Abstract:
A self-expiring badge or label is provided that includes a clear substrate, an opaque adhesive layer, a liner web, and an ink pattern is provided. The clear substrate has a back surface and a front surface with the opaque adhesive layer on the back surface. The liner web has a first surface and a second surface, where the adhesive layer secures the substrate to the first surface. The ink pattern is on at least a portion of the second surface. Upon removal of the liner web from the adhesive layer, the portion remains secured to the clear substrate by the adhesive layer and the clear substrate is foldable to place the ink pattern in contact with the adhesive layer. The ink pattern migrates through the adhesive layer in a selected time interval and is visible through the clear substrate when the ink pattern is in contact with the adhesive layer.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
   This is a continuation application of U.S. application Ser. No. 11/895,614, which was filed on Aug. 24, 2007 and is now pending, which is a Continuation-In-Part of U.S. Ser. No. 11/325,052, filed Jan. 05, 2006, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,263,037, which issued on Aug. 28, 2007, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. 

   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   This invention relates to a one piece self expiring security badge, label, ticket and pass. 
   More particularly, this invention is directed to a one-piece self-expiring security badge or label that is thin and flexible wherein the badges or labels can easily pass through a laser or thermal printer, and can be easily stored in a roller form. Additionally, this invention relates to an improved construction of a color changing time label which enables a computer printer to print and activate the time label before issuing from the printer. 
   2. Description of Related Art 
   Self-expiring security badges or labels have as their core technology a chemical color-changing process that can be easily activated at a specific time. Security badges are only one of the many applications for such technology. Generally, such products are useful because the color changing process is easily activated and after a predetermined period of time has passed and the color changing process is completed, they cannot be used again. Such products have found wide acceptance due primarily to their ‘ease of use’. Such technologies are described in the prior art Haas, Holt and Pedicano patents listed herein and are incorporated herein by reference. 
   Generally, such color changing process is activated by overlaying and adhesively bonding two substrates to each other. Prior to activation the substrates are kept separate. Typically, the top or exposed substrate is an adhesive label and the bottom substrate has a migrating ink or dye on or within its face. When bonded together, the adhesive from the top label dissolves the dye in the migrating ink, causing it to bleed (diffuse) ‘through’ the top label at a controlled rate. After a predetermined period of time, the dye-colored image is displayed through the front of the top material and can be seen by those viewing the badge or label. Such badge or label is thus expired, i.e., “self expired” and cannot be used again. 
   Generally, such known self-expiring badges and labels are initially in two separate pieces, i.e., the top adhesive label and bottom dye or ink containing substrate, and are assembled at the time of issuance, i.e., activation. Because the two substrates are dry materials, they have very long shelf-lives, making these products very commercially practical. However, where there is a high volume of badges or labels issued by, for example, receptionists and security guards the two part construction proves to be inconvenient and labor intensive. There is a need for a simpler badge or label that requires less labor to activate. 
   Several preassembled constructions have been developed, see for example U.S. Pat. No. 5,107,470 to Pedicano et al. In this type of construction, the top substrate and bottom substrate are joined together with a paper liner interleaved between the adhesive on the top substrate and the bottom substrate containing the migrating ink. When the security badge is issued, the issuer separates the two parts by lifting the top substrate and pealing away the interleaving paper liner from the top substrate. This exposes the adhesive underlying the top substrate so that when the two parts are pressed together the top substrate adhesively bonds to the bottom substrate activating the color changing process, i.e., dissolving the migrating ink. This preassembled construction is simpler and more convenient to use, i.e., it is “user friendly.” Such preassembled badges or labels also minimize one of the primary weaknesses of the two part constructions which is the failure of a receptionist or security guard to activate the product when it is issued. This is a common occurrence with badges or labels that come in two separate parts, generally because the receptionist or security guard is untrained or careless in distributing and activating such badges or labels. 
   However, such preassembled badges or labels as exemplified by Pedicano, have several technical problems. First, such preassembled security badges or labels as well as the two piece badges or labels each have a waste liner that needs to be removed and disposed of. If, for example, there are a large number of visitors to a facility, such waste liners can be a substantial nuisance and housekeeping problem, particularly if not disposed of properly. The liners typically have a silicone coating on one side, are slippery and collect static electricity, causing collection problems. Second, such preassembled badges or labels are stiff and rigid because they are constructed from multiple ply layers. For example, a two piece pre-activated badge or label has a top adhesive substrate with three layers, a face stock layer, an adhesive layer and a liner, while the preassembled construction badge or label consists of five layers: a face stock, an adhesive layer, a removable liner barrier, a bottom-substrate face stock, and a bottom-substrate liner. In order to store such badges or labels, they need to be fan folded. Fan folded badges or labels typically lays in stacks about 2-3 inches high and are folded every two or three badges or labels. This requires that the stacks of badges or labels be outside the computer printer and occupy substantial desk space. Since most security badges are issued from a small receptionist desk in the lobby where surface area is at a premium, it is important to employ security badge printers and badge supplies that have as small a footprint as possible. If the fan folded badges or labels were folded every four badges or labels, they stack of badges or labels would be 12 inches long, protruding from the rear of the thermal printer. This is inconvenient and impractical. 
   The applicant is aware of the following prior art (US patents): 
   
     
       
             
             
             
           
         
             
                 
                 
             
           
           
             
                 
               3,520,124 to Myers 
               5,699,326 Haas et al 
             
             
                 
               4,408,557 to Bradley et al 
               5,715,215 to Haas et al 
             
             
                 
               4,903,254 to Haas 
               5,719,828 to Haas et al 
             
             
                 
               5,058,088 to Haas et al 
               5,822,280 to Haas 
             
             
                 
               5,446,705 to Haas et al 
               5,930,206 to Haas et al 
             
             
                 
               5,602,804 to Haas 
               5,974,003 to Pedicano et al 
             
             
                 
               5,633,835 to Haas et al 
               6,270,122 to Shadle 
             
             
                 
               5,633,836 to Langer et al 
               6,295,252 to Holt et al 
             
             
                 
               5,667,303 to Arens 
               6,452,873 to Holt et al 
             
             
                 
               6,641,691 to Shadle et al 
               6,916,130 to Holt et al 
             
             
                 
               6,741,523 to Bommarito 
             
             
                 
               6,752,430 to Holt et al 
             
             
                 
                 
             
           
        
       
     
   
   Still further, time labels which change color by a dye diffusion color changing mechanism were first invented in 1980. They have been successfully used for one-time-use security badges and non-reusable indicators of various sorts for many years. In every commercially product, the time label is activated to start the time controlled color changing process by manually applying a self-adhesive front label (front part) onto a back portion label (back part) that is printed with a molecular dye based migrating ink. Upon contact of the pressure sensitive adhesive with the migrating ink, the dye from the ink diffuses into the adhesive to cause the color change. Based on the adhesive composition and the particular dye, the color of the front part label changes to show expiration. 
   Even though the time labels may be computer printed by many types of computer printers, such as ink jet, direct thermal, thermal transfer, etc, the printed label is manually removed directly from the computer or from a roll of previously printed labels and activated by hand in order to begin the color-changing process. This manual issuing of security badges and/or time labels is a major problem for users. There are a number of benefits for having a printer automatically activate the time label before issuing. There are even more benefits to have an unmanned kiosk in a lobby (facility) or unmanned printer issued activated time labels direct to the end-user. Previous attempts to perform this automatic time label activation have failed. 
   Previous attempts to produce a printer-activated-time-label system failed because of the relative complexity of the printers. Also, different chemical activation mechanism have been attempted, but none of them have become commercial products. To the best of Applicant&#39;s knowledge, the only time labels in use are of the dye diffusion type activated by adhesive contact with the migrating ink dye. 
   For example, for a system which uses two different labels combining in the printer itself, two label streams are needed and it is difficult to apply a front label onto a back label because of alignment problems, removing the front label from its liner and applying it to the back part label, training users to reload the printer and removing jams within the printer. 
   Another possible technique is to create a multiple layer time label that is heated to initiate the color changing process. This active chemical process or thermal barrier process where a chemical barrier is breached by heating at the time of activation, appears to be difficult to produce without pin holes in the barrier layers and to control the dye diffusion elements. 
   Another process may be to produce a time label with micro-encapsulated elements that are initiated by mechanical crushing in the printer by passing the time labels through crushing rollers. This process requires the development of very stable encapsulated materials that are resistant to environmental heat and storage. 
   Another process may be to produce a multilayer thermal transfer ribbon which initiates the color changing process upon heat transfer of the materials. This process would also require the development of a printable time label in order to be printed as well as receive the color changing materials from the thermal ribbon. One can conceive of a variety of thermal ribbon coatings and combinations of chemicals which can be transferred to a label substrate in order to produce a color changing process. 
   Still another mechanism would be to employ a liquid activator which is applied to the time labels as they pass through the printing device. Applying the liquid would initiate the movement of the dyes through the opaque white barrier hiding the colored dyes so that the expiring image will be produced on the face of the time label. 
   None of these systems appears to have been practical. 
   Because of the technical difficulties and complicated constructions of all these chemical and multiple part mechanical schemes, none of them have proved practical for commercial products. The current invention has overcome all these difficulties by employing a single piece label structure exactly like standard paper labels and standard direct thermal computer printable labels which have a simple construction and have been well proven to be practical. The activation mechanism is by a simple mechanical rearrangement of the label components during or after printing the label with a computer printer. Hence, this simple mechanical rearrangement requires only simple mechanical components in a printing device. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   It is an object of this invention to provide a one-piece self expiring badge, label, ticket or pass. 
   It is a further object of this invention to provide a one-piece self expiring badge, label, ticket or pass that has a minimal number of waste liners that need to be disposed of after activation. 
   It is another object of this invention to provide a one-piece self expiring badge, label, ticket or pass that is thin, flexible and can be easily stacked and stored. 
   Another object of the invention is to provide a one-piece self expiring badge, label, ticket or pass that can easily pass through a laser or thermal printer. 
   It is a further object of this invention to provide time labels which change color after a predetermined time interval after activation for high security use by guaranteeing one-time use. 
   It is another object of this invention to provide time labels which change color after a predetermined time interval after activation that can be automatically issued to the individual by simply reading electronically the individuals personal identification ID card, visa card, alien card, or any other “trusted” governmental issued ID card. 
   It is an object of this invention to provide time labels which change color after a predetermined time interval after activation with an operator or human intervention. 
   It is an object of this invention to provide time labels which change color after a predetermined time interval after activation with only the blank time labels themselves as expendable components. 
   It is an object of this invention to provide time labels which change color after a predetermined time interval after activation within seconds of demand by computer printing. 
   It is an object of this invention to provide time labels which change color after a predetermined time interval after activation of various sizes, shapes, and color expiration patterns. 
   It is an object of this invention to provide time labels which change color after a predetermined time interval after activation which can be issued by hand or by an automatic dispenser. 
   It is an object of this invention to provide time labels which change color after a predetermined time interval after activation which do not produce chaff and litter. 
   It is an object of this invention to provide time labels which change color after a predetermined time interval after activation that can be printed, activated &amp; issued in one step 
   It is an object of this invention to provide time labels which change color after a predetermined time interval after activation that can be issued with the liner removed (exposed adhesive ready to apply to ones clothing) 
   It is an object of this invention to provide time labels which change color after a predetermined time interval after activation that permit years of shelf-life to the supply label stock and the printers loaded with labels for infrequent use 
   It is an object of this invention to provide time labels which change color after a predetermined time interval after activation which requires no heater adjustments or setting, no ribbons, no inkjet or toner supplies, no ambient temperature adjustments 
   It is an object of this invention to provide time labels which change color after a predetermined time interval after activation that is tamper resistant because once the migrating ink touches the adhesive; it cannot be lifted off or stopped. 
   It is an object of this invention to provide time labels which change color after a predetermined time interval after activation with different times for time labels accomplished by simply supplying different time label stock. 
   All of the foregoing objects of this invention and others are achieved by the self-expiring badge or label of this invention. The badge or label comprises an upper substrate having an upper viewing surface and a lower surface and an adhesive activator layer on the lower surface. A protective layer having a first surface and a second surface is provided, with the first surface of the protective layer being removably attached to and overlaying the adhesive layer. A lower substrate is provided that has an upper surface and a lower surface, the upper surface being removably attached to and overlaying the second surface of the protective layer. A migrating ink pattern is on the lower surface of the lower substrate. To activate, the upper substrate and at least a portion of the lower substrate are removed from the protective layer to leave a remaining portion of the lower substrate having a portion of the migrating ink pattern thereon. The migrating ink pattern is then contacted with the exposed adhesive activator layer to activate the migrating ink pattern to migrate through the adhesive activator layer and upper substrate in a selected time interval for viewing from the upper surface of the upper support layer to indicate an expired badge or label. Preferably the migrating ink pattern is contacted with the adhesive layer by folding it onto the adhesive layer. Optionally, to activate the badge both substrates are completely removed from the protective layer and the migrating ink pattern is contacted with the adhesive layer. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     Other important objects and features of the invention will be apparent from the following Detailed Description of the Invention taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which: 
       FIGS. 1A and 1B  is a schematic representation of prior art, self-expiring security badges or labels having a two-part construction. 
       FIGS. 2A and 2B  show, respectively, a perspective view and cross-sectional view of the one-piece, self-expiring badge or label of this invention prior to activation. 
       FIGS. 3A and 3B  show, respectively, a top plan view and a bottom plan view of the self-expiring badge or label of this invention prior to activation. 
       FIGS. 4A ,  4 B,  4 C and  4 D show, in a stepwise manner how the one-piece, self-expiring badge or label of this invention is activated. 
       FIGS. 5A ,  5 B and  5 C show in a stepwise manner how a second embodiment of the one-piece, self-expiring badge or label of this invention is activated. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     FIG. 1A  depicts a prior art self-expiring security badge or label  100  having a two-part construction. In this type of badge or label  100  the top substrate  102  consists of a clear substrate with a special opaque, e.g., white, adhesive coating on its back surface. The front or top surface of the top substrate  102  is typically printed with the security indicia  103  or design indicia  106  as viewed  108  from the front, and has an adhesive backing  110 . The bottom substrate  101  includes a migrating ink pattern or indicia  104  printed on its front surface. When the self-expiring badge or label is activated by placing the top substrate  102  adhesive  110  in contact with the bottom substrate  101 , the migrating ink  104  diffuses through the adhesive  110  and becomes visible to the observer  108  through the front face  102  of the badge or label  100 . Thus, the initial opaque or white (valid) security badge  100  turns into the ‘visually void’ badge. 
   An improved version of this two-part construction was developed, i.e., U.S. Pat. No. 5,107,470 to Pedicano et al. and consists of a preassembled badge or label. Referring to  FIG. 1B , such preassembled badge or label  120  consists of a top substrate  122  and bottom substrate  126  which are attached to each other along one edge  121  so that only a single physical unit exits for handling. However, this preassembled badge or label  120  requires four separate layers: the top substrate label  122  with an adhesive layer  123  and a liner  124  covering the adhesive layer  123  to provide a barrier from the migrating ink indicia  125  that is on the bottom substrate  126 . The front of the top substrate  122  is printed with the security indicia or design on the front surface. The bottom substrate  126  consists of a migrating ink  125  printed on the front face, an adhesive layer on the rear face, and a liner  127  covering the adhesive layer. Even though this preassembled construction is an improvement in handling and pre-aligning the top substrate  122  with the bottom substrate  126 , the four material layers still present functional difficulties and cause a litter problem. 
   The one-piece security badge or label described and claimed herein provides a superior solution to the functional and handling difficulties of these previous preassembled constructions and additionally provides improvements in the production and use of self-expiring security badges or labels. 
     FIGS. 2A and 2B , shows the self-expiring badge or label of this invention prior to activation and as formed as a die cut label-like structure  3  on a continuous silicone liner web  5 . The top substrate  7  has an identifying or security indicia  10  on the top surface thereof and an adhesive layer  8  on its underside for attaching to a display surface, e.g., clothing. The top substrate  7  is die-cut, preferably as a rectangle, on the silicone liner  5  that protects the adhesive layer  8 . The self-expiring badge or label of this invention further includes a migrating ink pattern  12  printed on the backside or opposite side of the liner  5 . The migrating ink pattern  12  contains a dye that migrates upon activation. The migrating ink pattern  12  and dye are inert and immobile when in contact with materials in which the dye is insoluble, e.g., the face of the top substrate  7 . The migrating ink pattern  12  will not bleed when in contact with the various areas of the front or back of the web. This permits the continuous length of liner  5  containing the top substrate  7 , adhesive layer  8  and migrating ink pattern  12  to be rolled up on itself. Thus, migrating ink pattern  12  is separated from the activating adhesive  8  intended for its eventual interaction. The liner  5  provides a protective barrier between the migrating ink pattern  12  and the activating adhesive  8  on the top substrate  7  of the expiring badge  3 . 
     FIGS. 3A and 3B , shows, respectively, the top plan view and bottom plan view of the self-expiring badge or label of this invention prior to activation and use and as formed as a die cut label-like structure  3  on a continuous silicone liner web  5 . A die cut bottom substrate  14  is cut from the liner  5  with the migrating ink  12  printed thereon. The die cut bottom substrate  14  can be any size or shape. Preferably substrate  14  is a rectangle near one end of the badge and has been die cut with few or no ties to the liner  5 . 
     FIG. 4A through 4D  show in a stepwise manner how the one-piece, self expiring badge or label of this invention is activated and used. In  FIG. 4A , the top substrate (label)  3  is peeled from the liner  5  (arrow  16 ) exposing the adhesive layer  8  on the underside thereof. Since the die cut section  14  with migrating ink pattern  12  thereon is not attached to liner  5  it remains attached to the adhesive layer  8 . 
   Referring to  FIGS. 4B and 4C , after the label  3  of the badge is removed from the liner  5  the person issuing the badge simply folds the badge  3  near the edge of die cut bottom substrate  14  ( FIG. 4B ) and presses it in contact with the adhesive layer  8  ( FIG. 4C ). The badge is now activated and ready to issue to a person. As shown in  FIG. 4D , the remaining portion of the adhesive layer eight is used to attach the badge to a visitor&#39;s clothing. Since there are no loose silicone liner pieces to litter the work area, this one-piece badge is more user friendly. Also, the continuous webliner  5  can be rolled up and easily disposed of in a small roll. Although,  FIGS. 4A-D  show one means of activating the badge or label, there are several means of activating the badge or label with this new type of construction. 
     FIG. 5A-C  shows an alternate construction of the badge or label  30  of this invention. In this arrangement, inactivated badge or label  30  can have the bottom-substrate  32  removably and adhesively attached to the underside of top substrate  36 . The back of the bottom substrate  36  has the migrating ink pattern  34  printed thereon. The top substrate  36  has an activating adhesive on the back thereof. In  FIG. 5A , the bottom substrate  32  is fully removed from the top substrate  36  prior to issuance of the badge or label. Optionally, still referring to  FIG. 5A , the bottom substrate  32  and top substrate  36  can each be removably adhered to opposite sides of a silicone web liner (not shown). In  FIG. 5B  the bottom substrate  32  is being inverted such that the migrating ink pattern  34  is facing the activating adhesive on the underside of the top substrate  36 . In  FIG. 5C  the top substrate  36  and the bottom substrate  32  are pressed together, the adhesive activating the migrating ink pattern  34 . 
   In this alternate construction of the badge or label  30 , both the top and bottom substrates  36 ,  32  may be die cut on a silicone liner similar to the configuration shown in  FIGS. 2A &amp; 2B . The bottom substrate  32  may be circular or rectangular and may be cut to a size and shape of the migrating ink pattern  34 , and it may be fully die cut from the liner or it may have small die cut ties holding it onto the liner. These ties may be useful in maintaining the bottom substrate  32  when in circle form, from becoming detached when the web is rolled tightly. Tight rolls cause the liner to flex and curl, in which case a bottom circular substrate  32  may curl and separate at its edges. Optionally, additional silicone may be coated onto the back or underside of the liner to which the bottom substrate  32  is mounted making it easier to remove the bottom substrate  32 . 
   As shown in  FIG. 5A-C  when the top substrate  36  is removed from the bottom substrate  32 , the issuer, e.g., guard or receptionist, merely turns it over as shown by the arrow in  FIG. 5B  and attaches it to the adhesive again. This activates the self-expiring badge or label, the migrating ink  34  from the bottom substrate diffusing through the top substrate  36  to become visible on the face of the top substrate  36  when the badge or label has expired after a predetermined period of time has passed. 
   It may also be possible to apply the migrating ink pattern  34  to the back of the liner by other means, such as applying a removable coating to the back face of the silicone liner. It also may be possible to print the migrating ink on the back of the silicone liner in such a manner that the ink can be lifted off the liner itself by simply touching the adhesive on the top substrate  32  to the migrating ink pattern printed on back of the liner, the migrating ink pattern becoming firmly attached to the adhesive and hence, the migrating ink separates from the back of the liner and is lifted onto the back substrate  36  adhesive. This permits the migrating ink pattern to become attached to the top substrate  32  without the necessity for a substrate behind the migrating ink pattern. 
   In all of these embodiments, prior to activation, the top substrate adhesive is separated from the migrating ink pattern by a protective layer therebetween. The migrating ink pattern remains inert until it is in contact with the adhesive on the underside of the trop substrate. 
   This new construction of self-expiring security badges or labels produces a dynamic self-adhesive ‘label-like’ product that is constructed in exactly the same manner as standard adhesive labels. By offering a self-expiring product in the same format, thickness, and flexibility as plain paper labels, the same printing equipment can be used and the users of the product do not have to be trained in handling a more complicated product with multiple layers. The benefits of this new construction are a simple face stock and liner construction with the same mechanical properties as standard label stock, pre-aligned folding edges that permit easy handling, even with one hand, no separate waste paper that creates litter, lower cost because of the simpler construction, more badges or labels on each roll to accommodate small thermal printers, rolled badges or labels instead of fan folded badges or labels. 
   While various changes may be made in the detailed construction and processes of this invention, it will be understood that such changes will be within the spirit and scope of the present invention. Having thus described the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the foregoing description is not intended to limit the spirit and scope thereof. What is desired to be protected by Letters Patent is set forth in the appended claims.