Method for labeling fabrics and heat-transfer label well-suited for use in said method

• US 20110079651A1
• Filed: 09/22/2010
• Published: 04/07/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/02/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Alan Morgenthau, David N. Edwards, Dong-Tsai Hseih, Kuolih Tsai, Li Shu, Scott Wayne Ferguson, Xiao-Ming He, Yi-Hung Chiao, Yukihiko Sasaki
• Original Assignee: Alan Morgenthau, David N. Edwards, Dong-Tsai Hseih, Kuolih Tsai, Li Shu, Scott Wayne Ferguson, Xiao-Ming He, Yi-Hung Chiao, Yukihiko Sasaki
• Inventors: Hseih, Dong-Tsai, Tsai, Kuolih, Chiao, Yi-Hung, He, Xiao-Ming, Morgenthau, Alan, Shu, Li, Edwards, David N., Ferguson, Scott Wayne, Sasaki, Yukihiko
• Granted Patent: US 10,596,789 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 235/492
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2307/302 Conductive
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2317/12 Paper, e.g. cardboard
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2323/10 Polypropylene
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2367/00 Polyesters, e.g. PET, i.e. polyethylene terephthalate
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2375/00 Polyureas; Polyurethanes
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2519/02 RFID tags
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 27/00 Layered products comprising a layer of synthetic resin fibrous or filamentary layer made of a synthetic resin B32B5/02; particulate layer made of a synthetic resin B32B5/16; foamed layer made of a synthetic resin B32B5/18
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 27/08 of synthetic resin
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 27/32 comprising polyolefins comprising vinyl (co)polymers or acrylic (co)polymers B32B27/30
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 27/36 comprising polyesters
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 27/40 comprising polyurethanes
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 7/06 permitting easy separation
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 7/12 using interposed adhesives or interposed materials with bonding properties
• CPC Class Codes: B41M 3/14 Security printing securities B42D25/29
• CPC Class Codes: B41M 5/506 Intermediate layers
• CPC Class Codes: B41M 5/508 Supports
• CPC Class Codes: B41M 5/5254 characterised by the use of polymers obtained by reactions only involving carbon-to-carbon unsaturated bonds, e.g. vinyl polymers
• CPC Class Codes: B44C 1/1712 Decalcomanias applied under heat and pressure, e.g. provided with a heat activable adhesive
• CPC Class Codes: B65C 5/04 Thermo-activatable adhesives
• CPC Class Codes: D06H 1/02 Marking by printing or analogous processes
• CPC Class Codes: D06P 1/004 : Dyeing with phototropic dyes; Obtaining camouflage effects
• CPC Class Codes: D06P 5/003 : Transfer printing
• CPC Class Codes: D06P 5/007 : using non-subliming dyes
• CPC Class Codes: D06Q 1/12 : by transferring a chemical agent or a metallic or non-metallic material in particulate or other form, from a solid temporary carrier to the textile for uniform treatment D06M23/02
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/027 : the material being suitable for use as a textile, e.g. woven-based RFID-like labels designed for attachment to laundry items markings attached to laundry items in general D06F93/00
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 2003/025 : Activatable adhesive
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 3/00 : Labels, tag tickets, or similar identification or indication means medals or badges A44C3/00; making labels B31D1/02; sheets temporarily attached together B42F; labelling B65C; labels on record carriers G11B23/38, G11B23/40; Seals; Postage or like stamps
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 3/02 : Forms or constructions layered products B32B
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 3/04 : to be fastened or secured by the material of the label itself, e.g. by thermo-adhesion by a separate adhesive layer G09F3/10
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 3/10 : by an adhesive layer
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 428/913 : Material designed to be responsive to temperature, light, moisture
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 428/914 : Transfer or decalcomania
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24802 : Discontinuous or differential coating, impregnation or bond [e.g., artwork, printing, retouched photograph, etc.]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/2813 : Heat or solvent activated or sealable
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/2817 : Heat sealable
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/2822 : Wax containing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/2826 : Synthetic resin or polymer
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/2839 : with release or antistick coating
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/2848 : Three or more layers

Abstract

A method for labeling fabrics, such as fabric garments, and a heat-transfer label well-suited for use in the method. In one embodiment, the heat-transfer label includes (a) a support portion; and (b) a transfer portion, the transfer portion being positioned over the support portion for transfer of the transfer portion from the support portion to an article of fabric under conditions of heat and pressure, the transfer portion including (i) an ink design layer; (ii) a heat-activatable adhesive layer; and (iii) an RFID device.

Claims

1. A heat-transfer label suitable for labeling fabric comprising:

(a) a support portion; and

(b) a transfer portion, said transfer portion being positioned over said support portion for transfer of the transfer portion from the support portion to an article of fabric under conditions of heat and pressure, said transfer portion comprising

(i) an ink design layer;

(ii) a heat-activatable adhesive layer; and

(iii) an RFID device.

2. The heat-transfer label as claimed in claim 1 wherein said ink design layer is positioned between said support portion and said heat-activatable adhesive layer and wherein said RFID device is positioned between said ink design layer and said heat-activatable adhesive layer.

3. The heat-transfer label as claimed in claim 1 wherein said RFID device is an RFID IC having a built-in antenna.

4. The heat-transfer label as claimed in claim 1 wherein said RFID device is an RFID strap.

5. The heat-transfer label as claimed in claim 1 wherein said RFID device comprises an antenna and an RFID chip bonded to said antenna.

6. The heat-transfer label as claimed in claim 5 wherein said transfer portion further comprises a pressure sensitive adhesive layer interposed between said ink design layer and said RFID device.

7. The heat-transfer label as claimed in claim 1 wherein said ink design layer is positioned between said support portion and said heat-activatable adhesive layer, wherein said RFID device is positioned between said ink design layer and said heat-activatable adhesive layer, and wherein said transfer portion further comprises a primer layer over said ink design layer, said RFID device being positioned on said primer layer and under said heat-activatable adhesive layer.

8. The heat-transfer label as claimed in claim 7 wherein said transfer portion further comprises a mask layer, said mask layer being interposed between said primer layer and said ink design layer.

9. The heat-transfer label as claimed in claim 1 wherein said heat-activatable adhesive layer has a surface roughness not exceeding about 10 microns.

10. A heat-transfer label suitable for labeling fabric comprising:

(a) a releasable support;

(b) an ink design layer, said ink design layer being positioned over said releasable support;

(c) a heat-activatable adhesive layer, said heat-activatable adhesive layer being positioned over said ink design layer; and

(d) an RFID device, said RFID device positioned being between said ink design layer and said heat-activatable adhesive layer.

11. The heat-transfer label as claimed in claim 10 wherein said releasable support comprises a carrier and a release layer, the release layer being positioned over said carrier.

12. The heat-transfer label as claimed in claim 11 further comprising a wax layer, said wax layer being positioned between said releasable support and said ink design layer.

13. The heat-transfer label as claimed in claim 10 further comprising a primer, said primer being positioned between said ink design layer and said RFID device.

14. The heat-transfer label as claimed in claim 10 further comprising a mask layer, said mask layer being positioned between said ink design layer and said RFID device.

15. The heat-transfer label as claimed in claim 10 further comprising a primer and a mask layer, said mask layer being positioned over said ink design layer, said primer being positioned over said mask layer and under said RFID device.

16. The heat-transfer label as claimed in claim 15 further comprising a pressure-sensitive adhesive layer, said pressure-sensitive adhesive layer being positioned over said primer and under said RFID device.

17. The heat-transfer label as claimed in claim 16 wherein said RFID device comprises an antenna and an RFID chip, said antenna being positioned between said primer and said RFID chip.

18. The heat-transfer label as claimed in claim 16 wherein said RFID device comprises an antenna and an RFID chip, said RFID chip being positioned between said primer and said antenna.

19. The heat-transfer label as claimed in claim 10 wherein said heat-activatable adhesive layer has a surface roughness not exceeding about 10 microns.