Lanyards

Abstract

This invention relates to a lanyard. The lanyard comprises an elongate material having opposing front and back faces, the front face being printed. The lanyard further comprises first, second and third sections, the first, second and third sections being disposed sequentially along the length of the lanyard such that the second section is located between the first and third sections. The second section has a cross-sectional width which is less than a cross-sectional width of both of the first and third sections. The lanyard is arranged such that, in use, the printed front face is visible.

Claims

1. A lanyard comprising an elongate material having opposing front and back faces, the front face being printed, the lanyard comprising first, second and third sections, the first, second and third sections being disposed sequentially along the length of the lanyard such that the second section is located between the first and third sections, the second section having a cross-sectional width which is less than a cross-sectional width of both of the first and third sections, and the lanyard being arranged such that, in use, the printed front face is visible.

2. The lanyard according to claim 1 wherein, in use, substantially none of the back face is visible.

3. The lanyard according to claim 1, wherein the front face is digitally printed.

4. The lanyard according to claim 3, wherein the digital printing includes at least one form of personal identification printed on the first and/or third sections.

5. The lanyard according to claim 1, wherein, in use, the second section extends between the wearer's shoulders, and/or wherein the second section is between 200 mm and 500 mm long.

6. The lanyard according to claim 1, wherein the mean average cross sectional width of the second section is between about 1 mm and 20 mm, and/or wherein the mean average cross sectional width of the first and third sections is between about 20 mm and about 70 mm.

7. The lanyard according to claim 1, wherein the section of the elongate material which forms the second section is folded.

8. The lanyard according to claim 1, wherein the first and third sections join at an attachment point.

9. The lanyard according to claim 8, wherein the first and third sections are joined at an attachment point in a V shape.

10. The lanyard according to claim 9, wherein the V shape has an acute angle of between 10 and 50

11. The lanyard according to claim 8, wherein a fourth section of elongate fabrics depends from the attachment point.

12. The lanyard according to claim 1, wherein the elongate fabric has a proximal end and a distal end, and the proximal and distal end, or points close to the proximal and distal end, are joined together such that the front face of the proximal end, or a point close thereto, is in contact with the back face of the distal end, or a point close thereto.

13. The lanyard according to claim 12, wherein the proximal and distal ends, or points close to the proximal and distal ends, are joined together in a V shape with an acute angle of between 20 and 40.

14. The lanyard according to claim 12, wherein the proximal and distal end, or a point within 150 mm of the proximal or distal end, are joined together such that the front face of the proximal end, or a point within 150 mm of the proximal end, is in contact with the back face of the distal end, or a point within 150 mm of the distal end.

15. The lanyard according to claim 1, wherein the lanyard further comprises at least one fastener for attachment to a wearer's clothing.

16. The lanyard according to claim 15, wherein the at least one fastener comprises at least one buttonhole which affixes to the wearer's clothing.

17. The lanyard according to claim 11, wherein the fourth section comprises the at least one fastener.

18. A lanyard comprising an elongate material having opposing front and back faces, the front face being printed with at least one form of personal identification, the lanyard being arranged such that, in use, the printed front face is visible.

19. The lanyard of claim 18, wherein the lanyard comprises first, second and third sections, the first, second and third sections being disposed sequentially along the length of the lanyard such that the second section is located between the first and third sections, and wherein the at least one form of personal identification is located on the first and/or third section.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0063] Certain embodiments of the invention will now be described in further detail by reference to the following Figures.

[0064] FIG. 1 is an embodiment of a lanyard according to the invention.

[0065] FIG. 2a is a cross sectional view of the lanyard of FIG. 1 along the line X-X.

[0066] FIG. 2b is an alternative embodiment of the view of FIG. 2a.

[0067] FIG. 3 is an alternative embodiment of a lanyard according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0068] FIG. 1 shows a lanyard 10 comprising a first section 11 and a third section 13, with a second section 12 disposed between the first and third sections 11, 13 such that the first, second and third sections 11, 12, 13 are disposed sequentially along the length of the lanyard. The two sides of the second section have been cut out to form a scalloped shape, giving the second section 12 a narrower cross-sectional width along the line C-C than the first and third sections 11, 13.

[0069] The front face F of the lanyard is printed, and carries photographs 14 of the wearer as a form of ID. The photographs 14 are located about two thirds of the way along the first and third sections 11, 13, such that they will be close to the wearer's face when the lanyard is worn, enabling easy comparison of the photographs to the wearer's face.

[0070] When worn, the front face F of the lanyard is visible, while the back face B of the lanyard faces the body and is substantially invisible.

[0071] The lanyard 10 is formed from a single piece of elongate material having a distal end 16 on the first section 11 and a proximal end 15 on the third section 13 (see FIGS. 2a and 2b). The distal end 16 of the elongate material is joined to a point approximately 5-100 mm from the proximal end 15 in a folded arrangement, as depicted in FIGS. 2a and 2b.

[0072] The first and third sections 11, 13 meet in a V shape, with the distal end 16 of the fabric abutting the underside (the back face) of the second section 13 at a point slightly further than 100 mm from the proximal end 15. The second section 13 is folded over the distal end 16, before being folded back on itself at a point approximately 100 mm from the proximal end 15, forming the depending section 18. When the second section 13 is folded back on itself, the angle is adjusted such that the resulting depending section 18 hangs vertically. The fold is sealed by a line of stitching across the width of the elongate material 17.

[0073] In the alternative embodiment shown in FIG. 2b, a 20-50 mm portion of fabric at the distal end 16 of the lanyard is folded and sealed against the back face of the first section 11, such that the front face of the folded portion is exposed. This creates a folded distal end 19, while the distal end 16 is sealed to the underside of the first section 11. The first and third sections 11, 13 meet in a V shape, with the folded distal end 19 of the fabric abutting the underside (the back face) of the second section 13 at a point slightly further than 100 mm from the proximal end 15. The second section 13 is folded over the folded distal end 19, before being folded back on itself at a point approximately 100 mm from the proximal end 15, forming the depending section 18, and leaving the distal end 16 exposed. When the second section 13 is folded back on itself, the angle is adjusted such that the resulting depending section 18 hangs vertically. The fold is sealed by a line of stitching across the width of the elongate material 17.

[0074] This results in a portion of the front face F adjacent to the distal end 16 being visible from the reverse side of the lanyard, onto which a printed message may be applied encouraging the wearer to wear the lanyard the correct way round. This also creates an unsightly appearance on the reverse of the lanyard, again encouraging the wearer to wear the lanyard the correct way around.

[0075] The depending section 18 may optionally be folded towards the back of the lanyard and sealed along the line of stitching 17 to provide the depending section 18 with a double thickness of fabric, wherein the printing on the front face F (e.g., a barcode) will appear on both sides for ease of use.

[0076] The folded arrangement shown in FIGS. 2a and 2b provides a depending section 18 which may be printed with an access pass (e.g., a QR code or barcode), making it easy for the wearer to access such a pass for moving through a secure building.

[0077] FIG. 3 depicts a lanyard 30 comprising a first section 31 and a third section 33, with a second section 32 disposed between the first and third sections 31, 33, such that the first, second and third sections 31, 32, 33 are disposed sequentially along the length of the lanyard. In the second section 32, the edges of the section are folded towards the back face of the lanyard so that they overlap, with the fold being held in place by regular lines of stitching 34. The lines of stitching 34 may equally be lines of welding, glue, or other suitable bonding means, and the fold may additionally or alternatively be bonded along the length of the fold.

[0078] The lanyard 10 is formed from a single piece of elongate material having a proximal end 35 on the first section 31 and a distal end 36 on the third section 33. The first and third sections 31, 33 meet at a point 37 approximately 90 mm from the proximal and distal ends 35, 36, at an angle A of approximately 29. The first and third sections 31, 33 are joined together along the edge of the fabric by stitching or welding between the point 37 at which they meet and the proximal and distal ends 35, 36. The proximal and distal ends 35, 36 are folded towards the back of the lanyard by approximately 10 mm to provide a neat finish, and to form a loop to which a clip 38 may be attached for the connection of a wallet or additional card or pass.

[0079] This structure will only lay flat on the wearer when it is worn the correct way round; when worn back-to-front, the V shaped join distorts the shape of the lanyard such that it does not lay flat on the user's chest, and looks unsightly.