GB2465161A - Matrix display tag - Google Patents

Abstract

A tag has a display portion consisting of a matrix of elements, configurable between a first and second states, such as to display text, numbering, or a symbol, upon a subset of elements within the array. Each element may be a sticker which when removed may reveal a differently coloured portion underneath. This permits a user to design text, numbering or a symbol of their choice on the display. The display may be finalised by the sticking down of transparent flap 15 over the display. The item may be used as a luggage tag.

Description

"Luggage Tag" This invention relates to identification devices for attachment to luggage, and particularly to identification devices which carry indicia allowing the luggage to be easily distinguished from other pieces, in an environment such as an airport.

It is known to provide luggage tags with panels, for example with transparent windows, for insertion of a label carrying identification information such as the name and address of the owner. It is also known to provide luggage straps carrying a striking pattern, such as coloured stripes, and these may also be pie-printed with owner information such as the initials of the owner.

Generally, it is preferable from a security perspective, to provide abbreviated information such as initials, rather than more detailed information about the owner, so as not to advertise the fact that he or she is on a trip, so that the address shown on a luggage tag might be unoccupied.

The drawback of straps carrying indicia such as initials, for example, is that they must be prepared in advance of travel, by having them printed or otherwise manufactured, and consequently, a traveller cannot simply buy them as required, at the airport or other travel terminal.

Accordingly, the present invention seeks to provide an identification tag for luggage which is adapted to be quickly and easily personalised, while providing a clear identification flag" which will stand out prominently even among a large number of other similar pieces of luggage.

Accordingly, the present invention provides an identification tag for luggage comprising a display portion including an array of display elements each configurable between first and second display states, the overall configuration of the array of display elements forming an identifier for recognition by a luggage user.

The tag is preferably a laminar structure and preferably has a display portion on each side.

Preferably, the display elements are manually configurable, and comprise an array of coloured stickers on a differently coloured support surface, which can be selectively removed to form recognisable patterns such as alpha-numeric characters.

The individual stickers may be of a number of alternative shapes such as circular, square, triangular, or other polygonal shapes, and are preferably formed as part of a continuous layer which is perforated in a regular pattern or as an array of discrete elements which closely abut one another, so that they form virtually continuous lines of pattern when a plurality of adjacent elements are removed.

Some embodiments of the invention will now described, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure la is a plan view of a luggage tag in accordance with the present invention showing the initials NC; Figure lb is a side elevation of the tag of Figure 1; and Figures 2a to 2d are diagrammatic illustrations of the indicia carrying area of the luggage tag, showing how various different patterns may be formed.

Figure 3 is a perspective view of one side of the luggage tag with an intact adhesive protective layer; Figure 4 shows the luggage tag of Figure 3 with the protective layer partially peeled away; and Figure 5 shows one side of the luggage tag of Figures 3 and 4 with the protective layer covering the configured display elements (it will be appreciated that the other side is similar).

Referring firstly to Figure la, it will be seen that the preferred form of the luggage tag of the invention is a flat laminar structure, which may, for example, be made of polypropylene which is preferably of a dark colour such as black. The overall shape of the device is similar to that of a miniature tennis or squash racket, comprising an enlarged "head" end 2, and a relatively elongate "handle" end 4, formed with a generally keyhole shaped slot 6 at the end opposite to the head. This enables the device to be easily attached to a piece of luggage, for example by threading the slotted end through the handle of the luggage, and then inserting the head 2 through the slot 6, which operation is facilitated by the flexibility of the preferred polypropylene material.

Alternatively the device may be attached by means of a strap passing through an aperture and fastened with a buckle in a known fashion for example.

In order to provide high visibility, the total length of the tag including the attachment handle or strap is preferably of the order of 40 -50 cm so that it protrudes at least 30 cm from a piece of luggage when attached. Similarly the width of the head is at least 10cm.

As can be seen from Figure la, each surface of the head area of the tag, in one embodiment of the invention, is covered with a continuous layer of peelable material, indicated at 8. For convenience the following description is directed to one of the surfaces, but of course the same treatment could be applied to both. The layer 8 is sub-divided into small areas 10 by an array of circular perforations. This is preferably of a bright contrasting colour such as red or orange. Accordingly, before any indicia have been formed on the device, the appearance corresponds generally to the diagram of Figure 2a, that is to say, it is of a uniform colour, with the circular perforations just visible.

Since the peelable layer 8 is made of a material which is a contrasting colour to the substrate of the device, the individual peelable elements 10 of the array can be selectively removed, as indicated at 12 and 14 in Figure la, so as to form highly legible patterns representing the initials of the owner, or alternatively, particular distinctive shapes such as the airplane and suitcase shown in Figures 2c and 2d.

Of course it will be appreciated that the initial arrangement of the "matrix" for forming the indicia can be of various different configurations. For example, rather than having a continuous layer 8 of the same colour, with individual removable regions as illustrated in Figure Ia, the substrate itself may be printed with a matrix of contrasting coloured dots, each of which is covered with a peelable element of the same colour as the substrate. In this way, as each peelable element is removed, the contrasting colour beneath it is revealed to form a corresponding part of the resulting pattern. Again, in this case, it will be appreciated that the individual peelable elements would preferably be somewhat larger than the areas of contrasting colour beneath, so as to mitigate registration problems, i.e. problems arising as a result of misalignment during manufacture.

A self-adhesive transparent cover layer 15 can be provided which is of the same size and shape as the head 8 of the tag, so that it can be stuck down over the formed pattern to fix it in position and thus avoid further alteration. In order to facilitate this process, the cover layer may be provided in the form of a flap which is adhesively attached by a small area at one end 16 of the head of the tag, with the remaining adhesive covered area protected by a peelable backing sheet (17; Figure 3) which is shown as being transparent but could be opaque, for example to allow printed instructions or advertising to be applied thereto. In other words, the backing sheet 17 is slightly smaller than the transparent cover layer 15 so that the cover layer 15 is already partly adhered to the tag by the small uncovered adhesive area 16, Figure la.

Referring to Figures 3 to 5, in use, the transparent flap 15 and peelable backing 17 are intact and are lifted away from the head area of the tag. The user then configures their personal identifier as described above. The backing 17 is peeled away from the transparent flap 15, which is then neatly applied over the head of the tag to form a transparent protective cover to ensure that, for example, no further peelable elements are accidentally removed.

It will be appreciated that a number of alternative configurations of the device are possible, for example, as follows: (a) As described above with the variation being in the arrangement or configuration of the self-adhesive spots. Rather than using a matrix of spots some alternatives may include the following: A matrix of shapes arranged in such a way that they provide a continuous area of removable pieces such as squares, rectangles or triangles. As the shapes are picked off there will be no self-adhesive material left around each of the shapes.

(b) The black polypropylene (or other suitable material) tag has an area of high-visibility paint screen printed onto its surface. This area is printed in such a way that a matrix of black dots is created where the paint is absent. These black dots are then in turn hidden under self-adhesive paper or vinyl spots applied to the surface of the plastic.

The adhesive spots are the same colour as the printed area. The result is a continuous area of high visibility colour. In order to create an initial or an image, the user removes any number of the self adhesive spots. This will reveal the black dots beneath which will then be easily visible. The area of high-visibility paint and self adhesive spots may be applied to any part of the tag, on any side of the plastic surface. The remaining functions are as described in the principal working approach.

(c) The tag itself may be an injection moulded plastic or rubber material rather than die cut sheet plastic material. This would allow for design details unobtainable with simple cutting methods.

(d) The tag itself may be any other shape. The area of high-visibility colour and matrix of removable spots or other shapes will reflect the form of the tag and may be applied to one or more surfaces of the tag.

(e) The removable self-adhesive spots could each have a number printed on them. Each spot would have a different number on it to identify it. These would be printed in such a way that they were only visible close up. The user would be provided with an index that indicates which numbers to remove to create specific letters or images.

(f) The transparent flap or membrane that is used to seal the surface of the tag will be adhered to a removable backing at the point of sale so that the tag can be customised and preserved after it has been purchased. This backing could have advertising or instructions printed on it.

(g) The tag may be supplied with a tool that aids in the removal of the self-adhesive spots.

(h) The tag may have a conventional buckle, pin or popper attachment rather than looping through itself.

Claims (16)

1. CLAIMS: 1. An identification tag for luggage, comprising: a display portion including an array of display elements each configurable between first and second display states, the overall configuration of the array of display elements forming an identifier for recognition by a luggage user.
2. 2. An identification tag according to claim 1, wherein the display elements are manually configurable.
3. 3. An identification tag according to claim I or 2, wherein each of the display elements comprises a coloured surface region and a different-coloured sticker arranged to removably cover the coloured surface region, the first and second display states being configured by the coloured surface region being covered with the sticker and by the coloured surface region being uncovered respectively.
4. 4. An identification tag according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the display portion comprises a coloured sheet overlaying a different-coloured backing and wherein the display elements comprise a removable segment of the coloured sheet and a different-coloured underlay beneath the removable segment.
5. 5. An identification tag according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the display elements are circular.
6. 6. An identification tag according to any of the preceding claims, comprising a protector operable to cover the display portion to preserve the configuration of the display elements when the identifier has been formed.
7. 7. An identification tag according to claim 6, wherein the protector comprises an adhesive transparent sheet for adhesion to the display portion.
8. 8. An identification tag according to claim 7, wherein the protector is attached to the identification tag and includes a release paper which can be peeled away to reveal the adhesive prior to adhesion to the display portion.
9. 9. An identification tag according to any of the preceding claims having an elongate attachment portion, the attachment portion being longer than the display portion.
10. 10. An identification tag according to claim 9, wherein the elongate attachment portion includes an internal slot through which the display portion can be passed to form a fastening loop.
11. 11. An identification tag according to any one of claims 1 to 8 having an aperture for receiving a separate attachment strap adapted to be fastened to a piece of luggage.
12. 12. An identification tag according to any preceding claim which is laminar and carries display elements on both sides.
13. 13. An identification tag according to any of the preceding claims, having an overall length of at least 40 cm.
14. 14. An identification tag according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the identifier is in the form of initials or distinctive shapes.
15. 15. An item of luggage having attached thereto an identification tag according to any of the preceding claims.
16. 16. An identification tag for luggage substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.