Printable tag with integral fastener

The printable substrate of biaxially multi-layered laminate material is perforated to define an integral strap having a free end for insertion into a crescent-cut slotted opening. An additional perforation defines an optional, removable index card that may be printed upon when the tag itself is printed. The tag substrate may be provided as a continuous web that has been perforated to define multiple tags, suitable for printing and dispensing by automated mechanism.

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
 The present invention relates generally to tags and labels. More
 particularly, the invention relates to a printable tag with integral
 fastener suitable for being printed and dispensed by mechanical means. The
 integral fastener allows the tag to be quickly attached to goods, shipping
 containers or dunnage, without the need to install a separate string or
 wire fastener.
 Shipping tags and labels are used throughout industry for inventory
 control, shipping origin and destination addressing, component
 identification, just-in-time manufacturing, specimen labeling, and the
 like. Traditionally, most industries have used a simple paper tag with
 separate wire or string fastener, designed to be written on by hand and
 then attached to the article. Although this paper tag can be printed on
 and dispensed mechanically, the wire or string fastener must be installed
 separately so as not to jam the feeding and printing apparatus.
 With the prevalence of many inventory management systems, process flow
 control systems and shipping systems now operating under computer control,
 there is considerable interest in a printable tag that works in this
 automated environment. Desirably, the tag should be printed and dispensed
 as part of the automated manufacturing, shipping and/or storage process,
 with the tag being ready for immediate application to the article. In this
 way, accurate correlation between the tag and the article is ensured and
 the manufacturing, shipping and/or storage process proceeds efficiently.
 To meet the needs of today's automated environments, the invention provides
 a printable tag with integral fastener that requires no separate string or
 wire fastener. The tag employs a printable substrate that is provided with
 a first perforation which separates to define a slotted opening in the
 substrate. A second perforation, extending laterally adjacent to one edge
 of the substrate, separates to define an elongated strap that has an end
 sized to fit within the slotted opening.
 In use, the tag is applied by breaking the perforations through a quick
 zipping action, to free one end and the intervening body of the strap from
 the printable substrate. The opposite end of the strap remains attached to
 the substrate. The strap is then wrapped or looped around the article to
 be tagged, and the free end of the strap is inserted into the slotted
 opening.
 The elongated strap is provided with a series of spaced-apart notches that
 interlock with the slotted opening to secure the strap in place. The strap
 may be secured loosely around the article, or it may be pulled tight by
 pulling on the free end of the strap.
 The presently preferred tag is a biaxially multi-layered laminate of
 polyethylene with a matte top coating to support printing by suitable
 thermal printer or laser printer.
 For a more complete understanding of the invention, its objects and
 advantages, refer to the following specification and to the accompanying
 drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
 The printable tag of the invention may be deployed manually or by
 mechanized printing and dispensing apparatus. Such apparatus is
 illustrated in FIG. 1, in which the printable tag of the invention is
 illustrated in fanfold form at 10 and in roll form at 12. In both forms
 the tag stock comprises a perforated web of tags arranged end-to-end.
 Whether provided in fanfold form or roll form, the tag media is fed through
 the printing and dispensing mechanism as illustrated by the broken lines
 in FIG. 1. Specifically, the tag media is passed through media guide 14,
 past the media edge sensor 16, around the capstan 18 and out through the
 front of the dispensing mechanism 20. The dispensing mechanism can be
 provided with a print mechanism or print head 22 that applies printed
 information, such as alphanumeric text or barcode information to the
 printable surface of the tag substrate.
 Referring to FIG. 2, the printable tag comprises a die cut printable
 substrate 30 that defines an elongated web of material from which a
 plurality of tags are constructed. The presently preferred substrate is a
 biaxially multi-layered laminate of polyethylene. Suitable material can be
 obtained from Van Leer Flexible Packaging, Houston, Texas. Under the
 tradename Valeron. The multi-layered laminate is virtually tearproof,
 because the individual laminate layers are arranged so that the grain of
 one layer is orthogonal to the grain of the next layer. The presently
 preferred embodiment employs at least one matte finish top coating, to
 allow the tag to be printed on by thermal printing or laser printing
 means.
 The substrate is perforated, as at 32 and 34, generally perpendicular to
 the longitudinal dimension of the substrate. Perforations 32 and 34 thus
 define the left and right side edges of a single tag. Direction of web
 travel has been indicated in FIG. 2.
 Along one longitudinal edge of the tag are formed a series of media sensor
 notches 36. Preferably, these notches coincide with perforations 32 and 34
 and are used by the media edge sensor 16 (FIG. 1) to notify the printing
 and dispensing mechanism where one tag ends and the next tag begins.
 In addition to perforations 32 and 34, the substrate may optionally be
 provided with a perforation 38 that may be separated to subdivide the tag
 into a first tag body portion 40 and a second index card portion 42. The
 separable index card may be printed with information that corresponds to
 information printed on the tag body portion 40, thereby allowing an index
 card record to be made of articles that have been tagged using the
 printable tag of the invention.
 In addition to the above described perforations 32, 34 and 38, the
 printable substrate is provided with a perforation 44 that extends
 laterally adjacent first edge 46 of substrate 30. Perforation 44 separates
 to define an elongated strap 48. When perforation 44 is separated, strap
 48 has a free end 50 and an attached end 52.
 Adjacent attached end 52, substrate 30 has a slotted opening 54 defined by
 a crescent-cut perforation. The width w of elongated strap 48 is sized to
 fit within the slotted opening 54 (dimension s). In the preferred
 embodiment, dimension s may be slightly smaller than dimension w and the
 elongated strap 48 is provided with a plurality of notches or diagonal
 cuts 56, along one or both edges of the strap. These diagonal cuts
 interlock with the crescent-cut slotted opening 54 to retain the tag once
 it is installed as described below.
 More specifically, the crescent-cut corners of slotted opening 54 allow the
 substrate material between the crescent-shaped ends to bend upwardly to
 form a tongue. The crescent cuts should be sufficient to allow the tongue
 to lift upwardly, allowing the strap 48 to be easily pulled through
 slotted opening 54, while retaining sufficient tension to engage one or a
 pair of the diagonal cuts 56. The design is such that the strap may be
 readily pulled in a first direction to tighten the strap. The diagonal
 cuts lock under the tongue when pulled in the opposite direction,
 preventing the strap from being easily pulled loose.
 Operation
 Referring to FIGS. 3a-3d, printing 60 is applied to tag 10 using a suitable
 print engine such as the one illustrated in FIG. 1. Thereafter,
 perforation 38 (if provided) may be separated to remove the index card for
 suitable filing as at 62. The index card feature is optional or not
 required in some applications. Perforation 44 is likewise separated to
 free the elongated strap 48.
 The strap 48 is then wrapped around the article to be tagged. In this case
 a vertical frame member of a wire basket 64 has been illustrated. The free
 end 50 of strap 48 is then inserted through slotted opening 54, by folding
 one corner of the free end and inserting it through the slotted opening.
 The inserted free end is then pulled to the desired tightness, allowing
 the notches to interlock with the tongue formed by the crescent cuts of
 slotted opening 54. This holds the tag securely in place and the
 interlocking action between notches 56 and tongue prevent the tag from
 being readily removed.
 While the invention has been described in its presently preferred form, it
 will be understood that certain modifications can be made to the printable
 tag without departing from the spirit of the invention as set forth in the
 appended claims.