Method of improving airline luggage inspection

A method of using locks to secure travelers' luggage that is subject to inspection by a government-authorized luggage screening authority that is empowered to open luggage for screening out of the presence of the travelers, comprising:

• obtaining locks each of which that has a first lock portion and a second lock portion;
• said first lock portion of each of the locks being configured to respond to manipulation by a traveler to open and lock the lock while the second portion of the same lock is an remains in a locked position;
• said second lock portion of each of the locks being configured to respond to manipulation by the luggage inspection authority to open the lock while the first lock portion of the same lock is and remains in a locked position;
• said first portion of each of the locks of a first multiplicity of the locks being configured to open the lock in response to a traveler's manipulation that is different from that opening each of the locks of a second multiplicity of the locks;
• the second portion of each of the locks of both multiplicities of the locks being configured to open the lock with the same master key;
• each of the special locks of both multiplicity of locks having thereon the same indicia placed at a prominent location on the lock;
• said indicia being in addition to and different from any name of a manufacturer of the locks;
• said indicia being specifically configured to convey to travelers and to the screening authority that the screening authority is authorized to open the lock with said same master key in order to inspect the luggage;
• and
• attaching the special locks to luggage.

A set of special locks for travelers' luggage, which locks are configured for a government-authorized luggage screening authority to be able to open the locks to screen the travelers' luggage using a master key or tool while the locks are and remain in a locked position set by the travelers, comprising:

• a first category of special locks and a second category of special locks that is different from the first category, wherein:
• each of the locks of the first category differ from each of the locks of the second category in the manner in which a traveler can open the lock;
• each of the locks of each of the first and second categories is configured to enable the screening authority to unlock the locks with the same master key;
• each lock of each of the first category and of the second category has a first lock portion and a second lock portion, and each lock portion has a locked position and an unlocked position;
• each first lock portion of each lock of the first category and of the second category is configured to open and lock the lock while the second lock portion of the lock is and remains in its locked position;
• each second lock portion of each lock of the first category and of the second category is configured to open the lock while the first lock portion of the lock is and remains in its locked position;
• the first lock portion of the locks of the first category of locks is configured to be unlocked in a manner that is the same for all of the locks in the first category;
• the first lock portion of the locks of the second category of locks is configured to be unlocked in a manner that is the same for all of the locks in the second category but differs from the manner in which the first lock portion of each of the locks of the first category of locks is unlocked;
• the second portion of each lock of both the first category of locks and of the second category of locks is configured to be unlocked with the same master key or tool;
• each of the locks in both said first category of locks and said second category of locks has thereon the same indicia placed at a prominent location on each lock to be readily discerned by travelers and the screening authority;
• said indicia are in addition to and different from any name of a manufacturer of the locks;
• and
• said indicia are specifically configured to convey to travelers and to the screening authority that the screening authority is authorized pursuant to open the lock with said master key or tool in order to inspect the luggage.

A set of locks configured consistent with a formalized arrangement with a government-authorized luggage screening authority according to which the screening authority can open the locks and inspect the travelers' luggage while the locks are and remain in a locked position set by the travelers, comprising:

• a first category of locks and a second categories of locks, wherein:
• the locks of the first category differ from the locks of the second category in a manner in which a traveler can open the lock;
• the locks of each of the first and second categories are configured consistent with the arrangement with the screening authority to enable the screening authority to unlock all of the locks of both the first category and the second category with the same master key or tool;
• each lock of each of the first category and of the second category or locks has a first lock portion and a second lock portion, and each lock portion has a locked position and an unlocked position;
• each first lock portion of each lock of the first category and of the second category or locks is configured to open and lock the lock through a manipulation by the traveler while the second lock portion of the lock is and remains in its locked position;
• each second lock portion of each lock of the first category and of the second category of locks is configured to open the lock through a manipulation by the authority while the first lock portion of the lock is and remains in its locked position;
• the first lock portion of the locks of the first category of locks is configured to be unlocked in a manner that is the same for all of the locks in the first category;
• the first lock portion of the locks of the second category of locks is configured to be unlocked in a manner that is the same for all of the locks in the second category but differs from the manner in which the first lock portion of the first category of locks is unlocked;
• the second portion of each lock of both the first category of locks and of the second category of locks is configured to be unlocked with the same master key or tool;
• each of the locks in both said first category of locks and said second category of locks carries the same indicia placed at a prominent location on each lock so as to be readily observed by travelers and the authority;
• the indicia are consistent with said arrangement with the screening authority.
• the indicia are in addition to and different from any name of a manufacturer of the locks;
• and
• the indicia are specifically configured to convey to travelers and to the screening authority that the screening authority is authorized pursuant to said arrangement to open the lock with said master key or tool in order to screen the luggage.