GB2294024A

GB2294024A - Moulded plastics badge

Info

Publication number: GB2294024A
Application number: GB9420849A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Gian Pearson
Original assignee: PROMOULD Ltd
Current assignee: PROMOULD Ltd
Priority date: 1994-10-15
Filing date: 1994-10-15
Publication date: 1996-04-17
Anticipated expiration: 2014-10-15
Also published as: GB9420849D0; GB2294024B

Abstract

A moulded plastic badge (11) comprising a substantially planar body (12) having a front face (13) and a back face (14), the front face being recessed (15) to receive a label and the back face having a pin mounting means (18) thereon which is formed integrally with the support. The mounting means (18) comprises a pair of spaced apart lugs (21, 22) and one lug (21) has an aperture (23) therein for receipt of a portion of a pin and the other lug (22) has a detent (28) for receipt of the free end of the pin. <IMAGE>

Description

A Badge This invention relates to badges and in particular to moulded plastics badges.

Moulded plastics badges in particular name tags, worn for identification purposes by for example shop assistants, are made in at least two pieces. One known badge comprises a frame for receipt of the identification plate and a backing plate for holding the identification plate in the frame. The backing plate may have a pin mounting means formed thereon.

A second known badge comprises a combined name and backing plate, recessed on one face to receive the identification plate, with a pin mounting means adhered to the back face of the backing plate.

These two piece constructions are due to the difficulties in moulding the badges and also due to the need to mask traces of the pin mounting means on the presentation face of the badges when worn.

According to the present invention there is provided a moulded plastic badge comprising a substantially planar body having a front face and a back face, the front face being recessed to receive a label and the back face having a mounting means for a pin projecting therefrom which is formed integrally with the support.

Preferably the pin mounting means comprises a pair of lugs spaced apart on the back face of the body, and conveniently any aperture slots associated with the mounting means which open to the front of the badge are located in the recess.

These apertures can then be hidden by the application of double sided adhesive tape in the recess for retention of the name plate, or by the name plate itself.

Preferably the badge further comprises a plate which is secured in the recess, and a pin mounted in the pin mounting means.

The invention will be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig. 1 is an elevation of the back face of a badge according to the present invention, Fig. 2 is a section in the line II-II of Fig. 1 also showing a section through a plate which locates in the front face of the badge.

Fig. 3 is a view from below of the badge of Fig. 1, Fig. 4 a section on the line IV-IV of Fig. 3, and Fig. 5 is a front elevation of the upper portion of the badge shown in Fig. 1.

Now with reference to Figures 1-5 of the drawing there is shown a badge 11 which is a one piece plastic injection moulding made from for example polystyrene or polypropylene which may be coloured if required.

The badge 11 comprises a substantially planar body 12 which in this example is rectangular but could be any other shape for example, circular, oval, other polygonal shapes, or irregular in shape. The body 12 has a front face 13 and a back face 14.

The front face 13 has a recess 15 therein surrounded by a raised rim 16. In use the recess 15 receives a label or identification plate 17 (see Fig. 2 only). The back face 14 of the body has a pin mounting means 18 projecting therefrom.

The pin mounting means 18 comprises a pair of spaced lugs 21, 22 located preferably, but not necessarily, on the upper portions of the back face. One lug 21 has a vertical aperture 23 therein which passes through the lug 21 and its front end opens into the recess 15 and its rear end receives a fixed portion 24 of a pin 25. By vertical is meant normal to the recess. The free end of the pin 25 is received in a detent 28 in the other lug 22. The detent 28 is an 'L' shaped slot comprising a horizontal slot portion 29 with a vertical slot portion 31 at its inner end for holding the pin in place. By horizontal is meant substantially parallel to the planar body.

The 'L' shaped slot 28 opens into the recess 15 to which it is connected by an aperture 32.

The pin 25 is preferably of a type having two legs 36, 37 interconnected by a coil portion 24 so that the legs 36, 37 are biased resiliently apart. The coil 24 is located in the aperture 23 in the one lug 21 with a one leg 37 passing through the aperture 23 to locate in a groove 33 in the recess 15, and the other leg 36 extends between the two lugs 21-22 with its free end being engageable in the detent 28.

The apertures 23, and 32 as well as accommodating the pin 25 also facilitate the moulding process, and because they open into the recess 15 they can be easily masked by placing into the recess either an identification or name plate 17 which may be secured in place by adhesive, or by lining the bottom of the recess with a double sided adhesive tape for later receipt of a name plate 17.

It will be appreciated that the present construction of a badge in which the body 11, pin mounting means 18, and the recess 15 for receiving the name plate, are formed as a single item is an advance on the multi piece prior art. The unitary construction provides a cheaper product which is more easily and quickly assembled with the pin 25 and name plate 17.

Claims

1. A moulded plastic badge comprising a substantially planar body having a front face and a back face, the front face being recessed to receive a label and the back face having a mounting means for a pin projecting therefrom which is formed integrally with the support.

2. A badge as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the mounting means comprises a pair of spaced apart lugs one of which has a vertical aperture therein for receipt of a portion of the pin to be fixed relative to the body and the other lug has a detent for receipt of the free end of the pin.

3. A badge as claimed in claim 2, wherein the detent is formed as a horizontal slot opening to the exterior of the lug and having a vertical extension at its inner end for locking the free end of the pin.

4. A badge as claimed in Claim 3, wherein the vertical aperture for receipt of said fixed portion of the pin and the detent both open into the recessed front face.

5. A badge as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 4 and further including a pin for securing the badge to a support.

6. A badge as claimed in Claim 6, wherein the pin is in the form of two legs interconnected by a coil portion so that the legs are resiliently biased apart, the coil and one leg being fixed relative to the body and the other leg extending between the lugs with its free end being engagable with the detent.

7. A badge as claimed in Claim 6 wherein the coil portion is held in said vertical aperture and the fixed leg is accommodated in a groove formed in the front face in the recess in the body.

8. A badge as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 7 and further comprising a plate which is secured in the recess.

9. A badge as claimed in Claim 8 wherein there is further provided in the base of the recess a layer of double sided adhesive tape by which the plate is secured in the recess.

10. A badge substantially as described herein and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.