TEXTIL LABEL

Abstract: A counterfeit-resistant textil label incorporates at least a phosphoresent thread forming one or more embroideries.

Description: The present invention refers to a textile label of specific construction having unique structural and optical properties. Textile labels are already known that identify textile products and other articles, along with trademarks and other information for indicating the origin or quality of the goods and/or to provide information concerning a proper treatment, e.g. upon laundering them. Such textile label is affixed to the article dependent on the nature of said article, e.g. by sewing, by an adhesive or in other conventional manner. As such labels often are counterfeitet, proposals have been made how to construct such labels which were counterfeit-proof. From EP-A-0 081 337, a tread or yarn is known which may be used to manufacture distinctive and counterfeit-inhibiting garment labels. The thread is manufactured from a sheet material comprising a monolayer of transparent microsperes optically exposed at the front of the sheet material, a specularly reflective layer underlying the microspheres at the approximate point where the microspheres focus incident light. Such thread is, thus, difficult to manufacture, thereby making its availability poor and promoting counterfeit-inhibition. Use of fluorescent dyes is suggested by the above document as well. From DE-U-8 229 816, a garment label is known consisting of a substrate of woven web, leather or plastics, a layer of phosphorescent material disposed thereon and a covering layer of printed colour. Said printed colour is missing at specific portions, exposing the phosphorescent material there. However, as such phosphorescent material is easily available and may be easily printed onto the substrate, the label does not provide increased safety against counterfeiting. From CH-A-309 531, a thread is known which is market at discrete locations with a fluorescent dye. Thereby, the optical appearance under normal conditions is not affected, but the information provided by the fluorescent dye at the yarn may be identified when using a suitable light source to irradiate the yarn. From US-A-1 822 098, it is known to mark a rope by means of a fluorescent dye applied to the rope. It is the object of the invention to provide a textile label which provides an increased degree of safety against falsification. This object is attained by the features comprised in the claim. In accordance therewith, the labels consists of a textile substrate in which at least one phosphorescent thread is incorporated that is formed into one or more embroideries, or patterns or shaped configurations in the substrate. This new textile label has the advantages of providing a warranty for the origin and quality of the product that it identifies, so as to warranty also the authenticity of the product so labeled with respect to the important purpose of preventing falsification of the product. The label also creates a feeling of security in the trademark chosen by the purchaser and of confidence in the purchased product. There can easily be an eventual testing and assurance by the manufacturers of the high quality distinguished products to which the textile label of the invention can be attached, regarding their distributors to prevent possible imitations or falsifications. Everything will be properly controlled by using a highly recognized trademark with the indicated labels. Furthermore, the construction of the new textile label is unique and includes an original design within the said label. This is to promote an increase in the label's power to identify and to be perceived at low light levels or to be perceived in total darkness. This unique feature is due to the embroideries of the phosphorescent threads, because they can be seen at low light level or perceived in the dark. Thus the product label of the invention promotes identification by any possible buyer of the highly recognized and distinct product or article. The substrate of the textile label of the invention can be made according to any conventional textile method, then it has added to its construction one or more phosphorescent threads that are formed into one or more embroideries or design patterns on the textile substrate of the label. These embroideries are obtained by conventional textile stitching procedures. The textile label according to the present invention has the advantages that were described above, plus others that can be readily observed from the detailed discussion of preparing the mentioned label. This provides an understanding of the characteristics previously explained, by simultaneously providing knowledge about the several details which accompany the present invention. For such a purpose, a drawing is provided only as sample and is not to limit the scope of this invention, since it represents a practical example of the textile label of the invention. In the drawing, the figure only represents schematically an enlargement of a textile label as seen from its exterior face. The textile label that is represented in the present embodiment represents a textile base or substrate -1- made as per a conventional textile procedure, and in this case is, rectangular in shape, although it could be square, polygonal, straight or with curved sides and also could be of a configuration that is totally curved, such as a circle or oval, etc. For example, any geometrical configuration could be adopted, particularly a configuration suitable for the kind of product to which the label applied. The application could be to sporting equipment, to textiles or other clothing materials, bottled liquids such as wine and liquors, toys, jewelry, food and in general some products that it may be of interest to distinguish by using the mentioned label, for the purpose of assuring the origin, warranty, quality and authenticity, already previously discussed. The mentioned textile substrate or base -1-incorporates at least one phosphorescent thread that can be formed into several embroideries. Logotypes integrated by the embroideries -2- and -3-, in this example, are of two different colors so that it gives a relief to the said logotype. Other embroidery -4- provides characters, such as letters, with one or more phosphorescent threads of one color that could be distinguished over the color of the background of the support -1-. The other embroidery -5- can create other characters, such as letters and numbers at the same time, formed by one or more phosphorescent threads of the same or different colors, that could be distinguished from the background color of the textile support -1-. Evidently, on this textile support, there could exist one or more embroideries with the required instructions for proper use of the product to which this textile label is applied. The label will have the adequate size for the purpose that it is used. Accordingly the visible textile label will be able to present one or more embroideries containing conventional threads to which there is added the phosphorescent threads which will be able to show diverse colors included there in same label, as may be required. It is also possible to obtain the described textile label, conventionally, starting from a strip of textile labels that have been separated by cutting. Attachment of the textile label to the product can be made by known mediums and according to the usual methods, for obtaining its attachment to the corresponding product to which it may be applied. The phosphorescent thread employed for forming the embroideries on the textile label of the present invention, emits visible light produced by a known excitation device. The visible light emission persists after such excitation has ceased. The greater the excitation of the thread, the longer the visible light persists thereafter due to photic radiations of sun light or artificial light. In addition it is possible to obtain the necessary excitation by radiation at low light levels or from radiation not visible to the human eye, and produced by known devices. In any case, the results obtained for the phosphorescency is that it is visible to the user and for the eventual buyer of a product to see, such that it can distinguish the mentioned textile label. This provides to the purchaser of such product the security of its origin and quality determinated by the existing embroideries -2-, -3-, -4- and -5- or any other ones attained by one or more phosphorescent threads. Also it increases the identification power of such a textile label, and it can be perceived with little light or can be perceived even in darkness by the buyer or the user of such a product. It is also an important feature of the label of the invention that it offers to the user, a highly visible location wherein it has been placed, and from which it can be located readily with no mistake. It must be born in mind, in using the label of the present invention, that it could be applied in all the variations that practical experience can advise, concerning shapes and dimensions, number of integrated pieces, materials used in the same and further accessory circumstances.

Claims: A textile label, comprising a textile substrate (1) having incorporated therein at least one phosphorescent thread, said thread being formed into at least one embroidery (2, 3, 4, 5) in said substrate (1).

Inventors: FERRE BLANQUEZ, JUAN, Ferré Blanquez, Juan
Applicants: FERRE BLANQUEZ, JUAN
Application year: 1987
Main classification: G09F3
IPC codes: G09F13, D06H1, D06Q1, G09F3