Patent ID: 11857049
Assignee: KENCO LABEL & TAG CO., LLC
Field: Audio-visual technology (Electrical engineering)
Classification: CPC A  G | IPC A  G

Claim 6:
7. A method of associating an identification tag with an article, the method comprising the steps of:
providing the identification tag with first and second layers laminated to each other and a tab extending therefrom, the first layer including first and second portions, the second layer including first and second portions and the tab having:
an outer layer extending from the first portion of the first layer and being integral with the first portion of the first layer so as to prevent separation of the outer layer from the first layer;
an inner layer non-releasably bonded to the outer layer and extending from the first portion of the second layer, the inner layer being integral with the first portion of the second layer so as to prevent separation of the inner layer from the second layer; and
a first end and a second terminal end;

printing a unique code associated with an article on the first portion of the second layer;
printing the unique code associated with an article on the second portion of the second layer;
inserting the tab having first, second and third portions through the article at a user selected location thereof;
positioning the second portion of the tab on the first portion of the second layer of the identification tag;
inserting the terminal end of the tab through an aperture extending through the first and second layers such that the third portion of the tab projects from the identification tag, the third portion having a variable length;
detaching the second portion of the second layer from the first portion of the second layer and removing the second portion of the second layer to expose an adhesive on a second portion of the first layer, the detached second portion of the second layer defining a claim check;
folding the second portion of the first layer of the identification tag over a first portion of the first layer so as to capture the first portion of the second layer between the first and second portions of the first layer and to capture the second portion of the tab between the first portion of the second layer and the second portion of the first layer of the identification tag thereby retaining the article on the first portion of the tab;
comparing the unique code on the second portion of the second layer with the unique code on the first portion of the second layer; and
determining if a bearer of the claim check is associated with the article in response to the comparison of the unique code on the second portion of the second layer with the unique code on the first portion of the second layer;, wherein:
the first portion of the tab defines a loop therebetween having a length with the second portion of the tab captured between the second portion of the first layer and the first portion of the second layer;
the article is retained on the loop; and
the length of the loop is varied in response to varying the length of the third portion of the tab prior to capturing the second portion of the tab between the second portion of the first layer and the first portion of the second layer of the identification tag.