US3556291A

US3556291A - Tag strip and holder combination

Info

Publication number: US3556291A
Application number: US822391A
Authority: US
Inventors: Eugene Sebring
Original assignee: PERFECTION ENTERPRISES Inc
Current assignee: PERFECTION ENTERPRISES Inc
Priority date: 1969-05-07
Filing date: 1969-05-07
Publication date: 1971-01-19
Anticipated expiration: 1988-01-19

Abstract

A set of tags manufactured in a unitary strip separated by frangible sections and having integral retaining tabs is in combination with a holder therefor comprising a cardboard packet with slots therethrough to slidably receive said tabs.

Description

United States Patent Inventor Eugene Sebring Chicago, Ill.

App]. No. 822,391

Filed May 7, 1969 Patented Jan. 19, I971 Assignee Perfection Enterprises, Inc.

Chicago, III. a corporation of Illinois TAG S TRIP AND HOLDER COMBINATION 13 Claims, 6 Drawing Figs.

US. Cl 206/56, 40/21, 40/117; 206/79 1m. Cl G09f3/00, 609d 3/ 13.655122/99 Field of Search 206/56(A3),

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,803,602 5/1931 Dey 206/79 1,856,375 5/1932 Cohen 206/82 3,057,473 10/1962 Stem et al.. 206/78 3,164,250 1/1965 Paxton 206/56(A3) 3,182,791 5/1965 Jenner.... 206/42 3,340,630 9/1967 Becker 40/21(C) Primary Examiner-Williarn T. Dixson, Jr. Attorney-Pendleton, Neuman, Williams & Anderson ABSTRACT: A set of tags manufactured in a unitary strip separated by frangible sections and having integral retaining tabs is in combination with a holder therefor comprising a cardboard packet with slots therethrough to slidably receive said tabs.

PATENTEl] JANISIQYI 3.556291 6 3:3 5% b 5 JM TAG STRIP AND HOLDER COMBINATION BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to the provision of a unitary set of tags separated by frangible sections and a holder therefor. More particularly, this invention relates to the provision of a calendar on a strip of pliable metallic tags, each tag representing, for example, one month and being separated from adjacent tags by frangible sections, and a cardboard holder having slots therethrough and adapted to conveniently hold said calendar.

Various tag set and holder combinations have heretofore been proposed but have had many weaknesses associated therewith. For example, often the tag set was not of unitary construction. This made handling and storage of the set cumbersome as each tag had to be individually handled. In sets that were of unitary construction, often no means was provided by which a smooth edge would result when the tags were separated for use. The holder in which the tag set was contained did not allow for easy removal of either the entire set or an individual tag. Moreover, the holder often did not provide a convenient method for storing the remaining tags of the set after one or more has been removed. Further, the tag set and holder combination was often so bulky that it could not be shipped or mailed in an ordinary envelope but required a special container or box. Finally, the holder often did not present a suitable or sufficiently large surface on which a message accompanying the tags could be printed.

SUMMARY In carrying out this invention in one form,a set of integrally connected pliable metallic tags having tabs attached thereto and a cardboard holder having slots therethrough to slidably receive those tabs is provided. More particularly, a watchband calendar is provided, each month being printed or otherwise inscribed on the face of a separate, pliable, metallic tag. The tags of the calendar are integrally formed and separated by frangible sections made as by scoring. Attachedto some or all of the tags are retaining tabs. Additionally, a cardboard holder or packet is provided which may have printed thereon an advertising message or greeting. The holder has a series of slots for receiving the tabs and securing the calendar to the holder.

It is an object of this invention to provide a unitary tag set and holder combination which is of a shapethat is convenient for storage and mailing. It is a further object to provide such a combination in which it is easy to remove either a single tag or the entire set. It is also an object to provide a combination such that once one or more tags are removed from the set, the remaining ones may be conveniently stored in the holder. A

further object of this invention is to provide a unitarily constructed tag series and holder therefor wherein when the individual tags are separated a smooth edge results along the line of separation. Another object of this'invention is to provide a tag series and holder combination which includes a set of tabs on the tags to secure them within the holder. Another object of this invention is to provide such a combination in which, when the tabs are removed from the tags, a smooth surface results along the line of separation. A still further object of this invention is to provide a means for fulfilling the aboveidentit'ied objects on which an advertising or similar message may be presented to a consumer or similar person in a manner such that he will be motivated to retain the means bearing the message and periodically refer to it over an extended period of time. Further and additional objects will appear from the description, accompanying drawings, and appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a fragmentary top plan view of a first embodiment FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 4-4 of FIG. 3 showing the frangible section dividing the two adjacent tags;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view similar to that of FIG. 4 but showing two adjacent tags after they have been separated at the frangible section adjoining them; and

FIG. 6 is an enlarged, fragmentary, perspective view of one of the tags of FIG. 5 showing the surface resulting when two adjacent tags are separated at the frangible section adjoining them.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to FIG. I, one embodiment 10 of the present invention is shown comprising tag strip 12 and holder 14. Holder 14 may take any one of a number of forms, but in this embodiment is made from cardboard and includes retaining leaf l6 and cover leaf 18, shown fragmentally, foldably connected at hinge 20. The holder may have printed on either the cover or retaining leaves a greeting or advertising message.

Tag-strip 12 includes a series of individual tags 22. The tags are integral with one another and are preferably formed from a thin, pliable, metallic material. They may be advantageously simultaneously stamped from a sheet of such material. In FIG. 1 the tags are shown placed end to end in one continuous strip. In the embodiment of FIG. 2, the tags are placed side to side.

Each tag 22 includes face 32 and margins 34. Margins 34 are attached at opposite sides of the face and are adapted to fold back underneath face 52 to secure the tag to a convenient object. It is not necessary that the margin be folded along the line of its attachment to the face. It may be folded on a line further removed from the face. The face preferably has printed or otherwise inscribed thereon a message or information of essentially timely nature. In the preferred embodiment, the tags are in a series of twelve and each tag has printed thereon a calendar for one month forming a breakoff, watchband calendar. Each month the user may remove a single tag from the tag-strip as will subsequently be described, place it adjacent a watchband, and fold the marginal portions around the watchband to secure the tag-strip to the watchband. Other information may also be inscribed on the tag. For example, a religious institution might wish to give a series of tags to its members, each tag bearing an appropriate religious thought for the week or month. A sales organization may issue a tag series to its salesmen, each tag having thereon price information about special sales to be run during specified times. The tags might conveniently have only one marginal area 34, it being attached to one side of the face and being adapted to secure the tag to an article of clothing such as a shirt pocket or cuff.

Frangible sections 24 separate the individual tags. The nature of the frangible sections is shown specifically in the cross section of FIG. 4. It will be seen that the frangible section is comprised of an area of reduced cross section formed at the intersection of bevel surfaces 26 extending inwardly from the faces 28 to form a V-shaped recess. The recesses may be formed, for example, by the same stroke of the stamping machine which forms the tag-strip or in a separate operational step, as by scoring.

The frangible section gives a means by which the individual tags may easily be separated from one another with a resultant smooth edge along the area of separation. The area of reduced cross section yields a joint about which two adjacent tags may be flexed with respect to one another. The joint will have substantially less resistance to such flexing or bending action than the adjacent areas. Consequently, when the material is repeatedly bent to a point exceeding its elastic limit, the tag-strip will break at the frangible section along the area of reduced cross section as is illustrated in FIG. 5. Moreover, since the area of low resistance is well defined the resultant edges will be relatively smooth. This is best seen in FIG. 6 which shows a partial enlarged view of one of the tags of FIG. 5 and the resultant smooth surface of separation 30. When this invention is used as a watchband calendar discussed above, smooth separation surfaces are required since they will be exposed to the skin of the users arm.

lntegrally attached to one or more of the tags are retaining tabs 36, shown partially in dashed lines in FIGS. 1 and 2. At locations corresponding to retaining tabs 36 are slots 38 positioned on retaining leaf 16. When the tag-strip is placed within the holder, retaining tabs 36 are inserted through slots 38 to secure the tag-strip to the holder. Perpendicular slots 40 may also be provided in retaining leaf 16 at one end of slots 38 and perpendicular thereto. The perpendicular slots ease the insertion and removal of the retaining tabs through slots 38.

In the embodiment of FIG. 1 a pair of retaining tabs is attached on opposite sides of each individual tag. This arrangement has the advantage that no matter how many of the individual tags are removed the remainder will be securely held in the holder. In the embodiment of H0. 2 only two retaining tabs are used and they are attached to sides of terminal tags 42 at opposite ends of the tag-strip. This embodiment has the advantage that the strip may easily be removed from and inserted in the holder. The retaining tabs are separated from the tags with which they are associated by frangible sections 44 similar to the frangible sections 24 separating the individual tags described above.

It will be obvious that certain modifications of the specific embodiments shown may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of this invention. For example, the retaining tabs might be used in place of the margins to attach the tags to the material or objects to which they are to be secured. Various arrangements for the retaining tabs and slots could be used. A single tag series could be made up of a number of tagstrips disposed within the same holder.

lclaim:

1. An article comprising:

a holder having a retaining leaf;

a plurality of slots positioned on said retaining leaf and extending therethrough;

a tag-strip removably attached to said retaining leaf and made of rigid pliant material and comprising a series of polygonal tags frangibly connected to each other, each tag being connected to at least one adjacent tag at the corresponding edge thereof; and

a plurality of tabs frangibly connected to said tag-strip and disposed in said slots thereby securing said tag-strip to said retaining leaf.

2. The article of claim 1 wherein each of said tags has a face and a margin integral with a side of said face, said margin being adapted to be folded back underneath said face after the tag is detached from the tag-strip.

3. The article ofclaim 1, wherein each of said tags has a face and two margins each integral with a side of said face, said margins being adapted to be folded back underneath said face after the tag is detached from the tag-strip.

4. The article of claim 3 wherein there are 12 tags in said tag-strip and the face of each tag bears a calendar for one of the months of the year.

5. The article of claim 4 wherein there are two tabs frangibly connected to the terminal tags of the tag-strip.

6. The article of claim 5 wherein there are two slots which secure one of said tabs to the retaining leaf, said slots being substantially perpendicular to each other.

7. The article of claim 3 wherein the tags are connected to each other along the corresponding margins of adjacent tags.

8. The article of claim 7 wherein the tabs are frangibly connected to the sides of the faces of the tags, other than those sides of said faces which are integral with said margins.

9. The article of claim 3 wherein the tags are connected to each other along corresponding sides of the faces other than the sides integral with said margins.

10. The article of claim 9 wherein the tabs are connected to the terminal tags of the tag-strip.

11. An article comprising:

a holder havin a retaining leaf;

a plurality of s ots positioned on said retaining leaf;

a tag-strip removably attached to said retaining leaf and made of rigid pliant material and comprising a series of 12 polygonal tags frangibly connected to each other, each tag being connected to at least one adjacent tag at the corresponding edge thereof and each tag having a face bearing a calendar for one of the months of the year and two margins each integral with a side of said face, said margins being adapted to be folded back underneath said face after the tag is detached from the tag-strip; and

[2. The article of claim 11 wherein there are two tabs frangibly connected to the terminal tags of the tag-strip.

13. The article of claim 12 wherein there are two slots which secure one of said tabs to the retaining leaf, said slots being substantially perpendicular to each other.

Claims

1. An article comprising: a holder having a retaining leaf; a plurality of slots positioned on said retaining leaf and extending therethrough; a tag-strip removably attached to said retaining leaf and made of rigid pliant material and comprising a series of polygonal tags frangibly connected to each other, each tag being connected to at least one adjacent tag at the corresponding edge thereof; and a plurality of tabs frangibly connected to said tag-strip and disposed in said slots thereby securing said tag-strip to said retaining leaf.

3. The article of claim 1, wherein each of said tags has a face and two margins each integral with a siDe of said face, said margins being adapted to be folded back underneath said face after the tag is detached from the tag-strip.

11. An article comprising: a holder having a retaining leaf; a plurality of slots positioned on said retaining leaf; a tag-strip removably attached to said retaining leaf and made of rigid pliant material and comprising a series of 12 polygonal tags frangibly connected to each other, each tag being connected to at least one adjacent tag at the corresponding edge thereof and each tag having a face bearing a calendar for one of the months of the year and two margins each integral with a side of said face, said margins being adapted to be folded back underneath said face after the tag is detached from the tag-strip; and a plurality of tabs frangibly connected to said tag-strip and disposed in said slots thereby securing said tag-strip to said retaining leaf.

12. The article of claim 11 wherein there are two tabs frangibly connected to the terminal tags of the tag-strip.