U.S. patent number RE32,332 [Application Number 06/783,266] was granted by the patent office on 1987-01-20 for cluster type tag pin assembly.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Toska Co., Ltd.. Invention is credited to Masami Kato.
United States Patent |
RE32,332 |
Kato |
January 20, 1987 |
Cluster type tag pin assembly
Abstract
Disclosed is a cluster type tag pin assembly having a
multiplicity of tag pins adapted for use in securing price tags or
the like to sold goods. The tag pin assembly includes a large
number of tag pins each having a head portion, a cross bar and a
filament portion through which the cross bar is connected to the
head portion. Each side surface of the cross bar of each tag pin is
formed at the central portion thereof with an expanded portion, and
expanded portions of each adjacent cross bars are mutually
joined.
Inventors: |
Kato; Masami (Nagoya,
JP) |
Assignee: |
Toska Co., Ltd. (Tokyo,
JP)
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Family
ID: |
14906035 |
Appl.
No.: |
06/783,266 |
Filed: |
October 3, 1985 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
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619962 |
Jun 6, 1984 |
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Reissue of: |
254755 |
Apr 16, 1981 |
04417656 |
Nov 29, 1983 |
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Foreign Application Priority Data
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Sep 11, 1980 [JP] |
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55-125275 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
206/346; 206/343;
206/820; 24/711.1; 40/668 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G09F
3/14 (20130101); Y10T 24/4691 (20150115); Y10S
206/82 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
G09F
3/14 (20060101); G09F 3/08 (20060101); A44B
009/00 (); B65D 085/24 (); G09F 003/12 () |
Field of
Search: |
;24/72.7,15B,15FP,298
;40/2A,2R,21R,24 ;206/343,346,348,380,820 ;292/322 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Price; William
Assistant Examiner: Foster; Jimmy G.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Blum, Kaplan, Friedman, Silberman
& Beran
Parent Case Text
.Iadd.This is a continuation of application Ser. No. 06/619,962,
filed June 6, 1984. .Iaddend.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A cluster type tag-pin assembly comprising a plurality of tag
pins, each said tag pin having a head portion, a cross bar and a
filament portion which joins said head portion to said cross bar,
each said cross bar including a connecting neck which extends
therefrom in a direction opposite to said filament portion, said
tag pins being connected through their respective connecting necks
to a connecting bar at substantially right angles to said
connecting neck to form an assembly of joined tag pins, said
assembly of tag pins being integrally formed from a synthetic resin
into a comb-like assembly as a whole, each said cross bar having
opposing expanded portions defining apeces formed on opposite
central parts of each side face thereof, adjacent expanded portions
of said cross bars being connected to each other through said
apeces of their respective expanded portions whereby all cross bars
in the tag pin assembly are arranged in a sheet-like form, said
expanded portions being separated when a shearing force is applied
thereto, adjacent head portions of said tag pins being spaced with
a gap smaller than the thickness of the head portion.
2. A cluster type tag-pin assembly comprising a plurality of tag
pins, each said tag pin having a head portion, a cross bar and a
filament portion which joins said head portion to said cross bar,
each said cross bar including a connecting neck which extends
therefrom in a direction opposite to said filament portion, said
tag pins being connected through their respective connecting necks
to a connecting bar at substantially right angles to said
connecting neck to form an assembly of joined tag pins, said
assembly of tag pins being integrally formed from a synthetic resin
into a comb-like assembly as a whole, each said head portion having
opposing side faces and having an expanded portion defining an apex
formed on a central portion of each said side face thereof, each
said cross bar having opposing sides and having an expanded portion
defining an apex formed in a central part on each side thereof,
each head portion being connected to adjacent head portions through
said apeces of their respective expanded portions and each cross
bar being connected to adjacent cross bars through said apeces of
their respective expanded portions wherein all head portions and
all cross bars in the tag pin assembly are arranged in a sheet-like
form, said joined head portions and joined cross bars being
separated when a shearing force is applied thereto.
3. A cluster type tag-pin assembly as claimed in claim 2, wherein
said expanded portion of said head portion has an inclined face
from a central part of the side face thereof toward the edge of the
head portion.
4. A cluster type tag-pin assembly as claimed in claim 2, wherein
head portions of the number of tag pins in the tag pin assembly
comprise a first and a second group which are alternately disposed
in the assembly, each head portion of said first group having said
expanded portion formed on each side face thereof through which
each adjacent head portion of this group are connected to each
other, while each head portion of said second group being devoid of
said expanded portion and being flat on each side face thereof,
each adjacent head portion of said second group being spaced with a
gap smaller than the thickness of a head portion.
5. A cluster type tag-pin assembly as claimed in claim 2, wherein
said head portion has a same configuration as said cross bar.
6. A cluster type tag-pin assembly as claimed in either claim 1 or
2, wherein said expanded portion of said cross bar has an inclined
face from a central part toward the edge of the cross bar.
7. A cluster type tag-pin assembly as claimed in either claim 1 or
2, wherein said head portion has flat side faces and, in a top plan
view of the tag-pin assembly, is arranged with an inclination
relative to said cross bar (FIG. 18).
8. A cluster type tag-pin assembly as claimed in either claim 1 or
2, wherein said head portions has flat side faces and, in a top
plan view of the tag pin assembly, has a bent shape resembling a
boomerang.
9. A cluster type tag-pin assembly as claimed in either claim 1 or
2, wherein said head portion has flat side faces and, in a top plan
view of the tag pin assembly, has a bent portion at an interior
portion thereof.
10. A cluster type tag-pin assembly as claimed in either claim 1 or
2, wherein the edge of said head portion on the side facing said
cross bar is so formed as to gradually increasingly depart from the
cross bar. .Iadd.
11. A cluster type tag-pin assembly comprising a plurality of tag
pins, each said tag pin consisting only of a head portion, a cross
bar and a filament portion which joins said head portion to said
cross bar, said assembly of tag pins being integrally formed from a
synthetic resin into a comb-like assembly as a whole, each said
head portion having opposing side faces and side edges, each said
side face having an expanded portion defining an apex formed on a
central portion thereof which tapers towards the side edges of said
head portion, each said cross bar having opposing sides and having
an expanded portion defining an apex formed in a central part on
each side thereof, each side face of each said head portion
extending in a plane parallel to the plane in which each said cross
bar extends, each head portion being connected to adjacent head
portions only through said apeces of their respective expanded
portions and each cross bar being connected to adjacent cross bars
only through said apeces of their respective expanded portions
wherein all head portions and all cross bars in the tag pin
assembly are arranged in a sheet-like form, the taper of said apex
on said side faces of said head portions being sufficiently small
such that adjacent side faces immediately contact one another
adjacent said side edges thereof when forced together to prevent
substantial sway of said assembly, said apeces on said sides of
said cross bars being sufficiently small such that adjacent cross
bars immediately contact one another at the ends thereof when
forced together to further prevent substantial sway of said
assembly, said joined head portions and joined cross bars being
separated when a shearing force is applied thereto. .Iaddend.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a cluster type tag pin assembly
and, more particularly, to a cluster type tag pin assembly in which
tag pins are arranged on a connecting bar in contact with adjacent
ones at least at the side surfaces of the cross bars.
Tag pins are used widely for securing price cards or labels to
goods to be sold. The known tag pin is constituted by a head
portion 1, cross bar 2 and a filament portion 3 interconnecting the
head 1 and the cross bar 2, as will be understood from FIG. 1.
Generally, the tag pin has a very small size. For instance, the
diameter and length of the cross bar are 0.8 to 1.0 mm and 8 to 10
mm, respectively. The width, height and the thickness of the head
portion are 8 to 10 mm, 3 to 5 mm and 0.7 to 1.0 mm, respectively.
The length of the filament portion differs depending on the uses
but usually ranges between 7 mm and 125 mm after the elongation.
The minimum diameter of the filament portion after the elongation
is 0.3 to 0.4 mm. These tag pins generally have a weight per pin
between about 0.04 and 0.1 g., and are thus very fine in
thickness.
Due to reasons concerning the production, packing, transportation
and attaching to goods, 25 to 50 pieces of tag pins are assembled
in a single group are are connected through connecting necks 4 to a
common connecting bar 5 at a right angle to the latter to form a
tag pin assembly P. This tag pin assembly P is formed unitarily
from a thermoplastic resin such as nylon, polypropylene and the
like of which molecules can comparatively easily undergo
reorientation.
In ordinary tag pin assembly, the diameter of the cross bar 2 and
the thickness of the head portion are about 1 mm, respectively, due
to reasons concerning the fabrication of the mold. The cross bars 2
are arranged on the connecting bar 5 at a pitch of about 2 mm. This
means that the distance between the cross bars of adjacent tag pins
and the distance between the head portions of the adjacent tag pins
are about 1 mm. In the tag pin assembly P having a multiplicity of
tag pins p arranged at intervals, it is often experienced that the
assemblies are entangled with each other with the head portions of
one assembly jammed in the row of head portions of the other
assembly or caught between the cross bars of the other assembly,
during the packing or transportation of the assemblies.
The filament portion 3 of the tag pin assembly is usually drawn so
that the minimum diameter is as small as about 0.35 to 0.4 mm.
Thus, the filament portion is very thin and delicate. Therefore, if
the tag pin assemblies are entangled with each other, a troublesome
work is required to loosen and release the entangling.
Further, with such tag pin assemblies in which individual tag pins
are arranged at relatively large intervals, even if an entanglement
does not occur among tag pin assemblies, if often occurs even in a
single tag pin assembly that head portions become out of an orderly
arrangement and/or intertwined.
Particularly, with a tag pin assembly in which a great number of
tag pins are arranged at relatively large intervals on a relatively
long connecting bar, for example the connecting bar may be bent,
and then crossbars of adjacent individual tag pins do not undergo
contacting with each other, whereby the tag pin assembly is as a
whole in a condition of being bent with ease. To avoid easy bending
of the tag pin assembly, it is indispensable to make the connecting
bar having a great thickness.
Therefore, in loading in an attachment device such a tag pin
assembly of which individual pins are coarsely arranged and in
applying tag pins one by one through merchandise, it occurs each
time when the attachment device is operated that the tag pin
assembly is as a whole caused to swing back and forth as shown in
FIG. 2, or it tends to occur that tag pins of the assembly are
permitted to move individually independently, whereby various
difficulties are encountered. The attachment device cannot be
operated at a desirable high efficiency. The tag pin is wrongly
driven to have merchandise hooked by the same, whereby the
merchandise, for example a fabric product made of a fine fiber
yarns, is permitted to undergo damages such as yarn cut, fray, tear
and/or the like.
Further, to provide large intervals between each adjacent tag pins
as before mentioned means that the number is accordingly limited of
tag pins which can be formed on connecting bars of a constant
length.
For instance, assuming here that the pitch of the cross bar 2 is 2
mm, only 50 pieces of tag pins can be mounted on a single
connecting rod having a length of 100 mm.
Therefore, in the tag pin assembly having a large pitch of tag
pins, it is necessary to employ a mold of a large size in order to
produce a tag pin assembly having a given number of tag pins. The
aforementioned problems of entanglement occurs in addition to this
inconvenience.
In order to overcome the problem of entanglement, it has been
proposed to connect the heads of the tag pins by means of
connecting string. This connecting string is stretched when the tag
pin driven into the goods is severed and remains on the surface of
the head portion of the tag pin in the form of a "whisker"-like
projection.
For instance, in the case of a tag pin made of nylon, the
connecting string is stretched to have a length which is 4 to 5
times as large as the original length before it is broken. In
consequence, "whisker" of considerable length remains on the
surface of the head portion of the tag pin.
Tag pins are used for attaching price tags to various kinds of
goods. In the case of goods woven from fine yarns, the "whisker"
hitches on the yarns to cause a cutting or fray of yarn.
The conventional tag pin assembly having, for example, 50 tag pins
arranged at 2 mm pitch on a connecting bar of 100 mm long is rocked
or swung as illustrated in FIG. 2 when it is loaded in an
attachment device not only to deteriorate the efficiency of
operation of the attachment device but also to cause the cutting or
fray of yarns of the goods as stated above.
Thus, in the prior art, the problem of entanglement of tag pins is
avoided by the use of a connecting string interconnecting the head
portions. The use of connecting string, however, imposes a new
problem of generation of "whisker" due to elongation of the
connecting string, resulting in a breakage of the goods. In
addition, there still is a demand for a large-size mold for shaping
the tag pin assembly.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Under these circumstances, the present invention aims as its major
object to overcome the problems of conventional tag pin assembly,
such as entanglement, necessity for large-size mold and so
forth.
It is a first object of the invention to provide a cluster type tag
pin assembly which does not make a large swinging or rocking motion
when it is loaded in an attachment device for the driving of each
piece of tag pin to the goods to ensure a higher efficiency of
operation and to avoid the damaging of goods attributable to
hitching of tag pin on the goods.
It is a second object of the invention to provide a cluster type
tag pin assembly having a large number of tag pins per unit length
of the connecting bar to make it possible to produce a tag pin
assembly having a large number of tag pins with a mold having a
comparatively small size.
It is a third object of the invention to provide a cluster type tag
pin assembly of which in applying the member tag pins to
merchandise, the tag pins are separated at their joint portions by
shearing force, which does not form any "whisker" on the surface of
the head of tag pins and which is free from the problems such as
mutual entanglement of tag pins or disorder of array of tag
pins.
It is fourth object of the invention to provide a cluster type tag
pin assembly which can be produced at a low cost per tag pin and
which permits a successive use of a large number of tag pins.
To these ends, according to the invention, there is provided a
cluster type tag pin assembly including a multiplicity of tag pins
each having a head portion, a cross bar and a filament
interconnecting the head portion and cross bar, the tag pin
assembly being formed integrally from a plastic in such a state
that the adjacent tag pins are joined to each other at least at
expanded portions of the central portions of side surfaces of the
cross bars thereof.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a conventional tag pin
assembly;
FIG. 2 is an illustration of a conventional elongated tag pin
assembly in the state of use;
FIG. 3 is a front elevational view of a portion of a tag pin
assembly constructed in accordance with a first embodiment of the
invention;
FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of the tag pin assembly shown in
FIG. 3;
FIGS. 5 and 6 are side elevational views of filament before
drawings;
FIG. 7 is a view taken in the direction of the arrow A--A in FIG.
3;
FIG. 8 is a view taken in the direction of the arrow B--B in FIG.
3;
FIG. 9 shows a modified example of joint portions of crossbars
shown in FIG. 8;
FIG. 10 is a front elevational view of the first embodiment with
cross bars having a polygonal or rectangular cross-section;
FIG. 11 is a front elevational view of a portion of a tag pin
assembly constructed in accordance with a second embodiment of the
invention;
FIG. 12 is a side elevational view of the tag pin assembly shown in
FIG. 10;
FIG. 13 is a view taken in the direction of the arrow A'--A' in
FIG. 11;
FIG. 14 is a view taken in the direction of the arrow B'--B' of
FIG. 11;
FIG. 15 is a front elevational view of a portion of a tag pin
assembly constructed in accordance with a third embodiment of the
invention;
FIG. 16 is an illustration showing the state of curvature of array
of cross bar of this embodiment;
FIG. 17 is a front elevational view of a portion of a tag pin
assembly constructed in accordance with a fourth embodiment of the
invention in which a group of tag pins having separated head
portions and a group of tag pins having joined head portions are
arranged alternatingly;
FIGS. 18, 19 and 20 are plan views of head portions of tag pin
assemblies constructed in accordance with a fifth, sixth and
seventh embodiments of the invention, respectively;
FIG. 21 is a front elevational view of a portion of a tag pin
assembly constructed in accordance with an eighth embodiment of the
invention;
FIG. 22 is a side elevational view of the tag pin assembly shown in
FIG. 21;
FIG. 23 is a front elevational view of a portion of a tag pin
assembly constructed in accordance with a ninth embodiment of the
invention;
FIG. 24 is a side elevational view of the tag pin assembly shown in
FIG. 23;
FIG. 25 is a side elevational view of head portion of a tag pin in
a tag pin assembly constructed in accordance with a tenth
embodiment of the invention; and
FIGS. 26A to 26F are side elevational views showing the head
portions of tag pins in accordance with eleventh to sixteenth
embodiments, respectively.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Preferred embodiments of the invention will be described
hereinunder with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Referring first to FIGS. 3 and 4 which are a front elevational view
and a side elevational view respectively of a tag pin assembly of
the first embodiment, a tag pin assembly P has a multiplicity of
tag pins P each of which has a head portion 1, cross bar 2 and a
filament portion 3 interconnecting the head portion 1 and the cross
bar 2. The tag pins are connected through connecting necks 4 to a
connecting bar 5 at a right angle to the latter. Each tag pin
assembly can include 25 to 50 tag pins and, in some cases, 100 tag
pins connected to the connecting bar. The tag pin assembly is
formed integrally from a plastic such as nylon, polypropylene or
the like.
Linear synthetic polymers such as nylon, polypropylene and so forth
are in a crystalline state under ordinary molding conditions. A
shaped product, e.g. the filament portion of the tag pin, can be
drawn in a hot or cold state so that the cross-sectional area of
the filament is gradually decreased to increase the length and,
accompanying thereto, increase the strength.
The present invention has carefully examined such relationship
between the condition for molding such linear synthetic polymers
and the conditions for stretching and, as a result thereof, has
discovered that certain specific tag pins are obtainable through
cold molding.
The tag pin shaped by a mold of a temperature around 20.degree. C.
or cooled down to a lower temperature has an amorphous nature. The
filament portion of this tag pin can be easily drawn at the room
temperature. This characteristic of amorphous nature can
effectively be used in the tag pin of the invention. Namely, when
each tag pin is driven by an attachment device, the filament
portion can be drawn to a suitable length. More specifically, when
it is desired to penetrate the goods of a considerable thickness,
e.g. a plurality of sheets of handkerchieves, plurality of pairs of
socks and so forth, the filament portion is drawn by the action of
a lever of the attachment device to have a length large enough to
penetrate these goods thereby to firmly hold the latter.
The filament portion 3 of a tag pin blank in the state before the
drawing can have a tapered shape as shown in FIG. 5 or a shape with
no taper as shown in FIG. 6.
In the tag pin assembly of the first embodiment, as shown in FIGS.
3 and 4, the side surfaces of the head portion is expanded at its
central portion to form an expanded portion 1a. The expanded
portion 1a opposes to the expanded portion 1a of head portion of
adjacent tag pin, and the opposing expanded portions 1a are joined
to each other at their ends 1b. In order to form the expanded
portion 1a, the side surface of the head portion 1 is gradually
thinned toward its marginal edge. In this first embodiment, the
expanded portion 1a has a pyramidal shape with hexagonal
cross-section as will be seen from FIG. 4. This, however, is not
exclusive, and the expanded portion 1a can have pyramidal shape
having other cross-sectional shape such as a triangular, square or
circular cross-section. Further alternatively, sides of the head
portion may comprise a virtually flat shape and have expanded
portions formed only about their center portions.
Between the adjacent head portions 1 having the expanded portions
1a, formed is a V-shaped small gap 6 as will be seen from FIG. 7
which is a view taken in the direction of the arrow A--A in FIG. 3.
FIG. 8 is a view taken in the direction of arrow B--B in FIG. 3 and
shows the cross bar 2. The cross bar 2 has such a side elevation as
to have a thickness or width greatest at the lengthwise mid point
and reduced toward both ends. The central portion of the cross bar
having the greatest width constitutes a joint portion 7. Namely,
adjacent cross bars 2, 2' are joined at their joint portions 7 with
V-shaped small gaps 6',6' formed therebetween. Alternatively, it
may be devised that as shown in FIG. 9, cross bars 2 and 2' have a
substantially constant thickness in a side view thereof, except
that expanded portions are formed in the vicinity of the central
portion thereof.
Thus, the first embodiment of the invention is characterized in
that adajcent tag pins are joined to each other at their head
portions and cross bars. Consequently, a plurality of tag pins are
arrayed in good order as if they formed a sheet.
The joint portions 1b and 7 of head portion 1 and crossbar 2 have
such a power of connection which is great enough to always maintain
adjacent tag pins in a joined-together state in normal conditions
but small enough to allow the tag pins to be severed and separated
when they are driven by an attachment device through an item of
merchandise and when a shearing force is then acted upon the
expanded portion in the joined together state, through the
operation of the attachment device.
In the formation of the mold for producing the tag pin assembly of
the first embodiment, the formation of walls to preserve the
V-shaped small gaps 6, 6' has a considerable technical
significance.
In ordinary tag pins, the head portion and cross bar have a length
of about 9 mm. The thickness of the head portion and diameter of
the cross bar are about 0.8 to 1.0 mm.
The wall of the mold for forming the V-shaped small gap has a
minimum thickness of about 0.04 mm and maximum thickness of about
0.2 to 0.3 mm. It will be seen that the mold is formed to have
walls which are as keen as a knife edge.
In the case of nylon 66, the joint portion 7 of the cross bar 2 can
be broken without substantial drawing if the jointing area is
selected to be about 0.6.times.0.4 mm. The joint portion should be
designed and formed taking this point into account.
Although the cross bar 2 is shown in FIG. 3 to have a circular
cross-section, it can have a polygonal cross-section as shown in
FIG. 10. As in the case of the cross bar shown in FIG. 3, the cross
bar shown in FIG. 10 has the greatest width at its longitudinal mid
portion and the width is gradually decreased toward both ends. The
central portion having the greatest width constitutes a joint
portion 7 at which adjacent cross bars are connected to each
other.
As has been described, in the first embodiment of the invention, a
joint portion is formed at a portion of each of the head portion
and cross bar, and adjacent tag pins are joined at these joint
portions. These joint portions are formed as contact point between
opposing expanded portions of adjacent head portions or cross bars
so that the joint area is separated easily and minimized to avoid
formation of "whisker" when a tag pin is separated from the
remainder tag pins formed by a shearing force.
Further, in the first embodiment of the invention the cluster type
tag pin assembly is formed in the form of head portions and cross
bars being respectively joined to adjacent head portions and
crossbars, through central expanded portions, and thus the tag pin
assembly as a whole behaves as if it is a sheet so that the
undesirable entanglement of a plurality of tag pin assemblies, as
well as disorder of array of tag pins is completely avoided.
Also in the assembly of the first embodiment, tag pins are so
densely arranged that when the assembly mounted in an attachment
device tends to bend, adjacent crossbars can undergo contact to
effectively suppress otherwise likely swinging of the assembly,
whereby not only an overall handling can be greatly facilitated but
also the risk of damaging merchandise can be checked.
Tag pins are mutually connected at a sufficiently great power of
connection and in as small an area of connecting as possible, so
that they can be free of break at their joining portions during
packing and/or transportation thereof. Also, when they are applied
by an attacher to merchandise, a shearing force is acted upon the
joining portions to cause tag pins severed from one another,
therefore there lies no fear of formation of a "whisker"-like
projection and of causing yarn breakage in applying tag pins to
fiber-made goods.
FIGS. 11, 12, 13 and 14 show a second embodiment of the invention,
in which the head portion 1 has a flat shape and provided with no
joint portion. Namely, as will be seen from FIG. 11 and FIG. 13
(view taken in the direction of arrow A--A of FIG. 11), the head
portions 1 of adjacent tag pins in the assembly are separated from
each other.
On the other hand, as in the case of the first embodiment, the
cross bar has such a shape that the width is greatest at the
longitudinal mid portion and gradually reduced toward both ends,
the central portion having the greatest width constituting a joint
portion 7 at which adjacent cross bars 2 are joined as shown in
FIG. 11 and FIG. 14 (view taken in the direction of arrow B--B of
FIG. 11). The gap 1 between adjacent head portions is selected to
be sufficiently small with respect to the thickness t of the head
portion 1. More specifically, the thickness t of the head portion
is usually 0.7 to 1.0 mm, while the gap 1 is usually 0.2 to 0.7 mm,
preferably 0.2 to 0.5 mm and more preferably 0.2 to 0.3 mm. By
selecting the gap 1 sufficiently small as compared with the
thickness t of the head portion, the head portions are held
substantially in contact with each other.
In the tag pin assembly of the second embodiment, tag pins are
arrayed and held as if they form a sheet, partly because adjacent
tag pins are joined at the joint portions 7 of the cross bars 2 and
partly because the gap 1 between head portions of adjacent tag pins
is selected to be sufficiently small as compared with the thickness
t of the head portion. Therefore, the gag pin assembly of the
second embodiment can be handled easily without any entanglement
with other tag pin assemblies and disorder of array of tag pins in
each assembly. When tag pins are driven through merchandise, the
joint portion or joining portion is broken by shearing force, and a
"whisker"-like projection can be prevented from being formed.
FIG. 15 shows a tag pin assembly of the third embodiment of the
invention in which, as in the case of the first embodiment, the
head portion 1 and cross bar 2 are expanded at their mid portions
in each tag pin to provide joint portions 1b and 7 at which
adjacent tag pins are joined. In this embodiment, however, the
connecting neck 4 and the connecting bar 5 are omitted. This third
embodiment is based upon the following idea.
In the first embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 3, the joint
portion 7 is formed at a mid portion of the cross bar 2 of each tag
pin, and V-shaped small gaps 6, 6' are formed between heads of
adjacent tag pins and between cross bars of the same. Therefore,
when the connecting bar 5 is bent, the assembly of the cross bars 2
is curved into an arcuate form having a radius R as shown in FIG.
16. However, as a matter of fact, the assembly can hardly be bent
at such a small curvature partly because the side surfaces of the
cross bars do not tightly contact each other and partly because the
cross bar has a diameter and a length of 0.8 to 1 mm and 8 to 10
mm, respectively. In addition, the resiliency of the connecting bar
5 itself prevents the assembly from being bent at such a small
curvature. Needless to say, the radius R shown in FIG. 16 becomes
comparatively large if the angles of the V-shaped gaps 6, 6'
between adjacent cross bars 2 is selected to be small.
Thus, if the connecting bar 5 and the connecting necks 4 are
omitted, it becomes possible to bend the tag pin assembly in a
manner shown in FIG. 16 and to prevent further deformation of the
same.
In a tag pin assembly of the third embodiment, the connecting necks
4 and the connecting bar 5, which have nothing to do with the
attaching of price tag or the like, are omitted, while allowing the
tag pins to be connected only at the joint portions 1b and 7 on the
head portion and cross bar. In consequence, the tag pin assembly as
a whole is made quite compact and the plastic material is saved
considerably.
In addition, since the head portions and cross bars of adjacent tag
pins are joined, the tag pins are arranged highly densely to
provide a high degree of integration of tag pin assembly. For
instance, it is possible to arrange 100 pieces of tag pins in an
assembly having a length of substantially 100 mm. The undesirable
entanglement of assemblies and disorder of array of tag pins in
each assembly are completely avoided as in the cases of the
preceding embodiments.
FIG. 17 shows a fourth embodiment of the invention in which a group
p.sub.1 of tag pins in which the head portions are separated and a
group P.sub.2 of tag pins in which the head portions are joined are
arranged alternatingly. This alternating arrangement of two groups
p.sub.1, p.sub.2 is quite effective in preventing the disorder of
array of head portions of tag pins.
Namely, in the case where the head portions 1 of adjacent tag pins
are joined as in the first embodiment (FIG. 3) and third embodiment
(FIG. 15), the oscillation of the joined head portions is not so
large provided that the filament portion 3 has a small length, so
that the head portions move as a unit. However, if the filament
portion 3 has a substantial length and reduced diameter, it can no
more support the united head portions. In such a case, the filament
portions 3 is bent extremely.
The movement of the head portions as a unit can be avoided by
arranging two groups p.sub.1 and p.sub.2 of tag pins alternatingly
in the manner shown in FIG. 17. As a result, an altogether motion
of the plurality of head portions is effectively checked and the
number of head portions which are to be born by the filament
portion 3 is decreased, so that the undesirable bending of the
filament portion 3 and, hence the disorder of array of head
portions 1, are avoided even when the filament portion 3 is made
long and thin.
In FIG. 17, further, between the thickness of the head portion and
the distance between head portions of each adjacent tag pins in the
case of group p.sub.1 of head portions in the separated condition
there lies a same relationship as in the above described second
embodiment (FIG. 11), and the distance between head portions is
maintained sufficiently small in comparison to the thickness of the
head portion.
In the second and fourth embodiments of the invention, as shown in
FIG. 11 the head portions are not joined and arrayed
perpendicularly to the connecting bar 5.
It is, however, possible to arrange the head portions at any
desired angle to the connecting bar 5, i.e. at an inclination to
the line normal to the connecting bar 5. The fifth to seventh
embodiments described hereinunder are realized on the basis of this
concept.
As will be seen from FIG. 18, the tag pin assembly of the fifth
embodiment, head portions 1 are inclined at an angle .theta. to the
neutral line, i.e. the connecting bar, of the assembly as viewed in
plan. The adjacent cross bars are joined in a manner shown in FIG.
8. At the same time, the distance between adjacent head portions 1
is selected to be sufficiently small as compared with the thickness
of the head portion 1 as in the case of the second embodiment shown
in FIG. 11. By arranging the head portion 1 at such an inclination,
when two assemblies are brought together, the direction of gaps
between head portions in the first assembly differs from the
direction of head portions in the other assembly, so that the
entanglement between two assemblies due to the catching of head
portions in the gaps of the other assembly is fairly avoided.
In addition, when the head portions are moved from the inclined
position to the position shown by broken line, i.e. to the position
1' perpendicular to the neutral line C, the head portions 1 are
superposed in mutual contact so that the entanglement of assemblies
as well as the disorder of array of head portions due to
displacement of heads in each assembly, is eliminated. The disorder
of array of head portions is prevented also when the connecting bar
is bent.
Referring now to FIG. 19 showing the sixth embodiment, the head
portion 1 has a boomerang-shaped plan and adjacent cross bars are
connected to each other. In addition, the relationship between the
distance 1 between adjacent head portions and the thickness t of
the head portion as specified in the second embodiment, i.e. the
relationship of t>1 applies also to this embodiment. In this
embodiment, since the head portion has a boomerang-shaped plan and
since there is a relation expressed by t>1, the head portion 1a,
when it is forced to move laterally with respect to the neutral
line C, comes to contact the head portion 1 and head portion 1b, so
that the disorder of array of tag pins in each assembly is
eliminated effectively.
FIG. 20 shows the seventh embodiment of the invention in which the
head portion has such a winding plan as to include both end portion
1c, 1d perpendicular to the neutral axis C and a central portion 1e
inclined to the neutral axis C. The adjacent tag pins are joined at
the cross bars. The relationship of t>1 between the pitch 1 and
the thickness t of head portion applies also to this embodiment. In
this embodiment, the displacement of the tag pin 1a laterally with
respect to the neutral axis C is prevented because the bent point
1f or 1g contacts adjacent tag pins due to the -shaped winding
planar form of the head portion and due to the relation t>1.
FIGS. 21 and 22 shows the eighth embodiment of the invention in
which the head portion 1 and the cross bar 2 have an identical
shape and are joined respectively to the head portion and cross bar
of the adjacent tag pin. In this embodiment, the amount of resin
used in the formation is saved and the construction of the mold is
simplified because the head portion is formed to have the same
shape as the cross bar.
FIGS. 23 and 24 show a ninth embodiment of the invention in which
the connecting necks 4 and the connecting bar 5 are omitted from
the tag pin assembly of the eighth embodiment so that assembly as a
whole has an H-shaped cross-section as shown in FIG. 24. In this
embodiment, the construction of the tag pin assembly is extremely
simplified and compact to further save the resin material. Also,
the handling of the assembly is facilitated thanks to the
simplified construction.
Hereinafter, a discussion will be made as to the shape of the head
portion in tag pin assembly having separated head portions.
In the second and fourth embodiments, the arrangement of the tag
pins are considered in front elevation and plan. The side elevation
of each tag pin, however, is also an important factor for
preventing the entanglement of the head portions. Thus, the tag pin
can have various shapes as viewed in side elevation.
In the tag pin of the tag pin assembly of, for example, the second
embodiment shown in FIG. 12, the lower edge 1h of the head 1
extends in parallel with the cross bar 2. This shape of the tag
pin, however, makes it difficult to release entangling head
portions 1 from each other. This problem is overcome by forming the
lower edge 1h of the head 1 in a V-like shape, because such a shape
of lower edge permits a sliding movement to facilitate release of
entangling head portions. FIG. 25 shows a tenth embodiment in which
the lower edge 1h formed to have a V-like shape. In other words,
the lower edge gets remoter from the cross bar as it gets farther
from the filament portion 3.
FIGS. 26A to 26F show eleventh to sixteeth embodiments having
different forms of the head portion. More specifically, in the
eleventh embodiment shown in FIG. 26A, the head portion 1 has a
sector shape, while, in the twelfth embodiment shown in FIG. 26B,
the head portion has a semicircular form. In the thirteenth
embodiment shown in FIG. 26C, the head portion has a form
resembling that of a cathode ray tube.
In fourteenth to sixteenth embodiments shown in FIGS. 26D or 26F,
the lower edge 1h of the head portion 1 is gradually narrowed to
approach the extension of the filament portion 3.
By adopting these side elevational shapes of the head portion with
tapered lower edge, the head portions can be easily released even
when they are entangled with each other.
As has been described, according to the invention, there is
provided a cluster type tag pin assembly having a multiplicity of
tag pins each having a head portion and a cross bar interconnected
by a filament portion, wherein the adjacent tag pins are joined at
least at their cross bars.
Therefore, according to the invention, it is possible to obtain a
high degree of integration of tag pins such that cross bars of tag
pins form a sheet or plate. In consequence, the filament portions
of tag pins are arrayed in the form of a flat sheet so that head
portions are arrayed in good order even if the head portions are
formed in the separated state.
In the conventional tag pin assembly, the assembly is largely
deflected and rocked when treated in an attachment device as shown
in FIG. 2, so that the efficiency of operation of the attachment
device is lowered impractically. In addition, there is a fear that
a part of the tag pin is caught by woven goods to cause a cutting
or fray of the yarn. These problems are completely avoided in the
tag pin assembly of the invention.
The tag pin assembly of the invention is suitable for mass
production and conveniently used in the attaching of a large number
of tags in a short time, because each assembly can contain tag pins
of a number which is twice or more as large as that carried by the
conventional tag pin assembly having an equal length.
In addition, since tag pins are arrayed without substantial gap,
the undesirable entanglement and other problems are avoided to
permit an easier handling in packing and transportation.
In the concentional tag pin assembly, head portions are connected
by short connecting strings which are torn, when the tag pins are
severed, to leave a projection like "whisker" which seriously
damages the goods. This problem is completely overcome by the
present invention because the joint portion on the cross bar is
constituted at least by expanded portion on the side face of the
cross bar as shown in FIG. 11 so that no "whisker" is formed when
the tag pin piece is severed from the assembly.
Furthermore, since tag pins are arranged at a high density to
reduce the size of the tag pin assembly as a whole, the size of the
mold for forming the assembly is reduced correspondingly to ensure
a good flow of molten resin to reduce the rate of production of
unacceptable products.
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