AU5837299A - Reusable name badge - Google Patents

Description

P00011 Regulation 3.2 Revised 2/98

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act, 1990

ORIGINAL

COMPLETE

SPECIFICATION

STANDARD PATENT TO BE COMPLETED BY THE APPLICANT NAME OF APPLICANT: ACTUAL INVENTOR: ADDRESS FOR SERVICE: DAVID PETER NOBBS DAVID PETER NOBBS Peter Maxwell Associates Level 6 60 Pitt Street SYDNEY NSW 2000 REUSABLE NAME BADGE INVENTION TITLE: DETAILS OF ASSOCIATED PROVISIONAL APPLICATION

NO:

PP 6995 9 November 1998 Australia The following statement is a full description of this invention including the best method of performing it known to me:- This invention relates to name badges and more particularly to reusable name badges.

According to one aspect of the invention there is provided a badge comprising a base panel and a face panel overlying and secured to the base panel, the base panel having an upper front face portion, a lower front face portion and an open ended channel therebetween, the face panel having an upper zone in register with the upper front face portion of the base panel, a lower zone in register with the lower front face portion of the base panel and a window therebetween which overlies the channel, the channel and the window defining a pocket for removably receiving a name strip therein.

Preferably, the front face of the face panel is covered with a clear polymer coating.

In order that the invention may be more readily understood and put into practical effect, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings in which:- Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a name badge according to one .embodiment of the invention, Fig. 2 is an enlarged view of the name badge shown in Fig. 1 with the face panel partially secured to the base panel, and Fig. 3 is a rear view of the name badge shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

The name badge 10 shown in the drawings includes a base panel 11 and a face panel 12 which overlies and is secured to the base panel 11. The base panel 11 has an upper front face portion 13, a lower front face portion 14 and a channel 15 therebetween. The channel 15 is open at each end so that a name strip 16 may be inserted into the channel behind the face sheet 12 as indicated in Fig. 1.

9/111/99 3 The base panel 11 may be formed from a sheet of suitable material such as P.V.C. (poly vinyl chloride) or A.B.S. (acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene copolymer) approximately 0.8mm to 1.5mm thick. A typical sheet of such material may be cut to provide 36 small base panels, 24 medium base panels or 18 large base panels. The base panels may be cut from the sheet by stamping out on a die-cutting stamping press with knives shaped to the size of the base panels. The base panels may also be cut out by an engraving machine or milling machine.

Channels 15 may be formed in the sheet before cutting by routing the sheet whilst it is held down by vacuum suction.

The face panel 12 has an upper zone 17 which is in register with the upper front face portion 13 of the base panel, a lower zone 18 which is in register with the lower front face portion 14 of the base panel 11 and a window 19 therebetween which overlies the channel 15 of the base panel 11 to define 15 an open ended pocket for removably receiving the name strip 16.

Graphics, lettering or illustrations are preferably printed on the back face of the upper and/or lower zones 17 and 18 but may be printed on the front face of those zones. If the graphics, lettering or illustrations are printed on the rear face of the face sheet 12, the face sheet 12 is made of transparent materials so that the graphics, lettering or illustrations may be seen from the front of the badge 10. The face panel 12 may be made from either transparent polycarbonate or transparent poly vinyl chloride.

If the graphics, lettering or illustrations are printed on the front face of the face panel 12 the upper and lower zones 17 and 18 need not be made of transparent material. The window is, of course, always comprised of transparent material.

9/11/99 The front panel 12 and the base panel 11 are joined together by pressure sensitive adhesive 23 which does not cover the transparent window 19. The pressure sensitive tape may be applied to he base panel sheet after the routing step.

The name strip 16 can be removed from the channel 15 by a key having a gripping portion 21 and an elongated portion 20 to dimension to fit into the channel 15 behind the window The front panel 12 may be coated with a clear liquid polymer which is either air dried or ultra violet cured to harden it so that the hard coating protects the badge 10 and so increases its life.

On the back of the base panel 11 there is an attachment device 23 which may be a pin, magnet with keeper, alligator clip or combined alligator clip and pin for affixing the badge to clothing.

Various modifications may be made in details of design and construction 15 without departing from the scope and ambit of the invention.

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Claims (6)

1. A badge comprising a base panel and a face panel overlying and secured to the base panel, the base panel having an upper front face portion, a lower front face portion and an open-ended channel therebetween, the face panel having an upper zone in register with the upper front face portion of the base panel, a lower zone in register with the lower front face portion of the base panel and a window therebetween which overlies the channel, the channel and the window defining a pocket for removably receiving a name strip.

2. A badge according to claim 1 wherein the face panel is covered with a clear polymer coating. A badge according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the upper and/or lower zones of the face panel have graphics, lettering or illustrations thereon which are visible from the front of the badge.

4. A badge according to claim 3 wherein the graphics, lettering or ~illustrations are on the back of face panel and where the face panel is made of transparent material. 4, 0 6 A badge according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the base panel and the face panel are secured together by a pressure sensitive adhesive. 9/11/99 6

6. A method of forming a plurality of badges each comprising a base panel and a face panel overlying and secured to the base panel, the base panel having an upper front face portion, a lower front face portion and an open- ended channel therebetween, the face panel having an upper zone in register with the upper front face portion of the base panel, a lower zone in register with the lower front face portion of the base panel and a window therebetween which overlies the channel, the channel and the window defining a pocket for removably receiving a name strip, the method comprising the steps of:- providing a sheet of material dimensioned to provide an array of base panels arranged in rows across the sheet, (ii) forming the channel in each row of base panels to define the upper and lower face portions of each base panels, (iii) applying adhesive to the upper and lower face portions of each base panel, (iv) cutting the sheet into a plurality of base panels, providing, for each base panel, a transparent face panel and securing it thereto by means of the adhesive, and (vi) covering at least the front face of each face panel with a liquid polymer and curing the polymer to form a coating over at least the front face of the face panel.

7. A badge made in accordance with the method of claim 6. •llll:

9. 98. A kit comprising a badge according to any one of claims 1 to 4, a name strip dimensioned to be insertable in the pocket and a key insertable in the channel for removing the name strip. 9/11/99 7 9. A name badge substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Dated this 8 day of November, 1999. DAVID PETER NOBBS Patent Attorneys for the Applicant PETER MAXWELL ASSOCIATES *oo 9/11/99