1. A method for tracking a compartment having a latch mechanism comprising:
obtaining location data related to the compartment;
storing the location data in memory;
obtaining activity data as a function of activity of the latch mechanism; and
storing the activity data.
2. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising outputting the location data and the activity data.
3. The method as claimed in claim 2, wherein the outputting step comprises:
printing the location data and the activity data.
4. The method as claimed in claim 2, wherein the outputting step comprises transmitting the location data and the activity data to an electronic device.
5. The method as claimed in claim 4, wherein the electronic device includes a personal digital assistant.
6. The method as claimed in claim 4, wherein the electronic device includes a cellular phone.
7. The method as claimed in claim 4, wherein the electronic device includes a facsimile machine.
8. The method as claimed in claim 4, wherein the electronic device includes a computer.
9. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:
accumulating location data and activity data for a plurality of compartments;
storing the accumulated location data and activity data in the latch mechanism; and
outputting the accumulated location data and activity data.
10. The method as claimed in claim 9, wherein the outputting step further comprises transmitting the accumulated location data and activity data to a remote location.
11. The method as claimed in claim 9, wherein the outputting step further comprises printing the accumulated location data and activity data.
12. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising: establishing that an attempt has been made to access the latch mechanism; and
storing attempt data as a function of the establishing step.
13. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:
establishing that attempt has been made to tamper with the latch mechanism; and
modifying operation of the latch mechanism as a function of the establishing step.
14. The method as claimed in claim 13, wherein the modifying step further comprises disabling operation of the latch mechanism.
15. A method for tracking a location of a compartment and activity of a latch mechanism disposed on the compartment comprising:
accessing the latch mechanism at a first instance;
storing a record of the first access;
accessing the latch mechanism at a second instance storing a record of the second access;
accumulating access data as a function of recorded access; and
providing an indication of the location of the compartment.
16. The method as claimed in claim 15, further comprising outputting the accumulated access data.
17. The method as claimed in claim 16, wherein the outputting step further comprises displaying the accumulated access data on a display device.
18. The method as claimed in claim 16, wherein the outputting step further comprises transmitting the accumulated access data to an electronic device.
19. The method as claimed in claim 18, wherein the electronic device includes a cellular telephone.
20. The method as claimed in claim 18, wherein the electronic device includes a facsimile machine.
21. The method as claimed in claim 18, wherein the electronic device includes a personal digital assistant.
22. The method as claimed in claim 16, wherein the outputting step further includes printing the accumulated access data.
23. The method as claimed in claim 15, further comprising providing notification at a remote location when the latch mechanism is accessed.
24. The method as claimed in claim 15, further comprising obtaining access data for a plurality of latch mechanisms.
25. An apparatus for tracking a compartment having a latch mechanism comprising:
means for obtaining location data related to the compartment;
means for storing the location data in memory;
means for obtaining activity data as a function of activity of the latch mechanism; and
means for storing the activity data.
26. The apparatus as claimed in claim 25, further comprising means for outputting the location data and the activity data.
27. The apparatus as claimed in claim 26, wherein the means for outputting comprises means for printing the location data and the activity data.
28. The apparatus as claimed in claim 26, wherein the means for outputting comprises means for transmitting the location data and the activity data to an electronic device.
29. The apparatus as claimed in claim 28, wherein the electronic device includes a personal digital assistant.
30. The apparatus as claimed in claim 28, wherein the electronic device includes a cellular phone.
31. The apparatus as claimed in claim 28, wherein the electronic device includes a facsimile machine.
32. The apparatus as claimed in claim 28, wherein the electronic device includes a computer.
33. The apparatus as claimed in claim 25, further comprising:
means for accumulating location data and activity data for a plurality of compartments;
means for storing the accumulated location data and activity data in the latch mechanism; and
means for outputting the accumulated location data and activity data.
34. The apparatus as claimed in claim 33, wherein the means for outputting further comprises means for transmitting the accumulated location data and activity data to a remote location.
35. The apparatus as claimed in claim 33, wherein the means for outputting further comprises means for printing the accumulated location data and activity data.
36. The apparatus as claimed in claim 25, further comprising:
means for establishing that an attempt has been made to access the latch mechanism; and
means for storing attempt data as a function of the establishing step.
37. The apparatus as claimed in claim 25, further comprising:
means for establishing that attempt has been made to tamper with the latch mechanism; and
means for modifying operation of the latch mechanism as a function of the establishing step.
38. The apparatus as claimed in claim 37, wherein the means for modifying further comprises means for disabling operation of the latch mechanism.
39. An apparatus for tracking a location of a compartment and activity of a latch mechanism disposed on the compartment comprising:
means for accessing the latch mechanism at a first instance; means for storing a record of the first access;
means for accessing the latch mechanism at a second instance; means for storing a record of the second access;
means for accumulating access data as a function of recorded access; and
means for providing an indication of the location of the compartment.
40. The apparatus as claimed in claim 39, further comprising means for outputting the accumulated access data.
41. The apparatus as claimed in claim 40, wherein the means for outputting further comprises a display device.
42. The apparatus as claimed in claim 40, wherein the means for outputting further comprises an electronic device.
43. The apparatus as claimed in claim 42, wherein the electronic device includes a cellular telephone.
44. The apparatus as claimed in claim 42, wherein the electronic device includes a facsimile machine.
45. The apparatus as claimed in claim 42, wherein the electronic device includes a personal digital assistant.
46. The apparatus as claimed in claim 40, wherein the means for outputting further includes a printer arranged to print the accumulated access data.
47. The apparatus as claimed in claim 39, further comprising: means for providing notification at a remote location when the latch mechanism is accessed.
48. The apparatus as claimed in claim 39, further comprising means for obtaining access data for a plurality of latch mechanisms.
49. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising generating manifest data as a function of contents of the compartment and storing the manifest data in the latch mechanism.
50. The method as claimed in claim 15, further comprising generating manifest data as a function of contents of the compartment and storing the manifest data in the latch mechanism.
51. The apparatus as claimed in claim 25, further comprising:
means for generating manifest data as a function of contents of a compartment; and
means for storing the manifest data in the latch mechanism.
52. The apparatus as claimed in claim 39, further comprising:
means for generating manifest data as a function of contents of a compartment; and
means for storing the manifest data in the latch mechanism.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. A condom comprising:
a tubular body having a closed end and configured as a roll; and
an indicia on said roll, said indicia providing a visual indication as to the orientation of said roll.
2. The condom of claim 1 wherein:
said roll is a generally circular torus, said roll having an upper side and a lower side; and
said indicia extends about one of said upper side or said lower side.
3. The condom of claim 1 wherein said indicia is applied to the inner side of said body.
4. The condom of claim 1 wherein said indicia is incorporated into said body.
5. The condom of claim 1 wherein said indicia is fluorescent.
6. The condom of claim 1 wherein said indicia is selected from the group including: at least one ring, a dashed pattern, a dotted pattern, alphanumeric text, a repeating pattern, and a design.
7. The condom of claim 1 wherein said indicia indicates the orientation of said roll via a tactile feedback.
8. The condom of claim 7 wherein said indicia is created by an alteration in the thickness of the body.
9. The condom of claim 8 wherein said indicia is a thickening of the body forming intermittent raised portions.
10. The condom of claim 9 wherein said intermittent raised portions form a pattern selected from the group including: a dashed circular line, a plurality of dots, or a plurality of ovals.
11. The condom of claim 1 wherein said indicia is formed by a material structured to perform an additional function.
12. The condom of claim 11 wherein said material is selected from the group including: an adhesive, a lubricant, an anesthetizing agent, and an enhancement agent.
13. The condom of claim 11 wherein said material is disposed on the body inner side in a series of spaced rings.
14. The condom of claim 1 wherein said indicia is a reactive-luminescent material.
15. The condom of claim 1 wherein said reactive-luminescent material is a glow-in-the-dark material.
16. The condom of claim 1 wherein:
said condom includes a circumferential plenum disposed on the body inner side adjacent to the body second end;
said circumferential plenum extending substantially about the body inner side while not being a continuous ring;
a deformable barrier disposed within said plenum, said barrier structured to separate two liquids;
a first reactive-luminescent material disposed within said plenum on one side of said barrier; and
a second reactive-luminescent material disposed within said plenum on the other side of said barrier.
17. The condom of claim 1 wherein
said body is a first color;
said indicia is a second color; and
said first and second colors are a high-contrast color scheme.
18. The condom of claim 1 wherein said indicia includes at least two high contrast colors disposed in alternating bands.
19. A condom comprising:
a thin, elastic, generally tubular body having an open first end and an elongated medial section, said body having an inner side and an outer side;
a closed second end section having an inner side and an outer side, said closed second end section coupled to said body, whereby said body and said closed second end section defining a generally enclosed space;
said body structured to be reconfigured from a first rolled configuration, wherein said first end is rolled over said outer side of substantially all of said elongated medial section, to a second unrolled configuration, wherein said elongated medial section is substantially unrolled from said first end;
wherein, when said body is in said first rolled configuration, said elongated medial section is rolled, generally snugly, about said first end thereby creating a roll, said roll having an upper side and a lower side;
an indicia disposed on said roll, said indicia providing a visual indication as to the orientation of said roll;
said body being a first color;
said indicia is a second color; and
said first and second colors are a high-contrast color scheme.
20. A condom comprising:
a thin, elastic, generally tubular body having an open first end and an elongated medial section, said body having an inner side and an outer side;
a closed second end section having an inner side and an outer side, said closed second end section coupled to said body, whereby said body and said closed second end section defining a generally enclosed space;
said body structured to be reconfigured from a first rolled configuration, wherein said first end is rolled over said outer side of substantially all of said elongated medial section, to a second unrolled configuration, wherein said elongated medial section is substantially unrolled from said first end;
wherein, when said body is in said first rolled configuration, said elongated medial section is rolled, generally snugly, about said first end thereby creating a roll, said roll having an upper side and a lower side; and
an indicia disposed on said roll, said indicia providing a visual indication as to the orientation of said roll.
21. The condom of claim 20 wherein said indicia is formed by a material structured to perform an additional function, said material selected from the group including: an adhesive, a lubricant, an anesthetizing agent, and an enhancement agent.
22. The condom of claim 21 wherein said material is disposed on the body inner side in a series of spaced rings.