U.S. patent number 3,864,855 [Application Number 04/883,090] was granted by the patent office on 1975-02-11 for destructible label system.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Avery Products Corporation. Invention is credited to John A. Pekko, Wayne L. Richardson.
United States Patent |
3,864,855 |
Pekko , et al. |
February 11, 1975 |
Destructible label system
Abstract
There is provided a tamper proof label system consisting of an
adhesive printable fragile label base and an overlapping
transparent adhesive self-supporting protective film. The surface
of the label is printable and at least a portion is masked with a
material having essentially no adhesivity for the protective film.
In use, the label base is printed and applied to a substrate and
the adhesive protective film applied as an overlapping overlay to
protect but not support the imprinted surface. Removal of the
adhesive overlay film will expose the fragile label which cannot be
removed from the substrate without destroying the physical
integrity of the label base. Simultaneous removal of both results
in a separation of the overlay film from the label base.
Inventors: |
Pekko; John A. (Whittier,
CA), Richardson; Wayne L. (Monrovia, CA) |
Assignee: |
Avery Products Corporation (San
Marino, CA)
|
Family
ID: |
25381957 |
Appl.
No.: |
04/883,090 |
Filed: |
December 8, 1969 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
283/94; 283/109;
427/7; 428/189; 428/205; 40/630; 40/638; 292/307R; 428/78; 428/202;
428/916; 40/675 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G09F
3/0292 (20130101); Y10T 292/48 (20150401); Y10T
428/24752 (20150115); Y10T 428/2486 (20150115); Y10T
428/24884 (20150115); Y10S 428/916 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
G09F
3/02 (20060101); G09f 003/03 () |
Field of
Search: |
;161/167,145,147,46T,5,413 ;292/307 ;70/440 ;117/122P |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Lesmes; George F.
Assistant Examiner: Roche; R. J.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Christie, Parker & Hale
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A destructible label system comprising:
a. a fragile label base at least one surface of which is
imprintable with visual indicia;
b. an adhesive layer having first adhesive surface for adhesive
contact with the surface opposed to the imprintable surface of the
fragile label base and a second adhesive surface for adhesive
contact with at least one substrate, the adhesivity of the second
adhesive surface to the substrate exceeding the tear strength of
said fragile label base; and
c. a self-supporting film at least transparent where visual indicia
are to appear on said fragile label base said self-supporting film
dimensioned to cover said fragile label base in overlapping
relationship and having an adhesive surface for contact with said
fragile label base and the substrate a portion of the adhesive
surface of said self-supporting film being substantially
non-adhesive with respect to a portion of said fragile label
base.
2. A destructible label system as claimed in claim 1 in which the
fragile base layer is friable.
3. A destructible label system as claimed in claim 1 in which the
fragile base layer is brittle.
4. A destructible label system comprising:
a. a fragile label base at least one surface of which is
imprintable with visual indicia;
b. a masking surface in contact with a portion of the printable
surface;
c. an adhesive layer having a first adhesive surface for adhesive
contact with the surface of said fragile label base opposed to the
imprintable surface and a second adhesive surface adapted for
adhesive contact with at least one substrate, the adhesivity of
said second adhesive surface to the substrate exceeding the tear
strength of said fragile label base;
d. a self-supporting film at least transparent where visual indicia
are to appear on said fragile label base, said self-supporting film
dimensioned to cover said fragile label base in overlapping
relationship and having adhesive surface for contact with said
masking surface, said fragile label base and the substrate to which
the label is to be applied said masking surface preventing adhesive
contact of said adhesive surface with the masked portion of said
fragile label base.
5. A destructible label system as claimed in claim 4 in which the
fragile base layer is friable.
6. A destructible label system as claimed in claim 4 in which the
fragile base layer is brittle.
7. A destructible label system as claimed in claim 4 in which the
masking surface is in contact with at least the perimeter of said
fragile base layer.
8. A destructible label system as claimed in claim 4 in which the
masking surface covers the entire label base.
9. A destructible label system as claimed in claim 4 in which the
masking surface is a silicone release agent.
10. A destructible label system as claimed in claim 7 in which the
masking surface is a silicone release agent.
11. A destructible label system as claimed in claim 8 in which the
masking surface is a silicone release agent.
12. A destructible label system as claimed in claim 1 in which the
self supporting film is a normally solid polymer.
13. A destructible label system as claimed in claim 4 in which the
self supporting film is a normally solid polymer.
14. A destructible label system as claimed in claim 12 in which the
normally solid polymer is selected from the group consisting of
vinyl polymers, propylene polymers and polyesters.
15. A destructible label system as claimed in claim 13 in which the
normally solid polymer is selected from the group consisting of
vinyl polymers, propylene polymers and polyesters.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to tamper proof labels particularly
labels which must be permanently applied to a substrate.
Recently the Unites 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 meet 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 and requires the
certification label to be affixed by the foreign manufacturer who
is in the best position to know the foreign characteristics of the
vehicle. The label required must remain in place and be legible for
life of the vehicle and not easily transferrable to another
vehicle. To prevent easy transferability to another vehicle the
label must, however, be essentially tamper proof.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to the present invention, there is provided a two
component tamper proof label system in which after permanent
application to a substrate, removal of a transparent adhesive
self-supporting protective film component will expose a fragile
printed label base which will destruct when removed from the
substrate.
The first component of the system is a printable fragile label base
in adhesive contact with an adhesive layer typically a pressure
sensitive adhesive. The adhesive bond of the adhesive layer to the
substrate to which the label is to be applied exceeds the tear
strength of the label base. The second component of the system is
an adhesive self-supporting protective film adapted to be applied
in overlapping relation over the label base to protect but not
support the label base.
At least a portion of the fragile label base is preferably masked
with a substance having substantially no adhesivity to the adhesive
portion of the protective overlay. This allows the adhesive
protective film to readily separate from and expose the label base
when it is removed.
In application, the label base is printed and permanently applied
to a substrate and covered with the overlapping adhesive
self-supporting film which also adheres to the substrate. When the
protective film is removed, the masking surface will cause the
protective film to separate from and expose the label base. Due to
the fragile nature of the label base, any attempt to remove it will
result in its destruction. In addition, any attempt to
simultaneously remove both the protective self-supporting film and
label base will result, generally, in buckling or separation of the
label base from the self-supporting film.
In a preferred construction, the masking surface is applied at the
borders of the label base. This allows separation of the protective
self-supporting film but also provides partial adhesive contact
with the adhesive self-supporting protective film. When the
protective film is removed, there is removed with it some portion
of the surface of the label base disrupting thereby printed visual
indicia.
DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is an expanded illustration of the several elements of the
preferred label construction of this invention.
FIG. 2 is an illustration of the nature of the destruction which
occurs when a protective film overlay is removed from the preferred
label construction of this invention.
DESCRIPTION
According to the present invention, there is provided a tamper
proof label system comprising a printable adhesive label base and
an overlapping adhesive self-supporting protective film. The
printable label base is fragile and in a preferred construction, at
least a portion is masked with a substance such as a silicone
release agent which has poor adhesion to the overlapping adhesive
self-supporting protective film.
After both the label base and the overlapping protective film are
applied in adhesive contact to the substrate, removal of the
overlapping protective film will expose the printed fragile label
base which cannot be removed without destruction. This is because
it has a lower tear strength than the adhesivity of the adhesive to
the substrate.
With reference now to FIG. 1, the preferred destructible label
system of this invention comprises a fragile printable surface 10
and adhesive layer 12 which is adhesive both with respect to
surface 10 and the substrate to which the label is to be
applied.
The nature of the fragile printable surface 10 is not narrowly
critical although its tear strength must be less either than the
cohesive strength of adhesive layer 12 or its adhesive strength to
the substrate to which it is to be applied. It may, for instance,
be a friable surface such as a weak paper; a sintered plastic; a
fibrous surface bonded by a weak adhesive or resinous matter; or a
particulate microspherical particle surface which will yield visual
indicia when struck with a force sufficient to rupture
indicia-producing microspheres and the like.
It may also be a brittle surface such as a thin unplasticized vinyl
polymer; an acrylic polymer; a thin epoxy polymer layer or the
like. The surface must, however, have sufficient integrity to
accept printing or visual indicia formed by a strike, or other
printing means.
Label base 10 may be transparent or opaque, natural, colored or
tinted. Independent of natural appearance it is preferably surface
coated with a contrast color for reasons set forth below.
Preferably, over at least a portion of the surface of label base 10
there is applied a mask 14 of a substance having little or no
adhesivity to an adhesive self-supporting film 16. Although any
pattern may be applied, a preferred mask pattern is one which
borders the perimeter of label base 10 for reasons set forth below.
It may, however, completely cover label base 10. Useful mask
materials include amongst others waxes; oils; silicone release
agents; inks to which the adhesive of the self-supporting film has
essentially no adhesivity; sprayed non-adherent film forming
coatings, such as Teflon; self-supporting films, such as a
polyethylene film, which has limited or no adhesivity to the label
base and/or the adhesive of protective film; and the like.
As indicated, the second component of the system is a
self-supporting protective film 16 which is adhesive on one side
for contact to the fragile label base 10 and is adapted for
application in overlapping relationship to label base 10 to also
adhere to the substrate to which the label is to be permanently
applied. It is, however, substantially nonadhesive with respect to
masking surface 14.
Self-supporting film 16 may be constructed of a variety of
materials. Desirably, however, it is constructed of a material
which has strong resistance to the elements so that it will provide
long term protection for label base 10 and any imprinted visual
indicia thereon.
Among the materials which may be used, for the construction of the
protective film 16, there may be mentioned normally solid polymers
including among others ethylene polymers such as polyethylene;
propylene polymers such as polypropylene; acrylic polymers; vinyl
polymers such as polyvinyl acetate, polyvinyl chloride, polyvinyl
fluoride and the like; cellulose acetate; polycarbonates;
polyesters; polyethers; polysulfones, styrene polymers and the
like.
Protective film 16 must be at least transparent where any visual
indicia applied to label base 10 is to appear but may be colored,
tinted or otherwise printed as desired.
Although masking surface 14 may be applied or in contact with the
fragile label base 10 it may, in addition, be applied to or part of
the self-supporting protective film 16. It may be applied thereon
as a coating or a self-supporting film having, for instance, good
adhesion to film 16 but poor or no adhesion to label base 10. It
may also be conveniently provided by selectively coating for film
16 with its adhesive as by the use of a masking pattern during
manufacture so as to make a portion of its adhesive surface void of
adhesive. In this instance the film 16 should be indexed such as
with marking bars to indicate its proper positioning with respect
to label base 10.
Preferably, however, the relatively nonadhesive masking surface 14
is applied over all or part of label base 10. In the instance where
surface label base 10 has been provided with contrast colored
coating, which is fragile or provided with fragile visual indicia
18, it is preferred to utilize only a limited mask and more
preferably along the borders of label base 10. In this arrangement
the protective self-supporting film 16 may be advantageously
provided with an adhesive surface which has some affinity for the
color coating and/or printed indicia available on the surface of
label base 10. Removal of the applied protective self-supporting
film will then result in removal of part of the surface unprotected
by masking surface 14 providing at least random surface disruptions
which will hinder reuse of the base by applying another protective
film as the disruptions will be displayed therethrough. In
addition, it will inhibit replacement of the original protective
film as proper alignment would be most difficult to accomplish.
The tamper proof label system of this invention may be provided for
application to a substrate as a single composite dual component
system. A label base 10 with adhesive layer may be, for instance,
printed with any desired indicia and the protective overlapping
film 16 applied immediately thereon using a common release coated
paper base as an initial support prior to application to a
substrate. When used, both adhesive base label and protective
overlayer may be applied directly as a unit to the substrate. A
composite such as this is particularly useful for applications
where indicia such as code numerals can be printed in a sequence
and later coded to reveal the recipient of the numeral. Here, a
composite system would find ideal application in license plate
applications, identifying bumper stickers such as those used in
factories and schools and validation stickers. This system is
useful, too, where there is applied to or used at the fragile label
base image forming microspheres. In this instance the visual
indicia may be formed directly within the composite assembly by
printing on the self-supporting film 16.
Where, however, the label must be printed with indicia which is
critical to identifying the substrate to which it is applied the
label system is conveniently provided as a two component system,
the first component consisting essentially of the label base 10
having available adhesive surface 12 preferably a pressure
sensitive adhesive protected by a release paper (not shown) and
preferably, mask 14. The second component is the adhesive
self-supporting protective film 16 which may also be initially
protected by a release coated paper. The adhesive fragile label
base may be provided in a suitable manner with any desired standard
visual indicia and later with indicia necessarily peculiar to the
substrate to be labeled. This two component system is particularly
utile to meet the recent Federal Highway regulations concerning
tamper proof labels. After the label is imprinted with indicia 18
peculiar to the substrate to which the label is to be applied,
label base 10 is then attached to the substrate by means of the
available lower adhesive surface of adhesive layer 12 and
protective film 16 applied thereover.
In reference now to FIG. 2, there is illustrated the nature of
destruction which will occur when any attempt is made to remove a
label, having the preferred construction of this invention, from
the substrate 20 to which it is applied. As the transparent
protective film 16 overlaps label base 10, it will have to be
removed first. When it is removed, there is ideally removed with it
a portion of a fragile surface 22 of fragile label base 10 along
with a portion of the printing 18 which is fragile or which falls
on a fragile area. This disrupts the uniformity of the surface of
label base 10 except in the areas where mask surface 14 appears.
This gives a direct indication that the label surface now has two
parts, a disrupt area and an undisrupted area and indicates the
surface has been tampered with. This accomplishes two functions.
First, as the transparent film 16 is lifted, it will, initially,
appear that it will lift cleanly from label base 10 carrying no
portion with it. However, as removal is continued a portion of the
fragile surface on label base 10 in adhesive contact with
self-supporting film 16 lifts with film 16 thereby disrupting label
uniformity leaving thereby a disrupted portion of the label and an
undisrupted portion of the label as protected by masking surface
14. The pattern of disruption is random making it nearly impossible
to reapply protective layer 16. Secondly, it exposes the fragile
label base 10 which will be destroyed when an attempt is then made
to remove it.
With reference again to FIG. 2, when an attempt is then made to
remove label base 10 from substrate 20 using an object such as
knife edge 24 the fragile surface of label base 10 having a lower
tear strength than adhesive layer 12 will destruct destroying
thereby applied visual indicia and preventing transfer to another
substrate.
If any attempt is made to simultaneously remove both the protective
self-supporting film and label base there will generally result a
buckling or separation of the label base from the protective
self-supporting film.
* * * * *