Enhanced tracing of lost luggage using lock having coated housing and binary display

A method of tracing lost airline luggage locked by a special lock after the airline luggage was checked and screened by a luggage screening entity, the method comprising:

• making available to consumers the special lock for use in locking individual pieces of an airline passenger's luggage, the special lock having identifying indicia alerting the luggage screening entity that the special lock can be opened with a master key in the luggage screening entity's possession, rather than by breaking the lock, wherein the special lock includes a key mechanism allowing the special lock to be opened by a key held by the airline passenger and by a master key held by a luggage screening entity, the special lock having no other mechanism designed for opening the special lock,
• the special lock having a housing comprising a metal body encased in a flexible coating that prevents the special lock from breaking if the special lock collides on multiple occasions with hard surfaces,
• the housing containing on a first side thereof a unique serial number of the special lock and having tracing information enabling a finder of the luggage to contact a tracing entity from anywhere in the world,
• the housing having a window through which a display is visible, the display changing from a first visible state to a second visible state when the luggage screening entity uses the master key to open the special lock, the display capable of being re-set from the second visible state to the first visible state when the key is used to open the special lock;
• and
• conveying to consumers the information that
• (i) the special lock can be registered with the tracing entity,
• (ii) an airline passenger can carry and check in the luggage without revealing passenger contact information to someone located at or near the luggage;
• and that
• (iii) the luggage, if lost, can be returned to the airline passenger using the tracing information and serial number and that upon return of the luggage the airline passenger can determine from the display whether the luggage screening entity opened the luggage.

A method of tracing lost airline luggage locked by a special lock after the airline luggage was checked and screened by a luggage screening entity, the method comprising:

• making available to consumers the special lock for use in locking individual pieces of an airline passenger's luggage, the special lock having identifying indicia alerting the luggage screening entity that the special lock can be opened with a master key in the luggage screening entity's possession, rather than by breaking the lock, wherein the special lock includes a key mechanism allowing the special lock to be opened by a key held by the airline passenger and by a master key held by a luggage screening entity,
• the special lock having a housing comprising a metal body encased in a flexible coating that prevents the special lock from breaking if the special lock collides on multiple occasions with hard surfaces,
• the housing containing on a first side thereof a unique serial number of the special lock and having tracing information enabling a finder of the luggage to contact a tracing entity from anywhere in the world,
• the housing having a window through which a binary display is visible, the binary display changing from a first visible state to a second visible state when the luggage screening entity uses the master key to open the special lock, the binary display capable of being re-set from the second visible state to the first visible state when the key is used to open the special lock;
• and
• conveying to consumers the information that
• (i) the special lock can be registered with the tracing entity,
• (ii) an airline passenger can carry and check in the luggage without revealing passenger contact information to someone located at or near the luggage;
• and that
• (iii) the luggage, if lost, can be returned to the airline passenger using the tracing information and serial number and that upon return of the luggage the airline passenger can determine from the binary display whether the luggage screening entity opened the luggage.

A method of tracing lost airline luggage locked by a special lock after the airline luggage was checked and screened by a luggage screening entity, the method comprising:

• making available to consumers the special lock for use in locking individual pieces of an airline passenger's luggage, the special lock including a key mechanism allowing the special lock to be opened by a key held by the airline passenger and by a master key held by a luggage screening entity, the special lock having identifying indicia alerting the luggage screening entity that the special lock can be opened with a master key in the luggage screening entity's possession, rather than by breaking the lock, a housing of the special lock containing on a first side thereof a unique serial number of the special lock and the housing having tracing information enabling a finder of the luggage to contact a tracing entity from anywhere in the world;
• and
• conveying to consumers the information
• (i) that the special lock can be registered with the tracing entity,
• (ii) that an airline passenger can carry and check in the luggage without revealing passenger contact information to someone located at or near the luggage;
• and
• (iii) that the luggage, if lost, can be returned to the airline passenger using the tracing information and serial number.

A method of tracing lost airline luggage after the airline luggage was checked and screened by a luggage screening entity, the method comprising:

• making available to consumers a special lock for use in locking individual pieces of an airline passenger's luggage wherein the special lock includes a mechanism allowing the special lock to be opened, the special lock having a housing containing on a first side thereof a unique serial number of the special lock and having tracing information enabling a finder of the luggage to contact a tracing entity from anywhere in the world;
• and
• conveying to consumers the information
• (i) that the special lock can be registered with the tracing entity,
• (ii) that an airline passenger can carry and check in the luggage without revealing passenger contact information to someone located at or near the luggage;
• and
• (iii) that the luggage, if lost, can be returned to the airline passenger using the tracing information and serial number.

A method of tracing lost airline luggage locked by a special lock after the airline luggage was checked and screened by a luggage screening entity, the method comprising:

• making available to consumers the special lock for use in locking individual pieces of an airline passenger's luggage, the special lock having identifying indicia alerting the luggage screening entity that the special lock can be opened with a master key in the luggage screening entity's possession, rather than by breaking the lock, wherein the special lock is capable of being opened by the master key held by the luggage screening entity and is capable of being opened by another method, a housing of the special lock containing on a first side thereof a unique serial number of the special lock and the housing having tracing information enabling a finder of the luggage to contact a tracing entity from anywhere in the world;
• and
• conveying to consumers the information
• (i) that the special lock can be registered with the tracing entity,
• (ii) that an airline passenger can carry and check in the luggage without revealing passenger contact information to someone located at or near the luggage;
• and that
• (iii) that the luggage, if lost, can be returned to the airline passenger using the tracing information and serial number.