GB2207901A

GB2207901A - Tamper-proof labels

Info

Publication number: GB2207901A
Application number: GB08815053A
Authority: GB
Inventors: William George Kelly
Original assignee: MODERN LABELLING METHODS Ltd
Current assignee: MODERN LABELLING METHODS Ltd
Priority date: 1987-07-10
Filing date: 1988-06-24
Publication date: 1989-02-15
Anticipated expiration: 2008-06-24
Also published as: GB8815053D0; GB8716342D0; GB2207901B

Abstract

An adhesive label assembly 10 comprises a label 15 attached by a layer of relatively weak adhesive 14 to an intermediate film 13 which is attached by a layer of relatively strong adhesive 12 to the article to be labelled. The film 13 may be clear and inconspicuous or may carry indicia. The wholesale price for the article may be shown on the label. For resale, the label 15 is removed and the resale price can be marked on or over the film 13. <IMAGE>

Description

Tamper-proof labels The present invention relates to tamper-proof labels of the type used in wholesale and retail outlets to make the removal of price labels difficult or impossible.

Existing tamper-proof labels have conflicting requirements placed on them. If the adhesive is too weak, they are relatively easily removed, thus making theft and fraud easier. If the adhesive is too strong, the label can spoil the. appearance of a particular article, eg an ornament or a box of chocolates to be given as a present; either the label cannot be removed, or its removal damages the article.

One particular problem arises when tamper-proof labels are used by wholesalers. Clearly an effective adhesive is necessary to deter tempering, but the retail business may wish to replace the price label with its own.

Alternatively the retailer may wish to have no label at all attached to the article. In each case there is a conflict of requirements.

The present invention seeks to overcome or reduce one or more of the above problems.

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a tamper-proof label assembly comprising in the following order: a label, a layer of relatively weak adhesive, an intermediate film and a layer of relatively strong adhesive.

According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of using the label assembly defined in the preceding paragraph in which first indicia are placed on the label for a first transaction, after which the label is removed before a second transaction. In one preferred method, second indicia are placed on the intermediate sheet after removal of the label but before the second transaction. The indicia may indicate prices and the transactions may be sales.

A preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawing.

A tamper-proof laminated label assembly 10 comprises a conventional sheet of backing paper 11 with a coating of silicone release agent. Upon this sheet is coated a layer of strong permanent adhesive 12. A film of clear plastics material 13, eg polythene is applied to layer 12. Film 13 is light weight and preferably has a matt surface. A tamper-proof paper label 15 is adhered to film 13 by means of a light peelable adhesive 14 of the type which, once unstuck, is incapable of re-use. Label 15 is rendered tamper-resistant by arranging for a pattern to be scored therein which prevents the label being removed by a single tug. The pattern may define a window at a central region of the label or it may comprise one or more lines running across the label.

In use, the wholesale price is printed on label 15 and the assembly of layers 12 to 15 is stripped from backing sheet 11 and applied to the article to be sold. The article is then sold to the retailer and the label 15 is removed; this occurs relatively easily since adhesive 14 is very weak. Because film 13 is clear, the remaining part of the label assembly adhered to the article is scarcely visible by the retailer's customer. However the existence of this part is sufficient for attempted theft to be detected within the wholesale establishment if the label is removed in an authorised manner before the wholesale transaction.

After normal removal of the label 15, the retail price may be attached to the article in a number of ways: (i) it can be written on the matt surface of film 13 with the aid of a marker pen; (ii) a second price label may be attached to the article at a different location; because film 13 is scarcely visible this does not detract from the appearance of the article and the customer is not aware of the previous existence of the tamper-proof label; or (iii) a second price label may be applied over film 13; provided the new label is larger than the patch 13, all trace of the previous transaction is hidden.

Alternatively, the retailer may decide not to apply a further label; in this case the points mention above (ii) apply.

Any attempt at fraud within the wholesale establishment to remove the entire label assembly 10 will be unsuccessful since adhesive layer 12 is too strong to permit film 13 to be completely removed; moreover, the material of film 13 is arranged to stretch if an attempt is made to pull it. Furthermore, any attempt to switch labels 15 from different articles will fail, firstly because labels 15 are themselves tamper-proof and secondly because once a label has been removed, adhesive layer 14 is too weak to enable it to be reapplied.

Various modifications may be made to the above described label assembly. For example film 13 may be of opaque or coloured plastics or paper material where unobtrusiveness is not required. In view of the other security features of the assembly, it is not essential that label 15 is scored so as to be tamper-resistant.

Label 15 may be of the same size and shape as the underlying patch of film 13 or it may be of different shape and/or larger or smaller.

Film 13 may have a secret but identifiable code feature, unique to the wholesale establishment, so that it is possible to trace the origin of stolen goods. The code feature could be the shape of the patch, or a marking (such as- one or more edge notches) or strips or patches of a chemical, (such as a U-V emitter) or even a unique chemical composition of the film itself.

The label assembly can be used solely within a retail establishment if desired; for example it permits repricing of goods, since the original label can easily be removed by the retailer. It also assists the detection of attempted theft by the retailer's customers.

Claims

1. A tamper-proof label assembly comprising in the following order: a label, a layer of relatively weak adhesive, an intermediate film and a layer of relatively strong adhesive.

2. A label assembly according to claim 1 wherein the relatively weak adhesive is not reusable.

3. A label assembly according to claim 1 or 2 wherein the intermediate film is clear.

4. A label assembly according to any preceding claim, wherein the intermediate film is elastic.

5. A label assembly according to any preceding claim wherein the intermediate film incorporates a coding feature.

6. A tamper-proof label substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawing.

7. A method of using a label assembly according to any preceding claim wherein indicia are placed on the label for a first transaction, after which the label is removed before a second transaction.

8. A method according to claim 7 wherein indicia are placed on the intermediate layer after removal of the label but before the second transaction.

9. A method according to claim 8 wherein the indicia indicate prices and the transactions are sales.

10. A method of using a label assembly substantially as herein described.