GB2587038A

GB2587038A - Adhesive label

Info

Publication number: GB2587038A
Application number: GB1915899.7A
Authority: GB
Inventors: James Mcdonagh Gareth
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2019-09-05
Filing date: 2019-11-01
Publication date: 2021-03-17
Anticipated expiration: 2039-11-01
Also published as: GB2587038B; GB201912812D0; GB201915899D0

Abstract

An adhesive tamper evident label comprises a rear adhesive surface 2 configured to adhere to a contact surface, an opposed, frangible front surface 6 and an inner layer 8. The frangible front surface is configured such that unintended tampering with or removal of the label from the contact surface causes fragmentation and/or distortion of the frangible front surface enabling at least a portion of the inner layer to be visible. The inner layer may extend across the entirety of the label or may only extend across a central portion or may be formed as spaced apart portions, e.g. stripes, dots, symbols, letters, etc. The inner layer may comprise a reflective 10, 12 layer or a holographic layer. The frangible front surface may be formed with lines of weakness, e.g. indentations, score line or perforations. The elastic modulus of the material of the front layer is preferably greater than the elastic modulus of the material the inner layer. The label is preferably a vehicle number plate.

Description

ADHESIVE LABEL

The present invention relates to an adhesive label, and in particular to an adhesive tamper evident label, and the method for manufacturing the adhesive label. The present invention also relates to an adhesive vehicle registration label, and in particular to an adhesive tamper evident vehicle registration label, and the method for manufacturing the adhesive vehicle registration label.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

Adhesive labels are used in many industries to, for example, label a variety of products such as for example foodstuffs, beverages, medicines, beauty products, etc. Many of these items include anti-tamper devices such as seals which break if the item has been tampered with (ie. opened) without authorisation. This provides a clear warning to the consumer that the contents of the item are unsafe and should not be used. There is however a risk that counterfeiters are able to effectively remove the original label from an authentic product and replace the label on to a counterfeit product having a highly similar or identical appearance. This removal and replacement of the original label onto counterfeit products poses a risk for a consumer.

There is therefore a need for an adhesive tamper evident label which provides a clear visible indication that the label has been removed from its original contact surface.

Vehicle registration plates are increasingly copied or stolen from vehicles. The copied or stolen vehicle registration plates are commonly used to sell stolen cars, to disguise cars used in criminal activities (such as for example robberies or theft of fuel from a service station), or to evade speeding fines or parking fines or congestion charges. The owner of the vehicle registration plate may not realise that their vehicle registration plate has been copied until they receive numerous traffic offence penalty notices and charges for vehicle related incidents that they were not responsible for. This places the owner in the difficult position of having to prove that their vehicle was not involved in these instances.

In 2003, the government introduced The Register of Number Plate suppliers to reduce the number of false number plates on vehicles. This has made it more difficult for criminals to have falsify number plates, however this has led to a sharp rise in the number of plates stolen from vehicles.

There is therefore a need for an adhesive tamper evident vehicle registration label which provides a clear visible indication that the label has been removed from its original contact surface.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an adhesive tamper evident label comprising: a rear adhesive surface configured to adhere to a contact surface; an opposed, frangible front surface configured to provide a decorative finish; and an inner layer located between the rear adhesive surface and the front surface, in which the frangible front surface is configured such that unintended tampering with or removal of the label from the contact surface causes fragmentation and/or distortion of the frangible front surface enabling at least a portion of the inner layer to be visible therethrough.

The adhesive label of the present invention provides an immediate, clear visual indication (in the form of portions of the inner layer being visible through the front surface) that an item to which the adhesive label has been secured to has been tampered with. The visual indication may be in the form of words, images, or hazard symbols.

The rear adhesive surface may comprise any suitable adhesive for adhering to a contact surface. In one embodiment, the rear adhesive surface comprises one or more of: a rubber adhesive, an acrylic adhesive or an acrylic blend adhesive, or any combination thereof.

The adhesive label may further comprise a removeable release layer configured for contact with the rear adhesive surface. The removeable release layer ensures that the adhesive label does not come into unintended contact with a surface prior to use, and thereby ensures that the rear adhesive surface retains its adhesive properties.

In one embodiment, the inner layer may be provided an integral part of the rear surface or the front surface.

In one embodiment, the inner layer extends substantially across the entire rear adhesive surface and opposed, frangible front surface of the label.

In one embodiment, the inner layer extends across a portion (or a plurality of spaced apart portions), for example a central region, of the rear adhesive surface and opposed frangible front surface of the label.

In one embodiment, the inner layer comprises a plurality of spaced apart portions. For example, the inner layer may comprise a plurality of spaced apart portions in the form of markings, such as for example stripes, dots, and/or symbols, and/or in the form of lettering.

In one embodiment, the inner layer is a reflective and/or holographic inner layer comprising one or more reflective and/or holographic portions. The inner layer may be in the form of a reflective and/or holographic tape, for example in the form of a reflective and/or holographic vinyl tape. The inner layer may be in the form of one or more reflective and/or holographic stickers, for example in the form of a reflective and/or holographic vinyl stickers. The inner layer may comprise one or more of prismatic layer and/or glass bead layer.

In one embodiment, the inner reflective and/or holographic inner layer comprises: a carrier film having a metalized layer on the upper surface thereof; and glass beads embedded within the metalized layer. In one embodiment, around 50% of each glass bead is embedded within the metalized layer so as to provide the reflective properties. A further coating layer, preferably a polymer coating layer, is applied over the top of the glass beads and metalized layer to provide the inner reflective and/or holographic layer. The polymer coating layer may comprise one or more of: acrylic and/or polyester (vinyl). The coating layer may be clear, or coloured to provide coloured reflective inner layers.

In one embodiment, the inner reflective and/or holographic layer comprises a prismatic layer comprising an upper surface comprising a prism array formed from one or more of: acrylic and/or polyester (vinyl). Optionally, the upper surface is metalized to enhance reflectivity.

In one embodiment, the front surface is configured to be moveable between a first untampered position in which the inner layer is not visible, and a second tampered position in which at least a portion of the inner layer is visible.

In one embodiment, the frangible front surface comprises a polymeric material, such as polyester. The polymeric material may be imprinted, for example laser printed, with one or more images, wording and/or patterns visible only when the label has been tampered with.

During the process of tampering with or unauthorised removal of the label from the contact surface, the label must be subjected to a force, for example a sheer force or tensile force, greater than the adhesive strength of the rear adhesive surface. The term "adhesive strength" is used herein to refer to the ability of an adhesive to stick to a surface and bond two surfaces together. The adhesive strength if measured by determining the maximum tensile stress needed to detach or unstick the rear adhesive surface in a direction extending perpendicular to the plane defined by the rear adhesive surface.

In one embodiment, application of tensile stress to the label causes the front surface to fragment and/or distort and thereby providing a discontinuous front surface extending across the label. Such fragmentations and/or distortions may provide openings, for example gaps or slits, between adjacent portions of the discontinuous front surface ensuring portions of the inner layer are visible thereth rough.

In one embodiment, the frangible front surface may comprise one or more lines of weakness extending between adjacent portions, such that on tampering, the frangible front surface is torn along one or more lines of weakness, causing adjacent portions to be separated and enabling at least a portion fo the inner layer to be visible therethrough.

In one embodiment, the application of force to the label in order to detach the label from the contact surface may result in the label being stretched in a direction extending along at least one axis.

In one embodiment, stretching of the label in at least one axial direction causes the front surface to fragment and/or distort and thereby providing a discontinuous front surface extending across the label. Such fragmentations and/or distortions may provide openings, for example gaps or slits, between adjacent portions of the discontinuous front surface ensuring portions of the inner layer are visible therethrough.

In one embodiment, the front surface may be imprinted with a tamper indicator in the form of for example one or more images, wording and/or patterns.

In one embodiment, the front surface may be composed of a substantially opaque material. In one embodiment, application of tensile stress and/or stretching of the label in at least one axial direction causes the thickness of one or more portions of the front surface (as measured in a direction extending perpendicular to the plane defined by the front surface) to reduce. Such reduction in thickness may increase the transparency of the one or more portions of the front surface thereby ensuring portions of the inner layer are visible therethrough.

In one embodiment, the front surface may comprise one or more indentations and/or scored lines and/or perforated lines, or any combination thereof extending along at least a portion of the surface. The one or more indentations and/or scored lines and/or perforated lines, or any combination thereof may be located at any suitable position along the front surface, for example the one or more indentations and/or scored lines and/or perforated lines, or any combination thereof may be regularly or irregularly spaced apart from each other along the front surface. The one or more indentations and/or scored lines and/or perforated lines, or any combination thereof increase the fragility and/or brittleness and/or reduce the elastic modulus of the front surface thereby aiding fragmentation and/or distortion of the frangible front surface when subjected to tampering.

In one embodiment, in the first untampered position, the front surface provides a continuous surface extending across the entire front surface, and in the second tampered position, the front surface provides a discontinuous surface extending across the entire front surface.

In one embodiment, in the first untampered position, the front surface has a uniform thickness (when measured in a direction extending substantially perpendicular to the plane defined by the front surface), and in the second tampered position the front surface comprises at least one portion of reduced thickness, for example a plurality of portions of reduced thickness, located along the front surface. The portions of reduced thickness enable the inner layer to be visible therethrough At least one, preferably each, of the rear surface and/or inner layer and/or front surface, or any combination thereof, of the label is composed of polymeric material, for example a polymeric material or a combination of polymeric materials.

In one embodiment, the front surface of the label is composed of a first material (or a first combination of materials) and the inner layer is composed of a second material (or a second combination of materials).

Preferably, the elastic modulus of the first material(s) is greater than the elastic modulus of the second material(s) (i.e. the second material(s) has less resistance to being stretched than the first material(s)). In one embodiment, the elastic modulus of the first material(s) is at least 5%, preferably at least 10%, more preferably at least 25%, for example around SO% greater than the elastic modulus of the second material(s). In one embodiment, the front surface may be composed of a first material (or a first combination of materials) which are substantially inelastic.

The elastic modulus is herein defined as being a measure of an object's (for example a layer's) resistance to being deformed elastically when a stress is applied to it In one embodiment, the adhesive label is a tamper evident adhesive vehicle registration label. The decorative finish on the front surface of the label provides the registration number of the vehicle.

The vehicle may for example be a road vehicle, such as, but not limited to, a car, a van, a lorry, a truck, a moped, a motorbike, a fire engine, an ambulance, or any suitable road vehicle.

The inner layer of the adhesive vehicle registration label is preferably composed of holographic and/or reflective material. Once the adhesive vehicle registration label has been tampered with, portions of the inner layer will be visible. The use of holographic and/or reflective material for the inner layer, improves the visibility of the tampered label in low light conditions, and will make the tampered adhesive label more visible to members of authority, such as for example police, enabling the vehicle to be removed from the roads.

In one embodiment, the adhesive label is a tamper evident adhesive food and/or beverage label.

In one embodiment, the adhesive label is a tamper evident adhesive medication label.

In one embodiment, the adhesive label is a tamper evident adhesive toiletries label.

In one embodiment, the adhesive label is a tamper evident adhesive cosmetic product label.

The label and each of the front and/or rear surfaces and inner layer may have any suitable shape and/or dimensions. In a preferred embodiment, the label and one or more of the front and/or rear surfaces and inner layer may have one or more of the following shapes: square, triangular, rectangular, polygonal, oval, circular, semi-circular, or any combination thereof.

According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a method for manufacturing an adhesive tamper evident label comprising: obtaining a rear adhesive surface configured to adhere to a contact surface; obtaining a frangible front surface configured to provide a decorative finish; obtaining an inner layer and locating the inner layer between the rear adhesive surface and the front surface; securing the inner layer in position between the rear surface and the frangible front surface.

One or more of the rear adhesive surface, inner layer, and/or frangible front surface may be secured in position using adhesive.

In one embodiment, at least two adjacent layers or surfaces, preferably each layer and surface, are secured in position by being subjected to elevated temperatures and/or pressures for a predetermined period of time.

According to a further aspect of the present invention there is provided a kit for an adhesive tamper evident label comprising: a rear adhesive surface configured to adhere to a contact surface; an opposed, frangible front surface configured to provide a decorative finish; and an inner layer configured to be located between the rear adhesive surface and the front surface, in which the frangible front surface is configured such that unintended tampering with or removal of the label from the contact surface causes fragmentation and/or distortion of the frangible front surface enabling at least a portion of the inner layer to be visible therethrough.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying Figures:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES

Figure 1 is a schematic cross-section diagram of an adhesive label according to one embodiment of the present invention; and Figure 2 is a schematic cross-sectional diagram of an adhesive label according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

With reference to Figures 1 and 2, the adhesive label 1, r comprises a rear adhesive surface 2, 2' comprising a rubber adhesive. The rear adhesive surface 2, 2' is in contact with a removeable release layer 4, 4'. The adhesive label 1, 1' further comprises an opposed, frangible front surface 6, 6' in the form of layer of polyester imprinted (not seen) with a tamper indicator in the form of for example one or more images, wording and/or patterns.

The adhesive label 1,1' further comprises an inner layer 8, 8' located between the rear adhesive surface 2, 2' and the frangible front surface 6, 6'.

In Figure 1, the inner reflective and/or holographic inner layer 8 comprises: a carrier film 10 having a metalized layer 14 on the upper surface thereof; and glass beads 12 embedded within the metalized layer 14. It can be seen that around 50% of each glass bead 12 is embedded within the metalized layer 14 so as to provide the predetermined reflective properties. It is however to be understood that any suitable percentage of each glass bead may be embedded within the metalized layer in order to provide the desired reflective properties. A further coating layer in the form of an acrylic or vinyl layer 16 is applied over the top of the glass beads 12 and metalized layer 14 to provide the inner reflective and/or holographic layer 8. The coating layer may be clear, or coloured to provide coloured reflective inner layers.

In Figure 2, the inner reflective and/or holographic inner layer 8' comprises a prismatic layer comprising an upper surface comprising a prism array formed from one or more of: acrylic and/or polyester (vinyl).

In use, the release layer 4,4' is removed and the adhesive label 1, 1' is adhered to a contact surface, such as for example vehicle. The adhesive label 1, 1' may for example be an adhesive vehicle registration label. The frangible front surface 6, 6' may be decorated with the registration number of the vehicle. A third party may attempt to remove the adhesive label 1, 1' from the vehicle without authorisation. During removal of the adhesive label 1, 1', the label may be subjected to a force or tensile stress greater than the adhesive strength of the rubber adhesive.

During application of tensile stress to the label 1, 1', the frangible front surface 6, 6' may fragment and/or distort and thereby providing a discontinuous front surface extending across the label. In particular, the frangible front surface 6, 6' may distort to provide the imprinted images, wording or patterns ensuring portions of the inner reflective and/or holographic layer 8, 8' are visible therethrough.

The imprinted markings on the frangible front surface 6, 6' may be clearly visible due to the high reflectivity of the inner layer 8, 8' ensuring that the tampered adhesive label would be immediately recognisable to third parties, such as for example law enforcement officers.

The label 1,1' of the present invention may therefore be used to provide a label which provides clear, visible indications when the label has been tampered.

Claims

CLAIMS1. An adhesive tamper evident label comprising: a rear adhesive surface configured to adhere to a contact surface; an opposed, frangible front surface configured to provide a decorative finish; and an inner layer located between the rear adhesive surface and the front surface, in which the frangible front surface is configured such that unintended tampering with or removal of the label from the contact surface causes fragmentation and/or distortion of the frangible front surface enabling at least a portion of the inner layer to be visible therethrough.
2 An adhesive tamper evident label as claimed in claim 1, in which the inner layer extends substantially across the entire rear adhesive surface and opposed, frangible front surface of the label.
3 An adhesive tamper evident label as claimed in either of claims 1 and 2, in which the inner layer extends across a central region of the rear adhesive surface and/or opposed frangible front surface of the label.
4 An adhesive tamper evident label as claimed in either of claims 1 and 2, in which the inner layer comprises a plurality of spaced apart portions.
An adhesive tamper evident label as claimed in claim 4, in which the plurality of spaced apart portions comprises one or more of: stripes, dots, symbols, lettering, or any combination thereof.
6 An adhesive tamper evident label as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the inner layer is a reflective and/or holographic inner layer.
7 An adhesive tamper evident label as claimed in claim 6, in which the inner layer comprises ones or more reflective and/or holographic portions.
8 An adhesive tamper evident label as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the front surface is configured to be moveable between a first untampered position in which the inner layer is not visible, and a second tampered position in which at least a portion of the inner layer is visible.
9 An adhesive tamper evident label as claimed in claim 8, in which in the first untampered position, the front surface provides a continuous surface extending across the entire front surface, and in the second tampered position, the front surface provides a discontinuous surface extending across the entire front surface.
10. An adhesive tamper evident label as claimed in claim 8, in which in the first untampered position, the front surface has a uniform thickness, and in the second tampered position the front surface comprises at least one portion of reduced thickness.
11. An adhesive tamper evident label as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the front surface is composed of a substantially opaque material.
12. An adhesive tamper evident label as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 10, in which the front surface comprises one or more indentations and/or scored lines and/or perforated lines, or any combination thereof extending along at least a portion of the surface.
13. An adhesive tamper evident label as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 12, in which at least one of the rear surface and/or inner layer and/or front surface, or any combination thereof, of the label is composed of polymeric material.
14. An adhesive tamper evident label as claimed in claim 13, in which the front surface of the label is composed of at least one first material and the inner layer is composed of at least one second material, in which the elastic modulus of the first material(s) is greater than the elastic modulus of the second material(s).
15. An adhesive tamper evident label as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 14, in which the label is an adhesive tamper evident vehicle registration label.
16. A kit for an adhesive tamper evident label comprising: a rear adhesive surface configured to adhere to a contact surface; an opposed, frangible front surface configured to provide a decorative finish; and an inner layer configured to be located between the rear adhesive surface and the front surface, in which the frangible front surface is configured such that unintended tampering with or removal of the label from the contact surface causes fragmentation and/or distortion of the frangible front surface enabling at least a portion of the inner layer to be visible therethrough.