Patent ID: 8535464

Claim:
A method of applying a label to an article, the method comprising: providing an article having a surface comprising at least one compound curve; providing a label comprising (i) a heat shrinkable film having an inner surface and an outer surface; and (ii) a continuous adhesive layer of pressure sensitive adhesive on the inner surface of the heat shrinkable film, wherein the label has a central portion and a peripheral portion; contacting the adhesive layer in the central portion of the label with the article such that the peripheral portion of the label is not in contact with the article; applying pressure to the label in an outward direction from the central portion to the peripheral portion such that the peripheral portion is partially adhered to the article after the central portion, and wherein the peripheral portion of the label is applied over one compound curve of the article; applying heat to the peripheral portion of the label to shrink at least the heated portion of the label biaxially and to fully adhere the label to the article such that darts remaining in the peripheral portion after adherence of the central portion are substantially eliminated.