Abstract:
A combination of a product ( 70 ), such as a pet collar ( 70 C), and an identification tag device ( 10 ) attached thereto that serves an alternate function. In the preferred embodiment, collar ( 70 C) includes a buckle ( 80 ) having a recessed surface ( 84 ) adapted for attachment of an identification tag ( 30 ) and clear overlay ( 40 ). Three exemplary embodiments of the identification tag device ( 10 ) are: a display hanger ( 10 H); a wrapper ( 10 W); and an attached tag ( 10 A). Each identification tag device ( 10 ) includes an identification tag ( 30 ) and a clear overlay ( 40 ) which may be peeled off and attached to collar ( 70 C).

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates in general to the combination of a product and an identification tag device containing an identification tag that can readily be applied to the product, and more specifically to a multi-functional identification tag device. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention is a combination of a product, such as a pet collar, and an identification tag device attached thereto at point of sale. In the preferred embodiment, the collar includes a buckle having a recessed surface adapted for attachment of an identification tag and clear overlay. 
     Three exemplary embodiments of the identification tag device are shown: a display hanger; a wrapper; and an attached tag. Each identification tag device includes an identification tag and clear overlay for attachment to the collar. Each tag device is preferably a sheet comprised of layers of sheet material including a backing sheet with a smooth surface adapted to be adhesively removable from an adhesive layer, an identification tag and an overlay. The identification tag is fabricated of sheet material having a notational, or front, side and a back side. The front side includes free surface area that will readily accept identification data, such as by writing or typing. The back side has an adhesive layer thereon adhered to the smooth surface of the backing sheet. The identification tag is peeled from the smooth surface of backing along score lines and attached to the recessed surface of the buckle. 
     The overlay is fabricated of transparent sheet material having a back side having a transparent adhesive layer thereon adhered to the smooth surface of the backing sheet and placed over the identification tag after the identification data have been added to the identification tag. 
     The attached tag is attached, such as by a tether, to the collar. The display hanger is adapted both for hanging from a sales display and for attaching the collar. The wrapper is wrapped around the collar to configure the collar. 
    
    
     The features and advantages of the invention will be readily understood when the detailed description thereof is read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout. 
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a product, such as a collar for a pet, with a wrapper and display hanger shown hanging from a sales display support. 
     FIG. 2 is an enlarged right side elevation view of the collar, wrapper, display hanger, and display support of FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of the display hanger of FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the display hanger of FIG. 3 showing the tag and overlay removed from the backing. 
     FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of the collar buckle with recess and the identification tag. 
     FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the buckle showing the tag and overlay inserted in the recess. 
     FIG. 7 is an enlarged, front elevation view of the wrapper of FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 8 is an enlarged, front elevation view of the wrapper of FIG. 7 showing tag and overlay removed from the backing. 
     FIG. 9 is a sectional view of the wrapper taken on line  9 — 9  of FIG.  2 . 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     With reference now to the drawings, FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a product  70 , such as a belt or collar  70 C for a pet, and three identification tag devices  10 , such as wrapper  10 W, display hanger  10 H, and attached tag  10 A. Display hanger  10 H hangs collar  70 C from a sales display support  90 , such as rod  91 . FIG. 2 is an enlarged right side elevation view of collar  70 C, wrapper  10 W, display hanger  10 H, attached tag  10 A and display support  90  of FIG.  1 . 
     Collar  70 C generally includes a strap  72  for encircling a portion of an animal, such as the neck of a pet and a buckle  80 , such as a snap buckle, for fastening collar  70 C around the pet. Strap  72  or buckle  80  includes a tag receiving surface  84 , such as on buckle  80 , adapted for receiving an identification tag  30  from a tag device  10 . The word “collar” is meant to include any belt or belt-like device that goes around a portion of an animal. 
     Turning to FIGS. 3 and 4, FIGS. 3 is an enlarged exploded perspective view of display hanger  10 H of FIGS. 1 and 2. FIG.  4  is a perspective view of display hanger  10 H of FIG. 3 showing identification tag  30  and the overlay  40  removed from the backing, or release layer  28 . 
     The top  12  of hanger  10 H includes hanging means  20 , such as orifice  21 , cooperating with display support rod  91  for hanging hanger  10 H from rod  91 . Orifice  21  receives rod  91  and hangs hanger  10 H from rod  91 . Other hanging means  20  are contemplated. For example, top  12  may be shaped in the form of a hook for hooking over a display support  90  or may simply be a surface upon which a clip or snap on display support  90  may be clipped or snapped to support hanger  10 H. 
     The bottom  14  of hanger  10 H includes attachment means  24 , such as loop  25 , for attaching hanger  10 H to collar  70 C. Loop  25  is threaded through a portion of collar  70 C, such as through buckle loop  89  and attached to the hanger  10 H by means well known in the art, such as by adhesive, interlocking slits or a fastener, such as staple  26 , shown. 
     Display hanger  10 H tag device  10  is preferably a sheet comprised of layers of sheet material. Hanger  10 H includes a release liner  28 , such as of siliconized densified kraft, including a surface, such as smooth release surface  29 , adapted to be adhesively removable from an adhesive layer. 
     Identification tag  30  is fabricated of sheet material having a notational, or front, side  34  and a back side  37 . Front side  34  includes free surface area that will readily accept identification data, such as by writing or typing and may be pre-imprinted with prompting indicia  35  such as “name” or “phone#”. Back side  37  has an adhesive layer  38  thereon. Back side adhesive layer  38  of identification tag  30  is adhered to release surface  29  of release liner  28 . Identification tag  30  is peeled along its peripheral edge  32  from release surface  29  of release liner  28  along perforations, serration, or score  31 . 
     Overlay  40  is fabricated of transparent sheet material, such as transparent polyester sheet material, having a back side  47  having a transparent adhesive layer  48  thereon, such as of acrylic adhesive. Back side adhesive layer  48  is adhered to release surface  29  of release liner  28 . Overlay  40  is peeled along its peripheral edge  42  from release surface  29  of release liner  28  along perforations, serration, or score  31 . 
     FIGS. 5 and 6 show the mounted identification tag  30  and overlay  40 . FIG. 5 is a perspective view of collar buckle  80  including an outward facing side  81  including a surface  84  for receiving identification tag  30 . FIG. 6 is a perspective view of buckle  80  showing tag  30  and overlay  40  attached to surface  84 . Surface  84  is adapted for receiving adhesive layer  38  of back side  37  of identification tag  30 , which has been peeled from release liner  28  such that identification tag  30  is firmly attached thereto. 
     After the user has added identification data to front side  34  of identification tag  30  and affixed identification tag  30  to tag receiving surface  84 , the user peels overlay  40  from release liner  28  and adheres overlay  40  by its adhesive layer  48  to front side  34 , now containing identification data, of identification tag  30 . Overlay  40  protects the identification data from damage or alteration. 
     Preferably, receiving surface  84  is recessed below a surrounding surface  82 , such as the top of rim  83 , such that tag  30  and overlay  40  lie below the surrounding surface  82  or below the top of the rim  83  and, thus, are protected from damage and such that, once attached, their peripheral edges  32 ,  42  are not accessible such that they  30 ,  40  cannot easily be peeled off buckle  80 . 
     Returning once more to FIGS. 1 and 2, attached tag  10 A is an alternate identification tag device  10 . Attached tag  10 A is attached to collar  70 C, by any suitable means, such as a weak adhesive or plastic tether  95 . Attached tag  10 A is preferably a sheet comprised of layers of sheet material the same as or similar to hanger  10 H including release liner  28  including a release surface  29 , identification tag  30 , and overlay  40 . Release liner  28 , identification tag  30  and overlay  40  function as described above with reference to hanger  10 H. Attached tag  10 A includes information generally found on a sales tag, such as UPC bar code  18 , price, etc. 
     FIGS. 7,  8  and  9  show an alternate embodiment of identification tag device  10 , such as wrapper low. FIG. 7 is an enlarged, front elevation view of wrapper  10 W of FIG.  1 . FIG. 8 is an enlarged front elevation view of wrapper  10 W of FIG. 7 showing tag  30  and overlay  40  removed from release liner  28 . FIG. 9 is a sectional view of wrapper  10 W taken on line  9 — 9  of FIG.  2 . 
     Collar  70 C is flexible and configurable, such as by folding, crumpling or bending, into multiple configurations. Wrap low encircles collar  70 C and is attached to itself  10 W, such as with adhesive  16  such that collar  70 C is held in a given configuration. 
     Wrap  10 W is preferably a sheet comprised of layers of sheet material the same as or similar to hanger  10 H including release liner  28  including a release surface  29 , identification tag  30 , and overlay  40 . Release liner  28 , identification tag  30  and overlay  40  function as described above with reference to hanger  10 H. 
     The invention provides a very convenient and reliable manner of including an identification tag with a product. 
     Although particular embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described, various changes may be made in the form, composition, construction, and arrangement of the parts herein without sacrificing any of its advantages. Therefore, it is to be understood that all matter herein is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in any limiting sense, and it is intended to cover in the appended claims such modifications as come within the true spirit and scope of the invention.