Buckles – buttons – clasps – etc. – Bag fasteners – Resilient slot bag tie
Reexamination Certificate
1999-08-27
2001-08-21
Sandy, Robert J. (Department: 3626)
Buckles, buttons, clasps, etc.
Bag fasteners
Resilient slot bag tie
C024S0160PB, C024S003130
Reexamination Certificate
active
06276029
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to neck straps or lanyards that fit around a person's neck and are typically used to support a name tag, a key, or other such item, including purely decorative items.
2. Description of the Related Art
Neck lanyards are made from a variety of materials, including metal chains, smooth vinyl, and woven materials, such as a cotton cord. Such cords have become increasingly popular because they are considered by some to be more attractive than metal or vinyl lanyards and because of the soft feel provided by the material.
Prior art lanyards generally include an attachment mechanism at the ends so that the ends can be joined after the lanyard has been positioned around a person's neck. That enables the wearer to put the lanyard in place or remove it without having to lift a closed loop over the wearer's head. As a safety measure, the locking mechanism is usually a breakaway type that will separate or break away in response to the application of a separating force of a predetermined level. Examples of breakaway mechanisms are Velcro strips, plastic tubes, metal snaps, and plastic joints. The locking mechanism is usually composed of two elements which are separate from the remainder of the lanyard, and thus must be assembled or attached to the lanyard during the production process. This, of course, adds to the cost of the item. While neck lanyards are generally inexpensive items, they are frequently made in such large volume that each increment of cost savings can be significant.
Vinyl and woven lanyards are sometimes printed with text or other graphics. The printing is usually part of a marketing promotion or a way to identify a particular business that is distributing the lanyards to its employees or to identify attendees at a convention. Woven shoestring-like lanyards, having a flat profile, are usually imprinted by securing the cord to a member that guides the cord under a printing head. The printing is thus a separate step performed after the individual lanyard has been formed. The printing is generally on a single strand at a time, and hence is relatively expensive because of the requirement for careful guiding of the lanyard into the printing head, and the synchronization between the printing head and the guiding member.
Advantageously, vinyl lanyards can be imprinted as a group before individual lanyards are cut from a vinyl sheet. However, the most common type of smooth vinyl is transparent, and thus does not lend itself to printing very well. Some success has been had with printing on white or black vinyl.
Notwithstanding the many different types of neck straps and lanyards currently available, it is believed that there is a need for an improved lanyard that is simple to produce, has the necessary breakaway locking elements, and has a desired feel and attractive appearance.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, a neck lanyard is provided that has a thin, flat configuration with a generally rectangular cross-section. The lanyard is made of plastic such as polyvinyl chloride resin and has two flat exterior surfaces with a vinyl foam skin which provide the strap with a cloth-like feel and appearance, somewhat comparable to woven cords. The vinyl material is available in many colors and readily lends itself to having printing formed thereon. Since a quantity of lanyards can be cut at one time from a vinyl sheet, it is very practical to provide the printing on the material while it is in sheet form.
In another aspect of the invention, a neck lanyard is provided with male and female connecting portions that are formed integral with the strap itself. This significantly saves in the cost of production. Further, the ends can be readily connected by the user, and will advantageously break away with a predetermined separating force, that is considerably less than the force required to rupture the body of the lanyard. Preferably, the lanyard is made of vinyl having the cloth-like surface referred to above.
In accordance with another aspect of the invention, a neck lanyard is provided having generally flat ends that are releasably connected. One end has intersecting slits, such as a T-shaped slit, while the opposite end has a head on its outer tip joined to an adjacent narrower neck. The head will fit edgewise into the vertical slit of the T-shape, and the ends may then be twisted 90° with respect to each other so that the neck fits within the horizontal slit of the T-shape. The width of the head is greater than the width of the horizontal slit so that the head is captured by the slit. The interconnecting ends are formed of a flexible plastic material, such that the head and the slit will deform when subjected to a predetermined separating force so that the head can be pulled from the slit. This, however, does not tear the material, so that the lanyard ends can be once more reconnected, if desired. Preferably, these lanyards ends are formed integral with the lanyard itself and are preferably made of the vinyl material referred to above.
In accordance with another aspect of the invention, a group of thin, flat, narrow lanyards can be cut at one time from a vinyl sheet, with the lanyards positioned in side-by-side relation on the sheet. The individual lanyard has a female locking portion on one end which is wider than a male locking portion on the opposite end. To maximize the number of lanyards that can be cut from a vinyl sheet, adjacent lanyards are inverted from end-to-end with respect to each other. That is, the female end of one lanyard is adjacent the male end of an adjacent lanyard. Further, adjacent lanyards are longitudinally offset with respect to each other so that the main body portions of the lanyards can be closely positioned, with the wider female portions being longitudinally offset with respect to the narrower male portions. Such an arrangement advantageously allows close positioning of the lanyards and maximizes the number of lanyards made from a vinyl sheet. Further, the lanyards may be imprinted while still in sheet form, to minimize the expense of the printing operation.
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J.A.M. Plastics, Inc.
Knobbe Martens Olson & Bear LLP
Sandy Robert J.
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