Arkansas Patent of the Month – August 2023
Alliance Rubber Company is a family-owned business, founded in 1923. While rubber bands have been in play for decades, innovation never stops.
Retailers often attach cards to products to indicate sales or helpful product information. Recently, the company has designed and patented a tagging system that easily secures these cards while ensuring they remain upright.
Their elastic loop tag anchor features an elastic loop with opposed outer and inner surfaces. Extending radially from the elastic loop is an elastic anchor which consists of a shank extending outwards into the elastic loop. The custom extruded silicone band effectively holds the tag upright (and in place) from production all the way to the consumer. The design also reduces the effort required to secure the tag to the product.
Not only is the elastic loop tag anchor quick and easy to use, but it also provides a secure attachment to the merchandise or any object. Once assembled, the tag stays in place, ensuring that the card remains attached until it needs to be replaced or updated.
Alliance Rubber Company’s innovative method of manufacturing the tag anchor involves co-extruding the elastic loop and anchor. The elastic loop boasts a hardness value of 25 to 70 on a Shore A scale, while the anchor has a hardness value of 50 to 80 on the same scale, making it relatively harder than the loop. This unique combination ensures optimal performance and durability, setting it apart from other tag anchoring solutions in the market.
Are you developing new technology for an existing application? Did you know your development work could be eligible for the R&D Tax Credit and you can receive up to 14% back on your expenses? Even if your development isn’t successful your work may still qualify for R&D credits (i.e. you don’t need to have a patent to qualify). To find out more, please contact a Swanson Reed R&D Specialist today or check out our free online eligibility test.
Who We Are:
Swanson Reed is one of the U.S.’ largest Specialist R&D tax advisory firms. We manage all facets of the R&D tax credit program, from claim preparation and audit compliance to claim disputes.
Swanson Reed regularly hosts free webinars and provides free IRS CE and CPE credits for CPAs. For more information please visit us at www.swansonreed.com/webinars or contact your usual Swanson Reed representative.
