Abstract:
A partially adhered label includes a carrier web and a substrate carried by the web. The substrate has a smaller area than an area of the carrier web. The substrate defines an outer indicia carrying surface and an inner surface. The inner surface is partially adhered to the carrier web by an adhesive. The inner surface of the substrate defines an active adhesive area and a central non-adhesive area. The adhesive area is by a border extending around a periphery of the non-adhesive area.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     The present invention pertains to adhesive labels. More particularly, the present invention pertains to partially secured labels and a method of making partially secured labels.  
         [0002]     Pressure sensitive labels are used in all manners of everyday life. For example, these labels are in wide spread use in manufacturing, retail merchandising, and warehousing. These labels can be used in marketing, product identification, tracking, sorting, and point-of-purchase displays.  
         [0003]     Point-of-purchase displays typically place consumer goods in close proximity to the consumer. The display and marketing uses of labels allow consumers to come into contact with labels through incidental contact or by detaching a portion of the label without having active adhesive come into contact with the consumer. Contact with active adhesive would be perceived as negative by the consumer.  
         [0004]     For example, shelf-mounted labels commonly identify products and include information as quantity, pricing and the like. These labels are often posted or positioned on the edge or lip of a shelf. In many instances, the shelf lip is quite narrow (about one inch), whereas it is desired to place a larger label (for example, two to three inches) on the shelf to draw a consumer&#39;s attention. In addition, certain types of retail businesses, such as grocery stores and discount merchandisers, experience frequent price changes. Consequently the point-of-purchase displays are frequently relabeled in many such establishments.  
         [0005]     Known labels include a substrate (such as a paper or polymer element) on which indicia is printed. The substrate is carried on a web to facilitate printing, transport and transfer onto an object to be labeled (marked). The web has a release coat thereon and the label has a layer of adhesive on a surface of the label adjacent to the release coat. The adhesive can be a pressure sensitive adhesive such that following separation from the carrier, the label is pressed to the object to adhere the label to the object.  
         [0006]     In such known labels, the adhesive extends over the entirety of the rear side of the substrate. To use the label, the substrate is separated from the carrier web and the substrate is applied to the object.  
         [0007]     One drawback to known labels is that the entirety of the label substrate is adhered to the object. In addition, inadvertent contact (of a consumer) with the label adhesive can negatively influence the consumer. Moreover, where only a portion of the label is to be adhered to the object (for example when only a portion of a label is to be adhered to a shelf lip), either a portion of adhesive exposed label hangs from the shelf, or some way to cover the exposed adhesive must be devised. One known label is a sheet formed label in which a portion (for example an upper one-third) of the label has adhesive applied thereto, and the remaining portion of the label is fabricated without the adhesive. While such a label may function well, it may not be usable with different types of labeling equipment (e.g., label printers or applicators) used by end users.  
         [0008]     Accordingly, there is a need for a partially-secured label. Desirably, such a label is available in roll or fanfold (stack) form. Most desirably, such a label is manufactured using principally known label manufacturing methods, and is usable with various types of labeling equipment, printers and applicators.  
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0009]     A partially adhered label includes a carrier web and a substrate carried by the web. The substrate has a smaller area than an area of the carrier web. The substrate defines an outer indicia carrying surface (onto which printing can be applied) and an inner surface. The inner surface is partially adhered to the carrier web by an adhesive.  
         [0010]     The substrate defines an active adhesive area and a central non-adhesive area. The adhesive area is by a border extending around a periphery of the non-adhesive area.  
         [0011]     The present label provides a partially-secured label in roll or fanfold (stack) form. Such a label is manufactured using principally known label manufacturing methods, and is usable with various types of labeling equipment, printers and applicators.  
         [0012]     The border is contiguous and surrounds the central non-adhesive area. The adhesive border can be continuous (as in a picture frame) or it can be discontinuous (as in striped, e.g., applied in discrete spaced locations) and surrounding the central non-adhesive area.  
         [0013]     The non-adhesive area can be effected by application of an adhesive deadening agent is applied to the substrate inner surface. Alternately, the carrier web has a frangible line formed therein that is coextensive with the label non-adhesive area. In such an arrangement, the substrate is separated from the carrier web and the a portion of the web underlying the substrate is separated from the carrier web at the frangible line to effect the non-adhesive area.  
         [0014]     The substrate is in the shape of a rectangle (e.g., square) having rounded corners and the adhesive region is likewise has rounded corners inwardly of a periphery of the substrate.  
         [0015]     The carrier web can be formed as an elongated strip having a plurality of substrates carried by the web. The substrates are spaced from one another along the length of the carrier web. In this arrangement, each of the substrates can be separated from adjacent substrates by frangible lines in the carrier web.  
         [0016]     The label (substrate) is readily removed from the carrier (by the rounded corners), and can be applied and removed from the object (such as a grocery store self) by the partial adhesive.  
         [0017]     These and other features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following detailed description, in conjunction with the appended claims. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0018]     The benefits and advantages of the present invention will become more readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the relevant art after reviewing the following detailed description and accompanying drawings, wherein:  
         [0019]      FIG. 1  is a portion of a label roll having a plurality of partially secured labels embodying the principles of the present invention;  
         [0020]      FIG. 2  is a plan view of a single label on its carrier;  
         [0021]      FIG. 3  is a plan view of a label as in  FIG. 2 , but showing a partially label adhered border;  
         [0022]      FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view of the label of  FIG. 2 ;  
         [0023]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the labels in an inside wind roll form; and  
         [0024]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the labels in one back fan fold form. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0025]     While the present invention is susceptible of embodiment in various forms, there is shown in the drawings and will hereinafter be described a presently preferred embodiment with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered an exemplification of the invention and is not intended to limit the invention to the specific embodiment illustrated.  
         [0026]     It should be further understood that the title of this section of this specification, namely, “Detailed Description Of The Invention”, relates to a requirement of the United States Patent Office, and does not imply, nor should be inferred to limit the subject matter disclosed herein.  
         [0027]     Referring now to the figures and in particular to  FIG. 1 , there is shown a portion  10  of a label strip or roll having a plurality of partially secured labels  12  embodying the principles of the present invention. The labels  12  each are formed having a face stock layer (substrate)  14  and a carrier web or liner  16 . The face stock layer or substrate  14  is the layer onto which indicia  18  (e.g., printing) is applied. The substrate  14  can be a paper or paper-based material, a polymeric material or the like. Those skilled in the art will recognize the various materials from which such a label  12  can be fabricated. A typical label carrier web  16  is formed having a release coat  20  (such as a silicone coat thereon, see e.g.,  FIG. 4 ) to facilitate removing the adhesive-backed label  12  from the web  16 .  
         [0028]     The present invention provides a label  12  that is resistant to distortion, misuse or undesirable results from environmental and other causes. A method of manufacturing partially-secured labels  12  is efficient in material and labor costs.  
         [0029]     The label substrate  14  is formed as a discrete unit on the web  16 . That is, the substrate  14  does not cover the entirety of the web  16 , but is a discrete label  12  “unit” disposed on the web  16 .  
         [0030]     The substrate  14  has a layer of adhesive  22  applied thereto to provide a partially-secured label. As such, the label  12 , in use, has adhesive active or exposed (as at  22 ) on only a portion of the rear  24  of the substrate  14  and the remaining portions  26  of (the rear) of the label  12  are non-adhesive. The selective adhesive  22  is provided in a picture frame manner, with a central, substantially enclosed inactive adhesive area  26  surrounded by a contiguous border or frame of active adhesive area(s)  22   a ,  22   b ,  22   c ,  22   d . It will be appreciated that in the figures, an inner border  28  of the adhesive  22  is shown in phantom (dashed) lines to indicate that, as viewed from the front of the substrate  14  (or label  12 ), the order or frame of adhesive  22  is not visible.  
         [0031]     In one embodiment, the entirety of the border  22  is adhesive. Alternately, as seen in  FIG. 3 , the border  122  can have one or more sides or legs  122   b ,  122   c ,  122   d  that are contiguous, but are discontinuous, that is, partially active (and partially inactive) as by striping (or making active) the adhesive along that leg or those legs, and (at least) one leg  122   a  that is fully active adhesive. In such an arrangement, the adhesive striping can be applied in discrete, spaced locations and may include a larger active area at the corners (see enlarged stripped area at corners in  FIG. 3 ).  
         [0032]     The inactive area or areas  26  can be formed by a variety of means. For example, the inactive areas  26  can be formed by the application of a deadener or an abhesive  32  (a substance that prevents materials from sticking to one another) on the adhesive in those area in which inactive adhesive is desired. Alternately, the adhesive  22  can be selectively applied so that it is not applied in the areas  26  in which inactive adhesive is desired. Alternately still, it may be desirable to form the labels  12  so that the liner  16  remains adhered to the substrate  14  in those areas  26  in which inactive adhesive is desired. In such a configuration, the liner  16  may have a frangible border (as indicated at  30 ) so that the liner  16  separates at the frangible border  30  with a portion of the liner  16   a  remaining on the substrate  14  desired overlying the unadhered area  26 .  
         [0033]     In a preferred form of the label  12  the inactive areas  26  are treated with (have applied thereto) an abhesive  32  in the desired inactive areas  26  in addition to which that portion of the liner  16   a  that corresponds to the desired inactive area  26  is capable of being separated from the remainder of the web  16  so as to remain affixed to the substrate  14  when it is separated from the web  16 . In this manner, one form of the label can be used in either application, that is, with the liner  16  removed (and an adhesive deadening agent  32  applied) and with the liner  16   a  retained in place on the label  12  as it is used.  
         [0034]     The label  12  is formed having rounded corners as indicated at  34 . In addition, the adhesive  22  border or frame area is also formed with rounded inner corners (as at the adhesive region  22 /non-adhesive region  26  interface). The rounded corners  34 ,  36  facilitate removing the substrate  14  from the web  16  for use.  
         [0035]     Those skilled in the art will recognize the methods that are used to form labels  12 . The substrate  14  can be applied to the web  16  as a continuous sheet or element and then cut to form the discrete labels  12 . The cut is commonly referred to as a kiss cut, in which the cut is only into the substrate  14  and does not sever the web  16  (or only partially severs the web). Alternately, if a portion of the web or liner  16   a  is to remain affixed to the label  12 , the cut may be made sufficiently through the liner  16  material (e.g., forming a frangible line or border  30 ) to facilitate separating the label  12  with the liner portion  16   a  from the remainder of the liner  16 . The labels  12  can be formed by delaminating a laminated material (substrate  14 /adhesive  22 /carrier web  16 ), selectively applying an adhesive deadening material  32  (for example an abhesive) to desired areas  26  of the substrate  14  over the adhesive, and relaminating the face stock or substrate  14  and the carrier  16 .  
         [0036]     Following cutting the substrate  14  to define the labels  12 , the remainder of the substrate outside of the label  12  (waste) is removed from the web  16 , thus forming the discrete labels  12 . Frangible regions (e.g., score lines)  38  can be formed in the web  16 , between the labels  12 , to facilitate separating the labels  12  while on the web  16 , for one another.  
         [0037]     As set forth above, at times may be desirable to retain a portion of the liner  16   a  on that portion  26  of the label  12  unadhered to the object. For example, when a label  12  is applied to a shelf in a refrigerated cooler or other refrigerated or humid area, a thin paper label may tend to curl. Thus, although the label would otherwise serve the display or advertising function, it could be aesthetically unappealing. By leaving a portion of the liner  16   a  on the label  12  (at the unadhered portion  26 ), the label  12  is provided with additional thickness, strength, and rigidity. As such, the likelihood or extent of curling is reduced by the retained liner portion  16   a.    
         [0038]     Moreover, as set forth above, one annoyance that has been observed is that a consumer or user could brush by or inadvertently contact the rear  24  of the label  12  which, if it has adhesive, could adhere to the individual. In such an instance, the label  12  could be accidentally removed from the shelf. The inactive are  26  prevents this inadvertent sticking. Further, the inactive label region  26  also provides an area for, for example, an employee to grasp the label  12  to remove it from the shelf, without the label  12  sticking to the employee&#39;s hand or fingers.  
         [0039]     Advantageously, the present invention provides a partially-secured label  12  (in roll R or fan-folded stack F form). The labels  12  are formed having a portion  26  that is unadhered or deadened, forming a non-adhesive portion. Such a label  12  minimizes the labor necessary to remove the substrate  14  from a liner or backing sheet  16  and place the label  12  on, for example, a shelf display or the like. Such a label  12  increases the efficiency by which the labeling operation can be carried out. Labels  12  in accordance with the present invention are economical to manufacture and particularly well suited for either preprinting (as printed during manufacture) or on-site printing (as printed by customer or end-user at a desired location such as a place of business).  
         [0040]     As shown in  FIG. 5 , the roll R is formed in an inside roll form, in which the labels  12  are on the inside of the roll R. Those skilled in the art will recognize that the roll R can be formed in an outside roll form in which the labels are on the outside of the roll. With respect to the fan-folded F form, the fan-fold stack F shown in  FIG. 6  is a one back form in which one label  12  is positioned between each fold or change in direction. Again, those skilled in the art will recognize that a multi-back (e.g., two back) form fold stack can be used for the present invention as well.  
         [0041]     Additionally, the unique pattern and design of the inactive areas  26  works in complementary fashion with the requirements of print technology useful to the above-noted marketplaces. Active adhesive areas  22  are required to manufacture the label and to allow imprinting of the label. Inactive areas  26  allow marketing and consumer contact with the label while avoiding undesirable side affects.  
         [0042]     All patents referred to herein, are hereby incorporated herein by reference, whether or not specifically do so within the text of this disclosure.  
         [0043]     In the present disclosure, the words “a” or “an” are to be taken to include both the singular and the plural. Conversely, any reference to plural items shall, where appropriate, include the singular.  
         [0044]     From the foregoing it will be observed that numerous modifications and variations can be effectuated without departing from the true spirit and scope of the novel concepts of the present invention. It is to be understood that no limitation with respect to the specific embodiments illustrated is intended or should be inferred. The disclosure is intended to cover by the appended claims all such modifications as fall within the scope of the claims.