Electronic tag device

• US 6,606,029 B1
• Filed: 12/21/2000
• Issued: 08/12/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Vantec RF Solutions Corporation
• Original Assignee: Leading Information Technology Institute, Inc.
• Inventors: Okamura, Eiji
• Primary Examiner(s): Tweel, John
• Application Number:
  US09/746,845
• Time in Patent Office: 964 Days
• Field of Search: 340/572.8, 340/572.9, 340/572.2, 340/572.1, 340/572.4
• US Class Current: 340/572.8
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management

Abstract

An electronic tag device is attached to products, such as accessories, clothing, shoes, bags, and wallets, of an indefinite and/or complex shape on which the use of a visually identifiable tag may be difficult due to bending or folding. The electronic tag device comprises an electronic tag 1 and an attaching implement 2, and is attached to a product 3 via the attaching implement 2. The product 3 is an article such as an accessory, article of clothing, shoe, bag, or wallet with an indefinite and/or complex shape, while the electronic tag 1 is a non-contact-type wireless tag in which information about the product is recorded. Preferably, each tag is provided with tilting means at one end of the tag for cooperating with an inwardly protruding lip of a receptacle to facilitate the tilting of the uppermost tag of a vertical stack of similarly shaped tags retained inside the receptacle.

Claims

1. In an electronic tag device comprising an electronic tag and an attachment implement for attaching said electronic tag to a product, tilting means at one end of the tag for cooperating with an inwardly protruding lip of a receptacle to facilitate the tilting of the uppermost tag of a vertical stack of similarly shaped tags retained inside said receptacle.

2. The electronic tag device according to claim 1, wherein the product is selected from the group consisting essentially of articles of clothing, fashion accessories, shoes, wallets.

3. The electronic tag device according to claim 1, wherein the electronic tag is a non-contact type wireless tag.

4. The electronic tag device according to claim 1, wherein at least information relating to the product attached to said electronic tag is recorded thereon.

5. The electronic tag device according to claim 1, wherein the electronic tag has at least a hole formed therein for attaching the attachment implement.

6. The electronic tag device according to claim 1, wherein the attachment implement is a thread or cord formed from a polymer resin or fiber material.

7. The electronic tag device according to claim 1, wherein the attachment implement has at least a T-shaped portion.

8. The electronic tag device according to claim 6, wherein a joining site connects both ends of the attachment implement.

9. The electronic tag device according to claim 1, wherein a seal member of the electronic device and the attachment implement are unitarily formed.

10. The electronic tag device according to claim 1, wherein the electronic tag and attachment implement are combined together as one.

11. The electronic tag device according to claim 1, wherein said tilting means comprises a step portion formed at said one end.

12. The electronic tag device according to claim 1, wherein said tilting means comprises a tapered portion formed at said one end.

13. The electronic tag device according to claim 1, wherein said tilting means comprises a downwardly facing first convex portion adjacent said one end and a second upwardly facing second convex portion inwardly staggered from said first convex portion, the first convex portion of said uppermost tag cooperating with the second convex portion of the next tag in the receptacle to restrain said uppermost tag from slipping out of said receptacle.

14. The electronic tag device according to any of claims 1, 11, 12, or 13, wherein the sides of each electronic tag have one or more vertical protrusions or grooves formed therein for holding all but said uppermost tag in a respective horizontal alignment inside said receptacle.

15. The electronic tag device according to claim 14, wherein the vertical stack of tags is biased upwardly inside the receptacle.