Abstract:
An identification device for identifying a container via wireless communication device. The wireless communication device is attached to an elongated, resilient member having a default shape. The member is resiliently deformable from the default shape to conform to at least a portion of the container and is attached by the resiliency of the member. The containers may move through at least one interrogation point containing an interrogation reader that establishes communication between the identification device and an interrogation reader for monitoring the container.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to a device for monitoring the location of a container and, more particularly, to an identification device mounted to a resilient member for attachment to a container. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     It is often necessary to monitor the location and movement of materials within a distribution center or manufacturing facility. One method of tracking the materials is to attach a wireless communication device such as a radio frequency identification (RFID) transponder or other identification device to containers that are housing the materials. By way of example, a liquid container such as a barrel or keg may include an identification device indicative of the liquid contained inside. A interrogation reader, or series of receivers having an antenna device and able to send information remotely through electronic signals, is placed throughout the distribution or manufacturing facility to receive signals transmitted from the identification devices. The signals are then passed to a central control system that monitors and records the applicable information. The central control system may also send information to its interrogation readers to send to the transponders for response and/or to be stored in the transponder&#39;s memory. 
     The identification system also allows for statistical analysis of the materials to maintain an accurate inventory, production flow rates, and other production standards. Additionally, the identification devices may include specific information about the materials housed within the containers including date of manufacture, place of manufacture, type of product within the container, temperature of the container and ambient air, the temperature of the contents of the container, the pressure of the container, etc. 
     A problem occurs when the containers are not conducive for mounting an identification device or transponder. One example is a beer keg that has a substantially cylindrical shape with smooth, uniform outer walls. There are no extensions or areas for effectively attaching the identification device. Additionally, these containers may be heavy and cumbersome to handle. During the filling process and distribution, the containers may bang against other containers, storage racks, conveyor equipment, etc. An identification device attached to the container may easily be damaged or destroyed during this process. 
     Another concern is that the identification devices should be able to be quickly mounted to the containers. Each container should be identified with a separate identification device. The labor cost would be excessive and outweigh the benefits of the identification system if each device was timely to mount to the containers. Therefore, it is important that the identification devices can be quickly attached to each of the individual devices. Inherent with the quick attachment, the devices should be mounted in a straight-forward manner that is not over difficult that require trained personnel or complicated machinery. 
     In addition to be quickly attached, the identification tags should also securely attach to the containers. Secure attachment should prevent the tags from inadvertently falling off the containers even during handling of the containers during which they may be dropped, bounced around, and otherwise roughly handled. 
     It is also important that the identification tags be attached in an inconspicuous manner. For reusable containers that are sent to the consumers and then returned to be refilled and redistributed, an inconspicuous placement will help to ensure that the consumers do not tamper with or otherwise destroy the identification tag. An inconspicuous placement, such as within the enclosed rim of a keg, may also help to shield the identification tag from damage while being handled. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is directed to an identification device for attachment to a container to identify the container and/or materials there within. The device may be deformed for attachment to a variety of container shapes and sizes, and provides for secure and straight-forward attachment means. In one embodiment, the identification device includes a wireless communication device having identifying indicia for identifying the container. The indicia may identify a variety of values including container contents, temperature, date of manufacturing, etc. 
     An elongated, resilient member is connected to the wireless communication device for mounting the device to the container. The member has a default shape, and may be deformed from the shape. The resiliency of the member will cause it to return towards the default shape and may conform to at least a portion of the container wherein attachment is caused by the resiliency. Within this embodiment, the member may have a variety of default shapes depending upon the specific application. 
     The present invention further includes a method of identifying the container by attaching the identification device. The member is deformed from its default shape and positioned against at least a portion of the container. The positioning may include within a rim of the container, around the outer edge of the container, or various other positions. Once in position, the member is released resulting in the member returning towards the default shape. Because it is placed against the container, it cannot fully return to the shape, and the force applied is ample to hold the member and wireless communication device to the container. 
     The invention further includes monitoring the container through at least one interrogation point containing an interrogation reader. When the container is within range of the interrogation reader, communication is established between the identification device and the interrogation reader. The interrogation reader may receive data from the identification device, or may communicate information that is to be stored in a memory within the device. Additionally, a central control system may be in communication with the interrogation reader to oversee and control container movement throughout a facility. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1A is a perspective view of the identification device having a resilient member and wireless communication device constructed according to the present invention; 
     FIG. 1B is a perspective view of the identification device of FIG. 1A mounted within a container; 
     FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating the communication between the wireless communication device and an interrogation reader; 
     FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating the tracking and information system for the wireless communication device; 
     FIG. 4A is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the resilient member having an attached wireless communication device; 
     FIG. 4B is a partial perspective view of the device of FIG. 4A mounted within a container; 
     FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an another alternative embodiment having the member with wireless communication device mounted to an outer edge of the container; and 
     FIG. 6 is a side cross-sectional view of the member and wireless communication device mounted within a rim extending from an end of the container. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring now to the drawings in general in FIG. 1A in particular, it will be understood that the illustrations are for purpose of describing a preferred embodiment of the invention and are not intended to limit the invention thereto. As seen in FIG. 1A, an identification tag, generally designated  10 , is shown constructed according to the present invention. The identification tag  10  includes a resilient member  12  with an attached wireless communication device  20 . 
     The resilient member  12  functions to maintain the wireless communication device  20  attached to the container  30 . The resilient member  12  may include a variety of shapes and sizes depending upon the dimensions of the container. FIGS. 1A and 1B illustrate the resilient member  12  forming a ring extending a complete 360 degrees. Alternatively, the resilient member  12  may extend a distance less than the entire 360 degrees as illustrated in FIGS. 4A and 4B. In either embodiment, the resilient member  12  may be constructed of an elastic material allowing for the resilient member to stretch around the container and constrict to attach to the container. The resilient member  12  may also be constructed of a more rigid, bendable material that may be compressed to fit inside a rim of the container. 
     The member  12  is attached to the container by its resiliency. In one embodiment, the member  12  has a default shape that it returns to when no external forces are applied. By way of example, FIG. 1A illustrates a member  12  having a substantially circular default shape having a diameter d. Likewise, FIG. 4A illustrates member  12  having a substantially “U-shaped” member. One skilled in the art will understand that numerous other shapes are available, and are included within the present invention. When the member  12  is deformed from the default shape, the resiliency causes it to return. The force applied by the resiliency of the member  12  returning from a deformed orientation results in attachment to the container  30 . 
     FIG. 2 illustrates one particular type of wireless communication device  20  called a radio frequency transponder. One of ordinary skill in the art will understand that there are many other different types of wireless identification devices  20  that allow electronic communication and the present invention is not limited to any one particular type. The transponder  20  is usually made out of some type of plastic or other material having within it control system  102 , wireless communication electronics  104 , antenna  106 , and memory  108 . The antenna  106  may be either external or incorporated internally to the transponder  20 . 
     The control system  102  is an integrated circuit or other type of microprocessor or micro-controller electronics that controls the substantive operations of the transponder  20 . The control system  102  is connected to the wireless communication electronics  104  to communicate and receive transmissions. The control system  102  is also connected to memory  108  for storing information and retrieving information. 
     FIG. 2 also depicts how communication is achieved with the transponder  20 . An interrogation reader  120  contains interrogation communication electronics  122  and an interrogation antenna  124 . The interrogation reader  120  communicates to the transponder  20  by emitting an electronic signal or command modulated in a frequency  126  through the interrogation antenna  124 . The interrogation antenna  124  may be any type of antenna that can radiate the modulated signal  126  through a field  128  so that a compatible device such as a transponder  20  can receive such signal  126  through its own antenna  106 . The field  128  could be any of a variety of different types used in electronic communications including electro-magnetic, magnetic, or electric. The signal  126  is a message containing information and/or specific instructions for the transponder  20 . When the transponder antenna  106  is in the presence of the field  128  emitted by the interrogation reader antenna  124 , the wireless communication electronics  104  are energized thereby energizing the transponder  20 . The transponder  20  remains energized so long as its antenna  106  is in the field  128  of the interrogation reader  120 . The wireless communication electronics  104  demodulate the signal  126  and send the message containing information and/or specific instructions to the control system  102  for appropriate actions. For example, the request in the message may be for the transponder  20  to send back information about the materials housed within the container  30  including date of manufacture, place of manufacture, and type of product within the container. The message may also be instructions to send back information regarding the temperature of the container, its ambient air, the temperature of the contents of the container, the pressure of the container, etc. The transponder  20  sends back information to the interrogation reader  120  by altering the contents of the signal  126 . 
     Alternative forms exist for communicating with a wireless electronic device such as a transponder  20 . For instance, the transponder  20  may have a transmitter so that it can send information to the interrogation reader without having to use the signal  126  as the means for communication. The transponder  20  may contain a battery to power the transmitter, or an energy storage unit that is charged by the energy when the transponder is in the field  128  of the signal  126 . It is understood to one of ordinary skill in the art there are many other manners in which to communicate with a wireless identification device such as a transponder  20 , and that the present invention is not limited to the particular manner described above. 
     FIG. 3 illustrates a tracking system in which containers  30  containing transponders  20  can be tracked through an environment such as factory or distribution facility. For example, the transponder  20  connected to container  30  could pass a first interrogation point  150  that includes an interrogation reader  120 . When the container  30  and its transponder  20  is in the presence of the interrogation reader  120  as described previously, a message containing information and/or a specific request for information may be transmitted by the interrogation reader  120  and received by the transponder  20 . This process continues as the container  30  moves to a second interrogation point  152 , a third interrogation point  154 , a fourth interrogation point  156 , and on to a last interrogation point  158 . 
     A central control system  130  maintains the information from the interrogation readers  120  and monitors the movement of the containers  30  through the facility. The information received by each of the interrogation readers  120  may be forwarded to the central control system  130  either through direct wire or LAN connection. The central control system  130  could also send information to the interrogation reader  120  to be transmitted to the transponder  20  for identification purposes. The central control system  130  tracks the expected location of the containers  30  and may be alerted if it expects to receive information about a particular container and does not. 
     During commissioning of each container  30 , it may be necessary to place the container  30  containing the transponder  20  in range of an interrogation reader  120  in order to erase previously stored information in memory  108  or to store particular data or configuration information about the container  30  in memory  108  for later use. Preferably, a separate wireless communication device  20  is preferably mounted on each container  30 . 
     The container may have a variety of shapes and sizes. FIG. 5 illustrates one embodiment of a container  30  having a main body  32  for holding materials. A rim  38  extends outwardly from the top surface  36  and includes handles  34  for grasping and carrying the container. As illustrated in FIG. 6, the rim  38  may further include a lip  39  extending around the upper edge having an opening  40  formed between the lip  39  and rim  38 . FIG. 5 illustrates another embodiment of a container  30  in which the top surface  36  is flush with the edges of the main body  32  but does not include a rim. Numerous other container shapes are also applicable and contemplated by the present invention. 
     FIG. 1B illustrates one manner of attaching the identification device  10  to the container  30 . Within this embodiment, the resilient member  12  has a ring shape as illustrated in FIG. 1A, with a substantially circular default shape and diameter d. The resilient member  12  is forced or otherwise constricted to fit within the rim  38  of container  30 . The rim  38  has a diameter smaller than the diameter d of the resilient member such that once the resilient member is placed within the rim and released, the resilient member  12  will expand to press against the inner edge of the rim. The resilient member  12  illustrated in FIG. 4B is mounted in a similar fashion in which the ends  13  are pressed together to fit the resilient member  12  within the container lip  38  and released thereby expanding outward against the inner edge of the rim  38 . 
     The identification device  10  may also be placed in alternate positions on the container  30 . FIG. 5 illustrates the resilient member  12  with wireless communication device  20  positioned on the outer edge of the main container body  32 . Within this embodiment, the resilient member  12  preferably includes flexible, elastic material for stretching about the main container body  32  and being released to constrict and hold in position. Preferably, the wireless communication device  20  is mounted on an outer edge of the container  30  in an area that will be protected. By way of example, FIG. 5 illustrates a container  30  having a barrel shape in which the ends have a smaller diameter than a mid-section  31 . When the container  30  is moved throughout a facility, the majority of the contact with other containers and machinery will occur at the mid-section  31  and the wireless communication device  20  mounted away from the mid-section will be protected. 
     FIG. 6 illustrates another manner of attaching the wireless communication device to the container  30 . The resilient member  12  is deformed and slid into the openings  40  formed between the rim  38  and lip  39 . When released, the resilient member  12  will return towards the default position and hold against the outer edge of the rim  38 . This positioning protects the wireless communication device  20  by placing it within the enclosed area and maintains it out of sight of any users. Alternatively, the resilient member  12  may be elastic and expanded to fit inside the rim  38 , and when released, contract to be positioned within the edge of the curled lip opposite the rim  38 . 
     In the foregoing description, like-reference characters designate like or corresponding parts throughout the several views. Also, it is to be understood that such terms as “forward”, “rearward”, “left”, “right”, “upwardly”, “downwardly”, and the like are words of convenience that are not to be construed as limiting terms. Certain modifications and improvements will occur to those skilled in the art upon a reading of the foregoing description. The resilient member and/or wireless communication device may be colored to match the container to further aid in hiding these components and prevent tampering by consumers. It should be understood that all such modifications and improvements have been deleted herein for the sake of conciseness and readability but are properly within the scope of the following claims.