Abstract:
The present device provides a baggage tag attachable to the handle of a piece of baggage for displaying indicia of the identification and destination of a passenger owning the baggage. The tag has a first or base ply and a second tear resistant ply or liner. The underside faces of the base ply and tear resistant liner are arraigned for engagement with one another. An adhesive is disposed between the base ply and the liner for releasably sealing them together. It is preferred that a release coating be applied to the underside face of the liner. This allows the removal of the liner from the adhesive layer, allowing the adhesive to remain with the base ply. The base ply and liner each have cuts proximate one end thereof defining a claim stub. Upon removal of the claim stub, a length of the underside face of the base ply adjacent the base ply cut is exposed with the adhesive permitting the to tag ends to be secured around a bag handle.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Technical Field 
     The present device relates generally to baggage identification tags. More specifically, it relates to a novel baggage tag wherein the number of plys required to form the baggage tag is minimized while still providing a tag which resists tearing. 
     Large numbers of are people being transported today by bus, ship, and airplane. Generally, each of these passengers has one or more bags which travels with them to their destination. This necessitates a reliable means of identifying passengers&#39; bags and destinations. In addition to being reliable, the process of tagging the bags must be done in as time efficient a manner as possible. There is nothing more frustrating for a passenger than to begin a trip by spending the first portion of the trip in a long line. Thus it is essential for the process to be as streamlined as possible, allowing the ticket agent to spend as little time as possible tagging the bag. 
     From a financial standpoint, it is extremely expensive for an airline to lose a bag. Some estimates place the dollar cost to an airline at $1,000 for a lost bag, when the cost of replacing the bag is combined with the cost of delivering a bag (if found) and the loss of goodwill to the airline. Finally, money spent on the bag tagging system is money lost by the airlines. Thus, another objective is to make the tag as inexpensively as possible and still accomplish its purpose. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     Baggage identification tags have been used for some time. One example of such a tag is the three ply tag manufactured by Data Documents. In that configuration, the tag is comprised of three plys. The top ply is composed of paper and comprises the surface on which the identification information is printed. Below the paper ply is an adhesive layer, used to permanently join the paper ply to the second ply. This second ply is comprised of tear resistant VALERON®, used to impart a degree of tear resistance to the tag. Another layer of adhesive is used to connect the VALERON® ply to the paper liner which comprises the final ply. In another prior art arrangement, the paper is adhered to either a polyester or polypropylene ply. While these designs are certainly effective at accomplishing the task, additional expense is incurred as a result of the use of three plys and two adhesive layers. 
     Consequently, it is a primary objective of the present invention to provide a baggage tag utilizing two plys and one adhesive layer disposed therebetween. 
     An additional objective is to provide a baggage tag having a generally U-shaped cut or perforation in the tear resistant liner such that a pair of tear resistant fingers are positioned along the edge of the liner at the portion where the claim stub tongue is removed. 
     An alternative objective is to provide a baggage tag having a generally straight cut or perforation in the tear resistant liner such that a straight cut is positioned along the edge of the liner at the portion where the claim stub tongue is removed. 
     Another objective is to provide a baggage tag wherein a layer of release material such as silicone is placed on the underside of the tear resistant ply so that the tear resistant ply may be removed leaving the adhesive secured to the paper ply. 
     Another objective of the present invention is to provide a baggage tag wherein the base ply may comprise either paper or VALERON® material. 
     Another objective of the present invention is to provide a baggage tag wherein the liner comprises either paper or VALERON®. 
     Another objective is to provide a baggage tag wherein the printed identification information may be printed on either the paper or liner plys and wherein the paper or liner plys may serve as the claim stub. 
     Another objective is to provide a baggage tag wherein the base ply and liner further each comprise cuts or perforations proximate a first end, defining a claim stub between the cut and the first end, the spacing between the cut in the base ply and the first end being less than the spacing between the cuts in the liner and the first end, such that upon removal of the claim stub, a length of the adhesive on the underside face of the base ply is exposed, allowing the baggage tag to be looped around the handle of a piece of baggage, prior to securing the opposite ends of the baggage tag together. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides a baggage tag attachable to the handle of a piece of baggage for displaying indicia of the identification and destination of a passenger owning the baggage. The tag has a first, base ply and a second, tear resistant ply or liner. In a preferred embodiment, the first or base ply would be constructed of a paper material, whereas the second ply or liner would be constructed of VALERON®. The construction design and function of the tag permits the tag to be looped around the baggage handle and opposite ends secured together but without adhering to the handle itself. Additionally, the tag is adapted for other types of baggage such as boxes. In that case, the protective liner would be completely stripped from the back of the tag so that the entire length of the tag may be adhered to the box. 
     Both the first and second plys are elongated strips of flexible material having first and second ends and exposed and underside faces. The underside faces of the base ply and tear resistant liner are arranged for engagement with one another. Either the base or tear resistant ply may have indicia of the identification and destination of a passenger printed thereon. An adhesive is disposed between the base ply and the liner for releasably sealing them together. It is preferred that a release coating be applied to the underside face of the liner. This allows the removal of a portion of the liner from the adhesive layer, exposing a portion of the adhesive on the base ply and allowing opposite ends of the tag to be adhered together. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, this release coating is silicone. 
     The base ply and liner each have respective cuts proximate one end thereof. The cuts define a claim stub between the cuts and the end of the ply. The cuts are made such that the spacing between the cut in the base ply and the end of the base ply is less than the spacing between the cut in the liner and the end of the liner. Consequently, upon removal of the claim stub, a length of adhesive on the underside face of the base ply adjacent the base ply cut is exposed. Thus, upon looping the baggage tag around the handle of a piece of baggage, the exposed length of adhesive on the underside of the base ply, is engageable with the exposed face of the liner adjacent the second end thereof, permitting the securement of the two tag ends and the securement of the baggage tag around the handle without adhering thereto. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of the baggage tag of the present invention showing the four major components thereof. 
     FIG. 2 is a bottom perspective view of the baggage tag of the present invention. 
     FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional side view of the baggage tag of the present invention showing the two plys and adhesive and release coating layers comprising the tag. 
     FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional side view of a prior art baggage tag showing the three plys and two adhesive layers of material comprising the prior art tags. 
     FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the baggage tag of the present invention in use, secured around the handle of a piece of baggage. 
     FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the baggage tag of the present invention partially folded showing how the tag would be assembled and illustrating the exposed adhesive use to secure opposite ends of the tag around a baggage handle. 
     FIG. 7 is a top perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the baggage tag of the present invention showing the four major components thereof illustrating an alternative cut to define the claim stub. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     A preferred embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in the exploded perspective view of FIG.  1 . As seen in this view, there are two main components to the baggage tag apparatus  10  of the present invention, namely, the claim stub portion  60  and the tag handle portion  70 . The tag  10  would have conventional dimensions of approximately 22 inches in length and approximately 2 inches in width. Obviously the dimensions may be altered to accommodate the particular printer or use of the tags. Each of these main components may be further separated into constituent components as seen in the figure. 
     The tag handle portion  70  comprises a first, base ply  20  and a second, liner ply  30 . In the preferred embodiment, base ply  20  comprises a paper material whereas liner  30  comprises of a tear resistant material such as VALERON®. As is well understood in the art, VALERON® is the trademark of Van Leer Corporation for a tear resistant material, constructed in such a manner that its fibers are oriented perpendicular to one another to resist tearing. The material of the tear resistant liner is not limited to VALERON® since other acceptable materials may be commercially available now or in the future, but VALERON® is recited as one example of an acceptable material for the tear resistant liner. It is further contemplated that an alternative embodiment may provide a base ply of VALERON® material and a liner of paper material whereby the identification information would be printed on the VALERON® base ply which would be used as the bag tag and claim stub. 
     Constructing the base ply  20  of paper facilitates the printing of the passenger identification information thereon. As discussed above, this information may comprise the passenger&#39;s destination and some identifying information such as a claim number, etc. 
     The second ply or liner  30  serves two purposes. First, it provides a means for covering the majority of the adhesive  26  (FIG. 2) disposed between the two plys. A portion of this adhesive at the end of the tag  70  may be exposed to permit the securement of the two ends together around a handle as described below. Thus, the tag handle portion  70  may be looped around the baggage handle  82  and joined only at the ends of the tag  70  (FIG.  5 ), permitting the free movement of the tag  70  along the handle  82 . Secondly, as mentioned, the second ply  30  is preferably constructed of a tear resistant material such as VALERON®. This diminishes the possibility of the tag  70  being ripped off and separated from the bag. Hopefully, this in turn increases the chance that the bag will make it to its proper destination. 
     Each of the two plys  20  and  30  comprise exposed faces  22  and  32  and underside faces  24  and  34 . As described below, the underside faces  24  and  34  of plys  20  and  30  are adapted to be engaged together. Both the base and liner plys also comprise cuts or perforations  28  and  38  respectively, at one end thereof. These cuts define the claim stub portion  60 . Cuts are preferred as they would facilitate separation of the stub portion  60 . 
     In the preferred embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the cut  28  in ply  20  is straight. Thus, the base portion  50  of claim stub  60  is generally rectangular or square in shape. Conversely, the cut  38  in liner  30  is generally U-shaped. Thus, the liner portion  40  of claim stub  60  has an extended U-shaped tongue portion  44  corresponding to cut  38 . Since the U extends inwardly toward the center of the ply  30  with the open end of the U opening toward the adjacent end, a portion of adhesive  26  is left exposed when the claim stub  60  is peeled away. 
     While this is the preferred design for cut  38 , other designs are also possible. For example, cut  38  could just as well be straight (FIG.  7 ). This would result in a tongue  44  on claim stub liner portion  40  generally rectangular in shape. 
     While the shape of the cut is not particularly important, the preferred U-shape cut has the following advantage. As seen in the figure, the U-shaped cut in liner  30  creates two fingers  36   a  and  b  extending along the outer edge of end portion of liner  30  when the claim stub  60  is removed. Of course fingers  36   a  and  b  are composed of the same tear resistant VALERON® material making up the remainder of the liner ply  30 . Consequently, the fingers  36   a  and  b  provide resistance to tearing along the edge of the tag  70 . If the cut were straight (FIG. 7) there would be no such fingers and the propensity of the tag to tear in this area would be greater. While the particular shape of cut  38  is not critical, it is important that at least a portion of the cut should extend inwardly of cut  28  in ply  20  so that a quantity of adhesive  26  is exposed to permit opposite ends of tag  70  to be secured together around handle  82 . 
     As mentioned, the straight cut  28  of the first ply  20  results in a generally rectangular portion  50 . The top surface  52  of portion  50  provides the surface upon which the identification information would be printed. This portion is adhesively fixed to the remaining portion  40  of the claim stub. The tongue portion  44  of the claim stub liner  40 , provides a means for securing the claim stub to a ticket folder or the like. Obviously, the tongue  44  assumes the same shape as cut  38 . Consequently, if cut  38  is U-shaped, tongue  44  will also be U-shaped. If the cut  38  is made more straight, then the tongue will assume a more rectangular shape. Either shape provides a means for securing the claim stub to the ticket. 
     As is well understood in the art, in the usual manner of using the tag  10  of the present invention, the ticket agent would insert the tag  10  into the printer at the ticket counter after the passenger information had been entered. The printer would then print on the tag portion  70  the destination information as well as some passenger identification information. Such information frequently takes the form of a bar code. In the preferred embodiment, this information would be printed on the exposed surface  22  of the first or base ply  20  of the tag  10 . As mentioned above, it is preferable that this ply be constructed of paper which would facilitate the printing of the aforementioned information thereon. The printing process would also print the passenger identification information on the exposed surface  52  of claim stub portion  50 . This portion  50  comprises the portion separated from base ply  20  by cut  28 . 
     Finally, as seen in FIG. 1, there is a coating of release material  39  on the underside surface  34  of liner  30 . This release coating layer facilitates the easy removal of the liner portion  40  of claim stub  60  from the adhesive layer  26  (FIG.  2 ). Removal of claim stub  60  exposes a portion of adhesive layer  26  on the underside of base ply  20  providing a means for adhering the opposite end of the tag  70  when looped around the handle  82  (FIGS.  5  and  6 ). 
     FIG. 2 is a bottom exploded perspective view of the tag  10  of the present invention. In this view, the adhesive layer  26  discussed above is now seen. As mentioned above, this adhesive layer  26  is disposed between the underside surface  24  of base ply  20  and the liner ply  30 . The liner  30  is capable of being easily removed from this adhesive layer due to the coating of release material  39  which is applied to the underside  34  of liner ply  30 . No such release coating is provided between the underside surface  24  of base ply  20  and the adhesive  26 . Consequently, the adhesive layer  26  is permanently fixed to the underside surface  24  of this base ply  20 . 
     As can be seen in the figure, and even more clearly in FIG. 6, the removal of claim stub  60  will produce a corresponding U-shaped area of exposed adhesive when the liner  30  is joined to the base ply  20 . This exposed adhesive will provide a means for the two ends of the tag  70  to be joined as seen in FIGS. 5 and 6. 
     FIGS. 3 and 4 represent cross-sectional side views of the present invention and the prior art respectively. As seen in FIG. 3, the tag comprises two plys  20  and  30 , with adhesive  26  and release layers disposed therebetween. As described, the release coating  39 , preferably silicone, is applied to the underside surface  34  of the liner ply  30 . The adhesive layer  26  is then disposed between this silicone layer  39  and the underside surface  24  of base ply  20 . As mentioned, this makes it easy for the claim stub liner ply  40 , and consequently the claim stub, to be removed from the remainder of the tag  70 . 
     FIG. 4 illustrates the prior art tag  200  comprising three plys and two adhesive layers. The top ply  220  is composed of paper and comprises the surface on which the identification information is printed. Below the paper ply is a first adhesive layer  226   a  which is used to join the paper ply  220  to the second ply  230 . This second ply  230  is comprised of tear resistant VALERON®, used to impart a degree of tear resistance to the tag. Another layer of adhesive  226   b  is used to connect the VALERON® ply  230  to the paper liner  240  which comprises the final ply. 
     FIGS. 5 and 6 show the tag handle portion  70  in various stages of installation around the handle  82  of a bag  80 . As seen in the figures, all of the surface in contact with the handle  82 , is the exposed surface  32  of the liner ply  30 . Since this is composed of VALERON® or other similar non-stick material, the tag  70  is able to move freely along the handle  82 . FIG. 6 shows with particular clarity the exposed portion of adhesive  26 . As mentioned above, it is this exposed portion of the adhesive which is used to secure the two ends of tag  70  together around handle  82 . Also seen in the figure are the two fingers  36   a  and  b  which as mentioned provide a resistance to tearing of the tag  70  prior to its installation around the handle  82 . 
     FIG. 7 is a top perspective view similar to that illustrated above in FIG. 1 illustrating an alternative embodiment tag  100 . Referring to FIG. 7, features of this embodiment having a function similar to that in the preferred embodiment are prefaced with the number  1 . For example, the tear resistant line  30  of the preferred embodiment of FIG. 1, is referred to as  130  in the alternative embodiment of FIG.  7 . As mentioned, the main point of distinction between the embodiment illustrated in this FIG. and that illustrated in FIG. 1 above, is the nature of the cut in the liner  130 . As mentioned, in this alternative embodiment, the cut  138  is straight instead of the U-shape of FIG.  1 . As mentioned, the U-shape cut is preferred from the additional tear resistance provided by the fingers  36   a  and  b  resulting from such a cut. However, although the embodiment of FIG. 7 lacks these fingers, and thus the added tear resistance afforded thereby, it is easier to make a straight cut than the U-shaped cut. Additionally, with the embodiment of FIG. 7, the tear resistance is only diminished prior to installation of the tag around the handle. After the tag ends have been secured together, there is still a layer of the tear resistant VALERON® corresponding to the end which has been folded around into contact with the exposed adhesive  126 . 
     In the embodiment shown in FIG. 7, the cut  128  in ply  120  is also straight. Thus, the base portion  150  of claim stub  160  is generally rectangular or square in shape. As mentioned, the cut  138  in liner  130  is also straight. Thus, the liner portion  140  of claim stub  160  has a generally rectangular shape as contrasted with the extended U-shaped tongue portion  44  corresponding to cut  38  in FIG.  1 . Since the cut  138  is directed more inwardly than cut  128 , liner portion  140  extends more inwardly than the claim stub base portion  150 . Thus a portion of adhesive  126  (not shown) corresponding thereto, is left exposed on the underside of the ply  120  when the claim stub  160  is peeled away. 
     It is apparent that numerous other modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in view of the above teachings. For example, an important variation discussed above is the tag portion on which the identifying information is printed. As discussed, a preferred design utilizes the first or base ply for receiving this information. Alternatively, the information may also be printed on the liner portion. Additionally, the design of the cuts is not important. As discussed above, the cut on one ply may be straight while the other is U-shaped (FIG.  1 ). Alternatively, both may be cut straight (FIG.  7 ). The particular design is not important. Rather, only that an exposed adhesive portion (FIG. 6) be provided so that the tag may be looped around the handle and the ends of the tag secured together. 
     Therefore, it is to be understood that the above description is in no way intended to limit the scope of protection of the claims and it is representative of only one of several possible embodiments of the present invention. 
     There has thus been shown and described an invention which accomplishes at least all the stated objectives.