Strip of separable labels or tags having a display surface for display of information thereon

• US 5,614,278 A
• Filed: 05/08/1995
• Issued: 03/25/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 05/10/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Esselte Meto International GmbH
• Original Assignee: Esselte Meto International GmbH
• Inventors: Chamberlain, John, Klassen, Gordon
• Primary Examiner(s): DAVIS, JENNA L
• Application Number:
  US08/436,759
• Time in Patent Office: 687 Days
• Field of Search: 428/40, 428/42, 428/343, 428/354, 428/41.4, 428/41.7, 428/41.8, 428/42.1
• US Class Current: 428/41.4
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2519/02 RFID tags
• 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 13/2445 Tag integrated into item to be protected, e.g. source tagging
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 3/0292 tamper indicating labels
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/1457 Silicon
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/1471 Protective layer
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/1476 Release layer
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/1486 Ornamental, decorative, pattern, or indicia
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/2848 Three or more layers

Abstract

Labels or tags, are generally supplied in the form of a strip of a large number of consecutive, separable units, wherein the components of the labels or tags are essentially fed in a continuous stream to the strip as the strip moves along a path of travel. Under some circumstances however it has been found that it can be cost effective that all of the labels do not include all of the individual components, or that it might not be desirable that the various components are not always disposed at the exact same position in each label.

Claims

1. A strip of premanufactured labels or tags comprising:

a first material, said first material comprising a strip having a longitudinal dimension and a width dimension, the longitudinal dimension being substantially greater than the width dimension;

a second material attachable to said strip of first material, said second material comprising one of;

a strip of said second material; and

a plurality of individual units of said second material;

at least one of said first strip of material and said second material comprising a surface for displaying information thereon;

third material means for being selectively disposed between said first and second material, said third material means comprising a third material, and said third material comprising one of;

a strip of said third material; and

a plurality of individual units of said third material; and

means for being attached to an article;

said strip of labels or tags being divided into a multitude of separable label or tag units, said multitude of separable units comprising;

a multitude of first units, said first units comprising each of said first material, said second material and said third material; and

a multitude of second units interspersed among said multitude of first units, said second units comprising said first material and said second material, and said second units not including said third material.

2. The strip of labels or tags according to claim 1, wherein said multitude of separable units comprises a predetermined ratio of said multitude of second units to said multitude of first units.

3. The strip of labels or tags according to claim 2, wherein said multitude of second units are randomly dispersed among said multitude of first units.

4. The strip of labels or tags according to claim 3, wherein said third material comprises a detectable security element, detectable by detector means configured for detecting said detectable security element.

5. The strip of labels or tags according to claim 4, wherein said units of said multitude of second units comprise a dummy security elements, said dummy security elements having a shape, size and color pattern, said shape, size and color pattern of said dummy security elements being substantially similar to said shape, size and color pattern of said detectable security elements.

6. The strip of labels or tags according to claim 5, wherein:

said second material comprises a first side disposed towards said first material;

said dummy security elements comprise a printed image of a detectable security element, said printed image being printed on said first side of said second material; and

said printed image corresponding in shape, size and color pattern to said shape, size and color pattern of said detectable security elements.

7. The strip of labels or tags according to claim 6, wherein:

said first units and said second units each define a periphery, a width dimension and a length dimension;

said detectable security elements end said dummy security elements are disposed at a location within the periphery of said first and second units; and

said location of said detectable security elements and said dummy security elements being different for different ones of said first and second units, said location being variable in at least one of;

along the width dimension; and

along the length dimension.

8. The strip of labels or tags according to claim 7, wherein:

for tags, said first and second materials each comprise one of;

a cardboard sheet, and a plastic sheet;

for labels, said second material comprises a paper having adhesive on said first side thereof, and said first material comprises a peel-away backing, said peel away backing having a first side disposed towards said second material, said first side of said peel-away backing comprising a silicon coating for minimally adhering to adhesive of said first side of said second material;

said detectable security elements comprise at least one of;

a strip of soft-magnetic material having an alterable magnetic field and disposed adjacent a strip of hard magnetic material having an unalterable magnetic field, a magnetically soft thin-layer film on a foil substrate disposed adjacent a magnetically hard metal strip, and an electromagnetic oscillating circuit; and

said detectable security elements have a first side disposed towards said first material and a second side disposed towards said second material, said first side of said detectable security elements having an adhesive thereon.

9. The strip of labels or tags according to claim 5, wherein:

said dummy security elements comprise an inactive foil or metal sheet;

said first units and said second units each define a periphery, a width dimension and a length dimension;

said detectable security elements and said dummy security elements are disposed at a location within the periphery of said first and second units;

said location of said detectable security elements and said dummy security elements being different for different ones of said first and second units, said location being variable in at least one of;

along the width dimension; and

along the length dimension;

for tags, said first and second materials each comprise one of;

a cardboard sheet, and a plastic sheet;

for labels, said second material comprises a paper having adhesive on said first side thereof, and said first material comprises a peel-away backing, said peel away backing having a first side disposed towards said second material, said first side of said peel-away backing comprising a silicon coating for minimally adhering to adhesive of said first side of said second material;

said detectable security elements comprise at least one of;

a strip of soft-magnetic material having an alterable magnetic field and disposed adjacent a strip of hard magnetic material having an unalterable magnetic field, a magnetically soft thin-layer film on a foil substrate disposed adjacent a magnetically hard metal strip, and an electromagnetic oscillating circuit; and

said detectable security elements have a first side disposed towards said first material and a second side disposed towards said second material, said first side of said detectable security elements having an adhesive thereon.

10. The strip of labels or tags according to claim 9, wherein:

said first units and said second units each define a periphery, a width dimension and a length dimension substantially transverse to the width dimension;

said detectable security elements are disposed at a location within the periphery of said first and second units;

said location of said detectable security elements being different for different ones of said first and second units, said location being variable in at least one of;

along the width dimension; and

along the length dimension.

11. The strip of labels or tags according to claim 10, wherein:

for tags, said first and second materials each comprise one of;

a cardboard sheet, and a plastic sheet;

for labels, said second material comprises a paper having adhesive on said first side thereof, and said first material comprises a peel-away backing, said peel away backing having a first side disposed towards said second material, said first side of said peel-away backing comprising a silicon coating for minimally adhering to adhesive of said first side of said second material;

said detectable security elements comprise at least one of;

a strip of soft-magnetic material having an alterable magnetic field and disposed adjacent a strip of hard magnetic material having an unalterable magnetic field, a magnetically soft thin-layer film on a foil substrate disposed adjacent a magnetically hard metal strip, and an electromagnetic oscillating circuit;

said detectable security elements have a first side disposed towards said first material and a second side disposed towards said second material, said first side of said detectable security elements having an adhesive thereon; and

said detectable security element having a shape, a size and color pattern.

12. A strip of labels or tags comprising:

a first material, said first material comprising a strip having a longitudinal dimension and a width dimension, the longitudinal dimension being substantially greater than the width dimension;

a second material attachable to said strip of first material, said second material comprising one of;

a strip of said second material; and

a plurality of individual units of said second material;

at least one of said first strip of material and said second material comprising a surface for displaying information thereon;

a third material for being disposed between said first and second material of at least some of said units, said third material comprising a plurality of individual units of said third material;

said strip of labels or tags being divided into a multitude of separable label or tag units, each of said multitude of separable label or tag units defining a periphery, a width dimension and a length dimension substantially transverse to said width dimension;

said individual units of said third material for being selectively disposed between said first and second material of at least some of said label or tag units at a location within the periphery of said first and second units; and

said location of said individual units of said third material being different for different ones of said label or tag units, said location being variable in at least one of;

along the width dimension of said label or tag units; and

along the length dimension of said label or tag units.

13. The strip of labels or tags according to claim 12, wherein said location of said individual units of said third material vary randomly among said different ones of said label or tag units.

14. The strip of labels of tags according to claim 13, wherein said multitude of label or tag units comprise:

a multitude of first units, said first units comprising each of said first material, said second material and said third material; and

a multitude of second units interspersed among said multitude of first units, said second units comprising said first material and said second material, and said second units not including said third material.

15. The strip of labels or tags according to claim 14, wherein said multitude of separable units comprises a predetermined ratio of said multitude of second units to said multitude of first units.

16. The strip of labels or tags according to claim 15, wherein said multitude of second units are randomly dispersed among said multitude of first units.

17. The strip of labels or tags according to claim 16, wherein said third material comprises a detectable security element, detectable by detector means configured for detecting said detectable security element, said detectable security element having a shape, size and color pattern.

18. The strip of labels or tags according to claim 17, wherein:

said units of said multitude of second units comprise a dummy security element, said dummy security elements having a shape, size and color pattern, said shape, size and color pattern of said dummy security elements being substantially similar to said shape, size and color pattern of said detectable security elements;

said second material comprises a first side disposed towards said first material;

said dummy security elements comprise one of;

a printed image of a detectable security element, said printed image being printed on said first side of said second material;

said printed image corresponding in shape, size and color pattern to said shape, size and color pattern of said detectable security elements; and

an inactive foil or metal sheet;

for tags, said first and second materials each comprise one of;

a cardboard sheet, and a plastic sheet;

for labels, said second material comprises a paper having adhesive on said first side thereof, and said first material comprises a peel-away backing, said peel away backing having a first side disposed towards said second material, said first side of said peel-away backing comprising a silicon coating for minimally adhering to adhesive of said first side of said second material;

said detectable security elements comprise at least one of;

a strip of soft-magnetic material having an alterable magnetic field and disposed adjacent a strip of hard magnetic material having an unalterable magnetic field, a magnetically soft thin-layer film on a foil substrate disposed adjacent a magnetically hard metal strip, and an electromagnetic oscillating circuit; and

said detectable security elements have a first side disposed towards said first material and a second side disposed towards said second material, said first side of said detectable security elements having an adhesive thereon.

19. The strip of labels or tags according to claim 13, wherein said third material comprises a detectable security element, detectable by detector means configured for detecting said detectable security element.

20. The strip of labels or tags according to claim 19, wherein:

for tags, said first and second materials each comprise one of;

a cardboard sheet, and a plastic sheet;

for labels, said second material comprises a paper having adhesive on said first side thereof, and said first material comprises a peel-away backing, said peel away backing having a first side disposed towards said second material, said first side of said peel-away backing comprising a silicon coating for minimally adhering to adhesive of said first side of said second material;

said detectable security elements comprise at least one of;

a strip of soft-magnetic material having an alterable magnetic field and disposed adjacent a strip of hard magnetic material having an unalterable magnetic field, a magnetically soft thin-layer film on a foil substrate disposed adjacent a magnetically hard metal strip, and an electromagnetic oscillating circuit; and

said detectable security elements have a first side disposed towards said first material and a second side disposed towards said second material, said first side of said detectable security elements having an adhesive thereon.