Abstract:
An identification tag includes a marker portion having first and second faces and first and second inside surfaces. Personalized identification indicia are applied to at least the first face, and a pocket assembly is attached to the first inside surface. The pocket assembly has an opening to receive a card bearing personal identification information, and other information. An attachment mechanism connected to the marker portion operates to secure the identification tag to a bag, a piece of luggage, or other personal belonging.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
   1. Field 
   The present invention relates generally to identification labels, and more specifically, to unique tags for identifying luggage, bags and other personal items. 
   2. Background 
   It is frequently desirable to label packages, bags, and other personal belongings with identification tags that denote ownership of such items. For example, bags and suitcases often need to be identified from among a large group of other, similar bags and suitcases, such as on a luggage carousel at an airport or bus station. Sometimes, a person may mistakenly take a bag that looks similar to their own, but belongs to someone else. One means for verifying the identification of a single bag from among a group of other similar bags is by examining a label or luggage tag that bears the owner&#39;s identification information and is attached to the bag. This method requires that the owner make a preliminary identification based upon the bag&#39;s appearance, then verify the identification by examining the information contained on the luggage tag. 
   Unfortunately, although luggage tags are commonly used on luggage to verify an initial identification, they do not themselves typically assist owners in quickly identifying a bag or piece of luggage. Not only do many suitcases and other luggage pieces have similar designs and appearances, but so too do many luggage tags. Because of the substantial similarities and limited variety of luggage tags, many such tags that are currently used for luggage identification are not effective means for quickly identifying one bag from among a group of many bags. Instead, their usefulness is often limited to providing a means for verifying a preliminary identification that was previously made based upon the bag&#39;s own appearance. This method of initial bag identification is often difficult and inefficient, because of the subtle differences between many luggage pieces described above. 
   Another problem with such luggage tags is that they often are able to carry only a small amount of identification information. For example, many luggage tags include enough space to record an owner&#39;s name, address and phone number, but little else. This information may not be sufficient to reunite a lost bag with its owner while he is on a trip away from home, for example. The person who finds the bag will only have the limited information about the owner contained on the luggage tag, and will not inform the finder where the owner can be contacted before he returns home from his trip. Moreover, although the information recorded on a typical luggage tag may be limited, owners nevertheless often consider it confidential due to its personal nature. Thus, many typical luggage tags are problematic in that they display personal contact information on an outside surface of the tag, visible for all to see. 
   Therefore, what is needed is a means for quickly and easily identifying a bag or other personal item, even when it must be selected from among a group of many other similar bags or personal items bearing similarly designed luggage tags. What is also needed is a means for discreetly associating detailed personal information about a bag&#39;s owner with the bag itself. 
   SUMMARY 
   In one aspect of the present invention, an identification tag includes a marker portion having a first face with identification indicia, and also having a second face and first and second inside surfaces. The identification tag also includes an attachment mechanism connected to the marker portion, and a pocket assembly attached to the first inside surface. 
   In another aspect of the present invention, a method of making an identification tag includes cutting a strip from a roll of webbing, the strip having a body portion and first and second ends, applying identification indicia to a first surface of the body portion, and attaching a pocket to a second surface of the body portion that is opposite the first surface. The first end is folded over and secured to the second end such that the body portion comprises first and second layers and the pocket is between them. 
   It is understood that other embodiments of the present invention will become readily apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description, wherein it is shown and described only exemplary embodiments of the invention by way of illustration. As will be realized, the invention is capable of other and different embodiments and its several details are capable of modification in various other respects, all without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Accordingly, the drawings and detailed description are to be regarded as illustrative in nature and not as restrictive. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     Aspects of the present invention are illustrated by way of example, and not by way of limitation, in the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
       FIG. 1  illustrates an outer surface of an exemplary identification tag; 
       FIG. 2  illustrates an inner surface of an exemplary identification tag; 
       FIG. 3  illustrates a first alternative pocket arrangement for the exemplary identification tag; 
       FIG. 4  illustrates a second alternative pocket arrangement for the exemplary identification tag; 
       FIG. 5  illustrates a process for constructing a marker portion for an exemplary identification tag; 
       FIG. 6  illustrates a method of attaching a ring to the marker portion as part of manufacturing the exemplary identification tag; 
       FIGS. 7A and 7B  illustrate the application of identification indicia and a pocket to the marker portion; 
       FIG. 8  illustrates folding the marker portion over to construct a dual-sided marker portion for the exemplary identification tag; and 
       FIG. 9  illustrates final stitching and attachment of a securing loop to the marker portion to complete construction of the exemplary identification tag. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
   The detailed description set forth below in connection with the appended drawings is intended as a description of exemplary embodiments of the present invention and is not intended to represent the only embodiments in which the present invention can be practiced. The term “exemplary” used throughout this description means “serving as an example, instance, or illustration,” and should not necessarily be construed as preferred or advantageous over other embodiments. The detailed description includes specific details for the purpose of providing a thorough understanding of the present invention. However, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the present invention may be practiced without these specific details. 
     FIG. 1  illustrates an exemplary identification tag  100 . When attached to a piece of luggage or other item, an eye-catching marker portion  102  of the identification tag distinguishes the item readily. The marker portion  102  may be eye-catching due to physical features such as its color, size, or shape. For example, bright colors would stand out in a large group of black bags to provide quick identification of one of them. The marker portion  102  may also be larger than ordinary luggage tags that have been previously known in the art, so that the identification tag  100  stands out from among other luggage tags. In an exemplary embodiment, marker portion  102  may be approximately 7 inches×1.5 inches or larger. Of course, the invention is not limited to any particular dimension or size. Accordingly, any numbers or quantities suggested herein are intended to serve as examples only. 
   In addition to or instead of its large size, the marker portion  102  may be eye-catching due to the identification indicia  104  that it bears. The indicia  104  may be applied to the marker portion  102  such as by embroidery or another form of stitching, or by applique, printing, or other form of transfer. In an exemplary embodiment, the indicia  104  is embroidered on both sides of the marker portion  102 . Its color may contrast with the color of the marker portion  102 , so as to be visually striking. In addition, the form and content of the indicia  104  may be designed or selected to be visually distinct. For instance, the indicia  104  may comprise a name or word that is meaningful to an owner of an item that is to be marked with the identification tag  100 . The indicia  104  may also comprise a logo or other design that identifies a bag or item as unique. The size of indicia  104  may also be large so that it is easily noticed on the marker portion  102 . 
   The exemplary identification tag  100  also comprises an attachment mechanism that may be used to secure the tag to a bag or other item that is to be marked. It will be recognized by those skilled in the art that various components can be used to construct an attachment mechanism, such as loops, hooks, rings, ties, buckles, brackets and the like. In the exemplary embodiment, the attachment mechanism includes a ring  106  and a loop  108 . The ring  106  is attached directly to the marker portion  102 , and may embody a triangular, rectangular, circular, D-shape or other form. In the exemplary embodiment, the ring  106  is welded steel, though other metals or materials, such as plastic, may be used instead. The loop  108  is connected to the ring  106  and used to attach the identification tag  100  to a bag or other item. The loop  108  may be formed of plastic, steel cable, nylon, or other strong, flexible component. 
   Another feature of the exemplary embodiment is an internal pocket  200 , illustrated in  FIG. 2 . The pocket  200  is secured to the inner surface of the marker portion  102 , and includes an opening  202  into which an information card  204  may be inserted. The information card  202  may be a single card including a small amount of information, or a full sheet of paper including a complete travel itinerary that is folded to fit into small opening  202 . Other options for the card  202  include digital storage media, plastic smart cards, and other information storage devices. Alternatively, the card  204  may be a pre-printed form that can be filled in or marked upon by a user before insertion into the opening  202 . 
   Opening  202  may be on one side of the pocket  200 , as illustrated in  FIG. 2 , or it may be along an edge of the pocket  200 . Alternatively, it may even comprise a slit in the face of the pocket  200 . Also, the pocket  200  may be constructed of nylon, plastic, or other material, and may be opaque as to guard the contents of the card  202 , or clear so as to visually reveal that information through the face of the pocket. In the exemplary embodiment, the pocket  200  is formed of plastic that is substantially clear, allowing 50% or more light transmission through it. 
   Opening  202  may have a number of different forms, some alternative embodiments of which are illustrated in  FIG. 3  and  FIG. 4 , for example.  FIG. 3  illustrates a pocket closure mechanism comprising a flap  300  that may be folded over the pocket opening to secure the pocket contents therein. A restraint loop  302  holds the flap  300  securely in place. In another alternative embodiment, illustrated in  FIG. 4 , a pocket closure mechanism includes a pressure seal  400 . The pocket opening is sealed by applying pressure to a ridge along one side of the opening, which presses the ridge into a groove along the other side of the opening, thereby sealing the pocket at its opening. This type of mechanism may be opened and re-sealed multiple, repeated times. 
     FIGS. 5-9  illustrate an exemplary process for manufacturing the exemplary identification tag. First, a strip  500  of webbing, such as polypropylene or nylon webbing, is cut from a roll  502 . The webbing may be between 1 and 2 inches in width, and may come in rolls of 100 yards, though it is not limited to such dimensions. The strip  502  is cut at location  504  designated so as to cause the strip to be slightly longer than two times the desired length of the finished identification tag. As illustrated in  FIG. 6 , after the strip  500  is cut, one end  600  is folded over, inserted through a ring  602 , and secured to the body of the strip  500  such as by stitching  604 . 
   Next, the identification tag is turned over, as illustrated in  FIG. 7A , so that indicia  700  and  702  may be applied to the opposite face of the strip. In one embodiment, the indicia are placed on either side of the strip, such that when the strip is eventually folded over to form the dual sided identification tag, one indicia,  700  or  702 , is located on each of the two sides. Of course, the identification tag may bear only one indicia, such that when it is folded over it only bears identification indicia on one of its two sides. In either case, the indicia  700  and  702  may be pre-determined words, numbers, symbols, logos or the like. Alternatively, the indicia  700  and  702  may be customized in accordance with a particular request from a customer. For example, a customer may order an identification tag bearing his own name. The request for indicia  700  and  702  to each comprise the customer&#39;s name would be received, and the customer&#39;s name would be applied to the strip as indicia  700  and  702 . 
     FIG. 7B  illustrates the strip turned over again, to expose the other side, which will become the inside surface of the identification tag after the folding operation introduced above and described in further detail below. On this inside surface, a pocket  706  is attached, such as by two rows of stitching  708  and  710 . Open ends  712  and  714  remain unstitched and will serve as openings through which the pocket may receive a card or other insert. Another row of stitching  716  may optionally be located approximately through the center of the pocket in order to form two separate pockets, each having its own opening, open end  712  or open end  714 . 
     FIG. 8  illustrates the far end of the strip  800  being folded over toward the previously folded end  600  to form the dual sided identification tag having the pocket  706  on the inside surfaces.  FIG. 9  illustrates the final operations in constructing the exemplary identification tag, in which folded over end  800  is secured to the other folded-over end  600  and secured thereto by stitching  900 . Another row of stitching  902  may be sewn along the opposite end of the identification tag to secure the two halves of the strip together and better enclose the pockets therein. Stitching  902  may also serve to separate the pocket  706  into two separate pockets if the optional stitching  716  illustrated in  FIG. 7B  is not used. Finally, loop  904  is attached to ring  602  as a securing means for attaching the finished identification tag to a bag or other item to be marked. Loop  904  may be plastic, nylon cord, steel cable, or any other strong, flexible material. 
   The various figures and diagrams described in connection with the embodiments disclosed herein may be implemented or performed with webbing, fabric, loops, rings, cable, other attachment mechanisms or any combination thereof designed to perform the functions described herein. The previous description of the disclosed embodiments is provided to enable any person skilled in the art to make or use the present invention. Various modifications to these embodiments will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the generic principles defined herein may be applied to other embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. For example, the identification tag may be formed by more than two layers of a folded webbing strip, or by a single unfolded layer. The folds may be performed in a different order or arrangement than those described herein. Also, the internal pocket may comprise only one such pocket, rather than two pockets. Further, it will be recognized by those skilled in the art that a variety of other materials may be used to construct a durable identification tag with an internal pocket and outer identification indicia as described herein. Thus, the present invention is not intended to be limited to the embodiments shown herein but is to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the principles and novel features disclosed herein.