Piercing Tag with Local Wire Rigidity for Manual Insertion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing merchandise labeling technologies lack a practical and efficient method for inserting tags with printed information into products, particularly those with penetrable surfaces, as they often require complex machinery or lack sufficient rigidity for manual insertion.
Innovation Solution
A product piercing tag with a label portion and an insertion portion, where the insertion portion has a narrower width and length, and an elongated wire extending along its length, providing sufficient rigidity for manual insertion into products, and featuring an arrow-shaped head with barbs for secure attachment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If existing labeling technologies are used, then tags can be attached to products, but they require complex machinery or lack sufficient rigidity for manual insertion
Solution Approach 1:
The tag is divided into two functional segments: a label portion for information display and an insertion portion for product penetration. The insertion portion includes an elongated wire element that extends along its length, providing structural rigidity specifically where needed for manual insertion, while the label portion remains separate for information purposes. This segmentation allows the rigid wire to be integrated only into the insertion portion rather than the entire tag structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The elongated wire is positioned specifically within the insertion portion to provide localized rigidity enhancement. The wire extends along the length of the insertion portion and may extend to at least part of the label portion, creating a stiffness gradient where the insertion portion has high rigidity for manual penetration while the overall tag structure remains manageable for the user.
2Force
If the insertion portion is made narrower for easier penetration, then insertion force is reduced, but structural integrity may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The insertion portion is constructed as a composite structure combining a narrow polymeric or paper substrate with an embedded elongated wire element. The wire, which may be metallic or polymeric with high tensile strength (90-125 ksi), provides structural reinforcement that compensates for the narrow width of the substrate. This composite construction enables the insertion portion to have both reduced insertion force requirements and maintained structural integrity.
Solution Approach 2:
The wire exhibits specific mechanical parameters including tensile strength in the range of 90-125 ksi and dead-fold properties that allow it to bend during insertion and then maintain its shape. The polymeric layer has a hardness range of 90-110 Rockwell R, providing a balance between rigidity for structural support and flexibility for insertion. These parameter specifications ensure the narrow insertion portion can penetrate products with low force while maintaining strength.
Data Source
AI summary
A tag is configured to be inserted into a product. The tag includes a label portion and an insertion portion. The label portion has a first width. The insertion portion extends from the label portion, has a second width that is less than the first width, and has a length. An elongated wire extends along the length of the insertion portion to at least a part of the label portion. The tag has sufficient rigidity to enable a user to hold the label portion and force the insertion portion into the product. In another aspect, a method of attaching a tag to a product is described. The method includes holding the label portion and forcing the insertion portion into the product.