GB2177373A - Labels - Google Patents

Abstract

A label 10 has an outer layer 14 which can have a postal address on its outer surface 15 and is connected by pressure-sensitive adhesive to an intermediate layer 13, 12 which is connected by pressure-sensitive adhesive to a backing layer 11. The intermediate layer 12, 13 can be peeled off the layer 11 and pressed on to an envelope 22 to enable the postal address to act as a return address. The addressee can peel off layer 14 from layer 13 and press layer 14 on to the or another envelope or other item of communication so as to address the communication for posting to the original sender or another party. The layers 12, 13 can be replaced by a single layer. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Communication and labels This invention relates to communication and labels.

According to one aspect of the invention a method of communication comprises sending a communication carrying a label which can be peeled off and used as part of a further communication. The communication may comprise an envelope from which the label can be peeled. The label may be re-used in said further communication. The label may comprise at least two parts which are separate or separable.

The invention includes a communication having removably attached thereto a label which can be peeled off the communication and used as part of a further communication. The label is re-secured by pressing the label on to an envelope of the communication or on to another envelope.

According to another aspect of this invention a label comprises an outer layer attached to an intermediate layer by a pressure-sensitive-adhesive and which can be peeled off the intermediate layer, the intermediate layer being attached by a pressuresensitive-adhesive to a backing layer from which the intermediate layer can be peeled.

The intermediate layer may comprise an inner layer and outer layers secured together.

The outer layer may carry markings on its outer face.

The markings may represent a postal address.

At least part of the markings may be in metallic ink.

The invention includes an envelope to which the intermediate layer is attached by said adhesive.

The invention includes a label for use in such a method.

The invention includes a method of communication however defined and a label however defined and a communication however defined.

The invention may be performed in various ways and specific embodiments with possible modifications will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a section through one label; Fig. 2 is a section through another label; Fig. 3 shows a strip of labels like Fig. 2; and Fig. 4 is a perspective view of an envelope showing use of a label of Fig. 2.

Referring to Figs. 2 to 4, a label 10 comprises a first flexible plastics backing sheet or layer 11, a first flexible peel-off sheet or layer 12 connected on one side to the layer 11 by a pressure-sensitive-adhesive such that the layer 12 can be peeled off the layer 11 and subsequently pressed on to and thus adhered to another surface. On the front side of the layer 12 is a second flexible plastics backing sheet 13 firmly secured thereto by adhesive which normally keeps these layers secured together. A second flexible peel-off sheet or layer 14 is mounted on the front of layer 13 by a pressuresensitive-adhesive such that the layer 14 can readily be peeled off the layer 13 and subsequently pressed onto and thus caused to adhere to another surface.

The outer face 15 of layer 14 can be plain or can carry printing or other markings.

As can be seen in Fig. 3, labels 10 can be provided in strip form with for example upper and lower margins of layer 12 carrying horizontal locating markings 20.

One use of the label 10 is illustrated in Figs.

3 and 4.

The front face 15 carries the address of the sender of a letter. This sender peels off the layer 12, to which are secured the layers 13, 14, from the layer 11, for example by lifting a corner 21 of the layer 12 and peeling off from the layer 11. The layer 11 is then pressed onto the envelope 22 in which the letter is to be posted.

The layer 11 may be attached for example to the rear of the envelope or, as shown in Fig. 4, to the bottom left corner region of the front of the envelope. In either case, the sender's address on layer 14 is exposed to act as a return address should the letter be undelivered. The name and address of the addressee is placed in the centre front of the envelope as usual.

When the addressee receives the letter, and wishes to send a reply in the same or another envelope, he peels layer 14 away from layer 13, leaving layers 12, 13 still attached to the bottom left corner of the envelope, and applies layer 14 either to the centre of the envelope as at 23 or preferably on to another envelope. The envelope is thus correctly addressed for sending back to the original sender.

The adherence between layer 12 and the envelope is normally greater than the adherence between layers 13, 14.

In the modification of Fig. 1, layer 13 is omitted, and peel-off central layer 12, carrying peel-off layer 14, is peeled off the sheet 11 to be attached to the bottom left of the envelope. In this case the layer 12 has a substantially non-absorbent top surface.

The labels can be assembled by suitable machinery, preferably in strips or sheets, by superimposing successive layers on to each other at predetermined relative positions.

The labels may find other uses.

The layers 11, 13 could be non-absorbent paper. The layers 12, 14 could be peelable paper. The relative sizes of the layers as seen from the front can differ.

The printing on the front of layer 14 could be in metallic or other ink particularly suitable for automatic or semi- automatic sorting machines, and the sender's post code would normally be included.

In a modification the label 10 is attached by a sender to a communication which does not require an envelope for example the label 10 is attached to one side of a flat card carrying on the other side the address of an addressee; on the one side there could for example be a questionnaire which could be completed by the addressee who then peels off layer 14, marked with the sender's address, and attaches this to said other side to serve as the address for return of the card to the sender.

Alternatively the completed card could be placed in an envelope and the layer 14 secured to the envelope to act as the address.

The layer 14 could be in two or more separate or separable parts. For example it could be in two parts marked respectively yes, no, a selected part being peeled off and returned to the sender or sent to a third party to re cord a vote. One part of the layer 14 could be marked with the address of the sender or third party.

Claims (16)

1. A method of communication comprising sending a communication carrying a label which can be peeled off and used as part of a further communication.

2. A method as claimed in Claim 1, in which the communication comprises an envelope from which the label can be peeled.

3. A method as claimed in Claim 2, in which the label is re-secured to the envelope for use in said further communication.

4. A method as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the label comprises at least two parts which are separate or separable.

5. A method of communication substantially as hereinbefore described.

6. A communication having removably attached thereto a label which can be peeled off the communication and used as part of a further communication.

7. A communication as claimed in Claim 6, in which the label is used by being re-secured by pressing the label on to an envelope of the communication or on to another envelope.

8. A label comprising an outer layer attached to an intermediate layer by a pressuresensitive adhesive and which can be peeled off the intermediate layer, the intermediate layer being attached by a pressure-sensitive adhesive to a backing layer from which the intermediate layer can be peeled.

9. A label as claimed in Claim 8, in which the intermediate layer comprises an inner layer and an outer layer secured together.

10. A label as claimed in Claim 8 or Claim 9, including markings on the outer face of the outer layer.

11. A label as claimed in Claim 10, in which the markings represent a postal address.

12. A label as claimed in Claim 10 or Claim 11, in which at least part of the markings is in metallic ink.

13. A label substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in Fig.

1, or Fig. 2, or Fig.3, of the accompanying drawings.

14. A communication having attached thereto by said adhesive the intermediate layer of a label as claimed in any of Claims 8 to 13.

15. An envelope substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in Fig. 4 of the accompanying drawings.

16. A label for use in a method as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 5.