Display marking tag, such as a display marking tag having an adhesive fastening strip

• US 5,560,970 A
• Filed: 07/14/1994
• Issued: 10/01/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 07/16/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Esselte Meto International GmbH
• Original Assignee: Esselte Meto International GmbH
• Inventors: Ludeb uhl, Dieter
• Primary Examiner(s): Ahmad, Nasser
• Application Number:
  US08/275,284
• Time in Patent Office: 810 Days
• Field of Search: 428/40, 428/192, 428/195, 428/901, 428/201, 428/202, 428/203, 428/204, 428/211, 340/572, 40/299, 40/669, 40/594, 40/902, 156/300, 156/272.4, 156/273.9, 156/290
• US Class Current: 428/41.9
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2437 Tag layered structure, processes for making layered tags
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/244 Tag manufacturing, e.g. continuous manufacturing processes
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2442 Tag materials and material properties thereof, e.g. magnetic material details
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2445 Tag integrated into item to be protected, e.g. source tagging
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 3/0292 tamper indicating labels
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 40/902 Circuit control, e.g. flashing light
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/1093 with covering of discrete laminae with additional lamina
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/1481 Dissimilar adhesives
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24777 Edge feature
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24802 Discontinuous or differential coating, impregnation or bond [e.g., artwork, printing, retouched photograph, etc.]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24851 Intermediate layer is discontinuous or differential
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/2486 with outer strippable or release layer
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24868 Translucent outer layer
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24876 Intermediate layer contains particulate material [e.g., pigment, etc.]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24934 including paper layer

Abstract

A display marking tag for marking an item has an adhesive fastening strip for fastening the tag to the item to be marked, and a second strip, which can be adhered to the fastening strip, and which has a surface for being printed upon. On the side of the second strip disposed in contact with the fastening strip there can preferably be a semitransparent coating for decreasing the translucency of the second strip.

Claims

1. A combination method of making a display marking tag, and marking an item by means of the display marking tag, the display marking tag being configured to be adhesively attached to the item, the display marking tag comprising:

a first sheet of material, said first sheet of material having a first side, and a second side disposed opposite said first side;

a first adhesive disposed on at least a portion of said first side of said first sheet of material, said first adhesive being configured for retaining said tag on the item to be marked;

means for being sensed disposed immediately adjacent said second side of said first sheet of material;

a second sheet of material, said second sheet of material having a translucency to visible light;

a second adhesive disposed on at least a portion of said second side of said first sheet of material; and

said second sheet of material comprising;

a first side configured for the display of information thereon; and

a second side disposed in at least partial contact with said second adhesive to retain said first sheet of material in at least partial contact with said second sheet of material and sandwich said means for being sensed between said first and second sheets of material, said second side comprising;

a layer of material substantially opaque to visible light for decreasing the translucency of said second sheet of material to visible light;

said opaque layer comprising means for substantially concealing said means for being sensed from being visibly detected from said first side of said second sheet of material, said method comprising the steps of;

making said marking tag by way of the following steps;

providing said first sheet of material;

providing said first adhesive for said first side of said first sheet of material, said providing comprising configuring said first adhesive to have a degree of adhesion for adhering the marking tag to an item;

providing said first adhesive on at least a portion of said first side of said first sheet of material;

providing a removable backing strip having a coating with minimal adhesion to at least said first adhesive to maintain said removable backing strip in contact with said first sheet of material prior to attaching said tag to an item, and to enable said backing strip to be removed from said first sheet of material for application of said tag to an item;

applying said removable backing strip to said first side of said first sheet of material;

providing said second sheet of material, said second sheet of material having a translucency to visible light;

decreasing the translucency of said second sheet of material to visible light by providing said second side of said second sheet of material with said layer of material substantially opaque to visible light and by providing said means for concealing;

providing said second adhesive for said second side of said first sheet of material to adhere said first sheet of material to said second sheet of material, said providing comprising configuring said second adhesive to provide a substantially stronger degree of adhesion between said first sheet of material and said second sheet of material than the degree of adhesion provided by said first adhesive between said first sheet of material and an item to which said tag is to be attached;

providing said second adhesive on at least a portion of said second side of said first sheet of material;

providing said means for being sensed and disposing said means for being sensed between said first and second sheets of material;

attaching said second sheet of material to said first sheet of material via said second adhesive; and

for marking an item, said method further comprising the steps of;

removing the removable backing from said first adhesive on said first side of said first sheet of material of said marking tag; and

marking an item by attaching said first side of said first sheet of material to the item to be marked with said first side of said second sheet of material disposed away from the item, and concealing, with said means for concealing, said means for being sensed from being visibly detected from said first side of said second sheet of material.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

additionally providing a layer of said substantially opaque material on said first sheet of material, said substantially opaque layer of said first sheet of material having means for concealing said means for being sensed from being visibly detected from said first side of said first sheet of material;

configuring said first sheet of material to have a greater adhesion for at least said first adhesive than said first adhesive has to an item to be marked; and

providing a security element for said means for being sensed.

3. The method according to claim 2, further including:

forming said means for concealing of said first and second sheets of material from at least one of;

ink, paint, diamagnetic metal and paramagnetic metal;

configuring said security element from a magnetically soft metal disposed between said first and second sheets of material; and

disposing magnetically hard metal between said first and second sheets of material in conjunction with said magnetically soft metal.

4. The method according to claim 3, further including the steps of:

configuring said magnetically soft metal as at least one of;

a magnetically soft metal strip; and

a film coating of magnetically soft metal applied to said second side of said first sheet of material;

configuring said magnetically hard metal as at least one of;

pieces of magnetically hard metal strips spaced apart at intervals from one another; and

a magnetically hard metal film applied onto said coating of magnetically soft metal applied to said second side of said first sheet of material.

5. The method according to claim 4, further comprising the steps of:

providing nickel as said magnetically hard metal;

providing aluminum as said diamagnetic metal and paramagnetic metal;

providing, as said second sheet of material, at least one of;

conventional paper;

temperature sensitive printing paper; and

paper having a rigidity sufficient for inhibiting feeling by touch of said security element disposed between said first and second sheets of material;

providing a polyester coated with aluminum as said first sheet of material; and

providing grey ink as said ink.

21. The method according to claim 2 further comprising:

providing an electromagnetic security element for said security element; and

configuring said electromagnetic security element for emitting an electromagnetic field when subjected to an electromagnetic field.

6. A display marking tag for marking an item to which the tag will be attached, said tag comprising:

a first sheet of material, said first sheet of material having a first side, and a second side disposed opposite said first side;

a first adhesive disposed on at least a portion of said first side of said first sheet of material, said first adhesive being configured for retaining said tag on the item to which said tag will be attached;

means for being sensed, said means for being sensed being disposed immediately adjacent said second side of said first sheet of material;

a second sheet of material, said second sheet of material having a translucency to visible light;

a second adhesive disposed on at least a portion of said second side of said first sheet of material, said second adhesive being configured for having a greater degree of adhesion between said first sheet of material and said second sheet of material than a degree of adhesion provided by said first adhesive between said first sheet of material and an item to which said tag will be attached; and

said second sheet of material comprising;

a first side, said first side of said second sheet of material being configured for the display of information thereon; and

a second side, said second side of said second sheet of material being disposed in at least partial contact with said second adhesive to retain said first sheet of material in at least partial contact with said second sheet of material and sandwich said means for being sensed between said first and second sheets of material, said second side comprising;

a layer for decreasing the translucency of said second sheet of material to visible light, said layer being semitransparent; and

said layer comprising means for concealing said means for being sensed from being visibly detected from said first side of said second sheet of material.

7. The tag according to claim 6, further including:

said means for being sensed comprising an electromagnetic security element configured for emitting an electromagnetic field when subjected to an electromagnetic field; and

said means for concealing comprising a substantially opaque material, said substantially opaque material concealing said means for being sensed from being visibly detected from said first side of said first sheet of material.

8. The tag according to claim 6 wherein said means for concealing comprises a substantially opaque material, said substantially opaque material concealing said means for being sensed from being visibly detected from said first side of said second sheet of material.

9. The tag according to claim 8, wherein:

said first sheet of material additionally comprises a layer of said substantially opaque material for concealing said means for being sensed from being visibly detected from said first side of said first sheet of material;

said substantially opaque materials of said first and second sheets of material each comprise at least one of;

ink, paint, diamagnetic metal and paramagnetic metal;

said means for being sensed comprises a security element, said security element comprising a magnetically soft metal disposed between said first and second sheets of material; and

said security element further comprises magnetically hard metal disposed between said first and second sheets of material in conjunction with said magnetically soft metal.

10. The tag according to claim 9, wherein:

said magnetically soft metal comprises at least one of;

a magnetically soft metal strip; and

a film coating of magnetically soft metal applied to said second side of said first sheet of material;

said magnetically hard metal comprises at least one of;

pieces of magnetically hard metal strips spaced apart at intervals from one another; and

a magnetically hard metal film applied onto said coating of magnetically soft metal applied to said second side of said first sheet of material.

11. The tag according to claim 10, wherein:

said magnetically hard metal comprises nickel;

said diamagnetic metal and paramagnetic metal comprise aluminum;

said second sheet of material comprises at least one of;

conventional paper;

temperature sensitive printing paper; and

paper having a rigidity sufficient for inhibiting feeling by touch of said security element disposed between said first and second sheets of material;

said first sheet of material comprises polyester coated with aluminum; and

said ink comprising grey ink.

12. A display marking tag for being attached to an item, said tag comprising:

a first sheet of material, said first sheet of material having a translucency to visible light, and said first sheet of material comprising;

a first side, said first side comprising means for display of information thereon; and

a second side, said second side being opposite to said first side;

means for attaching said tag to the item, said means for attaching being disposed at said second side of said first sheet of material;

means for being sensed, said means for being sensed for being disposed at said second side of said first sheet of material;

means for maintaining said means for being sensed at said second side of said first sheet of material; and

said second side of said first sheet of material comprising;

a layer configured for decreasing the translucency of said first sheet of material, said layer being semitransparent;

said layer comprising means for concealing said means for being sensed from visible detection through said first sheet of material from said first side of said first sheet of material.

13. The tag according to claim 12 wherein said tag comprises an anti-theft tag for being applied to an item to minimize unauthorized removal of the item from an area, said area having means for detecting said means for being sensed, and further wherein:

said means for concealing comprises a substantially opaque material, said substantially opaque material concealing said means for being sensed from being visibly detected from said first side of said first sheet of material.

14. The tag according to claim 13, further comprising:

a second sheet of material disposed adjacent said second side of said first sheet of material, said second sheet of material having a first side for being disposed in at least partial contact with said second side of said first sheet of material, and a second side for being disposed towards the item to be marked;

a first adhesive disposed between said second side of said first sheet of material and said first side of said second sheet of material to permanently hold said first and second sheets of material in contact with one another, said first adhesive comprising said means for maintaining said means for being sensed at said second side of said first sheet of material; and

said means for being sensed being disposed between said first and second sheets of material.

15. The tag according to claim 14, wherein:

said substantially opaque material comprises at least one of;

ink, paint, diamagnetic metal and paramagnetic metal;

said security element comprises a magnetically soft metal disposed between said first and second sheets of material; and

said security element further comprises magnetically hard metal disposed between said first and second sheets of material in conjunction with said magnetically soft metal.

16. The tag according to claim 15, wherein:

said magnetically soft metal comprises at least one of;

a magnetically soft metal strip; and

a film coating of magnetically soft metal applied to said first side of said second sheet of material;

said magnetically hard metal comprises at least one of;

pieces of magnetically hard metal strips spaced apart at intervals from one another;

a magnetically hard metal film applied to said first side of said second sheet of material prior to said coating of magnetically soft metal; and

a magnetically hard metal film applied onto said coating of magnetically soft metal applied to said first side of said second sheet of material.

17. The tag according to claim 16, wherein:

said magnetically hard metal comprises nickel;

said diamagnetic metal and paramagnetic metal comprise aluminum; and

said second sheet of material additionally comprises a layer of said substantially opaque material for concealing said means for being sensed from being visibly detected from said second side of said second sheet of material.

18. The tag according to claim 17, wherein:

said second side of said second sheet of material comprises a second adhesive thereon for affixing said tag to the item to be protected, said second adhesive comprising said means for attaching;

said tag further comprises a third backing strip detachably glued to said second side of said second sheet of material by said second adhesive, said backing strip comprising a coating of silicone thereon, said silicone coating having minimal adhesion to at least said second adhesive for removing said backing strip from said tag;

said first sheet of material comprises at least one of;

conventional paper;

temperature sensitive printing paper; and

paper having a rigidity sufficient for inhibiting feeling of said security element disposed between said first and second sheets of material;

said second sheet of material comprises polyester coated with aluminum; and

said ink comprising grey ink.

19. The tag according to claim 14, wherein:

said substantially opaque material comprises at least one of;

ink, paint, diamagnetic metal and paramagnetic metal;

said means for being sensed comprises an electromagnetic security element; and

said electromagnetic security element comprises a resonant circuit disposed between said first and second sheets of material.

20. The tag according to claim 19, wherein:

said diamagnetic metal and paramagnetic metal comprise aluminum;

said second sheet of material additionally comprises a layer of said substantially opaque material;

said second side of said second sheet of material comprises a second adhesive thereon for affixing said tag to the item to be protected, said second adhesive comprising said means for attaching;

said tag further comprises a third backing strip detachably glued to said second side of said second sheet of material by said second adhesive, said backing strip comprising a coating of silicone thereon, said silicone coating having minimal adhesion to at least said second adhesive for removing said backing strip from said tag;

said first material comprises at least one of;

conventional paper;

temperature sensitive printing paper; and

paper having a rigidity sufficient for inhibiting feeling of said security element disposed between said first and second sheets of material;

said second sheet of material comprises polyester coated with aluminum; and

said ink comprising grey ink.