Flexible living hinge for an identification pull tab

Product identification is an essential tool in any industry. From supply chain tracking to inventory management to brand protection, it is often necessary for a user to have access to identifying information about a product. Such identifying information may include a unique serial number, a product model name, a part number, a product brand, an IP address, product safety information, or any other useful information for identifying a product. The identifying information is typically placed on a label that is attached or connected to the product. The label may be visible in plain sight or discoverable to a user of the product. For example, a computer may have a serial number displayed in a label affixed in its back, a smart phone may have a serial number discoverable by a user by accessing a menu, a car may have a vehicle identification number on its dashboard, and so on. Whether visible or discoverable, the product identification label must be accessible by a user to be able to identify the product.

Accessibility of a product identification label often depends on the type of product. In complex machinery or large product equipment, the product identification label may be placed in a cumbersome location that is difficult to access. A user may have to move heavy equipment or navigate through a web of cables before obtaining the desired information from the product identification label. In some products, the product identification label may protrude out of the product by a pull tab. The pull tab may be placed in front of the product, making it less cumbersome for a user to access it. However, if not properly secured in place, the tab may fall out of the product all together. Frequent pulls of the tab may also damage it over time. The tab may break and become unusable for providing product identification information.

The present application may be more fully appreciated in connection with the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIG. 1A is a schematic diagram of a top view of a flexible living hinge for an identification pull tab in accordance with various examples;

FIG. 1B is a schematic diagram of a bottom view of a flexible living hinge for an identification pull tab in accordance with various examples;

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a side view of a flexible living hinge for an identification pull tab in accordance with various examples;

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of a user pulling an identification pull tab from a computer server in accordance with various examples;

FIG. 4A is a schematic diagram of a user pulling an identification pull tab from a computer server and bending the identification pull tab down to view product identification information in accordance with various examples; and

FIG. 4B is a schematic diagram of a user pulling an identification pull tab from a computer server and bending the identification pull tab up to view product identification information in accordance with various examples.

A flexible living hinge for an identification pull tab is disclosed. The identification pull tab connects two sturdy materials with a portion of flexible material to provide flexibility in bending while keeping it durable and robust over time. The identification pull tab may be manufactured with a two-shot overmold process to ensure that the materials are held together with a chemical bond. A mechanical interlock is incorporated into the identification pull tab to further its durability. The flexible material effectively creates a living hinge at which the identification pull tab may be bent up and down for easy viewing and accessibility of product identification information. The product identification information may be placed in a top and/or a bottom label affixed to the identification pull tab.

Referring now to FIG. 1A , a schematic diagram of a top view of a flexible living hinge for an identification pull tab in accordance with various examples is described. Identification pull tab 100 is a pull tab that attaches to and extends out of a product for enabling a user of the product to access identification information about the product. The identification information may include a unique serial number, a product model name, a part number, a product brand, an IP address, product safety information, or any other useful information for identifying the product. The identifying information may be displayed in a label affixed to the identification pull tab 100 .

Identification pull tab 100 has a first shot area and a second shot area that are formed in a two-shot overmold process. The first shot area is divided into a first portion 105 and a second portion 110 . First portion 105 is made of a sturdy plastic material, such as, for example, a polycarbonate resin, to ensure that the identification pull tab 100 will be securely attached in place to a product. Second portion 110 is also made of a sturdy plastic material, such as, for example, a polycarbonate acrylonitrile butadiene styrene thermoplastic. The material used for the first portion 105 may be chosen to be stronger than the material used for the second portion 110 to allow for the identification pull tab 100 to be durable and resistant to any damage made by extending it out of the product. As shown in FIG. 1A , second portion 110 has a flat surface sized to accommodate a label containing product identification information.

Attachment to a product is made with spring tails 120 - 125 , with spring tail 120 having a longer dimension than spring tail 125 and an adjacent undercut 130 to facilitate rotation or other movement of the identification pull tab 100 when it is extended out of a product. It is appreciated that spring tails 120 - 125 may be designed according to the product that the identification pull tab 100 is to identify. In the example later described with reference to FIG. 3 , the identification pull tab 100 is designed to attach to a computer server that may be placed in a large rack containing a number of such servers.

The identification pull tab 100 is also designed to be flexible to allow for it to be bent repeatedly up or down during use. A user may choose to bend the identification pull tab 100 up or down as desired to view any identification information that is displayed in a label affixed to the second portion 110 of the first shot area. Flexibility and robustness are introduced with the second shot area 115 , which may be made of a flexible, rubber-like material. For example, second shot area 115 may be made with a thermoplastic elastometer material that is at the same time bendable but robust to repeated bents. It is appreciated that the materials used for first portion 105 , second portion 110 and second shot area 115 may be chosen to meet any safety requirements for the product identified by the identification pull tab 100 .

As illustrated, the second shot area 115 is molded between the first portion 105 and the second portion 110 of the first shot area. Doing so enables the second shot area 115 to be held in place with a strong chemical bond. FIG. 1B shows a back view of identification pull tab 100 , illustrating the back of portions 135 - 145 of the second shot area 115 . It is appreciated that the second shot area 115 is designed with these three portions 135 - 145 to ensure as much durability and robustness as possible while still providing the flexibility desired in bending the identification pull tab 100 repeatedly over its use-life. It is also appreciated that the back of second portion 110 as shown in FIG. 1B may also be used for an identification information label, thereby providing a user a way to view product identification information either by bending the identification pull tab 100 up or down as it extends out of the product it identifies. It is further appreciated that the second shot area 115 effectively creates a living hinge, with its flexibility and durability characteristics enabled by its design and its surrounding sturdy first and second portions 105 - 110 of the first shot area. In various examples, identification pull tab 100 may have an indentation 150 that may be used for various purposes, including for attaching it in place during shipping of the product that the identification pull tab 100 is used to identify.

Attention is now directed to FIG. 2 , which illustrates a schematic diagram of a side view of a flexible hinge for an identification pull tab in accordance with various examples. Identification pull tab 200 is shown with a side view of a first shot area illustrated by segments 210 - 225 and a second shot area 205 . Segments 210 - 225 are designed as part of a two-shot overmold process to ensure that a mechanical interlock is built into the identification pull tab 200 . Doing so adds robustness into the identification pull tab 200 to ensure it will remain intact with repeated pulls and bents. As illustrated, an angle 230 is also designed into the identification pull tab 200 to provide for further robustness while achieving its flexibility in bending.

Referring now to FIG. 3 , a schematic diagram showing a user pulling an identification pull tab from a computer server in accordance with various examples is described. User 300 is shown pulling identification pull tab 305 out of a computer server 310 . The identification pull tab 305 is attached securely in place by spring tails in a first portion of a first shot area. A second shot area enables the identification pull tab 305 to be bent up or down while maintaining its robustness and durability over time and ensuring the identification pull tab 305 will be firmly secured in place and not fall out of the computer server 310 .

Attention is now directed to FIGS. 4A-B , illustrating a user pulling an identification pull tab from a computer server and bending the identification pull tab down (FIG. 4 A) and up ( FIG. 4B ) to view product identification information in accordance with various examples. In FIG. 4A , user 400 bends identification pull tab 405 down to view identification information label 410 , showing a serial number and a model number for computer server 415 . In FIG. 4B , user 420 bends identification pull tab 425 up to view identification information label 430 , to reveal a serial number and a model number for a computer server 435 . It is appreciated that the design of the identification pull tabs 405 and 425 as described above with reference to FIGS. 1A, 1B and 2 enables the identification pull tabs 405 and 425 to be bent repeatedly up or down and remain securely attached in place. It is also appreciated that having identification pull tabs 405 and 425 extend out of the computer servers 415 and 435 respectively, enables users to easily view product identification information repeatedly over the use-life of computer servers 415 and 435 without damaging or tearing the identification pull tabs 405 and 425 .

It is appreciated that the previous description of the disclosed examples is provided to enable any person skilled in the art to make or use the present disclosure. Various modifications to these examples will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the generic principles defined herein may be applied to other examples without departing from the spirit or scope of the disclosure. Thus, the present disclosure is not intended to be limited to the examples shown herein but is to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the principles and novel features disclosed herein.