DETECTABLE SIGNAGE APPARATUS AND METHOD OF MAKING THE SAME

1 . Signage comprising:

an in-mold plastic plate portion having a slot;

a flexible tongue having a neck portion that extends outwardly from the plate portion and has a locking tip extending from the neck portion; and

the locking tip formed to be received by the slot;

wherein the plastic plate portion is made of a filler material and a detectable additive.

2 . The signage of claim 1 wherein the locking tip has an aperture adapted to receive a locking mechanism.

3 . The signage of claim 1 wherein the slot is T-shaped.

4 . The signage of claim 1 wherein once the locking tip passes through the slot and is twisted the locking tip is retained by a surface of the plate portion.

5 . The signage of claim 1 wherein the in-mold plastic plate portion has a graphic sheet.

6 . The signage of claim 1 wherein a mixture of filler material and detectable additive is 5% to 20% detectable additive.

7 . The signage of claim 1 wherein the signage is detectable by metallic detecting machines to a depth of 1 inch.

8 . A method of making detectable signage comprising the steps of:

mixing a filler material with a detectable additive;

heating the mixed filler material and the detectable additive to form a homogeneous mixture;

placing a label having indicia positioned on one side into a cavity of an injection mold with the indicia facing away from the cavity; and

injecting the homogenous mixture into the cavity of the injection mold such that the homogeneous mixture bonds to the label forming detectable signage.

9 . The method of claim 8 wherein the detectable additive is 5% to 20% of the homogeneous mixture.

10 . The method of claim 8 wherein the filler material is a plastic material.

11 . The method of claim 8 wherein the detectable additive is in pellet form.

12 . The method of claim 8 wherein the filler material is in pellet form.

13 . The method of claim 8 wherein the homogenous mixture fuses to the label thereby providing sanitary signage.

14 . The method of claim 8 wherein the homogenous mixture forces out all bubbles and wrinkles.

15 . A method of connecting signage to an object comprising the steps of:

providing a tag having an elongate, in-mold plastic plate portion, a slot, and a flexible tongue wherein the tongue has a neck portion that extends outwardly from the plate portion and a locking tip extending from the neck portion;

bending the tongue around an object; and

engaging the locking tip and the slot;

wherein the plastic plate portion is made of a filler material and a detectable additive.

16 . The method of claim 15 further comprising the step of twisting the tongue so that the locking tip is received by and passes through the slot.