Patent Description:
At the end of the nineteenth century, aluminothermic welding was invented to weld rail tracks with the development of the metallurgical and chemical industries. To prepare aluminothermic welding for connecting two rail ends and to obtain a desired certain metallic structure in the welding gap, a worker should understand the characteristics of a rail. Also, to check a weld joint of a rail, a worker should also understand the characteristics and the history of the weld joint. Therefore, the information of a rail or a weld joint of a rail becomes crucial for workers to prepare the welding or future repair and maintenance of a rail. Namely, before/during/after welding, workers need to obtain information of the rail or of the weld joint of the rail.

However, the conventional method is to use a rail clamp to cover the whole bottom of a rail foot and clamping the two sides of the rail foot, which may lead to damage of a rail. Also, it takes much time to attaching such conventional rail clamp to the rail foot and thus is not efficient for installation. Hence, a conventional rail clamp does not provide a fast-marking, non-destructive and stable-fastening tag for providing the information of a rail.

Document <CIT> shows a tag comprising all technical features of the preamble of claim <NUM> and claim <NUM>.

The objective of the present invention is to provide a fast-marking, non-destructive and stable-fastening tag for providing the information of a rail.

The invention is defined by the features of independent claims <NUM> and <NUM>, whereas the dependent claims define preferred embodiments.

The following summarizes some aspects of the present invention to provide a basic understanding of the technology discussed. This summary is not an extensive overview of all contemplated features of the invention, and is intended neither to identify key or critical elements of all aspects of the invention nor to delineate the scope of any or all aspects of the invention. Its sole purpose is to present some concepts of one or more aspects of the invention in a summary form as a prelude to the more detailed description that is presented later.

A first aspect of the present invention provides a tag for providing the information of a rail, the rail comprising a rail head, a rail web and a rail foot, the tag configured to be attached to the rail foot in the transverse direction of the rail, comprising: a base body which partially encloses the rail foot, and a label which contains information of the rail. In a second aspect of the present invention according to the first aspect, wherein the base body includes an upper lip and a lower lip, the label located on the upper side of the upper lip.

In a third aspect of the present invention according to the second aspect, further comprising a fastener that attaches the base body to the rail, the fastener located on the upper side of the lower lip.

In a fourth aspect of the present invention according to the third aspect, wherein the fastener is made of magnet or adhesive material including adhesive glues, an adhesive tape, or an adhesive strip.

In a fifth aspect of the present invention according to the third or fourth aspect, wherein the fastener is used for attaching the tag to the bottom of the rail foot.

In a sixth aspect of the present invention according to the second aspect, wherein the base body includes another upper lip, the lower lip extending along the bottom of the rail foot and integrally connecting the two upper lips, the two upper lips respectively holding the two sides of the rail foot.

In a seventh aspect of the present invention according to the sixth aspect, wherein the upper lip includes an engaging tip for holding the tag onto the rail foot.

In an eighth aspect of the present invention according to the seventh aspect, wherein the base body includes a groove on the upper side of the lower tip and the engaging tip includes a slope feature.

In a ninth aspect of the present invention according to one of the second to eighth aspects, wherein the underside of the upper lip is configured to be compatible with the profile of the rail foot.

In a tenth aspect of the present invention according to one of the second to ninth aspects, wherein the underside of the lower lip includes a reinforcing protrusion.

In an eleventh aspect of the present invention according to one of the first to tenth aspects, wherein wherein the label is designed as an adhesive sticker or as an imprint which is made by printing, laser engraving or cutting, or as electronic data identification, the label including a two-dimensional code (e.g., QR code or data matrix).

In a twelfth aspect of the present invention according to one of the first to eleventh aspects, wherein the upper lip is disposed horizontally or at an angle to allow the label to be read.

In a thirteenth aspect of the present invention according to one of the first to twelfth aspects, wherein the rail includes a weld joint.

In a fourteenth aspect of the present invention according to one of the second to thirteenth aspects, wherein the base body is made of rubber, plastic, metal, wood, or polymer composite.

In a fifteenth aspect of the present invention according to one of the first to fourteenth aspects, wherein the information includes the used process and material, date of execution, ingredient, quality, characteristic, function, feature, purpose, history, or use of the rail or of a weld joint of the rail.

Advantageously, the present invention aims to provide a fast-marking, non-destructive and stable-fastening tag for providing the information of a rail.

Although the invention has been explained in relation to its preferred embodiment(s) as mentioned above, it is to be understood that many other possible modifications and variations can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. It is, therefore, contemplated that the appended claim or claims will cover such modifications and variations that fall within the true scope of the invention.

<FIG> is a perspective view of a tag for providing the information of a rail in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention. <FIG> is a perspective view of a tag of <FIG> which is to be applied to a rail. <FIG> is a perspective view of a tag of <FIG> which is applied to a rail. <FIG> is a side view of <FIG>. <FIG> is a cross-section view taken along the line A-A of <FIG>. <FIG> is a perspective view of a tag for providing the information of a rail in accordance with the second embodiment of the present invention. <FIG> is a perspective view of a tag of <FIG> which is applied to a rail. <FIG> is a side view of <FIG>. <FIG> is a cross-section view taken along the line B-B of <FIG>. <FIG> is an illustrated view showing how the tag of <FIG> is applied to a rail.

Please refer to <FIG> together. A rail <NUM> comprises a rail head <NUM>, a rail web <NUM>, and a rail foot <NUM>. The rail <NUM> can also include a weld joint <NUM>, such as an aluminothermic welding joint. The present invention can be applied to all types and all lengths of rails. The rail <NUM> shown in the drawings is illustrated just as a simplified section of rails for the purpose of the explanation. The first embodiment and the second embodiment provide a tag <NUM>, <NUM>' for providing the information of a rail <NUM>. The tag <NUM>, <NUM>' is configured to be attached to the rail foot <NUM> in the transverse direction T of the rail <NUM>. For example, after the repair of a specific section of a rail <NUM>, a rail worker can efficiently apply the tag <NUM>, <NUM>' to the rail foot <NUM> of a rail <NUM>. Later, if a worker wants to obtain the property of the specific section of the rail <NUM>, the worker can simply check the information shown on the tag <NUM>, <NUM>' that is attached to the specific section of the rail <NUM>. Namely, if a worker wants to obtain the information of the rail <NUM>, a worker does not need to inspect or test the rail <NUM> itself again. The information includes the used process and material, date of execution, ingredient, quality, characteristic, function, feature, purpose, history, or use of the rail <NUM> or of a weld joint <NUM> of the rail <NUM>.

Specifically, the tag <NUM>, <NUM>' comprises a base body <NUM>, <NUM>' and a label <NUM>, <NUM>'. The base body <NUM>, <NUM>' partially encloses the rail foot <NUM>, holding onto the top <NUM> of the rail foot <NUM> and the bottom <NUM> of the rail foot <NUM> so that the tag <NUM>, <NUM>' is stably attached to the rail <NUM>. In a preferred embodiment, the base body <NUM>, <NUM>' is made of rubber, plastic, metal, wood, or polymer composite. The base body <NUM>, <NUM>' includes an upper lip <NUM>, <NUM>' and a lower lip <NUM>, <NUM>'. The label <NUM>, <NUM>' is located on the upper side <NUM>, <NUM>' of the upper lip <NUM>,<NUM>'.

A label <NUM>, <NUM>' contains information of the rail <NUM>. The label <NUM>, <NUM>' is mounted on upper side <NUM>, <NUM>' of the upper lip <NUM>, <NUM>'. The upper lip <NUM>, <NUM>' is disposed horizontally or at an angle to allow the label <NUM>, <NUM>' to be read. In a preferred embodiment, the label <NUM>, <NUM>' is designed as an adhesive sticker or as an imprint which is made by printing, laser engraving or cutting, the label <NUM>, <NUM>' including a two-dimensional code (e.g., QR code or data matrix), a mark, a trademark, a logo, or a company name. In an embodiment, the upper side <NUM>, <NUM>' of the upper lip <NUM>, <NUM>' includes a grooved platform for receiving the label <NUM>, <NUM>'. In another embodiment, the upper side <NUM>, <NUM>' of the upper lip <NUM>, <NUM>' is a flatten plane.

The present invention can be categorized into two main embodiments in respect of the attachment to the rail foot <NUM>.

Please refer to <FIG> together. The tag <NUM> of the first embodiment further comprises a fastener <NUM>. The fastener <NUM> is made of magnet or adhesive material.

The magnet can attach to the rail <NUM> in a non-destructive and efficient manner. The adhesive material can be adhesive glues, an adhesive tape, or an adhesive strip. The adhesive tape or the adhesive strip can be two sided so that they can stick to the base body <NUM> and the rail foot <NUM>. The fastener <NUM> is located on the upper side <NUM> of the lower lip <NUM> and attaches the base body <NUM> to the rail <NUM> in a substantially non-detachable manner. Particularly, the fastener <NUM> is used for attaching the tag <NUM> to the bottom <NUM> of the rail foot <NUM>. In this way, the fastener <NUM> achieves a stable attachment between the tag <NUM> and the rail <NUM>. In a preferred embodiment, the tag <NUM> attaches only to the bottom <NUM> of the rail foot <NUM> by the fastener <NUM>.

Please refer to <FIG> together in reference to <FIG>. In the tag <NUM>' of the second embodiment, the base body <NUM>' includes another upper lip <NUM>'. The two upper lips <NUM>', <NUM>' respectively holding the two sides of the rail foot <NUM>. The lower lip <NUM>' extends along the bottom <NUM> of the rail foot <NUM> and integrally connecting the two upper lips <NUM>', <NUM>'. In other words, the two upper lips <NUM>', <NUM>' and the lower lip <NUM>' are integrally formed. In a preferred embodiment, the base body <NUM>' of the second embodiment may be made of flexible materials, such as rubber, plastics, fibres, metal materials, wood, or polymer composite. When applying the tag <NUM>' to the rail foot <NUM>, a worker may slightly bend the tag <NUM>' so that the tag <NUM>' can accommodate and hold onto the rail foot <NUM>. The two upper lips <NUM>', <NUM>' hold the top <NUM> of the rail foot <NUM> at two sides of the rail <NUM>.

The label <NUM>' is disposed on one of the two upper lips <NUM>', <NUM>' on either side of the rail <NUM>. In another embodiment, the label <NUM>' can be provided on both the two upper lips <NUM>', <NUM>'. In a preferred embodiment similar to the first embodiment, a fastener including magnet or adhesive materials can also be provided on the lower lip <NUM>' of the second embodiment, increasing the stabilization of the tag <NUM>'. The upper lip <NUM>' includes an engaging tip <NUM>' for holding the tag <NUM>' onto the rail foot <NUM>. The base body <NUM>' includes a groove <NUM>' on the upper side of the lower tip so that a worker can easily install the tag <NUM>' onto the rail foot <NUM> without hugely bending the tag <NUM>'. In addition, the engaging tip <NUM>' includes a slope feature, which also realizes the easier installation of the tag <NUM>' onto the rail foot <NUM>. For example, please refer to <FIG>. A worker can first take advantage of the groove <NUM>' to apply the tag <NUM>' partially to one side of the rail foot <NUM>; and then can sightly rotate the tag <NUM>' in relative to the groove <NUM>' in the direction R and take advantage of the slope feature of the engaging tip <NUM>' so that the upper tip <NUM>' slides onto the top <NUM> of the rail foot <NUM> from the bottom <NUM> of the rail foot <NUM>. In this way, the tag <NUM>' can firmly attach to the rail foot <NUM>.

Please refer to <FIG> together. In order to adapt to different types of rails, the underside <NUM>, <NUM>' of the upper lip <NUM>, <NUM>' is configured to be compatible with the profile of the rail foot <NUM>, preferably an inclining shape of the underside <NUM>, <NUM>' of the upper lip <NUM>, <NUM>' which also helps the attachment of the tag <NUM>, <NUM>' and the rail foot <NUM>, whereby the maximum static friction applied by the fastener <NUM> may prevent subsequent removal of the tag <NUM>, <NUM>' from the rail <NUM>.

To optimize the strength and stability of the tag <NUM>, <NUM>', the upper side <NUM>, <NUM>' of the lower lip <NUM>, <NUM>' includes a reinforcing protrusion <NUM>, <NUM>'. The back <NUM>, <NUM>' of the base body <NUM>, <NUM>' is rounded to make unintentional removal of the tag <NUM>, <NUM>' from the rail <NUM> more difficult.

Claim 1:
Tag for providing the information of a rail, the rail (<NUM>) comprising a rail head (<NUM>), a rail web (<NUM>) and a rail foot (<NUM>), the tag (<NUM>, <NUM>') configured to be attached to the rail foot (<NUM>) in the transverse direction (T) of the rail (<NUM>), the tag (<NUM>, <NUM>') comprising:
a base body (<NUM>, <NUM>') which partially encloses the rail foot (<NUM>), and
a label (<NUM>, <NUM>') which contains information of the rail (<NUM>),
wherein the base body (<NUM>, <NUM>') includes an upper lip (<NUM>, <NUM>') and a lower lip (<NUM>, <NUM>'), the label (<NUM>, <NUM>') located on the upper side (<NUM>, <NUM>') of the upper lip (<NUM>, <NUM>'),
wherein the tag further comprises a fastener (<NUM>) that attaches the base body (<NUM>) to the rail (<NUM>), characterized in that the fastener (<NUM>) is made of adhesive material and located on the upper side (<NUM>) of the lower lip (<NUM>).