Patent Description:
Examples of labels used in such environments include tubular or cylindrical labels having markings applied to the outer surface, sleeve-type labels, and adjustable label strips. While these prior labels may be suitable in some application conditions, they may be insufficient in certain conditions, particularly in conditions which require that the labeled elongate object undergo an over-coating procedure. Over-coating may be necessary when, for example, the labeled elongate object is attached to an article requiring painting, such as an automotive. In such instances labeled elongate articles, such as electrical wiring, may be first fastened to a chassis, and the chassis is subsequently painted or otherwise sprayed with a protective coating. Any identifying printing on the label is also coated thereby obliterating the printed matter. Therefore there exists a need for a self masking label that is adapted for use with elongate articles, is easy to apply, is able to withstand an over-coating procedure, all while preserving the readability of the printed information after an over-coating procedure.

Publication <CIT> discloses a cable marking strip that comprises a strip of an adhesive tape having a self-adhering bottom side and carrying an inscribable marking section. The beginning of the inscribable marking section is located at a distance from the adjacent front end of the adhesive tape to define an unlettered, transparent starting section of the strip which may be pressed onto the cable without soiling the marking section or smudging the lettering applied to it. Publication <CIT> discloses a self-laminating rotating cable marker label that is constructed of a transparent film having a first adhesive area, an adhesive-free smooth area, and a second adhesive area. A print-on area forms one side of the transparent film, the print-on area adapted to receive indicia identifying the cable about which the marker label is applied. A perforation extends across the transparent film providing a line of separation of the transparent film. When wrapped around a cable, the second adhesive area overlies the print-on area such that the cable identifying indicia is visible through the transparent second adhesive area. As the transparent film is wrapped around the cable, the first adhesive area adheres to the cable. The remainder of the transparent film is rotated, breaking the perforation, whereby the smooth area of the film in contact with the cable provides smooth rotation of the label around the cable. Publication <CIT> discloses a backing sheet including at least one cut area defining a handling tab produced by cut lines in the backing sheet and a tape sheet overlying the backing sheet and at least a portion of the tab so that removal of the tab from the backing sheet results in removal of the tape sheet overlying the tab from the backing sheet, wherein the tape sheet may be handled without contacting the adhesive of the tape sheet.

The object of this invention is solved by a method according to claim <NUM>.

In accordance with one embodiment, a method of using a label is provided. The method includes the steps of: providing an elongate article; providing a label having a first label section, a second, transparent label section, a third label section, and a fourth label section, said first label section, said second label section, said third label section, and said fourth label section each including a top surface and a bottom surface, at least a portion of said bottom surface having an adhesive thereon, at least a portion of said top surface of said third label section having an adhesive resistant coating, said third label section further having a severable area of weakness dividing said third label section into a first portion and a second portion; providing a carrier strip, said carrier strip supporting said label adjacent said bottom surface; applying an indicia on said top surface of said first label section; removing said label from said carrier strip while retaining a portion of said carrier strip attached to said bottom surface of said fourth label section; aligning said label with said elongate article; and wrapping said label around said elongate article, such that: said third label section is positioned over said first label section and said second label section such that said second portion of said third label section overlays said indicia on said top surface of said first label section, and said fourth label section is positioned on at least a portion of said bottom surface of said third label section and overlaying said adhesive. The method further comprises the steps of: positioning said fourth label section over said third label section such that said fourth label section overlays on at least a portion of said third label section top surface and overlays said adhesive resistant coating; and over coating said label, thereby rendering said indicia illegible. The method also comprises the steps of: moving said fourth label section away from said third label section; severing said second portion of said third label section along said area of weakness; and removing said third label section second portion.

Although the disclosure hereof is detailed and exact to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, the physical embodiments herein disclosed merely exemplify the invention which may be embodied in other specific structures. While the preferred embodiment has been described, the details may be changed without departing from the invention, as defined in claim <NUM>.

With attention to <FIG>, a label <NUM> according to the present invention in place about an elongate article <NUM> may be seen. An elongate article <NUM> for use in conjunction with the present label <NUM> may include, without limitation, bundled elongate articles, such as wires, cables, hoses, tubing, fiber optics, conduits, vines, and the like. As shown in <FIG>, a label <NUM> according to the present invention may include a strip of pressure sensitive film material having a series of label sections <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> positioned end-to-end along the length of the label <NUM>. The label <NUM> may be positioned on a carrier strip <NUM> or other suitable device during printing, and may be removed from the carrier strip <NUM> and wrapped around an elongate article <NUM> to be labeled. As shown, a first label section <NUM> is configured to be marked or printed with indicia <NUM>; a second label section <NUM> may be transparent; and a third label section <NUM> is arranged to overlap to cover and protect the first and second sections <NUM>, <NUM> during for example, an over-coating procedure. Examples of over-coating procedures include painting, spraying, or application of any other material that may render printed indicia <NUM> unreadable by application thereon. As further shown, a portion 18A of the third label section <NUM> is separable from the label <NUM> by way of an area of weakness, such as the perforations <NUM> illustrated. The label <NUM> further preferably includes a fourth tab section <NUM>. Each of the label sections, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, includes a top surface <NUM> and a bottom surface <NUM>, with at least one of the surfaces <NUM>, <NUM> preferably including adhesive <NUM> thereon (see for example, <FIG>).

As viewed particularly in <FIG>, the fourth, tab section <NUM> preferably retains a portion 22A of the carrier strip <NUM> when the label <NUM> is removed from the carrier strip <NUM>. The portion 22A covers the adhesive <NUM> such that the fourth tab section <NUM> is a non-sticky section. With further attention to <FIG>, the third section <NUM> preferably includes a top surface <NUM> having an adhesive resistant coating, such as the silicone coating <NUM> shown. The silicone coating <NUM> allows facile removal of the separable portion 18A from the wrapped label <NUM> after the elongate object <NUM> has been over-coated, as will be discussed.

<FIG> illustrate a method of using a label <NUM> as described with reference to <FIG>. As shown, the label <NUM> is printed on the top surface <NUM> of the first label portion <NUM> with indicia <NUM> or other markings, and the label <NUM> is removed from the carrier strip <NUM>. The view of <FIG> particularly shows portion 22A adhered to the fourth tab section <NUM> as the label <NUM> is removed from the main carrier strip <NUM>. Portion 22A is preferably precut from the carrier strip <NUM> during the label making process such that it is carried by the fourth, tab section <NUM> during label <NUM> removal.

<FIG> illustrate a next step in a method of using the label <NUM>. The printed label <NUM> is aligned with an elongate object <NUM> and wrapped in the direction of arrow A. Continued application of the label <NUM> in the direction of arrow B may be seen in <FIG>, wherein wrapping of the label <NUM> positions the third section <NUM> over the first, printed section <NUM> and second section <NUM>. The views of <FIG> illustrate the label <NUM> secured about an elongate object <NUM> and ready for an over-coating procedure. The view of <FIG> depicts the step of over-coating by, for example, a spray nozzle <NUM> and protective paint <NUM>, although it is to be understood that it is within the scope of the invention to include other over-coating devices and coatings.

The views of <FIG> illustrate the elongate object <NUM> and the attached label <NUM> after an over-coating step. With specific attention to <FIG>, it may be seen that the fourth, non-sticky tab section <NUM> is not adhered to the label <NUM> due to the presence of portion 22A. Removal of the separable portion 18A is initiated by pulling the fourth, non-sticky tab section <NUM> in the direction of arrow C, in an opposite direction of label application, until the separable portion 18A of the third label section <NUM> is unwound and the perforations <NUM> are exposed. As seen in <FIG>, the separable portion 18A of the third label section <NUM> is pulled in the direction of arrow D and removed along perforations <NUM>. The resultant, labeled elongate object <NUM> is shown in <FIG> wherein the printed first label portion <NUM> is covered by the remaining portion of third label section <NUM>. In this manner, the printing or other indicia <NUM> on the first label section <NUM> is viewable since it was protected during the over-coating step by the now removed separable portion 18A of the third label section <NUM>.

<FIG> illustrate another embodiment of a label 10A according to the present invention. As shown, and similar to the embodiment illustrated in <FIG>, the label 10A of these views preferably includes a strip of pressure sensitive film material having a series of label sections positioned end-to-end along the length of the label 10A. The label 10A may be positioned on a carrier strip <NUM> or other suitable device during printing and may be removed from the carrier strip <NUM> and wrapped around an elongate article <NUM> to be labeled. The label 10A includes sections similar to that of the previously described label <NUM>, including a first label section <NUM> configured to be marked or printed with indicia <NUM>; a second transparent label section <NUM>; and a third label section <NUM> configured to overlap the second section <NUM> during for example, an over-coating procedure. A portion 18A of the third label section <NUM> is separable from the label 10A by way of an area of weakness, such as the perforations <NUM> shown. The label 10A also preferably includes a fourth, tab section <NUM>. Each of the label sections, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, includes a top surface <NUM> and a bottom surface <NUM>, with at least one of the surfaces <NUM>, <NUM> preferably including adhesive <NUM> thereon (see <FIG>). As in the previous embodiment, and viewed in <FIG>, the fourth tab section <NUM> retains a portion 22A of the carrier strip <NUM> when the label 10A is removed from the carrier strip <NUM>. The third section <NUM> preferably includes a top surface <NUM> having an adhesive resistant coating, such as the silicone coating <NUM> shown (see <FIG>) to allow facile removal of the separable portion 18A from the wrapped label <NUM> after the elongate object <NUM> has been over-coated. With particular attention to the view of <FIG>, it may be seen that the silicone coating <NUM> of separable portion 18A of the third section <NUM> is discontinuous, wherein the top surface <NUM> includes a silicone free zone <NUM>. The silicone free zone <NUM> allows further ease in attaching and securing the label 10A in wrapped condition during coating, as will be discussed.

<FIG> illustrate the label 10A in place about an elongate article <NUM> and in condition for an over-coating procedure. The method of using label 10A is similar to that described with reference to <FIG>, wherein the label 10A is printed on the first surface <NUM> of the first label portion <NUM>, and the label 10A is removed from the carrier strip <NUM>, leaving a portion 22A of the carrier strip <NUM> attached to the fourth, tab section <NUM>. The printed label 10A is positioned around an elongate object <NUM> in the manner described in reference to <FIG>, wherein first, printed section <NUM> is positioned over the elongate article <NUM>, with the second label section <NUM> and third label section <NUM> completing the wrap. The view of <FIG> depicts the label 10A, around an elongate article <NUM> and particularly illustrates the silicone free zone <NUM> and the adhesive <NUM> on the third section <NUM> connected at point of attachment E. Point of attachment E provides stability to the label 10A during an over-coating process and reduces the incidence of the label 10A coming free before the over-coating process is complete. After the elongate object <NUM> and the attached label 10A have been over-coated, the fourth, non-sticky tab section <NUM> is pulled as shown in <FIG>, in the direction of arrow C, until the separable portion 18A of the third label section <NUM> is unwound exposing the perforations <NUM>. The separable portion 18A of the third label section <NUM> is removed as illustrated in <FIG>.

<FIG> illustrates another embodiment of a label 10B according to the present invention. Similar to the embodiments illustrated in <FIG>, the label 10B includes a strip of pressure sensitive film material having a series of label sections positioned end-to-end along the length of the label 10B. The label 10B may be positioned on a carrier strip <NUM> or other suitable device during printing and may be removed from the carrier strip <NUM> and wrapped around an elongate article <NUM> to be labeled. As shown, and similar to the previously described label, a first label section 14A is configured to be marked or printed with indicia <NUM>; a second transparent label section <NUM>; and a third label section <NUM> arranged to overlap the first and second sections 14A, <NUM> to cover and protect the sections 14A, <NUM> during for example, an over-coating procedure. The label 10B of this view illustrates varied relative sizes of the sections 14A, <NUM>, and <NUM>, wherein the first, printed section 14A may be sized to accommodate a preferred layout and amount of the printing <NUM>. As in previous embodiments, a portion 18A of the third label section <NUM> is separable from the label 10A by way of perforations <NUM> and the label 10B further preferably includes a fourth, tab section <NUM>. Each of the label sections, 14A, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, preferably includes an adhesive <NUM> thereon wherein the fourth tab section <NUM> retains a portion 22A of the carrier strip <NUM> when the label 10B is removed from the carrier strip <NUM>. As in the previous embodiments, the third section <NUM> further preferably includes a top surface <NUM> having an adhesive resistant coating, such as the silicone coating <NUM> shown (see <FIG>) to allow facile removal of the separable portion 18A from the wrapped label 10B after the elongate object <NUM> has been over-coated.

<FIG> illustrate another embodiment of a label 10C according to the present invention wherein the label 10C may be seen to have two portions <NUM>, <NUM>. The label 10C is for use in conjunction with an elongate article <NUM> having a large circumference that may also require large indicia <NUM>. The label 10C includes two strips or portions <NUM>, <NUM> of pressure sensitive film material, each having a series of label sections positioned end-to-end along the length of the label 10C. The label 10C may be positioned on a carrier strip <NUM> or other suitable device during printing and may be removed from the carrier strip <NUM> and wrapped around an elongate article <NUM> to be labeled. As shown, and similar to previously described labels, the first portion <NUM> includes a first label section <NUM> that is configured to be marked or printed with indicia <NUM>, a second transparent label section <NUM>, and a third label section <NUM> is configured to overlap the first section <NUM> during for example, an over-coating procedure. The label 10C of this view illustrates a two part construction wherein the first portion <NUM> may be applied first, followed by the second portion <NUM> which is configured to overlap the first portion <NUM>. The second portion <NUM> includes a mask section <NUM> and a tab section <NUM>. Each of the label sections, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> preferably includes an adhesive <NUM> thereon wherein the fourth tab section <NUM> retains a portion 22A of the carrier strip <NUM> when the second portion <NUM> is removed from the carrier strip <NUM>. As in the previous embodiments, the third section <NUM> further preferably includes a top surface <NUM> having an adhesive resistant coating, such as the silicone coating <NUM> shown (see <FIG>) to allow facile removal of the mask section <NUM> from the wrapped label 10C after the elongate object <NUM> has been over-coated. The first and second portions <NUM>, <NUM> may further include registration markings <NUM> to aid in alignment during use, as will be discussed.

Claim 1:
A method of using a label (<NUM>) including the steps of:
providing an elongate article (<NUM>);
providing the label (<NUM>) having a first label section (<NUM>), a second, transparent label section (<NUM>), a third label section (<NUM>), and a fourth label section (<NUM>), said first label section (<NUM>), said second label section (<NUM>), said third label section (<NUM>), and said fourth label section (<NUM>) each including a top surface (<NUM>) and a bottom surface (<NUM>), at least a portion of said bottom surface (<NUM>) having an adhesive (<NUM>) thereon, at least a portion of said top surface (<NUM>) of said third label section (<NUM>) having an adhesive resistant coating (<NUM>), said third label section (<NUM>) further having a severable area of weakness (<NUM>) dividing said third label section (<NUM>) into a first portion and a second portion (18A);
providing a carrier strip (<NUM>), said carrier strip (<NUM>) supporting said label (<NUM>) adjacent said bottom surface (<NUM>);
applying an indicia (<NUM>) on said top surface (<NUM>) of said first label section (<NUM>);
removing said label (<NUM>) from said carrier strip (<NUM>) while retaining a portion (22A) of said carrier strip (<NUM>) attached to said bottom surface (<NUM>) of said fourth label section (<NUM>);
aligning said label (<NUM>) with said elongate article (<NUM>);
wrapping said label (<NUM>) around said elongate article (<NUM>) such that:
said third label section (<NUM>) is positioned over said first label section (<NUM>) and said second label section (<NUM>) such that said second portion (18A) of said third label section (<NUM>) overlays said indicia (<NUM>) on said top surface (<NUM>) of said first label section (<NUM>), and
said fourth label section (<NUM>) is positioned over said third label section (<NUM>) such that said fourth label section (<NUM>) overlays at least a portion of said top surface (<NUM>) of said third label section (<NUM>) and overlays said adhesive resistant coating (<NUM>);
over-coating said label (<NUM>), thereby rendering said indicia (<NUM>) illegible;
moving said fourth label section (<NUM>) away from said third label section (<NUM>);
severing said second portion (18A) of said third label section (<NUM>) along said area of weakness (<NUM>); and
removing said second portion (18A) of said third label section (<NUM>) from said label (<NUM>), thereby restoring legibility of said indicia (<NUM>).