Abstract:
An apparatus for holding a personal security badge has been developed. The holder includes a split ring for attachment to the body of the wearer and a retractable reel connected to the split ring. The retractable reel allows the badge to be extended away from the wearer. The holder also includes a snap connector that is attached to the retractable reel and a clip that clip holds the personal security badge.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims priority from US Provisional Patent Application No. 62/079,980 titled “Security Badge Holder” that was filed on 11/14/2014. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The invention relates generally to a security badge holder. 
       BACKGROUND ART 
       [0003]    Security and Identification badges are in common use in present society. Such badges are used to control access to sensitive facilities and equipment for authorized personnel.  FIG. 1  shows a view of a prior art security badge  10  with a slot  12  for attachment of to a neck lanyard or similar device  14  to secure the badge to the wearer. Predictably, convenient access to such badges is highly desirable. It is also advantageous to allow convenient access while at the same time ensuring that the user maintains possession of the badge. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    In some aspects, the invention relates to an apparatus for holding a personal security badge, comprising: a split ring for attachment to the body of the wearer; a retractable reel connected to the split ring, where the retractable reel allows the badge to be extended away from the wearer while still being connected to the wearer; a snap connector that is attached to the retractable reel; and a clip that is attached to the snap connector, where the clip holds the personal security badge. 
         [0005]    Other aspects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description and the appended claims. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         [0006]    It should be noted that identical features in different drawings are shown with the same reference numeral. 
           [0007]      FIG. 1  shows a view of a prior art security badge with a slot for attachment. 
           [0008]      FIG. 2  shows a view of security badge without an attachment slot. 
           [0009]      FIGS. 3 a  and 3 b    show views of a badge holder in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0010]      FIGS. 4 and 5  shows views of multi-badge holders in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0011]    The present invention is a security badge holder. It includes: a card clip; a retractable reel; and a steel split ring to create a tether that permits a slot-less badge or id card to be used without removing it from the wearer&#39;s person. The invention provides a way of carrying personal information such as a person&#39;s name, group name, itinerary, driver&#39;s license, medical insurance info, etc. It may be used as a way of entrance by allowing the user to access restricted and or sensitive facilities such as hotel rooms and facilities, restricted neighborhood facilities, health clubs and events. This also allows for the badge or ID to be examined or scanned without relinquishing his/her possession. The design of the invention keeps the cards from becoming de-magnetized by keeping the cards away from credit cards and cell phones. 
         [0012]    While many early security and identification badges had attachment slots for lanyards, etc.,  FIG. 2  shows a more modern security badge  20  without an attachment slot. Current government policy requires that the badges do not have any holes or slots. These new slot-less badges are typically worn in clear plastic sleeve-type carriers. The carriers may be attached to the wearer via a lanyard or clipped to a pocket, etc., but in order for the card to be presented to a guard upon entering the secured facility (required to physically touch and inspect front and back of the card) or scanned to enter a controlled access building, the badge must be physically taken out of this carrier. 
         [0013]    Also, a new federal mandate requires that unslotted smartcard/badges be used to login to government computers. This new policy has created some problems:
       Employees get locked out of their building or stranded off base due to leaving their badge in their computer&#39;s card reader when they leave. This requires another employee to leave and let them back in, take the forgotten badge to the gate, or enter the employee into the cumbersome visitor&#39;s database so the badgeless employee can then go pick up a temporary visitor&#39;s badge at the visitor&#39;s center;   Federal Government policy requires that badges be worn in plain sight at all times while on the facility. Leaving a badge at one&#39;s desk or in a conference room computer is a violation of this policy and could result in disciplinary action; and   Leaving a badge in an unattended computer also puts the computer and network at risk of unauthorized access and data breach.       
 
         [0017]    An employee who has forgotten to remove their badge from a computer&#39;s card reader may find themselves locked out of their building or stranded off base. This requires another employee to leave what they are doing to let them back into the building, pick them up at the gate, or enter the employee into the cumbersome visitor&#39;s database so that a temporary visitor&#39;s badge can be obtained at the visitor&#39;s center 
         [0018]    The present invention addresses these problems by simply combining a card clip with a retractable badge reel and a steel split ring to create a tether that permits the badge to be used to login, to be scanned at the door, and/or presented to the gate guard without ever leaving the person&#39;s possession. 
         [0019]    As shown in  FIGS. 3 a  and 3 b   , one example of the present invention includes: a split ring  32  that connects to the retractable reel  34  belt clip  39  and allows the badge/reel assembly to be connected to virtually any neck-worn lanyard as well as clipped to pockets, belts, collars, etc.; a retractable reel  34  with a housing, a spool, a spring, a cord, and an integrated belt clip  39  that allows the badge/smartcard to be extended away from the person without removing it from their person; a loop/snap  36  that connects the clip to the retractable reel; and a clip  38  that allows badge/smartcard to be attached to something without the use of a slot or sleeve carrier. 
         [0020]    In an alternative embodiment shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 , multiple clips  42  can be used back-to-back to accommodate two badges. These versions may accommodate multiple badges  44   a ,  44   c  or security covers that cover a middle badge  44   b  to prevent unauthorized view of the information on the badge and protect the wearer&#39;s privacy. 
         [0021]    In the embodiments shown, the clips are made of plastic or silicone. The loop/snap connects to the end of the retractable reel cord and loops through the slot on the clip, snapping together with itself. There are other methods of accomplishing this function like a split ring or a Velcro strap. The retractable reel may be both plastic and metal and come in variety of shapes and styles. The cord of the retractable reel needs to be about 36 inches to allow adequate extension to reach electronic badge/card scanners and to allow it to be inspected by another person. 
         [0022]    The split ring is typically made of metal. However, it is optional and may not be included in some embodiments. It is used to attach the device to a lanyard. There may be other ways of performing this function, but the split ring accommodates the broadest range of lanyard attachments. There are no hard requirements for size or weight, but since this device is to be worn around the neck or clipped to a pocket it should be sufficiently light and unobtrusive. The split ring typically needs to be about an inch in diameter to integrate with the tab on the back of the reel. 
         [0023]    The present invention is useful to any person required to swipe, scan, or present their badge/id including: Government contractors; Government Agency Personnel (DOD, DOE, etc.); Hospital and Medical employees; School administrators and students; Transportation workers; Retail Store employees; Bank and Financial employees; and any other person needing to carry/present an id card. Additionally, the invention is useful to: College students to hold their university credentials; Runners or bicyclists to hold identification information; Event attendees to hold identification and ticket information; People needing to scan or show ID cards for entrance into health, recreational or sports facilities, etc.; Residents needing to scan card for entering neighborhood facilities such as clubhouse, pools, tennis courts, etc.; Hotel residents needing to scan cards for hotel rooms, and hotel accommodations such as weight room, pool and office areas, etc. 
         [0024]    While the invention has been described with respect to a limited number of embodiments, those skilled in the art, having benefit of this disclosure, will appreciate that other embodiments can be devised which do not depart from the scope of the invention as disclosed here. Accordingly, the scope of the invention should be limited only by the attached claims.