Card – picture – or sign exhibiting – Check – label – or tag – Adhesive-backed label
Reexamination Certificate
1999-03-25
2001-08-14
Knight, Anthony (Department: 3628)
Card, picture, or sign exhibiting
Check, label, or tag
Adhesive-backed label
C040S617000, C040S310000, C215S399000, C283S081000, C248S311300
Reexamination Certificate
active
06272780
ABSTRACT:
FIELD AND BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to labels having applied handles. The invention also relates to labels including thereon a secondary or peel-off label and/or an information booklet.
The label of the invention is of particular use when applied to a bottle, for use in a hospital or health care type setting, and where the bottle is to be hung in an inverted position. With the bottle suspended in an inverted position, and with appropriate conduits and piping extending from the mouth of the bottle to, for example, a patient, fluids are able to flow from the bottle, at predetermined flow rates, and thus provide a steady supply of essential nutrients, medicines and the like to the patient.
There are a substantial number of labels described in the patent literature which incorporate handles, thereby enabling the bottle to which the label is attached to hang in an inverted position. In one form, such a label including a handle would comprise a number of fused and integrated layers, wherein the handle is cut out from one or more of these layers, and adhesives which would otherwise hold the layers together are inactivated or deadened using resins or other appropriate substances. In many examples of the prior art, the handle is actually cut from the fused laminate body of the label, and thereafter peeled away from the label when required as a hangar to suspend the bottle in its operative position.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,135,125 (Andel) discloses a hanging label wherein a hanging ring is formed as an integral part of the label for suspending the bottle from an intravenous stand. The label is built up from at least one layer of film, a layer of printing ink, and a layer of adhesive. The handle is created from the label by die cut lines that penetrate at least the one layer of film in the label. A release coating is applied between the appropriate layers to permit the handle to be peeled away from the remaining portion of the label. Andel, therefore, describes a typical example of the art of hanging labels, wherein the label is made up of several layers having different structures and purposes, where at least some of these layers are die cut in the shape of the handle, with the application of a suitable release coating so that the dye cut handle can be easily peeled away from the remainder of the label.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,490,658 (Coward) shows another form of a label hanger for intravenous bottles. In this patent, there is described a label hanger assembly having a label sheet with at least one hang strip cut therein. The hang strips are integral with the label sheet. An adhesive coating is applied to one side of the label sheet in a pattern so that the hang strip does not have adhesive on any side thereof. The label sheet adheres to an IV bottle and the hang strips are pulled out of the label sheet so the bottle can be hung in an upside down position from a stand. In the main embodiment, Coward shows a label hanger with two hang tags which, when removed from the label, are on diametrically opposed sides of the bottle. However, several other embodiments, including a foldout ring, are also shown in this patent.
International Application WO 97/42089 (Pharmagraphics) discloses another form of hanger label. In this publication, there is shown a label including a base label and a hanger having two legs. Each leg terminates in a foot portion, which is secured to a connector strip on the base label. Pharmagraphics discloses labels which may include three or more legs, with each leg having its own (or sharing) a foot portion by means of which it is secured to the base label. Each foot portion is a discreet and separate part, disconnected from other foot portions by the presence of gaps therebetween.
European Patent Application 0 356 574 (Schreiner) describes yet another form of a self adhesive label with a suspension flap. The label is mounted on a carrier film, and carries conventional imprints. A suspension flap is secured to the surface of the label. Both the label and the suspension flap are of a polyester material. The suspension flap covers a middle portion of the label, but is transparent to allow print therebelow to be easily read. The suspension flap comprises a strap or handle portion, as well as a region which is adhered to the label to form the secure connection. The securing region is relatively large, and covers a substantial middle portion of the label.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,829,788 (Jackson) shows another form of hanging label, in this case one with a ring which is folded on the label and unfolds as the ring is pulled away from the label.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In one aspect, the present invention is for a label with an applied handle, wherein the label may comprise a conventional format label of desired size and shape and a specially formatted and configured handle portion, cut separately, which is applied to the label. Preferably, the handle would be configured so that its size and shape correspond to the extent possible with the label to which it is to be applied, and, particularly, so that it can be firmly secured to the label over as wide a practical area as is possible in order to ensure that it remains fixed to the label during use.
The invention provides for a very strong adhesive bond and contact between the base section of the handle and the label, the bond being sufficiently firm so as to prevent separation between the label and the handle portion to ensure that any bottle is firmly held in a continuous manner, when suspended, from the handle.
In another form of the invention, the entire handle portion may comprise a base, such as a liner, and the adhesive is applied only where it is required, while the remaining portions thereof has no adhesive. The adhesive would provide bonding between the base and the label, and no adhesive would be present along those portions of the hanger section to enable the hanger section.
According to one aspect of the invention, there is provided a label with applied handle comprising: a liner material; a label having an upper and lower surface located on the liner, the label being secured to the liner by an adhesive layer on its lower surface, the adhesive layer being such that the label can be peeled off the liner with the adhesive remaining on the lower surface of the label; and a handle partially affixed to the upper surface of the label, the handle comprising an elongate strip having an upper and a lower surface and extending continuously across an entire length of the label, the lower surface of the elongate strip being firmly secured to the upper surface of the label by a strong bonding material, and a hanger portion integrally connected to the elongate strip and extending therefrom, the hanger portion having an upper surface and a lower surface with no adhesive thereon, the hanger portion being pivotable relative to the elongate strip so as to be movable between a first position wherein the hanger portion is adjacent the label portion, and a second position wherein the hanger portion is pivoted through substantially 180 degrees from the first position.
Preferably, the elongate strip comprises a series of scores or perforations to form a line of weakness along at least a part of its width. Multiple lines of weakness may be provided, each line of weakness being substantially transverse to the length of the elongate strip. In this specification, a perforation is series of holes separated from each other, the holes extending through the elongate strip. A score is a continuous or broken cut extending through a part of the thickness of the elongate strip only. The line of weakness may be comprised of either perforations or score(s).
The hanger preferably comprises a semi-circular ring portion and a pair of depending leg portions, each leg portion having one end thereof connected to the elongate strip. An adhesive border at the transition between the elongate strip and the leg portion may be provided, the adhesive border having on one side thereof of the lower surface of the handle adhesive whereby the elongate strip is applie
Abrahams Colin P.
Hewitt James M
Knight Anthony
Pharmaceutic Litho & Label Company, Inc.
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