Abstract:
A colored heat-shrinkable label and labeling system including a key label and a lock label having a substantially cylindrical sleeve having an inner surface and an outer surface and formed of a colored heat shrink material of a size to fit around a head end of a key and a portion of a lock and to be shrunk to substantially encase the head end of the key ( 12 ), and a portion of a lock, forming a flat surface that can be written upon. 
     The key label and the lock label being color coded to indicate that the key and the lock are associated with each other.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
   This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/637,207, filed Dec. 17, 2004, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety herein. 

   FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates generally to labels, and more particularly to form-fitting labels for a key, a lock and the like. 
   BACKGROUND 
   Conventional key labels, for example, metal-rimmed paper disks, are often attached to keys with key rings. Unfortunately, these labels usually do not work well, especially when the key and label are placed on a key ring or holder because they are cumbersome and when the label becomes detached from the key ring the original problem of not knowing what the key is for returns. 
   Another type of conventional key label, for example, key head covers, are designed to fit a limited number of key head shapes, but to not work well for all shapes of key heads. Specifically, once installed, key head covers do not allow for easy placement of the key on a key ring or holder because the key head cover either interferes with the keyhole or with the placement of the key and head cover on the key ring and makes the key ring bulky. Further, with loose fitting ring type covers a key is prone to becoming separated from the ring type cover. 
   Adhesive labels have also been used as key labels, but are inadequate because they require relatively large areas of flat surface to which to affix. Further, adhesive labels tend to become detached as a result of the day-to-day use and handling of the key and because common adhesives do not adhere to metal keys well. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention avoids the disadvantages of conventional key labels by reliance on the use of a heat shrinkable material in the form of a cylindrical sleeve that is adapted to be placed over the head of a key and heat shrunk so that it tightly envelops the key head. The cylinder may be of selected diameter and width, according to the size of the key head and may be configured to ensure that it does not obstruct a key ring opening and interfere with placement on a key ring. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The convention will be more readily understood by reference to the following drawings wherein like reference characters represent like parts throughout the several views. 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a key label, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 2  is a front elevational view showing the placement of the key label of  FIG. 1  around a key head prior to shrinking of the key label, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 3  is a top view showing the placement of the key label of  FIG. 1  around a key head prior to shrinking of the key label, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 4  is a front elevational diagrammatic view showing a heat shrinking process for attaching a key label to a key, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 5  is a side diagrammatic view showing an alternative heat shrinking process for attaching a key label to a key, in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 6  is a front elevational and diagrammatic view of a key, which has had a label attached thereto and being labeled or identified by a marking device, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 7  is a front elevational view of the key label of  FIG. 6  after being labeled by the marking device, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 8  is a front view of attaching a standard preprinted adhesive label to the face of a key label that is already attached to a head end of a key, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 9  is a front-perspective view of alternative and/or jointly used labels already applied to a lock and labeled, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
   Referring to the drawings, and in particular to  FIG. 1 , there is illustrated a perspective view of a key label  10 , in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. Key label  10  is advantageously formed of a colored heat shrink material in a substantially cylindrical shape in a variety of predetermined diameters or a substantially predetermined molded shape to correspond closely to the shape of a key head and may be trimmed to a length L which, generally, would be less than the length of the key head to be labeled. For example, in some embodiments length L may range from about ⅛″ to 1″, more or less. However, this range is not intended to limit the possible sizes, but rather is merely illustrative of select embodiments, and embodiments with lengths both less than ⅛″ and greater than 1″ are also contemplated. The cut section of  10  is of a flexible material that enables it to be compressed or flattened by hand to allow it to pass over a key head, as shown in  FIG. 2 . As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the width, when the material is compressed, is less than the length. Described otherwise, approximately one half of the circumference is greater than the Length, L. It will be appreciated that label  10  may be cut from an elongated tubular member, flattened into a sleeve shape for packaging and distribution. Key label  10  includes an inner surface  11  and an outer surface  13  and may be formed from a colored heat shrink material such as polyolefin, polyvinyl chloride, polytetrafluoroethylene (sold under the trade name Teflon), polychloroprene (sold under the trade name Neoprene), or the like. In addition, key label  10  may be colored (for example, white, red, blue, green, yellow, or other color), preprinted with identifying information, formed with a flat surface so as to be written on. Alternatively, key label  10  may be formed into a substantially rectangular sleeve with two pairs of opposing walls, such that the inner perimeter of the walls measured on inner surface  11  may be approximately the same as the outer surface dimensions of the key head to which it is to be applied. In yet other alternatives, key label  10  may be formed into a variety of different geometric shapes that approximate the shape of the key heads and/or items to which they are to be applied. In still other alternatives, a heat activated adhesive may be applied to inner surface  11  of key label  10  to aid in the permanent affixation of key label  10  to the surface of the key head. 
   In general, to apply key label  10  to an item, key label  10  is first deformed slightly and slipped over a substantially flat portion of the key head. Next, if necessary, key label  10  may be held in place with pliers, tweezers, a clothespin, or a like label-holding device. Alternatively, key label  10  may be held in place by friction between inner surface  11  and an outer surface of the key head and/or with a label-holding device. Next, sufficient heat is applied to key label  10  causing it to shrink and conform to the outline of the key head. Finally, a suitable mark or identification may be placed on key label  10  by stamping or using a permanent pen such as, for example, a Sharpie Industrial marking pen, or other permanent writing implement. 
     FIG. 2  is an elevational view showing the placement of the key label of  FIG. 1  around a key head prior to shrinking of the key label, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. In particular, key label  10  is placed around a key head  15  of a key  12  prior to shrinking. Key label  10  may be formed as a flattened cylindrical sleeve, which may facilitate sliding key head  15  of key  12  into key label  10 . Key label  10  also may be formed in different sizes to accommodate various shapes and sizes of key heads. 
     FIG. 3  is a top view showing the placement of the key label of  FIG. 1  around a key head prior to shrinking of the key label, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. In  FIG. 3 , although key label  10  is shown to not be in contact with key head  15 , key label  10  may be sized so that it frictionally contacts one or more edges and/or surfaces of key head  15 . If key label  10  frictionally contacts the edges and/or surfaces of key head  15 , key label  10  may be heat shrunk to key head  15  without having to hold key label  10  and key  12 /key head  15  together. 
     FIG. 4  is a front view showing a heat shrinking process for attaching a key label to a key head, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in  FIG. 4 , heat from a suitable heat source  14  such as, for example, a hair dryer or heat gun, may be applied to key label  10 . As heat is applied to key label  10 , there results a partially shrunk key label  16  around key head  15 . With continued application of heat from heat source  14 , partially shrunk key label  16  may continue to shrink around and conform to the shape of key head  15  of key  12 . 
     FIG. 5  is a side view showing an alternative heat shrinking process for attaching a key label to a key, in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention. In  FIG. 5 , key  12  and partially shrunk key label  16  may be heated by a flame  18  either directly or through a screen/barrier (not shown) to prevent the burning and/or discoloration/deformation of key label  10 . 
   While heat gun  14  and flame  18  are shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 , it should be appreciated that other heat sources may also be used, such as a gas flame source (for example, butane, propane, or other gas), an electric heat source (for example, a heat gun, an iron, a burner, or the like), a heated fluid (for example, hot air or liquid), a solid fuel (for example, a canned heat cooking fuel), or the like. Regardless of the heat source, the heat may be applied to the key label until the key label has shrunk to fit the form of the head end of the key. Once the key label has been shrunk and cooled, suitable marking or identification may be applied to its surface  25 . To this end key label  10  is made of an appropriate material that permits writing and/or affixation on the label as desired. 
     FIG. 6  shows a key label  10  attached to a key head  15  with surface  25  being labeled by being written on, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. In particular, a fully shrunk key label  22  is shown fitting around the head end of key  12 . It should be noted that a keyhole  23  of key  12  has been left exposed to allow key  12  to be placed on a key ring or holder, while key cuts on shank  19  are also clear of the sleeve. A prepunched hole in the key label may also be provided to allow for key ring holes. A writing implement  24  is shown being used to place a writing  20  on fully shrunk key label  22 . The writing implement  24  may be, for example, a pencil, pen, marker, permanent marker, or the like. However, to provide extended durability of writing  20 , using a permanent marker to apply writing  20  is suggested. 
   It should be appreciated that in addition to, or instead of, being able to be written on, fully shrunk key label  22  may be preprinted with label names and/or symbols. If fully shrunk key label  22  is preprinted, the label names and/or symbols may be slightly over-sized and/or distorted to allow for size and shape changes when key label  10  shrinks around the head end of key  12 . Alternatively, fully shrunk key label  22  may be at least partially transparent to allow the surface of the key to be written on and/or to permit a label to be placed between key  12  and key label  10  to be visible from beneath fully shrunk key label  22 . 
     FIG. 7  shows the key label of  FIG. 6  after being labeled, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. In particular, fully shrunk key label  22  has been shrunk to closely fit the form of the head end of key  12  and writing  20  has been applied to fully shrunk key label  22 . Fully shrunk key label  22  may be trimmed after it has been applied to remove any excess shrunk label material. Alternatively, fully shrunk key label  22  may be trimmed prior to heat shrinking. 
     FIG. 8  is a front view of attaching a standard preprinted adhesive label to the face of a key label that is already attached to a head end of a key, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. In  FIG. 8 , a fully shrunk key label, for example, fully shrunk key label  22  of  FIG. 6 , is shown having a preprinted adhesive label  26  being affixed to a front surface  27  of fully shrunk key label  22 . Front surface  27  of fully shrunk key label  22  provides an adhesive-friendly surface for the adhesive label to properly affix thereto. 
   In addition to key labels, form-fitting labels made of heat shrink material in accordance with the present invention may also be used to label locks and, in particular, pad locks. The heat shrink sleeves may be placed around lock bodies, especially pad locks or the shackle of pad locks, to enable labeling. The heat shrink labels for locks are applied in a manner similar to that used for key labels. Further, the key labels and lock labels may be color-coded, for example, so that the color of the key labels and the lock labels match each other for convenient association of a key with a lock that the key opens. 
     FIG. 9  is a front-perspective view of alternative labels already applied to a lock and labeled, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. In  FIG. 9 , a lock  32  has affixed around a portion of its middle a heat shrink label  34  with a mark or identification  36  applied thereon to which could indicate which similarly labeled key applies to lock  32 . Conveniently, in this type of lock, a preprinted identification label may be placed beneath a transparent heat shrink label  34 . Alternatively, a shackle  30  of lock  32  may have a label  34  with lettering  36  affixed thereto. 
   As is apparent from the above description and the figures referenced therein, there is provided a form fitting key label in accordance with the present invention. While this invention has been described in conjunction with a number of embodiments, it is evident that many alternatives, modifications and variations would be or are apparent to those of ordinary skill in the applicable arts. Accordingly, applicant intends to embrace all such alternatives, modifications, equivalents and variations that are within the spirit and scope of this invention.