Patents Assigned to Vanguard Identification Systems, Inc.
  • Patent number: 10121101
    Abstract: A programmable luggage tag comprising a programmable electronic visual display assembly including a display screen, a radio receiver, a processor operably connecting the display assembly with the radio receiver, the processor configured to permit programming of an image shown on the display screen in response to image commands received through the radio receiver, a unitary housing having first and second opposing major outer sides and first and second opposing minor outer sides arranged substantially perpendicularly to the first and second opposing major outer sides, the housing containing the display assembly, the radio receiver, and the processor, the first major outer side of the housing being substantially transparent, revealing the display screen, the housing configured to receive a cord through a first chamber integrally formed within the housing, and a planar flap fixedly connected with the second major outer side of the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: Vanguard Identification Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Richard O. Warther
  • Publication number: 20160183653
    Abstract: Luggage tag has a body with one bistable electronic visual display assembly and one screen, a radio receiver and a processor configured to convert short range command signals detected by the receiver into signals suitable to modify the image on the display screen. A manually operated switch activates the receiver and processor with a battery for a short time period sufficient to receive the command signals and modify the display. The electric components are encapsulated with an RFID transponder assembly in one resiliently flexible, plastic laminate body or the transponder assembly is encapsulated in a planar, plastic laminate flap permanently attached to a separate rigid protective case housing the remaining electric components. The tag is secured to a bag with a flexible connector, under tension, to retain the tag in a fixed position always exposing the sole display screen.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 2, 2015
    Publication date: June 30, 2016
    Applicant: Vanguard Identification Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Richard O. WARTHER
  • Patent number: 9224084
    Abstract: A programmable luggage tag has a rigid, flat case containing a bistable visual display assembly, a BLE, NFC or other comparable short range, radio receiver and a processor configured to convert short range radio image control signals detected by the receiver into commands to modify the image on the display. A manual input switch on the case activates circuitry with a battery in the case for a time sufficient to receive the control signals and modify the image. A multilayer plastic, resiliently flexible thin flap is fixed with the case extending away from the case generally in a common plane with the case. The flap includes an encapsulated passive RFID transponder and mounting holes distal to the housing permitting the tag to be resiliently secured to the handle of a piece of luggage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2015
    Assignee: Vanguard Identification Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Richard O. Warther
  • Patent number: 8973831
    Abstract: A standoff RFID element includes a generally planar, hollow, standoff member with a pair of major outer walls connected by a plurality of structural components like ribs and at least a first piece of flexible, planar, non-conductive polymer substrate having one major side bonded with a major side of the standoff member. An RFID inlay is encapsulated between the hollow member and the piece of polymer substrate. The hollow member is formed from a non-conductive, non-porous, polymer material. The flexible substrate is non-conductive and substantially porous.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: Vanguard Identification Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Richard O. Warther
  • Patent number: 8636220
    Abstract: Each personal identification device includes a planar identification element with at least a core of flexible, porous and preferably microvoided polymer sheet material and a planar RFID assembly encoded with a unique electro/magnetic code permanently and integrally joined together with the core. The sheet material is sufficiently porous to collapse around the core so the sheet product remains planar yet flexible. A separate carrier can be provided or devices can be made in batches with scoring define one or more individual RFID devices removable from a remainder of a sheet product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2014
    Assignee: Vanguard Identification Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Richard O. Warther
  • Patent number: 8622434
    Abstract: A printed sheet product comprises a thin core having a pair of opposing major planar sides. A plurality of sets of variable data fields are printed on at least a first side of the core. One or more of the variable data fields of each set may be printed on the opposing second side of the core. Each set of printed variable data fields includes at least a first data field printed with a numeric code, the numeric code of each variable data field set being different from that of each other set printed on the first side of the core. Each set of variable data fields further includes a second data field printed with either a name and mailing address uniquely associated with a numeric code or with another representation of the numeric code. Where printed, the name and address of each variable data set differs from that of each other variable data set printed on the first side of the core.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: Vanguard Identification Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Richard O. Warther
  • Patent number: 8585852
    Abstract: A method includes steps of: encapsulating at least a first passive radio frequency identification transponder assembly between two plies of flexible porous planar polymer material intimately bonded together around the assembly, each ply being microvoided substantially uniformly throughout, to form a multilayer planar core; and scoring the multilayer core to define at least a first multilayer, integral, individual planar radio frequency identification element including the first passive radio frequency identification transponder assembly separable from a remainder of the core. The encapsulating step may further include encapsulating a second passive radio frequency identification transponder assembly with the first between the plies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignee: Vanguard Identification Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Richard O. Warther
  • Patent number: 8052061
    Abstract: An integral, one-piece, resiliently flexible, planar, reusable, programmable radio frequency identification (RFID) luggage tag has a planar flexible sheet core of at least first and second microporous polymer material strips fixedly and permanently joined together completely surrounding first and second RFID transponder assemblies operating at different frequencies. The tag further includes a programmable electronic flexible sheet display in a visibly accessible position on the tag. The tag is further includes a cell phone number and/or email address of an ultimate designated recipient/user of the tag and instructions to contact the recipient via the number or address. The number and/or address are printed on the tag in a 2D bar code format and/or encoded into a programmable memory portion of at least one of the RFID assemblies to be outputted when polled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2011
    Assignee: Vanguard Identification Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Richard O. Warther
  • Patent number: 7845569
    Abstract: An integral, one-piece, resiliently flexible, planar, reusable, programmable radio frequency identification (RFID) luggage tag blank has a planar flexible sheet core of at least first and second microporous polymer material strips fixedly and permanently joined together completely surrounding an RFID transponder assembly, the transponder assembly collapsing the microporosity of the core strip material enough to maintain an essentially uniform core, the transponder assembly including non-volatile memory containing a non-alterable permanent unique code assigned to the transponder assembly and space to receive externally programmable information; and a first cover strip selected to receive a dye diffusion thermal transfer image and secured to the first major outer side of the core.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2010
    Assignee: Vanguard Identification Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard O. Warther, John Thorn, III
  • Patent number: 7584896
    Abstract: Each printed sheet product includes a core of flexible, microvoided polymer sheet material and a planar RFID assembly encoded with a unique electro/magnetic code permanently and integrally joined together with the core. The microvoided sheet material collapses around the core so the sheet product remains planar. Scoring defines one or more individual identification elements removable from a remainder of the sheet product that include at least a first element with RFID assembly but only part of the core. A separate magnetic strip storing its own unique data magnetically can be provided on the first removable element even at least partially overlying the RFID assembly for independent identification operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2009
    Assignee: Vanguard Identification Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Richard O. Warther
  • Patent number: 7225993
    Abstract: Each printed sheet product includes a core of flexible, microvoided polymer sheet material and a planar RFID assembly encoded with a unique electro/magnetic code permanently and integrally joined together with the core. The microvoided sheet material collapses around the core so the sheet product remains planar. Scoring defines one or more individual identification elements removable from a remainder of the sheet product that include at least a first element with RFID assembly but only part of the core. A separate magnetic strip storing its own unique data magnetically can be provided on the first removable element even at least partially overlying the RFID assembly for independent identification operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2007
    Assignee: Vanguard Identification Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Richard O. Warther
  • Patent number: 7204652
    Abstract: Each printed sheet product includes a core of flexible, microvoided polymer sheet material and a planar RFID assembly encoded with a unique electro/magnetic code permanently and integrally joined together with the core. The microvoided sheet material collapses around the core so the sheet product remains planar. Scoring defines one or more individual identification elements removable from a remainder of the sheet product that include at least a first element with RFID assembly but only part of the core. A separate magnetic strip storing its own unique data magnetically can be provided on the first removable element even at least partially overlying the RFID assembly for independent identification operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2007
    Assignee: Vanguard Identification Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Richard O. Warther
  • Patent number: 6994262
    Abstract: Each printed sheet product includes a core of flexible, microvoided polymer sheet material and a planar RFID assembly encoded with a unique electro/magnetic code permanently and integrally joined together with the core. The microvoided sheet material collapses around the core so the sheet product remains planar. Scoring defines one or more individual identification elements removable from a remainder of the sheet product that include at least a first element with RFID assembly but only part of the core. A separate magnetic strip storing its own unique data magnetically can be provided on the first removable element even at least partially overlying the RFID assembly for independent identification operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2006
    Assignee: Vanguard Identification Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Richard O. Warther
  • Patent number: 6779727
    Abstract: A system includes a plurality of political election ballots, each with a unique, machine readable, serial voter verification number. A receipt is associated with each ballot with the same individual serial number to be given to a voter using the ballot. A computer database contains the serial numbers of all ballots of the plurality used for voting and, with each serial number, a set of specific candidates selected by the voter on that ballot. An internet server provides computer access to the database by voters to verify each candidate recorded as selected by the voter in the election using the unique serial number of the ballot as a key. Each ballot contains bar codes identifying each different candidate for a different political office. At least portions of all of the printed candidate bar codes are not visible to the human eye but are made visible by the voter to identify each candidates selected by the voter on the ballot to register candidate selection by the voter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2004
    Assignee: Vanguard Identification Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Richard O. Warther
  • Patent number: 6769718
    Abstract: A printed sheet product comprises a thin core having a pair of opposing major planar sides. A plurality of sets of variable data fields are printed on at least a first side of the core. One or more of the variable data fields of each set may be printed on the opposing second side of the core. Each set of printed variable data fields includes at least a first data field printed with a numeric code, the numeric code of each variable data field set being different from that of each other set printed on the first side of the core. Each set of variable data fields further includes a second data field printed with either a name and mailing address uniquely associated with a numeric code or with another representation of the numeric code. Where printed, the name and address of each variable data set differs from that of each other variable data set printed on the first side of the core.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2004
    Assignee: Vanguard Identification Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard O. Warther, C. Raymond Steen, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6305716
    Abstract: Printed sheet products comprise a thin, flexible core having a pair of printable, opposing major planar sides. A set of variable data fields are printed on at least a first side of the core of each individual sheet product in bar format, character format, or both. At least two or more of the variable data fields of each set are printed with a numeric code unique to the set and individual sheet product. Each set of variable data fields may include another data field printed with either a name and mailing address or other, information uniquely associated with that numeric code or with locations to manually receive that data. Each individual sheet product is scored to at least define a plurality of removable elements, at least one of the elements containing a variable data field from the set printed on the individual sheet product. Each individual sheet product further includes at least one redeemable coupon defined by scoring to be removable from the remainder of the product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2001
    Assignee: Vanguard Identification Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard O. Warther, Paul Jonathan Abbott, C. Raymond Steen, Jr.
  • Patent number: RE41925
    Abstract: An integral printed self-mailer sheet product has a generally planar core formed by first and second core strips of different materials permanently joined together side-by-side by a cover strip. A plurality of variable data fields are printed on the core including at least the name and address of an individual person in a character format and a unique numeric code assigned to the individual person in a machine readable format. Scoring extends through the sheet product in the second core strip to define at least one and typically plural printed element(s) removable from a remainder of the sheet product, each including at least one of the printed variable data fields. The first core strip has a width in a direction perpendicular to the joint greater than and preferably at least twice the width of the second core strip in the same direction so as to completely wrap around the second core strip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2010
    Assignee: Vanguard Identification Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Richard O. Warther
  • Patent number: D765785
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2016
    Assignee: Vanguard Identification Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Richard O. Warther
  • Patent number: D851175
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Assignee: Vanguard Identification Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Richard O. Warther
  • Patent number: D854090
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2019
    Assignee: Vanguard Identification Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Richard O. Warther