GB2100860A

GB2100860A - Label for a garment or other fabric product

Info

Publication number: GB2100860A
Application number: GB08118887A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Ernst Spirig
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1981-06-19
Filing date: 1981-06-19
Publication date: 1983-01-06
Also published as: GB2100860B

Abstract

A label for a garment or other fabric product incorporates a temperature indicator 3 which changes colour irreversibly if a predetermined temperature is reached, so as to provide a record if a maximum recommended temperature for the fabric has been exceeded. In providing a means of relieving the garment manufacturer from unjustified claims for damage. The label shown is usually folded about its middle M and sewn by its ends into a garment. It also bears information 1, 2 relating to the composition of the fabric and recommended parameters (including temperature) for cleaning. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Label in or for a garment or other fabric product This invention relates to a label in or for a garment or other fabric product.

Certain garments, for example certain shirts and blouses, and certain other fabric products, are liable to damage if exposed to too high a temperature, for example during cleaning, such as dry cleaning.

In accordance with this invention, there is provided a label in or for a garment or other fabric product, which label is provided with an indicator which changes colour irreversibly if a predetermined temperature is reached or exceeded.

It is accordingly possible to read the indicator at a later time and establish whether the recommended maximum temperature for the garment or other fabric product has been exceeded. Thus, if a claim for damage to the garment is made against the manufacturer, the manufacturer is able to determine whether the recommended maximum temperature has been exceeded and accordingly resist the claim against him. This relieves the industry of the considerable costs which it currently bears in respect of claims which are unjustified because the damage to the garment has arisen through subjection to excessive temperature.

The label which is provided with the temperature indicator may conveniently comprise the label which is normally sewed into a garment and which bears information as to the composition of the fabric and recommended parameters for cleaning.

Embodiments of this invention will now be described, by way of examples only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a plan view of a label in accordance with this invention prior to folding in half and attachment to a garment; Figure 2 is a side view of a label of the same type as that shown in Figure 1; Figure 3 and 4 are similar side views of modified labels; and Figures 5 and 6 are a plan view and a side view illustrating in schematic manner the formation of labels in accordance with Figure 2.

Figure 1 shows a conventional form of textile label for a garment, which in use is folded in half about its middle M and its ends are stitched together and into the garment. The label is printed at 1 with information as to the composition of the fabric of the garment and is printed at 2 with information as to the recommended parameters for cleaning, the garment, for example whether it should be hand-washed, machine-washed or drycleaned, the recommended maximum temperature during cleaning, whether it should be ironed and if so below what temperature, etc. In accordance with this invention, the label is provided at 3 with an indicator of a composition which changes colour irreversibly if a predetermined temperature is exceeded.

Various chemical compositions are known which will change colour irreversibly (e.g. from white to black) at a temperature predetermined by the precise formulation of the composition. The temperature indicator may be preformed and then subsequently secured to the label.

For example, Figure 2 shows a label of the same type as Figure 1, which is folded prior to stitching its two ends together and into the garment: pieces of foil 4, 5 each coated on both sides with adhesive, are adhered on the label adjacent its opposite ends so as to co-operate and adhere together when the label is folded, the indicator 3 being disposed between them. The labels of Figures 3 and 4 are similar but are applied flat (without folding) to the garment, for example being stitched at its two ends to the garment. In Figure 3, the indicator 3 is secured to the rear side of the label by a covering piece of foil 6 which is provided with adhesive on both its sides, or only on its side facing the rear side of the label.In Figure 4, a first piece of foil 7 (with adhesive on one side or both sides) is adhered to the rear side of the label and the indicator 3 is secured to this by a covering piece of foil 8 optionally provided with adhesive on the side facing away from the label (i.e. towards the underlying garment surface). In the arrangements of Figures 2, 3 and 4, it will be appreciated that the indicator may be entirely hidden. For example if the starting colour for the indicator is white, the label being translucent, then it will not normally be visible, but it would be visible through the label once it has changed colour to black. The foils in Figures 3 and 4 would also be translucent. Instead, the label and indicator may be such that the indicator is not visible even after its colour change and thus requiring the label to be torn apart for inspection.Alternatively, the indicator could be arranged to be visible at all times, to act as a warning device: for example, the label material could be sufficiently transparent or formed with a punched aperture through which the indicator is visible.

Figures 5 and 6 illustrate formation of labels according to Figure 2. A band 10 of textile is drawn from a reel 12 and strips of adhesive coated foil 14, 1 6 are drawn from reels 18, 20 and applied to the band towards its opposite edges.

The indicators are stamped from a strip of indicator material, advancing from a reel of such strip (not shown), and at the same time applied to the foil strip 1 4 at spaced intervals. The band 10 is already pre-printed and is then folded along its centre line at a folding station 22, the two folded halves being pressed together to effect adhesion between the foil strips 14, 1 6. The band 10 may then be transversely cut to separate the individual labels, or alternatively wound into a reel 24 from which they are subsequently cut in a machine automatically sewing the labels into the garments.

The procedure and apparatus illustrated in Figures 5 and 6 may be modified appropriately for forming the labels according to Figure 2 or 3.

The label may be formed of other material than textile, e.g. plastics foil. The indicator may be attached to the label other than by using adhesive foils, for example a label of plastics foil may be folded with the indicator between it and then its two folded portions secured together by ultrasonic welding.

Claims

1. A label in or for a garment or other fabric product, which label is provided with an indicator which changes colour irreversibly if a predetermined temperature is reached or exceeded.

2. A label as claimed in claim 1, bearing information as to the composition of the fabric and recommended parameters for cleaning that fabric.

3. A label as claimed in claim 1 or 2, in which the temperature indicator is preformed and secured to the label by adhesive foil.

4. A label as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the temperature indicator is arranged so as normally to be hidden from view when attached to the garment or other product.

5. A label as claimed in claim 4, arranged to be folded in half in use with its two ends attached together and to the garment or other product and with the temperature indicator disposed between the two portions of the label.

6. A label as claimed in claim 4, attached or arranged to be attached flat upon the fabric of the garment or other product with the temperature indicator disposed between the label and the underlying fabric.

7. A label as claimed in any one of claims 4 to 6, in which the label is translucent, the starting colour of the temperature indicator is such (for example white) that the indicator cannot normally be seen through the label, and the colour to which the indicator irreversibly ^h3nges is such (for example black) that it becomes visible through the label.

8. A label as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3, in which the temperature indicator is arranged to be visible at all times.

9. A label as claimed in claim 8, in which the label is sufficiently transparent that the indicator may be seen through the label.

10. A label as claimed in claim 8, in which the label is formed with an aperture through which the indicator may be seen.

11. A method of forming labels as claimed in any preceding claim, in which a band of material passes lengthwise of itself, and temperature indicators are applied to the band at intervals as it passes, the band subsequently being transversely severed to form the individual labels.

12. A method as claimed in claim 11, in which strips of adhesive coated foil also pass lengthwise of themselves and are applied to the band adjacent its opposite edges, the indicators being applied to one of the strips on its face remote from the band.