US2468397A - Identification tag - Google Patents

Description

S. I. GOLDSTEIN IDENTIFICATION TAG April 26, 1949.

Filed June 27, 1944 Patented Apr. 26, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE IDENTIFICATION TAG Simon I. Goldstein, Baltimore, Md.

Application June 27, 1944, Serial No. 542,310

1 Claim. 1

This invention pertains to the identification of articles and more particularly to umbrellas. It has among its objects to provide an identification tagfor an umbrella that will identify its ownership; that can be readily applied; that will facilitate'the discovery'of its theft should that occur; that can be applied to the umbrella inconspicuously and which will be simple in structure and economical in cost.

Other obje'cts'will become apparent as the invention is more fully set forth.

Conventional tags and the like have been used for packages and suit cases as an identification means for ownership for a considerable period. These tags are well known, and consist in general of a flap on which the name etc., of the owner is placed, while projecting from one end portion is a strap or ribbon known as a tongue, which is threaded through a slit at the same end or buckled after being bent around the handle of the suit case or usual package binding or holding means. The name etc. that is placed on the face of the tag for the identification is left exposed so as to be ready for inspection at any time. The tongue is kept away from this surface so it will not obstruct the reading of the wording placed thereon. The material of the tag is usually cardboard and is stifi. In this invention the marker is made of paper or similar flexible material and is used specifically for umbrellas and the like.

The marker is made a part of the umbrella by numbering it at the same time and with the same stamp that the rib of the umbrella is marked. This marker is sold attached to the umbrella. The owners name is put on after it is bought. The tongue of the marker covers the owners name adequately and prevents it from being obliterated under ordinary use and conditions. This is provided for by making the marker small and compact so its tongue will not extend beyond the body of the tag or be conspicuously extended therefrom as in the usual tag, when placed on the suit case etc. In this invention the tag is bent double on itself when in position and is not spaced away from the tongue, as in the conventional way.

In order to illustrate the invention, drawings have been made of a form thereof, references being to them, in which:

Figure 1 is a view in perspective of an umbrella tag embodying this invention, in place on an umbrella;

Figure 2 is a detail of the front of the blank from which the tag is formed before placement on the rib of an umbrella;

Figure 3 is a detail of the back of the blank,

Figure 4 is a sectional view of the tag taken along line 44 of Figure 1, and

Figure 5 is an elevation of the tag in section showing its form before placing on the rib of an umbrella.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the drawings.

In the drawings i represents the rib of a conventional umbrella. A tag 2 consisting of a blank formed with a tongue 3 having the contour and arrow-head supported on a short shoulder 4 which projects slightly from the body portioni. The body portion forms the surface on which the address and other identification wording is placed. It is preferably rectangular, having rounded corners. A slit 6 forms the opening through which the tongue is passed to lock on the rib when it is attached to the umbrella. This slit is arranged longitudinally across the body portion 5 and located so as to enable the tongue to reach to the front edge of same and lock when inserted, as indicated in Figure 1. To facilitate the insertion of the tongue 8 within the slit 6 and have the tag adapt itself quickly and properly to the rib of the umbrella, the portion adjacent the shoulder is creased at the lines H and I2 longitudinally across, so it will be bent into U- form contour as indicated in Figure 5. This creasing and bending enables the tag to be handled more expeditiously and make it set properly in place. It assures the placing of the tag on straight and fitted closely so as to make a neat attachment and less liable to be torn.

The names and other identification wording are placed on the dotted lines [5 shown printed on the front of the tag surface, as shown. The name and address of the owner is marked on the tag after it is on the umbrella. After placing the tag on the rib of an umbrella the rib and tag are stamped together with the number I! specifically adopted for that umbrella. This connects the umbrella, and tag together and makes removal of the tag discoverable. The material of which the tag is made is preferably waterproof so the rain will not cause it to spoil.

After the tag is in position, its tongue 3 covers.

the name of the owner on the front and protects it from general observation. At the same time the tongue may be raised for the reading of such name. The tag is bent over as shown in Figure 1 and holds to the rib by being bent between the slit and the short shoulder.

Should anyone take the umbrella unauthorizedly, same can be recovered by reason of this tag. Its removal or loss will not help the purloiner, since this will in itself call attention to the fact that the umbrella is without it. If the tag is changed by another, not authorized to do so, the umbrella number will not be shown on it, or if placed surreptiously will not usually be identical with that on the rib, because in the latter instance, it will not be impressed at the time of manufacture as in the original case.

The small additional slit 8 in the nose of the arrow head permits the tongue to be inserted more easily, as it allows the sides to :be bent together for the purpose. On an attempt at removal the slit 8 weakens the tongue so that it is very liable to tear and indicate tampering.

The borders Ill serve as guides in placing the tongue through the slit and for proper placement of the device on the umbrella.

While but one form of the invention is shown in the drawings and described in the specification, it is not desired to limit this application for patent to this particular form or in any other way otherwise than limited by the scope thereof, as it is appreciated that other forms of construction could be made that would use the same principles and come within the scope of the appended claim:

Having thus described the invention, What is claimed is:

An identification tag comprising a substantially rectangular body portion, said body portion having identification markings on the face thereof adjacent one of the longitudinal edges thereof, a longitudinal slit adjacent the other of said longitudinal edges, a locking tongue projecting transversely from the latter of said mentioned edges and being of a width substantially equal to the extent of the identification markings, a short shoulder connectin said body portion and looking tongue, said locking tongue being in the shape of an arrow head having a relatively sharp edge at the apex thereof, and a lateral slit through the apex of said locking tongue, said locking tongue being adapted for downward bending and looping upward and passing through said longitudinal slit to cover the identification markings on the face of the tag and said lateral slit being adapted to facilitate the movement of said tongue through said longitudinal slit.

SIMON I. GOLDSTEIN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 659,199 Anderton Oct. 9, 1900 1,324,568 Shelton Dec. 9, 1919 1,618,312 Shipps Feb. 22, 1927 1,674,739 Post June 26, 1928 2,016,059 Stevens Oct. 1, 1935 2,153,227 Allstatter Apr. 4, 1939 2,209,162 Hunt July 23, 1940 2,325,906 Clafiey Aug. 3, 1943 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 459 Great Britain Aug. 3, .1889

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