Patent ID: 7810725

Claim:
A microdot tag for identifying a product, comprising: a substrate having a miniature marking portion for application to the product, and a handle portion extending lengthwise along a longitudinal direction, the handle portion having a gripping part with a transverse dimension larger in size than a transverse dimension of the marking portion to enable a user to manually hold the tag by the gripping part, and a tapered part with a transverse dimension that decreases along the longitudinal direction away from the gripping part; a frangible portion on the substrate between the marking portion and the handle portion, for enabling the handle portion to be and remain attached to the marking portion during the application of the marking portion to the product, and for detaching the handle portion from the marking portion after the application of the marking portion to the product; and a microdot provided on an outer exterior surface of the marking portion, the microdot containing indicia exposed at the outer exterior surface of the marking portion for identifying the product both before and after the handle portion has been detached.