U.S. patent number 3,631,617 [Application Number 04/869,764] was granted by the patent office on 1972-01-04 for tamperproof label construction.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Avery Products Corporation. Invention is credited to John A. Pekko.
United States Patent |
3,631,617 |
Pekko |
January 4, 1972 |
**Please see images for:
( Certificate of Correction ) ** |
TAMPERPROOF LABEL CONSTRUCTION
Abstract
A tamperproof label is provided in which the underside of a
transparent film is partially masked with a substance having
limited adhesivity for the film and imprinting is applied to both
the undersurface of the film and the mask. To form a tamperproof
pressure-sensitive label, pressure-sensitive adhesive layer is
applied over both the imprinted underside of the film and the mask,
the adhesive layer having a greater adhesion for the mask than the
adhesion of the mask for the undersurface of the transparent film.
Once the label has been applied to a substrate any removal of the
label will result in all or a portion of the adhesive layer,
essentially corresponding to the pattern of the applied mask, to
remain on the substrate with the printed mask. A portion of the
imprinting will also be removed with the transparent film thereby
destroying the intelligence of the imprint.
Inventors: |
Pekko; John A. (Whittier,
CA) |
Assignee: |
Avery Products Corporation (San
Marino, CA)
|
Family
ID: |
25354221 |
Appl.
No.: |
04/869,764 |
Filed: |
October 27, 1969 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
283/101; 283/81;
283/108; 283/107 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B32B
27/08 (20130101); G09F 3/10 (20130101); G09F
3/0292 (20130101); B32B 2519/00 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
G09F
3/02 (20060101); G09F 3/10 (20060101); G09f
003/02 () |
Field of
Search: |
;40/2,2B,135,2.2
;117/1.5,15 ;283/6,10,9,8 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Michell; Robert W.
Assistant Examiner: Contreras; Wenceslao J.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A composite tamperproof label construction comprising:
a. a self-supporting film at least a portion of which is
transparent and having at least one surface imprinted with first
visual indicia;
b. a masking surface in contact with at least part of at least one
surface of the transparent portion of a said self-supporting film
said masking surface at least in contact with a second imprinted
visual indicia; and
c. an adhesive layer having a first adhesive surface in contact
with the transparent portion of said self-supporting film and said
masking surface and a second adhesive surface for contact with a
substrate; said masking surface and said first and second adhesive
surfaces cooperating to allow a portion of the total visual indicia
and at least a portion of said first and second adhesive surfaces
to remain on the substrate to which the composite tamperproof label
is applied when the label is removed therefrom.
2. A composite tamperproof label construction as claimed in claim 1
in which the masking surface is the separable imprinted second
visual indicia.
3. A composite tamperproof label construction as claimed in claim 1
in which:
a. a part of the surface of the exposed transparent portion of the
self-supporting film opposed to the surface in contact with the
masking surface is in contact with a second masking surface;
and
b. a printable overlayer, at least transparent where visual indicia
is to appear through the transparent portion of said
self-supporting film, is in contact with the exposed transparent
portion of the self-supporting film and said second masking
surface, the adhesivity of said printable overlayer for the exposed
transparent surface exceeding the maximum interlayer adhesion
available from the laminate comprising said printable overlayer,
said second masking surface and the exposed transparent portion of
said self-supporting film.
4. A composite tamperproof label as claim claim 3 in combination
with a self-supporting protective film, transparent at least where
visual indicia is to appear therethrough, said protective film
having an adhesive surface for contact with said printable
overlayer, the adhesivity of said adhesive surface having a greater
adhesivity for said printable overlayer than the maximum interlayer
adhesive bond provided by the laminate comprising the overlayer,
second masking surface and exposed transparent portion of said self
supporting film, but less than the adhesivity of said printable
overlayer for the exposed transparent surface.
5. A tamperproof label construction as claimed in claim 1 in
which:
a. at least part of the exposed transparent portion of the
self-supporting film opposed to the surface in contact with the
masking surface is in contact with a printable overlayer; and
b. a second masking surface is in contact with a portion of said
printable overlayer.
6. A tamperproof label construction as claimed in claim 5 in
combination with a self-supporting protective, transparent at least
where visual indicia is to appear therethrough, said protective
film having an adhesive surface for contact with said printable
overlayer and said second masking surface, the adhesivity of said
adhesive surface for said printable overlay exceeding the
adhesivity of said printable overlay for the exposed portion of
said transparent film and less than the minimum interlayer bond
available from a laminate comprising said printable overlayer, said
second masking surface and the exposed transparent portion of said
self-supporting film.
7. A composite tamperproof label construction comprising:
a. a self-supported film at least a portion of which is transparent
and imprinted with visual indicia;
b. a masking surface imprinted with visual indicia in contact with
part of the transparent portion of said self-supporting film;
c. an adhesive layer having a first adhesive surface in adhesive
contact with at least the transparent portion of said
self-supporting film and said imprinted masking surface; the
adhesivity of said first adhesive layer for said imprinted masking
surface exceeding the contact adherence of said imprinted masking
surface for the transparent portion of said film, and a second
adhesive surface, having a greater adhesivity for substrate to
which the label is to be applied than the contact adherence of said
masking surface for the transparent portion of said film.
8. A composite tamperproof label construction as claimed in claim 7
in which the masking surface is transparent and imprinted on the
surface thereof in contact with the adhesive layer.
9. A composite tamperproof label construction as claimed in claim 8
in which:
a. a part of the surface of the exposed transparent portion of the
self-supporting film opposed to the surface in contact with the
masking surface is in contact with a second masking surface;
and
b. a printable overlayer, at least transparent where visual indicia
is to appear through the transparent portion of said
self-supporting film, is in contact with the exposed transparent
portion of the self-supporting film and said second masking
surface, the adhesivity of said printable overlayer for the exposed
transparent surface exceeding the maximum interlayer adhesion
available from the laminate comprising said printable overlayer,
said second masking surface and the exposed transparent portion of
said self-supporting film.
10. A composite tamperproof label as claimed in claim 9 in
combination with a self-supporting protective film, transparent at
least where visual indicia is to appear therethrough, said
protective film having an adhesive surface for contact with said
printable overlayer, the adhesivity of said adhesive surface having
a greater adhesivity for said printable overlayer than the maximum
interlayer adhesive bond provided by the laminate comprising the
overlayer, second masking surface and exposed transparent portion
of said self-supporting film, but less than the adhesivity of said
printable overlayer for the exposed transparent surface.
11. A composite tamperproof label construction as claimed in claim
8 in which:
a. part of the surface of the exposed transparent portion of the
self-supporting film opposed to the surface in contact with the
masking surface is in adhesive contact with a second masking
surface; and
b. a printable overlay, at least transparent where visual indicia
is to appear through the transparent portion of said
self-supporting film, is in adhesive contact with said second
masking surface and in direct adhesive contact with part of the
exposed transparent portion of said self-supporting film.
12. A composite tamperproof label construction as claimed in claim
11 in combination with a self-supporting protective film,
transparent at least where visual indicia is to appear
therethrough, said protective film providing an adhesive surface
for contact with said printable overlay, the adhesivity of said
adhesive surface to said printable overlay, exceeding the
adhesivity of the printable overlayer in direct contact with the
exposed transparent portion of said self-supporting film but less
than the adhesivity of the printable overlay for said second
masking surface and the adhesivity of said second masking surface
for the exposed transparent portion of said self-supporting
film.
13. A tamperproof label construction as claimed in claim 8 in
which:
a. at least part of the exposed transparent portion of the
self-supporting film opposed to the surface in contact with the
masking surface is in contact with a printable overlayer; and
b. a second masking surface is in contact with a portion of said
printable overlayer.
14. A tamperproof label construction as claimed in claim 13 in
combination with a self-supporting protective, transparent at least
where visual indicia is to appear therethrough, said protective
film having an adhesive surface for contact with said printable
overlayer and said second masking surface, the adhesivity of said
adhesive surface for said printable overlay for the exposed portion
of said transparent film and less than the minimum interlayer bond
available from a laminate comprising said printable overlay, said
second masking surface and the exposed transparent portion of said
self-supporting film.
15. A composite tamperproof label construction as claimed in claim
7 in which:
a. a part of the surface of the exposed transparent portion of the
self-supporting film opposed to the surface in contact with the
masking surface is in contact with a second masking surface;
and
b. a printable overlayer, at least transparent where visual indicia
is to appear through the transparent portion of said
self-supporting film, is in contact with the exposed transparent
portion of the self-supporting film and said second masking
surface, the adhesivity of said printable overlayer for the exposed
transparent surface exceeding the maximum interlayer adhesion
available from the laminate comprising said printable overlayer,
said second masking surface and the exposed transparent portion of
said self-supporting film.
16. A composite tamperproof label as claimed in claim 15 in
combination with a self-supporting protective film, transparent at
least where visual indicia is to appear therethrough, said
protective film having an adhesive surface for contact with said
printable overlayer, the adhesivity of said adhesive surface having
a greater adhesivity for said printable overlayer than the maximum
interlayer adhesive bond provided by the laminate comprising the
overlayer, second masking surface and exposed transparent portion
of said self-supporting film, but less than the adhesivity of said
printable overlayer of the exposed transparent surface.
17. A composite tamperproof label construction as claimed in claim
7 in which:
a. part of the surface of the exposed transparent portion of the
self-supporting film opposed to the surface in contact with the
masking surface is in adhesive contact with a second masking
surface; and
b. a printable overlay, at least transparent where visual indicia
is to appear through transparent portion of said self-supporting
film, is in adhesive contact with said second masking surface and
in direct adhesive contact with part of the exposed transparent
portion of said self-supporting film.
18. A composite tamperproof label construction as claimed in claim
17 in combination with a self-supporting protective film,
transparent at least where visual indicia is to appear
therethrough, said protective film providing an adhesive surface
for contact with said printable overlay, the adhesivity of said
adhesive surface to said printable overlay, exceeding the
adhesivity of the printable overlayer in direct contact with the
exposed transparent portion of said self-supporting film but less
than the adhesivity of the printable overlay for said second
masking surface and the adhesivity of said second masking surface
for the exposed transparent portion of said self-supporting
film.
19. A tamperproof label construction as claimed in claim 7 in
which:
a. at least part of the exposed transparent portion of the
self-supporting film opposed to the surface in contact with the
masking surface is in contact with a printable overlayer; and
b. a second masking surface is in contact with a portion of said
printable overlayer.
20. A tamperproof label construction as claimed in claim 19 in
combination with a self-supporting protective, transparent at least
where visual indicia is to appear therethrough, said protective
film having an adhesive surface for contact with said printable
overlayer and said second masking surface, the adhesivity of said
adhesive surface for said printable overlay exceeding the
adhesivity of said printable overlay for the exposed portion of
said transparent film and less than the minimum interlayer bond
available from a laminate comprising said printable overlay, said
second masking surface and the exposed transparent portion of said
self-supporting film.
21. A composite tamperproof label construction comprising:
a. a self-supported film at least a portion of which is transparent
and imprinted with visual indicia on at least one surface of the
transparent portion;
b. a masking surface in contact with at least part of the visual
indicia provided on at least one imprinted surface;
c. a adhesive layer having a first adhesive surface in contact with
said masking surface and part of the imprinting on the surface of
the transparent portion of said self-supporting film in contact
with said masking surface, said first adhesive layer having a
greater adhesivity for the imprinted visual indicia on the unmasked
portion of the transparent film than the adhesivity of the
imprinted visual indicia for the transparent portion of said
self-supporting film and a second adhesive surface having a greater
adhesivity for a substrate to which the label is to be applied than
adhesivity of the unmasked printed indicia for the transparent
portion of said self-supporting film.
22. A composite tamperproof label construction as claimed in claim
21 in which:
a. a part of the surface of the exposed transparent portion of the
self-supporting film opposed to the surface in contact with the
masking surface is in contact with a second masking surface;
and
b. a printable overlayer, at least transparent where visual indicia
is to appear through the transparent portion of said
self-supporting film, in contact with the exposed transparent
portion of the self-supporting film and said second masking
surface, the adhesivity of said printable overlayer for the exposed
transparent surface exceeding the maximum interlayer adhesion
available from the laminate comprising said printable overlayer,
said second masking surface and the exposed transparent portion of
said self-supporting film.
23. A composite tamperproof label as claimed in claim 22 in
combination with a self-supporting protective film, transparent at
least where visual indicia is to appear therethrough, said
protective film having an adhesive for contact with said printable
overlayer, the adhesivity of said adhesive surface having a greater
adhesivity for said printable overlayer than the maximum interlayer
adhesive bond provided by the laminate comprising the overlayer,
second masking surface and exposed transparent portion of said
self-supporting film, but less than the adhesivity of said
printable overlayer for the exposed transparent surface.
24. A composite tamperproof label construction as claimed in claim
21 in which:
a. part of the surface of the exposed transparent portion of the
self-supporting film opposed to the surface in contact with the
masking surface is in adhesive contact with a second masking
surface; and
b. a printable overlay, at least transparent where visual indicia
is to appear through the transparent portion of said
self-supporting film, is in adhesive contact with said second
masking surface and in direct adhesive contact with part of the
exposed transparent portion of said self-supporting film.
25. A composite tamperproof label construction as claimed in claim
24 in combination with a self-supporting protective film,
transparent at least where visual indicia is to appear
therethrough, said protective film providing an adhesive surface
for contact with said printable overlay, the adhesivity of said
adhesive surface to said printable overlay exceeding the adhesivity
of the printable overlayer in direct contact with the exposed
transparent of said self-supporting film but less than the
adhesivity of the printable overlay for said second masking surface
and the adhesivity of said second masking surface for the exposed
transparent portion of said self-supporting film.
26. A composite tamperproof label construction as claimed in claim
21 in which:
a. part of the surface of the exposed transparent portion of the
self-supporting film opposed to the surface in contact with the
masking surface is in adhesive contact with a second masking
surface; and
b. a printable overlay, at least transparent where visual indicia
is to appear through the transparent portion of said
self-supporting film, is in adhesive contact with said second
masking surface and in direct adhesive contact with part of the
exposed transparent portion of said self-supporting film.
27. A composite tamperproof label construction as claimed in claim
26 in combination with a self-supporting protective film,
transparent at least where visual indicia is to appear
therethrough, said protective film providing an adhesive surface
for contact with said printable overlay, the adhesivity of said
adhesive surface to said printable overlay exceeding the adhesivity
of the printable overlayer in direct contact with the exposed
transparent portion of said self-supporting film but less than the
adhesivity of the printable overlay for said second masking surface
and the adhesivity of said second masking surface for the exposed
transparent portion of said self-supporting film.
28. A tamperproof label construction as claimed in claim 21 in
which:
a. at least part of the exposed transparent portion of the
self-supporting film opposed to the surface in contact with the
masking surface is in contact with a printable overlayer; and
b. a second masking surface is in contact with a portion of said
printable overlayer.
29. A tamperproof label construction as claimed in claim 28 in
combination with a self-supporting protective, transparent at least
where visual indicia is to appear therethrough, said protective
film having an adhesive surface for contact with said printable
overlayer and said second masking surface, the adhesivity of said
adhesive surface for said printable overlay exceeding the
adhesivity of said printable overlay for the exposed portion of
said transparent film and less than the minimum interlayer bond
available from a laminate comprising said printable overlay, said
second masking surface and the exposed transparent portion of said
self-supporting film.
30. A composite tamperproof label construction comprising:
a. a self-supporting film at least a portion of which is
transparent and imprinted with visual indicia on at least one
surface of the transparent portion;
b. a masking surface imprinted with visual indicia in adhesive
contact with at least one imprinted surface of the transparent
portion of said self-supporting film;
c. an adhesive layer having a first adhesive surface in contact
with said masking surface and the imprinted surface of the
transparent portion of said self-supporting film, the adhesion of
said first adhesive surface for the imprinted visual indicia on
transparent portion of said self-supporting surface exceeding the
adhesion of the imprinted visual indicia for the transparent
portion of said self-supporting film and a second adhesive surface
having a greater adhesion for a substrate to which the label is to
be applied than the adhesion of the imprinted visual indicia for
the transparent portion of said self-supporting film.
31. A composite tamperproof label construction as claimed in claim
30 in which said masking surface is transparent and imprinted on
the surface thereof in contact with said adhesive layer.
32. A composite tamperproof label construction as claimed in claim
30 in which:
a. a part of the surface of the exposed transparent portion of the
self-supporting film opposed to the surface in contact with the
masking surface is in contact with a second masking surface;
and
b. a printable overlayer, at least transparent where visual indicia
is to appear through the transparent portion of said
self-supporting film, is in contact with the exposed transparent
portion of the self-supporting film and said second masking
surface, the adhesivity of said printable overlayer for the exposed
transparent surface exceeding the maximum interlayer adhesion
available from the laminate comprising said printable overlayer,
said second masking surface and the exposed transparent portion of
said self-supporting film.
33. A composite tamperproof label as claimed in claim 32 in
combination with a self-supporting protective film, transparent at
least where visual indicia is to appear therethrough, said
protective film having an adhesive surface for contact with said
printable overlayer, the adhesivity of said adhesive surface having
a greater adhesivity for said printable overlayer than the maximum
interlayer adhesive bond provided by the laminate comprising the
overlayer, second masking surface and exposed transparent portion
of said self-supporting film, but less than the adhesivity of said
printable overlayer for the exposed transparent surface
34. A composite tamperproof label construction as claimed in claim
30 in which:
a. part of the surface of the exposed transparent portion of the
self-supporting film opposed to the surface in contact with the
masking surface is in adhesive contact with a second masking
surface; and
b. a printable overlay, at least transparent where visual indicia
is to appear through the transparent portion of said
self-supporting film, is in adhesive contact with said second
masking surface and in direct adhesive contact with part of the
exposed transparent portion of said self-supporting film.
35. A composite tamperproof label construction as claimed in claim
34 in combination with a self-supporting protective film,
transparent at least where visual indicia is to appear
therethrough, said protective film providing an adhesive surface
for contact with said printable overlay, the adhesivity of said
adhesive surface to said printable overlay exceeding the adhesivity
of the printable overlayer in direct contact with the exposed
transparent portion of said self-supporting film but less than the
adhesivity of the printable overlay for said second masking surface
and the adhesivity of said second masking surface for the exposed
transparent portion of said self-supporting film.
36. A tamperproof label construction as claimed in claim 30 in
which:
a. at least part of the exposed transparent portion of the
self-supporting film opposed to the surface in contact with the
masking surface is in contact with a printable overlayer; and
b. a second masking surface is in contact with a portion of said
printable overlayer.
37. A tamperproof label construction as claimed in claim 36 in
combination with a self-supporting protective, transparent at least
where visual indicia is to appear therethrough, said protective
film having an adhesive surface for contact with said printable
overlayer and said second masking surface for contact with said
printable overlayer and said second masking surface, the adhesivity
of said adhesive surface for said printable overlay exceeding the
adhesivity of said printable overlay for the exposed portion of
said transparent film and less than the minimum interlayer bond
available from a laminate comprising said printable overlay, said
second masking surface and the exposed transparent portion of said
self-supporting film.
38. A composite for construction of a tamperproof label which
comprises:
a. a self-supporting film at least a portion of which is
transparent and adapted to accept imprinting;
b. a transparent masking surface in contact with part of the
transparent portion of said self-supporting film said masking
surface adapted to accept imprinting; and
c. an adhesive layer having a first adhesive surface for contact
with said self-supporting film and said masking surface, the
adhesivity of said first adhesive surface for said masking surface
exceeding the contact adherence of said masking surface for the
transparent portion of said self-supporting film and a second
adhesive surface adapted for contact to a substrate, the adhesivity
of said second adhesive surface for the substrate to which it is to
be applied exceeding the contact adherence of said masking surface
for the transparent portion of said self-supporting film.
39. A composite for construction of a tamperproof label which
comprises:
a. a self-supporting film at least a portion of which is
transparent and adapted to accept imprinting;
b. a transparent masking surface in adhesive contact with part of
the transparent portion of said self-supporting film; said masking
surface adapted to accept imprinting; and
c. an adhesive layer having a first adhesive surface adapted for
contact with the transparent portion of said self-supporting film
and said masking surface; the adhesion of said first adhesive
surface for at least one printable visual indicia exceeding the
adhesivity of the printable indicia for the transparent portion of
said self-supporting film and a second adhesive surface for contact
to a substrate, the adhesion of said second adhesive surface for
the substrate to which it is to be applied exceeding the adhesivity
of the printable indicia for the transparent portion of said
film.
40. A composite for construction of a tamperproof label which
comprises:
a. a self-supporting film at least a portion of which is
transparent and adapted to accept imprinting;
b. a transparent masking surface in adhesive contact with part of
the transparent portion of said self-supporting film; said masking
surface adapted to accept imprinting; and
c. an adhesive layer having a first adhesive surface adapted for
contact with the transparent portion of said self-supporting film
and said masking surface; the adhesion of said first adhesive
surface for at least one printable visual indicia exceeding the
adhesivity of the printable indicia for the transparent portion of
said masking surface and a second adhesive surface for contact to a
substrate the adhesion of said second adhesive surface for the
substrate to which it is to be applied exceeding the adhesivity of
the printable indicia for said masking surface.
41. A composite for construction of a tamperproof label which
comprises:
a. a self-supporting film at least a portion of which is
transparent and adapted to accept imprinting;
b. a self-supporting masking surface adapted to be applied over a
part of the transparent portion of said self-supporting film;
and
c. an adhesive layer having a first adhesive surface adapted for
contact with the transparent portion of said self-supporting film
and said masking surface, the adhesivity of said first adhesive
surface for a visual indicia printable on the transparent portion
of said self-supporting film exceeding the adhesivity of said
visual indicia for said self-supporting film and a second adhesive
surface adapted for adhesive contact with a substrate, the adhesion
of said second adhesive surface to which it is to be applied
exceeding the adhesivity of said visual indicia for the transparent
portion of said self-supporting film.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to tamperproof labels particularly
labels which must be permanently applied to a substrate.
Recently, the United States Federal Highway Administration
developed a regulation requiring all manufacturers of motor
vehicles to provide serial number, date and year of manufacture on
a certification label permanently applied to the vehicle. This
label certifies that the vehicle meets all applicable federal
safety standards enabling purchasers to determine by the imprinted
date of manufacture which standards are applicable to that
particular vehicle. The regulation includes imported vehicles where
the certification label should be affixed by the foreign
manufacturer who is in the best position to know the foreign
characteristics of the vehicle. Label required must remain in place
and be legible for life of the vehicle and not easily transferable
to another vehicle.
To prevent easy transferability to another vehicle the label must
be essentially tamperproof. One tamperproof label has been
proposed. In this label the required information is printed on a
receptive transparent surface having an opaque adhesive backing for
application to the substrate. Any removal of the label from the
substrate will cause part of the opaque pressure sensitive material
to separate from transparent surface and remain on the substrate
forming thereby a transparent wording such as "void," on the film,
which, in thereby, indicates that the label had been removed from
the original substrate to which it was applied. The opaque adhesive
backing, however, is readily obtainable and the defect area can be
easily mended by a reapplication of the adhesive coating so that
the label may be reused without an indication that it has been
removed from the original substrate.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to the present invention there is provided a tamperproof
label construction in which any attempt to remove the label from a
substrate to which it has been applied will result in a destruction
of visual indicia, preferably the intelligence of such indicia,
appearing through a transparent portion of the label.
In a preferred construction, the structural member of the basic
label is a self-supporting film at least a portion of which is
transparent. Part of the underside of the transparent portion is
printed with visual indicia and part of the underside of the
transparent portion is in contact with a masking surface of limited
adhesivity to the film and imprinted with a visual indicia. The
imprinted and masked underside of the transparent film is in
adhesive contact with an adhesive layer having upper and lower
adhesive surfaces. The upper adhesive surface is in direct adhesive
contact with both the imprinted transparent portion of the film and
the imprinted mask and has a greater adhesive bond to the mask than
the mask has to the transparent portion of the self-supporting
film. The lower adhesive surface of the adhesive layer also has a
greater adhesivity for the substrate to which the label is to be
applied than the adhesivity of the mask to the film.
When the label is removed from the substrate to which it is applied
that portion of the imprinting corresponding to the area defined by
the mask will remain on the substrate with at least part of the
adhesive and that portion of the imprinting corresponding to the
masked area of the transparent portion of the film will be removed
with the self-supporting film with, where desired, part of the
adhesive destroying thereby the intelligence of the visual
indicia.
There is also provided multidestruct label systems. A preferred
system includes the basic label described above in combination with
a protective adhesive film which allows destruction of both
overprinted visual indicia. The basis label described above has
imprinted beneath the transparent portion visual indicia which may
be standard copy common to all labels of a series. Part of the
upper surface of the transparent portion thereof is in contact with
a similar mask and part in contact with a printable layer covering
both the mask and the upper surface of the transparent portion of
the self-supporting film. The printable overlayer generally has a
greater adhesion to the transparent self-supporting film than the
greatest single adhesive bond provided by the printable overlayer
mask transparent film laminate. The printable overlayer is at least
transparent where the copy appears. The printable overlayer is then
printable with some intelligent visual indicia generally peculiar
to the substrate to which it is to be applied such as a vehicle
serial number and manufacturing date, designed for the print to
register on portions of the printable overlayer in contact with
both film and mask.
The second part of the system is an adhesive self-supporting
protective which is at least transparent wherever visual indicia
are to appear. This protective film has a greater adhesivity for
the printable overlayer than the adhesivity of the mask of the
film, printable overlayer, or both, but a lesser adhesion for the
printable overlayer than the adhesion of the printable overlayer
for the film. The protective film also serves to protect the
applied label from the elements. When the combined system is
applied to a substrate removal of the second film removes portions
the printable overlayer and any imprinting thereon, the portions
corresponding to the masked areas of the transparent film. As
indicated above, when the self-supporting film of the basis label
is removed the visual indicia it protects is also destroyed
DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is an expanded illustration of the several components of a
preferred multidestruct tamperproof label system of this invention
showing in addition the preferred basic tamperproof label
construction.
FIG. 2 is an illustration of the destruction which results from
removal of the protective self-supporting, pressure-sensitive film
from a multidestruct tamperproof label from a substrate.
FIG. 3 is an illustration of the destruction which then occurs upon
removal of the self-supporting transparent film of the basic label
construction applied to a substrate.
DESCRIPTION
According to the present invention, there is provided a tamperproof
label that once applied to a substrate. Any attempted removal will
cause a destruction of provided intelligent visual indicia.
Tamperproof labels provided in accordance with the practice of this
invention may be understood with reference to FIG. 1. With
reference thereto a basic tamperproof label of this invention may
be fabricated from a self-supporting film 10 which is at least
transparent in areas where visual indicia are to be printed on the
undersurface thereof. A patterned mask 12 having limited or even
essentially no adhesion to the self-supporting film 10 and greater
adhesion to the adhesive layer 14 is in contact with part of the
undersurface of the film 10. Some visual indicia 16 such as a
letter grouping shown, which may be composed of single or multiple
colors, a symbol, a code or any other selected visuallike indicia
including a color coating or multicolored pattern is applied to
both mask 12 and transparent portion of film 10. Portion of the
imprinted transparent self-supporting film and the transparent
imprinted mask 12 are in adhesive contact with the upper adhesive
surface of adhesive layer.
The self-supporting film 10 may be fabricated of any material of
sufficient integrity to provide long term protection of visual
indicia 16. Although cellulosic materials may be used, film 10 is
preferably fabricated from normally solid polymers such as ethylene
polymers such as polyethylene, ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymers,
ethylene-acrylic acid copolymers and the like; propylene polymers
such as polypropylene and ethylene-propylene copolymers and the
like; acrylic polymers, vinyl polymers such as polyvinyl acetate,,
polyvinyl fluoride and the like; cellulose acetate, polycarbonates,
polyesters, polyethers, polysulfones, styrene polymers and like
polymers which offer good surface life and long term resistance to
the elements. The self-supporting film 10 may also be a laminate
such as a paper print laminated to at least one or between two
normally solid polymeric surfaces in a manner which provides a
window through which the underprinted visual indicia 16 will
appear. As indicated, areas where visual indicia 16 do not appear
may be coated and provided with other visual indicia which need not
be destroyed.
Although the displaying area must be transparent it may be tinted
or dyed and the like, where desired.
The nature of the mask 12 is not narrowly critical except that its
adhesivity to the upper adhesive surface adhesive layer 14 must, in
the preferred label construction of this invention, exceed its
adhesivity to self-supporting film 10. It may, for instance, be an
imprinted or printable self-supporting film such as thin polymeric
membrane which has limited or partial adhesivity to surface 10 per
se or because of the presence of a release coating such as a
silicone oil. The mask is preferably formed by the application of a
transparent printable ink which is known to have poor adhesivity
for the film surface. For polyester resins there can be formulated
nitrocellulose, chlorinated rubber and certain acrylic inks to
provide coating or poor adhesivity to the polyester surface.
Similarly but nowise limiting, nitrocellulose and polyamide based
inks may be used with styrene polymers; chlorinated rubber based
inks may be used with polyvinyl fluoride; nitrocellulose inks with
polyvinylchloride and polyamide inks with acrylic polymers.
Also within the ambit of this invention is the use of a film 10
which normally has poor adhesion to adhesives and inks but good
adhesion when suitably treated or primed over a portion of the
transparent surface will accept visual indicia with a greater
tenacity than the adhesion of applied visual indicia to adhesive
layer 14. An example is flame or corona treated polyethylene. A
portion of a clear polyethylene film would be treated and where
treated ink and adhesive adhesion will be good but where untreated
ink and adhesive adhesion will be poor. The untreated portion
provides in essence a fragile printing which serves as the mask
surface 12 and which will remain with all or part of the adhesive
when film 10 is removed.
Equally convenient is to apply a masking surface 12 to the bottom
of film 10 which has good adhesion to film 10. There may then be
applied visual indicia which has good adhesion to masking surface
12 but poor adhesion to film 10. An adhesive is then used which
will remove visual indicia from film 10 but not from the masking
surface 12.
Another alternative, within the ambit of this invention, is to
apply all of the visual indicia to the underside of film 10, the
visual indicia having poor adhesion to the surface of film 10. A
masking surface -2 is applied over a portion of the visual indicia,
the mask having a greater adhesivity for film 10 than for adhesive
layer 14. In the alternative the masking surface 12 may have poorer
adhesion for both the film 10 applied visual indicia 16. Where film
10 is removed from adhesive 14 the visual indicia protected by the
masking surface 12 remains on the substrate with the adhesive.
Preferably, and for convenience and ease in manufacture, mask 12 is
applied to layer 10 before imprinting occurs. The bottom surfaces
of film 10 and mask 12 are then simultaneously imprinted with any
desired visual indicia 16 and in this instance the mask is
transparent where visual indicia are to appear. After imprinting
adhesive layer 14 is applied to form the preferred composite basic
tamperproof label of this invention. The adhesive layer 14 has two
adhesive surfaces, an upper or first adhesive surface which will
form a strong adhesive bond to film 10 and mask 12 and a lower or
second adhesive surface which has a greater bond to the substrate
to which contact label is to be applied than the adhesion of the
mask 12 to film 10. Adhesive layer 14 may where desired be a
laminate of two or more adhesives. More conveniently, however,
adhesive surface 14 is simply a single-layer adhesive such as
solvent, moisture, heat pressure activated and like adhesives.
Pressure-sensitive adhesives are preferred. Where
pressure-sensitive adhesives are used, the lower adhesive surface
may be protected prior to application to a substrate by a release
coated paper (not shown) which is removed prior to label
application.
With reference now to FIG. 3, there may be in general demonstrated
one destruction which can occur when removal of an applied label is
attempted. When the self-supporting film 10 is removed from the
substrate 18 to which the label has been applied there will be
removed with the film 10 a portion of visual indicia 16 and a
portion of adhesive 14 and there will remain on substrate 18 a
laminate composed of a part of adhesive 14, mask 12, and part of
the visual indicia 16. This occurs by virtue of failure of mask 12
where it in contact with the film 10. In the alternative and
depending on the substrate, the visual indicia on the film is
removed leaving behind all of the adhesive along with the mask and
its visual indicia.
The basic tamperproof label construction has a wide variety of
uses, particularly where the material printed thereon can be
printed in sequence before the adhesive surface 16 is applied and
where there is only desired destruction of the visual indicia such
as a code number when the label is removed.
A typical application are validation bumper stickers, for
factories, schools and the like. There, typically, a numbered
sticker is issued at random and the recipient merely recorded next
to the assigned number in office records. Once the label is applied
to the vehicle any attempted removal or transferral to another
vehicle will result in a destruction of the code number. It also
may be used as tamperproof license plates or license plate
validation stickers, windshield inspection stickers and the
like.
For the same or other applications, however, there may be required
a label having standardized copy and a surface to which imprinting
can be applied as the need occurs. Such is typical of the new
federal regulation for automobiles wherein there is a part of every
identifying label a standard printed copy, and to which there must
be applied a production date and vehicle serial number. For such
applications, there is conveniently used, in accordance with the
practice of this invention, a dual destruct label system which is
also illustrated in FIG. 1.
One portion of the preferred label system is, generally, a
composite of the self-supporting film 10 and mask 12, adhesive
layer 14, and printed visual indicia 16, which can typically be a
standard format provided with all labels. To an upper surface of
self-supporting film 10 there may be applied a second mask masking
20 which like mask 12, has limited adhesion to surface 10 and
generally a greater adhesion to a printable overlayer 22 which is
transparent where indicia 16 must be visible. In the alternative it
may have good adhesion for surface 10 and poor adhesion for
printable overlayer 22 or even poor adhesion to both. Materials
used for masking surface 20 are, again, not narrowly critical and
may, fore instance by any one of the ink-polymer surface
combinations listed above. Printable overlayer 22 may be
constructed of a thin polymeric film and the like, or is more
conveniently applied as a fluid coating which is at least
transparent in the areas where printing 16 must be visible and
which when dry will form a printable surface.
Although the printable overlayer 22 must be transparent, it may be
tinted or colored over any portion but is in color or tint so as
not to convey to the viewer multilayer construction. In the
alternative it may provide conspicuous alternate colored bands and
the like which has a deterent effect. Included as printable
overlayer 22 is an indicia forming layer such as microspheres which
when ruptured will form visual indicia.
A composite stock comprising adhesive layer 14 supported by a
nonadhesive release paper, visual indicia 16, masking surface 12,
supporting film 10, masking surface 20, and printable overlayer 22
comprise one unit of the system. In this instance, since the
printable overlayer 22 provides secondary protection the upper
surface of film 10 may be imprinted with visual indicia and the
lower surface printed with indicia having a greater adhesivity for
the adhesive layer 14 than for film 10. In this system the
imprinting serves as its own masking surface 12. Overlayer 22 which
is initially unprinted is later imprinted by the user with required
information 26 when the item to which it is to be attached is
produced. It may contain, as in the instance of motor vehicles,
serial number and date of manufacture as required by federal
regulations. The second component of the system is protective
self-supporting film 24 having one adhesive surface and which is at
least transparent where visual indicia is to be displayed. It
should be constructed of a material resistant to the elements and
may be identical, or different, from construction of the
self-supporting film 10. As indicated, protective self-supporting
film 24 must be transparent, at least at the zones where imprinted
visual indicia 16 and applied printed visual indicia 26 are to
appear. As indicated, the protective film 24 has applied on the
undersurface thereof an adhesive, preferably, a pressure-sensitive
adhesive which will more strongly adhere to printable overlayer 22
than the adhesion of mask 20 to self-supporting film 10, printable
overlayer 22, or both. The protective film 24 is applied to the
imprinted first component of the system generally after it has been
applied to the substrate, or in the alternative, applied to the
base label on a common pressure-sensitive adhesive release surface,
such as a silicone coated paper, and both parts jointly applied to
the substrate upon removal of the release surface.
With reference now to FIG. 2, when the protective film 24 is
removed from the substrate, there is removed with it a portion of
the imprinted indicia 26 and a portion of the printable overlayer
22, and masking surface 20, leaving behind a portion of the printed
indicia 26 on the remaining printed overlayer 22 and exposing the
self-supporting film 10 which still protects the integrity of
imprinting 16. In the alternative, the masking surface 20 may
remain on the surface of self-supporting film 10 when the
protective self-supporting film 24 is removed carrying with it a
portion of the printed overlayer 20.
When an attempt is made to remove film surface 10 from the
substrate, destruction which occurs is that illustrated in FIG. 3.
The removed self-supporting film 10 carries with it a least a
portion of the imprinted indicia 26, printable overlayer 22, a
portion of the lower visual indicia 16, and leaving behind part of
visual indicia 16 and all or part of adhesive layer 14 on the
substrate.
In the alternative, the upper surface of self-supporting film 10
may be entirely coated with a printable overlayer 22 having poor
adhesion to film 10. A mask 22 is applied over a portion of
printable overlayer 20, the mask having, however, poorer adhesion
to the adhesive surface of the protective self-supporting film 24
than the adhesion printable overlayer 20 to film 10. When film 24
is lifted from a final applied label assembly the failure occurs at
the mask which remains behind with a portion of printable overlayer
22 on film 10.
In another alternative a masking surface 22 having good adhesion to
both the film 10 and a printable overlayer 20 may be applied to
part of film 10 as a primer. As indicated printable overlayer 20
has good adhesion to masking surface 22, this adhesion being
greater adhesion to the adhesive of protective film 24. The
printable overlayer, however, has a greater adhesion to protective
film 24 than to film 10. Removal of protective film 24 then results
in a removal of that portion of printable overlayer 20 which is not
in contact with masking surface 22.
Although the tamperproof label systems of this invention have been
described in terms of end use construction, it is within the ambit
to supply the systems as several component for imprinting and
assembly by the user.
The basic tamperproof label may be provided as a two-component
system. The first component would comprise the at least partially
transparent self-supporting film 10 and applied masking surface 12.
The second component would comprise adhesive layer 14. The film 10
and masking surface 12 would then be reverse printed and the
tamperproof label constructed by application of adhesive layer 14.
The composite of self-supporting film 10 and masking surface 12
could be coated with indicia forming microspheres which could be
activated to produce visual indicia before or after application of
the adhesive layer 14 provided the bond of the microspheres to the
underside of self-supporting film 10 exceeds the bond of the
adhesive to the microsphere layer.
In the alternative component could be the self-supporting film 10
and masking surface 12, the masking surface having strong adhesion
to the film 10. In this instance there would be used an ink having
strong adhesion to the masking surface 12 but weak adhesion to film
10. In this instance there may be used indicia forming microspheres
which only bond well to the masking surface 12 and which when
ruptured will produce visual indicia. Adhesive layer 14 would then
in the final assembly remove the imprinted visual indicia whenever
an attempt is made to remove the applied label from a
substrate.
It may also be provided as a three-component system. The first
component would be self-supporting film 10, at least one surface of
which is printable or capable of forming visual indicia by
application of sufficient pressure such as by the use of rupturable
microspheres. The second component would be the masking surface 12
and the third, adhesive layer 14. Imprinting would then be applied
to self-supporting film 10 and the tamperproof label formed as a
laminate of printed film 10, masking surface 12 and adhesive layer
14, the masking surface 12 and adhesive layer 14 contacting the
imprinted portion of film 10. In this instance masking surface 12
serves to insulate a portion of the imprinting from an adhesive
surface having a greater adhesion to a selected applied visual
indicia than the adhesion of the visual indicia for film 10.
The three-component assembly may be used in which imprinting is
applied to the combination of film 10 and masking surface 12. In
this instance either the masking surface 12 or the imprinting on
that portion of the film in contact with the adhesive layer would
be removed.
It will be well appreciated that these multicomponent systems are
utile for the ultimate construction of the multidestruct label
systems of this invention.
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