Patent Publication Number: US-6655589-B1

Title: Identification investigating and ticket issuing system

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to identification investigative devices and more particularly pertains to a new identification investigating and ticket issuing system for investigating an identification of a person and for issuing tickets. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     The use of identification investigative devices is known in the prior art. More specifically, identification investigative devices heretofore devised and utilized are known to consist basically of familiar, expected and obvious structural configurations, notwithstanding the myriad of designs encompassed by the crowded prior art which have been developed for the fulfillment of countless objectives and requirements. 
     Known prior art includes U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,124,920; 4,998,753; 4,828,406; 5,396,233; 4,982,072; and Des. 399,198. 
     While these devices fulfill their respective, particular objectives and requirements, the aforementioned patents do not disclose a new identification investigating and ticket issuing system. The inventive device includes a housing that includes an interior. The housing also includes an elongated slot for selectively receiving the identification. The elongated slot extends from the second end of the housing toward the first end of the housing. The housing also includes an elongated aperture providing access into the interior of the housing. An input assembly may be mounted on the top wall of the housing for inputting data about a person. The input assembly includes a data reading means for reading the computer readable magnetic tape on the identification. A transceiver assembly is mounted in the interior of the housing for remotely communicating with a computer. A display is pivotally mounted on the housing for displaying data entered into the input assembly and a printer assembly is mounted in the interior of the housing for printing a ticket. 
     In these respects, the identification investigating and ticket issuing system according to the present invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art, and in so doing provides an apparatus primarily developed for the purpose of investigating an identification of a person and for issuing tickets. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of identification investigative devices now present in the prior art, the present invention provides a new identification investigating and ticket issuing system construction wherein the same can be utilized for investigating an identification of a person and for issuing tickets. 
     The general purpose of the present invention, which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide a new identification investigating and ticket issuing system apparatus and method which has many of the advantages of the identification investigative devices mentioned heretofore and many novel features that result in a new identification investigating and ticket issuing system which is not anticipated, rendered obvious, suggested, or even implied by any of the prior art identification investigative devices, either alone or in any combination thereof. 
     To attain this, the present invention generally comprises a housing that includes an interior. The housing also includes an elongated slot for selectively receiving the identification. The elongated slot extends from the second end of the housing toward the first end of the housing. The housing also includes an elongated aperture providing access into the interior of the housing. An input assembly may be mounted on the top wall of the housing for inputting data about a person. The input assembly includes a data reading means for reading the computer readable magnetic tape on the identification. A transceiver assembly is mounted in the interior of the housing for remotely communicating with a computer. A display is pivotally mounted on the housing for displaying data entered into the input assembly and a printer assembly is mounted in the interior of the housing for printing a ticket. 
     There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto. 
     In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. 
     As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention. 
     Further, the purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially the scientists, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of the application. The abstract is neither intended to define the invention of the application, which is measured by the claims, nor is it intended to be limiting as to the scope of the invention in any way. 
     It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new identification investigating and ticket issuing system apparatus and method which has many of the advantages of the identification investigative devices mentioned heretofore and many novel features that result in a new identification investigating and ticket issuing system which is not anticipated, rendered obvious, suggested, or even implied by any of the prior art identification investigative devices, either alone or in any combination thereof. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide a new identification investigating and ticket issuing system which may be easily and efficiently manufactured and marketed. 
     It is a further object of the present invention to provide a new identification investigating and ticket issuing system which is of a durable and reliable construction. 
     An even further object of the present invention is to provide a new identification investigating and ticket issuing system which is susceptible of a low cost of manufacture with regard to both materials and labor, and which accordingly is then susceptible of low prices of sale to the consuming public, thereby making such identification investigating and ticket issuing system economically available to the buying public. 
     Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new identification investigating and ticket issuing system which provides in the apparatuses and methods of the prior art some of the advantages thereof, while simultaneously overcoming some of the disadvantages normally associated therewith. 
     Still another object of the present invention is to provide a new identification investigating and ticket issuing system for investigating an identification of a person and for issuing tickets. 
     Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new identification investigating and ticket issuing system which includes a housing that includes an interior. The housing also includes an elongated slot for selectively receiving the identification. The elongated slot extends from the second end of the housing toward the first end of the housing. The housing also includes an elongated aperture providing access into the interior of the housing. An input assembly may be mounted on the top wall of the housing for inputting data about a person. The input assembly includes a data reading means for reading the computer readable magnetic tape on the identification. A transceiver assembly is mounted in the interior of the housing for remotely communicating with a computer. A display is pivotally mounted on the housing for displaying data entered into the input assembly and a printer assembly is mounted in the interior of the housing for printing a ticket. 
     Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new identification investigating and ticket issuing system that reduce the amount of time a user, such as a police office must stand in traffic writing down information about a stopped person. Reducing the amount of time a police officer must stand in traffic reduces the likelihood of the police officer being injured by being hit by a passing vehicle. 
     Even still another object of the present invention is to provide a new identification investigating and ticket issuing system that permits a police officer to maintain visual contact of a stopped person while investigating whether the person has any warrants or suspended license. The new system reduces the amount of time a police office must look down to write instead of looking at the person stopped. 
     These together with other objects of the invention, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be made to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there are illustrated preferred embodiments of the invention. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The invention will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein: 
     FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a new identification investigating and ticket issuing system according to the present invention. 
     FIG. 2 is a schematic, frontal view of the present invention. 
     FIG. 3 is a schematic rear view of the present invention. 
     FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of the present invention. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED&#39;EMBODIMENT 
     With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to FIGS. 1 through 4 thereof, a new identification investigating and ticket issuing system embodying the principles and concepts of the present invention and generally designated by the reference numeral  10  will be described. 
     As best illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 4, the identification investigating and ticket issuing system  10  generally comprises a housing  12  that includes a first end  13  and a second end  14  opposite the first end  13 . The housing  12  includes a top wall  15 , a bottom wall  16  and a pair of side walls  17  extending between the top  15  and bottom  16  walls of the housing  12  defining an interior  18  of the housing  12 . 
     The second end  14  of the housing  12  includes an elongated slot  19  for selectively receiving the identification of a person. The elongated slot  19  preferably extends from the second end  14  of the housing  12  toward the first end  13  of the housing  12 . The elongated slot  19  preferably extends through the top wall  15  of the housing  12  such that the identification is insertable in the top wall  15  of the housing  12  and pulled or swiped downwardly toward the second end  14  of the housing  12 . The housing  12  may include a longitudinal axis extending between the first  13  and second  14  ends of the housing  12 . 
     The second end  14  of the housing  13  also includes an elongated aperture  20  extending into the interior  18  of the housing  12 . The elongated aperture  20  may include a longitudinal axis orientated generally perpendicular to the elongated slot  19 . 
     The housing  12  may comprise a substantially rigid material such as, for example, a plastic or metal material. The housing  12  may also preferably water resistant permitting it to be used in adverse weather conditions. The housing  12  may measure approximately four inches in height, six inches in width and eleven inches in length. However, the housing may employ a variety of shapes and sizes. 
     An input assembly  22  is provided for inputting data about a person into the identification investigating and ticket issuing system  10 . The input assembly  22  is preferably mounted on the top wall  15  of the housing  12 . The input assembly  22  includes a data reading means  23  for reading the computer readable magnetic tape on the identification. The data reading means  23  is mounted in the interior  18  of the housing  12  and is preferably positioned generally adjacent to the elongated slot  19  such that when the identification is positioned in the elongated slot  19  the data reading means  23  reads the data contained on the magnetic tape. 
     The input assembly  22  may also include a plurality of buttons  24  for selectively receiving a finger of a user. Each of the buttons  24  may be depressibly mounted on the top wall  15  of the housing  12 . The plurality of buttons  24  may include a plurality of alphabetical buttons  25  for inserting letters and a plurality of numerical buttons  26  for inputting numbers. Other types of buttons may be employed for operating the identification investigating and ticket issuing system  10  such as, for example, a power button, an enter button, a clear button, a print button, or transmit button. 
     Control circuitry  28  may be provided for controlling the input and output of data. The control circuitry  28  is preferably mounted in the interior  18  of the housing  12 . The control circuitry  28  may be electrically connected to the data reading means  23 . 
     A main power supply  29  may be provided for selectively providing power to the control circuitry  28 . The main power supply  29  may be removably mounted in the interior  18  of the housing  12 . The main power supply  29  may comprise a rechargeable battery permitting extended usage of the identification investigating and. ticket issuing system  10 . 
     A backup power supply  51  may be mounted in said interior  18  of the housing  12  for supplying power to the control circuitry  28  if the main power supply  29  fails. The backup power supply  51  may comprise a lithium ion battery for extended life. The backup power supply  51  prevents the loss of data due to a loss of power from the main power supply  29 . 
     An electrical socket  30  may be provided for selectively receiving an electrical cord for recharging the main power supply  29 . The electrical socket  30  may be mounted on one of the side walls  17  of the housing  12  and may be electrically connected to the main power supply  29 . 
     A transceiver assembly  32  is provided for permitting the identification investigating and ticket issuing system  10  to remotely communicate with a computer such as a police computer containing a database of data pertaining to motorists. The transceiver assembly  32  is mounted in the interior  18  of the housing  12 . The transceiver assembly  32  may include a receiver means  33  for receiving data from the computer. The receiver means  33  may be electrically connected to the control circuitry  28 . 
     The transceiver assembly  32  may also include a transmitter means  34  for transmitting data received by the input assembly  22 . The transmission means  34  may be electrically connected to the control circuitry. 
     An antenna  35  may be provided for receiving and transmitting data from the receiver  33  and transmitter  34  means. The antenna  35  may be pivotally mounted on one of the side walls  17  of the housing  12 . The antenna  35  may be removably mounted on the side wall  17  of the housing  12  for transportation. 
     A storage means  37  may be provided for storing data entered in the input assembly  22 . The storage means  37  may be mounted in the interior  18  of the housing  12  and may be position generally adjacent to one of the side walls  17  of the housing  12 . The storage means  37  may comprise a disk-drive. The storage means  37  may also comprise a drive and a removable storage medium removably positionable in the drive such as, for example a floppy drive and floppy disks, a compact disk drive and compact disks, or high capacity storage drives and high capacity storage disks. 
     A data port  38  may be provided for selectively receiving a data cable of a computer. The data port  38  permits transferring of data between the storage means  37  and the computer. The data port  38  may be mounted on one of the side walls  17  of the housing  12 . 
     A display  39  is provided for displaying data entered into the input assembly  22 . The display  39  may be pivotally mounted on the housing  12  and may be positioned generally adjacent to the first end  13  of the housing  12 . The display  39  is preferably electrically connected to the control circuitry  28 . The display  39  may comprise a liquid crystal display or an active matrix display. Other types of conventional displays may be employed. 
     A printer assembly  40  is mounted in the interior  18  of the housing  12  for printing tickets. The printer assembly  40  may be positioned generally adjacent to the second end  14  of the housing  12 . The printer assembly  40  may include a substrate  41  for receiving indicia. The substrate  41  may be positioned generally adjacent to the second end  14  of the housing  12 . The substrate  41  preferably includes an end  42  that is extendable through the elongated aperture  20  in the second end  14  of the housing  12 . The substrate  41  may comprise a paper material. 
     The printer assembly  40  may also include a printer means  44  for printing indicia on the substrate  41 . The printer means  44  may be positioned generally adjacent to the second end  14  of the housing  12 . The substrate  41  may be coupled to the printer means  44  such that when the printer means  44  prints indicia on the substrate  41  the substrate  41  is advanced through the elongated aperture  20  in the second end  14  of the housing  12 . 
     A global positioning means  50  may be removably mounted on the housing  12  for receiving a signal from a global positioning satellite. The global positioning means  50  permits a user, such as a police officer to determine their location. Many police vehicles have global positioning systems, however, the technology is of no use to a police officers on foot. The global positioning means  50  mounted on the housing  12  permits a police officer to determine his location when traveling on foot away from his vehicle. The global positioning means  50  may be positioned generally adjacent to one of the side walls  17  of the housing  12 . 
     The global positioning means  50  may be electrically connected to the control circuitry  28  and may receive a signal from a global positioning satellite through the antenna  35 . 
     In use, a user such as, for example, a police officer obtains identification from a person. The police officer then inserts the identification into the elongated slot  19  in the housing  12 . The data reading means  23  of the input assembly  22  reads the data contained in the magnetic tape mounted on the identification. The data on the magnetic tape of the identification is stored in the storage means  37 . 
     The transmitter means  34  of the transceiver assembly  32  transmits the data to a computer containing a database of information on the person stopped by the police officer. The information in the database of the computer is transmitted and received by the receiver means  33  of the transceiver assembly  32 . The data received by the receiver means  33  is then displayed on the display  33  where it may be read by the police officer. 
     The police officer may, if issuing a ticket, depress the plurality of buttons  24  of the input assembly  22  to input the type and amount of the ticket. The printer means  44  of the printer assembly  40  prints indicia on the substrate  41  of the printer assembly  40  which is advanced through the second end  14  of the housing  12 . The police officer may then tear the substrate  41  and present it to the person stopped by the police officer. 
     As to a further discussion of the manner of usage and operation of the present invention, the same should be apparent from the above description. Accordingly, no further discussion relating to the manner of usage and operation will be provided. 
     With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention. 
     Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.