Abstract:
The present invention refers to a self-adhesive label, which, after being applied to an object, can be removed from this object as a whole or partially. For removing the label a grip tab is provided, which is non-adhesive or which exhibits reduced adhesivity. The invention is characterized in that the label is reinforced on its underside by a material piece provided at least in the section of the grip tab.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
     CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     Applicants claim priority under 35 U.S.C. §119 of German Application No. 103 34 23.4 filed on Jul. 25, 2003.  
         [0002]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0003]     The present invention relates to a self-adhesive label, which, after being stuck onto an object, may be removed again from this object completely or in parts. A grip tab, which is non-adhesive or has only reduced adhesion, is provided for the later removal from the object.  
         [0004]     Labels of this type are used in the pharmaceutical industry for identifying containers, for example. The label or sections of the label are to be detached from the container or from the remainder of the label in order to be stuck in a patient file as a voucher. Grip tabs are used to make detaching the label or the section easier. They lie at the outer edge of the label or part of the label and their adhesive force is reduced or canceled out. The user grasps this region and removes the entire label or the section.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0005]     Especially in the pharmaceutical field, grip tabs of this type are useful aids, since during operations, for example, the labels or sections must often be grasped and removed using sterile plastic gloves. For this purpose, it is necessary to provide a grip tab which is stable and may be grasped easily. This object is achieved according to the present invention by a material piece underneath the label which is non-adhesive or has its adhesive effect reduced.  
         [0006]     Furthermore, it is of essential significance that the properties of the label allow it to be applied to an object to be labeled without complications when dispensed. Providing the label on an undamaged material web is thus essential. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0007]     Other objects and features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description considered in connection with the accompanying drawings. It should be understood, however, that the drawings are designed for the purpose of illustration only and not as a definition of the limits of the invention.  
         [0008]     In the drawings:  
         [0009]      FIGS. 1   a  and  1   b  show the design of labels of this type according to the related art.  
         [0010]      FIGS. 2   a ,  2   b  and  3  show two preferred embodiments of the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0011]      FIG. 1   a  shows a label  101  according to the related art. It is on a carrier web  108 , in which a region  108   a  is stamped out. The label  101  includes at least one film layer  102  and one adhesive coating  103 .  
         [0012]      FIG. 1   b  shows the same label  101  as it is stuck onto an object  109 . It may be seen in this case that the stamped-out region  108   a  of the carrier web is removed together with the label  101  from the remainder of the carrier web and this composite is applied in its entirety onto the object  109 .  
         [0013]     Because of this, the label has no adhesive bond to the substrate in the region of  108   a . In this region, which thus represents a grip tab, the label  101  may be grasped easily, so it may be removed again from the object  109 .  
         [0014]     As indicated, a label construction as in  FIGS. 1   a/b  has the decisive disadvantage of damaging the carrier material. Because of this, the automatic dispensing of the label using rapidly running dispensing machines is made much more difficult. In addition, the stamped-out part of the carrier material  108   a  may not be made self-adhesive. The grip tab therefore automatically protrudes easily, especially when stuck onto uneven objects.  
         [0015]     A label construction analogous to  FIG. 1   a  is shown in  FIG. 2   a , which shows a first preferred embodiment of the present invention: a label  201  also lies on a carrier web  208  in this case. It includes at least one upper film layer  202  and a first adhesive coating  203  lying underneath. The label is divided into two halves below this layer:  
         [0016]     On the left in this view, a release coating  204  is applied to a film section  205   a  under the adhesive coating  203 . A second adhesive coating  206  lies under film section  205   a . Release coatings such as  204  are typically made of silicone enamels, using which it is possible to precisely set the adhesive forces of the adhesive coating lying above it.  
         [0017]     On the right side of  FIG. 2   a , a material piece  205   b , which is typically manufactured by stamping a film  205  into two sections  205   a  and  205   b , lies directly under the first adhesive coating  203 . An adhesive coating  206  also lies underneath here, which is provided on the bottom with an agent to cancel out or to reduce the adhesive effect  207 . In this way, a grip tab having at least reduced adhesive effect arises, analogously to the related art.  
         [0018]     As may be recognized, the label construction shown was manufactured without damaging the carrier material  208 . The label  201  may thus be dispensed automatically onto an object, such as a container, without complications. In order to be able to remove a part of the label from this object again, analogously to the procedure in  FIG. 1   b , one grips below the layer  207  and removes the composite made of the upper film layer  202 , the first adhesive coating  203 , the material piece  205   b , and the layers lying underneath. This composite is shown in  FIG. 2   b , where it is again stuck onto an object  209 , such as a patient file.  
         [0019]     The manufacture of the label  201  is distinguished by stamping interposed during the production process. After the application of the film layer  205 , including the adhesive coating  206  and the agent  207 , which reduces or canceled out the adhesive effect, the film layer  205  is provided on the side shown on the left with the release coating  204 . The film layer  205  is then stamped through without stamping through the carrier. In this way, the film section  205   a  and the material piece  205   b  lie directly next to one another. Only after the stamping is the upper film  202  having the adhesive  203  laminated onto the composite.  
         [0020]     Of course, in the first preferred embodiment of the present invention described here, it is also possible to provide only a part of the upper layer of the label as a removable voucher having a grip tab, so that another part of the upper film layer  202  remains on the film section  205   a , the release coating  204  being left off in this region and stamping of the upper film layer  202  being necessary in this case.  
         [0021]     A second preferred embodiment of the present invention is shown in  FIG. 3 . A label  301  is provided on a carrier web  308  here. It is essentially constructed in one layer, but is two-layered in the right region. A film layer  302  is applied to the carrier web  308  using an adhesive  303 . A further layer  305  lies underneath in the right region as a grip aid. By applying this layer, by dispensing it underneath, for example, a grip aid is again provided without damaging the carrier web.  
         [0022]     Accordingly, while at least a few embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it is to be understood that many changes and modifications may be made thereunto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.