GB2071607A

GB2071607A - Labels

Info

Publication number: GB2071607A
Application number: GB8009058A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Joel & Aranoff Uk Ltd
Current assignee: Joel & Aranoff Uk Ltd
Priority date: 1980-03-18
Filing date: 1980-03-18
Publication date: 1981-09-23

Abstract

An identification label comprises a flexible textile substrate, an adhesive layer applied to one surface of the substrate and a surface coating applied to the other surface of the substrate the surface coating being compatible with marking ink so as to be capable of receiving markings applied by laundry marking pen. The surface coating may comprise varnish or printing ink and the textile substrate may comprise a woven polyester- cotton fabric. The adhesive may comprise a heat-sealable adhesive which may be released by application of a solvent.

Description

SPECIFICATION Identification labels This invention relates to identification labels.

It is necessary in many situations to attach labels to garments identifying the person wearing the garments. Such labels must be capable of being frequently laundered (which term is used herein to cover both washing and dry cleaning) along with the garments to which they are attached and although they are generally required to be of a more or less permanent nature it is convenient if in some instances they can be removed without undue difficulty. In order to achieve the aim of withstanding frequent laundering such labels are conventionally made of cotton of other textile fabric and the means of identification are applied to the label using laundry marking pens. These utilise an ink composition which is compatible with chemicals used in laundering so that the means of identification applied to the label does not wash out during cleaning.

It has been found in practice that such labels are not altogether satisfactory since the markings applied to the label tend to fade on laundering and ultimately become illegible.

We have now found that a satisfactory label can be produced from a fabric material to which markings are applied by a laundry marking pen if the material is coated on the surface to which the markings are to be applied with a coating in the nature of a sealant. This sealing coat is not applied, as might be expected, after the markings have been applied to the label, but is applied prior to application of the markings and forms a coating between the laundry pen markings and the surface of the label itself.

Thus the invention provides an identification label comprising a flexible textile substrate, an adhesive layer applied to one surface of the substrate and a surface coating applied to the other surface of the substrate, the surface coating being compatible with marking ink so as to be capable of receiving markings applied by a laundry marking pen.

Preferably the adhesive backing layer comprises a heat sealable adhesive which may be released from the garment by use of a suitable solvent.

The coating layer may comprise a varnish or similar material but preferably consists of printing ink. The coating may be clear or coloured as desired.

In one embodiment of the invention, described by way of example only, a label consists of a strip of woven polyester-cotton fabric some two inches long by one inch wide to the reverse side of which is applied a layer of a heat sensitive adhesive which will fuse and bond to a supporting substrate such as the surface of a garment when heated and can be removed from the surface by use of a solvent compatible with the constituents of the adhesive.

The opposite surface of the label which will be exposed in use is coated with clear printing ink and forms a sealing layer over the surface of the fabric. The printing ink is compatible with the marking ink used in a conventional laundry marking pen so that identification markings may be applied to the coated surface of the label using such a marking pen.

In use of the label it is placed in position on the surface of a garment to which it is to be attached, and heat is applied in a press to melt the adhesive and cause fusion of the label to the garment. Upon cooling the label is firmly secured to the garment and cannot be readily removed without damage to one or both. The label may however, be removed by use of a solvent compatible with the adhesive thereby enabling the label to be removed and replaced by an alternative label when the garment is required for other purposes.

Test carried out utilising labels of this kind have established that they can withstand repeated laundering without noticeable fading or removal of the identification markings applied by the laundry pen. This is a considerable improvement on conventional labels which fade rapidly after laundering and ultimately become illegible.

The reasons why the invention produces improved results are not fully understood but it is believed that when laundry pen markings are applied direct to the surface of a label of fabric construction the markings are not able to bond properly to the yarns and fibres of the fabric and are therefore grandually dislodged by repeated laundering. Moreover the open nature of the fabric construction will facilitate penetration of the chemicals used during laundering between the fibres, thereby assisting in removing the marking ink. It is believed that the surface coating applied by virtue of the present invention acts to seal the surface of the woven fabric, thereby providing a continuous surface to which the marking ink can more readily adhere so that the cleaning fluid is unable to displace the ink and the markings remain clear and legible despite repeated laundering.A further advantage resides in the fact that redeposition of the dirt removed from garments during laundering is reduced or prevented, thereby preserving the colour and freshness of the fabrics.

Various modifications may be made without departing from the invention. For example, while printing ink has been found to produce particularly satisfactory results, other coating mediums such as varnish or the like may be employed. Tests carried out utilising varnish have been less satisfactory than those using printing ink in so far as the varnish coating tends to change colour after repeated laundering although the markings themselves remain clear and are not leached out by the cleaning fluid. Other materials may also be found suitable for use in forming a sealing coat in this way. It will be appreciated also that the invention may be applied to labels made from a wide variety of fabrics and various different adhesives may be utilised.

Claims

1. An identification label comprising a flexible textile substrate, an adhesive layer applied to one surface of the substrate and a surface coating applied to the other surface of the substrate the surface coating being compatible with marking ink so as to be capable of receiving markings applied by laundry marking pen.

2. An identification label according to claim 1 wherein said surface coating comprises printing ink.

3. An identification label according to claim 1 wherein said surface coating comprises varnish.

4. An identification label according to any of claims 1 to 3 wherein said adhesive comprises a heat-sealable adhesive which may be released by application of a suitable solvent.

5. An identification label according to any preceding claim wherein said flexible textile substrate comprises a woven polyester-cotton fabric.

6. An identification label according to any preceding claim wherein said surface coating is coloured.

7. An identification label substantially as hereinbefore described.

8. A garment having attached thereto an identification label according to any preceding claim.

9. Any novel subject matter or combination including novel subject matter herein disclosed, whether or not within the scope of or relating to the same invention as any of the preceding claims.