United States Patent Office
This invention relates to labels having a protective transparent shield or cover. A label of this general type is shown in my Patent No. 2,682,721, issued July 6, 1954.
It is the principal object of the present invention to provide a protected label assembly which includes a label sheet and a transparent shield therefor which is adapted to overlie the label sheet, the shield extending laterally beyond each edge of the label sheet and having pressure sensitive adhesive material thereon to form a seal entirely around the periphery of the label sheet.
A more general object is to provide a protected label assembly which is particularly adapted for large size labels or signs.
Another object is to provide such a device which may be readily manufactured on a quantity production basis and which may be readily produced in the form of a strip of connected label assemblies.
Another object is to provide a protected label assembly employing pressure sensitive material and removable backing strips therefor; the backing strips being formed in multiple parts to facilitate mounting and installation of the label sheet and its protective cover.
Other objects and advantages will appear hereinafter.
In the drawings:
Figure 1 is a plan view of a strip of connected label assemblies embodying my invention.
Figure 2 is a perspective view of one of the label assemblies embodying my invention.
Figure 3 is a perspective view showing the label sheet in operative position on a mounting surface and showing a portion of the cover backing strip removed preparatory to placing the cover in position over the label sheet.
Figure 4 is a perspective view showing a subsequent step in the operation of installing the label assembly on the mounting surface. This figure shows the upper portion of the transparent cover in operative position over the label sheet, and an instrument such as a pencil being used to separate the lower portion of the transparent cover from any connection with the label sheet.
Figure 5 is a perspective view showing a later step in the mounting of the label assembly. This view shows the lower portion of the backing strip being removed from the underside of the lower portion of the transparent cover.
Figure 6 is a perspective view showing the position of the protected label assembly in final installed position on the mounting surface.
Figure 7 is a sectional view taken substantially on the lines 7—7 as shown on Figure 2.
Referring to the drawings:
The label assembly generally designated 10 includes a label sheet 11 and a transparent cover sheet 12. The lower surface of the label sheet 11 is covered with pressure sensitive adhesive material 13 and the upper surface of the transparent cover 12 is covered with similar ma
terial 14. The cover 12 is larger than the label 11 and these parts overlap along one edge with their adhesive surfaces facing each other. The overlapping portion or zone is designated 15, and parallel rows of perforations 5 on each side of this zone 15 form weakening lines 16 and 17.
A backing strip 18 covers the exposed portion of the adhesive material 13 and the label 11, and a similar backing strip 19 covers the exposed portion of the ad
10 hesive material 14 on the transparent cover. Each of these strips may be readily removed when the label assembly 10 is to be used.
The backing strip 19 is formed in two sections 19a and 196 which meet along a line 20 parallel to the
15 weakening lines 16 and 17. If desired the backing strip 18 can also be formed in two sections 18a and 186 meeting along a line 21.
Indicia of any type can be placed on the label sheet 11 either before or after mounting. When the backing
20 strips 18 and 19 are still in place, the entire label assembly 10 can readily be placed in a typewriter.
To install one of the label assemblies 10 upon a mounting surface 22, the outer section 18a of the backing strip 18, or the entire backing strip 18, as desired, is first
25 removed, and the label sheet 11 is caused to adhere by means of the coating 13 to the mounting surface 22 in the desired position. The inner section 186 of the backing strip, if still present, is then removed so that the entire lower surface of the label adheres to the mounting
30 surface 22. Indicia may be placed on the label sheet 11, using the surface 22 as a writing base, if desired.
The outer section 19a of the packing strip is then removed to expose the adhesive material on the upper face of the transparent cover sheet 12. The parts at this stage
35 are in the position shown in Figure 3. The transparent cover sheet 12 is then pivoted about the weakening line 16 to overlie the label sheet 11 and the exposed adhesive material sticks to the mounting surface 22 as well as to the upper part of the label sheet 11. This automatically
40 spaces the transparent cover sheet 12 symmetrically above the label sheet 11, and prevents shifting of the parts. A sharp pointed instrument such as a pencil 23 is then inserted between the label sheet 11 and the inner section 196 of the backing strip 19. Sidewise pressure
45 on the pencil 23 is effective to tear away the overlap zone 15 between the weakening lines 16 and 17. The parts at this stage are in the position shown in Figure 4.
The last step in the operation of installing the label assembly 10 is to remove the backing strip section 196.
60 This is best accomplished by first moving the edge 24 away from the adhesive material 14 and then pulling down on this edge to cause progressive removal of the strip section 196 from under the transparent cover sheet 12. This operation is rapid and serves as an effective
55 means of installing the transparent cover 12 in the proper location and without wrinkles. The final positions of the label 11 and transparent cover 12 are shown in Figure 6. It will be observed that the cover 12 forms an uninterrupted seal extending completely around the label
80 sheet 11. This provides most effective protection for the label sheet 11.
For convenience, the label assemblies 10 may be provided in strip form, as shown in Figure 1, connected edge to edge along separable lines 25.
05 Having fully described my invention, it is to be understood that I do not wish to be limited to the details herein set forth, but my invention is of the full scope of the appended claims. I claim:
70 1. A protected label assembly or the like, comprising: a generally rectangular label sheet adapted to receive indicia on the front side thereof and having a pressure
sensitive adhesive coating on the back side thereof, a generally rectangular transparent cover sheet of larger size than said label sheet and having a pressure sensitive adhesive coating on the front side thereof, the adhesive coatings on said sheets facing in opposite directions when 5 the assembly is open and the sheets lie in the same plane, an: edge portion of one of said sheets overlapping an edge portion of the other of said sheets so that said adhesive coatings face and contact one another to join said sheets in an: overlap zone, parallel weakening lines on 10 said sheets defining the edges of said overlap zone, a backing strip for the transparent cover sheet comprising two separate portions meeting along a line parallel to the weakening lines, the portion remote from the weakening lines being separately removable so that said cover 15 sheet may be folded about the weakening line thereon to overlie and engage a portion of said label sheet, the other portion of said backing strip being removable and said overlap zone being removable along said weakening lines to permit the remainder of the label sheet to be engaged 20 by said cover sheet.
