Timing tag
A disposable timing tag is provided, including a thin, flexible planar sheet member having first and second end sections, and a middle section. A printed radio frequency identification (RFID) circuit is disposed on the middle section thereof and includes an integrated circuit chip, and a dipole antenna electrically coupled thereto. The dipoles of antenna extend generally along the longitudinal axis of the sheet member toward the first and second respective end sections thereof. The first and second end sections of the flexible planar member are separated from the middle section by fold lines formed in the surface of the planar member extending across the horizontal axis thereof, and the planar sheet member is folded such that the first and second ends thereof are connected to one another and the planar member forms a substantially D-shaped closed loop. The joined first and second ends of the flexible planar member are positioned between said laces and tongue of said athletic shoe and said RFID circuit on said middle section of the flexible planar member is spaced away from the surface of the athletic shoe.
1. A disposable timing tag for attachment to an athletic shoe between laces and a tongue thereof comprising:
a thin, flexible planar sheet member having a front surface, a rear surface, first and second end sections, and a middle section between said first and second end sections, wherein said planar sheet member may be folded such that the first and second ends thereof are connected to one another and the planar member forms a closed loop;
a printed radio frequency identification (RFID) circuit disposed on the middle section of one of said front or rear surfaces of the sheet member, said RFID circuit including an integrated circuit chip positioned near the center of the middle section of the planar sheet member, and a dipole antenna electrically coupled to said integrated circuit chip, wherein a first dipole of the antenna extends generally along a longitudinal axis of the sheet member toward the first end section and a second dipole of the antenna extends generally along the longitudinal axis of the sheet member toward the second end section.
2. The disposable timing tag according to claim 1 wherein the joined first and second ends of the flexible planar member are positioned between said laces and tongue of said athletic shoe and said RFID circuit on said middle section of the flexible planar member is spaced away from the surface of the athletic shoe.
3. The disposable timing tag according to claim 1 wherein the first and second ends of the planar sheet member are connected to one another by an adhesive.
4. The disposable timing tag according to claim 3 , further comprising a contact adhesive material disposed on a surface of one of said first and second ends such that when the first and second ends are connected to one another, the adhesive material on one of said first or second ends of the flexible sheet member comes into contact with a surface of the other of said first and second ends and secures said first end and said second end to one another.
5. The disposable timing tag according to claim 1 further comprising a clip for removeably securing said first and second ends of the flexible sheet member to one another.
6. The disposable timing tag according to claim 5 , wherein each of said first and second ends of the flexible sheet member includes a hole therethrough and said clip includes a first planar member having a pin protruding from a surface thereof and a second planar member having an end pivotally connected to an end of the first planar member of the clip and said second planar member of said clip having a détente for receiving said pin once it has passed through said holes in said first and second ends of the flexible sheet member.
7. The disposable timing tag according to claim 1 , wherein the first and second end sections of the thin, flexible planar member are separated from the middle section thereof by respective fold lines formed in the surface of the planar member extending across the horizontal axis thereof.
8. The disposable timing tag according to claim 7 , wherein the planar sheet member is folded such that the first and second ends thereof are connected to one another and the planar member forms a substantially D-shaped closed loop.
9. The disposable timing tag according to claim 8 , wherein the joined first and second ends of the flexible planar member are positioned between said laces and tongue of said athletic shoe and said RFID circuit on said middle section of the flexible planar member is spaced away from the surface of the athletic shoe.
10. The disposable timing tag according to claim 7 , wherein the first and second ends of the planar sheet member are connected to one another by an adhesive.
11. The disposable timing tag according to claim 10 , further comprising a contact adhesive material disposed on a surface of one of said first and second ends such that when the first and second ends are connected to one another, the adhesive material on one of said first or second ends of the flexible sheet member comes into contact with a surface of the other of said first and second ends and secures said first end and said second end to one another.
12. The disposable timing tag according to claim 7 , further comprising a clip for removeably securing said first and second ends of the flexible sheet member to one another.
13. The disposable timing tag according to claim 12 , wherein each of said first and second ends of the flexible sheet member includes a hole therethrough and said clip includes a first planar member having a pin protruding from a surface thereof and a second planar member having an end pivotally connected to an end of the first planar member of the clip and said second planar member of said clip having a détente for receiving said pin once it has passed through said holes in said first and second ends of the flexible sheet member.
14. The disposable timing tag according to claim 1 , wherein the first and second dipoles of the antenna extend substantially to the region where said middle section meets the first and second end sections, respectively, such that the dipoles of the antenna extend substantially along the entire length of the middle section of the flexible planar sheet.
15. The disposable timing tag according to claim 14 , wherein the width of the first and second dipoles of said antenna extend substantially across the width of the flexible planar sheet member.
16. The disposable timing tag according to claim 1 , wherein the RFID circuit is disposed on the rear surface of the sheet member and identification information is printed on the front surface of the sheet member.