Abstract:
The present invention includes as organizer, comprising a main body comprising a first compartment and a second compartment, wherein the first compartment is sized to receive an airline ticket or boarding pass and the second compartment is sized to receive an identification card, the first compartment and second compartment each having a transparent window for displaying indicia on the airline ticket or boarding pass and identification card.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]    This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/448,333, filed Feb. 19, 2003 and U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/453,109, filed Mar. 7, 2003, which applications are incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     
       TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    This invention pertains generally to airline travel, and more particularly to organizing and carrying airline tickets, boarding passes and identification.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0003]    Airline security has been tightened dramatically in response to terrorist activity in the United States and elsewhere. As a result, it is now necessary for the average traveler to present tickets and/or boarding passes and a picture identification at multiple checkpoints. This requirement would present relatively little difficulty if that were all the traveler had to worry about. In addition, however, most travelers have their hands full with luggage or other items, making it particularly cumbersome to present tickets and/or boarding passes and ID while lugging the rest of their gear. The result is a lot of fumbling around for passengers and delays due to passengers hunting or digging around in pockets and purses for the required tickets and/or boarding passes and identification.  
         SUMMARY  
         [0004]    The present invention includes an organizer, comprising a main body comprising a first compartment and a second compartment, wherein the first compartment is sized to receive an airline ticket or boarding pass and the second compartment is sized to receive an identification card, the first compartment and second compartment each having a transparent window for displaying indicia on the airline ticket or boarding pass and identification card.  
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0005]    [0005]FIG. 1 is a top plan view of one embodiment of the organizer of the present invention, without identification information.  
         [0006]    [0006]FIG. 2 is a top plan front view of the organizer of FIG. 1, containing a boarding pass and, having identification information concealed by a flap.  
         [0007]    [0007]FIG. 3 is a top plan front view of the organizer of FIG. 1, containing the boarding pass of FIG. 2, wherein the flap in a position that reveals identification information.  
         [0008]    [0008]FIG. 4 is a top plant front view of an organizer, containing a boarding pass and a driver&#39;s license.  
         [0009]    [0009]FIG. 5 is a top plant view of an organizer, containing a boarding pass and a driver&#39;s license, in an open position.  
         [0010]    [0010]FIG. 6 is a top plan view of the organizer of FIG. 5, in a closed position.  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 7 is a flow chart of a method of using a holder.  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 8 is a flow chart of a method of using a holder. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0013]    Referring now to FIG. 1, there is illustrated an organizer  10  according to a first embodiment of the invention. Organizer  10  includes a first portion  12  with one or more compartments  14  used to hold a traveler&#39;s identification  16  and airline tickets and/or boarding passes  18 . According to embodiment  10 , a first pocket or compartment  14   a  is provided with a transparent wall  14   a - 1  and is sized to hold a driver&#39;s license or equivalent sized identification card. Compartment  14   a  is thus approximately 84 millimeters in length and 53 millimeters wide. A flap  14   a - 2  is provided to cover the transparent wall  14   a - 1  so that any identification held in the compartment  14   a  is kept private until the flap is lifted. The flap is optionally secured to the wall  14   a - 1  with a fastener such as Velcro or a snap or other fastening mechanism known to those skilled in the art. In the embodiment shown, the compartment  14   a  is accessible from a slit or opening  14   a - 3  in the top or side of the compartment, which allows the passenger to insert and remove the identification and also allows security personnel to remove the identification easily for closer inspection. The opening  14   a - 3  may be sealed shut with a Velcro system or with a zipper or snap system or any other suitable system. In one embodiment, the zipper or snap is made of a non-metallic material.  
         [0014]    Organizer  10  further includes a pocket or compartment  14   b  that is sized to hold an airline ticket or boarding pass, and accordingly, in one embodiment, has a length of about 23 mm and a width of about 84 mm. Compartment  14   b  is constructed to allow the ticket or boarding pass to be inserted in the compartment  14   b  from a top opening  14   b - 1 , so it does not fall out easily but also so it can be readily retrieved by the passenger or someone at a security check point or upon boarding of the plane. The compartment  14   b  is secured in a manner that prevents the ticket or boarding pass to fall out of the compartment. A securing mechanism such as Velcro, or a zipper is usable to secure the compartment  14   b . According to another embodiment, a further pocket or slot is provided into which a torn off boarding pass stub can be inserted.  
         [0015]    In another organizer embodiment, illustrated at  20  in FIG. 5, the organizer  20  includes a ticket/boarding pass compartment  22  and a picture identification compartment, such as a driver&#39;s license compartment  24 . The compartment  24  for picture identification is obscured by folding the compartment  24  onto the compartment  22 , as shown in FIG. 6. The compartment  24  is secured to the compartment  22  by a conventional mechanism such as Velcro and one or more snaps.  
         [0016]    In one embodiment, the organizer further includes a strap or string that enables a user the put the organizer with the strap or string around his or her neck.  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 7 is an exemplary embodiment of a method  700  for utilizing a holder for a ticket and identification information. In such an embodiment, the method includes distributing  710  to passengers at an airport a holder for ticket and identification information, wherein a necklace member is used by a passenger to carry the holder around their neck. Method  700  further includes a passenger carrying  720  the holder in the airport using the necklace around their neck and a passenger using  730  the holder to carry an airline ticket and identification while passing through security screening or while boarding an airplane. In one such embodiment of method  700 , distributing  710  includes giving the holder away as a promotion. Another such embodiment of method  700  includes distributing  710  includes selling the holder to passengers.  
         [0018]    Some further embodiments of method  700  include a passenger using the holder to provide airport personnel access to the passenger&#39;s ticket and identification. One such embodiment is configured to allow airport personnel to readily remove one or both of a passenger&#39;s ticket and identification for inspection.  
         [0019]    In another exemplary embodiment of method  700  using  730  the holder to carry an airline ticket and identification while passing through security screening includes configuring the holder to allow airport personnel to view a passenger ticket and/or a passenger identification while the ticket and identification are in the holder.  
         [0020]    Some embodiments of method  400  include constructing a holder for performing the method wherein the holder and necklace are constructed of substantially non-metallic materials so as to not trigger an alarm in an airport security screening system. In some such embodiments of method  700 , the holder is disposable after one or more uses.  
         [0021]    Another embodiment of method  700  includes distributing  710  a holder having information concerning airline security or airport security information embossed thereon. In some such embodiments, the information concerning airline security or airport security comprises rules or procedures.  
         [0022]    Yet another embodiment of method  700 , wherein distributing  710  a holder includes providing the passenger the holder and necklace separately with the necklace fastened to the holder after the passenger takes the holder. Other embodiments include the necklace already attached to the holder. Some such embodiments include distributing  710  a necklace with advertising information on the necklace. Some other embodiments include distributing the holder with airline information or advertising material on or in the holder. In some such embodiments, the airline information includes an airline logo or name.  
         [0023]    As shown in method  800  in FIG. 8, another embodiment includes manufacturing  810  a plurality of holders for an airline ticket and passenger identification, wherein the holders include information pertaining to an airline disposed thereon, and providing  820  the holders to the airline, wherein the holder is designed at least in part to be carried by an airline passenger using a necklace member.  
         [0024]    It is to be understood that the above description is intended to be illustrative, and not restrictive. Many other embodiments will be apparent to those of skill in the art upon reviewing the above description. The scope of embodiments of the invention should, therefore, be determined with reference to the appended claims, along with the full scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled.