Patent Publication Number: US-2013227867-A1

Title: Identification Tag with Resilient Fingers

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     Not applicable. 
     BACKGROUND 
     This disclosure relates to identification tags and, in particular, to identification tags having resilient features for connection to conduits or other slender members. 
     Tags or labels are sometimes used to mark items such as, for example, conduits or wires. Such tagging or labeling can be performed to permit an observer to identify the tagged item when the item is grouped with other items which cannot otherwise be readily distinguished from the tagged item. Similarly, tagging or labeling might be performed to inform an observer of a particular quality of the tagged item (e.g., that a line is energized) or to provide other markings to the item (e.g., to denote an item for removal or maintenance). 
     While tags and labels can be readily attached to many items, certain items are not well-suited for the kind of user interaction required to attach a tag, label, or other marker. As one example, an overhead line carrying an electric current cannot be directly handled without first de-energizing the line. Moreover, in some circumstances, the type of user interaction necessary to apply a tag, label, or other marker to an overhead line can require a user to climb a ladder or find some other way to position himself or herself at a location near the line for tagging. 
     Hence, a need exists for a tag, label, or other marker that can be readily attached to items that are, because of their qualities and/or their location, difficult to mark. 
     SUMMARY 
     An identification tag is disclosed for selective attachment and detachment to a member along a pre-defined plane of connection of the identification tag. The identification tag includes a body portion and an attachment portion. The attachment portion is integral with the body portion, generally extends along a plane parallel to the pre-defined plane of connection, and includes at least three resilient fingers. Each of the resilient fingers has an un-flexed position and is movable away from this un-flexed position to effectuate a temporary separation of the resilient fingers from one another along the pre-defined plane of connection. This temporary separation of the resilient fingers permits the selective attachment or detachment of the identification tag to the member. 
     The body portion may be substantially planar and may display or support an indicia associated with the identification tag. 
     The identification tag may be composed of a substantially non-conductive material. This non-conductive material could be, for example, a polycarbonate plastic. The use of such a material allows the tag to be connected to an energized line because it is electrically insulative while still offering sufficient resiliency of the fingers. 
     Each of the resilient fingers may have three segments including a proximal segment, an intermediate segment, and a distal segment which may be sequentially connected. The proximal segment can be directly connected to the body portion of the identification tag and can extend away from the body portion such that, as the proximal segment extends away from the body portion of the identification tag, the proximal segment also extends away from the pre-defined plane of connection. The intermediate segment can then extend back toward the pre-defined plane of connection, while the distal segment can again extend away from the pre-defined plane of connection. 
     In some forms, the intermediate segment and distal segment can also continue to extend in a direction away from the body portion of the identification tag as they extend toward and away from the pre-defined plane of connection, respectively. The intermediate segment and the distal segment may each cross over the pre-defined plane of connection as they extend away from the body portion. 
     Each of the distal segments may have a contact surface configured for contact with the member during an attachment of the identification tag to the member. In order to facilitate contact with the member, the contact surface can have at least an area thereof in which a normal direction away from the area of the contact surface also extends away from the body portion. 
     The resilient fingers can include at least two resilient fingers substantially disposed on one side of the pre-defined plane of connection and at least one resilient finger positioned between these two resilient fingers that is substantially disposed on the other side of the pre-defined plane of connection. This ensures that the resilient fingers capture the member and that rotation of the identification tag relative to the member will not result in unintended detachment. 
     In order to direct flexure to certain parts of the resilient fingers, there may be a rib between the intermediate segment and the distal segment that inhibits a flexure of the intermediate segment relative to the distal segment. By making this joint comparably rigid to the rest of the finger, this promotes the concentration of any elastic deformation to the proximal segment as the resilient finger is moved away from the un-flexed position under an applied stress. 
     A surface feature may be formed on at least one surface of the proximal segment and the intermediate segment in which the at least one surface faces the pre-defined plane of connection. The surface feature may be, for example, a plurality of raised surfaces. This surface feature can be used to grip the member to prevent the movement or rotation of the tag relative to the member. 
     All of the resilient fingers could extend from one side of the body portion. A tab could be integrally formed on a side of the body portion that is opposite to the side of the body portion on which the resilient fingers are disposed. This tab may be adapted for connection to, for example, a hot stick for handling of the identification tag during selective attachment or detachment to the member. 
     A method of selectively attaching or detaching an identification tag of the types described herein is also disclosed. The identification tag is moved along the pre-defined plane of connection relative to the member. During this movement, the resilient fingers of the identification tag are moved away from the un-flexed position thereby effectuating the temporary separation of the resilient fingers from one another. This separation of the resilient fingers permits the passage of the member there through along the pre-defined plane of connection for the identification tag. 
     The temporary separation of the resilient fingers from one another may involve an insertion of the member between the resilient fingers to thereby attach the identification tag to the member. During the insertion, the member may contact a contact surface on a distal segment of each of the resilient fingers to effectuate the flexure of the resilient fingers away from the plane of connection thereby accommodating the reception the member. 
     The temporary separation of the resilient fingers from one another may involve a withdrawal of the member from between the resilient fingers, thereby detaching the identification tag from the member. During the withdrawal, the member may contact an intermediate segment of each of the resilient fingers to effectuate a flexure of the resilient fingers away from the plane of connection thereby accommodating the release of the member. 
     These and still other advantages of the invention will be apparent from the detailed description and drawings. What follows is merely a description of a preferred embodiment of the present invention. To assess the full scope of the invention, the claims should be looked to as the preferred embodiment is not intended to be the only embodiment within the scope of the claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a front, bottom, right side view of an identification tag attached to a member (member shown in phantom). 
         FIG. 2  is a front side view of the identification tag of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a back side view of the identification tag of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4  is a left side view of the identification tag of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIGS. 5A through 5C  are left side views of the identification tag of  FIGS. 1 through 4  being attached to a member in which the resilient fingers are shown initially engaging the member, separating under an applied force during connection to receive the member between the resilient fingers, and then substantially returning to their original form to capture the member there between thereby attaching the identification tag to the member. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Referring first to  FIGS. 1 through 4 , one embodiment of an identification tag  10  is illustrated. Structurally, the identification tag  10  includes a body portion  12  and an attachment portion  14  which, as depicted in  FIG. 1 , can be used to attach the identification tag  10  to a member  16  (shown in phantom lines). 
     The body portion  12  of the identification tag  10  is generally plate-like having a front planar surface  18  (as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 ), a rear planar surface  20  (as shown in  FIG. 3 ), and a peripheral edge  22  that generally defines the outer limits of the body portion  12 . As the body portion  12  is plate-like, the front planar surface  18  and the rear planar surface  20  are generally parallel with one another, albeit on opposing sides of the body portion  12 . 
     One or both of the front planar surface  18  and the rear planar surface  20  can display indicia. In the example shown, the letter “A” is provided as a front indicia  24  while the letter “B” is provided as a rear indicia  26 . However, any type of indicia could be provided on one or both of the surfaces including, but not limited to, numbers, letters, pictures, images, symbols, and so forth. Because both the front indicia  24  and the rear indicia  26  are only used as examples of potential indicia, they are both displayed in phantom lines in  FIGS. 1 through 3 . Such indicia could be created in any of a number of ways including, but not limited to, attachment of the indicia on the surface of the body portion  12  (e.g., adhesive attachment of the indicia to the surface), printing the indicia on the surface either by machine or by hand, molding the material of the body portion  12  around the indicia (e.g., encapsulating the indicia in a transparent or semi-transparent material), and so forth. 
     In some embodiments, no indicia need be provided with the body portion  12 . It is possible that the identification tag  10  itself or some feature of the identification tag  10  other than indicia may be instructive to an observer. For example, a color of the identification tag  10  may identify the identification tag  10  and the item to which it is attached. 
     Integrally formed with the body portion  12  of the identification tag  10  is the attachment portion  14 . In the specific form shown, the attachment potion  14  has three resilient fingers  28 ,  30 , and  32  which can be reversibly attached to a member  16  (shown in phantom lines in  FIG. 1 ) such as for example a conduit or line. The resilient fingers  28 ,  30 , and  32  are all disposed along an upper linear portion  34  of the peripheral edge  22 . 
     As illustrated, each of these three resilient fingers  28 ,  30  and  32  is divided into three segments: a proximal segment  28   a,    30   a,  and  32   a;  an intermediate segment  28   b,    30   b , and  32   b;  and a distal segment  28   c,    30   c,  and  32   c,  respectively. As depicted, these segments are sequentially connected to one another. 
     Each of these resilient fingers  28 ,  30 , and  32  generally extend away from the body portion  12  of the identification tag  10  along what will be referred to herein as the pre-defined plane of connection C for the identification tag  10 . In the particular identification tag  10  illustrated, this pre-defined plane of connection C (which is drawn in broken lines in  FIGS. 1 and 4 ) is generally parallel to the front planar surface  18  and the rear planar surface  20  of the body portion  12 . During attachment or detachment of the identification tag  10  onto the member  16 , the identification tag  10  is moved along this predefined plane of connection C. During attachment, the identification tag  10  is moved in the direction of arrow A which is denoted in  FIG. 1  such that the resilient fingers  28 ,  30 , and  32  can come into contact with the member  16 . During detachment, the identification tag  10  is moved in the opposite direction for detachment denoted by arrow D in  FIG. 1 . 
     Returning now to the description of the resilient fingers  28 ,  30 , and  32 , the proximal segments  28   a,    30   a,  and  32   a  are directly connected to the body portion  12  of the identification tag  10 . As the proximal segments  28   a,    30   a,  and  32   a  extend away from the body portion  12 , the proximal segments  28   a,    30   a,  and  32   a  also extend away from the pre-defined plane of connection C (as is best illustrated in the side view of  FIG. 4 ). 
     At a first bend  28   d,    30   d,  and  32   d  in each of the resilient fingers  28 ,  30 , and  32 , each of the proximal segments  28   a,    30   a,  and  32   a  is joined, connected, or linked to the intermediate segments  28   b,    30   b,  and  32   b,  respectively. In the intermediate segments  28   b,    30   b,  and  32   b,  the resilient fingers  28 ,  30 , and  32  continue to extend away from the body portion  12 . However, unlike the proximal segments  28   a,    30   a,  and  32   a , the intermediate segments  28   b,    30   b,  and  32   b  extend back towards the pre-defined plane of connection C, at least initially. In one form, it is contemplated that, as the intermediate segments  28   b,    30   b,  and  32   b  continue to extend away from the body portion  12 , the intermediate segments  28   b,    30   b,  and  32   b  can pass through the pre-defined plane of connection C. 
     At a second bend  28   e,    30   e,  and  32   e  in the resilient fingers  28 ,  30 , and  32 , each of the intermediate segments  28   b ,  30   b,  and  32   b  is joined, connected, or linked to the distal segments  28   c,    30   c,  and  32   c,  respectively. The distal segments  28   c,    30   c,  and  32   c  also continue to extend away from the body portion  12  of the identification tag  10  towards terminal ends  28   f,    30   f,  and  32   f,  but also generally extend away from the pre-defined plane of connection C. It should be noted that in the instance in which the corresponding intermediate segment  28   b ,  30   b,  and  32   b  has previously crossed over the pre-defined plane of connection C, the connected distal segment  28   c,    30   c,  and  32   c  may need to briefly extend back toward and over the pre-defined plane of connection C, prior to extending away from it. 
     This back and forth extension of the resilient fingers  28 ,  30 , and  32  throughout the segments gives the resilient fingers  28 ,  30 , and  32  a zig-zag appearance when viewed laterally or from the side as in  FIG. 4 . It should be appreciated that while each of the segments are generally depicted as being generally planar and meeting at bends, that the resilient fingers may be formed to curve or to be S-shaped and be capable of the functionality described below with respect to reversible connection. Accordingly, the described segments should not be so limited as to those shapes and forms illustrated in the figures. Moreover, the number and positions of the resilient fingers can differ from that shown in the figures. 
     The fingers  28 ,  30 , and  32  are described as being resilient which means that they are able to recoil or spring back into shape after bending, stretching, or being compressed. In the context of this disclosure, the fingers  28 ,  30 , and  32  originally have an un-flexed position or a substantially un-flexed position as shown in  FIGS. 1 through 4 . During attachment or detachment of the identification tag  10 , as will be described in greater detail below, the fingers  28 ,  30 , and  32  can be moved away from the un-flexed position thereby effectuating a temporary separation of the resilient fingers  28 ,  30 , and  32  from one another along the pre-defined plane of connection C. 
     This temporary separation will permit the selective attachment or detachment of the identification tag  10  to the member  16 . In terms of resiliency, what this means is that the fingers  28 ,  30 , and  32  are to be made sufficiently resilient (by, for example, material selection or selection of finger dimensions such as thickness, width, and so forth) so as to be able to accommodate the passage of a member  16  between the fingers for attachment or detachment. Moreover, the fingers should be elastically deformable within this range of movement so that, upon withdrawal of the member  16 , the fingers  28 ,  30 , and  32  will return to their un-flexed position or, upon reception of the member  16  between the fingers  28 ,  30 , and  32 , the fingers  28 ,  30 , and  32  will return to either the un-flexed position and have captured the member  16  there between or will move back toward the un-flexed position even if they do not return all the way because the member  16  is too large to permit such movement. To be resilient, however, does not mean that the fingers need to be unbreakable over all potential ranges of motion and under all exerted forces. 
     In order to make some portions of the resilient fingers  28 ,  30 , and  32  stiffer than other portions, there may be ribs  28   g,    30   g,  and  32   g  or other structural features formed on the fingers  28 ,  30 , and  32 . For example, in the embodiment illustrated, a rib  28   g,    30   g,  and  32   g  extends vertically between each of the intermediate segments  28   b,    30   b,  and  32   b  and their corresponding distal segments  28   c,    30   c,  and  32   c  at the second bends  28   e,    30   e,    32   e.  The inclusion of these ribs  28   g,    30   g,  and  32   g  help to prevent the flexure of the distal segments relative to the intermediate segments under an applied force and redirects any applied force to the more resilient portions of the fingers (in this instance, the first bends  28   d,    30   d,  and  32   d  and/or the proximal segments  28   a,    30   a,  and  32   a ). 
     At a bare minimum, two fingers might be enough to establish and maintain a connection with a member, if the fingers are spaced sufficiently close to one another and disposed in alternating orientations with respect to the pre-defined plane of connection C. Assuming an inter-finger gap when the fingers are substantially un-flexed is smaller than the member  16 , the member  16  will not be able to pass through the inter-finger gap by twisting without first surpassing some threshold amount of applied force. 
     The presence of a third finger provides additional benefit in that, among other things, it can restrict or define the orientation of the identification tag  10  relative to the member  16  such that the body portion  12  is displayed at a predictable orientation relative to the member  16 . Moreover, if there are three or more resilient fingers in which there are at least two alterations in orientations of the resilient fingers relative to the body portion  12 , then the resilient fingers can be spaced further apart from one another along the portion of the peripheral edge  22  without limiting functionality. For the sake of redundancy or to provide secure attachment of the identification tag  10  when the body portion  12  is relatively long and/or heavy, additional fingers (e.g., four, five or more fingers) could be provided. 
     In some embodiments, the identification tag  10  can also have a tab  36  formed along a lower linear portion  38  of the peripheral edge  22 . In the illustrated embodiment, the tab  36  is a rectangular projection protruding from the lower linear portion  38  of the peripheral edge  22  and has a circular opening  40  that extends through the tab  36  in a direction generally perpendicular to the direction of extension of the peripheral edge  22 . During attachment or detachment, a hot stick or other tag-handling implement that electrically insulates the operator from the tag  10  can engage the tab  36  and potentially the opening  40  to facilitate the gripping of the tag  10 . 
     Now, with additional reference to  FIGS. 5A through 5C , the connection, and more specifically the attachment, of the identification tag  10  to the member  16  is illustrated in detail in step-wise fashion. This attachment happens along the pre-defined plane of connection C in the attachment direction A. 
     Looking first at  FIG. 5A , the identification tag  10  is shown being brought into initial contact with the member  16  in which the resilient fingers  28 ,  30 , and  32  are in an un-flexed position. As noted above, because the member  16  may be an energized line, wire, conduit, or so forth, the identification tag  10  may be picked up and handled using a hot stick tool that electrically isolates the user from item (in this case, the identification tag  10 ) being handled. 
     Upon movement of the identification tag  10  toward the member  16 , the first portions of the identification tag  10  to contact the member  16  are the contact surfaces  28   h,    30   h,  and  32   h  which are disposed on the distal segments  28   c,    30   c,  and  32   c  of the resilient fingers  28 ,  30 , and  32 . The contact surfaces  28   h,    30   h,  and  32   h  each have at least an area thereof in which a normal direction away from the area of the contact surface  28   h ,  30   h,  and  32   h  extends away from the body portion  12 . When viewed from the side of the tag  10 , these contact surfaces  28   h ,  30   h,  and  32   h  also define a V-shape which initially contacts the member  16 . 
     Under the continued application of force in the direction of attachment A, the resilient fingers  28 ,  30 , and  32  are forced into contact with the member  16 . As shown in  FIG. 5B , this results in the resilient fingers  28 ,  30 , and  32  of the identification tag  10  temporarily separating from one another under the applied force and the resilient fingers  28 ,  30 , and  32  being moved away from the pre-defined plane of connection C. This separation of the resilient fingers  28 ,  30 , and  32  to a flexed position permits the member  16  to pass between the second bends  28   e,    30   e,  and  32   e  of the resilient fingers  28 ,  30 , and  32  and, ultimately, into a space between the proximal segments  28   a,    30   a,  and  32   a  and the intermediate segments  28   b ,  30   b,  and  32   b.    
     It should be observed that in  FIG. 5B , the flexure of the resilient fingers  28 ,  30 , and  32  primarily occurs in the proximal segments  28   a,    30   a,  and  32   a  and at the first bends  28   d ,  30   d,  and  32   d.  As noted above, this concentration of the flexure occurs because of the presence of ribs  28   g,    30   g,  and  32   g.  This can be advantageous because it means that the ends of the resilient fingers  28 ,  30 , and  32  can be comparably rigid to the portions nearest to the body portion  12 . This can reduce the likelihood of segments of the resilient fingers  28 ,  30 , and  32  behaving like an accordion during attachment and potentially damaging one or more of the fingers  28 ,  30 , and  32 . 
     After the member  16  passes between the second bends  28   e,    30   e,  and  32   e,  the resilient fingers  28 ,  30 , and  32  snap back into place and the member  16  is captured between the resilient fingers  28 ,  30 , and  32  as depicted in  FIG. 5C . In this position, a plurality of bumps or raised surfaces  28   i ,  30   i,  and  32   i  on inner sides of the proximal segments  28   a,    30   a , and  32   a  and the intermediate segments  28   b,    30   b,  and  32   b  can engage the member  16  to grip the member  16  to prevent movement of the tag  10  relative to the member  16 . 
     While the resilient fingers  28 ,  30 , and  32  are shown as returning to the un-flexed position after attachment in  FIG. 5C , it is contemplated that for a sufficiently large member, the resilient fingers  28 ,  30 , and  32  might move back towards, although not completely reach, their un-flexed positions if that the member is so large as to prevent a full return to this position. 
     In order to detach the tag  10 , the steps of  FIGS. 5A to 5C  can be performed in reverse. A hot stick could be used to grip the tag  10  or the tab  36  of the tag  10 . The hot stick could pull the tag  10  in a direction D, which is opposite to the direction of attachment A (at least relative to the pre-defined plane of connection C, which is relative to the tag  10 ). The applied force of the pull would cause the member  16  to engage the intermediate segments  28   b,    30   b,  and  32   b  to cause the resilient fingers  28 ,  30 , and  32  to temporarily separate from one another such that the member  16  could be extracted from the resilient fingers  28 ,  30 , and  32 . Then the resilient fingers  28 ,  30 , and  32  having no force applied thereto, would return to their original un-flexed position. 
     Accordingly, an identification tag and a related method of using the tag are provided. Among other things, this tag offers a safe and quick way to label or identify a member that is otherwise difficult to mark, such as an energized wire. This helps the user to avoid direct contact with the member to which the tag is to be attached, which in some instances can be problematic or required de-energization of the member and downtime of the underlying system of which the member is a part. Moreover, the identification tag has a construction which permits for the reversible attachment and reuse of the tag making it particularly versatile. 
     Many modifications and variations to this preferred embodiment will be apparent to those skilled in the art, which will be within the spirit and scope of the invention. Therefore, the invention should not be limited to the described embodiment. To ascertain the full scope of the invention, the following claims should be referenced.