In retail environments, barcode labels are used on products to encode the identity of the products in black and white patterns that can be read by a scanner.
For products that are not surrounded by packaging, the barcode labels are often applied directly to the product using an adhesive. After purchase, consumers typically remove such labels because they mar the appearance of the products. If the label is too difficult to remove, the consumer is less satisfied with their purchase.
However, if the label is too easy to remove, the label becomes susceptible to label switching in which a person switches a label for a higher cost item with the label for a lower cost item. Thus, it is desirable to make the label easy to remove while making label switching difficult.
The discussion above is merely provided for general background information and is not intended to be used as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter.
A label is provided having three parts separated by separation lines. Two of the three parts have pull tabs to allow them to be easily removed. The third part is a narrow strip between the separation lines that does not have a pull tab. When the label parts that have pull tabs are lifted off a product, the label separates at the separation lines, leaving the third narrow strip on the product. This narrow strip is then removed with a scraping action that tends to destroy the narrow strip. This makes it difficult to reconstruct the label after it has been removed from a product. In other embodiments, the label has two parts made of material that stretches when the parts are removed from a product. The stretching distorts a barcode graphic printed on the label making the barcode unreadable.
This Summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the Detailed Description. This Summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter. The claimed subject matter is not limited to implementations that solve any or all disadvantages noted in the background.
In the embodiments described herein, a label is provided that consists of three parts. The three parts are separated by separation lines such as a scored line or a partially cut line. Two of the parts of the label include pull tabs having edges that are aligned with the separation lines and that assist the user in removing the two parts of the label. The third part is a narrow strip that extends between the two separation lines. When attempting to remove the label from a product, it is very difficult to keep the label in one piece because the label easily separates along the separation lines. Further, it is difficult to remove the narrow strip between the two separation lines without damaging the narrow strip. As a result, it is difficult to reconstruct the label after its removal from a product. This makes it difficult to switch the label from one product to another product.
In many embodiments, a barcode is printed across the three sections of the label such that one section of the barcode is only printed on the narrow strip between the two separation lines. As a result, if the narrow strip is damaged during removal, the complete barcode cannot be reconstructed simply by using the two larger portions of the label.
In another embodiment, the label comprises two parts and is formed of an elastic material. When either part of the label is removed, the elastic nature of the label causes the barcode printed on the label to distort and become unreadable.
Although separation lines 108 and 110 are shown as being parallel in
First part 102 of label 100 includes a pull tab or lifting tab 112 and second part 104 includes a pull tab or lifting tab 114. Pull tabs 112 and 114 are gripping pieces that are provided to make it easier for users to grip the label during removal. Under one embodiment, pull tab 112 is defined in part by an edge 116 of label 100 that is aligned with and extends from separation line 108. Similarly, pull tab 114 is partially defined by an edge 118 of label 100 that is aligned with and extends from separation line 110. A recess 120 is defined in label 100 by edge 116, an edge 122 that defines part of second part 104 and an edge 124 that defines part of third part 106. Similarly, a recess 126 is defined in label 100 by edge 118, an edge 128 that defines part of third part 106 and an edge 130 that defines part of first part 102. Separation lines 108 and 110 extend from recess 126 to recess 120.
Graphical material, such as barcode graphic 132 and/or arrow graphics 134 and 136, is printed on the top of label 100. Barcode graphic 132 extends across first part 102, third part 106 and second part 104 of label 100. Under one embodiment, barcode graphic 132 includes at least one dark element, such as dark element 138, that is shown in its entirety within third part 106. As a result, if third part 106 is damaged during removal of label 100, the information represented by dark element 138 will be lost. As a result, if only first part 102 and second part 104 are placed on another item, the barcode information will not read properly.
Arrows 134 and 136 provide an indication to a user that pull tabs 112 and 114 should be pulled in a direction that is parallel to separation lines 108 and 110. If pull tabs 112 and 114 are lifted in such a direction, first part 102 and second part 104 will separate from third part 106 easily along separation lines 108 and 110 thereby facilitating quick removal of label 100.
As shown in
In
At step 502, the laminate is formed by placing backing layer 400 on adhesive layer 402, opposite from plastic sheet layer 404. At step 504, plastic film layer 404 is cut using die cut tools to form the label edges and the separation lines. This cutting step produces labels divided into the three parts or sections discussed above. As noted above, the die-cutting tools can perforate the label, score the label, and/or cut a partial depth of the label to define the separation lines.
At step 506, graphical material is printed on the labels. This graphical material can include barcodes such as barcode 132 and lifting direction indicators such as the tab arrow graphics 134 and 136 described above. Other graphical material may be printed as well such as a product description, price, or manufacturer, for example.
The geometry of label 100 of
Center section 106 can then be removed by scraping section 106 from product 180. Because of the thin width 800 of section 106, this scraping action will tend to destroy section 106 during removal. As a result, it will be very difficult to reconstruct label 100 on another article, thereby forming a barrier to switching labels between products.
In other embodiments, thin-width section 106 of
Although separation line 908 is shown as a straight line in
First part 902 of label 900 includes a pull tab or lifting tab 912 and second part 904 includes a pull tab or lifting tab 914. Pull tabs 912 and 914 are gripping pieces that are provided to make it easier for users to grip the label during removal. Under one embodiment, pull tab 912 is defined in part by an edge 916 of label 900 that is aligned with and extends from separation line 908. Similarly, pull tab 914 is partially defined by an edge 918 of label 900 that is aligned with and extends from separation line 908. A recess 920 is defined in label 900 by edge 916, and an edge 922 that defines part of second part 904. Similarly, a recess 926 is defined in label 900 by edge 918 and an edge 930 that defines part of first part 902. Separation line 908 extends from recess 926 to recess 920.
Graphical material, such as barcode graphic 932 and/or arrow graphics 934 and 936, is printed on the top of label 900. Barcode graphic 932 is printed transverse to separation line 908 such that the top part of barcode graphic 932 is printed on second part 904 and the bottom part of barcode graphic 932 is printed on first part 902.
Arrows 934 and 936 provide an indication to a user that pull tabs 912 and 914 should be pulled in a direction that is parallel to separation line 908. If pull tabs 912 and 914 are lifted in such a direction, first part 902 will separate from second part 904 along separation line 908 thereby facilitating quick removal of label 900.
In the embodiment of
In other embodiments, barcode graphic 932 may be oriented differently on label 900 as long as the orientation of barcode graphic 932 is such that when pull tab 912 or pull tab 914 is lifted, the spacing between barcode elements changes due to stretching of first part 902 or second part 904.
Although label 100 has been discussed above in connection with being placed on a product, label 100 can be placed on other items such as packaging and price tags, for example.
Although the subject matter has been described in language specific to structural features and/or methodological acts, it is to be understood that the subject matter defined in the appended claims is not necessarily limited to the specific features or acts described above. Rather, the specific features and acts described above are disclosed as example forms of implementing the claims.
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Number | Date | Country | |
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20090315317 A1 | Dec 2009 | US |