WO2012037608A1

WO2012037608A1 - Identification article

Info

Publication number: WO2012037608A1
Application number: PCT/AU2011/001220
Authority: WO
Inventors: Benjamin Goodfellow
Original assignee: Sojo Pty Ltd
Priority date: 2010-09-21
Filing date: 2011-09-21
Publication date: 2012-03-29
Also published as: NZ607841A

Abstract

A visual identification article (10), comprising a web adapted to be secured to a garment or other item, said web including a first portion (12) securable along one side thereof to said garment or other item, and a plurality of second portions (16, 18, 20) each of which is visually distinguishable from the others of said plurality of second portions, each of said plurality of second portions being connected to said first portion and the adjacent others of said plurality of second portions by lines of weakness (24, 26, 28) or at lines of demarcation.

Description

IDENTIFICATION ARTICLE

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to means for identifying articles, in particular identifying articles of clothing so as to differentiate between designated owners.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Means to enable differentiation between articles, including articles of clothing, amongst members of a group, for example, a group of siblings in a family, have included the use of different colour thread sewn into, or attached to, garments, name tags sewn on to garments or the writing of indicia on existing labels attached to garments. These means and methods, while being simple, require a degree of active intervention and may not provide readily discemable identification, especially under conditions of low lighting or where the time available to be given to considering the identification means is limited.

It is an object of the present invention to ameliorate the forgoing disadvantages.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a visual identification article, comprising a web adapted to be secured to a garment or other item, said web including a first portion securable along one side thereof to said garment or other item, and a plurality of second portions each of which is visually distinguishable from the others of said plurality of second portions, each of said plurality of second portions being connected to said first portion and the adjacent others of said plurality of second portions by lines of weakness or at lines of demarcation.

In cases where the plurality of the second portions are connected to said first portion and adjacent others of said plurality of second portions at lines of demarcation, said adjacent others of said plurality of second portions can be detached from said first portion and the remaining one or more of said plurality of second portions by cutting along the lines of demarcation. In cases where the plurality of second portions are connected to said first portion and adjacent others of said plurality of said second portions by lines of weakness, said adjacent others of said plurality of second portions can be detached from said first portion and from the remaining one or more of said plurality of said portions by separation along said lines of weakness. Preferably said separation is effected by pulling said adjacent others of said plurality of second portions away from said first portion and/or the remaining one or more of said plurality of second portions using reasonable force.

Preferably, each of said plurality of second portions is coloured with a colour contrasting with the colours of each of the others of said plurality of said second portions.

Preferably the web is formed from non-woven material. This minimises or obviates the potential for the web to unravel after one or more of said second portions are detached. Most preferably the web is formed from a rubber or plastics material. Alternatively, the web may be formed from a heat-sealed woven material. Preferably the portions are printed with the different colours.

The invention also relates to a garment to which is attached a visual identification article comprising a web adapted to be secured to a garment or other item, said web including a first portion securable along one side thereof to said ^"garment or other item, and a plurality of second portions each of which is visually distinguishable from the others of said plurality of second portions, each of said plurality of second portions being connected to said first portion and the adjacent others of said plurality of second portions by lines of weakness or at lines of demarcation.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Previously there has been no way of easily distinguishing between the underwear, sleepwear, or other items of clothing including outerwear such as T-shirts or pullovers, of the different members in a family or group. Where an identifying means such as one colour is a sign to each individual in a group, identification articles of the type described above allow for easy sorting of clothing items. Each colour can be easily seen and therefore the item can be quickly identified and sorted. Where a combination of more than one colour is a sign for an individual in a group, a plurality of second portions containing that combination of more than one colour can be left attached to the first portion. This offers advantages where different members of the family or group wear the same or similar sizes of the same or similar coloured underwear, sleepwear or outerwear and where they are all washed at the one time.

Pips are labels attached to the outside of garments. Care labels (or sils) are attached to the inside of garments. They have previously only been used for branding or providing information about the composition of the garment and recommended treatment. Underwear or sleepwear generally is provided with a pip or bearing branding located on the front or the side of the garment and a care label on the inside of the garment. The identification article of the invention can take the form of either a pip or a care label. While it is preferred that there be three different colours used on the pip or care label for printing of the second portions, the invention is not limited to that number. A colour or combination of colours can be assigned to a particular individual and the second portions having the other colours removed from the identifying article.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

In order that the invention may be more clearly understood, a preferred embodiment is described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 shows a pair of pips according to embodiments of the present invention;

Figure 2 shows front and rear views of a sew-in label (or sil) according to another embodiment of the invention; and

Figure 3 depicts a number of undergarments which are embodiments of the invention.

In Figure 1(a) and (b) the numeral 10 designates generally a visual identification article according to the invention, in the form of a pip. The numeral 12 designates the first portion of the pip which is attached to the garment whilst numerals 16, 18 and 20 identify the relevant detachable second portions. Typically the first portion bears printed information such as a brand name. Different colours of the second portions are indicated by cross hatching or stippling. In use the pip is sewn into the waistband or other portion of the garment at the indicated stitch line 22 and for identification purposes one or more of the second portions are detached from the article by cutting along the defined lines 24, 26 and 28 as required.

Numeral 30 in Figure 2 generally indicates a sew-in label or sil according to the present invention. Both front and back of the sil are shown. Typically such sils bear printed information on both the front and back relating to size, care instructions and brand. The first portion 32 of the sew-in label is stitched into the inside of a garment along stitch line 34. In use the relevant second portions 36, 38 or 40 are detached by cutting along line 24 and one or more of lines 42, 44 or 46 (which are marked on the front of the sil only) as required. Different colours of the second portions are indicated by cross hatching or stippling.

In each foregoing example one or more of the second portions may be left to provide a quickly and readily recognisable identification means.

In Figure 3 the positioning of the pips 50 on the undergarments is as conventionally used. One or more of the plurality of second portions 52, 54, and 56 can be detached by cutting along lines of demarcation (not identified) to leave one or more second portions to provide the desired visual identification.

Throughout this specification and the claims which follow, unless the context requires otherwise, the word "comprise", and variations such as "comprises" and "comprising", will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or step or group of integers or steps but not the exclusion of any other integer or step or group of integers or steps.

The reference to any prior art in this specification is not, and should not be taken as, an acknowledgment or any form or suggestion that the prior art forms part of the common general knowledge.

Finally, it is to be understood that the foregoing description refers merely to preferred embodiments of the invention, and that variations and modifications will be possible thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, the ambit of which is to be determined from the following claims.

Claims

1. A visual identification article, comprising a web adapted to be secured to a garment or other item, said web including a first portion securable along at one side thereof to said garment or other item, and a plurality of second portions each of which is visually distinguishable from the others of said plurality of second portions, each of said plurality of second portions being connected to said first portion and the adjacent others of said plurality of second portions by lines of weakness or at lines of demarcation.

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2. A visual identification article as claimed in claim 1 wherein each of said plurality of second portions is connected to said first portion at lines of demarcation and one or more of said plurality of second portions are detachable from said first portion by cutting along said lines of demarcation.

3. A visual identification article as claimed in claim 1 wherein each of said plurality of second portions is connected to said first portion by lines of weakness and one or more of said second portions are detachable from said first portion and/or the remaining one or more of said plurality of second portions along the lines of weakness by pulling one or more of said second portions away from said first portion and/or the remaining one or more of said plurality of second portions using reasonable force.

4. A garment to which is attached a visual identification article comprising a web adapted to be secured to a garment or other item, said web including a first portion securable along one side thereof to said garment or other item, and a plurality of second portions each of which is visually distinguishable from the others of said plurality of second portions, each of said plurality of second portions being connected to said first portion and the adjacent others of said plurality of second portions by lines of weakness or at lines of demarcation.