Baggage tags

[57] ABSTRACT

A baggage tag of elongated form designed to be wrapped around the handle of a baggage item to lock in looped form. The tag is formed with a detachable coupon at one end and a tip portion at the other. The tag body has an opening presenting a tongue underneath which the tip — rolled back — is insertible. The tip portion has formations interlocking with side tabs in the opening on the partial retraction of the tip portion, and a stop opposite the tongue to check the readvance of the tip portion.

Claims, 6 Drawing Figures

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3,837.101

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3,837,101

BAGGAGE TAGS

This invention relates to tags which are attached to the handles of valises, suit cases and the like for the identification of such baggage in store rooms, baggage compartments or during transit. More particularly, this type of tag is wrapped around the handle of the baggage item and secured together, leaving an extending coupon which is torn away and kept by the owner of the baggage item. The coupon has a number identical with one on the remaining part of the tag, and the coupon is compared with the tag number when the baggage item is called for.

Various methods have been used for securing or locking the tag together after it has been looped around the handle of the baggage item, some being undependable because the tag would open on impact by other objects and become mislaid among other baggage or lost. This, of course, leads to uncertainty or delay in identifying desired articles of baggage, creating confusion and annoyance. It is therefore the main object of the present invention to provide a tag of the character described which secures a positive interlocking engagement when it is wrapped as a loop around the handle of the baggage item, so that no vibration or ordinary impact by other baggage or articles will open the tag and cause its separation from the baggage item to become mislaid or lost.

A further object is to provide a tag of the above character which is a one-piece, die-cut strip of flexible cardboard, printed on the body and coupon portions with the same identifying numbers.

Another object is to cut the novel tag with peculiar formations facilitating the easy insertion of a tip portion of the tag through the body portion thereof, and procure the locking connection by a short withdrawing movement to form a closed loop around the handle of the baggage item.

A better understanding of the invention may be gained by reference to the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of the tag before its use;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the tag with the tip portion in sunken form to receive the handle of a valise or other baggage item to which the tag is to be applied;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the tag with the tip portion directed toward the body portion;

FIG. 4 is a similar view with the tip portion inserted through an opening in the body portion, finely-dotted lines indicating a further advance of the tip portion;

FIG. 5 is an edge view of FIG. 4, with the tip portion in the inserted position; and

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 4 wherein a second locking facility for the tag portions is illustrated.

Referring specifically to the drawing, 10 denotes the body of the tag. The latter is a die-cut stamping of flexible cardboard; and the body is long and tapered. It has a wider portion 11 at one end, scored at 12 to separate it from a terminal coupon 13. The latter and the portion 11 are printed with like identifying numbers as shown.

The tip portion of the tag is indicated at 15, and tapers in rounded form. It originates with inward turns 16 which form side recesses 17; and these continue with side hooks 18 projecting from the outline of the tip por tion. A circular aperture 19 is made in the latter midway between the side recesses 17.

The body of the tag is made with a wide central opening 20. This opening is flared to create angular side recesses 20α; and these continue toward the portion 11 with convex side tabs 20b which lead into end recesses 20c of part-circular form. These pockets combine to form a central tongue 22 directed toward the opening 20 and terminating with a rounded tip 22α.

In the application of the tag, the object is to wrap it around the handle 25 of a valise, suit case or other baggage item and form a loop which is locked in closed position. The coupon 13 is then torn away, leaving the looped tag attached to the baggage item. The coupon is kept by the owner while the baggage item is left in the custody of a storage or transportation facility.

The tag is applied to the handle 25 by rolling the body 10 with a dip or pocket to receive the arched portion of the handle 25, as shown in FIG. 2. The tip portion 15 is now depressed to point toward the portion 11 of the tag as indicated in FIG. 3. At this time it is possible to advance the tip portion 15 over the opening 20 to slide under the tongue 22 to a point indicated by long dotted lines in FIG. 4 and full lines in FIG. 5. This is possible because the rounded end-notches 20c are spaced to admit the passage of the side hooks 18 of the tip portion 15, so that the latter may be advanced even further to the position indicated by finely-dotted lines in the same figure. The next movement is to retract the tip portion with slight downpressure. This deflects and catches the hooks 18 under the side tabs 20b to the positions indicated in FIG. 6 where they seat in the angular side recesses 20; and these form stops against the further retraction of the tip portion. Since drawing or jarring forces of the baggage usually pull on the tag, they are counteracted by the locking engagement just described.

In the first part of the tip portion advance — to enter underneath the tongue 22 as indicated in FIG. 5 — the tongue becomes flexed in upward direction. Therefore, when the tip portion is retracted to lock the tag as described above, the tongue returns to its normal plane by dipping into the aperture 19 as seen in FIG. 6, and because of the tendency of the tip portion 15 to rise from the body of the tag. Now the tongue becomes a check against the re-advance of the tip portion 15 — such as from outside impact — to loosen it from the engagement of its hooks 18 with the side pockets 20 previously explained. The tip portion is thus locked from dislocation in both the retracting and re-advancing directions.

When the looped tag has been locked to the baggage handle as described, its coupon 13 is torn away and the baggage item left in the proper custody for storage or transit. To redeem the baggage item, the approach is toward the projecting end of the tag, which carries the same identification number as the coupon. The numbers on such projecting end and the coupon are therefore readable from the approaching direction.

It is now apparent that the novel tag has formations which facilitate its locking engagement against pullingapart or internal-disconnecting influences. Also, since the opening 20 is wide — See FIG. 3 — no special care need be exercised to insert the tip portion 15 into it, other than to press the tip portion under the tongue 22. Beyond this the further advance of the tip and its retraction to a stop are the only movements required to

3,837,101 lock the tag in the looped state. The tag is then secure against all ordinary influences to re-open it. Finally, the tag is made as a one-piece stamping, and requires no additions or extra parts to provide the connecting and locking features described.