US2087295A - Self-clinching identification tag - Google Patents

Description

July 20, 1937. A. A. F4'ANNIER SELF CLINCHI NG IDENTIFICATION TAG Filed Oct. 22. "1935 INVENTOR ,4. 4. PA wweze Patented July 20, 1937 UITED STATES rArsN'r orrics 6 Claims.

This invention relates to an identification tag, and more particularly a self-clinching identification tag. Such tags are designed primarily for use in identifying livestock though not restricted thereto. When used for identifying animals, tags of the present type are usually attached by puncturing the ear of an animal and clinching the tag, and therefore are generally known ear tags. The usual ear tag is attached by means of a specially designed clinching tool or plier, by means of which, the user bends the tongue of the tag around, so as to form a clinch.

The tag of the present invention has a pointed tongue adapted to pierce the object to which the tag is being attached, this being the customary manner, but instead of requiring a specially designed clincher tool to bend the tongue, this improved tag is provided with a curved hood which is an integral part of the tag and is adapted to engage the point as it emerges from the object, and to forcibly bend the tongue around to conform substantially to the inner contour of the hood. As a result, only a hammer or a pair of ordinary fiat-nosed pliers is required to close the tag, although if desired, any regular so-called ear-tag pliers can still be used.

The invention includes a braced construction in which the tongue is provided with a barb which slips past the edge of the hood in closing, and is automatically forced up in front of the face of the hood, thereby securely holding the tongue and making it virtually impossible to remove the tag without destroying its further usefulness as an identification tag.

In the drawing,

Fig. 1 represents a planof the tag as it is punched from the fiat strip of metal, and before it is bent around into shape ready for applying to an animals ear or to an object.

Fig. 2, a side elevation thereof.

Fig. 3, a side elevation, in the bent form, in which the tag is usually supplied to the purchaser, ready for use, this view being partly in section taken on the line 33 in Fig. 1.

Fig. 4, a view in perspective of the tag after it is closed into the clinched'forrn;

Fig. 5, a fragmentary view in perspective, showing another construction; and,

Figs. 6, '7, and 8, fragmentary elevations, partly in section, showing a number of diiferent constructions of tongues and points.

Referring to the drawing, the numeral 20 in Figs. 1 and 2, indicates a tag in the flat form just as it comes from the stamping dies. The tag in this form may be punched out of any suitable fiat material, preferably strips of metal, such as aluminum. In this instance it has the tongue 25, with barb 24 and point 25, as well as the curved hood 2% and a slotted hole or indenture 21.

Before attaching the tags, they are bent to approximately the form shown in Fig. 3, where the original body portion 2!! is formed into the straight portions or branches. ZB-i and 29-2, connected to each other by the curved portion 26-3. The tongue 2! is disposed on, and at substantially right angles to, one of the branches, in this instance, branch 20-2, while an aperture or perforation 28, is provided at the base of the hood or clincher, for example, the one at 26, on the other branch.

In applying the tag, the object to which it is to be attached, is inserted between the tip of the tongue and the under surface of the p posed branch. The branches of the tag may then be closed together between an ordinary hammer and anything that will serve as a holdon anvil; or by means of ordinary straight-nosed pliers; or by means of any regular ear-tag pliers. Whatever method is used to bring the two branches together, the result is the same, namely, to automatically clinch the tongue where it occupies substantially the position indicated in Fig. 4. In the present instance, during the closing operation, the tip 30 of the tongue point 25 passes through the perforation 28 and contacts the inner curved surface 3! of the hood or clincher 2%. As the closing pressure continues to act, the tongue is curved inwardly until finally the underside of the point contacts the corner 29, Fig. 6, of the portion defining the hole or indenture 21, at which time the point is pushed back until the barb or abutment 2 B is substantially in engagement with the face 32 of the clincher 26. At the same time, the point is guided into the indenture 21, which forms a sheath for the point.

In the construction shown in Fig. '7, the tip of the tongue is sheathed in an indentation 3d, which too, has the efiect of pushing the barb back into a position where the abutment is locked against the face of the clincher.

In Fig. 5, the clincher 36 instead of being hooded, is in the form of a bent finger.

In Fig. 8, the point 35 is sheathed in the valley 3'! formed by and between the upstanding ridges 38.

Fig. 9 indicates in general, that my automatic, self-contained clincher is applicable to any clinchable tongue.

Here, the tongue 39, operated upon by the clincher 40, has no locking barb, but nevertheless has substantially all the holding properties of ordinary tags.

I am aware that it is not new to construct an ear tag with a tongue, which, in attaching the tag, passes into a curved engaging portion. Therefore, I do not claim an identification tag broadly, but only as such a tag is provided with a self-contained clincher automatically operable upon a co-operating tongue, to push a locking brace carried by the tongue, into the locking position, with the result that the tongue rests largely within the clincher but the locking brace is outside and in front of the clincher.

Having fully described my invention, What I claim is:

'1. An identification tag, including in combination, two connected branches capable of being closed towards each other, a clincher integral with one of the branches and having a face transverse to a surface of that branch, the branch carrying the clincher being perforated to receive a clinchable tongue, and a clinchable tongue with locking means having an abutment disposed on the other branch, the said clincher being operable when the two branches are closed together, to engage and clinch the said tongue in such a manner that its abutment is caused to push into engagement with the transverse face of the clincher.

2. An identification tag according to claim 1, in which the locking means consists of a barb protruding backward from the clinchable tongue and adapted to be automatically pushed upward in front of and locked against the transverse face of the clincher.

3. An identification tag, including in combination, two connected branches capable of being closed together, one of the branches having a clinchable tongue, and the other branch a perforation through which said tongue extends when the branches are closed, a clincher integral with the perforated branch so as to extend above the perforation, the said clincher having a front face, and a point projecting forwardly from the tongue, the said point having an abutment in engagement with the said front face and a tip having a bearing on the perforated branch, whereby the abutment is held positively in the said engagement in order to prevent the clinched tongue from becoming disengaged.

4. An identification tag according to claim 3, in which the clincher consists of a hood having sides adjacent the perforation, and the clincher front face extends along the top and sides of the said hood.

5. An identification tag according to claim 3, in which the clincher consists of a bent finger over the perforation, and the said clincher front face is located at the outer end of the bent finger.

6. An identification tag, including in combination, a member having a perforation, a clincher integral with the said member and extending over the said perforation; a second member opposite the first-mentioned member and connected thereto so that the two members may be brought together, a curved tongue having a point extending from the second member, and a barb at the rear of the point, the said tongue being disposed largely within the said clincher but so that its point lies outside the clincher and the barb is in engagement with the outside of the clincher.

ARTHUR A. PANNIER.

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