Name tag attachment

Abstract

An attachment for name tags that is easily replaceable and a system of displaying additional information on name tags. The name tag includes at least one projection, and the attachment includes a corresponding cutout in the shape of the projection. The attachment can be secured to a name tag by a friction fit between the projection and the cutout. Likewise, the attachment can be easily removed by removing the projection from the cutout. As a result, the promotional information displayed on name tags can easily be changed by adding and removing attachments.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to U.S. provisional patent application No. 60/956,609, filed Aug. 17, 2007, and entitled “Name Tag Attachment,” the content of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention is directed to an attachment for name tags and to a system of displaying additional information on name tags. More specifically, the present invention involves an attachment for name tags that snaps onto the name tag so that the attachment is easily attachable and removable.

2. Brief Discussion of Related Art

Name tags, identification tags, and badges are often used in retail stores and other places of business to display employee names and promotional information. A conventional name tag includes a front display surface having information printed or written thereon and a rear surface having at least one attachment means for securing the name tag to an employee's uniform or clothing. The attachment means is typically a safety pin, but magnets or adhesives can be used to secure the name tag.

Throughout the year, retail stores run different promotions, such as holiday specials or sales. To advertise the promotions, it is advantageous to put the promotional information on employee name tags so that customers are made aware of the promotion when they are greeted or otherwise interact with employees. For example, a name tag could include a drawing of Dracula to advertise a Halloween sale.

However, retail stores typically have a number of different promotions and sales during the year. Consequently, the stores will have to purchase new name tags for each promotion to effectively advertise each promotion. As a result, advertising store promotions on employee name tags is costly. Such advertising is also ponderous, since employees are responsible for a number of different name tags. Thus, there exists a need for a system to efficiently advertise promotions or otherwise display information on name tags.

SUMMARY

The present invention is directed to an attachment for name tags that is easily replaceable and to a system of displaying additional information on name tags. An attachment displaying promotional information or other additional information snaps onto a name tag or badge so that the attachment can be quickly attached or removed. As a result, additional information can be displayed on a name tag so as to eliminate the need to have a different name tag design for each event or promotion.

The name tag includes at least one projection, and the attachment includes a corresponding cutout in the shape of the projection. The attachment can be secured to a name tag by a friction fit between the projection and the cutout. Likewise, the attachment can be easily removed by removing the projection from the cutout. As a result, the promotional information displayed on name tags can easily be changed by adding and removing attachments.

In light of the name tag and attachment designs of the present invention, it is an object of the invention to provide an advertising system that allows promotional information to be easily added to employee name tags. It is a further object of the invention to provide an advertising system wherein promotional information is easily changed and updated.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A better understanding of the invention will be had with reference to the attached drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a front planar view of a name tag with an attachment secured thereto in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a rear planar view of the name tag and attachment of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a top elevational view of the name tag and attachment of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a rear planar view of the name tag and an attachment of FIG. 1 showing how the attachment fits onto the name tag;

FIG. 5 is a front view of an alternative embodiment of a name tag with an attachment secured thereto;

FIG. 6 is a rear planar view of the name tag and attachment of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a top elevational view of the name tag and attachment of FIG. 5; and

FIG. 8 is a rear planar view of the name tag and an attachment of FIG. 5 showing how the attachment fits onto the name tag;

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

As shown in FIGS. 1-4, a name tag 10 includes a front surface 12 for displaying information, such as a store name, slogan, employee name, or employee information, and a rear surface 14 having an attaching means 16 for securing the name tag onto an employee's uniform or clothing. In a preferred embodiment, the attaching means 16 is a pin, such as a safety pin. However, any suitable attaching means, such as magnets or adhesive, or any combination of attaching means can be used.

In addition to the attaching means 16, the rear surface 14 of the name tag 10 includes a projection 18. The projection 18 preferably extends a few millimeters from the rear surface 14 and is an elongated ovular shape, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 4. However, the projection can be of any suitable shape, size, or cross-section. Further, the projection 18 is preferably integrally formed with the name tag 10, but the projection can be formed of any suitable material and attached to the name 10 via any appropriate means.

The name tag 10 is preferably rectangular in shape so that the front surface 12 has sufficient surface area to display information. Further, the name tag 10 is preferably made from a lightweight, durable, plastic material. However, the name tag 10 can be any size, shape, color, or material.

An attachment 20 includes a front surface 22 for displaying information, such as promotional, advertising, sales, or seasonal information, and a rear surface 24. The attachment 20 also preferably includes an area A that corresponds to the shape of the name tag 10. As a result, when the attachment 20 is secured to the name tag 10, the area A will be located behind and hidden by the name tag 10.

The attachment 20 further includes a first cutout 26 and a second cutout 28. The shape of the first cutout 26 corresponds to the shape of the attaching means 16 of the name tag 10 so that when the attachment 20 is secured to the name tag 10, the attaching means project through or are otherwise accessible through the first cutout 26. The shape of the cutout 28 corresponds to the shape of the perimeter of the projection 18 of the name tag 10 so that the projection 18 can be received within the cutout 28 to create a friction fit.

The attachment 20 can be made of any shape or design that has a front surface with sufficient surface area to display information. For example, the attachment 20 shown in FIGS. 1-4 is shaped like Dracula to advertise a Halloween sale. The attachment is preferably made of a laminated paper material but any suitable material can be used.

To display additional information on the name tag 10, the attachment 20 including the additional information is secured to the name tag 10. To secure the attachment 20 to the name tag 10, the rear surface 14 of the name tag 10 is aligned with the area A on the front surface 22 of the attachment so that the name tag 10 covers the area A. When the name tag 10 is aligned with the area A, the first cut out 26 and the second cut out 28 of the attachment 20 are aligned with the attaching means 16 and the projection 18, respectively.

The projection 18 is then pressed into the second cutout 28 so that the attachment 20 is secured to the name tag 10 via a friction fit. Once the attachment 20 is secured to the name tag 10, the attaching means 16 projects through or is otherwise accessible through the first cutout 26 so that the name tag 10 with the attachment 20 can be placed on an employee's uniform or clothing. As a result, in light of the attachment 20, customers are made aware of the promotion when they are greeted or otherwise interact with employees.

To remove the attachment 20 from the name tag 10, the projection 18 is pulled out of the second cutout 28 to release the friction fit. Once the attachment 20 is removed, the name tag 10 can be worn without any attachment or another attachment can be added to display new information.

An alternative embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIGS. 5-8. A name tag 30 includes a front surface 32 for displaying information, such as a store name, slogan, employee name, or employee information, and a rear surface 34 having an attaching means 36 for securing the name tag onto an employee's uniform or clothing. In a preferred embodiment, the attaching means 36 is a pin, such as a safety pin. However, any suitable attaching means, such as magnets or adhesive, or any combination of attaching means can be used.

In addition to the attaching means 36, the rear surface 34 of the name tag 30 includes two projections 38A and 38B. The projections 38A and 38 preferably extend a few millimeters from the rear surface 34 and have a round shape, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 8. However, the projections can be of any suitable shape, size, or cross-section. Further, the projections 38A and 38B are preferably integrally formed with the name tag 30, but the projections can be formed of any suitable material and attached to the name 30 via any appropriate means.

An attachment 40 includes a front surface 42 for displaying information, such as promotional, advertising, sales, or seasonal information, and a rear surface 44. The attachment 40 further includes cutouts 48A and 48B. The shapes of the cutouts 48A and 48B correspond to the shapes of the perimeters of the projections 38A and 38B, respectively, so that the projections 38A and 38B can be received within the cutouts 48A and 48B, respectively to create a friction fit.

Similar to the name tag 10, the name tag 30 is preferably rectangular in shape so that the front surface 32 has sufficient surface area to display information. Further, the name tag 30 is preferably made from a lightweight, durable, plastic material. However, the name tag 30 can be any size, shape, color, or material. Similar to the attachment 20, the attachment 40 can be made of any shape or design that has a front surface with sufficient surface area to display information.

To display additional information on the name tag 30, the attachment 40 including the additional information is secured to the name tag 30. To secure the attachment 40 to the name tag 40, the cutouts 48A and 48B are aligned with the projections 38A and 38B respectively. The projections 38A and 38B are then pressed into the second cutouts 48A and 48B so that the attachment 40 is secured to the name tag 30 via friction fits between the projection 38A and the cutout 48A and between the projection 38B and the cutout 48B. As a result, in light of the attachment 40, customers are made aware of the promotion when they are greeted or otherwise interact with employees.

To remove the attachment 40 from the name tag 30, the projections 38A and 38B are pulled out of the cutouts 48A and 48B, respectively, to release the friction fits. Once the attachment 40 is removed, the name tag 30 can be worn without any attachment or another attachment can be added to display new information.

In addition to the preferred embodiments shown in FIGS. 1-8, the advertising system of the invention can utilize any suitable means and methods for attaching an attachment to a name tag. For example, the attachment may include projections that correspond to cutouts in the name tag. The present invention also anticipates the use of any number, size, and shape of projections and corresponding cut outs. Alternatively, other means, including magnets, metal snaps, Velcro®, and any combination thereof, may be used to secure the attachment to the name tag. In addition, the attachment can be attached to any surface of the name tag, including a front surface.

The foregoing description of the present invention has been presented to illustrate the principles of the invention and not to limit the invention to the particular embodiments illustrated. It is intended that the scope of the invention be defined by all of the embodiments encompassed within the following claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. A tag for displaying identification information, comprising:

a tag portion, including a first surface for displaying information and an attaching means for attaching the tag to clothing;

an attachment, including a first surface for displaying information; and

a securing means for securing said attachment to said tag portion.

2. The tag according to claim 1, wherein said securing means includes at least one projection located on said tag portion and at least one cutout located on said attachment, said at least one cutout portion having a shape that corresponds to a shape of said at least one projection so as to create a friction fit when said at least one projection is received within said at least one cutout.

3. The tag according to claim 2, wherein said attachment includes a second cutout for receiving said attaching means of said tag portion when said attachment is secured to said tag portion.

4. The tag according to claim 2, wherein said at least one projection is integral to said tag portion.

5. The tag according to claim 2, wherein said at least one projection has an elongated oval shape.

6. The tag according to claim 5, wherein said at least one projection has an elongated oval shape with four lobes.

7. A system for displaying additional information on tags, comprising:

a tag portion, including a first surface for displaying information and an attaching means for attaching the tag to clothing;

an attachment, including a first surface for displaying information; and

a securing means for securing said attachment to said tag portion.

8. The system according to claim 7, wherein said securing means includes at least one projection located on said tag portion and at least one cutout located on said attachment, said at least one cutout portion having a shape that corresponds to a shape of said at least one projection so as to create a friction fit when said at least one projection is received within said at least one cutout.

9. The system according to claim 8, wherein said attachment includes a second cutout for receiving said attaching means of said tag portion when said attachment is secured to said tag portion.

10. The system according to claim 8, wherein said at least one projection is integral to said tag portion.

11. The system according to claim 8, wherein said at least one projection has an elongated oval shape.

12. The system according to claim 11, wherein said at least one projection has an elongated oval shape with four lobes.

13. A method of displaying additional information on tags, comprising:

obtaining a tag portion, including a first surface for displaying information and an attaching means for attaching the tag to clothing;

obtaining an attachment, including a first surface for displaying information; and

securing said attachment to said tag portion via a securing means.

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein said securing means includes at least one projection located on said tag portion and at least one cutout located on said attachment, said at least one cutout portion having a shape that corresponds to a shape of said at least one projection so as to create a friction fit when said at least one projection is received within said at least one cutout.

15. The method according to claim 14, wherein said attachment includes a second cutout for receiving said attaching means of said tag portion when said attachment is secured to said tag portion.

16. The method according to claim 14, wherein said at least one projection is integral to said tag portion.

17. The method according to claim 14, wherein said at least one projection has an elongated oval shape.

18. The method according to claim 17, wherein said at least one projection has an elongated oval shape with four lobes.