Identification clip

Abstract

The invention relates to an identification clip (10) comprising a clip body shaped as a strip including a male end (20) and a female end (30) connected by a link portion including a flexible zone (40), the clip body being arranged such that, by bending the flexible zone, the male and female ends can be brought into opposition and engaged by the cooperation of an engagement arrow (21) of the male end and a perforation of the female end. The clip according to the invention is characterized in that the female end of the clip body is extended by a flap (50) extending along an external face of the clip, the flap forming a support area for a finger of the operator to facilitate the pushing movement of the serrated arrow through the perforation. Figure 1.

Description

Title of the invention: Identification clip Technical field of the invention

[0001] The technical field of the invention relates to the marking of objects or products, in particular the marking of butcher's cuts. State of the art

[0002] Staples are commonly used to identify products and ensure their traceability, particularly in the food sector. This is the case, for example, with cuts of meat, slaughter animals, etc.

[0003] Document DI = WO2007046089 describes such a one-piece plastic staple, comprising two parts that fold one onto the other, and a closing arrow. The staple is completed by a locking device which, once locked, cannot be opened without breaking; the locking device thus ensures the traceability of the product to which the staple is attached. However, attaching such a staple requires the use of pliers adapted to the specific shape of the staple, and even to the specific shape of a block comprising several staples joined together. Description of the invention

[0004] The invention proposes a new staple not having all or part of the disadvantages mentioned above.

[0005] To this end, the invention proposes a new identification clip (10) comprising a clip body formed in a strip comprising a male end (20) and a female end (30) connected by a link portion comprising a flexible zone (40), the clip body being arranged so that, by bending the flexible zone, the male end and the female end can be brought into opposition and into contact, the male end comprising an engagement arrow (21) extending from an inner face of the clip body, said engagement arrow comprising a shank (22) having a distal end (23) forming a stop notch, the female end comprising a bore (31) extending perpendicularly to the clip body, bore dimensioned so that with a manual pushing movement, the notched arrow of the male end can be pushed through the bore and can be held in place.

[0006] The staple according to the invention is characterized in that the female end of the staple body is extended by a flap (50) extending along an external face of the staple, the flap forming a support area for a finger of the operator to facilitate the pushing movement of the serrated arrow through the hole.

[0007] The staple according to the invention is installed manually and does not require any specific tool. The flap according to the invention is positioned in the most suitable location to minimize the effort required by the operator to install the staple while protecting their fingers from the sharp end of the staple engagement arrow. Presentation of the figures

[0008] The invention will be better understood, and other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description of an example of an implementation of the invention. This example is given by way of non-limiting example. The description is to be read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which: • Figure 1 shows a clip according to the invention, in external profile view • Fig. 2 shows a clip according to the invention, in internal profile view.

[0009] In the different figures, identical or similar elements are referenced with the same reference points.

[0010] In the figures, the clip is shown unfolded. The terms "inside" and "outside" are common terms defined by taking as a reference a clip in place and therefore folded. Detailed description

[0011] As previously stated, the invention relates to an identification clip 10 comprising a clip body formed into a strip including a male end 20 and a female end 30 connected by a link portion including a flexible zone 40; the clip body is arranged so that, by bending the flexible zone, the male end and the female end can be brought into opposition and into contact with each other.

[0012] In the example shown in the figures, the staple body extends along a longitudinal axis. The flexible zone 40 is positioned approximately in the middle of the strip forming the staple body and is shaped to bend along an axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis; the flexible zone is here represented by a region thinner than the strip forming the staple body. This reduced thickness slightly weakens the mechanical resistance of the strip forming the staple body locally to facilitate bending at a chosen point.

[0013] In the embodiment also shown, the male end 20 comprises an engagement arrow 21 extending from an inner face of the staple body; said engagement arrow comprises a shank, a distal end of which forms a stop. The female end comprises a bore 31 extending perpendicularly to the staple body; the bore 31 is dimensioned so that with with a manual pushing motion, the notched arrow 21 at the male end can be pushed through the bore 31 and can be held in place.

[0014] The staple according to the invention is characterized in that the female end 30 of the staple body is extended by a flap 40 extending along an external face of the staple. The flap forms a support area for the operator's finger to facilitate the pushing movement of the serrated arrow through the hole. The flap also provides protection for the operator's finger.

[0015] The flap is preferably shaped to define, near the bore, a receiving space for the distal end of the arrow to facilitate the closure of the clip. The space between the flap and the bore allows the arrow to be pushed until the stop has passed through the bore 31, preventing the arrow from being withdrawn. In the example shown, the flap has a semi-cylindrical shape, the semi-cylinder extending along an axis perpendicular to another axis. Such a shape has the advantage of being ergonomic and of not presenting any protruding areas that could cause injury.

[0016] Also, in the example shown, the end of the flap 51 is left free; it is not fixed to the staple body so that the female end of the staple body retains its flexibility in the vicinity of the hole to facilitate the insertion of the notched arrow.

[0017] To prevent the operator's finger from slipping when inserting the staple, - an outer face of the flap has a textured surface finish and / or - the outer face of the clip body is surfaced near the male end (20) and has a textured surface finish. In the example shown, on the back of the engagement arrow 21, the outer face of the clip body locally has ribs 24. Alternatively, the ribs can be replaced by a granular surface finish.

[0018] The engagement arrow may comprise a cylindrical rod 22 extending into a conical point 23, the base of which has a diameter greater than the diameter of the rod. The conical point 23 forms the stop preventing the clip from opening after it has been inserted. The cylindrical shape of the rod 22 facilitates its sliding through the bore 31. The diameter of the rod 22 is, within a certain clearance, the diameter of the bore 31.

[0019] In the example also shown, the shaft 22 of the engagement arrow extends along an arc of a circle centered on the flexible area. Thus, when the clip is bent, and more specifically when the tip 21 passes through the bore 31, the movement is facilitated by the curvature of the shaft 22.

[0020] Preferably, the clip is formed as a single, integrated piece made entirely of plastic, for example by molding. Also preferably, the clip is made from food-grade plastic material; ideally, the material is UV resistant.

[0021] In addition, the staple may include a traceability means, for example, an engraving on the surface of the staple body. In one embodiment, the engraving is carried out after the staple has been manufactured, using a laser engraving process known elsewhere. In another embodiment, the engraving is carried out during the manufacture of the staple, by marking the mold with which the staple is produced. In yet another embodiment, the traceability means may be an RFID chip integrated into the staple body by overmolding.

[0022] Nomenclature 10 staples 20 male end 21 points 22 stem 23 distal end 30 female end 31 drilling 40 flexible zone 50 Rabat 51 free end of the flap 60 marking methods

Claims

Demands

1. Identification clip (10) comprising a clip body formed into a band including a male end (20) and a female end (30) connected by a link portion including a flexible zone (40), the clip body being arranged so that, by bending the flexible zone, the male end and the female end can be brought into opposition and into contact, the male end including an engagement arrow (21) extending from an inner face of the clip body, said engagement arrow including a shank (22) having a distal end (23) forming a stop, the female end including a hole (31) extending perpendicularly to the clip body, hole dimensioned so that, with a manual pushing motion, the notched arrow of the male end can be pushed through the hole and held in place,a staple characterized in that the female end of the staple body is extended by a flap (50) extending along an external face of the staple, the flap forming a support area for a finger of the operator to facilitate the pushing movement of the serrated arrow through the hole.

2. Clip according to claim 1 in which the flap (50) is shaped to define in the vicinity of the bore a space for receiving the distal end of the arrow.

3. Clip according to claim 2 in which the flap (50) has a semi-cylindrical shape.

4. Staple according to any one of claims 2 or 3 wherein, to prevent slippage of the operator's finger when setting up the staple, - an outer face of the flap has a textured surface condition and / or - the outer face of the staple body is surfaced in the vicinity of the male end (20) has a textured surface condition.

5. Clip according to any one of the preceding claims in which the arrow comprises a cylindrical shaft (22) extended by a conical tip (23) having a base diameter greater than a diameter of the shaft.

6. A clip according to any one of the preceding claims in which the shaft of the engagement arrow extends along an arc of a circle centered on the flexible area.

7. Staple according to any one of the preceding claims comprising a traceability means (60), for example an engraving, on the outer face of the staple body.

8. Clip according to any one of the preceding claims, of the one-piece type made of plastic material, for example by molding.

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