DISPOSABLE LANYARD FOR SUSPENDING OBJECT

Abstract

A sheet of lanyards comprising a plurality of lanyard straps (e.g., made from spun plastic material). The straps are separated from each other by a tear-away zone (e.g., a perforation line), and each strap includes a weakened zone (e.g., a perforation line) across the width. An adhesive is positioned on each strap to facilitate securing the lanyard into a loop or attaching the lanyard to an object holder. In one embodiment, the adhesive comprises a first adhesive patch spaced from a second adhesive patch. For example, the first adhesive patch can be positioned adjacent one end of each strap and the second adhesive patch is positioned adjacent an opposite end of each strap. Preferably, the two patches of adhesive are both on the same side of the strap. Each strap can be used to suspend an object holder, such as an identification tag, alligator clip, hook, carabiner, or cardholder.

Description

BACKGROUND

The present invention generally relates to lanyards for suspending objects.

Lanyards are commonly used to hang or suspend an object. For example, lanyards can be wrapped around a person's wrist to hang a key, umbrella, or other item from the person's wrist. In addition, lanyards can be wrapped around a person's neck to hang a whistle, identification badge, or other item from the person's neck.

Lanyards are typically made from a rope, string, cord, or other similar material. A clip or other attachment device is usually attached to a lower end of the lanyard to facilitate attachment of the desired object or object holder. For example, an alligator clip, hook, carabiner, or other device can be used to engage the desired object or holder.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a lanyard design that facilitates low-cost manufacture and distribution, and also facilitates printing of text or other indicia on the lanyard. The lanyards are provided as a sheet of lanyards comprising a plurality of lanyard straps (e.g., made from a spun plastic material). Each strap has a length and a width smaller than the length. The straps are separated from each other by a tear-away zone (e.g., a perforation line), and each strap includes a weakened zone (e.g., a perforation line) across the width (the tear-away zone is preferably weaker than the weakened zone). An adhesive is positioned on each strap to facilitate securing the lanyard into a loop or attaching the lanyard to an object holder. Preferably, each strap includes multiple weakened zones (e.g., two, three, four, or more weakened zones), and each weakened zones preferably are spaced from each other by a distance that is between 5% and 50% (e.g., 10% to 15%) of the length of the strap. By virtue of the sheet configuration, multiple lanyards can be easily printed with a desired text or other indicia using almost any type of printer. This ability to easily print on the lanyards significantly enhances the promotional value of the lanyards.

In one embodiment, the adhesive comprises a first adhesive patch spaced from a second adhesive patch. For example, the first adhesive patch can be positioned adjacent one end of each strap and the second adhesive patch is positioned adjacent an opposite end of each strap. Preferably, the two patches of adhesive are both on the same side of the strap.

Each strap can be used to suspend an object holder, such as an identification tag, alligator clip, hook, carabiner, or cardholder. In the embodiment having two patches of adhesive, the strap can be attached to the object holder by adhering the two patches of adhesive to the object holder. Alternatively, the adhesive can be used to adhere the strap to itself in the form of a loop

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a sheet of lanyards.

FIG. 2 is a portion of the view of FIG. 1 enlarged for magnification purposes.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a single lanyard from FIG. 1 formed into a loop.

FIG. 4 illustrates an alternative lanyard.

FIG. 5 illustrates the lanyard of FIG. 4 wrapped around the neck of a user and attached to and suspending a cardholder.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 illustrates a sheet 10 of lanyards having ten lanyard straps 12 coupled in a side-by-side relationship. The sheet 10 is made of a spun plastic material, such as 0.007 inch thick TYVEK spunbonded olefin (TYVEK is a trademark of E.I. DuPont). Each strap is about twenty inches long L and about one inch wide W. As such, the thickness is about 0.7% of the width. It should be understood that other materials could be used for the sheet, such as molded or extruded plastic, paper, or anything other suitable material.

The straps 12 are separated from each other by a series of parallel tear-away zones in the form of first perforation lines 14 extending the length L of the sheet. The first perforation lines 14 are designed to be easily torn by a user when separating a strap 12 from the sheet. In the illustrated embodiment, each first perforation line 14 comprises a series of linearly-spaced first holds 16 separated by first spaces 18 (FIG. 2—not to scale). The first holds 16 have a length (i.e., parallel to the first perforation line 14) of about 0.015 inches each, and the first spaces 18 have a length of about 0.31 inches each. Thus, in the illustrated embodiment, the length of the first holds 16 is about 4.8% of the length of the first spaces 18, and the first spaces account for about 95% of the overall length L of the strap 12.

In the illustrated embodiment, each of the straps 12 includes printed indicia 19 (represented schematically as a circle in FIG. 1). Due to the fact that the straps 12 are connected to each other to form a sheet 10, the printing can be done by feeding the sheet through a standard printer. Alternatively, the printing can be done during the manufacturing process. The indicia 19 includes at least a portion that provides individualized identification for each wristband. For example, the indicia 19 can be serial numbering or barcode such that all of the straps (or multiple groups of straps) have different indicia, which facilitates individualized identification.

A series of four weakened zones in the form of second perforation lines 20 are provided across the width W of the straps 12. The second perforation lines 20 are designed to be stronger than the first perforation line 14, and specifically so that the second perforation lines 20 do not tear when the straps 12 are being separated from the sheet 10. In the illustrated embodiment, the second perforation lines 20 comprise a series of linearly-spaced second holds 22 separated by second spaces 24 (FIG. 2—not to scale). The second holds 22 have a length (i.e., parallel to the second perforation line 20) of about 0.025 inches each, and the second spaces 24 have a length of about 0.125 inches each. Thus, in the illustrated embodiment, the length of the second holds 22 is about 20% of the length of the second spaces 24, and the second spaces 24 account for about 83% of the overall width W of the strap 12.

As used herein, a perforation line is intended to mean any series of perforations that facilitate tearing of the material, and should not be construed as being limited to a series of perforations in a straight line. That is, the perforations would be in a curved, zig-sag, or any other appropriate shape. In addition, it should be appreciated that other means for creating the weakened zones and tear-away zones could be utilized. For example, instead of perforation lines, the zones could be created by scoring or by utilizing a different, weaker material in the zones.

The second perforation lines 20 provide the function of tearing when the force on the strap 12 exceeds a desired level. For example, if the strap 12 is formed into a loop 26 around a user's neck (FIG. 3), at least one of the second perforation lines 20 will break if the loop 26 becomes snagged on an object to create a force beyond what the second perforation lines 20 can handle. The second perforation lines 20 are spaced from each other by a sufficient spacing S that facilitates the positioning of at least one of the second perforation lines 20 in a location that will be subjected to the force when the strap 12 becomes snagged on an object.

The second perforation lines 20 also facilitate shortening the length of the strap 12 to accommodate the desires of individual users. More specifically, the illustrated straps 12 can be manually torn along the second perforation lines 20 to achieve the desired length of the straps 12. In the illustrated embodiment, the position of the second perforation lines 20 allows adjustment of the length of the strap 12 from twenty inches to ten inches in two-and-a-half inch increments. Thus, the spacing S of the second perforation lines 20 is about 12.5% of the overall length L of the straps. It should be understood that other numbers of second perforation lines 20 and spacings S can be used.

An end of each strap 12 includes an adhesive patch 30 that facilitates securing the strap 12 into a loop 26 through an object holder, such as an identification tag 31, alligator clip, hook, carabiner, or cardholder. A removable liner or tab 32 is positioned over the adhesive patch 30 to prevent the adhesive from sticking to anything prior to use. Prior to forming into a loop 26, the tab 32 is peeled away to expose the adhesive patch 30, as is generally known in the art.

In an alternative embodiment (FIGS. 4 and 5), both ends of the strap 40 include an adhesive patch 42 and corresponding tab 44 on the same side of the strap. In this embodiment, instead of forming the strap into a loop through an object, the ends of the strap 40 are separately secured to an object, such as an identification tag or cardholder 46 (FIG. 5).

In either of the above two embodiment of FIGS. 4 and 5, the adhesive can be a permanent adhesive, such as modified acrylic composition, a rubber-based adhesive, or the like. The term “permanent adhesive” is used in the art to describe an adhesive that will securely hold two parts together, and makes separation of the two parts very difficult without causing damage to at least one of the two parts.

Alternatively, the adhesive in the above-two embodiments can be temporary adhesive, commonly called a “releasable,” “repositionable,” or “removable” adhesive. One example of a temporary adhesive is used in the popular Post-It notes (Post-It is a trademark of 3M Company, protected by U.S. Pat. No. 3,691,140, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety), which typically have adhesion of around 4 to 6 oz./in. to standard paper. The temporary adhesive used in the illustrated design can be supplied as a pressure-release, double-coated tape, with a permanent adhesive on one side and a temporary adhesive on the other side. The side with the permanent adhesive faces toward and is in contact with the strap, and the side with the temporary adhesive faces away from the strap to facilitate releasable adhesion of the strap to other surfaces. The use of temporary adhesive provides an additional breakaway feature in the event that excessive force is applied to the strap. Unlike the above-noted second perforation lines 20, the use of temporary adhesive as a breakaway feature facilitates re-attaching the strap after a breakaway condition.

Claims

1. A sheet of lanyards comprising:

a plurality of lanyard straps, each having a length and a width smaller than the length, wherein the straps are separated from each other by a tear-away zone, and wherein each strap includes a weakened zone across the width; and

an adhesive positioned on each strap.

2. A sheet of lanyards as claimed in claim 1, wherein the tear-away zone is weaker than the weakened zone.

3. A sheet of lanyards as claimed in claim 1, wherein the straps comprise at least two weakened zones across the width.

4. A sheet of lanyards as claimed in claim 3, wherein the weakened zones are spaced from each other by a distance that is between 5% and 50% of the length of the strap

5. A lanyard assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the straps comprise a spun plastic material.

6. A sheet of lanyards as claimed in claim 1, wherein the tear-away zone comprises a perforation line.

7. A sheet of lanyards as claimed in claim 1, wherein the weakened zone comprises a perforation line.

8. A sheet of lanyards as claimed in claim 1, wherein the adhesive comprises a first adhesive patch spaced from a second adhesive patch.

9. A lanyard assembly as claimed in claim 8, wherein the first adhesive patch is positioned adjacent one end of each strap and the second adhesive patch is positioned adjacent an opposite end of each strap.

10. A lanyard assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein each lanyard strap includes printed indicia, and wherein the printed indicia of one lanyard strap is different than printed indicia of an adjacent lanyard strap.

11. A lanyard assembly comprising:

a lanyard strap having a length, a width smaller than the length, and a thickness, wherein the strap includes a weakened zone across the width; and

an adhesive positioned on the strap.

12. A lanyard assembly as claimed in claim 11, wherein the strap comprises at least two weakened zones across the width.

13. A lanyard assembly as claimed in claim 12, wherein the weakened zones are spaced from each other by a distance that is between 5% and 50% of the length of the strap

14. A lanyard assembly as claimed in claim 11, wherein the strap comprises a spun plastic material.

15. A lanyard assembly as claimed in claim 11, wherein the weakened zone comprises a perforation line.

16. A lanyard assembly as claimed in claim 15, wherein the perforation line comprises a series of linearly-spaced holds separated by spaces, wherein the length of the holds is between 0.02 inches and 0.03 inches and the length of the spaces is between 0.05 inches and 0.20 inches.

17. A lanyard assembly as claimed in claim 11, wherein the adhesive comprises a first adhesive patch spaced from a second adhesive patch.

18. A lanyard assembly as claimed in claim 17, wherein the first adhesive patch is positioned adjacent one end of the strap and the second adhesive patch is positioned adjacent an opposite end of the strap.

19. A lanyard assembly as claimed in claim 18, wherein the strap has a first side and a second side, and wherein the first patch of adhesive and the second patch of adhesive are both on the first side of the strap.

20. A lanyard assembly as claimed in claim 18, further comprising an object holder secured to the strap by each of the first adhesive patch and the second adhesive patch.