Universal spring-clip mounting device for object identifying devices

Abstract

A universal spring-clip mounting device for attaching an object identifying device, such as RFID tag, bar code label, etc., to one or more objects of interest. Preferably, a device of the present invention is of resilient construction so as to be capable of exerting a retention force on the object of interest. One or more object engaging portions may be provided to engage structure on said object of interest, which may include external structure and/or holes, slots or other apertures thereof. Embodiments of a device of the present invention may be provided with object engaging portions that are designed to engage both substantially horizontally-oriented and substantially vertically-oriented sections of an object of interest, while maintaining substantially the same orientation of an attached object identifying device.

1 . A universal spring-clip mount for an object identifying device, comprising:
 a resilient body portion having at least two extending legs capable of being returnably displaced;   at least one object identifying device attachment portion; and   at least one object engaging portion designed to engage a portion of an object with which an object identifying device is to be associated;   wherein displacement of one or both of said extending legs prior to engagement of said device with an object of interest allows said legs to exert a subsequent retention force on said object of interest.   
   
   
       2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said object identifying device is a RFID tag. 
   
   
       3 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said object identifying device is a bar code label. 
   
   
       4 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said body portion is comprised of a resilient wire material. 
   
   
       5 . The device of  claim 4 , wherein said body portion, said object identifying device attachment portion and said at least one object engaging portion are all formed from a single piece of wire. 
   
   
       6 . The device of  claim 5 , wherein said object identifying device attachment portion comprises a loop formed in said wire. 
   
   
       7 . The device of  claim 6 , further comprising a coupler for attaching an object identifying device to said object identifying device attachment portion, said coupler having an element that passes through said loop. 
   
   
       8 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising a coupler for attaching an object identifying device to said object identifying device attachment portion. 
   
   
       9 . The device of  claim 8 , wherein said coupler allows at least limited rotation of an attached RFID tag with respect to said object identifying device attachment portion. 
   
   
       10 . The device of  claim 9 , wherein the position of said coupler can be fixed at any of various rotated positions. 
   
   
       11 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said extending legs include one or more bends. 
   
   
       12 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one object engaging portion comprises an extending arm associated with each leg, one or both of said extending arms adapted to engage said object subsequent to proper location of said device thereto and to prevent inadvertent disengagement of said device therefrom. 
   
   
       13 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one object engaging portion is designed for passage through a hole, slot or other aperture in said object, and for subsequent engagement with structure of said object surrounding said hole, slot or other aperture. 
   
   
       14 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said extending legs exert an outwardly-directed retention force on said object. 
   
   
       15 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said extending legs exert an inwardly-directed retention force on said object. 
   
   
       16 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein two or more object engaging portions are present, at least one of said object engaging portions designed to engage a section of said object residing in a first plane and at least one of said object engaging portions designed to engage a section of said object residing in a second plane, such that said object identifying device is maintained in substantially the same orientation regardless of the orientation of the section of said object with which said device is engaged. 
   
   
       17 . The device of  claim 16 , wherein said first plane is substantially horizontally-oriented and said second plane is substantially vertically-oriented. 
   
   
       18 . A universal spring-clip mounting device for a RFID tag, comprising:
 a resilient body portion having at least two extending legs capable of being returnably displaced;   at least one RFID tag attachment portion; and   a plurality of object engaging portions designed to engage a portion of an object with which an RFID tag is to be associated, at least two of said object engaging portions operative to engage with structure of an object of interest residing in different planes while maintaining substantially the same orientation of said RFID tag;   wherein forced displacement of one or both of said extending legs prior to engagement of said device with an object of interest allows   said legs to exert a subsequent retention force on said object of interest.   
   
   
       19 . The device of  claim 18 , wherein said body portion is comprised of a resilient wire material. 
   
   
       20 . The device of  claim 19 , wherein said body portion, said RFID tag attachment portion and said plurality of object engaging portions are all formed from a single piece of wire. 
   
   
       21 . The device of  claim 18 , further comprising a coupler for attaching an RFID tag to said RFID attachment portion. 
   
   
       22 . The device of  claim 18 , wherein one or more of said plurality of object engaging portions comprise an extending arm associated with each leg, one or both of said extending arms adapted to engage said object subsequent to proper location of said device thereto and to prevent inadvertent disengagement of said device therefrom. 
   
   
       23 . The device of  claim 18 , wherein said at least one of said plurality of object engaging portions is designed for passage through a hole, slot or other aperture in said object, and for subsequent engagement with structure of said object surrounding said hole, slot or other aperture. 
   
   
       24 . The device of  claim 18 , wherein said extending legs exert an outwardly-directed retention force on said object. 
   
   
       25 . The device of  claim 18 , wherein said extending legs exert an inwardly-directed retention force on said object. 
   
   
       26 . A universal spring-clip mounting device for a RFID tag, comprising:
 a resilient wire body portion having at least two extending legs capable of being returnably displaced;   an RFID tag attachment portion residing at one end of said body portion;   a pair of object engaging portions residing near an opposite end of said body portion, one of said object engaging portions designed to engage a substantially horizontally-oriented section of an object with which an RFID tag is to be associated and the other of said object engaging portions designed to engage a substantially vertically-oriented section of said object with which said RFID tag is to be associated, such that said RFID tag is maintained in substantially the same orientation regardless of the orientation of the section of said object with which said device is engaged; and   a coupler for attaching an RFID tag   wherein forced displacement of one or both of said extending legs prior to engagement of said device with said object allows said legs to exert a subsequent retention force on said object once released.   
   
   
       27 . The device of  claim 26 , wherein said body portion, said RFID tag attachment portion and said pair of object engaging portions are all formed from a single piece of wire. 
   
   
       28 . The device of  claim 26  wherein one or both of said pair of object engaging portions comprise an extending arm associated with each leg, one or both of said extending arms adapted to engage said object subsequent to proper location of said device thereto and to prevent inadvertent disengagement of said device therefrom. 
   
   
       29 . The device of  claim 26 , wherein said at least one of said pair of object engaging portions is designed for passage through a hole, slot or other aperture in said object, and for subsequent engagement with structure of said object surrounding said hole, slot or other aperture. 
   
   
       30 . The device of  claim 26 , wherein said extending legs exert an outwardly-directed retention force on said object. 
   
   
       31 . The device of  claim 26 , wherein said extending legs exert an inwardly-directed retention force on said object.