Label sheet design for easy removal of labels

Abstract

A label sheet (1) having a release liner (16) and a column of labels (12) releasably adhered thereto is modified to allow easy removal of the labels. The liner has a weakened separation line (30) formed by cuts and ties running underneath a column of labels near the edge of the labels, and notches (18) at the top and bottom of the sheet aligned with the cuts and ties. A matrix (14) surrounding the labels, if present, also has cuts and ties, with the cuts and ties in the matrix parallel to and slightly offset from the cuts and ties in the liner. The separation lines are strong enough that the label sheet can be fed through a printer, yet weak enough that a user can tear off the liner and matrix along the separation lines, thus leaving a minor edge of a column of labels exposed for easy removal from the label sheet.

Claims

1. A label sheet comprising: a. release liner, the release liner including a layer of release material; b. a first adhesive-backed label that is releasably coupled to the release liner; c. a second adhesive-backed label that is releasably coupled to the release liner; and d. a matrix juxtaposed with the first and second adhesive-backed labels and coupled to the release liner; e. wherein: i. the first label has a part that includes an edge, ii. the release liner includes a first weakened separation line that underlies the first label, iii. the matrix includes a matrix weakened separation line that is offset from the first weakened separation line of the release liner, wherein a portion of the matrix overlying the first weakened separation line helps to keep the release liner from prematurely tearing when fed through a printer, and a portion of the release liner underneath the matrix separation line helps to keep the matrix from prematurely tearing when fed through a printer; iv. the release liner is configured to be torn along the first weakened separation line, v. the release liner includes a second weakened separation line that underlies the second label, vi. the release liner is configured to be torn along the second weakened separation line; and vii. the matrix is configured to be torn along the matrix weakened separation line to remove a portion of the matrix to expose the edge of the first label.

2. The label sheet according to claim 1, further comprising a third adhesive backed label that is releasably coupled to the release liner, wherein: a. the first label has a shape; b. the third label has a shape and is adjacent to the first label; c. a first cut separates the first label from the third label; and d. the first cut defines at least a portion of the first label's shape and at least a portion of the third label's shape.

3. The label sheet according to claim 2, further comprising a fourth adhesive backed label that is releasably coupled to the release liner, wherein: a. the second label has a shape; b. the fourth label has a shape and is adjacent to the second label; c. a second cut separates the second label from the fourth label; and d. the second cut defines at least a portion of the second label's shape and at least a portion of the fourth label's shape.

4. The label sheet according to claim 2, wherein: a. the first weakened separation line further underlies the third label; b. the label sheet is configured to be torn along the first weakened separation line; c. the third label has a part that includes an edge; and d. the first label's edge and the third label's edge are configured to extend beyond the release liner after the release liner is decoupled from the part of the first label and the part of the third label.

5. A label sheet comprising: a. a release liner, the release liner including a layer of release material; b. a first adhesive-backed label that is releasably coupled to the release liner, the first label has a generally rectangular shape; c. a second adhesive-backed label that is releasably coupled to the release liner, the second label has a generally rectangular shape; d. a third adhesive-backed label that is releasably coupled to the release liner, the third label is adjacent to the first label, the third label has a generally rectangular shape; e. a fourth adhesive-backed label that is releasably coupled to the release liner, the fourth label is adjacent to the second label, the fourth label has a generally rectangular shape; and f. a matrix juxtaposed with the adhesive-backed labels and coupled to the release liner; g. wherein: i. a first cut separates the first label from the third label and defines at least a portion of the first label's shape and at least a portion of the third label's shape, ii. a second cut separates the second label from the fourth label and defines at least a portion of the second label's shape and at least a portion of the fourth label's shape, iii. the release liner includes a first weakened separation line that underlies the first label and the third label, wherein the first weakened separation line includes a first tie of a first size and at least one second tie distal the first tie, the second tie having a size smaller than the first tie, iv. the matrix includes a first matrix weakened separation line that is offset from the first weakened separation line of the release liner, wherein a portion of the matrix overlying the first weakened separation line helps to keep the release liner from prematurely tearing when fed through a printer, and a portion of the release liner underneath the first matrix separation line helps to keep the matrix from prematurely tearing when fed through a printer; v. the release liner includes a second weakened separation line that underlies the second label and the fourth label, and vi. the matrix includes a second matrix weakened separation line that is offset from the second weakened separation line of the release liner, wherein a portion of the matrix overlying the second weakened separation line helps to keep the release liner from prematurely tearing when fed through a printer, and a portion of the release liner underneath the second matrix separation line helps to keep the matrix from prematurely tearing when fed through a printer; vii. the release liner is configured to be torn along at least one of the first weakened separation line and the second weakened separation line.

6. A label sheet comprising: a. a release liner, the release liner including a layer of release material, and having a first portion and a second portion; b. a first adhesive-backed label that is releasably coupled to the release liner; and c. a second adhesive-backed label that is releasably coupled to the release liner; d. a matrix juxtaposed with the first and second adhesive-backed labels and coupled to the release liner; e. wherein: i. the release liner includes a first weakened separation line that underlies the first label, ii. the first weakened separation line is selected from the group consisting of a cut and a combination of cuts and ties, iii. the matrix includes a matrix weakened separation line that is offset from the first weakened separation line of the release liner wherein the first portion of the release liner and a portion of the matrix are configured to be decoupled from a part of the first label along the first weakened separation line and the matrix weakened separation line, wherein a portion of the matrix overlying the first weakened separation line helps to keep the release liner from prematurely tearing when fed through a printer, and a portion of the release liner underneath the matrix separation line helps to keep the matrix from prematurely tearing when fed through a printer; iv. the release liner includes a second weakened separation line that underlies the second label, v. the second weakened separation line is selected from the group of consisting of a cut and a combination of cuts and ties, and vi. the second portion of the release liner and a portion of the matrix are configured to be decoupled from a part of the second label along the second weakened separation line.

7. The label sheet according to claim 6, wherein the first weakened separation line includes at least one portion that is linear.

8. The label sheet according to claim 6, wherein the second weakened separation line includes at least one portion that is linear.

9. The label sheet according to claim 6, further comprising a third adhesive backed label that is releasably coupled to the release liner, wherein: a. the first label has a shape; b. the third label has a shape and is adjacent to the first label; c. a first cut separates the first label from the third label; and d. the first cut defines at least a portion of the first label's shape and at least a portion of the third label's shape.

10. The label sheet according to claim 9, wherein each of the first label's shape and the third label's shape is rectangular.

11. The label sheet according to claim 9, further comprising a fourth adhesive backed label that is releasably coupled to the release liner, wherein: a. the second label has a shape; b. the fourth label has a shape and is adjacent to the second label; c. a second cut separates the second label from the fourth label; and d. the second cut defines at least a portion of the second label's shape and at least a portion of the fourth label's shape.

12. The label sheet according to claim 11, wherein each of the second label's shape and the fourth label's shape is rectangular.

13. The label sheet according to claim 9, wherein: a. the first weakened separation line further underlies the third label; b. the first label has an edge; c. the third label has a part and an edge; and d. the first label's edge and the third label's edge are configured to extend beyond the release liner after the release liner and the portion of the matrix are decoupled from the first label's part and the third label's part.

14. A label sheet comprising: a. a release liner, the release liner including a layer of release material, and having a portion; b. a first adhesive-backed label that is releasably coupled to the release liner, the first label having a shape and a part that includes an edge; c. a second adhesive-backed label that is releasably coupled to the release liner, the second label has a shape; d. a third adhesive-backed label that is releasably coupled to the release liner, the third label is adjacent to the first label, the third label has a shape and a part that includes an edge; and e. a fourth adhesive-backed label that is releasably coupled to the release liner, the fourth label is adjacent to the second label, the fourth label has a shape; f. a matrix juxtaposed with the first, second, third and fourth adhesive-backed labels and coupled to the release liner, the matrix including a matrix weakened separation line; g. wherein: i. a first cut separates the first label from the third label and defines at least a portion of the first label's shape and at least a portion of the third label's shape, ii. a second cut separates the second label from the fourth label and defines at least a portion of the second label's shape and at least a portion of the fourth label's shape, iii. the release liner includes a weakened separation line that underlies the first label and the third label wherein the matrix weakened separation line is offset from the weakened separation line of the release liner, wherein a portion of the matrix overlying the first weakened separation line helps to keep the release liner from prematurely tearing when fed through a printer, and a portion of the release liner underneath matrix separation line helps to keep the matrix from prematurely tearing when fed through a printer; and iv. a portion of the matrix and the portion of the release liner is are configured to be decoupled from the first label's part and the third label's part along the matrix weakened separation line and weakened separation line, respectively.

15. The label sheet according to claim 14, wherein the release liner is configured to be torn along the weakened separation line.

16. The label sheet according to claim 14, wherein the weakened separation line includes at least one portion that is linear.

17. The label sheet according to claim 14, wherein the first label's edge and the third label's edge are configured to extend beyond the release liner after the release liner is decoupled from the first label's part and the third label's part.

18. The label sheet according to claim 1, wherein the offset is defined by an offset distance of less than 5 mm.

19. The label sheet according to claim 18, wherein the offset distance is less than 2 mm.

20. The label sheet according to claim 19, wherein the offset distance is less than 1 mm.

21. The label sheet according to claim 1, further comprising at least one notch in the release liner that is in alignment with the weakened separation line and the matrix weakened separation line.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 is a plan view of the label sheet according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

(2) FIG. 2 is a close up of the lower right hand corner of the label sheet of FIG. 1.

(3) FIG. 3 shows the back side of the portion of the label sheet shown in FIG. 2.

(4) FIG. 4 shows a first method of using the label sheet of FIG. 1.

(5) FIG. 5 shows the label sheet of FIG. 4 after strip 26 has been completely removed.

(6) FIG. 6 shows a second method of using the label sheet of FIG. 1.

(7) FIG. 7 shows a label sheet according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

(8) FIG. 8 illustrates a third embodiment of the invention without notches at the edges of the assembly.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

(9) FIG. 1 shows label sheet assembly 10 in which the labels can be easily peeled according to a first embodiment of the present invention. The label assembly 10 is preferably of an overall standard size such as 8 inches by 11 inches, or A4 (approximately 21 cm29.7 cm), or 4 inches by 6 inches, or other size compatible with standard printers used with personal computers. Assembly 10 includes a release liner sheet or simply release liner 16 with a sheet of facestock material releasably adhered thereto via a pressure sensitive adhesive. The release liner 16 is coated with a thin layer of release material such as silicone, or is otherwise constructed or treated such that the labels can be easily removed therefrom. The sheet of facestock material comprises a generally rectangular sheet of paper or film facestock with a plurality of labels 12 formed therein such as by die cutting. The section of the facestock sheet not used for labels constitutes the border or matrix 14. In the figure the facestock sheet is shown smaller than the release liner 16, although it is not necessary that the facestock sheet be smaller than the release liner. Additionally, although the assembly 10 is shown with a matrix, it is not necessary for the invention that the label assembly 10 includes a matrix 14 surrounding and/or between labels 12.

(10) FIG. 2 shows a close up of the lower right hand corner of the label assembly 10 of FIG. 1. The matrix 14 has a weakened separation line 20 formed therein near one edge of the column of labels. Matrix separation line 20 includes a plurality of cuts 22 and a plurality of small ties 24. The liner includes a weakened separation line 30 which is shown in phantom in FIG. 2. This weakened separation line or liner separation line 30 runs generally from one edge of the assembly 10 to an opposite edge of the assembly 10 and runs preferably linearly beneath labels 12 along a column of labels, near an edge of the labels. Preferably liner separation line 30 runs less than one centimeter from the edge of the labels, and more preferably approximately 0.6 centimeters (approximately inch) from the edge of the labels. Liner separation line 30 is shown running vertically underneath a column of labels; however, the assembly can alternatively be constructed such that the separation lines run horizontally beneath a row of labels. Liner 16 also optionally includes a notch 18 generally in alignment with the liner separation line 30 and the cuts and ties 22/24 in matrix 14. As shown in FIG. 1, a similar structure of weakened separation lines and notches is created at the top right hand corner of the assembly. Additionally, assembly 10 includes two other sets of weakened separation lines and notches, one set for each column of labels with the weakened separation lines running underneath the column of labels at approximately 0.6 centimeters from one edge thereof. If the assembly 10 had been laid out to include a different number of columns of labels, e.g. two columns, four columns, five columns, etc., the assembly would include a corresponding number of sets of separation lines and notches. Arrows printed on the facestock material instruct or encourage the user to begin tearing the assembly at notches 18. Alternatively, other instructional indicia or written instructions, such as the words Tear Here or the like, could be printed on the assembly.

(11) The distance between liner separation line 30 and the cuts and ties 22/24 in the matrix which form matrix separation line 20 is exaggerated in the figures for illustration purposes. The separation lines in the liner and in the matrix are preferably placed close enough together such that, after assembly 10 has been printed on by a printer, a user can tear off the strip 26 of liner and matrix as illustrated in FIG. 4 in a single fluid motion without any further physical preparation of assembly 10 being required between the printing and the tearing steps. At the same time, the separation lines are slightly separated so that the portion of the matrix overlying liner separation line 30 helps to keep liner 16 from prematurely tearing, and the portion of the liner underneath matrix separation line 20 helps to keep the matrix from prematurely tearing. Another reason for offsetting the two separation lines has to do with the manufacturing process. If the separation line in the facestock were to be die cut directly over the separation line in the liner, the die pressing into the facestock would have a tendency to deform the facestock material rather than cut cleanly into it because there would be insufficient liner strength to support the dies cutting into the facestock. Therefore, the two separation lines are preferably offset by enough distance such that normal manufacturing tolerances are unlikely to produce a cut-on-cut situation. Preferably, matrix separation line 20 is offset the liner separation line 30 by less than 5 mm; more preferably, the two are separated by less than 2 mm; more preferably still, the two are separated by less than 1 mm. It has been found that an offset distance of approximately 0.5 mm produces good results for typical sheets of paper labels. However, the exact separation distance is not critical. Furthermore, the preferred separation distance can vary depending upon the thickness and strength of the liner and matrix, the strength of the pressure sensitive adhesive and the effectiveness of the release liner, the overall size of the assembly, and other factors.

(12) FIG. 3 shows the back side of the lower right hand corner of the label assembly 10 illustrated in FIG. 2. Liner separation line 30 is illustrated in greater detail. It includes a plurality of cuts 32, and plurality of ties 36 and 38. In the embodiment shown two small ties 36 lie underneath the matrix, and one small tie 38 lies underneath each label 12. The particular locations of the ties are not critical. Additionally, release liner 16 includes a large tie 31 near notch 18 or, if no notch is present, near the edge of release liner 16.

(13) Both the matrix separation line 20 and the liner separation line 30 run parallel to the edge of a column of labels and disposed about 0.6 centimeters from the edge of the column. The exact distance is not critical. Preferably, however, the separation lines are offset from the edge of the column of labels far enough so that when strip 26 is removed labels 12 can be easily grasped and removed by the user. At the same time, the separation lines are close enough to the edge of the labels such that when strip 26 is removed a narrow enough edge of the labels is exposed so that when the label sheet is placed onto a table or similar surface, the exposed edge of the unremoved labels 12 do not easily and inadvertently stick to the table.

(14) The purpose of these structures will now be described with reference to FIGS. 3, 4 and 5. FIG. 4 shows one method of using the label sheet assembly of FIG. 1. For purposes of this discussion, it will be assumed that the upper right hand corner of label assembly 10 has a structure that is the mirror image of the structure shown in FIG. 2, with corresponding parts having the same reference designators. The user grasps one corner of label assembly 10 at approximately position 27 with one thumb and forefinger, and with the other thumb and forefinger grasps the narrow strip 26 of release liner and matrix so as to focus the shear forces at notch 18 and large tie 31, and begins tearing strip 26 away from the rest of the sheet. After large tie 31 is broken, the tearing away of matrix liner strip 26 progresses relatively easily through small ties 36 and 38 within release liner 16, and through small ties 24 within matrix 14, until strip 26 is completely torn off. This leaves the label assembly 10 as shown in FIG. 5, i.e., with one column of labels 12 mostly attached to the release liner 16 but having a relatively narrow strip of the labels with the underlying liner portion removed. The user can then easily peel off the individual labels 12 by hand one-by-one as desired without having to bend and manipulate the assembly 10 each time the user wishes to remove the next label.

(15) FIG. 6 shows a second method of using label sheet assembly 10 of FIG. 1. The assembly includes three sets of vertical separation lines, one set of separation lines associated with each column of labels. The separation lines divide the assembly into three individual portions 40, 50 and 60 which may be individually separated from each other. In FIG. 6, the left hand portion 40 has been separated from the center portion 50 and right hand portion 60. The labels within left hand portion 40 are now ready to be easily peeled one by one from the liner and applied to envelopes or other substrate. Sections 50 and 60 do not have any portions of the labels with their adhesive sides exposed. Thus, portions 50 and 60 can be handled and/or stored for later use without any degradation of the adhesive on the backs of those labels. Remaining portion 50/60 could even be fed through a printer for later printing. For example, if only ten or fewer labels needed to be printed and used, the user could run assembly 10 through the printer and print only on labels within the column of labels in section 40. The user would then separate section 40 and use the labels within that section. Remaining sections 50/60 would be stored for later use. When additional labels are ready to be printed, the label assembly could be fed through the printer beginning with the right hand edge of section 60. Alternatively, the software could be instructed to shift the printing of labels over to the right slightly from the normal position, such that section 50/60 could be fed through the printer beginning with the left hand side of section 50. The software could be commanded to make such an adjustment by a selectable software switch or option. Using this latter method, a first column of labels 40 could be printed, torn off, and used; at a later time a second column of labels 50 could be printed, torn off, and used; and at a later time still a third column of labels 60 could be printed and used.

(16) Of course, the labels on the label sheet need not be generally rectangular in shape and butting against each other as in the first embodiment shown in FIG. 1. The labels could be virtually any shape and could be completely separated from each other by matrix therebetween or by bare liner. FIG. 7 shows one such possibility in which the labels are round and slightly separated one from another.

(17) The size of the cuts and the size of the ties are chosen so that the assembly is strong enough to be fed through a printer such as a laser printer or an ink jet printer, but weak enough so that the user can tear off the release liner strip along the separation line in an easy and fluid motion without any other mechanical preparation of the label sheet between the printing and the tearing steps. The ratio of cut length to overall separation line length is greater than 95% to ensure ease of separation. It has been found that an average tensile strength of the facestock and liner along the separation lines of 6 gm/cm produces good results, and it is expected that values of about 4 gm/cm to 10 gm/cm would also produce good results, and that value of about 2 gm/cm to 15 gm/cm would also be acceptable.

(18) FIG. 8 shows a third embodiment similar to the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, except that the label assembly does not include notches.

(19) As shown, in FIGS. 1 and 2, the facestock material is slightly smaller than the liner 16 such that matrix 14 does not extend to the edge of the label assembly. If the facestock were to extend to the edge of the label sheet, it would be desirable to form notch 18 in both matrix 14 and liner 16.

(20) In yet another possible embodiment, the label assembly would not even include a matrix bordering the labels. In FIG. 1, for example, matrix 14 could be entirely stripped from the label sheet before the product is sold. Alternatively, the entire sheet of facestock material could be die cut such that the entirety of the facestock material formed labels. The facestock material could either take up the same amount of facestock area shown in FIG. 1, or a significantly smaller area. Regardless of how the facestock material were constructed, shaped, and cut, a label sheet without a matrix could still employ the present invention so that a narrow strip of liner material could be easily removed in a fluid motion from a number of labels at a single time, thus exposing a minor portion of those labels so that they could thereafter be easily removed from the remaining portion of the liner.

(21) In a still further embodiment, the label sheet could be symmetrical. For example, a label sheet could include two columns of labels. For the right hand column of labels, separation lines would be offset slightly from the right hand edge of that right hand column of labels, and for the left hand column of labels, separation lines would be offset slightly from that left hand edge of the left hand column of labels.

(22) Additionally, it will be understood that the present invention can be used with various types and media of labels such as metallic foil, clear plastic, MYLAR, and other well known materials. The labels could be colored or clear, and could contain pre-printed indicia such as text, two dimensional graphic or photographic images, or holographic images. The invention could be used with a variety of printing devices including but not limited to printers for use with a personal computer.

(23) The present invention is well suited for applications in which the labels will be individually removed by hand. However, the invention is not limited to hand use. The invention could be used with automated machinery for tearing strip 26 away and thereafter placing labels 12 on a substrate. The invention could also be used in applications in which a plurality of labels are to be positioned over one or more substrate objects and applied thereto as a group in the same relative positions on which those labels are found on label assembly 10.

(24) It will be appreciated that the term present invention as used herein should not be construed to mean that only a single invention having a single essential element or group of elements is presented. Although the present invention has thus been described in detail with regard to the preferred embodiments and drawings thereof, it should be apparent to those skilled in the art that various adaptations and modifications of the present invention may be accomplished without departing from the spirit and the scope of the invention. For example, different sizes of label assemblies could be used, either with or without matrices. The labels could be of various shapes and sizes, and need not all be of the same shape or size. The pressure sensitive adhesive could be weak or strong. The term standard size will be understood to mean approximately standard size, and 8 in.11 in. and A-4 and the like will be understood to mean approximately those sizes. The weakened separation lines could be formed by various known methods. The weakened separation lines are generally linear and parallel, but need not be strictly linear or strictly parallel. Accordingly, it is to be understood that the detailed description and the accompanying drawings as set forth hereinabove are not intended to limit the breadth of the present invention, which should be inferred only from the following claims and their appropriately construed legal equivalents.