# US 2013/0239449 A1 · Labeling tag with expandable loop and pocket, and method of manufacture > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2013/0239449 A1 - Document ID: US20130239449A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/885,356 - Filed: 2011-11-18 - Published: 2013-09-19 - Earliest claimed: 2010-11-22 - Assignees: Bedford Industries, Inc. - Inventors: Curtis John Heinrichs - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20130239449A1 ## CPC - G09F 3/04: to be fastened or secured by the material of the label itself, e.g. by thermo-adhesion (by a separate adhesive layer G09F3/10) - G09F 3/02883: {Folded} - G09F 3/14: by strings, straps, chains, or wires - G09F 2003/027: {used to hang up an item, e.g. a perfusion bottle} - G09F 2003/0272: {Labels for containers} - G09F 2003/0273: {Labels for bottles, flasks} - Y10T 156/1084: of continuous or running length bonded web - G09F: DISPLAYING; ADVERTISING; SIGNS; LABELS OR NAME-PLATES; SEALS - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract A labeling tag (10, 210, 410, 510, 610, 710), comprising a tag portion (12, 212, 412, 512, 612, 712), and a film (28, 228, 428, 528, 628, 728) disposed over the tag portion (12, 212, 412, 512, 612, 712) and bonded to the tag portion (12, 212, 412, 512, 612, 712) at multiple locations to define a pocket (16, 216, 416, 516, 616, 716) between the film and the tag portion (12, 212, 412, 512, 612, 712). The labeling tag (10, 210, 410, 510, 610, 710) further comprising an elastomer portion (14, 214, 414, 514, 614, 714) secured to the tag portion (12, 212, 412, 512, 612, 712), and having an expandable loop (34, 234, 434, 534, 634, 734). ## Claims ### Claim 1 A labeling tag comprising: a tag portion; a film disposed over the tag portion and bonded to the tag portion at multiple locations to define a pocket between the film and the tag portion, the pocket having an inlet opening at which the film is unbonded to the tag portion; and an elastomer portion comprising: a bonding segment bonded to the tag portion; a transition portion extending from the bonding segment; and an expandable loop extending from the transition portion. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The labeling tag of claim 1, wherein the tag portion has a rectangular geometry with a top edge, a bottom edge, a first lateral edge, and a second lateral edge, wherein the multiple locations that the film is bonded to the tag portion include at least a portion of the bottom edge, at least a portion of the first lateral edge, and at least a portion of the second lateral edge, and wherein the inlet opening of the pocket is located adjacent to the top edge of the tag portion. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The labeling tag of claim 2, wherein the tag portion and the film comprise: a first cut section extending from the first lateral edge of the tag portion to the bottom edge of the tag portion, the first cut section defining a first slit opening into the pocket; and a second cut section extending from the second lateral edge of the tag portion to the bottom edge of the tag portion, the second cut section defining a second slit opening into the pocket. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The labeling tag of claim 1, wherein the tag portion comprises a foldable tag portion, and wherein a top edge of the tag portion defines a fold line for the foldable tag portion. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The labeling tag of claim 1, wherein the transition portion is configured to disperse tension force created when expandable loop is stretched. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The labeling tag of claim 1, wherein tag portion comprises a rear segment and a front segment integrally connected at a fold line to define a foldable tag portion, wherein the film is and the bonding segment are bonded to the rear segment of the foldable tag portion. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The labeling tag of claim 6, wherein the rear segment and the film comprise a slit opening into the pocket at a location that is offset from the inlet opening of the pocket. ### Claim 8 A labeling tag comprising: a foldable tag portion comprising: a front segment; and a rear segment integrally connected to the front segment at a fold line, wherein the rear segment comprises a front surface and a rear surface; a film bonded to the front surface of the rear segment to define a pocket between the film and the front surface, the pocket having an inlet opening located adjacent to the fold line at which the film is unbonded to the front surface; and an elastomer portion secured to the rear surface of the rear segment, and comprising an expandable loop. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The labeling tag of claim 8, wherein the rear segment and the film comprise: a first cut section defining a first slit opening into the pocket at a first location that is offset from the inlet opening of the pocket; and a second cut section defining a second slit opening into the pocket at a second location that is offset from the inlet opening of the pocket and from the first slit opening. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The labeling tag of claim 9, wherein the first cut section and the second cut section do not extend through the front segment of the tag portion. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) The labeling tag of claim 8, wherein the elastomer portion further comprises: a bonding segment, the bonding segment being the portion of the elastomer portion that is secured to the rear surface of the rear segment; and a transition portion extending from the bonding segment, wherein the expandable loop extends from the transition portion, and wherein the transition portion is configured to disperse tension force created when the expandable loop is stretched. ### Claim 12 (depends on 8) The labeling tag of claim 8, wherein the rear segment of the tag portion has a rectangular geometry with a top edge at the fold line, a bottom edge, a first lateral edge, and a second lateral edge, wherein the film is bonded to the front surface of the rear segment along at least a portion of the bottom edge, along at least a portion of the first lateral edge, and along at least a portion of the second lateral edge. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The labeling tag of claim 12, wherein the rear segment and the film comprise: a first cut section extending from the first lateral edge of the tag portion to the bottom edge of the tag portion, the first cut section defining a first slit opening into the pocket; and a second cut section extending from the second lateral edge of the tag portion to the bottom edge of the tag portion, the second cut section defining a second slit opening into the pocket. ### Claim 14 (depends on 8) The labeling tag of claim 8, wherein the foldable tag portion is more rigid than the film. ### Claim 15 A method for manufacturing multiple labeling tags, the method comprising: advancing a web of a tag material in a longitudinal direction, the web having a front surface and a rear surface; laminating a film over a first segment of the front surface of the web, wherein a second segment of the web is free of the laminated film; bonding portions of the film to the front surface of the web to define multiple pockets, wherein each pocket has an inlet opening at which the film is unbonded to the front surface of the web; folding the second segment of the web over the first segment of the web to define a longitudinally-extending fold line, wherein the folded second segment covers at least a portion of the pockets, and wherein the inlet openings of the pockets are located adjacent to the longitudinally-extending fold line; laminating an elastomer film to the rear surface of the web to form a bonding zone between the elastomer film and the rear surface of the web adjacent to the longitudinally-extending fold line; cutting the laminated elastomer film to form multiple expandable loops; and forming lines of weakness in the front and rear segments of the web and in the bonded film to define the multiple labeling tags, wherein each of the multiple labeling tags includes one of the pockets and one of the expandable loops. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, wherein, prior to folding the second segment of the web over the first segment of the web, forming section holes through the first segment of the web and the bonded film to define cut sections for each of the multiple labeling tags, wherein each cut section defines a slit opening into one of the pockets. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, wherein the formed section holes do not extend through the second segment of the web. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, wherein the formed section holes each have a diamond geometry with vertices, and wherein the formed lines of weakness are substantially aligned with the vertices of the diamond geometry of the formed section holes. ### Claim 19 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, cutting the elastomer portion further forms a transition portion for each labeling tag that is configured to disperse tension force created when the expandable loop of an associated labeling tag is stretched. ### Claim 20 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, and further comprising: separating a labeling tag from the multiple labeling tags; unfolding the second segment of the separated labeling tag from the first segment of the separated labeling tag; and inserting an item through the inlet opening of the pocket of the unfolded labeling tag.