Laminated Label Or Similar Article

Abstract

A laminated label and method of labeling an article is disclosed and the label comprises a layer of transparent plastic film having a layer of transparent pressure sensitive adhesive on one face thereof, and a layer of paper having a release coating on one surface thereof is applied to the adhesive layer, the paper layer having separate center and outer portions whereby the outer portion can be removed to expose part of the adhesive layer for use in affixing the label to an article. Identification data can be applied to the center portion of the paper, which can be peeled away and be turned over to be secured to the adhesive layer for visibility through the laminate as secured in position.

Parent Case Text

This is a continuation-in-part of my prior application Ser. No. 8,508 filed Feb. 4, 1970 which is now abandoned.

Description

The present invention relates to a novel and improved laminated label particularly adapted to have data applied thereto, to have a portion of the label peeled away, turned over, and affixed to an adhesive layer so that the data can be read through a transparent plastic film having adhesive thereon and larger than the data carrying member, the plastic film being attachable to an article such as a bus stop sign or other member for information and/or identification purposes.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Heretofore there have been various types of labels or identification means provided and these have been made of a number of different designs. U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,252,238 and 2,783,172 show conventional laminated labels as proposed heretofore. However both of these patented constructions require the presence of two layers of pressure sensitive adhesive in the laminate.

The general object of the present invention is to provide a novel and improved laminated label and method of labeling an article whereby a transparent film can be secured to an article and position an identification or information member to the article such as a bus stop sign, a hat band, or other device.

Another object of the invention is to provide a relatively inexpensive, uncomplicated label which can be readily used by a person and be permanently secured to an article for identification or other purposes, which label requires the presence of only one pressure sensitive layer of adhesive therein.

Another object of the invention is to provide a laminated label which can be made in large quantities at low cost by substantially conventional manufacturing operations and which label can be easily engaged with an article by a few simple operations.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a laminated label which is inexpensive, which comprises a minimum of parts; which can be readily applied by the user; and which can be removed and replaced readily.

The foregoing objects and other advantages of the invention will be made more apparent as the specification proceeds.

Reference now is made to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of the laminated label embodying the principles of the invention with identification data appearing thereon;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary section through a portion of the label of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a showing of one possible first step in use of the article of FIG. 1 wherein the border paper layer is being peeled away from the remainder of the laminate;

FIG. 4 is another step in use of the label wherein the data carrying center portion of the label is being peeled away; and

FIG. 5 is a view of the final step in the labeling method of the invention with the center portion of the paper layer being secured in turned-over position to the adhesive carrying layer in the label which is being secured to a carrier, or article.

In the drawings, the various components of the laminated label or article are shown in exaggerated size or thickness for purposes of clarity. However, the entire label can be quite thin with the various layers therein usually being in the vicinity of from about 0.0005 to about 0.001 or 0.002 inch in thickness. Of course the label can be made of any suitable size.

SUBJECT MATTER OF THE INVENTION

The present invention, as one embodiment thereof, relates to a laminated label and method of labeling wherein the label comprises a layer of transparent plastic film, a layer of transparent pressure sensitive adhesive on one surface of the film and a paper layer removably secured to the pressure sensitive adhesive, which paper layer has a separate center portion and an outer or border portion whereby the paper border portion can be removed to expose the peripheral part of the adhesive layer. Also, data can be applied to the initial top surface of the center portion of the paper layer, the paper layer can be turned over and be reapplied to the adhesive film for adhesion thereto after which the plastic film can be secured to an article by the exposed peripheral part of the adhesive layer thereon for exposure of the center portion of the paper layer through the transparent film.

When referring to corresponding members shown in the drawings and referred to in the specification, corresponding numerals are used to facilitate comparison therebetween.

In the accompanying drawings a laminated label of the invention is indicated as a whole by the numeral 10. This hat check comprises a layer 12 of a transparent plastic film, which layer 12 can be made from any conventional or known plastic material, such as "Mylar" which is an oriented polyester film. This plastic film 12 has a coating of a conventional pressure sensitive adhesive 14 applied thereto. This adhesive is transparent or substantially transparent and is applied to the layer of film 12 by a conventional coating action.

The label article 10 is completed by a paper layer 16 removably attached to the adhesive layer 14 as indicated in the drawings. The paper layer 16 has a release coating 18 of a conventional nature, such as a silicone based composition, applied to one surface thereof. The drawing shows that the release layer or coating on the paper 16 is adjacent the pressure sensitive adhesive 14 when the label is made. Additionally, the paper layer 16 is die cut in a known manner to form a border section 20 and a center section 22 as the article 10 is formed. Such sections are separately removable with relation to the pressure sensitive adhesive layer 14.

In use of the label 10, normally some type of identification or other data indicated at 24, or other informational material of any type, is printed on or otherwise applied to the initial top surface of the paper layer 16 on the center portion 22 thereof. Such data can be typed on the label, or be printed thereon, etc. as desired.

Hence, one desiring to use the label 10 suitably applies his name, for example, to the top surface of the center section 22 and then peels away the border section or portion 20 of the paper layer from the rest of the laminated label to expose the border or peripheral area of the pressure sensitive adhesive layer 14. Next, the user then peels the center portion 22 from the label, turns such center portion over and reapplies it to the pressure sensitive adhesive layer, as indicated in FIG. 5, with the data carrying portion or surface adjacent the pressure sensitive adhesive layer to be bonded thereto. Or, one could peel off and turn over the center section first, if desired, before removing the continuous paper edge section 20. Then, one just would apply the identification article or label to a member, such as a bulletin board, a bus stop sign, a flexible hat band, etc. for adhesion of the label to the bulletin board, etc. for educational, information, or identification purposes. Naturally, the label is made of suitable size for the particular use intended, and the exposed continuous peripheral area of the pressure sensitive adhesive layer 14 will secure the modified label temporarily or permanently in engagement with the article.

The adhesive used in the practice of the invention is conventional and a thin flexible identification label has been provided by the invention. This label can be readily and easily used. Since, as a feature of the invention, the center paper section 22 is bonded only to the transparent plastic film layer 12, removal of the label 10 as used on an article is facilitated. Thus the label could have work schedules, bus schedules, etc. typed or otherwise printed thereon and at least the paper portion 20 of the label could be removed readily and a new label with a different schedule thereon be reapplied to the article. Hence it is believed that the objects of the invention have been achieved.

While one complete embodiment of the invention has been disclosed herein, it will be appreciated that modification of this particular embodiment of the invention may be resorted to without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. An initially complete three layer laminated label comprising:

a first or surface layer of transparent plastic film,

a second layer of transparent pressure sensitive adhesive on one surface of said film and coextensive therewith, and permanently bonded thereto and

a third layer of paper having a release coating on the entire area of a first surface thereof applied to said adhesive layer and coextensive therewith with said release coating being adjacent said adhesive layer, said paper layer having a removable center portion and a removable separate outer portion whereby said outer portion can be removed to expose the peripheral part of the adhesive layer, said center portion being adaptable to having data applied on an exposed second surface thereof and, when so applied, the center portion being removable to be reapplied to the adhesive layer with the data bearing surface adjacent said adhesive layer and visible through said first and second layers, said second surface of said center portion being initially exposed in the label for receiving printing thereon.

2. A label as in claim 1 where in use the center portion of the paper layer is secured only to the plastic film layer and only the peripheral portion of the adhesive layer is secured to an article to bond the label thereto to facilitate removal of the label.