Patent Publication Number: US-7909363-B2

Title: Destructively removable barcode

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     In retail environments, barcode labels are used on products to encode the identity of the products in black and white patterns that can be read by a scanner. 
     For products that are not surrounded by packaging, the barcode labels are often applied directly to the product using an adhesive. After purchase, consumers typically remove such labels because they mar the appearance of the products. If the label is too difficult to remove, the consumer is less satisfied with their purchase. 
     However, if the label is too easy to remove, the label becomes susceptible to label switching in which a person switches a label for a higher cost item with the label for a lower cost item. Thus, it is desirable to make the label easy to remove while making label switching difficult. 
     The discussion above is merely provided for general background information and is not intended to be used as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter. 
     SUMMARY 
     A label is provided having three parts separated by separation lines. Two of the three parts have pull tabs to allow them to be easily removed. The third part is a narrow strip between the separation lines that does not have a pull tab. When the label parts that have pull tabs are lifted off a product, the label separates at the separation lines, leaving the third narrow strip on the product. This narrow strip is then removed with a scraping action that tends to destroy the narrow strip. This makes it difficult to reconstruct the label after it has been removed from a product. In other embodiments, the label has two parts made of material that stretches when the parts are removed from a product. The stretching distorts a barcode graphic printed on the label making the barcode unreadable. 
     This Summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the Detailed Description. This Summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter. The claimed subject matter is not limited to implementations that solve any or all disadvantages noted in the background. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a top view of a label under one embodiment. 
         FIG. 2  is a cross sectional view of the label and product of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a top view of a laminate material containing a plurality of labels. 
         FIG. 4  is a cross sectional view of the laminate material of  FIG. 3 . 
         FIG. 5  is a flow diagram of a method of forming the labels of  FIG. 3 . 
         FIG. 6  is a top view of the label and product of  FIG. 1  showing a first part of the label being removed. 
         FIG. 7  is a top view of the label and product of  FIG. 1  showing a second part of the label being removed. 
         FIG. 8  is a top view of the label and product of  FIG. 1  after the first and second parts of the label have been removed. 
         FIG. 9  is a top view of a label under a second embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     In the embodiments described herein, a label is provided that consists of three parts. The three parts are separated by separation lines such as a scored line or a partially cut line. Two of the parts of the label include pull tabs having edges that are aligned with the separation lines and that assist the user in removing the two parts of the label. The third part is a narrow strip that extends between the two separation lines. When attempting to remove the label from a product, it is very difficult to keep the label in one piece because the label easily separates along the separation lines. Further, it is difficult to remove the narrow strip between the two separation lines without damaging the narrow strip. As a result, it is difficult to reconstruct the label after its removal from a product. This makes it difficult to switch the label from one product to another product. 
     In many embodiments, a barcode is printed across the three sections of the label such that one section of the barcode is only printed on the narrow strip between the two separation lines. As a result, if the narrow strip is damaged during removal, the complete barcode cannot be reconstructed simply by using the two larger portions of the label. 
     In another embodiment, the label comprises two parts and is formed of an elastic material. When either part of the label is removed, the elastic nature of the label causes the barcode printed on the label to distort and become unreadable. 
       FIG. 1  provides a top view of a label  100  under one embodiment that is applied to a product  180 . Label  100  includes a first part or section  102 , a second part or section  104  and a third part or section  106 . First part  102  is separated from third part  106  by weakened area shown as a separation line  108 . Second part  104  is separated from third part  106  by weakened area shown as separation line  110 . Separation lines  108  and  110  can be formed by scoring label  100 , cutting a top part of label  100  and/or by perforating label  100 . In each of these cases, the separation lines can be said to be partially cut lines. 
     Although separation lines  108  and  110  are shown as being parallel in  FIG. 1 , this is not required. In many embodiments, however, the distance between separation lines  108  and  110  across third part  106  should be less than 2 millimeters along at least one portion of third part  106 , where the distance between any one point on line  108  and line  110  is the shortest distance from the point on line  108  to any point on line  110 . In addition, although lines  108  and  110  are shown as single straight lines in  FIG. 1 , in other embodiments, lines  108  and  110  may be curved and/or jagged. 
     First part  102  of label  100  includes a pull tab or lifting tab  112  and second part  104  includes a pull tab or lifting tab  114 . Pull tabs  112  and  114  are gripping pieces that are provided to make it easier for users to grip the label during removal. Under one embodiment, pull tab  112  is defined in part by an edge  116  of label  100  that is aligned with and extends from separation line  108 . Similarly, pull tab  114  is partially defined by an edge  118  of label  100  that is aligned with and extends from separation line  110 . A recess  120  is defined in label  100  by edge  116 , an edge  122  that defines part of second part  104  and an edge  124  that defines part of third part  106 . Similarly, a recess  126  is defined in label  100  by edge  118 , an edge  128  that defines part of third part  106  and an edge  130  that defines part of first part  102 . Separation lines  108  and  110  extend from recess  126  to recess  120 . 
     Graphical material, such as barcode graphic  132  and/or arrow graphics  134  and  136 , is printed on the top of label  100 . Barcode graphic  132  extends across first part  102 , third part  106  and second part  104  of label  100 . Under one embodiment, barcode graphic  132  includes at least one dark element, such as dark element  138 , that is shown in its entirety within third part  106 . As a result, if third part  106  is damaged during removal of label  100 , the information represented by dark element  138  will be lost. As a result, if only first part  102  and second part  104  are placed on another item, the barcode information will not read properly. 
     Arrows  134  and  136  provide an indication to a user that pull tabs  112  and  114  should be pulled in a direction that is parallel to separation lines  108  and  110 . If pull tabs  112  and  114  are lifted in such a direction, first part  102  and second part  104  will separate from third part  106  easily along separation lines  108  and  110  thereby facilitating quick removal of label  100 . 
       FIG. 2  shows a cross-section of label  100  and product  180  taken along line  2 - 2  of  FIG. 1 . As shown in  FIG. 2 , label  100  consists of plastic sheet layer  204  and adhesive layer  206 . Further, in the embodiment of  FIG. 2 , adhesive layer  206  has been selectively applied to plastic layer  204  such that there is no adhesive present between pull tab  114  and product  180 . This can be seen more clearly in the magnified region  220 , where adhesive layer  206  ends at an adhesive edge  210 , leaving an area  208  that does not have an adhesive layer. Although pull tab  114  is shown as not contacting product  180  in  FIG. 2 , in other embodiments, pull tab  114  is in contact with product  180  when there is no adhesive layer between pull tab  114  and product  180 . By not placing adhesive beneath pull tab  114 , it is easier for consumers to lift pull tab  114  and begin removing label  100  from product  180 . In other embodiments, adhesive layer  206  extends beneath the entirety of label  100  including pull tab  114 . 
       FIG. 3  provides a top view of a laminate sheet  300  on which a plurality of labels, such as labels  310 ,  312 , and  314 , have been formed.  FIG. 4  provides a cross sectional view of a portion of laminate sheet  300  along lines  4 - 4 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 4 , laminate sheet  300  includes a backing layer  400 , an adhesive layer  402  and a plastic sheet layer  404 . In the illustrated embodiment, adhesive layer  402  and plastic sheet layer  404  are the same as adhesive layer  206  and plastic sheet layer  204  of  FIG. 2 . Plastic sheet layer  404  can be formed of any known plastic sheet material such as polyethylene, polypropylene, polyester, polyethylene terephthalate (PET), high density polyethylene (HDPE), low density polyethylene (LDPE), linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE), oriented polypropylene (OPP), polystyrene, or polyvinyl chloride (PVC), for example. In other embodiments, plastic sheet layer  404  can be replaced with paper. Adhesive layer  402  is a non-permanent adhesive such as a pressure sensitive adhesive, or a water moistenable gummed adhesive. The adhesive should be strong enough to keep label  100  on the product until the consumer deliberately attempts to remove the label but should not be so strong that removing the label is difficult for the consumer. Backing layer  400  is a plastic or paper layer preferably coated with silicon so that adhesive layer  402  releases easily from backing layer  400 . 
     In  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the exterior edges of a label, such as exterior edges  302  are formed by cutting through the entirety of plastic sheet layer  404 . Separation lines such as separation lines  304  and  306  are formed either by scoring plastic sheet  404 , cutting through less than the full depth of sheet material  404 , and/or by perforating plastic sheet material  404 . In  FIG. 4 , separation lines  304  and  306  are shown as being formed by cutting through less than the entire depth of plastic sheet material  404 . 
       FIG. 5  provides a flow diagram of a method of forming labels of the present embodiments. In step  500 , adhesive layer  402  is applied to plastic sheet layer  404 . Application of adhesive layer  402  can be performed using a roller applicator over which plastic sheet layer  404  moves or can be applied using a printing technique that selectively applies adhesive to only portions of plastic sheet material  404 . 
     At step  502 , the laminate is formed by placing backing layer  400  on adhesive layer  402 , opposite from plastic sheet layer  404 . At step  504 , plastic film layer  404  is cut using die cut tools to form the label edges and the separation lines. This cutting step produces labels divided into the three parts or sections discussed above. As noted above, the die-cutting tools can perforate the label, score the label, and/or cut a partial depth of the label to define the separation lines. 
     At step  506 , graphical material is printed on the labels. This graphical material can include barcodes such as barcode  132  and lifting direction indicators such as the tab arrow graphics  134  and  136  described above. Other graphical material may be printed as well such as a product description, price, or manufacturer, for example. 
     The geometry of label  100  of  FIG. 1  makes it easy for users to remove the label from a product such as product  180 . For example, in  FIG. 6 , first section  102  is shown during the process of removing section  102  by pulling tab  112  in a direction  600  that is parallel to separation line  108 . This pulling action applies a separating force on section  102  relative to product  180 . Pull tab  112  can be gripped easily because recess  120  provides a space for the user to insert their finger and grip tab  112 . In addition, the alignment of edge  116  with separation line  108  allows for easy separation of section  102  from section  106  along separation line  108 . Similarly, in  FIG. 7 , section  104  is removed by pulling pull tab  114  in a direction  700  that is parallel to separation line  110  creating a separating force on section  104  relative to product  180  and thereby causing section  104  to separate from section  106  along separation line  110 . After sections  102  and  104  have been removed, center section  106  remains as shown in  FIG. 8 . 
     Center section  106  can then be removed by scraping section  106  from product  180 . Because of the thin width  800  of section  106 , this scraping action will tend to destroy section  106  during removal. As a result, it will be very difficult to reconstruct label  100  on another article, thereby forming a barrier to switching labels between products. 
     In other embodiments, thin-width section  106  of  FIG. 8  can be located on an outer edge of label  100  instead of between sections  102  and  104 . In such embodiments, a weakened area extends between the thin-width section and the remainder of the label. The thin-width section still does not contain a pull tab but the other section of the label contains a pull tab. In addition, the thin-width section still contains an entire dark element of the barcode. Under some embodiments, the thin-width section has a width that is less than 2 millimeters. In such embodiments, the remainder of the label other than the thin-width section may consist of a single section with a pull tab or multiple sections, each with pull tabs. 
       FIG. 9  provides a top view of a label  900  under a second embodiment that is applied to a product  980 . Label  900  includes a first part or section  902 , and a second part or section  904 . First part  902  is separated from second part  904  by a weakened area shown as a separation line  908 . Separation line  908  can be formed by scoring label  900 , cutting a top part of label  900  and/or by perforating label  900 . In each of these cases, the separation lines can be said to be partially cut lines. 
     Although separation line  908  is shown as a straight line in  FIG. 9 , in other embodiments, line  908  may be curved and/or jagged. 
     First part  902  of label  900  includes a pull tab or lifting tab  912  and second part  904  includes a pull tab or lifting tab  914 . Pull tabs  912  and  914  are gripping pieces that are provided to make it easier for users to grip the label during removal. Under one embodiment, pull tab  912  is defined in part by an edge  916  of label  900  that is aligned with and extends from separation line  908 . Similarly, pull tab  914  is partially defined by an edge  918  of label  900  that is aligned with and extends from separation line  908 . A recess  920  is defined in label  900  by edge  916 , and an edge  922  that defines part of second part  904 . Similarly, a recess  926  is defined in label  900  by edge  918  and an edge  930  that defines part of first part  902 . Separation line  908  extends from recess  926  to recess  920 . 
     Graphical material, such as barcode graphic  932  and/or arrow graphics  934  and  936 , is printed on the top of label  900 . Barcode graphic  932  is printed transverse to separation line  908  such that the top part of barcode graphic  932  is printed on second part  904  and the bottom part of barcode graphic  932  is printed on first part  902 . 
     Arrows  934  and  936  provide an indication to a user that pull tabs  912  and  914  should be pulled in a direction that is parallel to separation line  908 . If pull tabs  912  and  914  are lifted in such a direction, first part  902  will separate from second part  904  along separation line  908  thereby facilitating quick removal of label  900 . 
     In the embodiment of  FIG. 9 , first part  902  and second part  904  are formed from an elastic material such as a polyolefin film specially engineered to retain stiffness for dispensability. Under one embodiment, the material is made of Fasson® TransCode® Plus White a polyolefin film manufactured by Avery Dennison Corporation. The elasticity of this material is such that when a user lifts on pull tab  912  or pull tab  914 , the material will stretch thereby deforming barcode graphic  932 . The deformation of barcode graphic  932  will make it impossible for a barcode reader to read the barcode pattern represented by barcode graphic  932 . As a result, if the label parts are later placed on a different product, they will be unreadable. 
     In other embodiments, barcode graphic  932  may be oriented differently on label  900  as long as the orientation of barcode graphic  932  is such that when pull tab  912  or pull tab  914  is lifted, the spacing between barcode elements changes due to stretching of first part  902  or second part  904 . 
     Although label  100  has been discussed above in connection with being placed on a product, label  100  can be placed on other items such as packaging and price tags, for example. 
     Although the subject matter has been described in language specific to structural features and/or methodological acts, it is to be understood that the subject matter defined in the appended claims is not necessarily limited to the specific features or acts described above. Rather, the specific features and acts described above are disclosed as example forms of implementing the claims.