Product piercing tag

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11915618-B2
Application number	US-202117202575-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 16, 2021
Priority date	Feb 26, 2019
Publication date	Feb 27, 2024
Grant date	Feb 27, 2024

Abstract

A tag is configured to be inserted into a product. The tag includes a label portion and an insertion portion. The label portion has a first width. The insertion portion extends from the label portion, has a second width that is less than the first width, and has a length. An elongated wire extends along the length of the insertion portion to at least a part of the label portion. The tag has sufficient rigidity to enable a user to hold the label portion and force the insertion portion into the product. In another aspect, a method of attaching a tag to a product is described. The method includes holding the label portion and forcing the insertion portion into the product.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A method of forming a tag comprising:
providing a first layer;
disposing a wire on the first layer;
introducing a molten polymer onto the first layer to encase the wire;
integrating the first layer, wire and polymer to form an assembly;
curing the assembly, resulting in the polymer having a hardness range of about 90 Rockwell R to about 110 Rockwell R; and
forming the assembly into the tag, the tag comprising:
a label portion having a first width; and
an insertion portion:
extending from the label portion at a first end of the insertion portion;
having a second width that is less than the first width; and
having a length terminating at an arrow-shaped head at an opposed second end of the insertion portion, the arrow-shaped head comprising a tip and a barb that extends laterally from the wire;

wherein the wire extends along the length of the insertion portion to at least a part of the label portion.

2. The method of claim 1 comprising disposing indicia on the label portion.

3. The method of claim 2 comprising printing the indicia on the label portion.

4. The method of claim 1 comprising:
disposing first indicia on a first surface of the label portion; and
disposing second indicia on a second opposing surface of the label portion.

5. The method of claim 1 comprising disposing a second layer on the polymer.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein at least one of the first layer or second layer is provided in a form of a polymeric film sheet.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein forming the assembly into the tag comprises shaping the label portion symmetrically about the wire.

8. The method of claim 1 comprising disposing an adhesive layer on the first layer and extruding the polymer onto the adhesive layer.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein forming the assembly comprises providing the first layer, wire and polymer in a mold.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein introducing the molten polymer comprises injecting the molten polymer into the mold.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein introducing the molten polymer comprises extruding the molten polymer.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein forming the assembly comprises laminating the first layer, wire and polymer between a pair of nip rollers to form a laminated sheet.

13. The method of claim 12 comprising cutting a plurality of said tags from the laminated sheet.

14. The method of claim 1 wherein providing the first layer comprises cutting the first layer into a shape of the label portion.

15. A method of forming a tag comprising:
providing a first layer;
disposing a wire on the first layer, wherein the wire has a tensile strength in a range of about 90 ksi to about 125 ksi and a diameter in a range of from about 0.5 mm to about 0.8 mm, and wherein the wire exhibits a dead-fold property;
introducing a molten polymer onto the first layer to encase the wire;
integrating the first layer, wire and polymer to form an assembly; curing the assembly; and forming the assembly into the tag, the tag comprising:
a label portion having a first width; and
an insertion portion:
extending from the label portion;
having a second width that is less than the first width; and
having a length;
wherein the wire extends along the length of the insertion portion to at least a part of the label portion.

16. The method of claim 15 comprising:
disposing first indicia on a first surface of the label portion; and
disposing second indicia on a second opposing surface of the label portion.

17. The method of claim 15 comprising disposing a second layer on the polymer.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein at least one of the first layer or second layer is provided in a form of a polymeric film sheet.

19. The method of claim 15 comprising disposing an adhesive layer on the first layer and extruding the polymer onto the adhesive layer.

Assignees

• Bedford Ind Inc

Inventors

• Schiller David
• Milbrandt Jay

Classifications

• G09F3/02 Primary

  Forms or constructions (layered products B32B) · CPC title

• B31D1/024

  to labels or tags composed of two layers, the wire or thread being embedded between them · CPC title

• B32B7/12

  using interposed adhesives or interposed materials with bonding properties · CPC title

• B32B27/08

  of synthetic resin · CPC title

• B32B27/32

  comprising polyolefins {(comprising vinyl (co)polymers or acrylic (co)polymers B32B27/30)} · CPC title