TAG FOR PROVIDING THE INFORMATION OF A RAIL

Abstract

A tag for providing the information of a rail, the rail including a rail head, a rail web and a rail foot. The tag is configured to be attached to the rail foot in the transverse direction of the rail, including: a base body which partially encloses the rail foot, and a label which contains information of the rail.

Claims

1. Tag for providing the information of a rail, the rail comprising a rail head, a rail web and a rail foot, the tag configured to be attached to the rail foot in the transverse direction of the rail, the tag comprising: a base body which partially encloses the rail foot, and a label which contains information of the rail, wherein the base body includes an upper lip and a lower lip, the label located on the upper side of the upper lip, wherein the tag further comprises a fastener that attaches the base body to the rail, wherein the fastener is located on the upper side of the lower lip, the fastener made of adhesive material.

2. The tag of claim 1, wherein the adhesive material includes adhesive glues, an adhesive tape, or an adhesive strip.

3. The tag of claim 1, wherein the fastener (23) is used for attaching the tag (2) to the bottom (133) of the rail foot (13).

4. The tag of claim 1, wherein the base body includes another upper lip, the lower lip extending along the bottom of the rail foot and integrally connecting the two upper lips, the two upper lips respectively holding the two sides of the rail foot.

5. The tag of claim 4, wherein the upper lip includes an engaging tip for holding the tag onto the rail foot.

6. The tag of claim 5, wherein the base body includes a groove on the upper side of the lower tip and the engaging tip includes a slope feature.

7. The tag of claim 1, wherein the underside of the upper lip is configured to be compatible with the profile of the rail feet foot.

8. The tag of claim 1, wherein the underside of the lower lip includes a reinforcing protrusion.

9. The tag of claim 1, wherein the label is designed as an adhesive sticker or as an imprint which is made by printing, laser engraving or cutting, or as electronic data identification, the label including a two-dimensional code (e.g., QR code or data matrix).

10. The tag of claim 1, wherein the upper lip is disposed horizontally or at an angle to allow the label to be read.

11. The tag of claim 1, wherein the rail includes a weld joint.

12. The tag of claim 1, wherein the base body is made of rubber, plastic, metal, wood, or polymer composite.

13. The tag of claim 1, wherein the information includes the used process and material, date of execution, ingredient, quality, characteristic, function, feature, purpose, history, or use of the rail or of a weld joint of the rail.

14. Tag for providing the information of a rail, the rail comprising a rail head, a rail web and a rail foot, the tag configured to be attached to the rail foot in the transverse direction of the rail, the tag comprising: a base body which partially encloses the rail foot, and a label which contains information of the rail, wherein the base body includes an upper lip and a lower lip, the label located on the upper side of the upper lip, wherein the tag further comprises a fastener that attaches the base body to the rail, wherein the fastener is located on the upper side (2131) of the lower lip, the fastener made of magnet.

15. The tag of claim 14, wherein the fastener is used for attaching the tag to the bottom of the rail foot.

16. The tag of claim 14, wherein the base body includes another upper lip, the lower lip extending along the bottom of the rail foot and integrally connecting the two upper lips, the two upper lips respectively holding the two sides of the rail foot.

17. The tag of claim 16, wherein the upper lip includes an engaging tip for holding the tag onto the rail foot.

18. The tag of claim 17, wherein the base body includes a groove on the upper side of the lower tip and the engaging tip includes a slope feature.

19. The tag of claim 14, wherein the underside of the upper lip is configured to be compatible with the profile of the rail foot.

20. The tag of claim 14, wherein the underside of the lower lip includes a reinforcing protrusion.

21. The tag of claim 14, wherein the label is designed as an adhesive sticker or as an imprint which is made by printing, laser engraving or cutting, or as electronic data identification, the label including a two-dimensional code (e.g., QR code or data matrix).

22. The tag of claim 14, wherein the upper lip is disposed horizontally or at an angle to allow the label to be read.

23. The tag of claim 14, wherein the rail includes a weld joint.

24. The tag of claim 14, wherein the base body is made of rubber, plastic, metal, wood, or polymer composite.

25. The tag of claim 14, wherein the information includes the used process and material, date of execution, ingredient, quality, characteristic, function, feature, purpose, history, or use of the rail or of a weld joint of the rail.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0023] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a tag for providing the information of a rail in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention.

[0024] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a tag of FIG. 1 which is to be applied to a rail.

[0025] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a tag of FIG. 1 which is applied to a rail.

[0026] FIG. 4 is a side view of FIG. 3.

[0027] FIG. 5 is a cross-section view taken along the line A-A of FIG. 4.

[0028] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a tag for providing the information of a rail in accordance with the second embodiment of the present invention.

[0029] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a tag of FIG. 6 which is applied to a rail.

[0030] FIG. 8 is a side view of FIG. 7.

[0031] FIG. 9 is a cross-section view taken along the line B-B of FIG. 8.

[0032] FIG. 10 is an illustrated view showing how the tag of FIG. 6 is applied to a rail.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0033] Although the invention has been explained in relation to its preferred embodiment(s) as mentioned above, it is to be understood that many other possible modifications and variations can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. It is, therefore, contemplated that the appended claim or claims will cover such modifications and variations that fall within the true scope of the invention.

[0034] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a tag for providing the information of a rail in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a tag of FIG. 1 which is to be applied to a rail. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a tag of FIG. 1 which is applied to a rail. FIG. 4 is a side view of FIG. 3. FIG. 5 is a cross-section view taken along the line A-A of FIG. 4. FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a tag for providing the information of a rail in accordance with the second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a tag of FIG. 6 which is applied to a rail. FIG. 8 is a side view of FIG. 7. FIG. 9 is a cross-section view taken along the line B-B of FIG. 8. FIG. 10 is an illustrated view showing how the tag of FIG. 6 is applied to a rail.

[0035] Please refer to FIGS. 1-10 together. A rail 1 comprises a rail head 11, a rail web 12, and a rail foot 13. The rail 1 can also include a weld joint 10, such as an aluminothermic welding joint. The present invention can be applied to all types and all lengths of rails. The rail 1 shown in the drawings is illustrated just as a simplified section of rails for the purpose of the explanation. The first embodiment and the second embodiment provide a tag 2, 2 for providing the information of a rail 1. The tag 2, 2 is configured to be attached to the rail foot 13 in the transverse direction T of the rail 1. For example, after the repair of a specific section of a rail 1, a rail worker can efficiently apply the tag 2, 2 to the rail foot 13 of a rail 1. Later, if a worker wants to obtain the property of the specific section of the rail 1, the worker can simply check the information shown on the tag 2, 2 that is attached to the specific section of the rail 1. Namely, if a worker wants to obtain the information of the rail 1, a worker does not need to inspect or test the rail 1 itself again. The information includes the used process and material, date of execution, ingredient, quality, characteristic, function, feature, purpose, history, or use of the rail 1 or of a weld joint 10 of the rail 1.

[0036] Specifically, the tag 2, 2 comprises a base body 21, 21 and a label 22, 22. The base body 21, 21 partially encloses the rail foot 13, holding onto the top 132 of the rail foot 13 and the bottom 133 of the rail foot 13 so that the tag 2, 2 is stably attached to the rail 1. In a preferred embodiment, the base body 21, 21 is made of rubber, plastic, metal, wood, or polymer composite. The base body 21, 21 includes an upper lip 211, 211 and a lower lip 213, 213. The label 22, 22 is located on the upper side 2111, 2111 of the upper lip 211, 211.

[0037] A label 22, 22 contains information of the rail 1. The label 22, 22 is mounted on upper side 2111, 2111 of the upper lip 211, 211. The upper lip 211, 211 is disposed horizontally or at an angle to allow the label 22, 22 to be read. In a preferred embodiment, the label 22, 22 is designed as an adhesive sticker or as an imprint which is made by printing, laser engraving or cutting, the label 22, 22 including a two-dimensional code (e.g., QR code or data matrix), a mark, a trademark, a logo, or a company name. In an embodiment, the upper side 2111, 2111 of the upper lip 211, 211 includes a grooved platform for receiving the label 22, 22. In another embodiment, the upper side 2111, 2111 of the upper lip 211, 211 is a flatten plane.

[0038] The present invention can be categorized into two main embodiments in respect of the attachment to the rail foot 13.

First Embodiment

[0039] Please refer to FIGS. 1-5 together. The tag 2 of the first embodiment further comprises a fastener 23. The fastener 23 is made of magnet, adhesive material, or any fastening means. The magnet can attach to the rail 1 in a non-destructive and efficient manner. The adhesive material can be adhesive glues, an adhesive tape, or an adhesive strip. The adhesive tape or the adhesive strip can be two sided so that they can stick to the base body 21 and the rail foot 13. The fastening means may be any kind of embedded attachment, interlocking attachment, a hook and loop fastener, a cable tie, a spring and so on. The fastener 23 is located on the upper side 2131 of the lower lip 213 and attaches the base body 21 to the rail 1 in a substantially non-detachable manner. Particularly, the fastener 23 is used for attaching the tag 2 to the bottom 133 of the rail foot 13. In this way, the fastener 23 achieves a stable attachment between the tag 2 and the rail 1. In a preferred embodiment, the tag 2 attaches only to the bottom 133 of the rail foot 13 by the fastener 23. In a preferred embodiment, the fastening means can also be a spring which is used for fastening the tag 2 to the rail 1. The spring is located on the upper side 2131 of the lower lip 213. When a worker wants to apply the tag 2 to the rail 1, he or she can compress the spring and put the tag 2 into the rail foot 13. The spring then is relaxed and exerts a force against the rail foot 13 so that the upper lip 211 and the lower lip 213 and the spring is fastened on the rail 1.

Second Embodiment

[0040] Please refer to FIGS. 6-10 together in reference to FIGS. 1-5. In the tag 2 of the second embodiment, the base body 21 includes another upper lip 211. The two upper lips 211, 212 respectively holding the two sides of the rail foot 13. The lower lip 213 extends along the bottom 133 of the rail foot 13 and integrally connecting the two upper lips 211, 212. In other words, the two upper lips 211, 212 and the lower lip 213 are integrally formed. In a preferred embodiment, the base body 21 of the second embodiment may be made of flexible materials, such as rubber, plastics, fibres, metal materials, wood, or polymer composite. When applying the tag 2 to the rail foot 13, a worker may slightly bend the tag 2 so that the tag 2 can accommodate and hold onto the rail foot 13. The two upper lips 211, 212 hold the top 132 of the rail foot 13 at two sides of the rail 1.

[0041] The label 22 is disposed on one of the two upper lips 211, 212 on either side of the rail 1. In another embodiment, the label 22 can be provided on both the two upper lips 211, 212. In a preferred embodiment similar to the first embodiment, a fastener including magnet or adhesive materials can also be provided on the lower lip 213 of the second embodiment, increasing the stabilization of the tag 2. The upper lip 211 includes an engaging tip 2113 for holding the tag 2 onto the rail foot 13. The base body 21 includes a groove 215 on the upper side of the lower tip so that a worker can easily install the tag 2 onto the rail foot 13 without hugely bending the tag 2. In addition, the engaging tip 2113 includes a slope feature, which also realizes the easier installation of the tag 2 onto the rail foot 13. For example, please refer to FIG. 10. A worker can first take advantage of the groove 215 to apply the tag 2 partially to one side of the rail foot 13; and then can slightly rotate the tag 2 in relative to the groove 215 in the direction R and take advantage of the slope feature of the engaging tip 2113 so that the upper tip 212 slides onto the top 132 of the rail foot 13 from the bottom 133 of the rail foot 13. In this way, the tag 2 can firmly attach to the rail foot 13.

[0042] Please refer to FIGS. 1-10 together. In order to adapt to different types of rails, the underside 2112, 2112 of the upper lip 211, 211 is configured to be compatible with the profile of the rail foot 13, preferably an inclining shape of the underside 2112, 2112 of the upper lip 211, 211 which also helps the attachment of the tag 2, 2 and the rail foot 13, whereby the maximum static friction applied by the fastener 23 may prevent subsequent removal of the tag 2, 2 from the rail 1.

[0043] To optimize the strength and stability of the tag 2, 2, the upper side 2132, 2132 of the lower lip 213, 213 includes a reinforcing protrusion 2133, 2133. The back 214, 214 of the base body 21, 21 is rounded to make unintentional removal of the tag 2, 2 from the rail 1 more difficult.

[0044] In sum, the present invention creates a non-destructive and firm connection between the tag 2, 2 and the rail 1.

LIST OF ELEMENTS

[0045] 1 rail [0046] 10 weld joint [0047] 11 rail head [0048] 12 rail web [0049] 13 rail foot [0050] 132 top of the rail foot [0051] 133 bottom of the rail foot [0052] T transverse direction [0053] R direction [0054] 2, 2 tag [0055] 21,21 basebody [0056] 211, 211 upper lip [0057] 2111, 2111 upper side of the upper lip [0058] 2112, 2112 underside of the upper lip [0059] 2113 engaging tip [0060] 212 another upper lip [0061] 213, 213 lower lip [0062] 2131, 2131 upper side of the lower lip [0063] 2132, 2132 underside of the lower lip [0064] 2133, 2133 reinforcing protrusion [0065] 214, 214 back of the base body [0066] 215 groove [0067] 22, 22 label [0068] 23 fastener