WO2007049976A1

WO2007049976A1 - Tamper evident luggage tag

Info

Publication number: WO2007049976A1
Application number: PCT/NZ2006/000274
Authority: WO
Inventors: Robert Gordon Bryden
Original assignee: Robert Gordon Bryden
Priority date: 2005-10-27
Filing date: 2006-10-26
Publication date: 2007-05-03

Abstract

A tamper evident tag adapted to be applied to the tabs of the closure members of a zip type fastener. The tag has two panels with one of the panels having a slot or slots through which the tabs of the closure member can be passed after the fastener has been closed. The panels are formed so they can be folded to enable a face, of one panel to lie against and be adhered to a face of the second panel to imprison the tabs of the closure members between the adhered faces.

Description

TITLE

Tamper evident luggage tag

BACKGROUND This invention relates to tamper evident luggage tags that may be used in conjunction with various types of containers, such as luggage and similar articles, the integrity of which is important, so that it is readily visible if the luggage or container has been, opened. This aspect is of particular importance when travelling, so that the traveller can be immediately aware if the luggage has been tampered with while the luggage it out of the custody or control of the traveller. Particularly when travelling to foreign destinations such as by aircraft, luggage is generally checked in by the traveller prior to boarding the aircraft and the luggage remains out of the control of the traveller until it is reclaimed by the traveller upon reaching the destination

There are two issues which require consideration.

Firstly security for the traveller so an indication is clearly given whether or not the luggage has been interfered with. Many pieces of luggage utilise a zip or the like to close the luggage and generally the ends of the zip are locked together by means of a padlock or the like with the intention that access to the interior of the luggage can be obtained only upon opening the padlock. However padlocks are not necessarily secure and it is possible for the luggage to be illegally opened and closed without the traveller being aware that the luggage has been opened and/or tampered with and consequently it is not always evident whether the luggage has been tampered with while out of the control of the passenger.

The second issue is the ready identification of the luggage so that when the traveller wishes to reclaim the luggage upon reaching the destination, a positive identification of the luggage can be made. Such identification should enable both the traveler and any authority that may be involved to be able to readily match a piece of luggage to a traveller.

Because of the volume of traffic in transport centres, many hundreds of pieces of luggage can be loaded into an aircraft, boat or other transport vehicle and at the destination the pieces of luggage are often placed onto a moving platform or carousel for retrieval by the traveller. Although many of the transport operators attach identification to each piece of luggage, this identification is intended mainly for use by the transport operator to enable the luggage to be tracked as it is transported from location to location. Such forms of identification are often not readily discemable by the traveler and difficulties can arise for the traveler to identify the correct piece of luggage when similar types of baggage are loaded onto a platform or carousel for retrieval.

PRIOR ART

Various proposals have been made to provide means of indicating the luggage has been tampered with.

US Patent 6,401,889 (McLeskey) discloses a device which can be used to cover a luggage lock, for instance a padlock, to protect the lock from damage and also to protect the luggage from damage by the luggage lock. The device comprises a panel with folds to form three portions. One of the portions includes a slot for receiving the zipper. The ends of the zipper are passed through the slot and are locked together by a padlock and the panels are then folded over to protect the padlock. The panels can be opened as required to enable access to the padlock.

US Patent application 2002/0038744 (Sukoff) discloses a tamper indicating device which is installed on the luggage prior to checking the luggage. The device has a flag on which identification can be written and the flag is joined to a loop forming element. After the zip on the luggage has been closed, the loop forming element is passed through the openings in the two zip fastener tabs and the element is formed into a loop which can be disconnected from the tabs only by destroying the element.

Another form of tamper indicating label is disclosed in US patent 5,560,657 (Morgan). The label is made from tear resistant paper and has a base area and an elongate tongue which projects from the base area. Adhesive is applied to a face of the base area. The tongue is passed through loops, for instance the loops of a closed zip and the free end of the tongue placed against the adhesive portion of the base. The base area is then folded to enclose the tongue to trap the end portion of the tongue inside the folded base. To open the zip, it is necessary to cut or destroy the tongue.

All the above devices suffer from different disadvantages and they are considered to be either insufficiently secure or do not fulfill the requirements for a safe, easily applied tamper evident luggage tag.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore an object of the invention to provide an improved form of tamper evident luggage tag which is dependable in use, easy to apply and which also allows ready identification of the article to which it is attached.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one form the invention is a tamper evident luggage tag comprising a single matrix defining a first panel and a second panel each having an obverse face and a reverse face, the first panel joined to the second panel in a manner that the first panel can be folded so the obverse face of the first panel will contact the obverse face of the second panel, a slot formed in a first panel, said slot being shaped to enable tabs of closure members of a zip type fastener, when the fastener has been closed, to be passed at least partially through the slot from the obverse face of the panel to the reverse face, an adhesive bed located on the reverse face of the second panel, said bed being protected by a removable release paper, the construction and arrangement being that the tabs of the fastener after the fastener has been closed, are passed at least partially through the said slot, the release paper is removed from the adhesive bed and the first panel is folded onto the second panel to enable the adhesive face to imprison the said tabs between the reverse faces of the first and the second panels.

Preferably the definition between the first panel and the second panel comprises a fold line.

Preferably the first panel and the second panel are joined by a bridge. Preferably the obverse face of at least one panel includes identification means.

Preferably the identification means comprises indicia inscribed on a pane displayed on a first panel and substantially the same indicia is inscribed on a strip which is removably attached to the said first panel.

Preferably the strip is attached to the said first panel by a removable grade adhesive.

Preferably the strip comprises a pane attached to panel by a break line.

Preferably the tabs of the zip type closure members are tied together by tie means after they have been passed through the said slot.

Preferably the tie means comprises a tear off portion formed as part of one of the panels.

Preferably the obverse face of at least one panel includes advertising indicia.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Preferred form of the invention will now be described with the aid of the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a view of one form of the tamper evident luggage tag prior to use.

Figure 2 is a view of the tamper evident luggage tag illustrated in Figure 1 after the tag has been applied to the closure members of a zip type fastener.

Figure 3 is a view of the tamper evident luggage tag after it has been applied to a zip type fastener and with the tag in a secure condition.

Figure 4 is a view of the tamper evident luggage tag after it has been applied to a piece of luggage. Figure 5 is a view of the obverse face of a modified form of the tag.

Figure 6 is a view of the reverse face of the modified form of the tag illustrated in Figure 5.

Figure 7 is a view of the obverse face of the tag illustrating the partial removal of an identification strip.

Figure 8 is a view of the tag in a partly folded condition

Figure 9 is a view of the tag partially applied to the closure members of a zip type fastener of a piece of luggage.

Figure 10 is a view of the tag after it has been fully applied to the closure members of a zip type fastener of a piece of luggage and in a secure mode.

BEST MODE OF PERFORMING THE INVENTION

As illustrated in Figures 1 through 4 of the drawings, one form of the tag comprises a matrix which forms two panels 1 of a suitable size and shape which are joined by a flexible bridge 2. The panels and the bridge can be suitably formed by die cutting or the like from single card or a thin planer sheet material such as a plastic. Preferably the panels 1 are formed of an opaque material. In the form of the tag illustrated, both panels are of a generally rectangular shape of substantially the same dimensions and the bridge 2 is attached to or forms part of one end of each of the panels in a manner that the panels which are joined by the bridge can lie flat in the open position illustrated in Figure 1 , or they can be folded together about the bridge to lie in a face to face relationship.

One of the panels 1 includes two slots which may be in the form of eyelets 3 which are of a sufficient diameter and spaced apart in a manner that the tabs 5 of the ends of the runners of a zip type fastener 6 (see Figure 2) can be engaged through the eyelets 3 when the zip fastener has been closed. The eyelets can be of any convenient size and shape which will enable the tabs to pass from the obverse face of the panel to the reverse face of the panel. The eyelets may also be joined to form a combined slot.

In one preferred form, a tie 7 is provided to enable the tabs to be joined together after they have been passed through the slots in the panel. In one form the tie may initially be a part of one of the panels and can be joined to the panel as a tear off strip by the part line 8 as illustrated in Figures 1 , 2 and 3. The tie 7 is a flexible elongate strip of material of a size that when the tabs 5 of the zip fastener 6 have been engaged through the slots, the tie can be passed through the holes in the tabs and a knot 9 is formed in the tie to secure the two tabs 5 together.

An adhesive (not shown in the drawings) is preferably applied to the reverse face of one or both panels. In a highly preferred form the adhesive is a pressure sensitive adhesive which is protected by a release strip as it known in the art. After the tie 7 has been secured to the tabs 5, the release sheet on the adhesive can be removed and one panel folded against the other so the reverse faces of the panel contact and are adhered together to thereby imprison the tans 5 and the knot 9. The adhesive is preferably of the non removable type so that once the two panels have been adhered together, the panels cannot be separated without destroying or substantially destroying the tag. Consequently because the knot 9 securing the tabs 5 of the zip 6 is entirely within the tag, it cannot be accessed without destruction of the tag. This feature will provide an instant and readily visible indication either that the bag has been opened, or that the bag is still in the condition that it was when the tag was applied.

Preferably also the tag includes identification means. In one preferred form, and as illustrated in Figures 1 through 4 of the drawings, the identification means can consist of a tear off strip 10 which can be readily separated from the tag. As illustrated, the strip 10 can be removably attached to an edge of one of the panels such as by a break line 10a. The tear off strip 10 is formed to receive indicia which can be information applied either by the transport authority into whose care the luggage is being trusted, or it can be a pre-printed identification or other indicia as appropriate in the circumstances. In addition to the tear off strip 10, the tag preferably also includes means to verify the identification and in one form and as illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, this verification can include a pane 11, which may be located on a face of one of the panels. In the form illustrated when the panels have been closed, the pane 11 is hidden. In another form the pane 11 can be located on a face of the panel so that when the panels are closed, the indicia is visible.

As illustrated in Figures 5 through 10, in its alternative form, the tag is substantially rectangular in shape and may be formed from a matrix consisting of a suitable card or thin planar sheet material such as a plastic. The matrix is divided into two panels 20 and 21 delineated by a crease line 22 (see Figure 6) and with each panel having an obverse face 23 and a reverse face 24. The tag also includes a closed slot 25 formed in the panel 20 which as illustrated in Figures 5 through 10 is of a rectangular shape. However the slot 25 may be of any desired shape. In another form, Instead of the single slot 25, the tag may include two or more separated slots such as for instance, the eyelets 5 illustrated in Figures 1 , 2 and 3.

The obverse face 23 preferably includes identification means such as, for instance a pane 26 on which a telephone number or other number or address as may be required or desired can be printed. The obverse face also includes pane 27 and a pane 28 illustrated in Figure 7. The pane 27 may have identification indicia (not shown in the drawings) imprinted thereon. This indicia can consist, for instance, of information required either by the transport authority into whose care the luggage is being trusted, or it can be a pre-printed identification or other indicia as appropriate in the circumstances. This indicia can also be in the form of a bar code or other means of identification which can be scanned by known scanning apparatus.

The pane 28 has a removable strip 30 on which the indicia imprinted on the pane 27 is reproduced. In use the strip 30 is removed from the tag and adhered, for instance to a boarding pass or the like issued by the transportation authority that the passenger will be utilising. To achieve this, the strip 30 is removably secured to the pane 28 by a removable grade adhesive or the like whereby the strip 30 which will prior to use, be adhered to the tag, can be simply removed and adhered to the boarding pass. Preferably the adhesive, and/or the strip 30 is formed so that once it has been applied to the boarding pass, the strip cannot be removed without defacing the strip to thereby provide ready identification as to whether the strip has been tampered. The obverse face 24 of the tag may also include a pane 31 to enable advertising material or other desired indicia to be displayed.

The reverse face of the tag includes the crease line 22 and also an adhesive area 32 (see Figure 9), which prior to use is covered by a release paper 33.

Generally the tag will have a preprinted identification such as a bar code imprinted on both the pane 27 and the strip 30. After the telephone number or other identification chosen by the customer has been entered on the pane 26, the tag is applied to a piece of luggage by holding the matrix in an open position and passing the tabs 5 of a zip 6 through the slot 25 and allowing the tabs to lie against the reverse face 24 of the tag as illustrated in Figure 9. The release paper 33 is removed from the adhesive area 32 and the tag is folded about the crease line 22 as illustrated in Figure 9. The folding is then completed by pressing on the panel 30 so the adhesive area 32 will contact the obverse face 24 of the panel 21 thereby imprisoning the tabs 5 between the panels 20 and 21. Because the adhesive on the adhesive area is a permanent adhesive, the tag cannot be removed from the tabs 5 without mutilating or destroying the tag which will provide ready identification whether or not the luggage protected by the tag has been interfered with.

Since the strip 30 will have been adhered to the passenger's boarding pass, when the passenger selects a piece of luggage, for instance at the termination of the transportation, the matching of the identification indicia imprinted on the pane 27 of the tag attached to the piece of luggage with the indicia on the passenger's boarding pass will be facilitated.

It will be apparent from the foregoing description that the provision of the tag as herein described will provide ready identification if the zip fastener on the luggage has been opened and/or if the tag has been interfered with after the tag has been applied to the luggage. This will enable the person who has applied the tag to be confident of the security of the luggage. Another important feature is that the use of the tag dispenses with the requirement of a padlock to secure the tabs of the zip fastener together. A yet further feature of the tag is that it will enable positive identification of the luggage by reason of the strip 10 or 30 that can be removed from the tag and carried by the passenger such as by being adhered to the boarding pass.

Having described preferred methods of putting the invention into effect, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art to which this invention relates, that modifications and amendments to various features and items can be effected and yet still come within the general concept of the invention. It is to be understood that all such modifications and amendments are intended to be included within the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A tamper evident luggage tag comprising a single matrix defining a first panel and a second panel each having an obverse face and a reverse face, the first panel joined to the second panel in a manner that the first panel can be folded so the obverse face of the first panel will contact the obverse face of the second panel, a slot formed in a first panel, said slot being shaped to enable tabs of closure members of a zip type fastener, when the fastener has been closed, to be passed at least partially through the slot from the obverse face of the panel to the reverse face, an adhesive bed located on the reverse face of the second panel, said bed being protected by a removable release paper, the construction and arrangement being that the tabs of the fastener after the fastener has been closed, are passed at least partially through the said slot, the release paper is removed from the adhesive bed and the first panel is folded onto the second panel to enable the adhesive bed to imprison the said tabs between the reverse faces of the first and the second panels.

2. The tamper evident luggage tag of claim 1 , wherein the definition between the first panel and the second panel comprises a fold line.

3. The tamper evident luggage tag of claim 1 , wherein the first panel and the second panel are joined by a bridge.

4. The tamper evident luggage tag of claim 1 , wherein the obverse face of at least one panel includes identification means.

5. The tamper evident luggage tag of claim 4, wherein the identification means comprises indicia inscribed on a pane displayed on a first panel and substantially the same indicia is inscribed on a strip which is removably attached to the said first panel.

6. The tamper evident luggage tag of claim 5, wherein the strip is attached to the said first panel by means of a removable grade adhesive.

7. The tamper evident luggage tag of claim 5, wherein the strip comprises a pane attached to panel by a break line.

8. The tamper evident luggage tag of claim 1 , wherein the tabs of the zip type closure members are tied together by tie means after they have been passed through the said slot.

9. The tamper evident luggage tag of claim 8 wherein the tie means comprises a tear off portion formed as part of one of the panels.

10. The tamper evident luggage tag of claim 1 , wherein the obverse face of at least one panel includes advertising indicia.