REUSABLE ADHESIVE LABEL

ETIQUETTE AUTOCOLLANTE REUTILISABLE

English Abstract

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE

A reusable adhesive label that includes a planar body
having a labelling face and an adhering face. The labelling
face is glossy, such that labelling may be effected with an
erasable water soluble marker. Adhesive is on the adhering
face. A transparent flap is oriented parallel to and overlies
the labelling face. This transparent flap has a peripheral
edge attached to the body. The transparent flap is statically
charged such that the flap adheres to the labelling face. The
transparent flap prevents the identifying markings from being
smudged. When a more professional appearance is desired, the
identifying markings can be typed on a separate piece of paper
and inserted between the labelling face and the statically
charged transparent flap.

Claims

THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION IN WHICH AN EXCLUSIVE PROPERTY
OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:
1. A reusable adhesive label, comprising:
a. a planar body having a labelling face and an adhering
face, the labelling face being glossy, such that labelling may
be effected with an erasable water soluble marker;
b. adhesive on the adhering face;
c. a transparent flap oriented parallel to and overlying
the labelling face, the transparent flap having a peripheral
edge attached to the body, the transparent flap being
statically charged such that the flap adheres to the labelling
face.

2. The reusable adhesive label as defined in Claim 1, the
transparent flap having an integrally formed gripping tab
thereby facilitating lifting of the transparent flap.

Description

--` 209~18~

The present invention relates to a reusable adhesive
label.

5 BACKGROWD OF THE INVENTION
Adhesive labels are widely used for labelling a variety
of objects such as computer disks, videocassettes, and the
like. These labels are intended to be marked with permanent
ink markers. Once the label has been marked, a change can only
be effected in one of three ways. The user can strike out any
previous markings and add new marking. The new markings must
necessarily be limited to any space which may remain on the
label after the "striking" has occurred. The user can attempt
to remove the old label and apply a new label in place of the
old one. However, it is not always easy to remove the label.
The user can apply a new label over the old label. Over time
this approach results in a build up of old labels underlying
the current label.

Reusable labels have been marketed that have glossy
surfaces that can be written upon using either permanent ink
markers or water soluble markers. If marked with water soluble
markers, such markings are altogether too easy to remove. The
markings are frequently smudged or otherwise inadvertently
rendered illegible during the course of handling. If marked
with permanent ink markers, the marking are removed with an
eraser which requires pressure beinq applied to the label.
However many objects to which such labels are affixed are
pressure sensitive. There is a risk of damaging pressure
sensitive objects unlesæ great care is taken in erasing the
original ink markings and writing replacement markings.

SUMHARY OF THE INVENTION
What is required is a reusable adhesive label that can
withstand handling and can be used with pressure sensitive
objects.

In accordance with the present invention there is provided
a reusable adhesive label that includes a planar body having

`` ~Og~18~




a labelling face and an adherin~ face. The labelling face is
glossy, such that labelling may be effected with an erasable
water soluble marker. Adhesive is on the adhering face. A
transparent flap is oriented parallel to and overlies the
labelling face. This tranæparent flap has a peripheral edge
attached to the body. The transparent flap is statically
charged such that the flap adheres to the labelling face.

With the reusable label, as described, a water soluble
marker can be used to place identifying markings on the glossy
labelling face. The transparent flap which overlies the
labelling face prevents the identifying markings from being
smudged. A variation of the method, suitable when the object
to which the label is affixed is pressure sensitive or when a
more professional appearance is desired, is to write or type
the identifying markings on a separate piece of paper. When
the piece of paper is inserted between the labelling face and
the statically charged transparent flap, the static charge of
the flap against the exposed labelling face maintains the piece
of paper in position.

Although beneficial results may be obtained through the
use of the reusable adhesive label, as described, it may be
difficult at times to lift the statically charged transparent
flap in order to change the identifying markings. Even more
beneficial results may, therefore, be obtained when the
transparent flap has an integrally formed gripping tab thereby
facilitating lifting of the transparent flap.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
These and other features of the invention will become more
apparent from the following description in which reference is
made to the appended drawings, wherein:
FIGURE 1 is a perspective ~iew of a label according to the
teachings of the present invention.
FIGURE 2 is a section view of the label illustrated in
FIGURE 1.

- 20~18~


FIGURE 3 is a section view of the label illustrated in
FIGURE 1, with a piece of paper.
': `"
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
The preferred embodiment, a reusable label generally
identified by reference numeral 10, will now be described with
reference to FIGURE8 1 through 3.

Reusable adhesive label 10 includes a planar body 12
having a labelling face 14 and an adhering face 16. Labelling
face 14 is glossy. Adhesive 18 is on adhering face 16. A
transparent flap 20 is oriented parallel to and overlies
labelling face 14. Transparent flap 20 has a peripheral edge
22 attached to body 12. Transparent flap 20 is statically
charged, such that flap 20 adheres to labelling face 14.
Transparent flap 20 has an integrally formed gripping tab 24
thereby facilitating lifting of transparent flap 20.

The use and operation of reusable label 10 will now be
described with reference to FIGURE8 1 and 2. A water soluble
marker can be used to place identifying markings on the glossy
surface of labelling face 14. Transparent flap 20 overlies
labelling face 14 to prevent the identifying markings from
being smudged. When the object to which label 10 is to be
affixed is pressure sensitive or when a more professional
- appearance is desired, the identifying markings can be written
or typed on a separate piece of paper 26, as illustrated in
FIGURE 3. When piece of paper 26 is inserted between labelling
face 14 and statically charged transparent flap 20, the static
charge of transparent flap 20 against labelling face 14
maintains piece of paper 26 in position.

It will be apparent to one skilled in the art that
modifications may be made to the illustrated embodiment without
departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined
by the claims.

Representative Drawing