Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02291023 1999-11-24
WO 98/53984 PCT/US98/10686
TITLE: IDENTIFICATION CARD STRIP ASSEMBLY
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to cards and badges for identification and security and
specifically
to thin paper or cardboard badges which can be easily manufactured, printed,
written upon and
distributed using computerized equipment to provide the capability of
custonuzing printing, color,
content and speed of delivery at low costs.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
A primary disadvantage of known identification cards is that they are
generally stiff and
relatively thick and cannot pass through, for example, a laser printer. At
meetings, conventions
and senunars it has become desirable to place large amounts of data on a card,
including bar
codes, names, company name and address, etc. Further, identification cards
that are made of
plastic are not "environmentally friendly," they will not biodegrade. To date
there has not been
an effective system available.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,454,180; 4,547,252; and 4,648,930 to La Mers disclose a
labeling
system employing an elongated label strip used with motor driven sprocket
rollers for sequentially
delivering labels to a mechanism operable to apply each label to an object.
These patents describe
a carrier web consisting of a series of labels with viscous pressure sensitive
adhesive applied to
a carrier strip of paper which has been coated on the label side with a
release agent. The labels are
removed by moving them sequentially by pulling the carrier strip around a
relatively sharp edge
under tension. The label, because of its stiffness, releases from the carrier
web and continues in
a straight line over the edge rather than bend sharply and follow the carrier
web. The labels shown
in the La Mers patents are mounted on a carrier which employs a center line
cut therein to
facilitate the rapid and accurate removal of labels.
U.S. Patent No. 4,925,716 to Haas describes a computerized processing of
identification
badges employing a base carrier portion in the form of a web carrier. The web
Garner has
perforated end portions formed integrally therewith so that the sprockets of
automated
-1-
SU8ST1TUTE SHEET (RULE 26)
CA 02291023 1999-11-24
WO 98/53984 PCT/US98/10686
computerized printing equipment can be used to engage the carrier web. The
carrier web also is
formed into sections via a lateral perforation so that each section is
removable, one from the
other. The badges are each removably adhesively mounted on individual ones
ofthe sections. The
badge may be peeled away from the carrier web without any adhesive remaining
on the badge.
The badge employed is relatively stiff, being formed of plastic material, and
has an elongated slot
formed on the upper central portion thereof so that the badge can be affixed
to the person via a
spring clip.
There are numerous other patents relating to identification cards and badges,
methods of
producing them, and their use. See, for example, the following U.S. Patents:
2,395,804 to DeGruchy 4,790,566 to Boissier
3,175,317 to Slavs 4,869,941 to Ohki
3,996,679 to Warneke 4,999,065 to Wilfert
4,020,575 to Kru eg r et al 5,019,421 to Mecke et al
4,170,015 to Elliano et al 5,106,719 to Oshikoshi et
al
4,222,662 to Krue~le 5,157,424 to Craven et al
4,305,215 to Smith 5,161,826 to Van Giesenet
al
4,579,754 to Maurer et al 5,219,610 to Koshizuka et
al
4,596,409 to Holbein 5,270,073 to Koshizuka et
al
4,680,459 to Drexler 5,380,695 to Chian~ et al
4,687,526 to Wilfert 5,421,619 to D,yball
4,692,394 to Drexler 5,427,832 to Lon in
4,695,173 to Tomida
4,767,647 to Bree
None of these references however provide an inexpensive and easy to use
alternative to
the relatively thick polymeric badges and holders presently used for seminars,
corporate meetings,
conferences and shows.
-2-
SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26)
CA 02291023 1999-11-24
WO 98/53984 PCT/US98110686
OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of this invention is to provide an identification card or badge
system which can
be easily automated using computer equipment to rapidly imprint badges with
computer stored
information and to enable the badges to be handled in the same manner as
continuous fan fold
computer paper.
Another object of this invention is to provide an identification badge or card
which can
be generated at the location where the same will be used, such as at a trade
show.
Yet another object of the invention is to provide an identification card strip
assembly
wherein the cards can be made of thin paper or cardboard, printed thereon
with, for example a
laser printer, and then assembled into a sturdy, relatively thick
identification card.
A still further object of the invention is to provide a relatively sturdy
identification badge
which can be easily printed thereon and aiTlxed to the wearer without the use
of any adhesive.
All of the foregoing objects of this invention are achieved by the
identification card strip
assembly of this invention and the process of using it to produce the
identification cards described
herein. Broadly, the identification card strip assembly comprises a support
strip having thereon
at least one, and preferably a plurality of identification card blanks
removably and adhesively
adhered to the support strip. Each identification card blank has a front
printing surface for
printing indicia thereon and a rear adhesive surface having an adhesive
thereon. The rear adhesive
surface is removably and adhesively adhered to the support strip. The card
blank includes a first
sheet and a second sheet foldably connected to each other along a fold Line.
Each sheet has at Ieast
one substantially identically shaped aperture therein. Each of the sheets is
of a size and shape and
the aperture is located in each sheet so that when the card blank is removed
from the support
strip and the sheets are folded along the fold line upon each other with the
adhesive surfaces
joined to each other, the first sheet and second sheets are substantially
superimposed upon each
other and substantially coextensive with each other and the apertures in each
sheet overlay each
other to form a mounting means for mounting the card on an object.
Alternatively, each sheet has at least one substantially identically shaped
aperture area
therein in the shape of an aperture, the aperture area being defined by a
continuous slit in the sheet
and being severable from the sheet along the slit. Each aperture area is
located in each sheet so
that when the card blank is removed from the support strip and the sheets are
folded along the
fold line upon each other with the adhesive surfaces joined to each other, the
aperture areas in
each sheet are substantially superimposed upon each other and substantially
coextensive. The
-3-
SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26)
CA 02291023 1999-11-24
WO 98/53984 PCT/US98/10686
aperture areas may then be removed from the sheets by severing along the slits
to form a
mounting means for mounting the card on an object.
The process for producing the identification cards comprises printing indicia
on the
printing surface of at least one of the first and second sheets of each card
blank, removing the card
blank from the support strip, folding the first and second sheets along the
fold line upon each
other with the adhesive surfaces joined to each other. The card may then be
mounted on an object.
These as well as further objects and advantages of the invention will become
apparent to
those skilled in the art from a review of the following detailed
specification, reference being made
to the accompanying drawings.
-4-
SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26)
CA 02291023 1999-11-24
WO 98153984 PCT/US98/10686
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the identification card badge
of this
invention in use;
Fig. 2 is a schematic perspective indicating how the identification card of
Fig. 1 is
assembled;
Fig. 3 is a schematic perspective indicating how the assembled card is placed
on a badge
clip; Fig. 4 is a sectional view of the card badge of Fig. 1 taken along line
4-4 of Fig. 1.;
Fig. 5 is schematic view showing one embodiment of a plurality ofthe card
badges of this
invention being printed with a Carol-type printer prior to assembly and use;
Fig. 6 is schematic view showing another embodiment of a plurality of the card
badges
of this invention being printed with a laser printer prior to assembly and
use;
Fig. 7 is a schematic perspective indicating how an embodiment of the parking
permit
card of this invention is assembled;
Fig. 8 is a schematic perspective indicating how another embodiment of the
parking
permit card of this invention is assembled;
Fig. 9 is a schematic perspective indicating how the assembled parking permit
card is
placed on a clip to hang on a rear view mirror of a car;
Fig. 10 depicts the printed side of a parking permit card of this invention
right after
printing and prior to assembly;
Fig. 11 depicts the printed side of the parking permit card of this invention
right after
printing on a pin-feed or Carol-type printer and prior to assembly;
Fig. 12 is a perspective view of an embodiment of another embodiment of
assembled
parking permit card in use on a rear view mirror of a car;
Fig. 13 depicts the printed side of the parking permit card of depicted in
Fig. 12 right
after printing and prior to assembly;
Fig.14 depicts the printed side of a visitor identification card badge of this
invention right
after printing and prior to assembly; and
Fig.15 depicts the printed side of another embodiment of an employee
identification card
badge of this invention right after printing and prior to assembly.
_5_
SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26)
CA 02291023 1999-11-24
WO 98/53984 PCT/LJS98/10686
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Referring, for example, to Figs. 2, 5 and 6, an identification card strip
assembly 20 is
provided. The assembly 20 comprises a support strip 22 having at least one,
and preferably a
plurality of identification card blanks 24 removably and adhesively adhered to
the support strip
22. Preferably, the support strip 22 is an elongated strip 22 as depicted, for
example in Fig. 5,10,
11 and 13, and may have pin-holes or perforations 44 along the longitudinal
edges of the strip
22 to permit driving of the strip through an associated printing device 46,
see Fig. 5. A major
advantage of this invention is that a standard laser type printer 48, see Fig.
6, may be used to print
the identification card blanks 24. If such an embodiment is used then the
support strip 22 may be
a standard 8 '/z inch by 11 inch sheet having a plurality of card blanks 24
appropriately arranged.
(See, Fig. 6). Optionally, although not shown, the support strip may be
envelope size (#10) and
have only one card blank thereon and fed to the printer in a manner similar to
an envelope.
Referring, for example, to Figs. 7-13, each identification card blank 24 has a
front
printing surface 26 for printing indicia 28 thereon and a rear adhesive
surface 30 having an
adhesive 32 thereon. The rear adhesive surface 30 is removably and adhesively
adhered to the
support strip 22.
The card blank 24 includes a first sheet 34 and a second sheet 36 foldably
connected to each other
along a fold line 38. Each sheet 34, 36 has at least one substantially
identically shaped aperture
therein 40. Each sheet 34, 36 is of a size and shape and each aperture 40 is
located in each sheet
34,36 so that when the card blank 24 is removed from the support strip 22 and
the sheets are
folded along the fold Line 38 upon each other with the adhesive surfaces 30
joined to each other,
the first sheet 34 and second sheet 36 are substantially superimposed upon
each other and
substantially coextensive with each other and the apertures 40 in each sheet
34, 36 overlay each
other to form a mounting means for mounting the card 24 on an object, for
example a rear view
mirror 42, see Fig. Figs. 9 and 12. The apertures 40 may be located at any
appropriate place in
the card blank 24, compare, for example, the location of the apertures in
Figs. 7 (top) and Fig.
8 (side).
Referring to Figs. 12 and 13, optionally each sheet 34, 36 may have at least
one
substantially identically shaped aperture area 50 therein in the shape of an
aperture 52, the
aperture area 50 being defined by a continuous slit 54 in the sheet and being
severable from the
sheet 34, 36 along the slit 54. Still referring to Figs. 12 and 13, each sheet
34, 36 is of a size
-6-
SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26~
CA 02291023 1999-11-24
WO 98/53984 PCT/US98/10686
and shape and each aperture area 50 being located in each sheet 34, 36 so that
when the card
blank 24 is removed from the support strip 22 and the sheets 34, 36 are folded
along the fold line
38 upon each other with the adhesive surfaces 30 joined to each other, the
first sheet 34 and
second sheet 36 and the aperture areas 52 in each sheet 34, 36 are
substantially superimposed
upon each other and substantially coextensive. Subsequently, the aperture
areas 52 are removed
from the sheets 34, 36 by severing along the slits 54 to form a mounting means
for mounting the
card on an object. As depicted in Figs. 12 and 13, the aperture 52 may be in
the shape of a slot
for placement on a rearview mirror 42. This invention, however contemplates
any type or shaped
aperture.
Preferably, as depicted in Figs. 5, 10 and 11, the plurality of card blanks 24
are formed
from a continuous sheet and defined by plurality of lateral slits 56 extending
across the sheet at
substantially equal longitudinal intervals. The card blanks 24 are then
severable from each other
along the slits 56.
Optionally, for assemblies of the type depicted in Fig. 6, the plurality of
card blanks 24
may be formed from a continuous sheet and defined by a plurality of lateral
slits extending across
the sheet at substantially equal longitudinal intervals and a plurality of
longitudinal slits extending
across the sheet at substantially equal lateral intervals, the card blanks 24
being severable from
each other along the slits . The card blanks may also be spaced apart on the
support sheet to
permit easy peeling therefrom.
The process for producing the plurality of identification cards includes
printing indicia 28,
for example as shown in Figs. 5 and 6 on the printing surface 26 of at least
one of the first and
second sheets 34, 36 of each card blank 26. One of the major advantages of
this invention is that
both sheets 34, 36 can be printed simultaneously, in efi"ect, printing the
front of the badge and the
rear of the badge. Subsequently, the card blank 24 is removed from the support
strip 22 (see Figs.
2, 7 and 8) and the first and second sheets 34, 36 folded along the fold line
38 upon each other
with the adhesive surfaces 30 joined to each other. This produces an
identification card 100
having the first sheet and second sheets 34, 36 substantially superimposed
upon each other and
substantially coextensive with each other. The apertures in each sheet 34, 36
overlaying each
other to form a mounting means for mounting the card on an object. Or
optionally, as indicated
previously, the identically shaped aperture areas 52 in each sheet 34, 36 are
substantially
superimposed upon each other and substantially coextensive. Subsequently, the
aperture areas 52
SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26)
CA 02291023 1999-11-24
WO 98/53984 PCT/US98/10686
are removed from the sheets 34, 36 by severing along the slits 54 to form a
mounting means for
mounting the card on an object.
The identification card produced 100 is a three layer laminate consisting of
two sheets of
cardstock having an adhesive layer therebetween that is relatively rigid due
to such lamination.
Preferably, the assembled identification card 100 is mounted on a spring badge
clip 62.
See, for example Figs. 1, 3 and 4. Such clips are known in the art, see for
example, USSN
Application No. 29/051,234 now U. S. Design Patent No. 386,21 S (31009) and
08/579, I37, now
U.S. Patent No. 5,640,742 (30021) both to White et al and both entitled
"Spring Badge Clip".
The entire disclosures of these applications are incorporated by reference.
Other type clips may
also be used.
This invention has many benefits. For example, in its preferred embodiment,
the
identification card strip assembly 20 can be used to produce a 2-ply,
relatively heavy duty
cardstock identification cards 100 that can be custom printed on the back at
the same time that
you print on the front. Additionally, the identification cards 100 produced
are preslotted so that
they can be used with clips, e.g., the badge clips of White et al.
In a preferred embodiment of this invention, depicted in Figs. 7-13, the
identification card strip assembly 20 can be used to prepare parking hangtags
100. Parking
hangtags 100 are typically made of plastic or very thick cardstock in order to
hang vertically and
not curl in an automobile (due to heat, humidity, handling). This rigidity
also permits easy
attachment and removal by means of a large die-cut hook or circle cut-out
within the hangtag.
Hangtags are almost always attached to the rear view mirror 42 of vehicles and
are typically very
large, 3" x 6" in order to permit them to be seen and read by enforcement
officers from a distance
of 15 to 25 feet from in front of the vehicle. This rear view mirror
attachment is almost universal
because it is the only common location near the driver where the hangtag can
be attached and
removed easily by the driver when parking and driving the vehicle.
Additionally, if they are not
removed before driving the vehicle because of their large size, they tend to
swing and blow-
around while the vehicle is in motion, being a distraction to the driver.
There are several
common problems with conventional parking hangtags. First, because of the
difficulty in attaching
and removing parking hangtags from the rear view mirror, they are typically
left hanging from the
rear view mirror during driving. Even though parking hangtags clearly state
that they must be
removed while driving, this warning is almost universally ignored. Further,
almost all hangtags are
_g_
SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RUE.E 26)
CA 02291023 1999-11-24
WO 98/53984 PCT/US98/10686
made of rigid 10 or 20 mil plastic in order to withstand the constant handling
and attachment by
the office or agency issuing the hangtags and the user. Because such thick
materials are used they
are not capable of being printed by normal office computer-printers. Typically
the expiration date
is written on by hand, which makes it easy altered and hence, the hangtags can
be altered by
changing the expiration date.
Still referring to Figs. 7-13, the preferred parking hang-tag of this
invention 100 attaches
to a simple plastic hook 64 that is left attached to the rear view mirror 42.
When a person is
issued a hangtag for either permanent parking or disability parking, the
simple plastic hook 64 is
attached to the persons rear view mirror 42. Each time the hangtag 100 is to
be used, it is
attached by means of the aperture or hole 40 in the hangtag, hooked over the
rear view mirror 42
. When the car is to be driven again, the hangtag 100 is easily removed from
the hook 64.
As shown in Figs. 7-13, the parking hangtag of this invention 100 employs a
separate
plastic hook 64 that is permanently attached to the rear view mirror 42 and is
easy to attach and
remove from the mirror. This decreases the possibility of the parking hangtag
100 becoming a
hazard while driving. Additionally, the hangtag 100 can be printed on demand
by a thermal
transfer or a laser printer which eliminates the problem of having to purchase
large quantities of
hangtags in advance. It also means that the date of expiration can be printed
in very large
numbers and letters by the electronic printer which will reduce the problem of
date-changing.
Furthermore, by printing the hangtags on an electronic printer, one can
preprint the cardstock
economically with all types of secure features such as panagraph, multiple
colors, holograms,
etc., to make them more secure and harder to counterfeit.
Optionally, as depicted in Figs. 14-15, the identification card may have an
indicia 28 that
is printed and also have an indicia that could be produced by placing a
business card (Fig.14) or
a photograph ( Fig.15) behind sheet 36 that has a cut-out therein, and when
the sheets 34, 36 are
folded and adhesively sealed to each other, the business card or photograph is
sealed between the
sheets 34, 36 and can be viewed through the cut-out.
The identification cards produced from the strip assemblies of this invention
have many
other uses. For example, the identification cards may be used for retail tags,
price tags, inventory
tags. In all cases, the construction is similar to that described herein with
the only variation being
the size and shape of the card, and the location of the attachment hole.
While several advantageous embodiments have been chosen to illustrate the
invention,
_g_
SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26)
CA 02291023 1999-11-24
WO 98/53984 PCT/US98/10686
it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes and
modifications can be
made therein without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in
the appended claims.
-10-
SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26)
