacle, said object carrier comprising at least two object receptacles defined on said object carrier, said object carrier being capable of receiving and releasably mounting each of the objects of the set of objects to be tracked on said object carrier; and at least one sensor on said object carrier and associated with each receptacle; and a system controller for monitoring and recording usage information for the objects.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
43 words
The system of claim 18 , wherein said storage unit comprises a cabinet with a door movable between an open position in which an object carrier can be removed and a closed position in which an object carrier is secured within said cabinet.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
20 words
The system of claim 19 , wherein said cabinet includes a lock for securing the door in the closed position.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
21 words
The system of claim 18 , wherein said storage unit receptacle is defined by carrier guides mounted in said storage unit.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
24 words
The system of claim 18 , said storage unit further comprising a carrier lock capable of securing an object carrier within said storage unit.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
38 words
The system of claim 18 , further comprising at least one ID device attached to an object to be tracked, the ID device including an identification code associated with the object to which the ID tag is attached.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
15 words
The system of claim 23 , wherein said identification code is an optical bar code.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
18 words
The system of claim 24 , wherein said optical bar code is printed on a bar code strap.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
18 words
The system of claim 23 , wherein said identification code is electronically stored in a touch memory button.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
17 words
The system of claim 23 , wherein said identification code is electronically stored in a memory chip.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
18 words
The system of claim 23 , wherein said identification code is electronically stored in an electronic storage device.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
17 words
The system of claim 23 , wherein said identification code is electronically stored in an RFID device.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
19 words
The system of claim 18 , further comprising an interval timer associated with each object carried in a receptacle.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
214 words
A portable object tracking system for tracking use of individual objects within a group of objects removed as a set from a storage unit, said object tracking system comprising: a storage cabinet, said storage cabinet defining a compartment therein, and having a plurality of slots disposed in said compartment, said storage cabinet further including a door movable between an open position and a closed position in which said compartment is substantially enclosed; a plurality of object carriers, each object carrier removably insertable into a slot within said compartment, each object carrier comprising: a plurality of object receptacles defined on said object carrier, said object carrier being capable of receiving and releasably mounting objects of the set of objects to be tracked on said object carrier; and a plurality of sensors, wherein each object receptacle is associated with a sensor; the storage cabinet further comprising a system controller for monitoring and recording usage information of the object carriers; an ID device attached to each object to be tracked, each ID device including an identification code associated with the object to which the ID tag is attached, wherein said identification code is electronically stored in an electronic storage device mounted on said object; and an interval timer associated with each object carried in an object receptacle.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
214 words
A portable object tracking system for tracking use of individual objects within a group of objects removed as a set from a storage unit, said object tracking system comprising: a storage cabinet, said storage cabinet defining a compartment therein, and having a plurality of slots disposed in said compartment, said storage cabinet further including a door movable between an open position and a closed position in which said compartment is substantially enclosed; a plurality of object carriers, each object carrier removably insertable into a slot within said compartment, each object carrier comprising: a plurality of object receptacles defined on said object carrier, said object carrier being capable of receiving and releasably mounting objects of the set of objects to be tracked on said object carrier; and a plurality of sensors, wherein each object receptacle is associated with a sensor; the storage cabinet further comprising a system controller for monitoring and recording usage information of the object carriers; an ID device attached to each object to be tracked, each ID device including an identification code associated with the object to which the ID tag is attached, wherein said identification code is electronically stored in an electronic storage device mounted on said object; and an interval timer associated with each object carried in an object receptacle.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
26 words
The system of claim 31 , further comprising an object carrier controller mounted on each object carrier for monitoring usage information of the objects carried thereon.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
19 words
The system of claim 31 , wherein said object carrier includes a first opening for manipulating said object carrier.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
19 words
The system of claim 33 , wherein said object carrier includes a second opening for manipulating said object carrier.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
17 words
The system of claim 33 , wherein said object carrier includes a handle on said object carrier.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2010-04-09 | 2010-10-09 | 2011-04-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2014-04-09 | 2014-10-09 | 2015-04-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2018-04-09 | 2018-10-09 | 2019-04-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |