Suitcase with biometric lock mechanism

Abstract

A suitcase featuring a biometric lock may be provided. The suitcase may include a plurality of hard-sided shells for forming storage compartments of the suitcase. Additionally the suitcase may include a fastening mechanism for connecting the plurality of hard-sided shells. The fastening mechanism may be utilized to provide access to at least one storage compartment of the storage compartments. The biometric lock of the suitcase may be configured to prevent unauthorized access to one or more storage compartments of the suitcase. The biometric lock may include a memory device configured to store a plurality of fingerprints. Also, the biometric lock may include a biometric reader, which may be configured to receive a fingerprint from a user. The biometric reader may be further configured to unlock the biometric lock when a received fingerprint matches a stored fingerprint of the plurality of stored fingerprints.

1 . A hard-sided suitcase, the hard-sided suitcase comprising:
 at least two hard-sided shells, wherein the at least two hard-sided shells form storage compartments of the hard-sided suitcase;   a zipper mechanism, wherein the zipper mechanism is utilized to connect the at least two hard-sided shells and to provide access to the storage compartments of the hard-sided suitcase; and   a biometric lock attached to a portion of the at least two hard-sided shells, wherein the biometric lock is configured to lock the zipper mechanism and is utilized to prevent unauthorized access to at least one storage compartment of the storage compartments, wherein the biometric lock comprises:
 a memory device configured to store at least one authorized fingerprint for accessing the suitcase; and 
 a fingerprint reader, wherein the fingerprint reader is configured to unlock the biometric lock when an authorized fingerprint of the at least one authorized fingerprint is received by the fingerprint reader, and wherein upon unlocking the biometric lock access is provided to the zipper mechanism so as to provide access to the at least one storage compartment of the suitcase. 
   
     
     
         2 . The hard-sided suitcase of  claim 1 , wherein the fingerprint reader is configured to receive a fingerprint from a user, wherein the fingerprint reader is further configured to determine if the fingerprint from the user is the authorized fingerprint of the at least one authorized fingerprint by determining that the fingerprint is stored in the memory device. 
     
     
         3 . The hard-sided suitcase of  claim 1 , wherein the fingerprint reader is configured to not unlock the biometric lock when the fingerprint reader receives at least one unauthorized fingerprint. 
     
     
         4 . The hard-sided suitcase of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one authorized fingerprint comprises at least one of an administrator fingerprint and a non-administrator fingerprint, wherein authorization and rights associated with the administrator fingerprint and the non-administrator fingerprint are set by an administrator associated with the administrator fingerprint. 
     
     
         5 . The hard-sided suitcase of  claim 1 , wherein the biometric lock is configured to lock at least one of a slider and a pull tab of the zipper mechanism, and wherein the fingerprint reader is configured to unlock at least one of the slider and the pull tab from the biometric lock when the authorized fingerprint of the at least one authorized fingerprints is received by the fingerprint reader. 
     
     
         6 . The hard-sided suitcase of  claim 1 , wherein the biometric lock is configured to be connectable to a computing device via a universal serial bus device, wherein the computing device is configured to store at least one of the at least one authorized fingerprint, a ranking associated with the at least one authorized fingerprint, and rights associated with the at least one authorized fingerprint. 
     
     
         7 . The hard-sided suitcase of  claim 1 , wherein the biometric lock comprises a power source for providing power to the biometric lock, wherein the power source comprises a battery comprising at least one of a lithium battery, an alkaline battery, a zinc-carbon battery, a nickel metal hydride battery, a nickel-zinc battery, and a nickel-cadmium battery. 
     
     
         8 . The hard-sided suitcase of  claim 1 , wherein the biometric lock further comprises a cover for concealing the fingerprint reader when not in use, wherein the cover is configured to adjust away from the fingerprint reader when a user adjusts the cover. 
     
     
         9 . The hard-sided suitcase of  claim 1 , wherein the hard-sided shells are comprised of at least one of polycarbonate, a polycarbonate composite, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, polypropylene, plastic, wood, and metal. 
     
     
         10 . A suitcase, the suitcase comprising:
 a plurality of shells for forming storage compartments of the suitcase, wherein the plurality of shells comprise at least two hard-sided shells;   a zipper mechanism for connecting the plurality of shells, wherein the zipper mechanism is utilized to provide access to at least one storage compartment of the storage compartments; and   a biometric lock configured to prevent unauthorized access to the at least one storage compartment of the storage compartments, wherein the biometric lock comprises:   a memory device configured to store a plurality of fingerprints; and   a biometric reader, wherein the biometric reader is configured to receive a fingerprint, wherein the biometric reader is configured to determine if the received fingerprint matches a stored fingerprint of the plurality of stored fingerprints, and wherein the biometric reader is configured to provide access to the zipper mechanism when the received fingerprint matches the stored fingerprint.   
     
     
         11 . The suitcase of  claim 10 , wherein the plurality of stored fingerprints comprise administrator fingerprints and non-administrator fingerprints, wherein access rights associated with the administrator fingerprints and non-administrator fingerprints are set by an administrator. 
     
     
         12 . The suitcase of  claim 11 , wherein the access rights comprise at least one of a frequency at which the plurality of stored fingerprints can be utilized to access the biometric lock, an expiration associated with the plurality of stored fingerprints, a time period for automatically locking the biometric lock after access is provided to the zipper mechanism, and administrator privileges. 
     
     
         13 . The suitcase of  claim 10 , wherein the biometric lock is configured to lock at least one of a slider and a pull tab of the zipper mechanism, and wherein the biometric lock is configured to provide access to the zipper mechanism by unlocking at least one of the slider and the pull tab. 
     
     
         14 . The suitcase of  claim 10 , wherein the biometric reader is configured to deny access to the zipper mechanism when the received fingerprint does not match the stored fingerprint of the plurality of stored fingerprints. 
     
     
         15 . The suitcase of  claim 10 , wherein the memory device is configured to store the received fingerprint in an unauthorized fingerprint list when the received fingerprint does not match the stored fingerprint of the plurality of stored fingerprints, wherein the biometric lock is configured to emit a warning signal if the received fingerprint is received again. 
     
     
         16 . The suitcase of  claim 10 , wherein the biometric lock is configured to be connectable to a computing device via a universal serial bus device, wherein the computing device is configure to store the plurality of stored fingerprints and information associated with the plurality of stored fingerprints. 
     
     
         17 . A suitcase, the suitcase comprising:
 a plurality of hard-sided shells for forming storage compartments of the suitcase;   a fastening mechanism for connecting the plurality of hard-sided shells, wherein the fastening mechanism is utilized to provide access to at least one storage compartment of the storage compartments; and   a biometric lock configured to prevent unauthorized access to the at least one storage compartment of the storage compartments, wherein the biometric lock comprises:
 a memory device configured to store a plurality of physical identifiers; and 
 a biometric reader, wherein the biometric reader is configured to receive a physical identifier, and wherein the biometric reader is configured to unlock the biometric lock when the received physical identifier matches a stored physical identifier of the plurality of stored physical identifiers. 
   
     
     
         18 . The suitcase of  claim 17 , wherein the fastening mechanism comprises at least one of a zipper mechanism, a snap fastener, a button, a buckle, and a tie. 
     
     
         19 . The suitcase of  claim 17 , wherein the biometric lock further comprises at least one of a power source for providing power to the biometric lock, a sliding cover for concealing the biometric lock, and a universal serial bus interface for connecting to a universal serial bus device. 
     
     
         20 . The suitcase of  claim 17 , wherein the biometric reader is configured to provide access to the fastening mechanism when the biometric lock is unlocked, and wherein the biometric reader is configured to not unlock the biometric lock when the received physical identifier does not match the stored physical identifier of the plurality of stored physical identifiers.