COLOR CODE LABEL FOR IDENTIFYING CABLE, WIRE, PIPE OR SIMILAR OBJECTS

ETIQUETTE A CODE DE COULEURS POUR IDENTIFIER LES CABLES, LES FILS, LES TUYAUX OU LES OBJETS SEMBLABLES

English Abstract

The color code label consists of an alignment band and a series of color
bands, with or
without patterns, printed on suitable flat adhesive material, tubular plastic,
metal or heat-shrink
material. Each said label is separable into two equal sized parts that are
affixed to each end of the
object to be identified. Each said label is unique in its color pattern thus
each said item so labeled is
readily visually identifiable as a unique entity.

Claims

CLAIM
The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege
is claimed are defined
as follows:
1. A label consisting of a plurality of colored bands with or without patterns
and an alignment
band, printed on flat adhesive backed material such as paper, vinyl or plastic
with or without a
non-stick backing material, or on tubular plastic, metal or heat shrink
material, said label being
divisible into two identical parts along a perforation or cut line, one of
each said part being
subsequently applied to each end of an object such as cable, wire or pipe for
the purpose of
identifying the said object as a unique entity.
2. Each label set forth in claim 1 is printed with a different combination of
color bands with or
without patterns, thus each label is unique in its color pattern.
3. The label set forth in claim 1 may or may not carry a unique numeric code
in addition to the
unique color bar pattern.
4. The label set forth in claim 1 may be produced in any size appropriate for
the object to be
labeled.
5. The color code set forth in claim 1 is printed with inks suitable for the
base material.
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Description

CA 02351678 2001-06-27
DESCRIPTION
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to c<>lor-coded label is used to mark each end of
object such as wire,
cable and pipe so that it can be readily visually identified.
INFORMATION DISCLOSURE S'TA'CEMENT
In numerous applications it is essential to identify individual cables, wires
and/or pipes.
Often such objects are left unlabeled amd one must visually or manually trace
from one end to the
other to see where it goes. A prime ea;ample would be computer network patch
panels where tens,
hundreds or even thousands of identical looking cables connect to the network
equipment. One
must physically feel along each cable from the patch panel to see where it
connects into the network
equipment.
In the past, if the cables were labeled at all, adhesive numbers were usually
applied. While
this is much better than no label at a.11, one still must read each number off
the cable. Where
hundreds of cables are involved, this in itself can be a time-consuming task
and frequently, because
of distance or position of the cable, the number can be difficult to read.
Another example would be in the manufacture of industrial control systems
where numerous
similarly colored wires may exist. It c:an be a difficult task to trace a wire
from one point to another
or know for certain which wire goes where.
The color coded label alleviates these problems by, applying an easy-to-see
preprinted color
bar label to each end of the object. Since the color bars go completely around
the object, they are
visible from any direction and from a considerable distance and since each
label is unique, the object
being labeled is clearly identifiable.
The labels are manufactured with color bars in a range of colors and patterns
so millions of
unique labels can be produced and distributed without concern of duplication.
The label can be
produced on flat adhesive backed material applied to the object in situ or
during the manufacture of
the object, or on tubular material such as metal or plastic that could be
crimped on, or heat shrink
material that could be heat shrunk on, during manufacture of the object. After
application the tubular
and flat labels perform exactly the same function in identifying the object
and are very similar in
appearance.
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CA 02351678 2001-06-27
There are occasions where a label has to relate to back to an engineering
drawing or the like.
For those situations, the label may also bear a numeric code that could relate
to the item in the
drawing.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIC)N
The present invention is a aolo~r label system that allows easy visual
identification of objects
such as wire, cable and pipe.
BRIEF DISCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Figure la top view of a color label printed on flat material.
Figure 1b edge view of a color label !being peeled from the no-stick backing
material from the cut
line.
Figure 2a view of a flat label being applied to a cable.
Figure 2b view of the cable with the llabel applied.
Figure 3a view of a printed tubular label showing the cut between the two
parts.
Figure 3b view of a printed tubular label being applied to a cable.
Figure 4 view of a flat label with numeric code
In all figures:
1 = the alignment bar
2 = the color bars, with and without patterns
3 = the cut or score line separating the two parts of a flat label
4 = the no stick backing maternal
= the adhesive back of the label
6 = the cut in a tubular cable
7 = a cable to which the labels are applied
8 = numeric code
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Representative Drawing