Patent Application
20080003392
The present invention generally relates to labels and, more particularly, relates to adhesive and pressure-sensitive labels for cellular phones and other portable electronic devices.
Labels or label-like coverings are commonly used to decorate or provide information on various objects and surfaces, including but not limited to, cellular equipment and other portable electronic devices. Many of these types of labels are preformed before being sold so a purchaser can readily adhere the labels to various surfaces. Labels can be preformed to include an adhesive, or alternatively can be preformed as pressure-sensitive labels.
Many cellular phones and similar electronic devices may have relatively complex contoured surfaces with compound curves. Even when relatively pliable materials are utilized to form the labels, conformability and/or adhesion to these relatively complex contours without wrinkling the material may be difficult. In a majority of instances, a portion of the label may not smoothly adhere to the device because of the device contours and limitations of the label material.
Another challenge in producing labels for cellular phones or similar electronic devices is that typically a rotary die cutting process is used to form the preformed labels. It has been found that rotary die cutting of relatively pliable materials, like thin cast vinyl, may cause problems. As an example, die cut pieces may tend to get stuck in the die cavities during die cutting.
Accordingly, it is desirable to provide labels that provide adhesion to contoured surfaces, including relatively complex contoured surfaces, such as those found on cellular telephones or other portable electronic devices. In addition, it is desirable to provide a method of manufacturing the labels that include a means for ensuring the labels can be preformed by rotary die cutting process. Furthermore, other desirable features and characteristics of the present invention will become apparent from the subsequent detailed description and the appended claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and the foregoing technical field and background.
There has now been developed a portable electronic device label sheet assembly that satisfies one or more of the above-noted deficiencies. In one embodiment, label sheet assembly comprises a facestock having a first side and an opposed second side, wherein the facestock is formed of a conformable material. The assembly further includes a release liner adhered to the second side of the facestock. The facestock includes a plurality of die cuts therein; the die cuts comprising a plurality of straight line die cuts and a plurality of curved line die cuts that define a perimeter of a conformable label for a portable electronic device.
In a further embodiment, still by way of example only, there is provided a portable electronic device label sheet assembly comprising a facestock having a first side and an opposed second side and wherein the facestock is comprised of a conformable material. The assembly further includes a single-layered leader portion adhered to at least one of the first side and the opposed second side of the facestock and a release liner adhered to the first side of the facestock. The facestock includes a plurality of die cuts comprising a plurality of straight line die cuts and a plurality of curved line die cuts that define at least one radiused cutout region, the facestock further including a plurality of tie lines that tie the conformable label to another area of the facestock.
In still a further embodiment, and still by way of example only, there is provided method of forming a portable electronic device label sheet assembly comprising the steps of providing a label sheet assembly including a facestock comprising a conformable material having a first side and an opposed second side and having a release liner adhered to at least a portion of the first side of the facestock. The labels are formed by die cutting a plurality of die cuts in the facestock to define a perimeter of a conformable label. The plurality of die cuts include a plurality of straight line die cuts and a plurality of curved line die cuts to define at least one arched cutout in the conformable label. The plurality of die cuts further define a plurality of tie lines in the facestock tying the conformable label to another area of the facestock.
Other independent features and advantages of the improved lip seal assembly will become apparent from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings which illustrate, by way of example, the principles of the invention.
The present invention will hereinafter be described in conjunction with the following drawing figures, wherein like numerals denote like elements, and
The following detailed description is merely exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit the invention or the application and uses of the invention. Furthermore, there is no intention to be bound by any expressed or implied theory presented in the preceding technical field, background, brief summary or the following detailed description.
In the following description, a facestock is a sheet that may be formed from various materials including a pliable printable material or a pliable non-printable material that will readily conform and adhere to contoured surfaces, such as those found on cellular telephones. A multilayered laminated label sheet assembly at least initially includes at least two components: a release liner and the conformable facestock that may be described as pliable. The multilayered laminated label sheet assembly may additionally include an adhesive disposed between the release liner and the facestock. Each of the subsequently-described label sheet assemblies may additionally include a single-layered leader portion uniquely combined with a portion of the facestock to form a multilayered laminated label sheet assembly capable of being fed through a printer, such as a laser jet printer, ink jet printer, or the like. In addition, although the various embodiments are described as being die cut, it is anticipated that in an alternative embodiment a sign cutter may be used to form the designs.
Referring again to
In the illustrated embodiment, the plurality of cuts 22 include a plurality of straight line die cuts 28 and a plurality of curved line die cuts 30. The curved line die cuts 30 are formed as generally curved lines to form a plurality of radiused cutout portions 32. By forming the radiused cutout portions 32 in selective areas of the label 24, the label 24 will adhere smoothly to contoured surfaces. In addition, the curved line die cuts 30 are less susceptible to being peeled off during use of the device to which they are adhered. More specifically, the radiused cutout portions 32 allow the label 24 to conform to compound curves on various electronic devices. The radiused cutout portions 32 are designed to eliminate stress points where the label 24 could easily tear during removal, or create become wrinkled during application. The radiused cutout portions 32 work around the compound curves by venturing into the compound curve area only as far as the material will compress without inducing wrinkles in the label 24. By using a conformable material, such as a vinyl described below, label 24 may go part of the way into the compound curve section without generating wrinkles. This allows for greater overall coverage of the electronic device, while creating an overall shape that is visually appealing.
The plurality of cuts 22 are preferably formed using a rotary die cutter or cutters that are capable of cutting and scoring soft to semi-rigid material by forcing it between the blades on a cylindrical die and a hard cylindrical anvil or using a sign cutter as previously mentioned. In this particular embodiment, the conformable facestock 18 in which labels 24 are formed is preferably a pliable conformable material such as a pressure-sensitive vinyl material. The plurality of cuts 22 are uniquely created for each device based on obtaining a smooth fit of the label 24 on the device to which it is adhered, coverage of the device without interfering with the device function, and with consideration to good die design practices, such as no small angles and the use of radiused corners.
During the cutting and scoring process a plurality of tie lines 34 are created in the plurality of cuts 22 at selected leading edge locations. This avoids delamination of any of the die cut pieces from the release layer 16, resulting in the pieces becoming stuck in the die cavities during die cutting. Referring again to
The tie lines 34 preferably have a thickness of between about 0.005 inches and about 0.040 inches. In this particular embodiment, tie lines 34 have a thickness of preferably about 0.020 inches. The tie lines 34 formed having this thickness offer sufficient strength to keep the die cut label pieces from lifting into the die while also breaking away cleanly from the matrix when a user applies the label 24.
Referring now to
The label sheet assembly 40 includes the plurality of labels 42, formed generally similar to labels 24 of
Numerous other embodiments may be produced using a label sheet assembly that includes a multilayered portion combined with a single-layered leader portion, or a label sheet assembly that does not include a single-layered leader portion. The embodiments include but are not limited to label sheets with various numbers of labels formed thereon and in numerous configurations, dependent upon the device that the label will be adhered to.
As depicted in
The label 62 is formed in generally the same manner as label 24 of
Utilizing the above methods of sheet production, including die cutting or slicing with the use of ties, it is possible to form any number of sheet configurations to include conformable labels for adherence to portable electronic devices such as those described. In addition, this technology is not limited to desktop printable sheets or to sheets at all, as it could be utilized to produce fan folded or roll products with unique characteristics as well.
While at least one exemplary embodiment has been presented in the foregoing detailed description, it should be appreciated that a vast number of variations exist. It should also be appreciated that the exemplary embodiment or exemplary embodiments are only examples, and are not intended to limit the scope, applicability, or configuration of the invention in any way. Rather, the foregoing detailed description will provide those skilled in the art with a convenient road map for implementing the exemplary embodiment or exemplary embodiments. It should be understood that various changes can be made in the function and arrangement of elements without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims and the legal equivalents thereof.
