Abstract:
A badge device for identifying a person or object is provided. The badge device comprises a card substrate, a photo-luminescent marking applied to the card substrate, and a reflective marking applied to the card substrate.

Description:
[0001]    The present application is a continuation of pending provisional patent application Serial No. 60/476,991, filed on Jun. 9, 2003, entitled “Photo-Luminescent Marking of Identification Cards With Colored Luminescent Crystals for Security and Rescue That Indicates Building Locations”. 
     
    
     
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0003]    This invention relates generally to identification cards and, more particularly, the invention relates to identification cards having photo-luminescent markings for security and rescue situations.  
           [0004]    2. Description of the Prior Art  
           [0005]    With the growing need for security in the work place, many companies are providing their employees with identification badges or “IDs” that include the employee&#39;s picture and other important identifying information, such as the employee&#39;s name and employment position. In many instances, employees are required to maintain the ID on his or her person while at work, and may even be required to display the ID while at work so that security personnel can examine the photograph on the ID.  
           [0006]    Unfortunately, during low light situations such as power loss and nighttime, it is often difficult for security personnel to accurately view the identification cards or review the information on the identification cards. The inability to view the identification card in low light situations impedes the security personnel from seeing the person wearing the identification card. An inaccurate reading or understanding of the information on the identification cards can lead to security breaches and unwanted or non-authorized personnel entering restricted areas.  
           [0007]    Accordingly, there exists a need for photo-luminescent marking of identification cards for security and rescue operations which are visible to security personnel and others during low light situations. Additionally, a need exists for photo-luminescent marking of identification cards for security and rescue operations for indicating position within a building for visibility in darkness or low light conditions. Furthermore, there exists a need for photo-luminescent marking of identification cards for security and rescue operations for assisting in traffic self-management or rescue retrieval.  
         SUMMARY  
         [0008]    The present invention is a badge device for identifying a person or object. The badge device comprises a card substrate, a photo-luminescent marking applied to the card substrate, and a reflective marking applied to the card substrate.  
           [0009]    In addition, the present invention includes a badge device for identifying a person or object. The badge device comprises a card substrate, a photo-luminescent marking applied to the card substrate, and a reflective marking applied to the card substrate.  
           [0010]    The present invention further includes a method for identifying a person or object in low light situations. The method comprises applying a photo-luminescent marking applied to the card material and coloring the photo-luminescent marking for particularly identifying the person or object. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0011]    [0011]FIG. 1 is an elevational front view illustrating an identification card, constructed in accordance with the present invention, having photo-luminescent markings for security and rescue operations. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0012]    As illustrated in FIG. 1, the present invention is an identification card, indicated generally at  10 , having photo-luminescent markings  12  for security and rescue operations. The photo-luminescent markings  12  can be applied to the identification card  10  using colored crystals indicating position within a building for visibility in darkness or low light conditions.  
         [0013]    Using photo-luminescent markings or crystals  12  to mark the identification cards  10  with colored luminescent crystals indicates the individual&#39;s occupancy location within a building. Charging the identification card or badge  10  with a light source (not shown) before or during an event of darkness or low light illumination can help in traffic self-management or rescue retrieval.  
         [0014]    The photo-luminescent markings  12  can include powders dissolved in solution so as to be printed to convey information in darkness or low light areas. Photo-luminescent materials  12  and reflective materials  14 can be applied to the identification cards or badges  10  for correctional facilities, homeland defense personnel, and visitors, as well as expected employees can be identified for security with different colored photo-luminescent crystals  12 . Traffic self-management can direct personnel to exits by matching the identification badges or cards  10  with placards that indicate shortest egress paths that can also be marked with matching color.  
         [0015]    Security personal can take the identification cards  10  and cup in their hands to create a dark environment and see the photo-luminescent material  12  glow reducing fraud of unauthorized identification cards. With the identification cards  10  of the present invention, this can occur without specialized equipment such as ultra-violet makings.  
         [0016]    The identification cards  10  of the present invention uses photo-luminescent markings  12  that are independent of language for indicating building area to personnel for security purposes. The identification cards  10  with the photo-luminescent markings  12  for can indicate egress information by matching the wearers&#39; color to a placard of same color to indicate egress paths. Marking of hazardous materials and packages for transport within a facility can also be accomplished so that appropriate materials follow appropriate paths within a facility during periods of no or low light.  
         [0017]    In another embodiment of the identification card  10  of the present invention, photo-luminescent material  12  and reflective material  14  are constructed into the plastic casing of the identification card  10  in specific area that only security personal would know of.  
         [0018]    In sum, the identification card  10  of the present invention uses photo-luminescent markings or crystals  12  to mark identification cards  10  with colored luminescent crystals to indicate the individual&#39;s occupancy location within a building. Charging the identification card or badge  10  with a light source before or during an event of darkness or low light illumination assists in traffic self-management or rescue retrieval.  
         [0019]    The foregoing exemplary descriptions and the illustrative preferred embodiments of the present invention have been explained in the drawings and described in detail, with varying modifications and alternative embodiments being taught. While the invention has been so shown, described and illustrated, it should be understood by those skilled in the art that equivalent changes in form and detail may be made therein without departing from the true spirit and scope of the invention, and that the scope of the present invention is to be limited only to the claims except as precluded by the prior art. Moreover, the invention as disclosed herein, may be suitably practiced in the absence of the specific elements which are disclosed herein.