GB2402704A

GB2402704A - Flexible fastener comprising machine-readable identification

Info

Publication number: GB2402704A
Application number: GB0313366A
Authority: GB
Inventors: John Mchale
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2003-06-10
Filing date: 2003-06-10
Publication date: 2004-12-15
Also published as: GB0313366D0

Abstract

A flexible strap, tie or filament 10 received in a fastener element 14 combined with a machine-readable marking or code 18, such as a bar code. The machine-readable marking or code may be carried by a tab or plate 16 formed integrally with the fastener element 14. Otherwise, the machine-readable marking or code may be provided on the flexible filament or strap 10. Two flexible filaments or straps 10 each fixed to a respective fastener element 14 may be used in conjunction to define a loop. This loop may then be used to secure, for example, a neck of a bag passed through the loop, by pulling pull the tabs 16 of the filaments or straps 10 in opposite directions. The filament or strap 10 may comprise ratchet teeth 12 engaged by and eye and pawl element within the fastener element. The strap, tie or filament 10 may be moulded integrally with its respective fastener element 14 and marking-carrying plate 16.

Description

"COMBINED IDENTIFYING MEANS AND ATTACHMENT OR SECURING MEANS" THIS

INVENTION relates to a combined identifying means and attachment or securing means One area in which the invention may be used is in the operation of refuse recycling schemes of the kind which are being increasingly adopted by local authorities and other organisations charged with the collection and/or disposal of refuse. Recycling is seen as an ecologically responsible approach to refuse disposal, which also holds out the prospect of reducing pressure on conventional disposal facilities such as land fill sites, incineration etc. According to one aspect of the invention there is provided a device in the form of a combined identifying means and attachment or securing means comprising a strap, tie or other flexible filament capable of being secured around an item, such as the neck of a bag or sack containing refuse, and a support bearing an identifying marking or code, said support being fixed to, integral with, or provided by said tie, strap or flexible filament.

Preferably said marking is in the form of a bar code.

The device may comprise a buckle, eye or the like fastener through which the strap or tie extends or can be extended and through which the strap can be pulled in order to tighten a loop defined at least partly by said strap or l tie, and means for securing the strap or tie against movement through said buckle, eye or the like in a direction such as to open or loosen said loop Said support bearing an identifying marking or code may be provided by or fixed to said eye, strap or tie, or may be provided by the strap itself.

Embodiments of the invention are described below with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein: Figure 1 is a perspective view of one form of device embodying the invention, Figure 2 is a sectional view illustrating the eye portion of the device of Figure land part of athe strap of the device passing through said eye part, and Figure 3 is a diagrammatic illustration of another form of device embodying the invention.

Referring to the drawings, one form of device embodying the invention, illustrated in Figure 1, comprises a flexible plastics strap 10 having a saw-tooth serration 12 along one side and having, formed integrally at one end, an eye 14 of a size to receive said strap, the eye incorporating an integral resilient pawl 16, (see Figure 2), for co-operation with said serration in the manner of a ratchet and pawl whereby the strap can be bent in a loop and the free end passed through the eye and pulled through the eye in such a way as to tighten or progressively close the loop, the ratchet and pawl mechanism acting to prevent the strap being pulled in the opposite direction through the eye, i.e. in such a sense as to widen or open out the loop. Such an arrangement is known per se for cable ties and temporary fasteners. It will be understood, of course, that the strap 10 may extend from the upper side, rather than the lower side, of the eye 14, as viewed in Figure 2, so that in the fastened condition, the serration 12 will lie on the inner side of the loop rather than on the outside.

Attached to the eye 14, and preferably moulded integrally therewith, is a tab or plate 16 which carries a machine-readable code or marking, such as a bar code and which preferably also carries a related marking, for example in the form of a text or a readily recognizable visual symbol. For example, the tab or plate 16 may carry on one side or major surface a machine readable marking in the form of a bar code 18 and on the opposite side or major surface wording such as "organic"; "metal"; "glass"; etc., so that a householder can identify the device to be used as a closure for a bag or sack containing refuse of that description and so that a bar code reader, known per se, at a sorting station can identify the contents of such bags or sacks and sort them accordingly for disposal or recycling.

In a variant, the identification markings may instead, or additionally, be provided on the strap or tie itself, for example on the free end 20 of the strap or tie, i.e. the end opposite that carrying the eye 14. Possibly the bar code and the human readable text or visual symbol may be printed or impressed on the side of the strap 10 opposite the serrated side, for example with the text and the bar code being repeated alternately long the length of the strap 10.

In use of the device of Figure 1, the strap 10 is passed around the gathered neck of a bag or sack and the free end of the strap 10 passed through the eye 14 and said free end pulled to tighten the strap around the neck of the bag or sack.

In a further variant, the securing device may comprise two separately moulded ties of the general sort illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, arranged as illustrated in Figure 3, so that each strap 10 passes through the eye 14 of the other tie and whereby, after pulling the gathered neck of a bag or sack through the loop defined between the straps 10, the device can be tightened around the neck of the bag or sack by pulling the free ends of the straps 10. In a further variant of the arrangement of Figure 3, tabs or plates 16', indicated by broken lines in Figure 3 and each similar to the tab or plate 16 of Figurel, may be secured to the free ends of the straps 10 remote from the respective eyes 14 to afford grips which can be grasped by the two hands of the user and pulled apart to tighten the device around the neck of the bag or sack. In this variant, the text or the visual symbol on the one hand, and/or the bar code or other machine readable marking on the other hand, may be provided on the tabs 16' and the tabs 16 may be dispensed with or may simply provide a measure of redundancy.

Whilst reference has been made above to the use of the device in IS identifying the contents of bags of sorted refuse, it will be appreciated that a device in accordance with the invention may be used in applying identification indicators to many kinds of items around which a strap or the like can conveniently be fastened. Furthermore, whilst, in the embodiments described, the device uses a ratchet and pawl mechanism, known per se, other fastener arrangements may be used, such as buckles with apertured straps, simple knottable ties, complementary matted fibre and hooked pile fasteners of the "VELCRO" type, and so on.

In the present specification "comprises" means "includes or consists oft' and "comprising" means "including or consisting of".

The features disclosed in the foregoing description, or the following claims, or the accompanying drawings, expressed in their specific forms or in terms of a means for performing the disclosed function, or a method or process for attaining the disclosed result, as appropriate, may, separately, or in any combination of such features, be utilised for realising the invention in diverse forms thereof. )

Claims

CLAIMS: 1. A device in the form of in the form of a combined identifying

means and attachment or securing means, the device comprising a flexible strap, tie or filament and a fastener element to receive said flexible strap, tie or filament, said device carrying a machine readable marking or code.
2. A device according to claim 1 in which said machine-readable marking or code is carried by a tab or plate formed integrally with said fastener element.
3. A device according to claim 1 in which said machine-readable marking or code is provided on said flexible filament or strap.
4. A device according to claim 1 which comprises two flexible filaments or straps each fixed to a respective fastener element, each flexible filament or strap being passed through the fastener element of the other to define a loop between the two fastener elements and between the two flexible filaments or straps, and wherein a pull tab are provided at the ends of the respective flexible straps remote from the respective fastener elements, whereby said loop can be closed, e.g. around a bag neck passed through said loop, by pulling said pull tabs in opposite directions.
5. A device according to claim 1 in which each said flexible filament or strap has a row of ratchet teeth formed along one side thereof and wherein the or each said fastener element comprises an eye and a pawl element disposed within the eye for co-operation with such row of ratchet teeth of a said strap passed through said eye, the arrangement being such that the strap can be drawn through the eye in one direction but is prevented from passing through in the opposite direction by co-operation of the pawl with said ratchet teeth, whereby the device can be drawn tight around an article such as the neck of a bag, and will thereafter be secured against loosening by said pawl co-operating with said ratchet teeth.
6. A device according to claim 2 in which the or each said strap, tie or filament is moulded integrally with its respective fastener element and marking- carrying plate.
7. A device according to claim 1 and substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.