BACKGROUND

The present invention relates generally to travel related accessories, and more particularly to a method, apparatus and kit for providing a more reliable means of locating luggage easily while traveling and more particularly to reducing the risk of loss of luggage by pairing luggage and a traveler by an easy to identify indicia and identity information.

It is estimated that lost luggage in the travel industry is about 20 million pieces per year. Recently the U.S. Department of transportation reported that the problem of lost luggage was growing. Figures for February 2007 have reached a staggering 366,000 pieces of lost luggage. These losses have increased in spite of technological advance in the travel industry. These technological advances, such as bar coding, provide for more reliable baggage handling, however they remove a more practical human interaction with regards to locating luggage and ensuring that all the luggage for a single passenger remains together.

In one approach to securing a person's belongings, Casper disclosed an under cover security wallet. This three portion portfolio system allows the traveler to organize and hold travel documents and keep them close to his person. The fist portion is connected as a flap member to the second portion, with pockets on both the inside and outside of each portion. The third hinge portion consists of several pockets, included a transparent exterior pocket. There are individual pockets sized for receiving information cards, currency, business cards, credit cards, a calculator and airline tickets.

Another approach according to Grimsley is a travel kit with a foldable multi-panel base allowing for a multi-page insert to be secured to one of two fold lines. The insert contains overlapping panels with pockets that are capable of holding items such as documents, passports, paper and coin currency, maps and credit cards. The travel kit is designed to be carried on the traveler's person.

Yet another approach according to Carp is a combination carrying case and article organizer. The article organizer consists of several sides that contain pockets for storing a multitude of personal documents and items. The sides are attached to a central upright side. The organizer can be folded in on itself and fastened closed with the fasteners on the side flaps. The organizer then fits inside the outer, larger carrying case, such as a wallet would fit into a handbag.

In another approach according to Carp, a combination carry-on luggage bag with tote bag and clutch bag is described. This combination includes four pieces. First, there is a small cocoon purse which fits inside a larger clutch bag. The clutch and cocoon bags may then be placed inside of the larger tote bag which all fits inside of the larger outer carry-on bag.

The travel products described above all offer ways in which to secure a person's documents by providing a wallet-type document holder and outer travel bags that can be carried on the traveler's person. However, these prior inventions fail to address the issue of securing travelers' possessions once they have been checked into the compartment of a plane or train or other separate area that is not within the traveler's immediate control.

As such, what is needed is a more convenient means for locating paired luggage and for rapidly identifying luggage associated with a passenger.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Disclosed herein is a kit for travelers comprising at least one document holder having at least one pocket for storage of travel related documents; said document holder having a luggage identifier code dispose thereon and readily visible; at least one tamper proof mechanism for securing luggage access to avoid tampering; and one or more luggage tags, wherein the luggage tags, the document holder, the tamper proof mechanism each have a substantially similar indicia disposed thereupon providing a visual means for associating the items together.

In one embodiment, a baggage identification locator apparatus for travelers comprises at least one document holder having at least one pocket for storage of travel related documents; said document holder having a luggage identifier code disposed thereon and readily visible; at least one tamper proof fastener for securing luggage access to avoid tampering; and one or more luggage tags, wherein the luggage tags, the document holder, the tamper proof fastener each have a substantially similar indicia disposed thereupon providing a visual means for associating the items together.

In certain aspects, the apparatus further comprises substantially similar indicia imprinted onto the document holder.

In another embodiment, the apparatus further comprises indicia utilizing easily recognizable characters associated with one or more travel profiles.

In another embodiment, the apparatus further comprises indicia utilizing easily recognizable characters associated with one or more travel profiles wherein the travel profile includes at least one luggage identifier code, at least one associated traveler indicia, and one or more sets of personalized attributes.

A method for identifying luggage comprises the following steps in any order: attaching one or more luggage tags with a predetermined unique indicia to each item of luggage; associating said luggage tags physically to each item of luggage by having a similar image or complementary shape such that a person can easily recognize the associated luggage; associating one or more traveler indicia with one or more sets of personalized attributes; associating said one or more travel attributes personalized with a travel profile; and associating said luggage tags with a travel profile.

In another embodiment, the method further comprises providing one or more tamper proof fasteners to the one or more luggage tags; associating said one or more tamper proof fasteners to one or more closed compartments of said items of luggage; providing one or more wire tie support loops for indication that said items of luggage have been opened; and severing said wire tie loop to indicate that the luggage has been opened.

In another embodiment, the method further comprises providing one or more tamper proof fasteners to the one or more luggage tags; associating said one or more tamper proof fasteners to one or more closed compartments of said items of luggage; providing one or more wire tie support loops for indication that said items of luggage have been opened; and severing said wire tie loop to indicate that the luggage has been opened wherein said luggage tags comprise one or more component pieces that fit together into a single, one piece tag.

In certain aspects, the method further comprises associating said one or more component pieces to said one or more items of luggage to form a common set of traveler indicia; and associating said common set of traveler indicia to one or more traveler profiles.

In another embodiment, the method further comprises providing one or more tamper proof fasteners to the one or more luggage tags; associating said one or more tamper proof fasteners to one or more closed compartments of said items of luggage; providing one or more wire tie support loops for indication that said items of luggage have been opened; and severing said wire tie loop to indicate that the luggage has been opened wherein said one or more component pieces fit together via a snapping mechanical interference fit locking process.

In certain aspects, the common set of traveler indicia may be matching colors. In other aspects, the common set of traveler indicia may be matching images. In certain aspects, the luggage tags may be selected from a group consisting of plastic, acrylic, vinyl, and composite resin material.

In another embodiment, one or more component pieces fit together via a hook and loop construction.

In another embodiment, the method further comprises providing a locator code associating with one or more common set of traveler indicia; providing a matching identification security checkpoint authorization means for a traveler; and matching said authorization means with a traveler profile and a common set traveler indicia.

The construction and method of operation of the invention, however, together with additional objectives and advantages thereof will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings.

