GB2071048A - Adhesive labels - Google Patents

Abstract

A self-adhesive label or ticket comprising a substrate 18, 1 having at least one area coated with a pressure- sensitive adhesive 19, 2, and a peelable backing material 17, 4 covering the or each said area. The backing material is peelable to expose the adhesive coated area but remains attached to the label, when the label is adhered to an article. In one embodiment, Figure 2, a flush cut is provided in the substrate or the backing material, the cut defining flap or window openable to expose an area of the adhesive coating. In another embodiment, Figure 5, an edge of the substrate may be folded over about a line 5 so that a silicone- coating surface 4 of a backing strip 3 covers the exposed area of the adhesive strip 2. After an individual label has been removed from a reel of labels, the edge is unfolded to expose the adhesive. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Adhesive labels This invention relates to adhesive labelling material for use, for example, as parking meter tickets.

Self-adhesive strips and sheets can be formed by coating a suitable substrate such as paper with a pressure-sensitive adhesive. These adhesives adhere firmly to materials such as paper. However, if labels made of such sheets or strips are applied to materials such as metals or glass, the labels will adhere but can be easily peeled off. This makes such labels ideally suited for use as parking meter tickets where the tickets can be applied to the car windscreen while the car is parked, and peeled off easily afterwards. However, in order to allow these tickets to be dispensed from a parking meter without adhesive building up on the machine dispensing orifice or elsewhere, a peelable backing material is placed over the adhesive coating. The backing material usually comprises a strip of paper coated with a release agent such as a silicone.

The backing material is peeled from the ticket before it can be applied to the windscreen, but the peeled-off backing material causes a litter problem.

According to the present invention, there is provided a self-adhesive label or ticket comprising an adhesive-coated substrate layer and a layer of peelable backing material covering the adhesive coating of the substrate layer, a flush cut being provided in one of the said layers and defining a flap openable about a hinge line to expose an area of the adhesive coating, whereby the label can be adhered to another article.

Further according to the present invention there is provided a self-adhesive label or ticket comprising a substrate having at least one area coated with a pressure-sensitive adhesive, and a peelable backing material covering the or each said area, the said backing material being movable to expose the adhesive-coated area, but remaining attached to the label, so that the label can be adhered to another article.

Still further according to the present invention there is provided a combination of a self-adhesive ticket and a ticket-issuing machine, the ticket comprising a substrate having at least one area coated with a pressure-sensitive adhesive, the machine being arranged so that the ticket is dispensed therefrom with the said pressure-sensitive adhesive exposed.

The labels or tickets can be in the form of a strip which can be coiled into a reel. Perforations can be provided between the labels to allow each label to be removed individually from the strip. Alternatively, the strip can be empioyed in conjunction with cutting means, for example in the ticket issuing machine. The cutting means are then arranged to cut the strip into predetermined lengths to obtain individual labels.

Self-adhesive labels or tickets embodying the invention will now be particularly described, by way of example, with reference to Figures 1 to 12 of the accompanying diagrammatic drawings in which the thicknesses of the tickets, the adhesive-coating layers and backing materials have been exaggerated for clarity.

In a preferred embodiment, the label comprises a laminarweb (Figures 2, 3) including a facing layer 18 of paper, a layer of pressure-sensitive adhesive 19, and a protective backing layer 17 of silicone-treated paper. A "window" 20 is defined (Figure 1) either in the backing layer 17 (Figure 2) or in the facing layer 18 (Figure 3) by means of a flush cut 21 around three sides of the window. The fourth side of the window can then act as a 'hinge' and can be provided with a score line 22 to assist in this. One suitable shape for the window 20 would be a trapezium, the hinge line being -provided at the longer parallel edge of the tapezium.

Once the label has been dispensed, the window 20 can be loosened in the region of the flush-cut lines 21 and peeled back towards the hinge or score line 22.

When the window is defined by the backing layer 17 (Figure 2) an area 23 of pressure-sensitive adhesive will be exposed. This area 23 can then be pressed against the object to which the label is to be fixed.

In the case where the window 20 is defined in the facing paper 18 (Figure 3), the adhesive layer 19 will remain on the window itself when this is peeled back. By folding the window about the hinge line 22, the adhesive layer 19 on the back of the window 20 will be made available and so the window 20 can act as a self-adhesive flap for fixing the label to the required object.

The window 20 can be arranged in any position on the ticket although is preferably positioned so that it avoids the print-out of the ticket-issuing machine.

Furthermore, it is preferable that the window 20 should not extend to the edges of the label, in order to prevent the entire label from being peeled apart once the window 20 has been folded back.

Standard materials can be used and both surfaces of the label may be printed. The facing layer 18 used could be of good appearance, for example, it could be printed in more than one colour and when it forms the back of the ticket, it may be used to carry advertising. Furthermore, an image could be die-cut in layer 18 to make a detachable promotional sticker.

In the embodiment shown in Figure 2 the variable data will be printed on the backing paper 17 in the ticket-issuing machine. Therefore, the material of the backing paper is preferably one which will readily accept printed data and which will allow ink to dry quickly.

In a further embodiment of the labelling material (Figures 4 and 5), a length of paper 1 is provided on one surface thereof with two strips 2 of a pressuresensitive adhesive, one strip 2 being arranged along each edge portion of the paper. The requisite information can be printed on the paper 1 between the strips 2 and/or on the opposed surface of the paper. Backing strips 3 which are coated with a release agent coating, such as a silicone, on one surface only are placed over each respective adhesive strip 2.

The backing strips 3 are arranged with the silicone coated face 4 uppermost so that the other face (untreated) adheres to the strips 2. The width of the backing strips 3 is approximately one half that of the adhesive strips 2.

In order to form the adhesive labels into a reel ready for fitting in a dispensing machine, the edge portions of the paper web 1 are folded over so that the silicon-coated surface 4 of the backing strip 3 covers the exposed area of the adhesive strip 2, as indicated by broken lines in Figure 5. The folding operation may be carried out during production of the labelling. A score line 5 can be provided in the paper web 1 coincident with the inner edge of the backing strip 3 to define the line of the fold. Then the length of adhesive labelling material can be coiled up into a reel and successive turns of the reel will not adhere to each other since all adhesive surfaces are covered.

In order to dispense labels from the reel, the free edge of the length of labelling can be unwound from the reel and an individual label removed. Perforations may Once a label has been dispensed, the backing strips 3 and corresponding edge portions of the label can be unfolded to expose the silicone coated surface 4 and the inner half of the adhesive strips 2 (as shown in Figure 5). The backing strip will remain adhered to the edge portion of the pressuresensitive adhesive thus producing no litter.

In the third embodiment (Figure 6), two outer strips 6 of a silicon release agent coating are provided along each edge portion of one surface of the paper web 1. Two inner pressure-sensitive adhesive strips 7 are provided adjacent the outer strips 6 but just separated therefrom. The width of the outer, silicone, strips 6, must be equal to or slightly wider than that of the inner, adhesive strips 7. In order to form the length of labelling into a reel, the edges of the paper are folded so that the outer strips 6 contact the inner strips 7. Again a score line 5 may be provided in the paper 1 to assist in the folding operation.

Once a label has been dispensed from the reel, the edges of the paper 1 will be unfolded to expose the inner adhesive strips 7 which can then be used to fix the label to for example, a vehicle windscreen.

In a fourth embodiment (Figure 7) each edge of one surface of the paper web 1 is provided with an outer strip 8 of a permanent pressure-sensitive adhesive. An inner strip 9 of a peelable pressuresensitive adhesive is provided adjacent each outer strip 8 but spaced therefrom. Strips of backing paper 10 are provided and cover both the outer strip 8 and the inner strip 9. In this case, the backing paper 10 is coated with varnish so that it can peel away from the peelable inner strip 9 but sticks firmly to the permanent outer adhesive strip 8. The backing paper 10 is in contact with the adhesive strips 8,9. The length of adhesive labelling material can be coiled directly into a reel since only the non-varnished surface of the backing paper strips 10 will be in contact with a successive turn within the reel.

Once the label has been dispensed, the inner edge of each backing paper strip 10 is peeled back from the inner adhesive strip 9. However, it is firmly adhered to the outer adhesive strip 8 and so cannot be readily removed completely. The backing paper strips 10 can then be folded over in the direction of the arrow A, exposing the adhesive strips 9, whereby the label can be adhered to an object as required. A score line may be provided in the backing paper 10 coincident with the dividing line between the inner and outer strips 8,9 to define the line of the fold.

This embodiment eliminates the folding operation before the length of labelling can be coiled into a reel.

In a fifth embodiment (Figure 8) one surface of the paper 1 is provided with two strips 13 of pressuresensitive adhesive, one along each edge portion.

Release-agent-coated strips 14 are provided having a width equal to or greater than the width of the strips 13. The release strips 14 are coated only on one surface with a silicon layer 15. This layer 15 extends across approximately half the width of each strip 14. The release strips 14 are then applied to the adhesive strips 13 on the paper such that the silicone layer 15 contacts the innermost edge portion of the strips 13 (see diagram). In this arrangement, only the non-adhesive surface of the release strip 14 is exposed and so the length of labelling can be coiled directly into a reel.

Once a label has been dispensed from the reel, the inner edge of the release strips 14 are peeled back as far as possible. The silicone-coated portion of each release strip 14 will be peelable from the corresponding adhesive strip 13. However, the release strip 14 will be firmly fixed to the outer portion of the strip 13 and so the release strip 14 cannot be completely readily removed. The release strip 14 can then be folded back in the direction of arrow B to expose the inner portion of the adhesive strip 13. A score line 16 coincident with the outer edge of the adhesive strip 13 can be provided in the release strip 14 to assist the folding operation.

Referring now to a sixth embodiment illustrated in Figure 9, the base paper 1 of the labelling is provided with two lateral strips 33 of peelable pressuresensitive adhesive spaced from the side edges of the paper 1. In this embodiment the backing paper strips 34 are coated with a heat-sealing adhesive varnish layer 35 which layers lie opposite and in contact with the side edge portions of the base paper 1, covering the adhesive strips 33.

During manufacture, the heat-seal adhesive varnish layers are activated and therefore bond permanently to the uncoated portions directly adjacent the edges of the base paper 1.

In use, after being dispensed from a machine, the backing paper strips 34 are peeled back from the peelable adhesive strips 33 thereby exposing the strips 33 by which the ticket can then be adhered to a convenient surface. However, the backing paper strips remain adhered to the side edge portions of the paper 1 and so are not removed completely. As in the other embodiments folding, after issue can be assisted with the aid of score lines.

In a seventh embodiment (Figure 10) strips 24,25 of pressure-sensitive adhesive are provided along the edges of opposed surfaces of the paper 1. Strips of paper 26 of a width equal to or greater than the width of the lateral strips 24,25 are adhered to the lateral strips 24 on one surface of the paper 1. The paper strip 26 has a layer 27 of silicone release agent on the exposed surface thereof.

When the labelling material is coiled into a reel, the release agent layer 27 of the paper strip 26 will be in contact with the pressure-sensitive adhesive strip 25 of the successive turn within the reel. Therefore, although these two strips will adhere together in the reel, they can be easily peeled apart when the reel is uncoiled and a label is dispensed. Alternatively, the silicone release agent strips 27 may be coated direct on one face of the paper 1 and the pressure-sensitive strip on the other face as shown in Figure 10A.

In an eighth embodiment of the labelling material (Figures 11, 12) a sheet of face paper 28 is provided with a single, central strip of pressure-sensitive adhesive 29. A strip of release paper 30 coated on one surface with a silicone is adhered to the adhesive strip 29. The labelling material can then be coiled into a reel for dispensing.

The issuing machine or parking meter for issuing these labels is provided within a retaining means whereby as the free end of the labelling material is fed from the reel out through a slot the release paper strip 30 is removed and re-wound within the machine.

It is possible to provide a similar arrangement with labelling material having two lateral adhesive strips instead of a single central strip.

When a single central adhesive strip is employed, opposed slits 31 may be cut in the sides of the labelling material between individual labels and this, together with a flush cut or a perforation facilitates their removal.

The hereinbefore described labels are advantageous in that the material covering the adhesive portion of the label in the reel is never completely removed from the label. This is particularly useful for parking meter tickets where detachable backing materials cause a litter problem.

Claims (12)

1. A self-adhesive label or ticket comprising an adhesive-coated substrate layer and a layer of peelable backing material covering the adhesive coating of the substrate layer, a flush cut being provided in one of the said layers and defining a flap openable about a hinge line to expose an area of the adhesive coating, whereby the label can be adhered to another article.

2. A self-adhesive layer or ticket according to claim 1, wherein the flush cut describes two nonparallel and a longer parallel side of a trapezium, the shorter parallel side of the trapezium acting as the hinge line.

3. A self-adhesive label or ticket according to claim 2, wherein a score line is provided along the shorter parallel side of the trapezium.

4. A self-adhesive label or ticket according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the flush cut is arranged so that it does not contact an edge of the label.

5. A self-adhesive label or ticket according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein information is printed on both the substrate and on the backing material.

6. Aself-adhesive label orticketcomprising a substrate having at least one area coated with a pressure-sensitive adhesive, and a peelable backing material covering the or each said area, the said backing material being movable to expose the adhesive-coated area, but remaining attached to the label, so that the label can be adhered to another article.

7. Aself-adhesive label orticketaccording to claim 6, wherein the pressure-sensitive adhesive is provided in two strips in the region of the edges of the substrate.

8. A self-adhesive label or ticket according to claim 5 or claim 6, wherein the said backing material is integral with the substrate and is folded in relation to the substrate to cover the or each area of pressuresensitive adhesive.

9. A combination of a self-adhesive ticket and a ticket-issuing machine, the ticket comprising a substrate having at least one area coated with a pressuresensitive adhesive, the machine being arranged so that the ticket is dispensed therefrom with the said pressure-sensitive adhesive exposed.

10. A combination according to claim 9, wherein the said adhesive-coated area is covered in the machine by a peelable backing material, the machine having means for peeling and retaining said backing material prior to dispensing the ticket.

11. A self-adhesive ticket substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1 to 3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,10A,11 and 12 of the accompanying drawings.

12. A combination of a self-adhesive ticket and a ticket-issuing machine according to claim 8, substan tally as hereinbefore described.