GB2349864A

GB2349864A - A multi-use identification tag

Info

Publication number: GB2349864A
Application number: GB0010758A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Andrew Booth
Original assignee: BEMROSE UK Ltd
Current assignee: BEMROSE UK Ltd
Priority date: 1999-05-13
Filing date: 2000-05-05
Publication date: 2000-11-15
Also published as: GB0010758D0; GB2349864A8; GB9910987D0

Abstract

An multi-use identification tag 1 for affixing to an item (figs. 3 and 4) has a separable, eg. reclamation, coupon 2, the tag comprises a backing layer 4 with a cohesive layer on one face, and a removable label 3 coated on a back side with an adhesive attached to the opposite face. The tag can be cohered to itself such that it can be secured to an item in a loop eg. around a bag handle or alternately the label can be removed from the backing layer and stuck to the side of an item via the adhesive. Optionally, the tag may have a punch hole 8 such that it may be secured to the neck of a garment hanger (fig.5). The backing layer may be comprised of a synthetic material such as polypropylene, the label may be comprised of paper. The label adhesive may be pressure sensitive and may leave no residue when the label is detached from an item to which it was stuck. The backing sheet may have a siliconised coating on the label side and a removable protective film on the cohesive side to protect the cohesive layer. The separable coupon 2 may have a backing layer, the back of the coupon being coated with adhesive eg. so that may be attached to a flight ticket.

Description

2349864 DESCRIPILW "AN IDENTIFICATION JAG2 The present invention relates

to an identification tag and more particularly to an identification tag of the type which can be attached to an item to enable it to be identified and recovered. The identification tag includes a tear-off or otherwise separable claim coupon which is presented when recovering the item.

Identification tags of the type referred to hereinabove are commonly used at luggage check-ins in hotels, airports, railway stations and the like. The identification tag is attached to the item of luggage to be checked in and the owner is handed the tear-off claim coupon. On presenting the claim coupon it can be matched to the identification tag, usually by identical numbers on both tag and coupon, and the item of luggage is re-claimed. This simple security measure minimizes the risk of luggage being misdirected to the wrong person.

One type of identification tag commonly in use is the card wrap around tag.

The card comes in the form of a strip with reinforced edges to provide tear resistance.

The rear of the strip is coated with a cohesive. The card includes a tearoff claim coupon. In use the claim coupon is detached and the card is folded around the handle of the item of luggage to be stored. The ends of the card are brought together with the cohesive reverse sides facing and stuck together to secure the card around the handle.

The principal disadvantage associated with this known identification tag is 2 that it can only be used on luggage with a handle. It cannot be readily applied to parcels and the like, not to garment hangers.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an identification tag which can function as either a wrap around tag or as a stick on tag.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide an identification tag which can be attached to a garment hanger.

According to the present invention there is provided an identification tag having a tag for affixing to an item and a separable claim coupon, wherein the tag comprises a backing layer having a cohesive on the reverse face thereof and a removable label on the opposite face thereof, the back of the label being coated with an adhesive.

In use the tag can be attached to the handle of an item of luggage by folding it around the handle and bringing the ends together with the cohesive surfaces facing, after the manner of the prior art identification tag referred to hereinabove.

Alternatively, the removable label can be peeled off the backing layer and simply attached to the surface of an item using the adhesive coating on the back of it.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention the backing layer is comprised of a synthetic material, such as polypropylene, for tear resistance and the removable label is comprised of paper. However, neither the backing material nor the removable label is limited to these materials. They may be fabricated from any combination of appropriate materials, including fabrics. Moreover, the removable label may be tear resistant.

3 Preferably the adhesive provided on the back of the removable label is a pressure sensitive adhesive of the kind which allows the label to be affixed to a surface and peeled off later without causing damage to the surface and without leaving any adhesive residues.

Preferably, the said opposite face of the backing layer is provided with a siliconised coating. This ensures that the label and the backing layer remain firmly together for use as a wrap around tag, but enables the label to be easily peeled away from the backing layer for affixing to a surface.

The cohesive on the reverse side of the backing layer may, if appropriate, be covered with a removable protective film.

Preferably, a punch-through hole is provided in the tag which enables it to be slipped over the hook of a garment hanger.

Conveniently, the separable claim coupon also comprises a backing layer having a removable coupon on one face thereof, the back of the coupon being coated with an adhesive. This allows the coupon to be attached to a carrier such as, for example, a person's flight ticket where the label has been affixed to baggage. This may be particularly advantageous where a number of items are deposited, each requiring their own label, as all the claim coupons can be kept together by affixing them to a single carrier.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. I shows a face profile of an identification tag according to the present 4 invention; Fig. 2 shows a schematic cross-section of the identification tag shown in Fig.

Fig. 3 shows the identification tag secured to the handle of an item of luggage; Fig. 4 shows the identification tag simply affixed to an item; and Fig. 5 shows the identification tag attached to a garment hanger.

Referring to Figs. I and 2 of the drawings the identification tag comprises a body 1 and a tear-off coupon 2 separated by perforations 9. As shown, the coupon 2 is an extension of the layers forming the tag 1, but it will be understood that this is not essential to the invention. The coupon may be formed from an extension of either the removable label 3 forming the face of the tag or of the backing layer 4 which supports the removable label 3. In this construction the backing layer is formed from polypropylene for tear resistance and the removable label is paper.

However, other combinations of materials may be used and if deemed appropriate the removable label may be comprised of a tear resistant material.

The reverse face of the backing layer 4 is coated with a cohesive layer 5, whilst the front face is coated with a siliconised coating 6. The back of the removable label 3 is coated with a pressure sensitive adhesive layer 7.

The pressure sensitive adhesive is conveniently a peelable adhesive. That is to say it will stick to the surface of a bag or box or other item of luggage as shown in Fig. 4 but can be peeled off later without damaging the article or leaving an adhesive residue.

The siliconised coating 6 on the backing layer 4 is such that the removable label 3 can be laminated to the backing layer 4 so that the whole laminate remains firmly together for use as a wraparound or hanger tag as shown in Fig. 3, but allows the removable label 3 to be peeled off with reasonable ease if required.

71e cohesive layer 5 on the reverse of the backing layer 4 is such that it will not stick to other surfaces only to itself when folded over and used as a wraparound tag. Furthermore although it will stick firmly together to ensure that the wrapped around tag remains in place, it can subsequently be pulled apart easily in order to discard the tag once it has fulfilled its purpose.

A punch hole 8 through body 1 allows it to be slipped over the hook of a garment hanger as shown in Fig 5.

71e facing layer of the coupon 2, on which information relating to the tag is printed, may be peeled off the backing layer and affixed to a separate carrier if this is convenient for the user. In this regard, it will be understood that the pressure sensitive adhesive layer 7 also coats the back of the facing layer of the coupon 2.

Alternatively, the backing layer can be left in place and the coupon is simply carried by the user.

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Claims

6 CLAIMS

1. An identification tag having a tag (1) for affixing to an item and a separable coupon (2), wherein the tag comprises a backing layer (4) having a cohesive (5) on the reverse face thereof and a removable label (3) on the opposite face thereof, the back of the label being coated with an adhesive (7).

2. An identification tag according to claim 1, wherein the backing layer is comprised of a synthetic material for tear resistance.

3. An identification tag according to claim 2, wherein the synthetic material is polypropylene.

4. An identification tag according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the removable label is comprised of paper.

5. An identification tag according to any preceding claim, wherein the adhesive provided on the back of the removable label is a pressure sensitive adhesive of the kind which allows the label to be affixed to a surface and peeled off later without causing damage to the surface and without leaving any adhesive residues.

6. An identification tag according to any preceding claim, wherein the said opposite face of the backing layer is provided with a siliconised coating.

7. An identification tag according to any preceding claim, wherein the cohesive on the reverse side of the backing layer is covered with a removable protective film.

8. An identification tag according to any preceding claim, wherein a 7 punch-through hole is provided in the tag which enables it to be slipped over the hook of a garment hanger.

9. An identification tag according to any preceding claim, wherein the separable claim coupon comprises a backing layer having a removable coupon on one face thereof, the back of the coupon being coated with an adhesive.