Abstract:
A label includes a base label having upper and lower opposed surfaces and first and second opposed ends. A base adhesive coats the lower surface of the base label. A top panel overlies the upper surface of the base label and is joined to the base label adjacent the first end. The top panel has an upper surface. A tab having upper and lower opposed surfaces overlies the upper surface of the base label. An adhesive patch is interposed between the base label and the tab adjacent the second end. The adhesive patch secures the lower surface of the tab to the upper surface of the base label. A laminate cover overlies the top panel and the tab. A laminate adhesive secures the laminate cover to the upper surface of the top panel and releasably joins the laminate cover to the upper surface of the tab.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]    This application claims priority from and is a divisional of parent application Ser. No. 09/878,091, filed Jun. 8, 2001, now U.S. Pat. No. ______, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Serial No. 60/211,983, filed Jun. 16, 2000. The disclosures of these applications are hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entireties. 
     
    
     
       FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    The present invention relates to labels and, more particularly, to multi-ply labels.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0003]    For many applications, the need for available label area is continually increasing. For example, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has proposed regulations to require pharmaceutical, vitamin and nutraceutical manufacturers to include supplementary disclosure data on various over-the-counter medications sold in the U.S. At the same time, hospitals and other health organizations often need or desire to include bar code and other automatic identification indicia on products passing through the health care system. One known method for providing additional area for such indicia includes attaching folded leaflets or booklets to webs to create so-called expanded content or extended text labels. Such labels may be relatively expensive to manufacture and handle, and may not satisfy all the needs of the user.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0004]    According to embodiments of the present invention, a label includes a base label having upper and lower opposed surfaces and first and second opposed ends. A base adhesive coats the lower surface of the base label. A top panel overlies the upper surface of the base label and is joined to the base label adjacent the first end. The top panel has an upper surface. A tab having upper and lower opposed surfaces overlies the upper surface of the base label. An adhesive patch is interposed between the base label and the tab adjacent the second end. The adhesive patch secures the lower surface of the tab to the upper surface of the base label. A laminate cover overlies the top panel and the tab. A laminate adhesive secures the laminate cover to the upper surface of the top panel and releasably joins the laminate cover to the upper surface of the tab.  
           [0005]    According to further embodiments of the present invention, a label includes a base label having upper and lower opposed surfaces and first and second opposed ends. A base adhesive coats the lower surface of the base label. A top panel overlies the upper surface of the base label and has an upper surface. The top panel and the base label are mutually discrete members. A hinge adhesive is interposed between the top panel and the base label adjacent the first end. The hinge adhesive connects the top panel and the base label to form a hinge portion. A laminate cover overlies the top panel. A laminate adhesive secures the laminate cover to the upper surface of the top panel. The laminate adhesive releasably joins the laminate cover to the upper surface of the top panel and releasably joins the laminate cover to the upper surface of the base label.  
           [0006]    According to embodiments of the present invention, a label includes a base label having upper and lower opposed surfaces and first and second opposed ends. A base adhesive coats the lower surface of the base label. A release liner panel is joined to the base panel and has a release coated upper surface. A top panel overlies the upper surface of release liner panel. The top panel has an upper surface. An intermediate adhesive coats the release coated upper surface of the release liner panel and releasably joins the top panel to the release liner panel. A top panel tab having upper and lower opposed surfaces overlies and is connected to the upper surface of the base label. A laminate cover overlies the top panel and the top panel tab. A laminate adhesive secures the laminate cover to the upper surface of the top panel and releasably joins the laminate cover to the upper surface of the top panel tab.  
           [0007]    According to method embodiments of the present invention, a method for forming a label includes providing a release liner and a base web releasably secured to the release liner by a base adhesive coating an inner surface of the base web. A hinge adhesive is applied to an outer surface of the base web. A top sheet is applied to the outer surface of the base web such that a portion of the top sheet is secured to the base web by the hinge adhesive. A self-adhesive laminate web is applied over the base web and the top sheet. Each of the laminate web, the top sheet and the base web is cut through to form the label, the label including a laminate cover formed from the laminate web, a top panel formed from the top sheet, and a base label formed from the base web. At least the laminate cover and the top panel are substantially coextensive.  
           [0008]    According to further method embodiments of the present invention, a method for forming a label includes providing a release liner having a base adhesive on an outer surface thereof. A leaflet assembly is provided including a top panel and a bottom panel joined to the bottom panel along a fold. The leaflet assembly further includes a hinge adhesive coating respective inner surfaces of the top panel and the bottom panel adjacent the fold and securing the top and bottom panels to one another. The leaflet assembly is applied to the release liner such that the bottom panel is releasably secured to the release liner by the base adhesive. A self-adhesive laminate web is applied over the leaflet assembly and the release liner. Each of the laminate web, the top panel and the bottom panel is cut through to form the label. The step of cutting includes severing the fold from each of the top panel and the bottom panel.  
           [0009]    According to method embodiments of the present invention, a method for forming a label includes providing a release liner and a base web releasably secured to the release liner by a base adhesive coating an inner surface of the base web and providing a top web. A pattern of active adhesive is provided on at least one of an inner surface of the top web and an outer surface of the base web. The pattern of active adhesive includes a hinge adhesive portion. A self-adhesive laminate web is provided. The release liner, the base web, the top web and the laminate web are married such that the top web is interposed between the base web and the laminate web. Each of the laminate web, the top web and the base web is cut through to form the label. The label includes a laminate cover formed from the laminate web, a top panel formed from the top web, and a base label formed from the base web. The hinge adhesive portion secures the top panel to the base label.  
           [0010]    Objects of the present invention will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art from a reading of the figures and the detailed description of the preferred embodiments which follow, such description being merely illustrative of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0011]    [0011]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a label according to a first embodiment of the present invention disposed on a release liner and in a closed position;  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the label of FIG. 1 disposed on the release liner and in an open position;  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of an apparatus for forming the label of FIG. 1;  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 4 is a schematic side view of an intermediate construction formed by the apparatus of FIG. 3;  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 5 is a top view of a sheet for forming the label of FIG. 1;  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 6 is a top view of an alternative sheet for forming the label of FIG. 1;  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 7 is a side view of a leaflet for forming the label of FIG. 1 and formed from the sheet of FIG. 6;  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram of a further apparatus for forming the label of FIG. 1;  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 9 is a bottom view of an intermediate construction formed by the apparatus of FIG. 8;  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a label according to a further embodiment of the present invention disposed on a release liner;  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a label according to a further embodiment of the present invention disposed on a release liner;  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 12 is a bottom, perspective view of a secondary label forming a part of the label of FIG. 11;  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 13 is a perspective view of a label according to a further embodiment of the present invention disposed on a release liner;  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 14 is a top view of a sheet for forming the label of FIG. 13; and  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 15 is a perspective view of a label according to a further embodiment of the present invention disposed on a release liner. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0026]    The present invention now will be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which preferred embodiments of the invention are shown. This invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout. It will be understood that when an element such as a layer, region or substrate is referred to as being “on” another element, it can be directly on the other element or intervening elements may also be present. In contrast, when an element is referred to as being “directly on” another element, there are no intervening elements present. “Upper,” “lower” and like terms as used herein refer to relative positions of components. However, it will be appreciated that labels according to the invention may be formed or mounted such that the relative positions of the components are reversed or are horizontally rather than vertically aligned, in which case it will be understood that “upper,” “lower” and the like describe the relative positions of the components along a selected axis (which my or may not be fully or partially vertically oriented).  
         [0027]    With reference to FIG. 1, a label according to the present invention is shown therein disposed on a release liner  102  and generally designated  100 . The label  100  includes a base label  110  releasably adhered to the release liner  102  by a pressure-sensitive base adhesive  104 . A top panel  130  overlies a portion of the base label  110  and has a portion  132  secured to the base label  110  by a strip of adhesive  134 . The strip of adhesive  134  preferably extends across the full width of the label  100  and permanently secures the top panel  130  to the base label  110  to form a hinge  106 . Preferably, the adhesive strip  134  has a width W1 of between about ⅛ and ½ inch, and more preferably of about ¼ inch.  
         [0028]    A die cut  136  is formed in the top panel  130  and defines a tab  137 . The tab  137  is permanently adhered to the upper surface of the base label  110  by a pressure-sensitive adhesive  138 . A release varnish  139  coats the upper surface of the tab  137 .  
         [0029]    A laminate cover  150  overlies the top panel  130  and is adhered thereto by a laminate adhesive  154 . Preferably, the laminate cover  150  and the laminate adhesive  154  are co-extensive with the top panel  130 . A portion  157  of the laminate cover  150  is releasably adhered to the varnish coated upper surface of the tab  137  by a portion  154 A of the laminate adhesive  154 . The laminate cover  150  is preferably formed of a 1.5 mil polypropylene film. The laminate cover  150  is preferably transparent, but may be opaque.  
         [0030]    The top panel  130  and the laminate cover  150  overlie a covered portion  116  of the base label  110 . A printable portion  112  of the base label  110  is disposed adjacent the edge of the base label  110  opposite the top panel  130 . The upper surface of the portion  112  is preferably formed or prepared so as to be easily printable and is not varnished. An intermediate portion  114  of the base label  110  extends between the portions  112  and  116 . Preferably, the portions  114  and  116  are coated with a varnish. Preferably, the width W2 of the portion  116  is about the same as the sum of the widths W3 and W4 of the portions  114  and  112 . Preferably, the width W4 is about ½ inch. Preferably and as illustrated, only the portion  132  and the tab  137  are adhered to the upper surface of the base label  110  so that an adhesive-free region is defined between the top panel  130  and the base label  110  from the adhesive strip  134  to the adhesive  138 .  
         [0031]    Suitable indicia may be printed on the top and bottom surfaces of the base label  110 , the top panel  130  and the laminate cover  150 . Suitable indicia  117  such as “lot:” and “exp:” prompts may be printed on the portion  112 . The portion  112  is particularly well suited for imprinting variable indicia such as a lot number and an expiration date.  
         [0032]    The base label  110  and the top panel  130  are preferably formed of a conventional paper or film facestock. Suitable varnishes for the varnish  139  on the upper surface of tab  137  include varnish product number L075 available from Paragon Inks of Boxburn, Scotland. The varnish on the upper surfaces of the portions  114 ,  116  is preferably a water-based varnish having weaker release characteristics (i.e., provides less releasability) than the varnish  139 . Preferably, the portions of the base label upper surface beneath the adhesive strip  134  and the adhesive patch  138  are not coated with varnish. However, if a varnish of sufficient weakness is used, these portions may also be varnish coated.  
         [0033]    The adhesives  134 ,  138  may be different from the laminate adhesive  154 . This allows the adhesives to be better selected for their respective functions. The laminate adhesive may be chosen to provide the desired release and hold characteristics to allow for opening and closing of the label  100  (as discussed below) while the adhesives  134 ,  138  may be selected to ensure the desired permanent securement between the panels  110 ,  130  and strength of the hinge  106 . The ability to use different adhesives  134 ,  138  and  154  allows for greater flexibility in selecting the materials of the components that these adhesives engage as well. Preferably, the adhesive  134  and the adhesive  138  are more aggressive adhesives than the laminate adhesive  154 . Suitable laminate adhesives  154  include emulsion acrylic adhesives. Suitable combined laminate/laminate adhesive materials include product number 505 from Adhesive Coated Products of Troy, Ohio. Suitable adhesives for the adhesives  134  and  138  include hot melt permanent pressure-sensitive adhesives such as product number HL2203X available from H. B. Fuller Co. of Minneapolis, Minn.  
         [0034]    The label  100  may be used in the following manner. The label  100  may be applied to a suitable substrate such as a container using any suitable automatic or manual labeling equipment such that the label  100  is adhered to the substrate by the base adhesive  104 . When the user wishes to access the information on the inside of the label  100 , the user may grasp the corner or pull tab  103  of the combined top panel  130  and laminate cover  150  adjacent the tab  137 . The user may then pull the corner  103  toward the hinge  106  (as illustrated from right to left), thereby causing the laminate adhesive portion  154 A to peel away from the varnish coated tab  137 . The underside of the top panel  130  preferably includes printed indicia  118  such as a bar code. The top panel  130  may be repeatedly opened and closed by rejoining the adhesive portion  154 A with the tab  137 . The area of adhesive  154 A exposed upon opening the label  100  may be limited to that needed to ensure reliable closure of the label.  
         [0035]    According to the first method for forming the label  100 , a plurality of sheets  131 A (see FIG. 5) are provided. The sheets  131 A may be formed on a conventional printing press. A web of paper or film is unwound and indicia corresponding to the indicia on the upper and lower surfaces of the top panel  130  are printed thereon. The printing process employed may be flexography, UV flexo, rotary letterpress, conventional offset, digital offset, hot stamping, silkscreen or gravure. Release varnish patches  139 A are printed on the upper surface of the web in locations corresponding to the tabs  137 . The web is diecut to form cut lines  136 A corresponding to the cut line  136 . The web is thereafter diecut into individual sheets  131 A, each of which includes a waste portion  133 A and portions  130 A generally corresponding to the top panels  130 .  
         [0036]    With reference to FIG. 3, an apparatus  10  for forming labels  100  using the sheets  131 A is shown schematically therein. A web  14  is unwound from an unwind stand  12 . The web  14  includes the release liner  102  and a facestock web  110 A (see FIG. 4) corresponding to the base label  110  adhered to the release liner  102  by an adhesive  104 A corresponding to the adhesive  104 . Desired indicia are printed on the web  110 A by a suitable printing station  16 . The printing process employed may be, for example, flexography, UV flexo, rotary letterpress, conventional offset, digital offset, hot stamping, silkscreen or gravure. The print station  16  or an additional print station may also print a conventional water base or UV varnish on the upper surface of the web  110 A.  
         [0037]    A series of alternating adhesive strips  134 A and  138 A (see FIG. 4) are printed on the tipper surface of the web  110 A by an adhesive print station  18 . The adhesive strips  134 A correspond to the adhesive strip  134  and the adhesive strips  138 A correspond to the adhesive patch  138 . The adhesive patches  138 A do not extend fully across the web  110 A. Additional adhesive may be applied to the perimeter of the sheets  131 A along the web length. The adhesive print station  18  is preferably a flexographic printing press such as a Flexocoat adhesive printing apparatus available from GRE International of Switzerland.  
         [0038]    A sheet applicator  20  applies a series of the sheets  131 A to the upper surface of the web  110 A. The sheet applicator may be, for example, an Onserter feeding device, available from Longford Equipment of Toronto, Ontario. The sheets  131 A are applied in seriated and imbricated relation such that the overlapping portions  21  of the respective sheets  131 A overlie portions of the respective immediately upstream sheets  131 A. Preferably, the amount of overlap is between about ⅛ and {fraction (3/16)} inch. Each applied sheet  131 A adheres to a respective adhesive strip  134 A and a respective adhesive strip  138 A.  
         [0039]    Thereafter, a laminate web  150 A corresponding to the laminate cover  150  is unwound from an unwind stand  22  and married to the web  14  and sheets  131 A by nip rollers  23  to form the construction as shown in FIG. 4. A die cutter  24  cuts through the overlaminate web  150 A and the individual sheets  131 A down to, but not through, the web  110 A to form cut lines A (see FIG. 5). The cut lines A formed by the die cutter  24  define the laminate cover  150  and the top panel  130  as shown in FIG. 1 or may be slightly larger. A waste matrix  28  including the waste portions  133 A of the sheets  131 A, the overlaminate web  150 A and the adhesives  134 A and  138 A outside of the laminate covers  150  and the top panels  130  is taken up on a winding stand  26 .  
         [0040]    A further die cutter  30  forms a die cut down through the web  110 A to the release liner  102  to form the periphery of the finished labels  100 . A waste matrix  34  including the portions of the overlaminate web  150 A, the base web  110 A and the adhesive  104 A outside of the labels  100  is taken up on a winding stand  32 . The finished labels  100  disposed on the release liner  102  may thereafter be wound onto a winding stand  36 . Optionally, the release liner maybe slit to provide side by side webs.  
         [0041]    Notably, as a result of the overlapping relation of the sheets  131 A and the small amount or absence of adhesive between the waste portions of the sheets  131 A and the web  110 A, the waste matrix  28  may be easily and reliably removed. However, the portions  130 A of the sheets  131 A which form parts of the finished labels  100  remain anchored to the web  110 A by the adhesive strips  134  (which are formed from the adhesive strips  134 A) and the adhesive patches  138  (which are formed from the adhesive patches  138 A). Preferably, the die cutter  24  cuts the sheets  131 A and the overlaminate web  150 A to a size slightly larger than the corresponding dimensions of the top panel  130  and the laminate cover  150 . The die cutter  30  cuts these elements to their ultimate dimensions on the three external edges.  
         [0042]    With reference to FIGS. 6 and 7, the labels  100  may be formed using folded leaflets  140 B, as shown in FIG. 7, in place of flat sheets  131 A. The leaflet  140 B is formed from a sheet  131 B (see FIG. 6) which may be formed in a manner similar to that of the sheet  131 A. The sheet  131 B includes J-shaped cuts  136 B formed therein. A continuous strip or dots of adhesive  134 B corresponding to the adhesive strips  134  are applied along the sheet  131 B. Adhesive patches  138 B are applied to the sheet  131 B in locations corresponding to the adhesive patches  138 . Varnish patches  139 B (see FIG. 7) are printed on the opposite side of the sheet  131 B adjacent the cut lines  136 B and in locations corresponding to the varnish  139 . The sheet  131 B is folded along a fold  135 B to divide the sheet  131 B into a top panel  130 B corresponding to the top panels  130  and a bottom panel  110 B corresponding to the base labels  110 . The adhesive  134 B adheres the panels  130 B and  110 B adjacent the fold line  135 B.  
         [0043]    The labels  100  may be formed according to the second method using the leaflet  140 B and an apparatus similar to the apparatus  10 . In place of the composite web  14 , an adhesive-coated release liner is supplied (the adhesive coating corresponding to the adhesive  104 ). Alternatively, a silicone coated release liner may be provided and an adhesive applicator such as a GRE International Flexocoat print station may apply a pattern of pressure-sensitive hot melt adhesive to the release liner.  
         [0044]    Printing steps corresponding to the printing steps of the printing stations  16  and  18  are executed on the sheet  131 B prior to folding the sheet to form the leaflet  140 B, and the printing stations  16 ,  18  may, therefore, be eliminated in this method. The leaflets  140 B are applied by the leaflet applicator  20 , preferably in overlapping relation. The overlaminate web  150 A is applied over the release liner and the leaflets  140 B. Thereafter, the leaflets  140 B are cut in the same manner as described above (the bottom panels  110 B corresponding to the base web  110 A) except that a cut line C-C is also formed through the bottom panel  110 B and the top panel  130 B adjacent the fold  135 B of each leaflet  140 B and across the web to sever the panels  110 B and  130 B. In this case, the die cutter  24  is preferably a “suck and blow” type die cutter.  
         [0045]    With reference to FIG. 8, an apparatus  50  for forming labels  100  according to a further method is shown therein. A composite web  54  corresponding to the web  14  is supplied from an unwinding station  52  and suitable indicia and varnish are printed on its upper surface by print stations  56  and  58  corresponding to the print stations  16  and  18 , respectively. A second web  130 C is supplied from an unwind station  60 . Suitable indicia may be printed on either or both sides of the web  130 C by a print station  62 .  
         [0046]    An adhesive applicator  66  applies adhesive to the undersurface of the web  130 C. The adhesive applicator  66  may fully coat the web  130 C with adhesive. Alternatively, the web  130 C may be pre-coated with a layer of adhesive (eg., the web  130 C may be a commercially available self-adhesive face stock). If the web  103 C is fully coated with adhesive by the applicator  66  or by pre-coating, an adhesive deadener applicator  68  will apply a pattern of adhesive deadener to the layer of adhesive on the undersurface of the web  130 C. With reference to FIG. 9, which shows the lower face of the web  130 C following the station  68 , the station  68  applies the deadener such that a deadened adhesive region  133 C on the lower face of the web is substantially surrounded by active adhesive portions  141 C,  134 C,  138 C. The adhesive portion  134 C corresponds to the adhesive strip  134 . The adhesive portion  138 C corresponds to the adhesive patch  138 . The adhesive portion  141 C helps to hold the intermediate construction together to facilitate processing, in particular during the cutting and waste stripping steps. Suitable deadeners include Product  800  available from Radcure of Fairfield, N.J.  
         [0047]    Alternatively, the adhesive print station  66  may apply the adhesive in a pattern corresponding to the pattern of active adhesive as shown in FIG. 9 but such that the region  133 C remains free of adhesive. Suitable adhesive applicators for this purpose include a FlexoCoat PrintCoat Pattern Applicator, model number HM 410, available from FlexoCoat International, Inc. In this case, the adhesive deadener applicator  68  would not be used.  
         [0048]    As a further alternative, the adhesive corresponding to the adhesives  134  and  138  may be applied to the upper surface of the web  54  rather than to the lower surface of the web  130 C. Similarly, the upper surface of the web  54  may be fully coated with adhesive and adhesive deadener applied to form the adhesive portions corresponding to the adhesives  134  and  138 .  
         [0049]    A die cutter  70  forms a J-shaped die cut  136 C (see FIG. 9) through the web  130 C. The web  130 C is thereafter married with the web  54  by nip rollers  72 . The overlaminate web  150 A is supplied from an unwind stand  74  and married to the combined webs  54 ,  130 C by nip rollers  75 . A die cutter  76  cuts down through the overlaminate web  150 A and the web  130 C as far as, but not through, the web  54  to form the cut line D as shown in FIG. 6. A waste matrix  80  including those portions of the web  130 C and the overlaminate web  150 A outside of the cut line D is taken up on a reel  78 . A die cutter  82  thereafter forms the outer periphery of the label  100 . A waste matrix  84  including those portions of the web  54  outside of the label  100  is taken up on a reel  86 . The labels  100  and the release liner  102  may thereafter be taken up on a roll  88 .  
         [0050]    Optionally, in each of the alternative methods described above with regard to the apparatus  50 , each of the printing, cutting and, if applicable, adhesive and adhesive deadener steps executed on the web  130 C prior to the nip rollers  72  may be executed and the web  130 C thereafter wound onto a roll. The roll would then be transferred to a second unwind stand and unwound to the nip rollers  72 .  
         [0051]    With reference to FIG. 10, a label  200  according to a further embodiment of the present invention is shown therein disposed on a release liner  202 . The label  200  corresponds to the label  100  except that the base label  210  thereof includes an extended portion  218  extending leftwardly beyond the edges of the laminate cover  250  and the top panel  230  adjacent the hinge  206 . The base label portion  218  is coated on its undersurface by the base adhesive  204 . The label  200  may be employed where it is desired to provide additional printable surface area on the base label. The label  200  may be formed using each of the above-described methods with suitable modifications as will be readily apparent to those or ordinary skill in the art upon reading the description herein.  
         [0052]    With reference to FIG. 11, a label  300  according to a further embodiment of the present invention is shown therein disposed on a release liner  302 . The label  300  corresponds to the label  100  except as follows. In addition to a cut line  336  (which defines a tab  337 ), a cut line  331  is formed through the top panel  330  so that the top panel  330  is divided into a marginal strip  330 B, a central portion  330 A, and a tab  337 . The upper surface of the tab  337  is coated with a release varnish  339  corresponding to the varnish  139 . The upper surface of the portion  330 B is coated with a varnish  335 , preferably of the type described above with regard to the varnish  139 .  
         [0053]    The label  300  may be used in the same manner as described above with regard to the label  100 . Additionally, the user may remove a secondary label  301  forming a part of the label  300  in the following manner. After the user has lifted the laminate cover  350  and the top panel  330 , the user may continue pulling these elements leftward so that the laminate adhesive portion  354 B of the laminate adhesive  354  which adheres the laminate cover  350  to the top panel portion  330 B peels away from the varnish coated upper surface of the portion  330 B. The portion  330 B is adhered to the base label  310  by the adhesive strip  334  and therefore remains with the article. Similarly, in the manner described above, the tab  337  remains secured to the base label  310 . The central top panel portion  330 A, which is permanently secured to the laminate cover  350  by the laminate adhesive portion  354 C, is removed with the laminate cover  350 . Thereafter, the secondary label  301  as shown in FIG. 12 will have exposed adhesive portions  354 A and  354 B. The user may thereafter readhere the secondary label  301  to the label  300  or to a further substrate by means of the adhesive portions  354 A and  354 B.  
         [0054]    The label  300  may be employed where it is desired to provide additional printable surface area on the base label. The label  300  may be formed using each of the above-described methods with suitable modifications as will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon reading the description herein.  
         [0055]    With reference to FIG. 13, a label  400  according to a further embodiment of the present invention is shown therein disposed on a release liner  402 . The label  400  corresponds to the label  100  except with regard to the construction of the top panel and the manner in which the label  400  is held in the closed position. The top panel  430  of the label  400  is formed with a peripheral cut out  437  defined by a peripheral edge  436 . A portion  457  of the laminate cover  450  extending beyond the edge  436  is directly adhered to the upper surface of the base label  410  by a portion  454 A of the laminate adhesive  454 . The engaged upper surface of the base label  410  is coated with a suitable release varnish patch  439  so that the laminate adhesive portion  454 A may be peeled away from the base label  410  and resealed as desired. The varnish  439  may be of the type described above with regard to the varnish  139 .  
         [0056]    It will be appreciated that the label  400  may be modified to include various aspects as described above with regard to the labels  100 ,  200 ,  300 . For example, the label  400  may be modified to include an extended base label portion corresponding to the extended base label portion  218 . Similarly, the label  400  may be modified to include a removable secondary self-adhesive label corresponding to the secondary label  301 .  
         [0057]    The label  400  may be formed using methods similar to each of the methods described above with regard to the label  100 . More particularly, labels  400  may be formed using the first method as described above with reference to FIGS.  3 - 5  with the following modifications to the method. The sheet  131 A is replaced with a sheet  431 A (see FIG. 14) which has holes  436 A pre-formed therein in place of the J-shaped cut lines  136 A and the varnish regions  139 A. In place of the adhesive patches  138 A, release varnish is printed on the upper surface of the base web  110 A in locations corresponding to the varnish patches  439  underlying the laminate cover portions  457 . Additional portions of the base web may also be coated with the varnish. The die cutter  24  forms cut lines M corresponding to the cut lines A (see FIG. 5) and intersecting the holes  436 A.  
         [0058]    The label  400  may be formed using the second method as described above with regard to FIGS. 6 and 7 with the following modifications. The cut lines  136 B in the sheet  131 B are replaced with holes corresponding to the cut outs  437  and the adhesive patches  138 B are replaced with regions of release varnish.  
         [0059]    The labels  400  may be formed using the third method as described above with regard to FIGS. 8 and 9 with the following modifications. Rather than forming cut lines  136 C, the die cutter  70  punches holes in the web  130 C, the interior waste portions of which may be removed by a suction device or other suitable means. No adhesive regions corresponding to the adhesive portion  138 C are printed on the lower face of the web. Accordingly, when the overlaminate web  150 A is applied, portions thereof corresponding to the laminate portions  457  engage the web  54  through the holes in the web  130 C.  
         [0060]    With reference to FIG. 15, a label  500  according to a further embodiment of the present invention is shown therein disposed on a release liner  502 . The label  500  corresponds to the label  100  except as follows.  
         [0061]    A release liner panel  560  having a release coated (e.g., silicone coated) upper surface and a non-releasable lower surface is releasably adhered to the lower surface of the top panel  530  by a layer of intermediate adhesive  564 . Preferably, the release liner panel  560 , the adhesive  564 , the top panel  530 , the laminate cover  550  and the laminate adhesive  554  are all coextensive.  
         [0062]    The release liner panel  560  is permanently adhered to the base label  510  by the adhesive strip  534  and the adhesive patch  538 . A cut line  536  extends through the top panel  530  and the release liner panel  560  to define superimposed tabs  537 ,  567 . A release varnish  539  coats the upper surface of the tab  537 . A portion  557  of the laminate cover  550  is releasably adhered to the varnish  539  by the laminate adhesive  554 .  
         [0063]    In use, the user may open the label  500  in the same manner as the label  100 , in which case the release liner panel  560  will fold up with the top panel  530  about the hinge  506  and the tabs  537  and  567  will remain secured to the base label  510 . If desired, the user may also peel the laminate cover  550  and the top panel  530  away from the release liner panel  560 . The adhesive  564  will remain on the lower surface of the panel  530 .  
         [0064]    According to certain embodiments, the adhesive  564  is selected such that it will remain tacky to allow the top panel  530  and the laminate cover  550  to be re-adhered to a second substrate or to the label  500 . Alternatively, the adhesive  564  may be a fugitive adhesive so that it will be substantially non-tacky once the top panel  530  is peeled away. “Fugitive adhesives” are characterized in that they are operative to adhere two layers (in this case, the release liner panel  560  and the top panel  530 ) but, when the two layers are separated, the exposed adhesive  564  is substantially non-adherent. When the adhesive dries, the bond will remain strong enough to hold the layers together until the bond is broken by deliberately separating the layers. The adhesive is then dry and tackless (i.e., at least nontacky to the touch) and will not adhere to anything or unduly collect dirt and debris. The particular characteristics of the adhesive will depend on the materials chosen for the layers to be bonded as well as the required performance parameters (e.g., the desired amount of force required to break the bond between the layers). Suitable adhesives include WB 4738 available from H. B. Fuller of St. Paul, Minn. An alternative suitable adhesive is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,479,838 to Dunsirn et al., the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. It is particularly contemplated that the top panel  530  may be printed with coupon or proof of purchase indicia.  
         [0065]    The label  500  may be modified to omit the varnish  539 , in which case, when the label is folded open, the entirety of the top panel  530  will lift with the laminate cover  550  and the top panel  530  will peel away from the tab  537 . The label  500  may also be modified to include a cut away corresponding to the cut away  437  in place of the tabs  537 ,  567 .  
         [0066]    The label  500  and the modified embodiments as described above may be formed using the methods and apparatus described above with suitable modifications. In each case, the web from which the top panel  130 ,  230 ,  330 ,  430  is formed is replaced with a two-ply web including a facestock corresponding to the top panel  530 , an adhesive corresponding to the adhesive  564  and a release liner corresponding to the release liner panel  560 . Thereafter, the two-ply web may be processed in the same manner as the single-ply web of the aforementioned methods.  
         [0067]    Preferably, as illustrated and described, the top panels  130 ,  230 ,  330 ,  430  and  530  are mutually discrete members from the base labels  110 ,  210 ,  310 ,  410  and  510 , respectively. That is, the top panel and the base label do not include a continuous sheet or strip that forms a part of both the top panel and the base label (e.g., with a fold formed in the strip between the top panel and the base label). However, labels according to aspects of the present invention may include a top panel and a base label formed of a folded leaflet. In this case, the fold is preferably located along the edge between the base and top panels opposite the closure tab, and the hinge adhesive strip (e.g., adhesive strip  134 ,  344 ,  534 ) may or may not be omitted.  
         [0068]    Preferably, and as illustrated, the laminate covers and the top panels of the labels are substantially coextensive. Additionally, the base labels may be coextensive with the top panels and the laminate covers. In this case, the cutting steps for forming the base label and for forming the top panel may be merged into a single diecut step. Lot and expiration information or the like may be printed on the top panel and/or the laminate cover over the hinge adhesive strip (e.g., the adhesive strip  134 ).  
         [0069]    The foregoing is illustrative of the present invention and is not to be construed as limiting thereof. Although a few exemplary embodiments of this invention have been described, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that many modifications are possible in the exemplary embodiments without materially departing from the novel teachings and advantages of this invention. Accordingly, all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of this invention. Therefore, it is to be understood that the foregoing is illustrative of the present invention and is not to be construed as limited to the specific embodiments disclosed, and that modifications to the disclosed embodiments, as well as other embodiments, are intended to be included within the scope of the invention.