Communications: electrical – Condition responsive indicating system – Specific condition
Reexamination Certificate
2000-07-26
2001-08-14
Hofsass, Jeffrey (Department: 2632)
Communications: electrical
Condition responsive indicating system
Specific condition
C340S572600, C342S051000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06275153
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to an anti-theft system and more particularly to a system for identifying and tracking skis and snowboards.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Depending on their quality, skis (“skis” refers to both skis and ski boards) and snowboards can be fairly expensive. Despite this, skis and snowboards are frequently left unattended by their owners. Specifically, ski/snowboard resorts typically have buildings at spaced locations on a hill at which skiers may stop to rest and take refreshment. Skiers and snowboarders remove their skis and snowboards before entering these buildings, and leave their skis and snowboards outside. As a result of skis and snowboards being left unattended, there is an increased possibility of theft.
Prior art devices have been devised to address this problem. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,001,461 (Vroom et al) discloses a battery operated motion sensor that is attached to a ski and transmits a radio signal if the ski is moved. A receiver, which can be worn around the neck of the owner of the ski, receives the alarm signal and indicates an alarm condition using, for example, an audible beep. Similarly, U.S. Pat. No. 4,535,322 (Yeski) discloses a battery operated audible signaling device which is activated if a clip is detached. U.S. Pat. No. 6,020,818 (Chittenden) and U.S. Pat. No. 5,260,689 (Merers et al) disclose battery powered devices mounted on skis that emit alarms in appropriate circumstances.
All of these battery powered devices may suffer from disadvantages associated with the use of a battery. Specifically, batteries are both expensive and require recharging periodically. This can be inconvenient for the owner, and it is not unlikely that owners will deliberately forego the additional expense and inconvenience associated with having batteries mounted on their skis or snowboards, despite the anti-theft advantages battery-powered devices provide. Further, if the skis or snowboards are ever stolen, the battery operated signaling device does not provide a means of tracking the skis or snowboards, and, accordingly, does not allow for eventual recovery of the skis or snowboards.
Thus, an anti-theft system for skis that does not rely on batteries and permits the skis to be identified and tracked even after they have stolen, is desirable.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of one aspect of the present invention is to provide an improved recreational item.
In accordance with an aspect of the present invention there is provided a recreational item for sliding on inclined snow-covered surfaces. The recreational item comprises an integral ID storing means for storing an item ID. The item ID is electronically readable from the integral ID storing means.
Preferably the integral ID storing means is a transmitter. In the preferred embodiment, the transmitter is a transponder and the item ID stored thereon is unchangeable.
In accordance with a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a system for tracking a plurality of recreational items for sliding on snow-covered surfaces of a hill. The system comprises, for each item in the plurality of recreational items, an associated integral ID storing means for storing an associated item ID, the associated item ID being electronically readable from the associated integral ID storing means. The system also comprises an interrogator means for reading the associated item ID stored on the associated integral ID storing means for each item in the plurality of recreational items.
Preferably, the associated integral ID storing means for each item in the plurality of recreational items is a transmitter. In the preferred embodiment, this transmitter is a transponder.
According to a further preferred aspect of the present invention, there is provided a system for tracking a plurality of recreational items for sliding on snow-covered surfaces at a plurality of locations. Each location in the plurality of locations has an associated user transport means for transporting an associated set of users of an associated set of recreational items in the plurality of recreational items. The system includes, for each item in the plurality of recreational items, an associated transponder for unchangeably storing an associated item ID, the associated item ID being electronically readable from the associated read only transponder. This system also includes, for each item in the plurality of recreational items, an associated card having a magnetic strip for electronically storing the associated item ID for the item. This system includes, for each location in the plurality of locations, (a) an associated interrogator means for reading the associated item ID stored on the associated transponder for each item in the associated set of recreational items, the associated interrogator means being located within a reading range of the user transport means, and, (b) a card-reading means for reading the associated item ID from the magnetic strip of the card for a recreational item in the plurality of recreational items. Further, the system includes a server for storing a list of item IDs, the server being linked to the associated interrogator means for each location in the plurality of locations and to the associated card reading means for each location in the plurality of locations. The system further includes an ID verification means for checking each associated item ID read by the associated interrogator means for each location in the plurality of locations against the list of item IDs stored on the server, and, alarm means for indicating when the associated item ID read by the associated interrogator means for each location in the plurality of locations corresponds to an item ID stored in the list of item lDs.
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Hofsass Jeffrey
Previl Daniel
Ridout & Maybee LLP
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