Unique label construction applied to a business form.

DESCRIPTION

This invention relates generally to self-adhesive labels and methods for their production and, more specifically, to the use of such labels in combination with commercial forms.

The currently available self-adhesive labels usually consist of a sheet of printable paper provided, on its underside, with a stunted primer and a layer of self-adhesive. Normally, a protective coating or sheet covers the adhesive to protect it and to prevent the label from involuntarily adhering to surfaces with which it could be contacted before final use. The lining or support was generally provided with a release layer so that the support can be easily removed. In order to facilitate the operation of removing the support, this or the label can be separated in one or more places, so that when flexing the label / support assembly, an edge of the label or the support is easily accessible for detachment. .

In particular, US patent memory 4544590 describes a laminated label element with a mark printed on one or both sides of the laminate and with a stamped laminated element to form individual labels on a backing sheet. Labels can be separated from the media sheet and applied to another surface.

A laminated decal-shaped element for sticking to a window is described, which includes a sheet that has an adhesive release layer applied on adhesive to protect the adhesive until the decal is placed on a transparent surface.

The British patent specification GBA2177373 describes a separable label construction, in combination with a support sheet and includes a multilayer substrate to hold the label and to mount the label on a separable support layer, including the substrate means that allow for separating the support sheet label in a first mode, in which the adhesive that goes on the lower surface of the label is not exposed and in a second mode in which the adhesive that goes on the lower surface of the label is exposed.

US Patent 3383121 describes a laminated construction of adhesive labels with a plurality of labels arranged for color change applications.

The French patent memory FR-A2469766 and the German patent memory DEA-3625904 describe label constructions with intermediate layers.

In such labels a problem arises when it is desired to separate a self-adhesive label from a temporary support and apply it to another permanent support when it is to be used. For example, in the commercial forms industry, the forms may be provided with self-adhesive labels, such as for example labels with return address, to be used by the recipient of the form. However, it may happen that for whatever reasons, the user does not wish to immediately attach the label to another support for the end use it was intended for.

Obviously, difficulties can arise in such multiple differences of the self-adhesive label, due to repeated exposure of the adhesive layer once separated from its original support. Not only can the label be contaminated with dust or dirt, thus losing its adhesive properties, but it can also be attached to another surface undesirably and in a more or less permanent way.

The present invention solves these problems by providing a label construction in which: (1) no permanent adhesive surface of the label is exposed at any time before the final use to which it is intended, and (2) the label can be separated of a surface, and take it to another site or store it and then permanently fix it to another surface.

The present invention refers to a commercial form that carries a label construction attached thereto, which is separable from the form in a first way, whereby the first layer of adhesive between the construction of the label and the form is exposed and that it comprises a second layer of adhesive and an intermediate multilayer substrate, whereby the label can be separated in a second mode in which the second layer of adhesive is exposed, characterized in that the multilayer intermediate substrate comprises a first and a second layer of paper separated from the rest of the construction of the label by a third layer of temporary uonic adhesive, so that, in a third way, the label and the first The paper layer is separated together to allow separate handling of the first and second layers and the subsequent separation of the first and second layers exposing the self-adhesive layer.

These features offer obvious advantages in label construction used in hospitals, shipping departments, warehouses, mail order companies, and so on.

The experts in the field would still understand that an image transfer material of the autonomous type without cartoon or self-copying, for example, can be placed on the substrate layer so that an image can be printed on the upper substrate, through the label layer, using traditional percussion printing techniques. Transfer materials that serve as examples are described in US Patents 4,425,386 and 3,663,256. Likewise, printing could be carried out directly on the detachment layer if, for example, it was necessary to hide information.

The support, on which a plurality of the label constructions described above goes, is provided on its upper surface detachment layer so that it can be removed according to the desired construction of the label.

Therefore, it would be understood that the layer of

019 483 label is attached, in a separable way, to the upper substrate layer and the latter temporarily adheres to the lower substrate layer which, in turn, adheres in a removable manner to the support sheet which, at its instead, it is provided with a layer of detachment.

The arrangement of the multilayer substrate is of such a nature that the entire construction can be easily separated from the support sheet and adhered to other temporary support, such as a similar form or medium. Subsequently, the recipient of the form can use the label in two ways. First, the user can separate the label layer and the upper substrate layer along an edge of the construction of the label. Separated in this way the label layer with its adhesive layer covered by the upper substrate layer, it can be taken anywhere or stored without damaging the adhesive layer of the label and without undesirably sticking. Finally, when it is decided to use the label, the label layer of the upper substrate layer can be stripped and adhered to the desired surface.

So that the label layer can be easily removed from the upper substrate layer, the label is separated, preferably along a marginal edge opposite the edge by which the layers of the upper and lower substrates were separated.

They follow an aspect related to the previous one, this invention comprises a method for manufacturing a label construction comprising the steps of:

(a) use a label layer provided with a printable top surface and a self-adhesive applied to its bottom surface;

(b) use a substrate comprising upper and lower layers, whose upper layer has a release coating applied to its upper surface and a temporary adhesive applied to its lower surface, the lower layer having a smooth upper surface and a self-adhesive applied to its lower surface.

(c) adhering, in a removable manner, the label layer superimposed on the upper surface of the upper layer of the substrate, and (d) detachably attaching the label and the substrate to a temporary support.

Figure 1 is a side view, in cross-section, of a label construction mounted on a temporary support in accordance with the intention.

Figure 2 is a partial view, taken from above, illustrating a plurality of tags mounted on a temporary support following the invention; Y

Figure 3 is a side view, in cross-section, of a label construction mounted on a form following this invention and illustrating alternative ways of using the label in question.

Referring now to Figure 1, a virtually rectangular paper label 10, which forms a first layer in the multilayer label construction of this invention, includes an upper surface 12 and a lower surface 14. This last one is provided with a layer of traditional type self-adhesive. The layer constituting the label 10 overlaps a multilayer substrate comprising an upper substrate paper layer 18 and a lower substrate paper layer 20. The upper substrate paper layer 18 has an upper surface 22 and a lower surface 24, whose upper surface 22 is provided with a traditional sheathing or coating 26 and the lower surface 24 is provided with a temporary adhesive layer 28, eg for single use, of any appropriate type.

The lower substrate layer 20 includes a smooth upper surface 30, while the lower surface 32 is provided with a self-adhesive 34, similar to that applied to the lower surface of the label 10. All the construction of the label comprising the label layer 10 and the substrate layers 18 and 20 are attached, in a separable manner, to a temporary support 36, such as a continuous contour provided, on its upper surface 38, of a layer of detachment 40.

The layer constituting the label 10 itself is also preferably provided with an incision or tearing line 42 that projects along a marginal edge of the layer and which facilitates the operation of separating the label layer 10 from the substrate layer. upper 18, particularly when subjecting the assembly to flexioran.

Figure 2 illustrates a plurality of generally rectangular shaped labels 10 mounted on a temporary continuous material support 36. It will be understood that the labels are manufactured in this way and are normally supplied in rolls.

In Figure 3, an identical label construction is illustrated in all respects to that illustrated in Figure 1, applied to a commercial form 44 provided with a sheathing or shedding layer 46, preferably only on the part of its upper surface 48 underlying the construction of the label. The commercial form 44 is represented exclusively by way of illustration, it being understood that the construction of the label can be applied in numerous supports in the various industries to which reference has been made previously.

Figure 3 also illustrates the alternative procedures for using the label according to the present invention. On the right side of Figure 3, a first procedure is illustrated which follows that the user can remove the layer or sheet constituting the label 10 together with the upper substrate layer 18 by detaching them from the right side of the substrate layer bottom 20. In this configuration, in a first way, as the adhesive 16 that goes over the label is not exposed, the separated label can be stored, carried in a pocket or moved from one place to another without the possibility of damaging or diminishing the properties self adhesive label stickers

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10. Subsequently, when it is time to use the label 10, the user simply flexes the sheet of the label 10 and the upper substrate layer 20 combined, so that the sheet of the label 10 is separated from the upper substrate layer, whereby the user detach the self-adhesive label, as illustrated on the left side of Figure 3, so that the adhesive of the label 10 is exposed and the label can be applied to the desired surface.

In another way of using it, the user can simply flex and detach the self-adhesive label 10 from the upper and lower substrate layers for immediate use, without first having to separate the upper and lower substrate layers 18 and 20 first.

As explained, the invention offers a label construction characterized by its simplicity and diversity of uses, which previously could not be achieved with prior art label constructions.

Although the invention has been described in what is currently considered its praóctica and preferred realization, it was understood that the invention is not limited to the described embodiment but, on the contrary, it is intended to cover the various modifications and equivalent provisions included within the scope of the appended claims.

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