EXTENSIBLE MARKER ARTICLE
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to extensible articles for marking merchandise, which carry a non-extensible label and, more particularly, to an extensible marker article having a label for printed matter, fixedly attached to an endless elastomeric band for merchandise. band. Elastomeric bands, commonly referred to as rubber bands, are easily stretched around the mouth of a bag or around multiple boxes, or the merchandise itself, such as around a grouping of agricultural products or around a single commodity product (eg. example a newspaper rolled or folded). However, the elastomeric bands are not suitable for the direct printing of a Universal Product Key (UPC bar code), because the stretching of the elastomeric band around the goods, stretches the printed bar code and distorts the width of the bars and the spacing between them. Such distortion can make the bar code unreadable or produce a false scanner reading. However, in modern merchandise mass production, such as superstores or supermarkets, there has been an almost complete movement to label the products (or their packaging) with an identification key, such as the UPC bar code, which can be read by an optical scanner. In the particular case of agricultural products, additional printed markings, beyond a bar code, are generally convenient. Such additional markings include an identification key of the "Product Search" number (PLU), a trademark of the products, possibly a collective or certification mark, storage addresses, service suggestions, recipes for preparing the particular product, a table of "Nutrition Realities" and an indication of the place of origin (for example, the country or State). One of the most efficient sites to perform the tasks of placing bands and labels on agricultural products with appropriate printed marking information is in the field where the products are harvested (or soon after or at least before any significant process of the product ). For example, a field worker, with a supply of elastomeric bands in a condition wrapped around his forearm, grabs a group of products with the hand of the forearm that carries the band and with the other hand moves the band from the forearm that carries this band on the wrist and hand of that arm and then around the group of products. The band is then released and contracts around the products. It remains to do the stage of fixing a label on the products. It would be convenient to fix the elastomeric band and label on the products in a single stage, but there are problems for that. The problem is illustrated drastically by the different characteristics required for the band compared to the marking label. The elastomeric band must be extensible, while the label bearing reliable marks for the examination must be non-extensible or non-elastomeric. It is difficult to form a band, safe and reliable, between the two diverse components. One solution to the problem has been to drill a hole in a plastic tag and tediously insert a loop of an elastomeric band through the hole and thread the rest of the band through the inserted loop. This approach gives operable results, but it is labor intensive and can not be easily automated. However, a secure connection between an elastomeric band and a plastic label of sheet material is critical to support the process operations to which agricultural products are subjected in band and label placement, after being harvested and placed. the band or label in the field. The products in which the band and label are placed in the field, they are subjected to washing operations, such as by high speed water jets, cooling operations, which include emptying ice on the labeled products and even immersing the products in cold water and agitation in the conveyors. Such process operations can easily destroy the weak connections or connections between the elastomeric webs and the plastic tags that contain the critical marking material. This invention solves the problem by providing a firm, reliable bond between an elastomeric band and a non-elastomeric label, in a way that can be adapted for automatic production and to give a new product that can withstand the severe treatment of the expected process for the products. freshly harvested agricultural products, which have an elastomeric band and a non-elastomeric label. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The invention provides an extensible article for marking merchandise, which carries a non-extensible, optically explorable key. The article consists essentially of an endless elastomeric band and a non-elastomeric label. An inherent characteristic of the elastomeric band is that it has a circumferential longitudinal direction to stretch around the goods to wrap this merchandise. The non-elastomeric label component consists of a single continuous panel of discrete plastic sheet material, flexible, water resistant, from the elastomeric band. The tag has a portion of information that carries printed matter and a binding portion to join the information portion. This joint portion is bent over an elongated section of the circumferential longitudinal dimension of the elastomeric band and joined to the information portion at a spaced-apart location of the fold, so that the plastic sheet material circumvents the elongated section of the band and form a channel, within which the circumferential elongated section of the band is housed in a movable manner. A significant key requirement of the invention is that the information portion of the sheet material has an area of size greater than the area size of the binding portion, so that at least part of both of the opposite surfaces of the information portion is can see to show any matter there printed, which includes the printed matter of an optically exploitable key. Another critical feature of the invention is that the information portion has a width adjacent to the channel for the band greater than the length of that channel. Thus, the portion of information extends outwardly beyond the length of the channel for the band. Still further, the channel for the web has a length no greater than half the circumferential longitudinal dimension of the elastomeric web and no greater than about 2.5 centimeters. This maximum length is required to prevent bending forces exerted on the channel during stretching and bending of the section of the elastomeric band within the channel in the use of applications that are significantly transmitted to the information portion. In other words, the channel length must be minimal to thus allow only the minimum transmission to the information portion of the bending forces during stretching and bending of the elastomeric band in the applications of use. The minimum bend of the information portion is insufficient to cause interference with the optical scanning of an optically exploitable key in the information portion. The invention also provides, as a new article of manufacture, a set of a plurality of extensible articles that place bands and labels on the merchandise, which carry a non-extensible, optically explorable key. In this set, the component of each item is in alignment to easily grasp and remove a discrete item with band and label at a time after assembly. Still other benefits and advantages of the invention will be apparent as appropriate from this description. Brief Description of the Drawings Figure 1 is a schematic front view of the new extensible article merchandise marker, with its elastomeric band in a condition fastened around a group of vegetables, for example asparagus, and shows the illustrative marking information on the front of the label information portion.; Figure 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view, taken on line 2-2 of Figure 1, with parts in separated section and particularly illustrating the relationship between the information portion of the label and the portion of the folded label and that forms a channel around the elastomeric band; Figure 3 is a schematic perspective view of the new article, showing the joint portion and the ratio of the elastomeric band to the entire label portion; Figure 4 is a schematic sectional view of the new article (with a portion of the information portion of the label in separate section), taken along line 3-3 and particularly illustrates the bonding relationship of the label to the elastomeric band; and Figure 5 is a schematic perspective view of a new article of manufacture, having a plurality of the new merchandising extendable articles, oriented with the information portion of the labels in an aligned relationship for easy manual removal of articles. Individuals of the alignment. DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to the drawing, the new extensible article 10 marker, according to the invention, is illustrated in a group of studs 8. The new article consists of two components, ie an endless elastomeric band 12 and a label no. elastomeric 20, consisting of a single continuous panel of flexible, water-resistant plastic material, having an information portion 22 and a joining portion 34. The two components are held together by a joint between the parts of the tag 20, ie the joint 50 (see Figure 4) between the attachment portion 34 and the information portion 22 of the tag component. The sheet material of the label 20 is effectively bent into a line or edge 46, so as to encircle an elongated segment or section of the elastomeric band 12, and it joins itself to form a channel 48 (see Figure 4) within from which the segment can be moved for the performance of its elasticity. However, the channel prevents the removal of the elastomeric band from its attachment to the sheet material of the label. The endless nature of the elastomeric band 12 is such that it extends into a continuous loop or loop, which defines a circumferential longitudinal dimension, and this dimension is capable of stretching or lengthening to increase the observable size of the circumference of the band. Useful elastomeric bands of the invention can be made of natural or synthetic rubber or an equivalent material. A key feature of elastomeric or rubber bands is that they can be stretched significantly and, however, will quickly return to their original condition after the stretching forces are removed. The useful sizes of the elastomeric bands of the invention vary between a diameter of approximately 2 cm to a diameter of approximately 15 cm in the unstretched or undrawn condition. Thus, the range of the circumferential longitudinal dimension may vary from about 6.5 cm to about 48 cm. Rubber bands or elastomeric bands outside this precisely defined circumferential diameter or longitudinal dimension range are not practical for use in the practice of the invention. In fact, widely used bands have an upper diameter limit of no more than about 10 cm. The 10 cm diameter bands have a circumferential length or loop length of approximately 32 cm. Most rubber or elastomeric bands of sufficient strength to group products have cross sections of at least 0.08 cm in each perpendicular direction and generally at least about 0.16 cm in each perpendicular direction. They can have an even greater dimension in one or both perpendicular directions. However, bands of transverse dimension greater than about 0.32 cm in both perpendicular directions are, for the most part, unnecessarily strong and, therefore, necessarily expensive. Elastomeric bands having cross sections of approximately 0.16 cm in one direction and 0.32 cm in the perpendicular direction are especially useful. In fact, bands having a size of 0.32 cm in one direction and up to 0.64 cm in a perpendicular direction are quite satisfactory for practicing the invention. While typically the rubber bands for practicing the invention will be square or rectangular in cross-section, the use of elastomeric bands of oval or circular cross-section of an equivalent cross-sectional size can be conceived, if desired. Bands of uniform cross section through their circumferential longitudinal dimension are preferred in the invention. Bands of larger cross section, such as those having a cross sectional dimension of 1.27 cm or more in one direction, are not only unnecessarily expensive, but also generally unsatisfactory due to their extreme width and the problem that this extreme width creates in the Usage applications and in attaching a label of sheet material to the web, according to the invention. The label 20 for this invention is formed of a continuous panel of a sheet (ie, organic, synthetic) plastic material. The suitable sheet material is relatively thin (eg, generally not more than about 381 microns thick) and is flexible and foldable, but not elastomeric. It can not be easily stretched in any significant extent to deform the bar codes by a simple force applied manually. Thus, the sheet material has the dimensional stability to carry a reliable (ie, undistorted) impression of the explorable UPC key, like other brands. The sheet material for the label also has to be water resistant in that it will not disintegrate and will not wrinkle or wrinkle or distort or otherwise deform when placed in the water. In fact, not only the sheet material, but also the printing on it, and especially any explorable material identifying the product on it, must be sufficiently resistant to water to avoid disintegration or destruction when repeatedly subjected to water or water operations. washed. The sheet material for the label must also be firm, in the sense of being resistant to tearing. It has to withstand the tension of pulling and rubbing the elastomeric band against it (for example against the bend 46 of the joint portion). Useful materials for forming the plastic sheet material of the label include polyolefin thermoplastic materials, polyesters, and others that exhibit the critical properties discussed. Polymers of ethylene, propylene, styrene, as well as a variety of other monomers or mixtures of monomers (for example, to obtain copolymers and terpolymers, etc.) can be used. The sheet thicknesses of polyester plastic materials can be quite thin, for example in the range of 76.2 to 101.6 microns, and still exhibit the firmness and elastomeric character required. The polymers can be formulated to easily accept printing on the surface of the sheet material or with special surface treatments to effect acceptance of the print. The exact structure and composition of the suitable plastic sheet material for practicing the invention may vary. A preferred sheet material for the label is commercially available under the trademark of "Teslin", from PPG Industries, of Pittsburg, Pennsylvania. It is a thermoplastic polyolefin material that can be printed as much as paper. Any of a variety of water insoluble inks, commercially available, compatible or accepted in a plastic sheet and retained there, and with the desired color, can be used to print the marks and details in the label information portion. This technology is easily understood in art. (If you want to use water-soluble ink marks, a thin film of plastic material, insoluble in water, can be applied over them, to create the necessary resistance to water.) The attached structure of the invention gives a secure and reliable connection, despite the significant difference in the material of the band and the components of the label. The attached structure allows the band to be stretched freely without restriction by the sheet material of the label (or by any bond between the parts of the label). In addition, the independent formation and manufacture of the band and the components of the label before joining together allow the particular physical dimensions of the label and the band to be changed and, as a result, to easily mix and match in many different combinations of the band and label sizes. In forming the extensible marker article of the invention, the sheet material of the label is folded or turned on itself along a fold 46 as illustrated in Figures 3 and 4. The fold 46 can be observed as a line or boundary between the information 22 or flag portion of the label and the tab or tab portion 34 of the label. The information portion and the joining portion extend substantially in the same direction as the bend and are in a substantially parallel orientation. The sheet material forming the information portion has opposite front 24 and back 26 surfaces and the sheet material of the attachment portion 34 also has opposite front 36 and back 38 surfaces. The back surfaces 26, 38 are joined together to forming a channel 48 (see Figure 4) for a section or segment of the circumferential longitudinal dimension of the elastomeric web. (The section of the band within the channel is hidden by the attachment portion 34 of Figure 3 and other figures.) The attachment portion 34 is bent over an elongated section of the elastomeric band and then folded to the information portion. at a location 50 spaced from fold 46. This then causes the sheet material to completely encircle an elongated section or segment of the band and form a channel 48 for the encircled section. However, the circumferential section of the band 12 can be moved in the channel (eg, for stretching), although it is housed in the channel. The connection firmly holds the band and label together, but allows relative movement between the two components. The joint 50 of the inner or rear surface 38 of the attachment tab to the back surface 26 of the lines of the information flag is placed along a strip area near the free transverse outer edge 50 of the tongue union, most remote from bend 46. Union 50 extends in a direction substantially parallel to bend 46 but spaced therefrom. Preferably, the joint extends from one side edge 52 of the tie tab 34 to the other side edge 54 (see Figure 3). The width of the area of the strip occupied by the joint 50 (measured perpendicular to the direction of the bend 46) is at least as large as one half of the greatest transverse direction (i.e., the greatest width) of the elastomeric band 12 and in minimum form it is at least 0.08 cm. The width does not need and must not exceed about three times the largest transverse dimension of the elastomeric band. Excessively wide strips of union detract from the union of the display area of the information portion. Preferably, the width of the joint 50 will not exceed twice the major transverse direction of the band 12. The joint 50 is critically formed directly between the back surface 26 of the information portion and the back or inner surface 38 of the joint portion. No elastomeric web material is interposed between the joined surfaces to interfere with a strong bond. In other words, no elastomeric band structure interrupts the continuity of the junction 50 between the information flag and the joining tab.
The joint 50 is suitably formed by bonding the parts together, although melting without the addition of the adhesive can be employed, when the label material is susceptible by melting (as by heat). A variety of known bonding adhesives and surface treatments known to increase adhesion can be used. A useful approach is to employ adhesive formulations that can be cured (e.g., entangled or polyered) in situ using ultraviolet light. The benefit of such an approach is that the removal of volatile solvents from an adhesive coating can be saved, but, if desired, solvent-based adhesives can be employed. Extremely tacky, pressure-sensitive adhesives, of the type used to attach automobile license labels to license plates, can be used. The adhesives of a hot melt present another approach that avoids the need for solvent removal, and the polyurethane hot melt adhesives, especially those that can be cured by moisture, are illustrative of those useful for bonding polyester films. Ethylene and vinyl acetate adhesives may also be useful for bonding. The curable adhesives, which carry water, present another possible approach. Any of a variety of other strong adhesives, known to those skilled in the art of adhesives, can be used. The length of the joining tab from the bend 46 to its outer free edge 42 (ie, measured perpendicularly from the bend) should not be more than about four or five times the largest width in cross section of the band and will generally not exceed about three times the greater width of the circled section of the band. The minimum length of the joining tab is at least twice the width of the cross section of the web, the relatively short length for the joining tab contributes to the maximum display area for the printed matter on both sides of the web. the information portion 22. A critical feature is the limited width of the joining tab from one side 52 to the other 54 (ie, measured in a direction parallel to the fold). This width will normally be uniform over the entire length of the tongue and will determine the length of the channel 48 for the circumferential elongated section of the circumferential longitudinal dimension of the band. Both are not greater than about half the circumferential longitudinal dimension of the band and both are never larger than 2.54 cm. This maximum dimension of 2.54 cm for the width of the joining tab 34, as well as the length of the channel 48, prevents the bending forces exerted on the channel, by stretching and flexing the section of the band within the channel during the use applications, to cause a sufficient folding of the information portion 22 to interfere with the optical scanning of the UPS key in the information portion. The minimum length of the channel, and the minimum width of the joining tab, is 1 cm, although it is more preferred of 1.5 cm, from the point of view of the resistance, as a minimum. The relatively narrow tabs have the advantage (in comparison with the wider tabs) of having a lower resistance to friction in the stretching of the band, in part because the longitudinal extent of the band section enclosed by the sleeve is reduced. or channel. In addition, the narrower width of the tongue allows the band to bend away from the tongue, so that the curve of the band circumscribing more rounded goods (eg, small groups) does not overlap most of the tongue. portion of information and is only superimposed on a relatively narrow width of the information portion, which makes the information on the information banner surfaces easier to read and explore. The plastic label material is important to provide the necessary tear strength. The plastic also contributes to a relatively clean appearance in the case of exhibitions in supermarkets, after it has been exposed to vigorous process operations of the products. The width of the information portion or flag from one side edge to the other 32 (ie, measured perpendicular to fold 46), may vary at different distances from the fold, but, more preferably, is uniform throughout the length of the flag from bend 46. The width of the flag in portions close to or adjacent to the channel is at least greater than the length of the channel and may be several times the length of the channel. The labels of greatest practical utility will generally not have flags of information larger in width of approximately 2.54 cm and usually larger in width from about 5.08 cm to 10.16 cm. The furthest extension or length of the information flag from the bend 46 to its free outer edge 28 must be at least equal to and preferably is significantly greater than, the furthest extension or length of the pull tab away from the bend. Usually, the length dimension of the information portion (i.e. the distance between the bend 46 and the free edge 28) will be at least 150% or 200% greater than the length dimension of the attachment tab. This relationship between the lengths of the information and the portions of the binding tabs allow at least a portion of the surfaces, both front and rear, of the information portion, to carry printed matter that is visible and is not obstructed by the tongue. More preferably, the length of the information flag is at least about twice as long as the length of the joining tab, and may be even greater. The portion of information or flag lengths of approximately 2.54 to 15.24 cm are the most useful. The front and back surfaces of the information banner 20 may have a multitude of information marks therein. For agricultural products, these brands must include a key or identification of explorable product. UPC bar codes are the most popular and are fully effective in supplying explorable product identification material. Other brands of information are product search numbers (PLU), a trademark identification, service suggestions, storage suggestions, nutrition factors, country of origin, etc. If desired, the outer surface of the joining tab can have graphics printed on it. An illustrative article of the invention may have an elastomeric band that measures about 12 cm in the circumferential longitudinal dimension and about 0.15 by 0.30 cm in cross section. The tag component may have an information portion of approximately 6.5 cm in both width and length. Its joint tab can have a length of approximately 1.3 cm and a width also of about 2.5 cm. As illustrated in Figure 5, the invention includes a set of new, extensible marker articles, 10, in a composite article of manufacture for distributing individual articles from the assembly. The assembly suitably comprises an elongated carrier 56, which may take the form of a tube or sleeve, but may also take the form of a leaf element, which curves in a U-shaped configuration. The elastomeric band 12 of each article is curved to extend along the elongated carrier, and all tag components 20 of the extensible marker articles in the assembly are in an alignment and extend each outwardly therein (or substantially the same) uniform angle from the elongated carrier. The angle may vary depending on the relationship between the circumferential length of the web and the cross-sectional size of the external surface of the wearer. Thus, each label of each extensible marker article overlaps uniformly with others in alignment and is still readily available for quick grasp by a field worker and pull it to separate the seized article from all other items in alignment. The worker can place a carrier (in the form of a cuff or U-shaped configuration) on his forearm and use it as a support or distributor from which the worker can remove individual marking items., extensible, of the alignment and fix them in groups of products. However, the worker can, if desired, place all the extensible marking articles on his forearm by simply transferring them from the elongated carrier to his forearm, while maintaining the alignment of the non-elastomeric labels of the composite assembly. In any case, a single item of extensible marking in the alignment is easily grasped on its non-elastomeric label by a worker to remove a discrete marking item from the alignment by the worker's free hand. Simultaneously, the elastomeric band of the removed article of marking is fixed around groups of products in the same way that the worker has used an elastomeric band to group the merchandise in the past. Figure 5 may additionally serve as an illustration of a technique for retaining an elastomeric band 12 in position while the attachment tab portion 34 of the label 20 is folded over a section of the band and then sealed to the information portion 22 of the label. Those skilled in the art will readily recognize that this invention can be incorporated into yet other specific forms than those illustrated, without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. Therefore, the scope of the invention is indicated by the appended claims, rather than by the foregoing description, and all variants that fall within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims, therefore, are intended to be encompassed. by the invention.