US3318030A

US3318030A - Luggage tag

Info

Publication number: US3318030A
Application number: US450968A
Authority: US
Inventors: Stern Mark
Original assignee: ALUMINUM DEV CORP
Current assignee: ALUMINUM DEV CORP
Priority date: 1965-04-26
Filing date: 1965-04-26
Publication date: 1967-05-09
Anticipated expiration: 1984-05-09

Description

May 9, 1967 M. STERN I 3,318,030

LUGGAGE TAG Filed April 26, 1965 AIRLINE #wnvrof MARK STERN United States Patent 3,318,030 LUGGAGE TAG Mark Stern, Pelham Manor, N.Y., assignor to Aluminum Development Corporation, Pelham Manor, N.Y. Filed Apr. 26, 1965, Ser. No. 450,968 7 Claims. (Cl. 4021) This invention relates to a luggage tag. More particularly, this invention relates to a novel luggage tag adapted for use with alternative supporting members.

The present invention is directed to an improved luggage tag that is readily adapted for use with either a flexible strap or beaded chain. Moreover, the luggage tag of the present invention is specially constructed to enable a tag member to be retained on its supporting strap even though the clasp for selectively closing the ends of said strap is not engaged. This means that the luggage tag can be stored or shipped with the strap clasp unconnected and thereafter removed from its container and quickly attached to the luggage without the timeconsuming necessity for disengaging the clasp.

It therefore is an object of the present invention to provide a novel luggage tag.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a novel luggage tag for use with alternative supporting members.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a novel luggage tag that is self-supporting on a strap.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a novel metal luggage tag of anodized aluminum.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

For the purpose of illustrating the invention, there is shown in the drawings a form which is presently preferred; it being understood, however, that thi invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown.

FIGURE 1 is a plan view of a luggage tag and its supporting strap in accordance with the present invention.

FIGURE 2 is a partial sectional view of the luggage tag shown in FIGURE 1 taken along the line 22.

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged partial sectional view of the luggage tag shown in FIGURE 2 taken along the line 33.

FIGURE 4 is a partial plan view showing the luggage tag and a beaded chain.

Referring now to the drawing in detail, wherein like numerals indicate like elements, there is shown in FIG- URE 1 a luggage tag designated generally as 10. The luggage tag includes a flat rectangular tag member 12 which will support identifying indicia. Although the tag member 12 may be made out of other materials such as hard rubber, plastic or the like, it is preferably made of a metal such as aluminum with an anodized coating thereon. The use of an anodized aluminum tag member provides an unique combination of permanence for both the tag and its indicia, ease of identification through the use of bright colors, and the appearance of quality. A strap 16 extends through the slot 14 in the tag member 12. As best seen in FIGURE 3, the slot 14 includes a plurality of enlarged openings which will be explained in detail below. The ends of the strap 16 may be selectively fastened together by the buckle 18. As best shown in FIGURES l and 2, one surface of the strap 16 has been provided with a roughened or regularly pimpled surface 20. The function of this surface will be more fully explained below.

Referring now to FIGURE 3, the slot 14 includes three

sections

22, 24 and 26 defined by curved portions of the wall of slot 14; As shown, the

sections

22, 24 and 26 define portions of increased width in the slot. Moreover, the section 24 is larger than the sections 22 and I 26. As shown in FIGURE 4, the sections of enlarged

width

22, 24 and 26 permit a beaded chain 28 to extend through the slot 14. But for the provision of

sections

22, 24 and 26, the slot 14 would be too narrow to accept the beaded chain 28 therein. The provision of the larger section 24 permits the use of chains having both large and small bead sizes.

As best shown in FIGURES 2 and 3, the width of slot 14 between the planar or

straight sections

30 and 32 is slightly less than the overall width of strap 16 including the pimpled surface 20. Thus, when the strap 16 is inserted into slot 14, the walls of slot 14

adjacent sections

30 and 32 compress the pimpled surface 20. The effect is to provide sufiicient frictional force between the tag member 12 and strap 16 to retain said strap within slot 14 even though the ends of the straps are not clasped by buckle 18. The width of slot 14 at the

sections

30 and 32 is preferably equal to or less than the width of strap 16 by an amount not exceeding the depth of pimpled surface 20. In the embodiment shown, the width of slot 14 at

sections

30 and 32 is less than that of strap 16 so that the pimpled surface 20 is slightly compressed or deformed. It has been found that the strap 16 when made of a resilient, plastic material has a natural tendency to curve about its longitudinal axis. Accordingly, there is sufficient frictional engagement between the pimpled surface 20 and

straight sections

30 and 32 to retain the strap in slot 14 even when the width of such slot is equal to the width of strap 16.

The luggage tag 10 may be used by individuals who would have their names afiixed to the tag member 12 and then attach it to the luggage by use of the strap 16 or beaded chain 28 as desired. The tag 10 may alsobe used by public carriers such as airlines, bus companies, or railroads to identify luggage. In connection with the use by public carriers, it is desirable to provide a tag that can be quickly attached by employees during the passenger registration process. In using the strap, it has been determined that the time for applying the tag to a piece of luggage is reduced if there is no need to first release the strap clasp. Accordingly, the slot 14 and strap 16 are provided with means for retaining said strap in slot even though ends of straps 16 are not clasped together. In this manner, the tag 10 can be retained in a container with the strap 16 fixed in slot 14 and ready for use. The employee now need only remove the tag 10 from the container and apply it to the luggage without the necessity of releasing the clasp. Because of the retaining function between strap 16 and slot 14, the employee can be certain that each time he reaches into the container, he will remove a complete tag 10.

The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential attributes thereof and, accordingly, reference should be made to the appended claims, rather than to the foregoing specification as indicating the scope of the invention.

I claim:

1. A luggage tag comprising a fiat tag member for supporting indicia thereon, an elongated slot extending through said member adjacent a side edge thereof, the walls of said slot including curved portions defining three sections of increased slot widths, each of said sections of increased slot width being defined by a pair of 0pposed arcuate openings in the walls of said slot, said sections of increased slot width being spaced apart by opposed substantially straight sections of said slot wall, the middle one of said sections of increased slot width being larger than the remaining sections, a flexible supporting member for said tag member extending through said slot, and a clasp for selectively connecting the ends of said supporting member.

2. A luggage tag of claim 1 wherein said supporting member is a flattened strap having a buckle mounted on one end thereof.

3. The luggage tag of claim 1 wherein said supporting member is a beaded chain extending through said Wider slot portion.

4. A luggage tag comprising a flat tag member for supporting indicia, an elongated slot extending through said member adjacent one end thereof, the walls of said slot including curved portions defining a section of increased slot width, said slot walls including opposed substantially straight sections, a flexible supporting member for said tag member extending through said slot, said supporting member being a flattened strap of resilient material, one side of said strap having a pimpled surface, the width of said slot between said opposed sections being equal to or less than the width of said strap by an amount not less than the height of the pimples on said surface, and a clasp for selectively connecting the ends of said supporting member.

5. The luggage tag of claim 4 wherein said supporting member is a beaded chain extending through a section of increased width.

6. The luggage tag in accordance with claim 4 wherein the walls of said slot define a plurality of said curved portions.

7. The luggage tag in accordance with claim 4 wherein said tag member is metal having a coating of anodized aluminum thereon.

References Cited by the Examiner EUGENE R. CAPOZIO, Primary Examiner.

W. I. CONTRERAS, Assistant Examiner.

Claims

1. A LUGGAGE TAG COMPRISING A FLAT TAG MEMBER FOR SUPPORTING INDICIA THEREON, AN ELONGATED SLOT EXTENDING THROUGH SAID MEMBER ADJACENT A SIDE EDGE THEREOF, THE WALLS OF SAID SLOT INCLUDING CURVED PORTIONS DEFINING THREE SECTIONS OF INCREASED SLOT WIDTHS, EACH OF SAID SECTIONS OF INCREASED SLOT WIDTH BEING DEFINED BY A PAIR OF OPPOSED ARCUATE OPENINGS IN THE WALLS OF SAID SLOT, SAID SECTIONS OF INCREASED SLOT WIDTH BEING SPACED APART BY