WO1995024709A1

WO1995024709A1 - Key identification device

Info

Publication number: WO1995024709A1
Application number: PCT/US1995/002786
Authority: WO
Inventors: Ralph C. Deuschle
Original assignee: Deuschle Ralph C
Priority date: 1994-03-07
Filing date: 1995-03-07
Publication date: 1995-09-14

Abstract

A method of identifying an article (10), the method including associating a border (16) and a layer (22) to define an identification surface (14), placement of the border (16) relative to the identification surface (14) effective to prevent objects located adjacent the identification surface (14) from abrading the identification surface (14).

Description

KEY IDENTIFICATION DEVICE

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a device and method for labeling an article. Many people carry keys which have no immediate or regular use. People accumulate keys with no immediate use for a variety of reasons. For example, the owner of a particular key may not recall what lock the key opens. As another example, the owner of a key may be carrying the key because of an anticipated future need to lock or unlock a specific article. Alternatively, the owner of a key may simply choose to carry a particular key on the chance that the key might be needed to lock or unlock an as of yet undetermined article.

People who carry several keys sometimes have difficulty locating a specific key, especially if some of the keys have no immediate use. Keys may have similar shapes, sizes, or colors which make key identification difficult. Labeling of individual keys is one alternative for easing identification of a particular key among a group of keys. Labeling of individual keys may also reduce the accumulation of keys with no remaining use. Various types of key identification devices are available. The key identification devices are often placed on or over a component of the key. Many keys include components such as a key bow and a key blade. For purposes of this disclosure, the key blade is the part of the key which is substantially inserted into the lock, and the key bow is that part of the key which typically remains outside the lock when the key blade is inserted into the lock.

One key identification device incorporates a snap-on key cover which snaps over a key bow. The snap-on key cover leaves the key blade exposed such that the key blade is able to be inserted into locks. The snap- on key cover may include a unique shape and color to identify a particular key and may also include a marking surface for identifying a particular key. The snap-on key cover may include a clear abrasion shield to prevent objects, such as other keys, from marring the marking surface.

Though snap-on key covers are beneficial, snap-on key covers are not without disadvantages. A person may have keys with different sizes and different shapes. A variety of snap-on key covers with different sizes and shapes are therefore needed to fit the different keys. Also, snap-on key covers add weight and bulk to keys and sets of keys which are carried. Snap-on key covers may also be relatively costly to purchase compared to other identification devices.

A key may also be identified by attaching a paper or foil sticker to the key. A single design of paper or foil sticker may fit many shapes of key bows. Also, paper and foil stickers may be cheaper than other key identification devices, such as snap-on key covers. However, paper and foil stickers are not a total solution. For example, paper and foils stickers typically do not offer good wear characteristics such as desirable abrasion resistance. Indeed, paper and foils stickers are susceptible to being scratched by adjacent keys and other objects. This may render identification information written or printed on the paper or foil sticker illegible.

The illegible information problem is further complicated by undesirable absorption characteristics of paper and foil stickers. Paper stickers not only absorb ink, but also absorb many other fluids, including water and oils. Most inks are soluble in water or oil and will run when wetted with water or oil. Also, paper that has absorbed water or oil may tear easily and may fall off the article attached to, especially if water or oil is absorbed through the paper to contact any adhesive that holds the sticker to the key. Foil stickers, on the other hand typically have low ink receptivity which allows written or printed identification information to wear away within days, weeks, or a few months.

Concerns about protecting identification surfaces exist for articles other than keys. Many articles, including tools, household goods, office supplies, sporting equipment, and camping supplies require durable identification devices with protected identification surfaces. One such identification device is described in U.S. Patent No. 4,812,633. The identification device includes a wallet-sized data card with a magneto-optic active region for rotational recordings of data. A polymeric coating is applied to the magneto-optic active region. A fender projects outward from the data card and is disposed adjacent an outer circumference of the recording region of the data card.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention includes a device for identifying an article that includes an identification surface with a selected surface area and a border. The border includes a distal surface disposed a selected distance away from the identification surface. The border, in combination with the selected surface area, protects the identification surface from abrasion by adjacent objects. The present invention also includes a kit for identifying articles and a method of identifying an article.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Figure 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the device for identifying an article of the present invention.

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken along line 2-2 of Figure 1. Figure 3 is a sectional view of an alternative embodiment of the device of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a sectional view of an alternative embodiment of the device of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the device for identifying an article of the present invention.

Figure 6 is a sectional view taken along line 6-6 of Figure 5.

Figure 7 is a top plan view of one embodiment of the kit for identifying articles of the present invention.

Figure 8 is a sectional view taken along line 8-8 of Figure 7. Figure 9 is a top plan view of another embodiment of the kit for identifying articles of the present invention.

Figure 10 is a sectional view taken along line 10-10 of Figure 9.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

A device of the present invention for identifying an article is indicated generally at 10 in Figure 1. The device 10 includes a base 12 with a marking surface 14 and also includes a border 16 associated with the base 12; The border 16 surrounds and defines the marking surface 14. Additionally, the border 16 is orientated relative to the marking surface 14 to protect the marking surface 14. The border 16 protects the marking surface by preventing objects (not shown) located adjacent the device 10 from contacting the marking surface 14. The border 16 also protects the marking surface 14 by preventing objects located adjacent the device 10 from abrading the marking surface 14. The device 10 may also include a common border portion 17 (shown in phantom in Figure 1) that divides the marking surface 14 into marking surface portions 14a, 14b. The device 10 is attached to an article, such as a key 18, a tool, or a piece of sport or camping equipment, to identify the article.

Throughout the drawings, like elements will be referred to using like reference characters. Layers, finishes, and other features depicted in the drawings are exaggerated for purposes of clarity.

The border 16 includes an upper surface 20 that faces away from the marking surface 14. The distance between the upper surface 20 and the marking surface 14 is designated as height dimension (A) of the border 16. The common border portion 17 also includes an upper surface (not shown) that is analogous to the upper surface 20. It has been discovered that certain combinations of the border 16 height dimension (A) and the marking surface 14 surface area prevent objects (not shown) located adjacent the device 10 from contacting and abrading the marking surface 14. Also, it has been discovered that certain combinations of the border 16 height dimension (A) and the marking surface 14 surface area prevent objects (not shown) located adjacent the device 10 from abrading the marking surface 14, even though the objects contact the marking surface 14. It is believed the border 16 prevents abrasion by objects that do contact the marking surface by reducing the pressure the objects place on the marking surface by up to eighty-five percent when the objects are also in contact with the border 16. Other keys, human fingers, wallets, cosmetics containers, coins, credit cards and pens are examples of objects, though this list is not exhaustive.

For the device 10 with the border 16 oriented to define the marking surface 14, with the marking surface 14 substantially shaped like a rectangle, it has been found that the following combinations of approximate border 16 height dimension (A) and approximate marking surface 14 width and length dimensions prevent adjacent objects (not shown) from contacting and abrading the marking surface 14:

Border (16) Marking Surface (14)

Height Dimension (A) Width Length

0.003 inches 0.094 inches 0.281 inches (0.076 mm) (2.381 mm) (7.144 mm)

0.005 inches 0.141 inches 0.344 inches (0.127 mm) (3.572 mm) (8.731 mm)

0.007 inches 0.188 inches 0.406 inches (0.178 mm) (4.762 mm) (10.319 mm)

0.010 inches 0.219 inches 0.656 inches (0.254 mm) (5.556 mm) (16.669 mm)

The following combinations of approximate border 16 height dimension (A) and approximate marking surface 14 width and length dimensions have been found to prevent adjacent objects (not shown) that do contact the marking surface 14 from abrading the marking surface 14 when the objects are also in contact with the border 16:

Border (16) Marking Surface (14)

Height Dimension (A) Width Length

0.025 inches 0.281 inches 0.438 inches (0.635 mm) (7.138 mm) (11.125 mm)

0.030 inches 0.300 inches 0.656 inches (0.762 mm) (7.620 mm) (16.662 mm)

0.045 inches 0.312 inches 0.762 inches (1.143 mm) (7.925 mm) (19.355 mm)

Though the height dimension (A) could theoretically be made significantly larger, on the order of 0.25 inches, to protect marking surfaces 14 with lengths and widths significantly larger than those recited above, such enlargement is not thought to be desirable. Such larger height dimensions (A) would interfere with the act of writing on the marking surface 14. Also, such larger height dimensions (A) would make keys 18 that include the device 10 cumbersome and less convenient to use.

The border 16 preferably has a thickness dimension (B) of approximately 0.047 inches (1.191 mm). It has been found that formation of the border 16 with thickness dimension (B) significantly less than 0.047 inches (1.191 mm) may tear the material the border 16 is made of when the border 16 is made by embossing. It has been found that border 16, when formed by embossing and with thickness dimension (B) significantly larger than 0.047 inches (1.191 mm), is not sufficiently rigid and may collapse on relatively light application of pressure to the border 16.

The marking surface 14 of the device 10 is preferably made of a material which is substantially porous to and readily accepts ink and provides substantially permanent ink adhesion for an image 15 printed or written using ball point pens, pencils, grease pens, typewriters, mechanized printing devices, computer printers, and the like. However, the material the marking surface 14 is made of should preferably limit movement of the ink outward from the image 15 so that the image 15 remains sharp and legible. The material of the marking surface 14 preferably does not absorb fluids other than ink, such as water and oils. The marking surface 14, the border 16 and the common border portion 17 preferably have good durability, abrasion resistance, and chemical resistance characteristics and preferably have long service lives. Referring to Figure 2, the base 12 of the device 10 includes an identification layer 22, one side of which forms the marking surface 14. The border 16 and the identification layer 22 are preferably integral with each other. In one embodiment, the border 16 and the identification layer 22 are made from a substantially flat sheet (not shown) of material. The border 16 and the identification layer 22 are integrally formed from the sheet of material, preferably by a conventional embossing technique. Other techniques for integrally forming the border 16 and the identification layer 22, such as molding, are envisaged. For example, a suitable molding plastic, such as polycarbonate, may be injection molded to integrally form the border 16 and the identification layer 22.

The base 12 may also include a first colored coating 24, that is applied to a bottom side 26 of the identification layer 22 opposite the marking surface 14. The base 12 may also include a second colored coating 28, that is applied to the first colored coating 24. The colored coatings 24, 28 are preferably applied to the identification layer 22 before forming the border 16. The border 16 is then preferably embossed in the layer 22 that includes the applied coatings 24, 28. It has been discovered that the border 16 and the marking surface 14 may be colored during manufacture without applying a coating, such as paint, to the marking surface 14 or outside surfaces of the border 16. The border 16 and the marking surface 14 may have the same color or may contrast in color. According to the discovery the device 10 is manufactured using certain materials to make the layer 22 and the border 16 in combination with certain thicknesses of the coatings 24, 28 and certain thicknesses of the identification layer 22. Coloring of the border 16 and the marking surface 14 may increase the legibility of images written or printed on the marking surface 14 and may aid in identifying the article that is marked with the device 10.

The discovery about coloring the device 10 allows the border 16 and the marking surface 14 to contrast in color and to be made of abrasion resistant material with good absorption and retention characteristics without applying colored coatings to the border 16 and the marking surface 14. The border 16, the identification layer 22, and thus the marking surface 14 are preferably made from a sheet of polycarbonate, such as Lexan^® #8A13 ("Lexan^®"), with a thickness of about 0.007 inches (0.178 mm). Lexan^® is available from General Electric Company of Pittsfield, Massachusetts.

Lexan^® is highly resistant to abrasion, chemically resistant to most fluids, and is durable for extended periods of time on the order of ten years or more. Additionally, the border 16 made of Lexan^® retains its embossed shape and rigidly withstands bending when impacted by objects. Lexan® also readily accepts and retains many inks with negligible drift of applied ink away from the image 15, but with desirable ink penetration on the order of about 0.003 inches (0.076 mm). It has been found that the image 15 may be suitably applied to the marking surface 14 made of Lexan^® using a Sanford^® Sharpie^® brand ultra-fine point permanent marker that is available from Sanford Corporation of Bellwood, Illinois.

The first colored coating 24 is preferably a vinyl-based ink, No. GY-V-240, that may be obtained from the Naz-dar Company of Chicago, Illinois. The No. GY-V-240 ink is tinted to meet PMS 429C, a shade of gray. The coating 24 is preferably applied to a thickness of about 0.0005 inches (0.013 mm). PMS stands for Pantone Ink Matching System, which is a recognized industry color standard in the United States. The second colored coating 28 is preferably also a vinyl-based ink, such as No. HG77 Gold that is available from Hermann Wiederhold GmbH of Helden, Germany. The No. HG77 Gold ink is preferably applied to a thickness of about 0.0005 inches (0.013 mm). It is to be understood that other materials used to make the first and second colored coatings 24, 28 and other colors of the first and second colored coatings 24, 28 are within the scope of the present invention.

When the colored coatings 24, 28 are applied to the identification layer 22 before the border 16 is formed and the border 16 is subsequently shaped, preferably by embossing the base 12, the second coating 28 has been discovered to be pressed through the first coating 24 proximate the border 16, as depicted in Figure 2. If the layer 22 and the border 16 are formed from a material that is substantially clear and substantially uncolored, the upper surface 20 of the border 16 visually appears to have the color of the coating 28 and the marking surface 14 visually appears to have the color of the coating 24. If the layer 22 and the border 16 are formed from a material that is opaque or is colored and the coatings 24, 28 visually contrast with each other, the upper surface 20 of the border 16 and the marking surface 14 may still visually contrast with each other. Here, the degree of contrast between the surfaces 14 and 20 depends upon the degree of contrast between the coatings 24 and 28 and the opaqueness and coloring of the material from which the layer 22 and the border 16 are formed.

Alternatively, the device 10 may be made without the first coating 24. Here, the second coating 28 is directly applied to the bottom side 26 of the identification layer 22 opposite the marking surface 14. The device 10 may also be made without either of the coatings 24, 28. For these alternative versions of the device 10, the upper surface 20 of the border 16 and the marking surface 14 do not visually contrast in color unless contrasting colored coatings are directly applied to one or both of the surfaces 14 and 20 or unless the material the layer 22 and the border 16 are formed from is colored to contrast the surfaces 14 and 20 with each other.

The device 10 is preferably attached to the key 18 by an adhesive layer 30. For the device 10 of Figure 2, the adhesive layer 30 is applied to the second coating 28 after the border 16 is embossed in the identification layer 22. The adhesive layer 30 is preferably made of an acrylic adhesive that is suitable for bonding to a wide range of surfaces including those made of plastics and metals. One suitable acrylic adhesive is No. 200 adhesive, which is available from Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company ("3M Co.") of St. Paul, Minnesota. The No. 200 adhesive is applied to a thickness of about 0.0005 inches (0.013 mm). The device 10 preferably also includes a liner (not shown), such as 0.007 inch thick (0.178 mm) 80 pound semi-bleached Kraft paper, that is releasably attached to the adhesive layer 30 to prevent the adhesive layer 30 from adhering to undesirable surfaces (not shown). The liner is removed prior to adhesively attaching the device 10 to the key 18.

For the alternative device 10 that does not include the first coating 24, the adhesive layer 30 is applied to the second coating 28 after the border 16 is embossed in the identification layer 22. For the alternative device 10 that does not include either of the coatings 24, 28, the adhesive layer 30 is applied to the bottom side 26 of the identification layer 22 after the border 16 is embossed in the identification layer 22. Optionally, the device 10 may be attached to the article with other attachment mechanisms, such as magnets, screws, nails, and the like. Such alternative attachment mechanisms would be substituted for the adhesive layer 30 and the liner.

Alternatively, the base 12 of the device 10 may be configured as in Figure 3. Here, the identification layer 22 includes a base layer 32 with a matte finish 34. The matte finish 34 is applied to an upper surface 36 of the base layer 32. The device 10 also includes the adhesive layer 30 that is applied to a lower surface 38 of the base layer 32. Additionally, a liner (not shown) is attached to the adhesive layer 32 to protect the adhesive layer before attachment of the device 10 to the key 18.

The border 16 of the device 10 depicted in Figure 3 is preferably shaped from the base layer 32 and the matte finish 34 to make the border 16 integral with the base layer 32 and the matte finish 34. The portion of the matte finish 34 located inside the border 16 makes up the marking surface 14. The border 16 may be formed using a conventional embossing technique, though other techniques for forming the border 16 integrally with the layer 32 and the finish 34 are envisaged.

In one embodiment, the base 12 depicted in Figure 3 is available as a label stock known as ScotchMark^® No. 7883 Silver Polyester label stock ("#7883 label stock"), which is available from 3M Co. of St. Paul, Minnesota. The #7883 label stock includes a matte-finish surface layer which makes up the matte finish 34. The matte-finish surface layer of the #7883 label stock incorporates an inorganically-filled polymeric material and offers superior abrasion resistance for both the border 16 and the marking surface 14.

The #7883 label stock includes a polyester film which makes up the base layer 32 and also includes an acrylic adhesive which makes up the adhesive layer 30. The acrylic adhesive is No. 300 High Strength Acrylic adhesive ("#300 adhesive"), also available from 3M Co. The #7883 label stock also includes a layer of 50 pound semi-bleached Kraft paper which makes up a liner (not shown) that is attached to the adhesive layer 30. For the base 12 depicted in Figure 3 that is made of the #7883 label stock, the base layer 32 is approximately 0.001 inches (0.025 mm) thick, the adhesive layer 30 is approximately 0.0035 inches (0.089 mm) thick, and the liner (not shown) is approximately 0.0028 inches (0.071 mm) thick.

Alternatively, the base 12 of the device 10 may be configured as in Figure 4. The identification layer 22 includes the base layer 32 with the matte finish 34, as in Figure 2. The adhesive layer 30 is applied to the base layer 32, also as in Figure 2. A liner (not shown) is attached to the adhesive layer 32 to protect the adhesive layer 32 before attachment of the device 10 to the key 18. The base 12 and the adhesive layer 32 depicted in Figure 4 may be made of the previously described ScotchMark® #7883 Silver Polyester label stock, which is available from 3M Co.

The matte-finish surface layer of the #7883 label stock makes up the matte finish 34. The polyester film of the #7883 label stock makes up the base layer 32, and the #300 adhesive of the #7883 label stock makes up the adhesive layer 30. Also, the 50 pound semi-bleached Kraft paper of the #7883 label stock makes up the Uner (not shown). For the base 12 depicted in Figure 4 that is made of the #7883 label stock, the base layer 32 is approximately 0.001 inches (0.025 mm) thick, the adhesive layer 30 is approximately 0.0035 inches (0.089 mm) thick, and the liner (not shown) is approximately 0.0028 inches (0.071 mm) thick.

The border 16 of the device 10 depicted in Figure 4 may be made of any of a variety of suitable, abrasion-resistant materials. In one embodiment, the border 16 is made of a clear polyester film. The film is available from 3M Co. in a variety of thicknesses and is suitable for borders 16 having height dimension (A) ranging from approximately 0.003 to 0.020 inches (0.076 to 0.508 mm). The polyester film that forms the border 16 is mounted on the matte finish 34 using a conventional adhesive (not shown), such as clear No. 400 adhesive, also available from 3M Co. The portion of the matte finish 34 located inside the border 16 makes up the marking surface 14.

Alternatively, the border 16 may be made of a coating material, such as a substantially clear varnish. A suitable mask (not shown) is employed to place the varnish on the matte finish 34 in the desired pattern of the border 16 such that the varnish is not applied to the portion of the matte finish 34 that makes up the marking surface 14. The embodiment of the border 16 employing the varnish is suitable for borders 16 with height dimension (A) ranging between approximately 0.003 and 0.007 inches.

The base 12 of the device 10 may also be configured similarly to the device 10 depicted in Figure 4, but with the identification layer 22 being a single layer (not shown), rather than the base layer 32 with the matte finish 34 of Figure 4. The adhesive layer 30 is applied directly to the single layer, and a liner (not shown) is releasably attached to the adhesive layer 30 to protect the adhesive layer 30 before attachment of the device 10 to the key 18. The single layer that is substituted for the base layer 32 and the matte finish 34 is preferably made from a sheet of polycarbonate, such as Lexan^®, with a thickness of about 0.007 inches (0.178 mm). The adhesive layer 30 is preferably made of 3M Co. #200 adhesive that is applied to a thickness of about 0.0005 inches (0.013 mm). The liner (not shown), may be made of 0.007 inch (0.178 mm) thick 80 pound semi-bleached Kraft paper. The border 16 of the device 10 depicted in Figure 4, with the single layer substituted for the base layer 32 and the matte finish 34, may be made of any of a variety of suitable, abrasion-resistant materials such as the previously mentioned clear polyester film available from 3M Co. The polyester film is mounted on the single layer by a conventional adhesive (not shown), such as 3M Co. clear #400 adhesive. Alternatively, the border 16 may be made of a coating material, such as substantially clear varnish that is applied using a mask (not shown) to protect the portion of the single layer interior to the border 16 that makes up the marking surface 14.

A device 110 for identifying articles is depicted in Figure 5 in combination with a key 118. The device 110 includes the base 12 with the marking surface 14, as previously described with reference to the device 10 of Figure 1. However, unlike the key 18 of Figure 1, the key 118 has a bottom 120 and sides 122 which define a recess 124, as best illustrated in Figure 6. The sides 122 extend from an outer surface 126 of the key 118 and end at the bottom 120. The base 12 is positioned within the recess 124 such that an adhesive layer 130 fixedly adheres the base 12 to the bottom 120. The marking surface 14 faces the opening of the recess 124 and is surrounded by the sides 122 of the recess 124.

The sides 122 and the outer surface 126 take the place of the border 16 and provide the protective functions previously ascribed to the border 16 of the device 10. A height dimension (C) of the sides 122, measured between the marking surface 14 and the outer surface 126 of the key 118, is the equivalent of the height dimension (A) of the border 16. As with the device 10, it has been found that for the device 110, combinations of height (C) dimension and marking surface 14 length and width dimensions similar to those described for the device 10 prevent objects from contacting and abrading the marking surface 14 of the device 110.

The marking surface 14 of the device 110 may be made of polycarbonate, such as Lexan^®, with a preferred thickness of about 0.007 inches (0.178 mm). The adhesive layer 130 is preferably made of 3M Co. #200 adhesive that is applied to a thickness of about 0.0005 inches (0.013 mm). The adhesive layer 130 of the device 110 may be covered with a liner (not shown) prior to attachment of the device 110 to the key 118. The liner may be made of a paper backing material, such as 0.007 inch (0.178 mm) thick, 80 pound semi-bleached Kraft paper. Alternatively, the base 12 of the device 110 may be made of the previously described ScotchMark^® No. 7883 Silver Polyester label stock. The matte-finish surface layer that covers the polyethylene layer of the #7883 label stock makes up the marking surface 14 of the device 110. The acrylic adhesive of the #7883 label stock makes up the adhesive layer 130 that attaches the base 12 of the device 110 within the recess 124. The releasable 50 pound semi-bleached Kraft liner of the #7883 label stock makes up the liner (not shown) of the base 12 and protects the adhesive layer 30 before the device 110 is attached to the key 118.

A plurality of the devices 10 depicted in Figure 1 may be supplied as part of a kit 210, as in Figure 7. Each device 10 includes the base 12, the marking surface 14 and the border 16. Referring to the illustration of the kit 210 of Figure 8, the base 12 of each device 10 is initially made as a base sheet 212. The base sheet 212 may be configured like the base 12 depicted in Figure 2 to include the identification layer 22 (not shown in Figure 8), the first colored coating 24 (not shown in Figure 8) that is applied to the identification layer 22, and the second colored coating 28 (not shown in Figure 8) that is applied to the first colored coating 24. Alternatively, the base sheet 212 of Figure 8 may exclude the first colored coating 24, as previously described for the base 12, or may exclude both of the colored coatings 24, 28, as previously described for the base 12. For the base sheet 212 of Figure 8, the identification layer 22 and the colored coatings 24, 28 may be made from the same materials with the same thicknesses as recited for the base 12 of Figure 2.

After the base sheet 212 is prepared, the borders 16 are integrally formed from the base sheet 212, preferably by embossing the base sheet 212. As discussed for the devices 10 of Figure 2, the upper surfaces 20 of the borders 16 may be made to visually contrast with the marking surfaces 14 of the respective devices 10 of Figure 8, depending upon the colors and thicknesses of the materials selected for the identification layer 22 and the colored coatings 24, 28 and depending upon the clarity of the material selected for the identification layer 22.

Alternatively, the borders 16 and the base sheet 212 may be integrally molded, as discussed in connection with the border 16 and the identification layer 22 of Figure 2. For example, a suitable molding plastic, such as polycarbonate, may be injection molded to integrally form the borders 16 and the base sheet 212.

After the borders 16 are formed, an adhesive layer 230 is applied to the base sheet 212 on a side of the base sheet 212 located opposite the marking surfaces 14 and the borders 16. Additionally, a liner 240 is attached to the adhesive layer 230 to protect the adhesive layer. For the kit 210 of Figure 8, the adhesive layer 230 and the liner 240 may be made from the same materials with the same thicknesses as recited for the adhesive layer 30 and the liner of the device 10 depicted in Figure 2.

The base sheet 212 may instead be configured like the base 12 depicted in Figure 3 to include the base layer 32 (not shown in Figure 8) with the matte finish 34 (not shown in Figure 8) in combination with the adhesive layer 230. Additionally, the liner 240 is attached to the adhesive layer 230 to protect the adhesive layer 230. For the kit 210 of Figure 8 with the base sheet 212 configured like the base 12 depicted in Figure 3, the base layer 32 and the matte finish 34 may be made from the same materials with the same thicknesses as recited for the device 10 of Figure 3. Also, the adhesive layer 230 and the liner 240 may be made from the same materials with the same thickness as recited for the adhesive layer 30 and the liner of the device 10 depicted in Figure 3.

For the kit 210 of Figure 8 with the base sheet 212 configured like either the base 12 of Figure 2 or the base 12 of Figure 3, the plurality of devices 10 are separated from one another so that the devices 10 may be individually removed from the kit 210. The devices 10 of the kit 210 are separated from each other by cutting through the base sheet 212 and the adhesive layer 230 to leave a plurality of cuts 220. The cuts 220 may be made using a mechanical cutting mechanism (not shown), preferably having multiple blades arranged to make all of the cuts 220 in a single stroke. The cuts 220 may also be made using a laser cutting mechanism (not shown). The cuts 220 are preferably kiss cut such that the cuts 220 extend through the base sheet 212 and the adhesive layer 230, but not through the liner 240. Kiss cutting maintains the plurality of devices 10 in releasable association such that the devices 10 may be individually removed from the kit 210.

A plurality of the devices 10 depicted in Figure 1 may also be supplied as part of a kit 310, as in Figure 9. For the kit 310, the devices 10 are located adjacent each other and have common borders 316 that are cut to separate the devices 10. Each common border 316 is preferably cut into two common border portions 316a and 316b. The common border portions 316a and 316b form part or all of the border 16 of the respective devices 10, depending upon the location of the devices 10 within the kit 310. The devices 10 depicted in Figure 9 include the base 12 and the marking surface 14 of the device 10 depicted in Figure 4 and also include the border 16 after the common borders 316 are cut. The devices 10 located on the perimeter of the kit 310 also include outside border portions 318 that form part of the border 16 after common borders 316 meeting the perimeter of the kit 310 are cut.

Referring to Figure 10, the base 12 of each device 10 is initially made as a base sheet 312. The base sheet 312 may be configured like the base 12 depicted in Figure 4 to include the base layer 32 with the matte finish 34 and the adhesive layer 30. Additionally, a liner 340 is attached to the adhesive layer 30 to protect the adhesive layer 30. For the kit 310 with the base sheet 312 configured like the base 12 of Figure 4, the base layer 32, the matte finish 34, the adhesive layer 30 and the liner 340 may be made from the ScotchMark^® No. 7883 Silver Polyester label stock with the same thicknesses as recited for the device 10 of Figure 4.

Alternatively the base sheet 312 of Figure 10 may be configured similarly to the device 10 depicted in Figure 4, but with the identification layer 22 (not shown in Figure 10) being a single layer (not shown in Figures 4 or 10), rather than the base layer 32 with the matte finish 34 of Figure 4. The adhesive layer 30 is applied directly to the single layer, and the liner 340 is releasably attached to the adhesive layer 30, as in Figure 10, to protect the adhesive layer 30 prior to separation of the device 10 from the kit 310. The single layer with the marking surface 14 that is substituted for the base layer 32 and the matte finish 34 is preferably made from a sheet of polycarbonate, such as Lexan^®, with a thickness of about 0.007 inches (0.178 mm). The adhesive layer 30 is preferably made of 3M Co. #200 adhesive that is applied to a thickness of about 0.0005 inches (0.013 mm). The liner 340 may be made of 0.007 inch (0.178 mm) thick 80 pound semi- bleached Kraft paper.

The common borders 316 and the outside border portions 318 of the kit 310 may be made of any of a variety of suitable, abrasion-resistant materials such as the previously mentioned clear polyester film available from 3M Co. The polyester film is mounted on the single layer by a conventional adhesive (not shown), such as 3M Co. clear #400 adhesive. The borders 316 and the border portions 318 may alternatively be made of a coating material, such as the previously mentioned, substantially clear varnish that is applied using the mask to protect the portion of the single layer that makes up the marking surface 14.

Alternatively, the single layer (not shown) may be integrally formed with the common borders 316 and with the outside border portions 318, as discussed in connection with the border 16 and the identification layer 22 of Figure 2. For example, a suitable molding plastic, such as polycarbonate, may be injection molded to integrally form the single layer with the borders 316 and the border portions 318, respectively.

For the kit 310 of Figure 10, the plurality of devices 10 are separated from each other so that one or more of the devices 10 may be attached to the key 18 of Figure 1. The devices 10 are separated from each other by cutting through the common borders 316 and the base sheet 312 to leave a plurality of cuts 320. The cuts 320 split the borders 316 into the common border portions 316a and 316b. The common borders 316 are preferably dimensioned and cut so the common border portions 316a and 316b each have the thickness dimension (B) specified with reference to the device 10 of Figure 1. The cuts 320 may be made using the previously described mechanical or laser cutting mechanisms (not shown). The cuts 320 are preferably kiss cut such that the cuts 320 extend through the base sheet 312, but not through the liner 340.

Although the present invention has been described with reference to preferred embodiments, workers skilled in the art will recognize that changes may be made in form and detail without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS

1. A method of identifying an article, the method comprising associating a border (16) and a layer (22) to define an identification surface (14), placement of the border (16) relative to the identification surface (14) effective to prevent objects located adjacent the identification surface (14) from abrading the identification surface (14).

2. The method of claim 1 and further comprising attaching the identification surface (14) to the article.

3. The method of claim 1 or 2 and further comprising locating a distal surface (20) of the border (16) relative to the identification surface (14) such that the distal surface (20) protects the identification surface (14) from abrasion by adjacent objects.

4. The method of claim 1, 2, or 3 wherein the border (16) comprises an outer surface (126) of the article, the method further comprising recessing the identification surface (14) relative to the outer surface (126) of the article.

5. The method of claim 1, 2, 3, or 4 wherein associating the border (16) and the layer (22) further comprises shaping the layer (22) to form the border (16).

6. The method of claim 5, the method further comprising: applying a first colored coating (24) on a side (26) of the layer

(22) opposite the identification surface (14), the first colored coating (24) being visible through the layer (22); and applying a second colored coating (28) to the first colored coating (24), the second colored coating (28) effective to make the border (16) and the identification surface (14) visually contrast after the layer (22) is shaped.

7. The method of claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, or 6 wherein the border (16) includes an outside border portion (318) and at least one common border portion (316), the at least one common border portion (316) dividing the identification surface into a plurality of identification surface portions, placement of the at least one common border portion (316) and the outside border portion (318) relative to respective identification surface portions effective to prevent objects from abrading the identification surface portions.

8. The method of claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, or 7 and further comprising releasably attaching the identification surface to a liner (340).

9. The article that is identified in accordance with the method of claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, or 8.

10. A device for identifying the article, the device made in accordance with the method of claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, or 8.