Patent Publication Number: US-4149329-A

Title: Reversible and foldable tag

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     (1) Field of the Invention This invention relates to identification of objects; and, more particularly, to identification of objects by either of two indicia or messages. 
     (2) Prior Art 
     It is frequently desirable to conveniently and positively label a container which is used to store, mix, or carry contents to indicate the type of material in the container. For example, many homeowners have one or more gasoline containers located in the garage, workshop or storage building. The fuel in the containers is normally stored for use in such apparatus as chain saws, autos, motorcycles, lawn mowers, snowmobiles, etc., for which the fuel is not the same and therefore can be either unmixed, that is, pure gasoline, or gasoline mixed with a petroleum or synthetic oil to provide a lubricant for an engine. 
     Typically, there is no convenient way to indicate whether the fuel contained in the container is mixed or unmixed gasoline. Without positive labelling it is typically difficult to know what is in the container. For example, the sequence of purchase, storage, and use of the fuel can be varied. The fuel can be mixed immediately or later, or just prior to use. Further, since most containers are not emptied immediately, some fuel remains stored in them until needed again. Often, another person other than the one who mixed or filled the container will be using the container. 
     If the person using the fuel in the container is not sure of just what the mixture is, the person can either guess as to the contents of the container or throw the fuel away. Guessing as to the composition of the fuel is risky because use of the fuel may damage the engine causing failure and possible injury to the operator. Depending upon the type of engine, this can happen either when the person adds additional petroleum oil or does not add any petroleum oil to the mixture in the container. Throwing away the fuel in the container is a waste of energy, a fire hazard and may cause damage to the environment. 
     In order to label a mixture contained within a container it would be desirable to have a very convenient tag which can indicate the contents of the container. The tag must be readily available so that it can always be used and the temptation to try to remember the contents or otherwise not label the contents is completely avoided. That is, the convenience of use of the tag must be such that the container is labelled at the moment it is filled or mixed to prevent future guesswork. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In accordance with one embodiment of this invention, a generally planar, reversible tag for designating a container with either of two messages includes a body which can be folded double along an axis either of two ways to expose either of the messages. An elongated strap extending from the body can be attached to the body through two holes extending therethrough which are spaced from the axis of folding. The body and strap form a closed loop which is used to attach the tag to the container and keep the body folded in one of two positions. 
     As a result, there is a single tag which can provide either of two indicia and always identify the contents of the container. The tag is very convenient to use because the action of choosing either of the indicia also doubles as a means of attaching the tag to the container. Thus, there is no need to use two different types of tags for designating two different contents of the container. Two different types of tags are much less convenient to use. Additionally, an embodiment of this invention wherein the tag has an integral strap and body permits different configurations of attaching the tag to the container to accommodate handles and containers of different sizes. 
     In summary, the tag provides a choice between two indicia which can readily be attached around a relatively wide range circumference sizes. An embodiment of this invention can be made relatively inexpensively and provide for a plurality of ways of attaching the tag to the container. This is particularly advantageous when the handle to be attached is either smaller or larger than the loop either formed by the strap or the body of the invention individually. In addition to labelling gas cans for such apparatus as motorcycles, lawn mowers, outboard motors, chain saws, and generators, the tag is particularly well suited for labelling a variety of products in which there are two distinct kinds, such products including such ingredients as sweetened and unsweetened food, chemicals with additives or no additives, etc. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a tag in accordance with an embodiment of this invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a bottom plan view of the tag of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a tag attached to the handle of a container so that the strap enters the two holes of the body from the side where the strap is integrally attached; 
     FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a tag attached to the handle of a container wherein the strap enters the two holes of the tag body from the side opposite the side to which the strap is integrally attached; 
     FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a larger handle wherein the end of the strap of the tag passes through only one hole of the tag thereby enlarging the closed loop formed by the tag; and 
     FIG. 6 shows another connection of a tag in accordance with an embodiment of this invention to a handle wherein the body of the tag surrounds the handle and the strap passes through both openings in the body. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a reversible, planar identification tag 10 includes an integral body 20 and an elongated strap 30 with openings 21 and 22 through body 20. Each side 26 (FIG. 1) and 27 (FIG. 2) of body 20 has a different indicia which is selectively exposed by folding body 20 along an axis of symmetry 23 (indicated by a dotted line) and passing a portion of strap 30 through openings 21 and 22 so that body 20 remains in a folded condition. The direction of the fold along the axis of symmetry 23 determines the indicia which is displayed. To prevent strap 30 from sliding out of either opening 21 or 22, strap 30 includes barbs 32 at the end of strap 30 which will facilitate insertion of strap 30 into openings 21 and 22 but resist withdrawal of strap 30. 
     In the tag illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, the choice of indicia is between &#34;Mixed&#34; written on one side of tag 10 and &#34;Not Mixed&#34; written on the other side of tag 10. Body 20 is symmetrical about axis 23 and has the indicia written on each half. Both halves of body 20 are generally a portion of a circle with a common cord along axis of symmetry 23. A first portion 24 of body 20 on one side of axis of symmetry 23 has an opening 21 and a second portion 25 of body 20 along the other side of axis of symmetry 23 has an openng 22. Openings 21 and 22 are symmetric with respect to one another about the axis of symmetry 23 and are elongated sufficiently to pass the width of strap 30. In the embodiment shown, openings 21 and 22 are rectangular with the longitudinal axis parallel to axis of symmetry 23. 
     Strap 30 is an integral part of tag 10 and extends from portion 24 with a longitudinal axis perpendicular to axis 23. The extremity of strap 30 away from portion 24 includes sidewardly protruding barbs 32, having a generally arrow-head like shape. Such a configuration is particularly advantageous because tag 10 can be readily formed from a planar piece of material. A typical material is a plastic which would be resistant to the contents of the container as well as providing a good base for indelible printing of an indicia on tag 10. The number of barbs 32 can be varied as indicated by having two pair of barbs 32 in FIGS. 1 and 2 and one pair of barbs 32 in FIGS. 3-6. 
     FORMS OF ATTACHMENT 
     Referring to FIGS. 3 through 6, tag 10 can be attached to a container 11 in a plurality of ways. One of the factors to be considered is the size of the portion of container 11 to which tag 10 is to be attached. More particularly, referring to FIG. 3, strap 30 goes around the handle of container 11 so that barbs 32 extend into opening 21 first and then into opening 22. Thus, tag 10 is attached to container 11 by the closed loop of strap 30 extending from portion 24 through opening 21. 
     Referring to FIG. 4, the attachment of tag 10 to container 11 is similar to that of FIG. 3 with the exception that strap 30 passes through opening 22 first and then through opening 21, instead of in the reverse order. 
     Referring to FIG. 5, if the portion of container 11 is particularly large, barbs 32 can extend into opening 22 without entering opening 21, thus forming a closed loop including body 20 and strap 30. Nevertheless, as in the case of FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, only one of the messages on tag 10 is visible. Referring to FIG. 6, a portion of container 11 can pass between the two halves of body 20 so that barbs 32 of strap 30 pass through openings 22 and 21 and the portion of container 11 supporting tag 10 passes through the closed loop bounded by body 20 and a portion of strap 30 between openings 21 and 22. 
     Tag 10 is particularly advantageous because two different indicia are readily available, can be selectively exposed, and can be readily attached to a container in a variety of ways. That is, the position of the body carrying the indicia, the holes in the body and the connecting strap are arranged so that various size objects can be attached to tag 10 and only a single message of tag 10 exposed. 
     Various modifications and variations will no doubt occur to those skilled in the various arts to which this invention pertains. For example, the particular shape of the barb and of the body of tag 10 may be varied from that disclosed herein. These and all other variations which basically rely on the teachings through which this disclosure has advanced the art are properly considered within the scope of this invention as defined by the appended claims.