Multi-flag label

• US 7,941,949 B2
• Filed: 05/09/2008
• Issued: 05/17/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 05/11/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Accu-Chart Plus Healthcare Systems Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Timothy N. Cloninger
• Inventors: Cloninger, Timothy N.
• Primary Examiner(s): Silbermann; Joanne
• Assistant Examiner(s): Islam; Syed A
• Application Number:
  US12/152,042
• Publication Number:
  US 20080276504A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,103 Days
• Field of Search: 403/10, 402/990.1, 403/24, 406/38, 283/81, 283/101, 283/105, 283/900, 428/40.1, 428/41.7, 428/41.8, 428/354
• US Class Current: 40/310
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 23/14 of tags , labels, cards, coupons, decorations or the like B65D23/008 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 3/0288 Labels or tickets consisting of more than one part, e.g. with address of sender or other reference on separate section to main label; Multi-copy labels
• 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 283/90 Medical record
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/14 Layer or component removable to expose adhesive
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/1471 Protective layer
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/1476 Release layer
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/2848 Three or more layers

Abstract

A multi-flag label label-links a primary container to at least one secondary container. The multi-flag label comprises multiple layers and multiple regions intermediate its length. A back cut separates a first layer into unequal segment lengths. A transparent second layer is removably and adhesively attached to the first layer and is dimensioned such that the first layer frames the second layer with a peripheral boundary. A third layer is permanently bonded to the second layer and terminates adjacent the back cut, thereby exposing the back cut via the second layer. The third and second layers adjacent the back cut provide a parent label region; the remainder of the second and third layers provide a child label region, which region may be die cut into patterns for effecting child label(s). The parent and child labels may comprise information for cross-linking a source container to at least one secondary dose container.

Claims

1. A multi-layered, multi-flag label for label-linking a primary container to at least one secondary container, the multi-layered, multi-flag label comprising:

a bifurcated first label layer, the first label layer having a first layer length and width, the first label layer thus being bifurcated widthwise into first and second layer segments intermediate the first layer length at a back cut, the first segment having a first segment length and width and the second segment having a second segment length and width;

a transparent second label layer, the second label layer having a second layer length and width lesser in magnitude relative to the first layer length and width, the second label layer being removably and adhesively attached to the first label layer for linking the first and second segments at the back cut thereby forming a transparent source-attaching portion and a labeling portion first layer, the source-attaching portion having a source-attaching portion length lesser in magnitude than the first layer width, and a source-attaching portion width greater in magnitude than the first segment width; and

an opaque third label layer, the third label layer having a third layer length and width, the third layer width being coextensive with the second layer width, the third layer length being lesser in magnitude relative to the second layer length, the third label layer being permanently attached to the second label layer for forming a labeling portion second layer such that a first end of the second label layer is aligned with a first end of the third label layer, and a second end of the third label layer terminates upon the second label layer for visually exposing the back cut via the transparent second label layer, the labeling portion first and second layers defining a parent label portion and a child label portion, the second and third label layers being cut through the labeling portion first and second layers of the child label portion for effecting at least one child label flags adjacent the parent label portion removably and adhesively attached upon the first label layer.

2. The multi-layered, multi-flag label of claim 1 wherein the second label layer is concentric with the first label layer such that the first label layer frames the second label layer with a peripheral boundary, the peripheral boundary for enhancing removal of the first label layer from each child label flag.

3. The multi-layered, multi-flag label of claim 1 wherein the first label layer is a paper-based medium and the second label layer is a polymer-based medium.

4. The multi-layered, multi-flag label of claim 3 wherein the third label layer is a select medium selected from the group consisting of an ink medium and a paper-based medium.

5. The multi-layered, multi-flag label of claim 1 wherein the third label layer bears code indicia for linking the parent label to each child label.

6. The multi-layered, multi-flag label of claim 5 wherein the code indicia comprise varied colors for color code linking the parent label to each child label.

7. The multi-layered, multi-flag label of claim 1 for linking a primary container defined by a source container to at least one secondary container defined by a dose container.

8. A multi-layered, multi-flag label for identifying at least one dose container as emergent from a source container, the multi-layered, multi-flag label comprising:

a bifurcated bottom label layer, the bottom label layer having first and second segments separated by a back cut, the first and second segments having equal segment widths and unequal segment lengths;

a transparent intermediate label layer, the intermediate label layer being removably and adhesively attached to the bottom label layer thereby linking the first and second segments at the back cut thereby forming a transparent source-attaching portion and a labeling portion first layer, the source-attaching portion having a source-attaching portion length lesser in magnitude than the equal segment widths, and a source-attaching portion width greater in magnitude than a first of the unequal segment lengths and lesser in magnitude than a second of the unequal segment lengths; and

an opaque top label layer, the top label layer being widthwise coextensive and lengthwise abbreviated relative to the intermediate label layer, the top label layer being permanently attached to the intermediate label layer for forming a labeling portion second layer such that first ends of the intermediate and top label layers are aligned, a second end of the top label layer terminating upon the intermediate label layer for visually exposing the back cut via the intermediate label layer, the labeling portion first and second layers defining a parent label portion and a child label portion, the intermediate and top label layers being cut through the labeling portion first and second layers of the child label portion for effecting at least one child flag adjacent the parent label portion removably and adhesively attached upon the bottom label layer.

9. The multi-layered, multi-flag label of claim 8 wherein the bottom label layer frames the intermediate label layer at a peripheral boundary, the peripheral boundary for enhancing removal of the bottom label layer from the intermediate label layer.

10. The multi-layered, multi-flag label of claim 8 wherein the bottom label layer is a paper-based medium and the intermediate label layer is a polymer-based medium.

11. The multi-layered, multi-flag label of claim 10 wherein the top label layer is a select medium selected from the group consisting of a polymer-based medium and a paper-based medium.

12. The multi-layered, multi-flag label of claim 8 wherein the flag labels comprise a parent label and at least one child label, the top label layer bearing code indicia for label-linking the parent label with the child label.

13. The multi-layered, multi-flag label of claim 12 wherein the code indicia comprise varied colors for color code linking the parent label to the child label.