Abstract:
A cover sheet for protecting unprinted labels of a label assembly includes a number of removable shields that overlie the unprinted labels during printing.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   The invention relates to label sheet assemblies that provide multiple labels for printing with a laser, inkjet, or dot matrix printer. 
   DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART 
   A common use of home and office printers is printing sheets of labels. The labels are die-cut in a label sheet that adheres to a backing sheet to form a label assembly. Labels are provided in a number of different shapes and sizes, and are usually arranged in rows and columns on the backing sheet. 
   Label sheets are typically sized as a standard page size (eight and one-half inches by eleven inches in the United States, or A4 size in many other countries) and the sheets are fed individually through the printer. The printer prints on one or more of the labels, and the printed labels are removed from the backing sheet for use. 
   Often only some of the labels are printed and the remaining labels remain unprinted and can be reused. Word processors are programmed to recognize the layout of common label sheets, and can print on selected labels of the sheet. Label sheets can be run through the printer multiple times, with the word processor printing only to those labels remaining on the sheet. 
   Multiple runs through the printer, however, often soils the unprinted labels with ink or toner. If the soiling is sufficiently severe, the unused labels turn gray from excess toner residue and may have to be discarded. Being unable to use all the labels on a sheet is wasteful and increases printing costs. 
   Thus there is a need for protecting unprinted labels from soiling during printing. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention is a cover sheet that protects unprinted labels from soiling during printing. 
   The cover sheet in accordance with the invention is subdivided into a number of removable shields. Each shield overlies a respective label. Shields overlying labels to be printed are removed to expose selected labels for printing. The remaining shields cover the unprinted labels during printing to resist soiling of unprinted labels. The unprinted labels remain clean and usable even if the label sheet goes through the printer multiple times. 
   In preferred embodiments the cover sheet adheres to the label sheet. The cover sheet can be provided as part of the label assembly by the manufacturer, or can be provided separately and attached to the label assembly by the user before printing. The cover sheet also protects each label&#39;s printing surface during storage. 
   The label cover sheet allows all the labels of a label sheet to be used, even if only a few labels are printed at a time. Label sheets can be run through the printer multiple times without soiling unprinted labels, and wasted labels caused by soiling are eliminated. 
   Other objects and features of the invention will become apparent as the description proceeds, especially when taken in conjunction with the accompanying three drawing sheets illustrating an embodiment of the invention. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a front view of a conventional double-sheet label assembly; 
       FIG. 2  is a partial sectional view of the label assembly shown in  FIG. 1  taken along lines  2 - 2  of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 3  is a front view of a triple-sheet label assembly having the double-sheet label assembly shown in  FIG. 1  and a first embodiment protective cover sheet in accordance with the present invention; 
       FIG. 4  is a partial sectional view of the label assembly shown in  FIG. 3  taken along lines  4 - 4  of  FIG. 3 ; 
       FIG. 5  is a view similar to  FIG. 4  but with one shield removed from the cover sheet for printing on one label of the label assembly; and 
       FIG. 6  is a partial sectional view of the assembly shown in  FIG. 5  taken along lines  6 - 6  of  FIG. 5 . 
   

   DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     FIGS. 1 and 2  illustrate a conventional double-sheet label assembly  10  that can be used with the cover sheet of the present invention. 
   Label assembly  10  includes a label sheet  12 , a backing sheet  14 , and a pressure-sensitive adhesive  16  between the label and backing sheets. The label sheet is die-cut into a set of labels  18  having a printing surface  20 . The adhesive permits a user to remove a printed label from the backing sheet. Label assembly  10  is intended for use with laser printers and can withstand the temperatures of up to 200 degrees Fahrenheit of the laser printing environment. 
   The illustrated label sheet  12  has a standard sheet size of either eight and one-half inches by eleven inches or A4 size. The label sheet has ten labels arranged in a predetermined configuration of two columns of five rows. Other sheet sizes, label sizes, and label layouts are available and are readily adapted for use in accordance with the present invention. 
     FIGS. 3 and 4  illustrate a cover sheet  22  in accordance with the present invention that is used with label assembly  10 . Cover sheet  22  is made from paper stock and is sized to completely cover label sheet  12  to form the three-sheet label assembly  24  shown in the figures. Other types of sheet materials that can resist a laser printer environment can also be used to form cover sheet  22 . 
   Cover sheet  22  includes an attachment portion  26  and a shield portion  28  separated by an intermittent die-cut line  29 . Attachment portion  26  adheres the cover sheet to the label sheet by pressure adhesive  30 . Adhesive  30  either permanently attaches attachment portion  26  to the label sheet or detachably attaches attachment portion  26  to the label sheet as desired. For example, a permanent adhesive might be used to form pre-formed assemblies  24 . A detachable adhesive might be applied to cover sheet  22  to enable a user to attach cover sheet  22  to a pre-existing label assembly  10 . Line  29  enables the attachment portion  26  to be completely removed without the risk of adhesive  30  tearing the label sheet. If desired, line  29  can be eliminated and the perforation line joining the upper row of labels to attachment portion  26  is used to remove the entire shield portion  28 . 
   Shield portion  28  does not adhere to the label sheet and overlies the set of labels  18 . Shield portion  28  is divided by intermittent die-cut lines  32  into a set of detachable, rectangular-shaped shields  34 . Each shield  34  overlies a respective label  18  of the assembly  10  and is preferably printed with indicia  36  that uniquely identifies each shield. 
   Lines  32  preferably extend to the edges of the sheet  22  as shown in  FIG. 3  to facilitate removal of the shields. Some or all of the die-cut lines  32  can end inwardly of the edges of sheet  22  in other embodiments if the labels are surrounded by an outer margin of the label sheet. Lines  32  can also define shields  34  having other shapes, including rounded rectangles, circles, and the like to accommodate other label shapes and label layouts. 
     FIGS. 5 and 6  illustrate assembly  24  after one shield has been removed from cover sheet  22  to permit printing on a single label  18   a . Preferably labels are used from the trailing end of the label sheet towards the leading end of the sheet. Removing the shield exposes label print surface  20   a , while the remaining shields cover the unprinted labels. Label assembly  24  is fed through the printer for printing label  18   a , and the other labels remain covered during the print process. If more than one label is to be printed, multiple shields are removed as necessary. 
   To print on other of the remaining labels of label assembly  24 , the appropriate shields are removed from cover sheet  22 . If all the labels are to be printed at once, or all remaining labels are to be printed in a later print run, cover  22  can be removed or shield portion  28  is removed at line  29  for printing label assembly  10  in a conventional manner. 
   While I have illustrated and described a preferred embodiment of my invention, it is understood that this is capable of modification, and I therefore do not wish to be limited to the precise details set forth, but desire to avail myself of such changes and alterations as fall within the purview of the following claims.