GB2293348A

GB2293348A - Identification card for children

Info

Publication number: GB2293348A
Application number: GB9519297A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Stephen John Wills
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1994-09-23
Filing date: 1995-09-21
Publication date: 1996-03-27
Also published as: GB9419226D0; GB9519297D0

Abstract

An identification card for assisting in the location of a lost or missing child comprises a card on the front of which a photograph of the child is mounted and on the rear of which detailed information concerning the child is recorded. A thumb print is also included. The card is contained within a clear or transparent plastic envelope. As an alternative, the card may be a smart card. <IMAGE>

Description

IDENTIFICATION MEANS Field of the Invention This invention relates to identification means and to a method of producing such identification means.

Background to the Invention If a child gets lost or goes missing, the police or other authorities are greatly assisted in any searches and investigations which they carry out if they have immediate access to detailed information about the child who is lost or missing. However, if parents discover that a child is missing, they may be unable, because of worry, panic or trauma, to provide the police with a full and accurate description of the child. They may also not have or be unable to locate a recent photograph of the child.

It is accordingly an object of the present invention to provide identification means which can be of assistance in the above circumstances.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide means for assisting police in locating lost or missing children.

Summary of the Invention According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided identification means for use in the recovery of a lost or missing child, said identification means being in the form of a card which carries a representation of the child plus detailed information concerning the child, such information including the name of the child and key physical characteristics of the child.

The representation of the child is preferably in the form of a photograph of the child and the card is preferably encapsulated or enclosed in a clear or transparent plastics material so that the photograph is protected from damage while being readily visible.

The card may also carry a thumb print of the child to assist in positive identification, a thumb print being preferred to a finger print since the finger prints of small children are more difficult to take and to identify than thumb prints.

The key physical characteristics of the child preferably include age, weight, height, build, hair colour and eye colour.

The information may also include the address and telephone number of the child's parents plus the address and telephone number of the child's school. The information may be entered on the card in written form. The information may alternatively, or additionally, be entered on the card in machine-readable form. The card may thus be a "SMART" card and the representation of the child may be in such form that, when the card is inserted in a card-reader connected to a printer or v.d.u., the printer produces a copy of the representation of the child or the v.d.u. displays the representation of the cnild.

According to a second aspect of the present invention there is providing a method of producing identification means for assisting in the location of a lost or missing child, said method including: a) taking a photograph of a child, b) mounting the photograph on a card, c) entering detailed information concerning key physical characteristics of the child on the card, and d) applying a protective covering to the card.

The protective covering is preferably in the form of clear or transparent plastic sheets between which the card is neat-sealed.

The logistics of production may be similar to those adopted for the production of school photographs in that a photographer will attend a school to take photographs of the children and the details of each child to be entered on their respective cards will be collected and collated.

The method is preferably carried out annually so that the photographs and recorded details are always up-to-date and so that, if there are any changes in circumstances, or if the child starts to wear glasses or there are changes in other distinguishing features, account can be taken of any such changes and the identification means will be current.

More than one card may be produced for each child. For example, the parents and grand-parents of a child may each have a card and the school attended by the child may also have a card.

Brief Description of the Drawings Figure 1 shows the front of a card to which a photograph of the child is attached and on which a representation of a thumb print of the child can be placed, and Figure 2 shows the rear of a card and indicates the detailed information recorded on the card, the card being encapsulated in clear plastic once the required information has been entered on the card.

Description of the Preferred Embodiment As shown in the drawings, the front of the card carries a photograph of a child and his or her thumb print. Information concerning the child is set out on the rear of the card.

It is envisaged that a photographer will attend a school and will take photographs of the children. He will also obtain their thumb prints and will collect the data necessary to complete the rear of the card. Once the information has been set out on the card and the photograph has been developed and mounted on the card, the completed card will be heat-sealed within a clear or transparent plastic envelope.

The cards may be up-dated annually and more than one card may be produced for each child, e.g. one for tne child's school and one for the child's parents.

The size, format and wording of the card may be varied at any time to take into consideration any future requirements of parents, schools or authorities. Similarly, the materials and how they are used may be varied to take into consideration updating of manufacturing techniques.

Claims

Claims:

1. Identification means for use in the recovery of a lost or missing child, said identification means being in the form of a card which carries a representation of the child plus detailed information concerning the child, such information including the name of the child and key physical characteristics of the child.

2. Identification means according to Claim 1, in which the representation is in the form of a photograph of the child and in which the card is encapsulated or enclosed in a clear or transparent plastics material so that the photograph is protected from damage while being readily visible.

3. Identification means according to either of the preceding claims, in which the card also carries a thumb print of the child.

4. Identification means substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.

5. A method of producing identification means for assisting in the location of a lost or missing child, said method including: - a) taking a photograph of a child, b) mounting the photograph on a card, c) entering detailed information concerning key physical characteristics of the child on the card, and d) applying a protective covering to the card.

6. A method of producing identification means for assisting location of a lost or missing child, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.