TECHNICAL FIELD The technical field generally relates to holding devices for identification and more specifically to badge holders.
BACKGROUND Badges can be used in areas where you want to keep control of the occupants entering an area. In general, companies, governments and other agencies want only authorized personnel, such as employees, contractors, or special guests, within certain sensitive areas. Areas can be secured for many reasons, such as for the physical safety of workers, physical safety of the public at large, and safeguarding sensitive information. For at least these reasons organizations who have secured facilities usually require employees to have their access badges at all times.
Many badges have pictures and/or names of an authorized party on the front of the badge. Badges may also contain bar codes, RFID's, or other technology to enable an authorized party to enter a particular area. Many work environments require a badge to have a picture and/or other credentials shown at all times. Although employees are required to have their badge shown at all times many employees and other personnel are unable to consistently satisfy this condition.
SUMMARY Applicant has discovered that prior-art badge holders (see attached prior-art Figs) are frequently lost thus increasing unauthorized access or forgotten making it difficult to show the required credentials, and/or may be dangerous to use in some work environments (e.g. manufacturing facilities). With this observation in mind, the disclosed invention allows users to have easy access to their badge for swiping, allows for easy viewing of credentials, reduces the likelihood of lost or misplaced badges, and is safe for users to wear in almost any environment. The badge holding system can be incorporated in everyday clothing and other outerwear such as a belt or a shirt pocket.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The following detailed description of preferred embodiments is better understood when read in conjunction with the appended drawings. For the purposes of illustration, there is shown in the drawings exemplary embodiments; however, the subject matter is not limited to the specific elements and instrumentalities disclosed.
FIG. 1A is a front view of the badge holder containing an identification credential.
FIG. 1B is a rear view of the badge holder with a retention element that covers most of the rear of the badge holder.
FIG. 1C is a rear view of the badge holder with a retention element that covers a substantially smaller portion of the rear of the badge holder.
FIG. 2A is a rear view of the badge holder wherein a belt is inserted through the retention element.
FIG. 2B is a front view of the badge holder wherein a belt is inserted through the retention element.
FIG. 3A is a front view of a t-shirt with a pocket and embedded badge pocket on the chest.
FIG. 3B is an enlarged view of a shirt pocket with embedded badge pocket.
FIG. 3C is an enlarged view of a shirt pocket with embedded badge pocket and an identification credential.
FIG. 4 is a front view of a dress-shirt with a pocket and embedded badge pocket on the arm.
FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of a badge pocket with a slit and an identification credential. FIG. 2B is a front view of the badge holder wherein a belt is inserted through the retention element.
FIG. 6A is an example of a prior-art badge holder.
FIG. 6B is an example of a prior-art badge holder.
FIG. 7A is an example of a prior-art badge holder.
FIG. 7B is an example of a prior-art badge holder.
FIG. 8A is an example of a prior-art badge holder.
FIG. 8B is an example of a prior-art badge holder.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1A illustrates one embodiment of the present invention. In one embodiment, a pouch 100 has a clear front 105. The clear front can be made of any translucent or semi-translucent material in which credentials, for example 110, can adequately be displayed. For example, the translucent/semi-translucent material 105 can be a plastic material which is easy to wipe clean. Another example, is that the translucent/semi-translucent 105 material can also be a sheer cloth which does not get smudged like plastic and allows for specialized stitching and/or cloth color in order to blend in or stand out with a users clothing (e.g. a clothing accessory). There is an opening 115 that allows the credentials 110 to be inserted into the pouch 100. Note the opening 115 can be located vertically or horizontally on any side of the pouch 100. Attached to the pouch 100 are a front fastening component 125 and a rear fastening component 120. In the embodiment, the rear fastening component 120 crosses over the opening 115 and latches to the front fastening component 125. The front 125 and rear 120 fastening components can be any type of detachable fastening component. Detachable fastening component as defined herein are any fastening components that allows for easy opening and closing of an opening. Examples of detachable fastening components are magnets, Velcro (i.e. hook and loop fasteners), a button (e.g. a button and hole combination), a zipper, and/or other like detachable fastening components. In addition, the detachable fastening component can range from covering only a small portion of the opening 115 in a way that will secure a badge in a pouch, as displayed in FIG. 1A, to covering the entire opening 115.
One example of the rear of 100 is illustrated in FIG. 1B. Attached to the rear surface 106 of pouch 100 is a retention element 130, wherein openings on the left 135 and right 136 allow for a belt or similar apparatus to pass through. The manner in which the retention element 130 is attached to the pouch 100 can vary. The retention element 130 can be permanently affixed to the pouch 100, such as via sewing or gluing. The retention element 130 can also be affixed to the pouch in ways that allow it to be removable, such as the use of a strong magnet, Velcro, and/or a button. The retention element can also be affixed by combination of permanent and temporary methods such as sewing or permanently gluing on one end and fastening another end using a button, Velcro, zipper, magnet, or other apparatus which can allow the fastening element to be loosened or tightened. In addition, the retention element 130 can be made out of any material that allows the retention element to grasp, preferably firmly, an apparatus inserted into openings 135 and 136, such as spandex, cotton, polyester, and other real and/or synthetic materials. Furthermore the retention element can encompass the entire back 106 of the pouch (similar to 130), can be much smaller as in FIG. 1C, retention element 140, and/or can be several multiple retention elements across the back of the pouch 100.
FIGS. 2A and 2B are example implementations of an embodiment of the disclosed invention. FIG. 2A displays a rear view of the pouch 100 with the retention element 130 exposed and a belt 205 inserted through openings 135 and 136 of the retention element 100. FIG. 2B is a frontal view of the pouch 100.
The present invention as displayed in FIGS. 1A-C and 2A-B reduces the likelihood that a badge will be lost or damaged, makes it easier for required credentials to be constantly shown, virtually eliminates the posed danger due to a badge in work environments (e.g. manufacturing environment), and/or prevents the possibility of rashes and other related skin conditions caused by the chain necklace portion. See prior-art FIGS. 6-8. For example, in one embodiment, the badge holder can be attached to a belt. Users of the badge holder can use the same belt when they go to work and will be less likely to leave or forget the badge. In addition, many badge holders in the prior art are attached using strings or clips that can be easily snapped off and/or damage badges which are more advanced (e.g. biometrics), but also are more fragile. Since the disclosed invention is securely attached to a user's belt it prevents the user from losing or damaging it. Furthermore the badge holder will be safer for the wearer than some badge holders in the prior art. The disclosed invention does not hang and has no elongated strings or wires attached to it. The disclosed invention remains close to the body, so there is no danger of choking or tripping. In addition, in the prior art there are problems with badge holders causing rashes because chains and/or badges are touching users' skin. Because the disclosed invention is attached to a user's belt it is unlikely there will be prolonged exposure to the skin and therefore reduce the likelihood of rashes and other related skin conditions.
FIG. 3A shows an example of another badge holding system wherein the badge holding system is embedded into a shirt pocket. A close up view of the badge holding system is shown in FIG. 3B and FIG. 3C. FIG. 3B displays a shirt pocket 300 with a standard shirt pocket opening 310. The shirt pocket has another smaller badge pocket 315 embedded into the larger pocket 300. Note that the embedded badge pocket can be sewn, glued in, or affixed in other manners known in the art. Also, the badge holding system does not have to be embedded into a shirt pocket, but can stand alone as a badge pocket. Note that the badge holding system can also be located in various locations, preferably locations where it is easy for the user to access it. For example, FIG. 4 shows where the badge holder 400 can be held on a shirt sleeve. In FIG. 3B, there is a display area 320 in the 300 pocket face which allows a badge to be displayed 325. The display area 320 can encompass a translucent or semi-translucent material or remain open (no material). Preferably the clear front material is a sheer cloth or other material that allows the shirt to be dry cleaned, but it can be any material that allows credentials to be adequately seen through the material (e.g., plastic). In addition, the pocket does not have to be clear. If the display area 320 remains open a badge can be held in the pocket by using the non-exposed sides of the badge as anchors against the embedded badge pocket 315. FIG. 3C, displays a shirt pocket 300 with a badge inserted into an embedded pocket 315.
In addition, there can be detachable fastening components 326 at the top of the embedded badge pocket 315 and 300. For example, the detachable fastening component can be a button, zipper, Velcro, and/or magnets among other thing known in the art. Furthermore a detachable fastening component is not needed, but can be a slit 526 as displayed in FIG. 5. The slit 526 can be situated so that it can allow a badge 520 to be inserted, but difficult to slip out. For example, the slit 526 can be situated so that there is a slight overhang of cloth (or other material) above the slit 526. Because of the small slit 526 and the cloth overhang, as shown in FIG. 5, the badge 520 does not easily slip out . . . .
The present invention as displayed in FIGS. 3A-C, FIG. 4, and FIG. 5 reduces the likelihood that a badge will be lost or damaged, makes it easier for required credentials to be constantly shown, virtually eliminates the posed danger due to a badge in work environments (e.g. manufacturing environment), and/or reduces the possibility of rashes and other related skin conditions among other things. The disclosed invention allows for the badge to be taken out and easily swiped, by unlatching the fastening components, if present. The badge is also ready for viewing by others, because of the opening 320 in the pocket. In addition, many badge holders in the prior art are attached using strings or clips that can be easily snapped off and/or damage badges which are more advanced (e.g. biometrics), but also are more fragile. Since the disclosed invention is secured within the pocket it can be more difficult for the user to lose or damage the badge. Moreover the badge holder can be safer for the wearer than some badge holders in the prior art, because the disclosed invention does not hang and has no elongated strings or wires attached to it. The disclosed invention remains securely close to the body, so there is no danger of choking or tripping. Furthermore, in the prior art there are problems with badges causing rashes because badges are touching users' skin. Because the disclosed invention is attached to a user's belt it is unlikely there will be prolonged exposure to the skin and therefore reduce the likelihood of rashes and other related skin conditions.
The disclosed invention as displayed in one embodiment in FIG. 3A-C, FIG. 4, and FIG. 5 can be utilized especially well in occupations where there is a need to consistently wear uniforms, although this invention can be utilized regardless of occupation. Example occupations/apparel are security guards/officers, law enforcement, doctors, nurses, custodians, parking enforcement, pilots, mechanics, schools, military, safety apparel, aviation, business attire and other fields.
