Patent Abstract:
An apparatus and method for identifying luggage and promotional advertising for use by hotels, casinos and the like are disclosed. The apparatus includes a tag having a first side having a scratch surface covering promotional material and a second side having a portion for printing identifying information. The tag and the promotional material can be used by a hotel, casino or the like to encourage guests to attend shows or dine at restaurants being promoted.

Full Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application, entitled “Apparatus and Method for a Baggage Check and Promotional Advertisement,” filed Feb. 6, 2007, Ser. No. 60/899,775, and to U.S. Provisional Application, entitled “Apparatus and Method for Baggage Check and Promotional Advertisement,” filed Nov. 2, 2007, Ser. No. 61/001,776. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a luggage identification tag and system for promotional advertising for use by hotels, casinos and the like. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Hotels, casinos and the like go to various efforts to promote shows or restaurants or other forms of entertainment owned, produced or operated by the hotels or casinos or in partnership with other hotels or casinos or related organizations. Oftentimes, substantial amounts of money are expended toward these efforts with the ultimate goal being to coax or encourage consumers to a particular destination either within or nearby the hotel or casino. The present invention provides a means to accomplish this objective simply and inexpensively. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A luggage tag and method for promotional advertisement is disclosed. The luggage tag includes a substrate having first and second sides, and information printed thereon for identification of luggage and promotional advertisement. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
         FIG. 1  depicts a first side of an embodiment of a luggage tag system of the present invention, having luggage ownership identifying information or space therefore and scratch-surface panels for promotional advertising; 
         FIG. 2  depicts a second side of an embodiment of a luggage tag system of the present invention having further luggage ownership identifying information printed thereon; 
         FIG. 3  depicts a first side of a further embodiment of a luggage tag system of the present invention having a scratch surface; 
         FIG. 4  depicts a second side of the embodiment disclosed in  FIG. 3  having a portion for providing luggage ownership information thereon; 
         FIG. 5  depicts a cross sectional view of the two layer flexible vinyl substrate used in making the embodiment of the present invention illustrated in  FIGS. 3 and 4 ; 
         FIG. 6  depicts a further cross sectional view of the two layer flexible vinyl substrate used in making the embodiment of the present invention illustrated in  FIGS. 3 and 4  with the inclusion of kiss-cuts and scratch layer; 
         FIG. 7  depicts a cross sectional view of an apparatus for preparing one embodiment of the luggage tags of the present invention from pre-prepared stock; and 
         FIG. 8  depicts a perspective view of the embodiment disclosed in  FIGS. 3 and 4  shown attached to a luggage case. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
     This invention concerns apparatus and methods for use by hotels, casinos and the like to identify ownership of luggage and to provide promotional advertisement. Referring, for example, to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , a luggage tag  10  of the present invention is illustrated. The luggage tag  10  includes a generally flat substrate  12  having a first surface  20  and a second surface  30 . Generally speaking, the first surface  20  comprises a front side of the flat substrate  12  while the second surface  30  comprises a back or opposite side of the flat substrate  12 . The flat substrate  12  of the luggage tag  10  can be constructed using any suitable material, such as, for example, plastic, paper, vinyl or cardboard, or a combination thereof. 
     Referring particularly to  FIG. 1 , the first surface  20  includes a first portion  22  for printing ownership identifying information. The ownership identifying information includes generally the owner&#39;s name, the number of pieces of luggage and any additional information that is helpful in tracking or delivering the luggage—e.g., the room number of the owner while a guest at a hotel or casino. An identification serial number  23  and, if desired, a corresponding variable barcode  24 , is printed on the luggage tag for further identifying purposes. 
     The first surface  20  further includes a second portion  26  that is removably connected to the first portion  22  through a perforated segment  27  allowing the first section  22  and second section  26  to be separated. A first scratch surface  40  is provided on the first portion  22  and a second scratch surface  42  is provided on the second portion  26 . The first  40  and second  42  scratch surfaces cover printed information concerning a promotional advertisement, and serve to keep the information hidden prior to the scratch surfaces being scratched away by a user&#39;s fingernail or coin or the like. Referring to  FIG. 2 , the second surface  30  includes one or more identifying labels  32 . The identifying labels  32  are preferably kiss-cut and removably attached to the second surface  30 . 
     In one embodiment, a method for identifying ownership of luggage and providing a promotional advertisement is disclosed. Specifically, upon arrival by a guest at a hotel or casino, a luggage tag  10  of the present invention is obtained by a hotel or casino employee. Information concerning the name of the guest and the number of pieces of luggage is noted on the first portion  22  of the luggage tag  10 , along with the room number or cell phone number or other pertinent identifying information. Luggage identifying labels  32  are then detached from the second surface  30  of the luggage tag  10  and removeably attached to the individual pieces of luggage, which are thereafter transported to the guest&#39;s room by a bellhop or other hotel or casino employee. The second portion  26  of the luggage tag is then separated from the first portion  22  by tearing along the perforated segment  27 . The second portion  26  is provided to the guest and the first portion  22  is provided to the bellhop. 
     Following arrival and check-in of luggage, the guest may proceed to his or her room or where they might otherwise desire. At the same time or thereafter, the luggage is transported to the guest&#39;s room and the first portion  22  of the luggage tag  10  is left with the delivered luggage or at a suitable location where the guest may locate the first portion  22 . The guest may then scratch away the first  40  and second  42  scratch-surface portions, thereby revealing or exposing first  50  and second  52  printed promotional materials previously blocked from view by the scratch-surfaces. In an embodiment, if both the first  50  and second  52  printed promotional materials match, then the guest wins whatever is being advertised by the first  50  and second  52  printed promotional material—e.g., a ticket or tickets to a show or dinner at a restaurant. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 3 and 4 , a further embodiment of the present invention is disclosed. Specifically, a luggage tag  50  includes a substrate  53  having a first surface  52  and a second surface  54 . Generally speaking, the first surface  52  comprises a front side of the substrate  53  while the second surface  54  comprises a back or opposite side of the substrate  53 . The substrate  53  of the luggage tag  50  can be constructed using any suitable material, such as, for example, plastic, paper, vinyl or cardboard, or a combination thereof. 
     Referring particularly to  FIG. 3 , the first surface  52  includes a first portion  56  and a second portion  60 . The first portion  56  and the second portion  60  are separable by a perforated segment  62 . The first portion  56  of the first surface  52  includes space for one or more identifying labels  58 . Each identifying label  58  preferably includes a unique identifying serial number  57  (e.g., “10007” as illustrated) and, if desired, a corresponding barcode (not illustrated) for identifying purposes. Alternatively, each identifying label may include simply a bar code. The identifying labels  58  are preferably kiss-cut and removably attached to the first surface  52 . The unique identifying serial number  57  is, preferably, also printed elsewhere on the first surface  52  at a location—e.g., location “ 61 ”—where it does not interfere with the identifying labels  58 . The first portion  56  also includes space for a scratch surface  64 . The scratch surface  64  covers information printed underneath thereof on the first surface  56  concerning a promotional advertisement or solicitation, and serves to keep the information hidden prior to the scratch surface being scratched away by a user&#39;s fingernail or coin or the like. 
     Referring to  FIG. 4 , the second surface  54  includes a first portion  66  and a second portion  67 . The first portion  66  and the second portion  67  are separable by a perforated segment, preferably the same perforated segment  62  referred to above. The first portion  66  of the second surface  54  includes space for printing various identifying information including, for example, ownership identifying information  80 . The ownership identifying information  80  includes generally the owner&#39;s name, the number of pieces of luggage and any additional information that is helpful in tracking or delivering the luggage—e.g., the room number of the owner while a guest at a hotel or casino. The ownership identifying information  80  is printed at a suitable location—e.g., location “ 69 ”—on the first portion  66  of the second surface  54 . The first portion  66  of the second surface  54  further includes space for printing additional information—e.g., a disclaimer—relating to the promotional advertisement appearing under the scratch surface  64  located on the second portion  60  of the first surface  52  of the luggage tag  50 . The same additional information may, if desired, be printed on the second portion  67  of the second surface  54 . The unique identifying serial number  57  and, if desired, a corresponding barcode  72 , is also be printed on the second portion  67  of the second surface  54  for further identifying purposes. Preferably, the first portion  66  and the second portion  67  of the second surface  54  are separable using the perforated segment  62 —i.e., the same perforated segment used to separate the first portion  56  and the second portion  60  of the first surface  52 . 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 5 and 6 , further details of an embodiment similar to that just discussed are disclosed. Referring to  FIG. 5 , for example, the flat substrate  53  is constructed from a substrate stock having, in cross section, a first layer  91  and a second layer  92 . The first layer  91  includes a vinyl sheet having an adhesive underside  94  and a topside  95  suitable for lithographic printing. The second layer  92  includes a vinyl sheet having an adhesive receiving underside  96  and a topside  97  suitable for lithographic printing. Referring also to  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the first surface  52  of the flat substrate  53  corresponds to the topside  95  of the first layer  91  and the second surface  54  of the flat substrate  53  corresponds to the topside  97  of the second layer  92 . A suitable dual-layer flexible vinyl substrate as described herein and above may be purchased from Fasson®. The substrate may be purchased on either rolls or sheets suitable for use with lithographic processing techniques. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 5 and 6  and to  FIGS. 3 and 4  where appropriate, the first layer  91  includes the first portion  56  and the second portion  60  of the first surface  52 . The topside  95  of the first layer  91  includes a suitable space at the first portion  56 —e.g., location “ 61 ”—for printing the unique identifying serial number  57  (e.g., “10007” as illustrated). The first layer  91  further includes one or more identifying labels  58 . The identifying labels  58  each include the unique identifying serial number  57  or bar code (not illustrated) printed on the topside  95 . The identifying labels  58  are preferably sectioned by kiss-cuts  90  extending through the first layer  91  and removably attached to the second layer  92  by the adhesive underside  94  of the first layer  91 . The first portion  56  and the second portion  60  of the first layer  91  are separable through the perforation segment  62 . The scratch surface  64  is provided on the topside  95  of the first layer  91  at a suitable space at the second portion  60 . The unique identifying serial number  57  is, preferably, also printed on the on the topside  95  of the first layer  91  at the second portion  60  in an area not obscured by the scratch surface  64 . In one embodiment, the scratch surface  64  comprises a grey ultraviolet layer that may be applied using standard techniques know to those having skill in the art. In a further embodiment, the scratch surface  64  comprises a grey ultraviolet layer  64 A applied on top of a previously applied clear ultraviolet layer  64 B. The clear ultraviolet layer  64 B serves to protect the promotional advertisement, solicitation or other printed information from being scratched away during the process of removing the scratch surface  64  by a user&#39;s fingernail or coin or the like. 
     Referring still to  FIGS. 3-6 , the second layer  92  includes the first portion  66  and the second portion  67  of the second surface  54 . The topside  97  of the second layer  92  includes a suitable space at the first portion  66 —e.g., location “ 69 ”—for printing the ownership identifying information  80  and the disclaimer relating to the promotional advertisement appearing under the scratch surface  64 . The first portion  66  and the second portion  67  of the second layer  92  are separable through the perforation segment  62 . The topside  97  of the second layer  92  at the second portion  67  includes space for printing additional information—e.g., the disclaimer referred to above—and, in addition, the unique identifying serial number  57 . If desired, a barcode  72  corresponding to the unique identifying serial number  57  is also printed on the topside  97  of the second layer  92  at the second portion  67  for identifying purposes. The second layer  92  further includes first  82  and second  83  removable portions that are defined and sectioned by first  84 , second  85  and third  86  kiss-cut segments extending through the layer. The first  82  and second  83  removable portions are removed from the second layer  92  thereby exposing corresponding portions of the adhesive underside  94  of the first layer  91  that can be secured to one another so as to form a loop securable about a luggage handle or the like. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 7 , one embodiment of a process for applying the scratch surface  64  and performing the kiss-cutting and additional cutting operations to a substrate is disclosed. Specifically, a continuous feed of flexible vinyl substrate  200  similar to the two-layer substrate described above is fed to a processing apparatus  201 . The processing apparatus  201  comprises a clear ultraviolet coating applicator  202 , a grey ultraviolet coating applicator  204 , a kiss-cutting device  206  and a die cutting device  208 . In one embodiment, the flexible vinyl substrate  200  has previously undergone lithographic processing and has imprinted thereon a series of luggage tags having one or more of the various segments of printed information described above applied to the topside  95  of the first layer  91  and the topside  97  of the second layer  92 . The substrate  200  then passes through the clear ultraviolet coating applicator  202  where a clear ultraviolet coating  64 B is applied to a suitable space of the second portion  60  as described and illustrated above—see, e.g.,  FIGS. 3 and 6 . Following application of the clear ultraviolet layer  64 B, the substrate  200  then passes through the grey ultraviolet coating applicator  204  where a grey ultraviolet coating  64 A is applied to the suitable space of the second portion  60  as described and illustrated above. In an alternative embodiment, only one applicator is employed to apply only the grey ultraviolet coating. 
     Following application of the grey ultraviolet coating or both the clear and grey ultraviolet coatings, the substrate  200  then passes through the kiss-cutting device  206 , where both layers of the substrate  200  are kiss-cut in the positions indicated in, for example,  FIG. 6 , including the perforated segment  62 . The kiss-cutting operation leaves the substrate  200  and the layers  91 ,  92  comprising the substrate still intact. At this point, the kiss-cut substrate  207  passes through a die-cutting device  208 . The die-cutting device  208  is configured to cut through both layers  91 ,  92  of the substrate  200  in a pattern that yields the final luggage tag  50  product, as illustrated, for example, in  FIGS. 3 and 4 . As the substrate passes through the die-cutting apparatus  208  and is die-cut, the cut luggage tags  50  are collectably received in a manner known by those having skill in the art—e.g., in a stack  211  adjacent the die-cutting device  208 . The remainder of the substrate  200  is then passed to a collecting device—e.g., a roll (not illustrated)—where the remainder is collected for disposal. 
     Those having skill in the art will appreciate that the above described process may occur in “single row-series,” where a single row of luggage tags  50  is imprinted on the substrate  200  and processed with the ultraviolet layer(s), kiss-cut and then die-cut, or in “parallel row-series,” where parallel rows of luggage tags  50  are imprinted on the substrate  200  processed with the ultraviolet layer(s), kiss-cut and then die-cut. 
     In one embodiment of use, a method for identifying ownership of luggage and providing a promotional advertisement is disclosed. Referring, for example, to  FIGS. 3 ,  4  and  8 , upon arrival by a guest at a hotel or casino, a luggage tag  50  of the present invention is obtained by a hotel or casino employee. Information concerning the name of the guest and the number of pieces of luggage is noted on the second portion  67  of the second surface  54  of the luggage tag  50 , along with the room number or cell phone number or other pertinent identifying information of the guest or the identification number of the employee. The first  82  and second  83  removable portions are removed from the second layer  92  thereby exposing corresponding portions of the adhesive underside  94  of the first layer  91 . Referring now to  FIG. 7 , the luggage tag  50  is then looped through a handle  101  or strap of a luggage piece  100  followed by the now exposed corresponding portions of the adhesive underside  94  being secured to one another, thereby forming a loop  102  preventing removal of the luggage tag  50  from the luggage piece  100 . Luggage identifying labels  58  are then detached from the first layer  91  of the luggage tag  50  and secured using the adhesive underside  94  to the handles or other suitable locations of any other individual pieces of luggage. Each piece of luggage is thus uniquely identified for transport to the guest&#39;s room by a bellhop or other hotel or casino employee. 
     Following the securing of the luggage tag  50  and labels  58  to the guest&#39;s luggage pieces, the luggage tag  50  is separated into a first tag portion  105  and a second tag portion  106  by tearing the perforation segment  62  that extends through both the first  91  and second  92  layers of the luggage tag  50 . The first tag portion  105  remains secured to the luggage piece  100  while the second tag portion  106  is handed to the owner of the luggage piece  100 . The owner may then, at his or her convenience, remove the scratch surface  64 , thereby revealing a prize—e.g., a ticket or tickets to a show or dinner at a restaurant—or other promotional item. 
     While certain embodiments and details have been included herein and in the attached invention disclosure for purposes of illustrating the invention, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes in the methods and apparatuses disclosed herein may be made without departing form the scope of the invention, which is defined in the appended claims.

Technology Classification (CPC): 6