WO2010019988A1

WO2010019988A1 - Identification tag for aqueous environment

Info

Publication number: WO2010019988A1
Application number: PCT/AU2009/001030
Authority: WO
Inventors: Maree Machin
Original assignee: Maree Machin
Priority date: 2008-08-20
Filing date: 2009-08-13
Publication date: 2010-02-25
Also published as: AU2008207409B1

Abstract

A waterproof identification tag is described. The tag (1) comprises a body (2) having an upper face (3) bearing identification indicia (4) on an etched surface. One end of the body (2) tapers to a tail (5). On the lower face (6) of the body (2) are a series of sawtooth projections (7). A bridge (8) spans a small section of the lower face (6). The region of the lower face (6) spanned by the bridge (8) includes a second set of sawtooth projections (10). The dimensions of the projections (7, 10) are such that they can interlock when the tail (5) is passed under the bridge (8). Other embodiments include a ball and socket (33, 31) snap-fit attachment means to pass around a strap of the article or a slot (36) through which a strap of the article can pass.

Description

IDENTIFICATION TAG FOR AQUEOUS ENVIRONMENT

THIS INVENTION relates to the identification of an article. In particular, it is directed to an identification tag which is waterproof and thus suitable for, but not limited to, tagging articles which are used in an aqueous environment such as a swimming pool, sea or a river, etc.

Throughout this specification, unless the contrary is expressly stated, where a document, act or item of knowledge is referred to or discussed, this reference or discussion is not an admission that the document, act or item of knowledge or any combination thereof was, at the priority date, publicly available, known to the public, part of the common general knowledge, or known to be relevant to an attempt to solve any problem with which this specification is concerned.

Swimming is often a compulsory activity in most schools, especially for preschool, infant and primary children. To assist confidence in the water, these younger children often wear goggles. Swimming goggles are all very similar in appearance and thus parents label them to try and prevent their inadvertent misplacement. In the absence of such a label, once placed in "lost property", the return rate of goggles is low due to, inter alia, the similarity in their appearance, the time frame between visits to a pool or a child's lack of detailed recall of "their" goggles. Unnecessary replacement of "lost" goggles is inconvenient and expensive.

Current methods of identifying goggles include (i) attachment of a coloured tie to the strap; (ii) etching into a lens of the goggles; (iii) attachment of an adhesive label to the lens or strap, the label carrying the child's name; (iv) attachment of a multi-layer label whereby an inner layer carrying the child's name is sandwiched between two outer waterproof layers; and (v) an inscription of the child's name on the strap. A child's name on a label or inscribed on the goggle strap is typically undertaken using a solvent-based marker pen or the like.

These prior art methods suffer one or more disadvantages which include (a) physical ties such as ribbon, tape, elastic bands and the like can come undone and can also become entangled in the user's hair, causing discomfort; (b) etching of a lens restricts vision therethrough; (c) adhesive labels are not particularly robust in an aqueous environment, especially in a swimming pool where the high levels of chlorine degrade the adhesive; and (d) solvent-based marker ink is also not impervious to chorine and can quickly fade.

One or more of the above disadvantages are not just limited to swimming goggles used by younger persons and extend to other articles used in an aqueous environment, for example, scuba-diving equipment. Such equipment is often stored with similar articles and transported in vehicles such as boats and airplanes. Clear identification, and thus ownership, of these articles under these conditions of use and transport is difficult. Further, labels used in these other environments can be bulky, flimsy in construction, contain sharp edges which can be uncomfortable if they come into contact with a person's skin or have little regard to the successful integration with the article to which they are attached which can also lead to the afore-mentioned discomfort to a user apart from being aesthetically displeasing.

It is thus a general object of the present invention to overcome, or at least ameliorate, one or more of the above-mentioned disadvantages.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a first identification device for reusable attachment to an article to be used in an aqueous environment, said device including: a body having at least one face for bearing identification indicia; and

an attachment means affixed to said body and integral therewith, said attachment means having one end being adapted to first pass continuously around a portion of said article to be secured to said body whereby said body is held in close proximity to said article;

characterised in that said one face and the medium used to apply said indicia thereto are selected such that said indicia is resistant to removal from said face within said environment.

As a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a second identification device for reusable attachment to an article to be used in an aqueous environment, said article including a strap or the like, said device including:

a body having at least one face for bearing identification indicia; and

an attachment means affixed to said body and integral therewith, said attachment means being adapted to enable said strap to be attached thereto whereby said body is held in close proximity to said article;

Preferably, said one face is an etched surface.

Preferably, said one face is manufactured from a plastics material. Preferably, said plastics material is polypropylene.

Preferably, perimeter edges of said body are rounded to reduce any abrasive damage to said article to which said device is attached.

When said face is an etched surface, it has been found that indicia applied by a solvent-based ink or pencil are significantly more robust against removal in said environment.

Any indicia applied by a solvent-based ink can be removed by any suitable solvent remover known in the art, thus allowing said device to be re-marked with different said indicia.

Any indicia applied by pencil can be removed by any suitable rubber or synthetic eraser known in the art, thus allowing said device to be re-marked with different said indicia.

Preferably, said second attachment means of said second identification device is a pair of slits within said body through which said strap can pass.

Optionally, said device includes a second face, opposed to said one face, said second face adapted to accept decorative or promotional indicia.

A third aspect of the present is the provision of a method to identify an article to be used in an aqueous environment, whereby a first or second identification device as hereinbefore described is affixed to said article. Preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIGS. 1a & b are upper and lower plan views respectively of a first embodiment of a first identification device in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 1 c is a perspective sketch of the device of FIGS. 1 a & b in a closed position;

FIG. 2 is a perspective sketch of a second embodiment of a first identification device in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a perspective sketch of a third embodiment of a first identification device in accordance with the present invention;

FIG.4a is a side plan view of a fourth embodiment of a first identification device in accordance with the present invention in an open position;

FIG.4b is a perspective Sketch of the embodiment of FIG.4a in a closed position;

FIG. 5a is a side plan view of a fifth embodiment of a first identification device in accordance with the present invention in an open position;

FIG. 5b is a perspective sketch of the embodiment of FIG. 5a in a closed position; FIG. 6a is a cross-sectional view of a first embodiment of a second identification device in accordance with the present invention in an open position; and

FIG. 6b is a perspective sketch of the embodiment of FIG. 6a in use.

Referring to FIGS. 1a-c, the device (1) comprises a body (2) having an upper face (3) bearing identification indicia (4). At least that portion of the face (3) that bears the indicia (4) has an etched surface. One end of the body (2) tapers to a tail (5). On the lower face (6) of the body (2), substantially covering the lower surface of the tail (5), are a series of sawtooth projections (7). A bridge (8) spans a small section of the lower face (6) a distance from the projections (7) to create an opening (9) of a width slightly larger than the maximum width of the tail (5). The region of the lower face (6) spanned by the bridge (8) includes a second set of sawtooth projections (10). The dimensions of the projections (7,10) are such that they can interlock when the tail (5) is passed through the opening (9) (FIG. 1c). In use (FIG. 1c), the tail (5) is first passed around the strap (11 ) of a pair of swimming goggles (12) before being passed through the opening (9) interlocking the two sets of projections (7,10).

In the embodiment of FIG. 2, the device (20) is constructed similarly to the device (10) of FIGS. 1a-c except that the bridge (13) is significantly longer to provide a greater surface area of interlocking projections (7,10) which enables greater adjustability in the placement of the tail (5) relative to the lower face (6) of the body (2).

FIG. 3 illustrates another embodiment (30) which is also constructed similarly to the device (10) of FIGS. 1 a-c except that the bridge (14) is closed at one end (15) to protect the inserted end of the tail (5) against abrasive damage and the like when the device (30) is in use. Turning now to the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 4a,b, the device (40) comprises a substantially planar body (16) having a first face (17) bearing identification indicia (18). At least that portion of the face (17) that bears the indicia (18) has an etched surface. A bore (19) extends through the body (16) from one side edge (20) to the opposing side edge (21), the bore (19) positioned at or near an upper edge (22) of the body (16). The floor of the bore (19) remote from the edge (20) includes a series of sawtooth projections (23). A flexible tail (24), integral with the body (16), extends from the side edge (20) at the lower edge (25) of the body (16). The upper surface of the tail (24) includes a second set of sawtooth projections (26). The dimensions of the projections (23,26) and bore (19) are such that the projections can interlock when the tail (24) is passed through the bore (19) (FIG. 4b). In use (FIG. 4b), similarly to the devices (1 ,20,30), the tail (24) is first passed around the strap of a pair of swimming goggles before being passed through the bore (19) interlocking the two sets of projections (23,26).

In the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 5a, b, the device (50) comprises a first solid cylindrical body (27) and a second hollow cylindrical body (28) connected together by a solid web (29). One or more of the external faces of the web (29) may be etched and bear identification indicia. The internal surface of the hollow body (29) is configured as a series of sockets (31 ). A flexible tail (32), integral with the body (27), extends from the end of the body (27) and is configured as a series of balls (33) of a size that is a complementary snap-fit to the sockets (31) within the hollow body (28). In use (FIG. 5b), similarly to the devices (1 ,20,30,40), the tail (32) is first passed around the strap of a pair of swimming goggles before being passed through the hollow cylinder (28) interlocking the balls (33) and sockets (31 ) at a required position. If necessary, any exposed end (34) of the tail (32) once positioned in use can easily be severed. With reference to FIGS. 6a,b, the device (60) comprises an essentially solid arched body (35). One or more of the external faces of the body (35) may be etched and bear identification indicia. A slot (36) extends essentially from one side of the body (35) to an opposing side of dimensions sufficient to enable the strap (37) of a pair of swimming goggles or the like to pass through.

In all of the above-described embodiments, the devices can suitably be manufactured from a plastics material such as polypropylene. By etching the appropriate surfaces that are to bear the required indicia, it has been found that marking media such as pencil and solvent-based inks are more robust against removal when used in an aqueous environment.

It will be appreciated that the above described embodiments are only exemplification of the various aspects of the present invention and that modifications and alterations can be made thereto without departing from the inventive concept as defined in the following claims.

Claims

1. An identification device for reusable attachment to an article to be used in an aqueous environment, said device including:

a body having at least one face for bearing identification indicia; and

characterised in that said one fabe and the medium used to apply said indicia thereto are selected such that said indicia is resistant to removal from said face within said environment.

2. An identification device fdr reusable attachment to an article to be used in ah aqueous environment, said article including a strap or the like, said device including:

a body having at least one face for bearing identification indicia; and

an attachment means affixed to said body and integral therewith, said attachment means being adapted to enable said strap to be attached thereto whereby said body is held in close proximity to said article; characterised in that said one face and the medium used to apply said indicia thereto are selected such that said indicia is resistant to removal from said face within said environment.

3. A device as defined in Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein, said one face is an etched surface.

4. A device as defined in Claim 3 wherein, said one face is manufactured from a plastics material.

5. A device as defined in Claim 4 wherein, said plastics material is polypropylene.

6. A device as defined in any one of Claims 1 to 5 wherein perimeter edges of said body are rounded sufficient to reduce any abrasive damage to said article to which said device is attached.

7. A device as defined in Claim 2 wherein, saϊd second attachment means is a pair of slits within said body through which said strap can pass.

8. A device as defined in any one of Claims 1 to 7 wherein, said device includes a second face, opposed to said one face, said second face adapted to accept decorative or promotional indicia.

9. A method to identify an article to be used in an aqueous environment, whereby a device as defined in any one of Claims 1 to 8 is affixed to said article.