NZ591454A - Tag from flat waterproof material, with resilient head to be bent to pass through aperture to form looped tag, typically as plant label - Google Patents

Abstract

A labelling tag 1 comprises a unitary substantially planar body 1a of moisture resistant resilient material. The body1a has two opposing ends1b and 1c defining its length and has a reduced width neck section 4 formed adjacently inward of one end 1c to define a head 3 at that end. At least one restricted aperture 5 (preferably a slit bordered by flaps 6) is formed through the body 1a adjacent to the neck section 4 whereby the body 1a can be bent to present the head 3 to an aperture 5 and be inserted therein to prise open and enter the aperture3 to engage the neck 4 therein. To that end, the thickness and material of the body 1a render the body 1a resilient but semi-rigid and this also enables the faces to be printed upon by an off-set printing process.

Description

P.F. 5 Code 1050 Fee: $250 NEW ZEALAND PATENTS ACT 1953 No. 591454 Priority Date: 1 March 2011 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION An improved display tag We, Orion Plastics Limited, a New Zealand company of 9/33 Elizabeth Knox Place, St Johns, Auckland 1072, New Zealand do hereby declare the invention for which we pray that a Patent may be granted to us and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: 12-02-20- prov as lodged 2 This invention relates to labels and more particularly to non-intrusive labelling tags suitable for use in inclement conditions. A typical example for use of the tag is in the individual identifying and display of other information on young plants.

Identifying and related information tags are well known and fabricated from various materials 5 with those intended for use in inclement conditions (for example from regular dosage with water) being traditionally made form thin plastics film like sheet material. Fundamentally this is to be cost effective by providing both minimal material usage and printing costs. Such tags often include a waist section separating a main display from an engagement section incorporating an aperture(s) therein. Non-intrusive attachment about, for example a plant 10 stem, is by encircling the stem with the tag and insertion of the display section into the aperture until the waist is engaged therein.

A precursor to achieving this engagement is providing the aperture has both enlarged and reduced opening sections, the first to enable entry of the main display section therethrough and the later to engage the waist. Further, owing to the flaccid like nature of these labels typically 15 bunching of the tag is necessary to achieve the required entry which is awkward and also a positive engagement is not readily determined. Additionally, owing to the thinness or flaccid characteristics of such tags there are limitations on the means or methods by which they can be cost effectively printed with any desired indicia.

An obj ect of this invention is to provide a tag which it is envisaged will go a considerable way 20 in overcoming the problems or limitations of the aforesaid known tags. A further object is to at least provide the public with a useful choice.

According to a first embodiment of this invention there is provided a labelling tag comprising a unitary substantially planar body of moisture resistant resilient material having two 12-02-20- prov as lodged 3 opposing ends defining a length of the tag body and having a reduced width neck section formed adjacently inward of one end to define a head at that associated end, a restricted aperture formed through the body adjacent to the neck section to extend between two opposing faces thereof, the faces defining a thickness to the body sufficient to render the body semi-5 rigid, the resiliency of the body enabling the body to be bent to present the head to the aperture and the rigidity of the body enabling the head to be inserted therein to prise open and enter the aperture to engage the neck therein.

According to a second embodiment of this invention there is provided a labelling tag as described in the preceding paragraph wherein the aperture is formed as a slit in the body.

According to a third embodiment of this invention there is provided a labelling tag as described in either of the two immediately preceding paragraphs wherein the slit is bordered on at least one side thereof by a flap formed from the body material.

According to a fourth embodiment of this invention there is provided a labelling tag as described in any one of the three immediately preceding paragraphs wherein the width of the 15 head tapers inwardly toward the associated end of the tag.

According to a fifth embodiment of this invention there is provided a labelling tag as described in any one of the four immediately preceding paragraphs wherein the body is formed from polypropylene plastics material with a thickness in the range of 0.2 -2.00 mm According to a sixth embodiment of this invention there is provided a labelling tag as 20 described in any one of the five immediately preceding paragraphs wherein the body is printed at least on one face with insignia applied by an off-set printing process. 12-02-20- prov as lodged 4 In further describing the invention reference is made to the accompanying drawings of a preferred embodiment wherein, Fig. 1 is a plan view of the tag, and Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the tag depicting entry of the head into an aperture, and Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the tag depicting the tag in use about a plant with the head engaged into an aperture.

A labelling tag 1 is made from a moisture resistant material, preferably polypropylene plastics, in the form of a planar strip. The tag 1 has a unitary body la having a two opposing ends lb and lc, defining a length of the tag. Preferably the width 2 of the tag 1, at least the 10 interlocking section thereof containing a head 3 and head engagement aperture(s) 5 as described in more detail below, is substantially less than the length thereof. Referring in particular to Figs. 2 and 3, the body la has a thickness extending between two opposing planar faces Id and le. It is envisaged that the typical thickness of a tag will be about 0.4mm. The thickness depicted in the drawings is "oversized" solely for the purposes of clarity. Referring 15 in particular to Fig.3, and as described in more detail below, the thickness thereof provides, in combination with the material of the body la that the body la is of a resilient semi-rigid nature. The semi-rigidity of the body la enables both faces Id and If to be readily and cost effectively printed upon by utilising offset, including web-fed, printing processes.

The tag body la has a reduced width neck section 4 adjacent to one end lc thereof and which 20 forms the head 3 at that end lc of the body la. A head 3 engagement aperture 5 is formed adjacent to the neck section 4 on the side thereof opposite the head 3. As depicted, preferably more than one aperture 5 is provided at spaced intervals away from the neck section 4 to 12-02-20- prov as lodged enable different loop sizes to be created by this interlocking section as discussed below. Preferably the width of the head 3 is marginally less than the width 2 of the majority of the body la and is arrow shaped, that is, tapering inwardly toward the associated end lc of the tag 1. Preferably a weakened line 3 a is formed, such as by pressing an indentation into the 5 material of the head 3, centrally and longitudinally thereof to facilitate lateral pinching or bending of the head 3 as depicted in Fig. 2 when presented into an aperture 5.

Preferably the aperture(s) 5 extend transversely of the body 1 a and are in the nature of slit, that is, formed without removal of any material of the body 1 a thus providing for restricted entry thereinto. Preferably the aperture(s) 5 are bordered on at least one longitudinal side thereof by 10 a flap 6 of the body la material. The flap(s) 6 are preferably formed by extending the ends of the aperture slit(s) 5 longitudinally a marginal distance 5a and forming a weakened line 7 (similar to line 3 a) transversely therebetween. This provides that entry of the head 3 into an aperture 5 requires flexing or the prising apart of the flap(s) 6 that also act as barbs to entrap the head 3 within an aperture 5. The length of the body la is preferably sufficient to provide 15 a tail section 1 f clear of the apertures 5 on the faces 1 d and 1 e of which required indicia can be printed. This is not to say that the remainder of the faces 1 d and 1 e cannot also be printed on.

If required the clear tail section If can be substantially wider than the width 2 of the interlocking section containing the apertures 5 and head 3.

In use and referring in particular to Figs. 2 and 3, the material and thickness of the body la 20 provide that the tag 1 is sufficiently flexible to be looped back on itself to present the head 3 to an aperture 5. In so doing the head 3 is preferably pinched, typically between thumb and forefinger, to partially fold the head 3 along line 3 a. The head 3 can be inserted into a slit 5 to prise it open and upon the neck 4 entering the slit 3 the body material in particular the flaps 6, 12-02-20- prov as lodged 6 will flex back to provide a positive engagement. The spacing of the aperture(s) 5 from the head 3 is such that with the aforesaid engagement a loop of appropriate nominal diameter can be formed to non-intrusively encircle, for example, a stem of a plant. 12-06-27- 1st amended spcc Received by IPONZ 27 Jun 2012 7

Claims (5)

1. WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 1 A labelling tag comprising a unitary substantially planar body of moisture resistant 5 resilient material having two opposing ends defining a length of the tag body and having a reduced width neck section formed adjacently inward of one end to define a head at that associated end, a restricted aperture formed through the body adjacent to the neck section to extend between two opposing faces thereof, the faces defining a thickness to the body sufficient to render the body semi-rigid, the resiliency of the body enabling the body to be bent 10 to present the head to the aperture and the rigidity of the body enabling the head to be inserted therein to prise open and enter the aperture to engage the neck therein.

2. A labelling tag as claimed in claim 1 wherein the aperture is formed as a slit in the body.

3. A labelling tag as claimed in either claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the aperture is bordered 15 on at least one side thereof by a flap formed from the body material.

4. A labelling tag as claimed in any one of the three preceding claims wherein the width of the head tapers inwardly toward the associated end of the tag.

5. A labelling tag as claimed in any one of the four preceding claims wherein the body is formed from polypropylene plastics material with a thickness in the range of 0.2 -2.00 mm 20 6 A labelling tag as claimed in any one of the five preceding claims wherein the body is printed at least on one face with insignia applied by an off-set printing process. 12-02-20- prov as lodged 8 7 A labelling tag substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings. ORION PLASTICS LIMITED By their Attorneys 5 NEWNHAM & CO