The presently disclosed technology relates generally to a multifunctional tool or device, and more particularly to a badge holder configured to accomplish several functions.
Many employers provide employees with an identification card. Some employers require verification of an identification card upon entry into a workplace. Some employers have even invested in electronic sensors at particular entrance points, which require an employee to scan their identification card to gain entry. As a result, employees often carry their identification card with them during the workday or during their shift.
Badge holders can come in a variety of sizes, shapes, and configurations. For example, it is known to include a spring-loaded reeled tether on a badge holder, which helps prevent loss of the badge holder. GOVO, LLC of Katy, Texas sells a variety of different badge holders or wallets. Certain versions can hold anywhere from one to four (for example) identification cards, and include a clip that allows the badge holder to be easily carried on a belt, pocket, key chain, backpack, or lanyard.
The present invention is directed to addressing limitations found in prior art identification card (“badge”) holders, particularly in terms of providing additional safety functions. Indeed, despite the numerous varieties of badge holders currently available on the market, it would be beneficial to provide a badge holder that provides more functions than conventional badge holders. The additional functionality could prove particularly beneficial in an emergency situation, such as a school shooting scene. The presently disclosed technology overcomes the above and other limitations in the prior art.
In one embodiment, the presently disclosed technology is a survival badge and/or utility tool that can be particularly beneficial in an emergency situation, such as at a school shooting. As school safety funding began and continues to flow from the state and federal government to address the increase in school shootings, many school districts invested in safety equipment (e.g., flashlights, audible alarms, tourniquets, etc.) for individual classrooms. The problem is that unless school staff have this equipment on their person, they may encounter a situation where they cannot access the safety equipment designed to help them in an emergency. Furthermore, since emergencies tend not to be planned, when emergencies happen it is well documented that individuals develop tunnel vision and may not be able to remember where their safety equipment is located. Having numerous survival and safety equipment items stored in a badge, for example around the wearer's neck, provides the wearer user with immediate access to survival equipment should an emergency happen.
In a particular embodiment, the presently disclosed technology is directed to a handheld device configured to accomplish several functions. The device can include a body having a front side and a rear side. The front and rear sides can extend in parallel and can be spaced apart by a top side, a bottom side, an upper side, and a lower side. The top side can include a slot configured to receive a credit card or an identification card therein. The front side can include an opening into the slot. The bottom side can include a glass breaker extending therethrough. The glass breaker can be movable with respect to the body. A cutter can extend outwardly from the bottom side. The cutter can at least partially surround a blade and can be configured to cut a seat belt. A guard can be removably attachable to a portion of the bottom side and the cutter.
In another embodiment, the presently disclosed technology is directed to a handheld badge holder configured to accomplish several functions. The badge holder can include a body having a planar front side and a planar rear side. The front and rear sides can extend in parallel and can be spaced apart by a top side, a bottom side, an upper side, and a lower side. The top side can include a first slot configured to receive a credit card or an identification card therein, a second slot configured to receive a writing implement therein, and a projection extending outwardly therefrom. The projection can include a passageway therethrough. The passageway can be configured to receive at least a portion of a lanyard therethrough. The front side can include an opening into the first slot. The rear side can include removable mirror tape and a hole configured to allow noise generated within the body to pass through the rear side. The bottom side can include a glass breaker extending therethrough. The glass breaker can be movable with respect to the body. A cutter can extend outwardly from the bottom side. The cutter can at least partially surround a blade and can be configured to cut a seat belt. A guard or protector can be removably attachable to a portion of the bottom side and the cutter.
Yet another particular embodiment may take the form of an “administrator” badge useful in an academic environment, where the specific functions included within the badge are particularly well-suited for handling emergency situations within a classroom setting. A student badge embodiment is also proposed, which provides student-directed functions (including a flashlight), while not including more physically harmful functions (such as glass breaking).
Other and further embodiments or features will become apparent below during the course of the following discussion and by reference to the related drawings.
The foregoing summary, as well as the following detailed description of the presently disclosed technology, will be better understood when read in conjunction with the appended drawings. For the purpose of illustrating the presently disclosed technology, there are shown in the drawings various illustrative embodiments. It should be understood, however, that the presently disclosed technology is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown. In the drawings:
While systems, devices and methods are described herein by way of examples and embodiments, those skilled in the art recognize that the systems, devices and methods of the presently disclosed technology are not limited to the embodiments or drawings described. Rather, the presently disclosed technology covers all modifications, equivalents and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. Any headings used herein are for organizational purposes only and are not meant to limit the scope of the description or the claims.
Certain terminology is used in the following description for convenience only and is not limiting. The words “bottom,” “top,” “left,” “right,” “lower” and “upper” designate directions in the drawings to which reference is made. Unless specifically set forth herein, the terms “a,” “an” and “the” are not limited to one element but instead should be read as meaning “at least one.” As used herein, the word “may” is used in a permissive sense (i.e., meaning having the potential to) rather than the mandatory sense (i.e., meaning must). The terminology includes the words noted above, derivatives thereof and words of similar import.
Referring to the drawings in detail, wherein like numerals indicate like elements throughout,
In one optional embodiment, the device 10 can include a body 12 having a front side or surface 14 (shown in
The front and rear sides 14, 16 can be significantly larger than the top and bottom sides 18, 20, as well as the upper and lower sides 22, 24. For example, as shown in
Although the device 10 shown in
Referring to
As shown in
Referring to
The top side 18 of the device 10 can optionally include a projection 32 extending outwardly therefrom. The projection 32 can include a passageway 34 extending therethrough. The passageway 34 can be configured to receive at least a portion of a lanyard, string, or rope therethrough.
Referring to
Referring to
In one embodiment, the rear side 16 of the device 10 can include removable mirror tape. Optionally, mirror tape can be applied to the rear side 16, such as within an indentation or indented area to protect and/or preserve the edges of the mirror tape. One or more openings or slots can be cut from the mirror tape before it is applied to the rear side 16 to accommodate and/or complement features of the rear side 16, such as the hole 38.
Optionally, the mirror tape is in place to be used in either or both of two emergency situations. First, if there is an active shooter and the wearer is unsure if a hallway, room, etc. is clear, the wearer can use the mirror to look into those areas without exposing any part of their head. Second, for an active shooter situation, it can be important to remain quiet, so not to “tip off” the intruder of your whereabouts. A staff member, for example, could use the reflective properties of the mirror to get the attention of first responders without making a sound.
The bottom side 20 of the device 10 can include a glass breaker 40 extending therethrough. The glass breaker 40 can be movable with respect to the body 12 between an extended position and a retracted position. The glass breaker 40 can be configured to break a window so that a user can exit a vehicle or building, for example, if necessary.
Optionally, the glass breaker 40 is formed completely or partially of acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) plastic, which can optionally be the same material used to form the bottom of the device 10. A portion of the glass breaker 40 can be formed of tool steel. Other portions of the device 10 can be formed of different materials, such as polycarbonate.
Referring to
Each of the first and second springs 74, 76 can be coil springs and can be concentric. For example, the first spring 74 can be located within or surrounded by the second spring 76. The first spring 74 can have a smaller thickness and/or a smaller spring constant than the second spring. 76.
Referring to
As shown in
Referring to
Referring to
An alarm or sound button 64 is operatively connected to the noise and/or vibration device 52 and/or the push button circuit board 54, which allows a user to selectively activate the noise and/or vibration device 52 by engaging the alarm button 64. Optionally, the alarm button 64 includes a single raised bump. The alarm button 64 is not limited to being a button, but could be in other forms (e.g., a slide switch) that allows for the functionality described herein.
An LED or light button 66 is operatively connected to the integrated circuit board 56 and/or the push button circuit board 54, which allows a user to selectively activate the LED by engaging the LED button 66. Optionally, the LED button 66 includes two spaced apart raised bumps. The LED button 66 is not limited to being a button, but could be in other forms (e.g., a slide switch) that allows for the functionality described herein.
It is considered that an important application of the inventive principles is within an academic environment, with the capabilities to incorporate emergency/safety functionalities with identification badges worn by administrators and students. In this environment, it is also considered that the capabilities of the badges worn by administrators and students may need to be different; for example, it may be unwise to include a glass cutter within badges worn by students.
As will be described in detail below and similar to device 10 as described above, front side 92 is formed to include a slot 102 within which an ID card (and/or additional important information, such as a medical insurance card) may be inserted and supported within administrator badge 90. An opening 104 may be included (of any desired shape) to facilitate the removal of the supported cards when necessary. Rear side 94 is formed to include both a mirror element (similar to the mirror tape described above), as well as perhaps a “tile” or similar type of locator element. These will be discussed below in association with
Bottom surface 98 of badge 90 includes an opening 110 within which a glass breaking component (such as element 40 described above) may be disposed. It is noted that in this embodiment, the glass breaker is more centrally located within the body of the badge than is found in the configuration of device 10. Additionally, one or both of side surfaces 100L, 100R may be formed (e.g., molded) to create gripping indentations 112, which may allow for an individual to maintain better control of badge 90 in emergency situations. embodiment, an exemplary side surface 90S is formed to include indents in a manner that allows for badge 90 to be easily gripped.
In some cases, badge 90 may also include a recessed area 114 within which a thumb (USB) drive may be stored. The drive may include particular student information. While recessed area 114 is visible in the illustration of
An additional recessed area 118 supports the various batteries and other alarm elements as described above in association with device 10. Additionally, a channel 120 may be included within badge 90 to support a writing implement, with an aperture 122 of channel 120 included within top surface 96.
As mentioned above, in an academic environment there are good reasons for an administrator's badge to include functionalities (such as glass breaking) that are not appropriate for the student population.
Even if it is interpreted that multiple embodiments are shown and/or described herein, it is understood that any one or more features of any particular embodiment can be omitted or included in (e.g., added to) another embodiment.
It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes could be made to the embodiments described above without departing from the broad inventive concept thereof. It is understood, therefore, that the presently disclosed technology is not limited to the particular embodiments disclosed, but it is intended to cover modifications within the spirit and scope of the presently disclosed technology as defined by the appended claims.
This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/365,913, filed Jun. 6, 2022 and herein incorporated by reference.
Number | Name | Date | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
4680861 | Meurer | Jul 1987 | A |
5027477 | Seron | Jul 1991 | A |
5285577 | Carney | Feb 1994 | A |
5561331 | Suyama | Oct 1996 | A |
5918372 | Materne | Jul 1999 | A |
5956985 | Chang | Sep 1999 | A |
6003181 | Wenk | Dec 1999 | A |
6220973 | Hsu | Apr 2001 | B1 |
6286397 | Taggart | Sep 2001 | B1 |
6418628 | Steingass | Jul 2002 | B1 |
6460698 | Wang | Oct 2002 | B1 |
7308771 | Memelink | Dec 2007 | B2 |
7810415 | Adamany | Oct 2010 | B2 |
9815212 | Barr | Nov 2017 | B2 |
10265874 | Morgan | Apr 2019 | B1 |
D877594 | Liang | Mar 2020 | S |
10595611 | Berkley | Mar 2020 | B2 |
10878686 | Pederson et al. | Dec 2020 | B1 |
11178947 | Tran et al. | Nov 2021 | B2 |
11571050 | Tran | Feb 2023 | B2 |
11618148 | Weinberger | Apr 2023 | B2 |
11670195 | Mitchell | Jun 2023 | B2 |
11737531 | Tran | Aug 2023 | B2 |
11896098 | Zhang | Feb 2024 | B2 |
12082667 | Tran | Sep 2024 | B2 |
20020056652 | Kawamura | May 2002 | A1 |
20020179463 | Newman | Dec 2002 | A1 |
20100317247 | McGlynn | Dec 2010 | A1 |
20140259438 | Rubin | Sep 2014 | A1 |
20150033562 | Posey | Feb 2015 | A1 |
20170265610 | Smith, II | Sep 2017 | A1 |
20180064223 | Singer | Mar 2018 | A1 |
20180311804 | Weinberger | Nov 2018 | A1 |
20200229557 | Tran | Jul 2020 | A1 |
20210112935 | Tran | Apr 2021 | A1 |
20230136219 | Zhang | May 2023 | A1 |
20230394996 | Gunuskey | Dec 2023 | A1 |
Number | Date | Country | |
---|---|---|---|
20230394996 A1 | Dec 2023 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
---|---|---|---|
63365913 | Jun 2022 | US |