GB2292729A - Label also serving as a carrying handle - Google Patents

Abstract

A label device for an item of commerce comprises a label or display portion 12 between pair of adhesive zones 14, 16 which may be folded over against the underside of the label or display portion and be peelable away therefrom for adhesive application to an article to be carried. In the in-use configuration of the device, the label or display portion of the device forms a carrying handle for stable carrying of the product. The labelling device is suitable for carrying product and brand and security and other information. The underside 28 of label portion 12 is coated with a layer 29 of release material 5 such as silicone. <IMAGE>

Description

LABEL DEVICE This invention relates to a label device and also to a device for application to an article to be carried, together with a corresponding method of labelling. By way of example, the invention provides a device which simultaneously performs two functions relating to the identification or marking of an article such as an item of commerce, and the physical handling of such an article.

Prior proposals in this field include conventional labelling systems in which an adhesive printed label is applied to a product for identification or marking purposes. Additional prior proposals include systems employed in retail stores for the assistance of customers in carrying their purchases. These include the use of large carrier bags of plastics sheet or paper materials including integral carrying handles. Also, it is a practice in some retail stores to assist customers who have purchased articles which may not fit into a carrier bag, to improvise a carrying handle by use of conventional string or adhesive tape applied to the product.

We have identified a need for improvements in this field and the invention takes as its starting point the prior proposals discussed above and aims to provide improvements in systems for labelling and carrying articles such as items of commerce purchased at retail stores.

According to the invention there is provided a device for application to an article to be carried, and a label device for an item of commerce, and a method of labelling as defined in the accompanying claims.

In an embodiment of the invention there is provided a label device for an item of commerce. The label device comprises an adhesive portion to adhere to the item of commerce, and a display portion to display information when so adhered, these aspects of the label thus being conventional, as used in a conventional product label. In this aspect of the invention, the label device includes the notable feature that it is in the form of an adhesive handle for carrying the item of commerce. In the adhesive handle form of the label device, the adhesive portion comprises at least two adhesive zones to adhere to the item of commerce. The display portion of the label forms a handle which is located in use between the adhesive zones, on the item of commerce.

Thus, in accordance with this aspect of the invention there is provided a label device which also serves as a convenient and easily used carrying handle for an item of commerce. The label device is readily able to carry out all the normal functions of a labelling device, including carrying product information, brand identification, safety information, and security markings. In addition, the label device also provides a convenient and easily applied handle for carrying products whereby the need for carrier bags is avoided, the limitations of such carrier bags in terms of size are likewise avoided, and customer satisfaction is added.

In the embodiment described below, there is provided a device comprising spaced adhesive zones for adhesive application to an article. These zones are separated by a handle portion which, in use, provides a convenient location for insertion of a user's fingers between the handle portion and the article for carrying purposes. In use, the adhesive portions are secured integrally to the handle portion as a onepiece strip so that the application of the device to an article to be carried is a simple manipulation task involving applying the extended strip across a suitable top surface of the article and pressing the adhesive zones, for example, to the sides of the article.

In the embodiment also, the handle portion serves as a release layer for the adhesive zones in a folded configuration of the device. Accordingly, the compact folded configuration of the device is well adapted to allow easy peeling of the adhesive zones from the handle portion so as to extend the device for readiness to apply it to a product.

Likewise in the embodiment, the handle portion, and notably the surface of the handle portion to which the adhesive zones are not applied, and thus which does not carry the release material for that purpose, is provided with printed labelling or article identification matter. Such matter could equally or also include one or more security devices of the kind employed for verification of purchase of items at retail stores. Likewise also, the printed matter may comprise product information, brand information and other data needed for commercial operations.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which Fig 1 shows a plan view of a label device, the surface seen in this view being the surface which carries printed labelling information such as product or brand identification matter; Fig 2 shows a plan view of the underside of the label device of Fig 1 showing two adhesive zones overlying the underside of the device; Fig 3 shows a diagrammatic side elevation view of the device of Fig 2 as seen on arrow III therein; Fig 4 shows a perspective view of the underside of the label device of Fig 2 with the adhesive zones partially opened out; Fig 5 shows the labelling device of Fig 3 in plan view with the adhesive zones fully opened out for application to a product; and Fig 6 shows an associated article of commerce or product to which the label device of Fig 5 is to be applied by application of the adhesive zones thereto in the manner indicated by the arrows in the drawings.

As shown in the drawings, a labelling device 10 is manufactured from a plastics sheet material. As shown in Fig 1, the label device comprises a label or display portion 12 to carry printed matter such as product identification data, brand identification data, product use information, safety information, security matter (eg devices concerned with verification of proper retail purchase of an article at a store) and the like. This matter is printed on the rectangular labelling surface of label portion 12 in the usual way. Accordingly, from this aspect of the use of the device, this portion of the label is entirely conventional.

As shown in Fig 2, label device 10 further comprises two adhesive zones 14 and 16 which are formed integrally with labelling portion 12 as endwise extensions thereof. The adhesive zones are likewise of rectangular form and thus, as shown in Fig 5, form with the label portion a lengthwise extending strip of plastics sheet material. This sheet material is chosen to be of fairly strong construction in the sense of resistance to tensile loads, for a purpose to be explained below.

The adhesive zones 14 and 16 may be unprinted on both sides, but could be printed if so desired on the surfaces 18, 20 seen in Fig 2 (which will ultimately be facing outwardly after application to a product).

The adhesive zones carry a suitable adhesive 22 on their inner surfaces 24 and 26, as seen in Figs 3 and 5. In Fig 3, the adhesive is identified by the symbol of a cross "X". Other symbols used in the drawing for a like purpose are the symbol "P" to designate printing and the symbol "S" to designate a release layer, for example formed by a layer of silicone.

The underside 28 of label portion 12 of device 10 is indeed coated with a layer 29 of release material S. This enables the adhesive zones 14 and 16 to be peelably adhered thereto in the assembled state of the device, as seen in Fig 3.

Use of labelling device 10 will now be described.

The labelling device 10 is supplied in the folded form seen in Figs 1, 2 and 3. Usually, it will be supplied in a sheet comprising, for example, a sufficient number of the label devices to form an A4size sheet of labels for use at a retail store checkout for application to purchased merchandise.

Successive labelling devices will be joined to each other in the sheet by frangible joins of the plastics sheet whereby successive label devices can be readily separated from each other.

Accordingly, when a customer at a checkout requires application of the device to a product purchased, the sales assistant tears the next label device from the sheet and applies the label device to the purchased product by the following sequence of operations.

Firstly, the adhesive zones 14 and 16 are peeled away from the underside 28 of the label portion 12 and the label device 10 is now in the form shown in Fig 5.

It is now turned over so that the adhesive surfaces of the adhesive zones 14, 16 are facing downwards, the label portion of the device is located at a suitable position with respect to the product 30, for example centrally over the upper surface 32 thereof, and the adhesive zones are pressed inwards against the sides of the product 30 so as to adhere thereto.

The adhesive 22 used on the adhesive zones 14 and 16 is chosen so as to combine the qualities of providing sufficient adhesion with the quality of peelability, so that the peelable zones can be unpeeled when so desired after use. Adhesives meeting these requirements are well known to persons skilled in the art.

Thus, the label device 10 is now in position on the purchased product, with the label or display portion 12 of it facing outwards and upwards, and with the adhesive zones adhering to the side faces of the product.

It can now be seen that the device 10 is not only a labelling device but also a carrying handle because the underside of the label portion does not adhere to the product and defines a zone into which users can insert their fingers for carrying purposes. The device is securely adhered to the product by the two adhesive zones, for lifting purposes, and therefore the labelling device now forms a strong handle for carrying purposes. Thus, label portion 12 also constitutes a handle portion of the device.

Suitable instructions for use of the labelling device 10 are provided with it. Conveniently, these are printed on the outer and adhesive-free surfaces 18 and 20 of the adhesive zones 14, 16 which are visible in the Fig 2 position of the device, prior to peeling of the adhesive zones away from the handle (and display) portion 12 of the device. This is shown by the symbol "P" on these surfaces in Fig 3. Such instructions may include indications of where the user is to commence peeling, together with diagrams illustrating the use of the device.

Considerable modification of the embodiment described above will be readily made by persons skilled in the art, including modification of the shape and size of the labelling device, modification of the adhesive zones etc. For example, the adhesive of the adhesive zones could be allowed to extend inwards along portions of the labelling portion which may not be needed for carrying purposes. Also, the labelling or handle portion could be formed with formations or provided with a shape which assists insertion of the users fingers while not preventing use of the that portion for labelling or like purposes.

Claims (9)

1 A label device for an item of commerce comprising an adhesive portion to adhere to said item and a display portion to display information when so adhered; characterised by said label device being in the form of an adhesive handle for carrying said item, and in said adhesive handle said adhesive portion comprises at least two adhesive zones to adhere to said item and said display or label portion forms a handle portion located, in use, between said adhesive zones on said item of commerce.

2 A label device for an item of commerce characterised by being in the form of an adhesive handle for carrying said item.

3 A label device according to claim 1 characterised by said adhesive zones and said handle portion forming a lengthwise-extending strip when extended for application to said item, with said handle and said zones being formed integrally with each other and said handle or label portion providing a release layer for said adhesive zones when in the folded laminar configuration of said label device.

4 A device for application to an article to be carried, to form a carrying handle therefor, the device comprising a) a piece of adhesive sheet material; characterised by b) said piece of adhesive sheet material being one of two such pieces of adhesive sheet material, forming bonding zones, and adapted to be adhesively secured to said article at spaced locations thereon; c) and said pieces of adhesive sheet material being joined by a sheet material handle portion adapted to be held by a user when carrying said article; and d) said three pieces of sheet material being assembled as a laminar assembly with said pieces of adhesive sheet overlying said handle portion, from which they can be peeled back for adhesive application to said article.

5 A device for application to an article to be carried, to form a carrying handle therefor, characterised by said device comprising a laminar assembly of two adhesive zones and a handle portion.

6 A device according to claim 4 or claim 5 characterised by said handle portion and said bonding zones forming a lengthwise extending strip when extended for application to said article, with said zones and said handle portion being formed integrally, and said handle portion forming a release layer for said bonding zones in the folded laminar configuration of the device.

7 A method of labelling an item of commerce comprising applying an adhesive label thereto, said label comprising a display or labelling portion to display information when adhered to said item, characterised by said label comprising spaced adhesive zones separated by said display or label portion and the method comprising applying said adhesive zones to said item of commerce and leaving said display or label portion itself not adhered thereto and forming a handle for insertion of a user's fingers between it and the item for carrying purposes.

8 A label device for an item of commerce substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.

9 A device for application to an article to be carried to form a carrying handle, substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.