A unitary sheet-like article has a material sheet including a first edge and an elastic sheet including an aperture and a second edge. The material sheet and the elastic sheet overlap at an overlap portion defined between the first and second edges. The material sheet and the elastic sheet are bonded together at the overlap portion. The aperture of the elastic sheet is not located on the overlap portion.

A method of forming an elastic labeling band. The method includes covering a central portion of a web of tag material with a release agent, advancing the web of tag material longitudinally and disposing a layer of molten elastomer over the advancing web of tag material, including over the release agent on the central portion thereof. The layer of molten elastomer is disposed over the web of tag material so that the elastomer bonds only to those portions of the web not covered with the release agent. The method includes curing the elastomer to define, with the web bonded thereto, an advancing web assembly, and separating a longitudinal segment from the web assembly to define an elastic labeling band.

A unitary sheet-like article has a material sheet and an elastic sheet. The material sheet includes a first thickness and a first edge, The elastic sheet includes a second thickness that is greater than the first thickness and includes an aperture and a second edge. The material sheet and the elastic sheet overlap at an overlap portion defined between the first and second edges. The material sheet and the elastic sheet are bonded together at the overlap portion.

A unitary sheet-like article has a material sheet and an elastic sheet. The material sheet includes a first thickness and a first edge, The elastic sheet includes a second thickness that is greater than the first thickness and includes an aperture and a second edge. The material sheet and the elastic sheet overlap at an overlap portion defined between the first and second edges. The material sheet and the elastic sheet are bonded together at the overlap portion.

A unitary sheet-like article has a material sheet including a first edge and an elastic sheet including an aperture and a second edge. The material sheet and the elastic sheet overlap at an overlap portion defined between the first and second edges. The material sheet and the elastic sheet are bonded together at the overlap portion. The aperture of the elastic sheet is not located on the overlap portion.

A unitary sheet-like merchandise labeling article that has a labeling tag flatly conjoined along a unifying flat bond zone with a flexible elastic layer that extends away from the tag and includes an elastic fastening loop. The loop sides that define the loop are wider than the thickness of the elastic layer. Further, the flexible elastic layer that extends away from the tag has a thickness greater than the thickness of the tag and has a dispersion zone adjacent the unifying flat bond zone. The dispersion zone allows dissipation of elastic loop in-line stretching forces sufficiently to reduce transmission of such forces into the bond zone.

A method of forming an elastic labeling band. The method includes covering a central portion of a web of tag material with a release agent, advancing the web of tag material longitudinally and disposing a layer of molten elastomer over the advancing web of tag material, including over the release agent on the central portion thereof. The layer of molten elastomer is disposed over the web of tag material so that the elastomer bonds only to those portions of the web not covered with the release agent. The method includes curing the elastomer to define, with the web bonded thereto, an advancing web assembly, and separating a longitudinal segment from the web assembly to define an elastic labeling band.

A unitary sheet-like merchandise labeling article that has a labeling tag flatly conjoined along a unifying flat bond zone with a flexible elastic layer that extends away from the tag and includes an elastic fastening loop. The loop sides that define the loop are wider than the thickness of the elastic layer. Further, the flexible elastic layer that extends away from the tag has a thickness greater than the thickness of the tag and has a dispersion zone adjacent the unifying flat bond zone. The dispersion zone allows dissipation of elastic loop in-line stretching forces sufficiently to reduce transmission of such forces into the bond zone.

A unitary sheet-like merchandise labeling article that has a labeling tag flatly conjoined along a unifying flat bond zone with a flexible elastic layer that extends away from the tag and includes an elastic fastening loop. The loop sides that define the loop are wider than the thickness of the elastic layer. Further, the flexible elastic layer that extends away from the tag has a thickness greater than the thickness of the tag and has a dispersion zone adjacent the unifying flat bond zone. The dispersion zone allows dissipation of elastic loop in-line stretching forces sufficiently to reduce transmission of such forces into the bond zone.

A method of forming an elastic labeling band. The method includes covering a central portion of a web of tag material with a release agent, advancing the web of tag material longitudinally and disposing a layer of molten elastomer over the advancing web of tag material, including over the release agent on the central portion thereof. The layer of molten elastomer is disposed over the web of tag material so that the elastomer bonds only to those portions of the web not covered with the release agent. The method includes curing the elastomer to define, with the web bonded thereto, an advancing web assembly, and separating a longitudinal segment from the web assembly to define an elastic labeling band.