Stock material or miscellaneous articles – Layer or component removable to expose adhesive
Reexamination Certificate
1999-05-18
2001-07-24
Ahmad, Nasser (Department: 1772)
Stock material or miscellaneous articles
Layer or component removable to expose adhesive
C283S081000, C428S040200, C428S041300, C428S041500, C428S041700, C428S041800, C428S042100, C428S043000, C428S064100, C428S066500
Reexamination Certificate
active
06265043
ABSTRACT:
The present invention generally relates to labels and is more specifically directed to an erasable and re-writable disc label system for optical discs.
Optical discs, for example, CDs and DVDs, are a widespread media for data storage of all types including both music and software. Development of this media has provided for mass merchandising of recorded data, particularly music CDs. Advances in technology have now enabled individuals to record data on optical discs. This capability in turn has caused the development of applicators and labels for such optical discs.
These labels, which may be designed and printed by a personal computer, provide not only indicia regarding the contents of an optical disc to which the label is applied but also provide decoration therefor.
Still more recently, re-writable optical discs and equipment for recording on such discs has become economically feasible for individuals. Unfortunately, commonly used labels are limited to print once ability, i.e., writing or printing on the labels is indelible. It should be obvious that such a print-once label is not compatible with a re-writable optical disc medium.
That is, because the disc can be rewritten, there is a need to change the indicia on the label accordingly to properly identify the contents of the recorded data or to redecorate the optical disc.
An obvious solution is to reapply another label, or label segments, to an optical disc on which the recorded medium has been changed. This solution, however, is not practical inasmuch as optical discs are operated at a high rotating speed and balance thereof is extremely important in order to ensure accurate writing and reading of data therefrom.
If a paper label is utilized, repeated pencil marking and erasures are subject to smudging and continued erasures causes abrading of the paper surface, which is not attractive.
Even the repeated use of correction fluid such as, for example, Liquid Paper®, may cause imbalance of the optical disc. Further, the repeated use and rewriting utilizing correction fluid is not an attractive alternative.
Accordingly, there is a need for an erasable re-writable disc label system for optical discs which will provide the capability of correlating changes in the recorded medium on the label without interfering with performance of the optical disc.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An erasable and re-writable disc label system for optical discs in accordance with the present invention includes a plastic film having an acrylic adhesive means disposed on one side thereof for enabling permanent application of the plastic film to an optical disc without degradation of disc optical properties. Acrylic adhesive is utilized in order to prevent any possible interaction with the optical discs which may cause deterioration thereof.
The plastic film is formed from material enabling the plastic film and adhesive to be applied to the optical disc while maintaining the plastic film in shape, size and symmetry. This is important in order to prevent imbalancing of the optical disc upon application of the plastic film thereto.
Importantly, a coating disposed on a second side of the plastic film is provided for enabling non-indelible marking thereon with a marker pen and subsequent erasure of the marking. This feature provides compatibility with re-writable optical discs that heretofore was not available.
Preferably a release layer is provided for handling of the disc label prior to application to an optical disc. Accordingly, the plastic film is disposed over the release layer with one side of the plastic film releasably adhered thereto to the release layer with the acrylic adhesive. Structural integrity of the plastic film is very important since the film must be removed from the release layer while maintaining the plastic film initial shape, size and symmetry in order to prevent imbalancing of the optical disc upon application thereto as hereinabove noted. One suitable plastic film is a polyester.
An alternative embodiment of the present invention provides a label system wherein the plastic film and adhesive are transparent for enabling visual perception thee through of an existing label on an optical disc upon application of the plastic film and adhesive means thereonto. This embodiment finds use in effectively making an existing label and erase and re-writable label.
Yet another embodiment in accordance with the present invention provides for printing indelible indicia on the one side of the plastic film before application of the adhesive thereto. Utilization of the transparent plastic film then enables visual perception therethrough of indicia.
A coating on the second side of the plastic film enables non-indelible marking thereof with a marker pen and subsequent erasure of the marking. Thus, this label system provides for a permanent visual design on the label while at the same time enabling marking and an erasure at any point on the label. On the other hand, if the coating means is disposed only in selected areas on the plastic film second side in accordance with the present invention, only those selected areas will be capable of being marked and erased.
Still another embodiment of the present invention includes a plastic film including perforation means therein for defining selected separable areas of the plastic film with one side of the selected areas being releasably adhered to the release layer with acrylic adhesive. Coating means disposed on the second side of the plastic film selected areas enables non-indelible marking thereof with a marker pen and subsequent erasure of the marking.
In use, when the label is removed from the release layer and applied to an optical disc, the non-selected areas can be removed because of the perforations which define the selected areas. This enables symmetrical placement of the erasable and re-writable label areas onto an optical disc.
As a result, the background or design, an already labeled optical disc can be utilized with only certain selected portions, as defined by the selected areas of the label system, providing areas for marking and erasure.
In yet another embodiment of the present invention, an imprinted label may be utilized and disposed over the release layer by means of acrylic adhesive and a plastic film having one side adhered to another side of the imprinted layer. In this instance, the plastic film is transparent for enabling visual perception therethrough of the imprinted label. A coating is provided and disposed on the second side of the plastic film for enabling non-indelible marking thereon with a marker pen and subsequent erasure of the marker. This embodiment enables the use of a still inner plastic film.
Alternatively, an unprinted substrate label may be utilized and in this embodiment the plastic film includes indelible indicia on one side of the plastic film facing the substrate label. In this embodiment, the plastic film is preferably transparent for enabling visual perception of the indicia through the film itself. Further combinations of printing on the substrate and on the plastic film may be used to create differing visual effects.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4385460 (1983-05-01), Hanna
patent: 4983437 (1991-01-01), Merrick
patent: 5040296 (1991-08-01), Yerger
Hummell Michael L.
Vinyard Jeffery
Ahmad Nasser
Dennison Avery
Hackler Walter A.
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