Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02471677 2004-06-18
PROTECTIVE PATCH FOR TABS AND LABELS
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to a protective
s patch for tags and labels and more particularly to a patch
of transparent film sheet material having a clear
transparent, non-stick, window area and a permanent adhesive
thereabout whereby to protect a label having printed
material thereon while the label is still being visible
to through the patch with the top surface of the label being
unaffected by the patch.
BACKGROUND ART
There is a need to provide a protective medium
15 whereby to protect price tags and labels having printed
information on a top surface thereof. For example, in
certain states or provinces, it is mandatory that liquor
bottles be provided with stickers containing code
information printed thereon. Government inspectors
zo periodically inspect establishments that sell liquor under
such regulations to ascertain that the bottles being
utilized have been legally obtained. If the stickers are
tampered with, and do not contain all of the printed
information, then the bottle, with its content, needs to be
2s discarded or returned to its originator for re-labelling.
Usually liquor is dispensed at bars where bottles are
handled very frequently and these stickers or labels often
become soiled with water, particularly when the bottle
contains wine or liquor that needs to be maintained cool and
so in ice. These liquor bottles are also washed periodically
for sanitation purpose. Also, bottles are usually stored
close to one another and the friction between these can
scratch the information printed on these labels. The labels
also need to be stuck properly on the bottle to prevent
35 damage thereof. If there are offenses to the regulations
which are spotted by the inspectors, then the liquor
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establishment is subject to heavy fine or even the loss of
its liquor license. Government regulations also stipulate
that the control labels cannot be in any way tampered with
and labels cannot be transferred to other bottles. A clear
adhesive tape cannot be applied over these labels as the
adhesive would adhere to the printed outer surface.
There is also a need to provide protection to
price labels which are attached to merchandise or to
attachment tags to prevent tampering thereof or switching
io the price tags.
It is known to provide protective see-through
pressure sensitive composite labels to contain shipping
forms and wherein the form is visible through the composite
labels. However, these shipping forms need to be detached
i5 from these see~through clear plastic labels and accordingly
the label is either in the form of a pocket so that there is
easy access to the shipping forms or is perforated whereby a
portion thereof can be detached for access to the shipping
form. Accordingly, the shipping form is not protected
zo against the elements as the pocket label is only meant to
retain the shipping form during transit. It is not meant
for protection of the shipping form but merely for ease of
location of this form and ease of removal thereof.
25 SUMMARY OF INVENTION
It is a feature of the present invention to
provide a protective patch which substantially overcomes the
above-mentioned disadvantages of the prior art.
Another feature of the present invention is to
so provide a protective patch which is securable over control
labels with the patch containing a clear, non-stick window
. area which is disposed over the top surface of the control
labels and to make it visible through the patch without
adhering to the top surface of the label.
35 Another feature of the present invention is to
provide a protective patch for securement over price labels
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to prevent the price label from being detached or tampered
with.
According to the above features, from a broad
aspect, the present invention provides a protective patch
s for securement over tags or labels. The protective patch
comprises a flexible water resistant transparent film sheet
having a clear transparent non-stick window area and a
permanent adhesive on a rear surface of the sheet about the
window area.
io
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
A preferred embodiment of the present invention
will now be described with reference to the accompanying
drawings in which:
i5 FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a protective
patch constructed in accordance with the present invention;
FIGURE 2 is a plan view of a further protective
patch constructed in accordance with the present invention
but having a different configuration than that of Figure 1;
2o FIGURE 3 is a schematic view showing the
application of a protective patch over a control label
secured to a bottle;
FIGURE 4 is a schematic view showing a protective
patch secured over a price label which is attached to an
z5 attachment tag; and
FIGURE 5 is a perspective view showing a roll of
protective patch secured on a release liner material.
DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
3o Referring to the drawings and more particularly to
Figures 1 and 2, there is shown generally at 10 a protective
patch constructed in accordance with the present invention.
The protective patch 10 is constructed from film material,
herein a clear polyolefin sheet material 11 having a
35 transparent, non-stick, window area 12. A permanent
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adhesive material 13 is stuck on a rear surface 14 of the
sheet 11 all about the window area 12.
Figure 2 shows a further embodiment 10' and
wherein the protective patch is a circular patch formed of
s the clear polyolefin material and it also contains the
window area 12 and a surrounding permanent adhesive 13, but
herein viewed from the front surface 15 thereof.
Accordingly, the patch is entirely of clear material and the
window area 12 is free of adhesive and is a non-stick area.
to Figure 3 shows an application of this protective
patch wherein the patch 10 is secured over a control label
16 which is permanently stuck on a bottle 17, such as a
liquor bottle. The control label 16 has printed information
18 printed on a top surface 19 thereof and relating to
15 information concerning the date of the liquor bottle 17 and
the establishment associated therewith, date of sale, etc.
As hereinshown the patch is secured over the control label
with the adhesive 13 stuck on the bottle 17 with the control
label 16 being substantially centered in the window area 12.
2o Accordingly, the control label is not tampered with and is
visible through the patch. By removal of the patch the
control label would be intact and in better condition should
it not have been protected.
As can be appreciated, this protective patch will
2s protect the label making it more visible to the inspectors
and preventing damage thereto or tampering therewith. The
protective patch 10 may also contain a bar code 20
containing further information. Other printed information
21 may also be contained on the patch.
3o Figure 4 shows a further example of the use of the
protective patch wherein it is secured over a price label 22
which is adhesively secured to an attachment tag 23. This
prevents the price label 22 from being detached from the
attachment tag and tampered with or preventing price labels
35 to be switched.
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Figure 5 illustrates one manner of supplying these
protective patches to intended users. These may be supplied
in the form of a roll 25 of release liner material 26 on
which are removably secured a plurality of patches 10. The
s release liner is usually silicone coated on the surface 27
thereof making the patches easily detachable therefrom.
These patches can also be provided in sheet form.
It is within the ambit of the present invention to
cover any obvious modifications provided such modifications
to fall within the scope of the appended claims.
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