GB2307896A

GB2307896A - A strip of labels for plant pots

Info

Publication number: GB2307896A
Application number: GB9624345A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Kenneth Davis; Alan Sutton; Rodney Salzman; Roy Mottashed
Original assignee: Improved Marking & Label Co
Current assignee: Improved Marking & Label Co
Priority date: 1995-12-09
Filing date: 1996-11-22
Publication date: 1997-06-11
Anticipated expiration: 2016-11-22
Also published as: GB9624345D0; GB2307896B

Abstract

A strip of detachable labels 10 are connected together in a longitudinal direction so that the top 11 of each label is connected to the bottom 12 of an adjacent label. The extent of the connection is less than half the width of the strip and may be as little as 5% of the width of the strip. The bottom 12 of each label is of less width compared to the top 11. One side 13 i.e. the transverse edge of each label is also connected to an adjacent label. To assist separation of the labels there are small cuts (14) at the join between the top 11 and bottom 12 of adjacent labels which is also scored along a line (15) at a lightly different longitudinal position from the small cuts (14). The strip of labels is foldable to form a stack (10, 10a, 10b, 10c) in which the face of one label lies against a flat face of another label. The labels can also be arranged to form a roll of labels. The labels can be printed in the transverse direction with machine readable code 17.

Description

LABELS The present invention relates to a strip of labels and in particular, although not exclusively, labels for use with house plants.

It has previously been proposed to provide a strip of labels 1 as shown in Figure 1. What, in use, will be the top 2 of each label is connected to a continuous strip 3 running down one edge. The sides of adjacent labels are connected to each other.

Information and bar codes are printed on the labels by feeding the strip through a printer. However the writing on the labels will be printed so that it can only be read by removing the label and turning it to read the words from side to side. Similarly the bar code 4 has to be read from side to side as printers do not have the accuracy to print these with the lines on the bar code extending perpendicularly to the direction of feed through the printer.

After printing the labels are then removed from the strip by twisting, bending and pulling in order to try and cause separation of the labels from each other and from the strip 2. As the labels have such an extent of connection to each other and to the strip a considerable force is required to effect the separation. This makes it difficult to detach the labels and can result in the labels being damaged.

It is an object of the present invention to attempt to overcome at least some of the above described disadvantages.

According to one aspect of the present invention in a strip of detachable labels, adjacent labels in the longitudinal direction of the strip are connected together along an extent that is less than half the width of the strip.

With such a strip the force required to separate adjacent labels can be relatively small thus minimising the risk of damage to the labels as they undergo detachment.

Each label may also be connected to another label in a direction transverse to the longitudinal extent of the strip.

According to another aspect of the present invention in a strip of labels in which adjacent labels in the longitudinal extent of the strip are connected together each label is also connected to another label in a direction transverse to the longitudinal extent of the strip.

With such a strip more labels may be printed at any one time than with a strip that is only one label wide.

Adjacent labels in the longitudinal extent may be connected together along an extent that is less than half the width of the strip.

Adjacent labels in the longitudinal extent may be connected together along an extent that is less than 30% or less than 20% or less than 10% or in the region of 5 of the width of the strip.

Adjacent labels in the longitudinal direction may have been cut by a slit cut at at least one side of the extent that they are connected together, the slit cut leading to that connection.

Each label may be connected to an adjacent label in the longitudinal direction of the strip at spaced locations.

What, in use, will be the sides of each label may be generally aligned in the longitudinal extent of the strip.

What, in use, will be one end of each label may be connected to an adjacent label in the longitudinal extent of the strip to that part of the adjacent label that, in use, will be the other end of that label and one end of each label may be of less width than the other end.

Adjacent labels in the direction transverse to the longitudinal extent of the strip may be side by side and what, in use, is intended to be the top of each label may be side by side for labels adjacent to each other in a direction transverse to the longitudinal extent of the strip.

The labels may be arranged to form a substantially flat stack with a flat surface of one label lying against a flat surface of another label. Alternatively the labels may be arranged in the form of a roll of labels.

The labels may be arranged to have printed thereon printing that is readable and that may be machine readable in a direction transverse to the longitudinal extent of the strip.

The present invention includes any combination of the herein referred to features or limitations.

The present invention may be carried into practice in various ways but two embodiments will now be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 2 is a front or rear view of a first embodiment of a strip of labels; Figure 3 is a detail of the end to end connection between two labels shown in Figure 2; Figure 4 is a front or rear view of a second embodiment of part of a strip of labels, and Figure 5 is a side view showing one way of folding the labels shown in Figure 4 in this form of a stack.

As shown in Figure 2 the labels 10 are supplied in a strip, which can be rolled up, with the strip being two labels wide, each of 127 mm length. What, in use, will be the top 11 of each label is connected to the bottom 12 of an adjacent label and one side 13 of each label is also connected to an adjacent label along an 85 mm length.

The strip of labels is made from a 100 mm wide sheet of plastic that is passed through a roller having cutting and scoring edges. The blades on the roller remove portions of the plastic, as shown in the Figure 2, and also score the plastic at the join between the two edges and at the join between the top and bottom of the labels.

As shown in Figure 3, the blades on the roller also form small cuts 14 each of 1.5 mm length at the join between the top and bottom of adjacent labels as well as scoring a line 15 of 4.5 mm length at that joint at a slightly higher elevation than the cuts. Although the line 14 is shown at a slightly different level to the cuts 14 that line may be in line with the cuts. Such a modification may assist in the early separation of the labels. These folds and the cuts 14 assist in the easy separation of the labels from the strip by bending and tearing along the folds and the cuts 14 allow the bending and tearing or breaking of the joint between the top and bottom of adjacent labels to commence at that joint and break neatly at that joint.If the cuts 14 were not there then the break may not commence along the scored edge, or may not form a clean break there or may require undue twisting of the labels and therefore cause damage, particularly to the narrow bottom 12 of the label.

One side of the strip may have a coloured picture of flowers, for instance, and the other side will have specific information such as how to care for a plant and its price printed on it. The printing on the reverse side from the picture can be effected by a user of the labels before removing the labels from the strip. The strip is passed through a printer in the direction indicated by arrow 16. Two side by side labels can be printed at the same time and the printing can come out such that the wording reads from side to side, as shown in Figure 2, thereby enabling a prospective purchaser to read the label without having to turn the label on its side. The width of the two labels side by side is 100 mm. That corresponds to the most common width of printer.

The label also has a bar code 17 printed on it. That also is printed such that it can be read from side to side.

After printing and detachment of the labels from the strip the labels can be stuck in the soil of a plant pot.

In order to reduce the flexibility of the label to assist in soil penetration the label can be bent about a part 9 cut through the label extending upwards towards the lower end thereof.

It will be appreciated that the strip may be more than two labels wide with those labels being connected, if desired, in parallel as shown.

In the embodiment shown in Figures 4 and 5 the labels may be used and have the same function as the labels previously described and like parts have been given the same reference numerals as those in Figures 2 and 3.

As shown in Figure 4, the top of each label 10A includes a radiused edge 20. At the upper end of that edge the label is connected in a lengthwise direction to another label. Slits are formed to sever the connection of the labels to each other comprising outer slits 21 and a middle slit 22. The remaining points of connection comprise narrow spaced webs 23 that are of equal thickness to the remainder of the labels.

The webs 23 allow the strip of labels to be folded in the manner of a flat stack as shown in Figure 5 with two labels 10, 10A extending in one direction before succeeding labels 10B, 10C are folded back under those labels and so on. Although adjacent labels in the stack are shown spaced from each other it will be appreciated that adjacent labels will in fact be in face to face contact.

As the labels are formed from a roll of plastics that is cut the flat stack allows the labels to have any curl induced by that roll to be removed.

Detachment of one label from another in a lengthwise direction is achieved by twisting one label relative to another to tear the webs 23.

Either of the embodiments of labels described may be flat stacked or rolled up, as desired.

Claims

1. A strip of detachable labels, with adjacent labels in the longitudinal direction of the strip being connected together along an extent that is less than half the width of the strip.

2. A strip as claimed in Claim 1 in which each label is also connected to another label in a direction transverse to the longitudinal extent of the strip.

3. A strip of labels in which adjacent labels in the longitudinal extent of the strip are connected together with each label also being connected to another label in a direction transverse to the longitudinal extent of the strip.

4. A strip as claimed in Claim 3 in which adjacent labels in the longitudinal extent are connected together along an extent that is less than half the width of the strip.

5. A strip as claimed in any of Claims 1, 2 or 4 in which adjacent labels in the longitudinal extent are connected together along an extent that is less than 30% of the width of the strip.

6. A strip as claimed in Claim 5 in which adjacent labels in the longitudinal extent are connected together along an extent that is less than 20% of the width of the strip.

7. A strip as claimed in Claim 6 in which adjacent labels in the longitudinal extent are connected together along an extent that is less than 10% of the width of the strip.

8. A strip as claimed in Claim 7 in which adjacent labels in the longitudinal extent are connected together along an extent that is in the region of 5% of the width of the strip.

9. A strip as claimed in any preceding claim in which adjacent labels in the longitudinal direction have been cut by a slit cut at at least one side of the extent that they are connected together, the slit cut leading to that connection.

10. A strip as claimed in any preceding claim in which each label is connected to an adjacent label in the longitudinal direction of the strip at spaced locations.

11. A strip as claimed in any preceding claim in which what, in use, will be the sides of each label are generally aligned in the longitudinal extent of the strip.

12. A strip as claimed in any preceding claim in which what, in use, will be one end of each label is connected to an adjacent label in the longitudinal extent of the strip to that part of the adjacent label that, in use, will be the other end of that label.

13. A strip as claimed in Claim 12 in which what, in use, will be one end of each label is of less width than what, in use, will be the other end of each label.

14. A strip as claimed in Claim 2 or any of Claims 3 to 13 in which adjacent labels in the direction transverse to the longitudinal extent of the strip are side by side.

15. A strip as claimed in Claim 14 in which what, in use, is intended to be the top of each label is arranged to be side by side for labels adjacent to each other in a direction transverse to the longitudinal extent of the strip.

16. A strip as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 15 in which the labels are arranged to form a substantially flat stack with a flat face of one label lying against a flat face of another label.

17. A strip as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 15 in which the labels are arranged to form a roll of labels

18. A strip as claimed in any preceding claim in which the labels are arranged to have printed thereon printing that is readable in a direction transverse to the longitudinal extent of the strip.

19. A strip as claimed in Claim 18 in which the print is machine readable.

20. A strip of detachable labels substantially as herein described with reference to, and as shown in any of Figures 2 or 3 of the accompanying drawings.