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AU2008243283B2 - Label sheet design for easy removal of labels - Google Patents

Label sheet design for easy removal of labels Download PDF

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Publication number
AU2008243283B2
AU2008243283B2 AU2008243283A AU2008243283A AU2008243283B2 AU 2008243283 B2 AU2008243283 B2 AU 2008243283B2 AU 2008243283 A AU2008243283 A AU 2008243283A AU 2008243283 A AU2008243283 A AU 2008243283A AU 2008243283 B2 AU2008243283 B2 AU 2008243283B2
Authority
AU
Australia
Prior art keywords
label
release liner
sheet assembly
facestock material
separation line
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Ceased
Application number
AU2008243283A
Other versions
AU2008243283A1 (en
Inventor
Inge Bachner
Jerry G. Hodsdon
Martin Utz
Steven C. Weirather
Galen Wong
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
CCL Label Inc
Original Assignee
CCL Label Inc
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by CCL Label Inc filed Critical CCL Label Inc
Priority to AU2008243283A priority Critical patent/AU2008243283B2/en
Publication of AU2008243283A1 publication Critical patent/AU2008243283A1/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of AU2008243283B2 publication Critical patent/AU2008243283B2/en
Priority to AU2011211348A priority patent/AU2011211348B2/en
Assigned to CCL LABEL, INC. reassignment CCL LABEL, INC. Request for Assignment Assignors: AVERY DENNISON CORPORATION
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Ceased legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • GPHYSICS
    • G09EDUCATION; CRYPTOGRAPHY; DISPLAY; ADVERTISING; SEALS
    • G09FDISPLAYING; ADVERTISING; SIGNS; LABELS OR NAME-PLATES; SEALS
    • G09F3/00Labels, tag tickets, or similar identification or indication means; Seals; Postage or like stamps
    • G09F3/02Forms or constructions
    • G09F3/0288Labels or tickets consisting of more than one part, e.g. with address of sender or other reference on separate section to main label; Multi-copy labels
    • GPHYSICS
    • G09EDUCATION; CRYPTOGRAPHY; DISPLAY; ADVERTISING; SEALS
    • G09FDISPLAYING; ADVERTISING; SIGNS; LABELS OR NAME-PLATES; SEALS
    • G09F3/00Labels, tag tickets, or similar identification or indication means; Seals; Postage or like stamps
    • G09F3/02Forms or constructions
    • GPHYSICS
    • G09EDUCATION; CRYPTOGRAPHY; DISPLAY; ADVERTISING; SEALS
    • G09FDISPLAYING; ADVERTISING; SIGNS; LABELS OR NAME-PLATES; SEALS
    • G09F3/00Labels, tag tickets, or similar identification or indication means; Seals; Postage or like stamps
    • G09F3/08Fastening or securing by means not forming part of the material of the label itself
    • G09F3/10Fastening or securing by means not forming part of the material of the label itself by an adhesive layer
    • GPHYSICS
    • G09EDUCATION; CRYPTOGRAPHY; DISPLAY; ADVERTISING; SEALS
    • G09FDISPLAYING; ADVERTISING; SIGNS; LABELS OR NAME-PLATES; SEALS
    • G09F3/00Labels, tag tickets, or similar identification or indication means; Seals; Postage or like stamps
    • G09F3/02Forms or constructions
    • G09F2003/0201Label sheets intended to be introduced in a printer, e.g. laser printer
    • GPHYSICS
    • G09EDUCATION; CRYPTOGRAPHY; DISPLAY; ADVERTISING; SEALS
    • G09FDISPLAYING; ADVERTISING; SIGNS; LABELS OR NAME-PLATES; SEALS
    • G09F3/00Labels, tag tickets, or similar identification or indication means; Seals; Postage or like stamps
    • G09F3/02Forms or constructions
    • G09F2003/0222Features for removal or adhesion, e.g. tabs
    • GPHYSICS
    • G09EDUCATION; CRYPTOGRAPHY; DISPLAY; ADVERTISING; SEALS
    • G09FDISPLAYING; ADVERTISING; SIGNS; LABELS OR NAME-PLATES; SEALS
    • G09F3/00Labels, tag tickets, or similar identification or indication means; Seals; Postage or like stamps
    • G09F3/02Forms or constructions
    • G09F2003/0225Carrier web
    • GPHYSICS
    • G09EDUCATION; CRYPTOGRAPHY; DISPLAY; ADVERTISING; SEALS
    • G09FDISPLAYING; ADVERTISING; SIGNS; LABELS OR NAME-PLATES; SEALS
    • G09F3/00Labels, tag tickets, or similar identification or indication means; Seals; Postage or like stamps
    • G09F3/02Forms or constructions
    • G09F2003/023Adhesive
    • GPHYSICS
    • G09EDUCATION; CRYPTOGRAPHY; DISPLAY; ADVERTISING; SEALS
    • G09FDISPLAYING; ADVERTISING; SIGNS; LABELS OR NAME-PLATES; SEALS
    • G09F3/00Labels, tag tickets, or similar identification or indication means; Seals; Postage or like stamps
    • G09F3/02Forms or constructions
    • G09F2003/0264Shapes or borders
    • G09F2003/0267Shapes or borders die cut

Landscapes

  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Theoretical Computer Science (AREA)
  • Making Paper Articles (AREA)
  • Laminated Bodies (AREA)

Description

- 1 AUSTRALIA PATENTS ACT 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A STANDARD PATENT ORIGINAL Name of Applicant: Avery Dennison Corporation Actual Inventors: Galen Wong and Steven C. Weirather and Jerry G. Hodsdon and Inge Bachner and Martin Utz Address for Service is: SHELSTON IP 60 Margaret Street Telephone No: (02) 9777 1111 SYDNEY NSW 2000 Facsimile No. (02) 9241 4666 CCN: 3710000352 Attorney Code: SW Invention Title: LABEL SHEET DESIGN FOR EASY REMOVAL OF LABELS Details of Original Application No. 2003217779 dated 28 Feb 2003 The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me/us: File: 46517AUP01 la LABEL SHEET DESIGN FOR EASY REMOVAL OF LABELS FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to label sheets. More particularly, the present invention relates to a design for label sheets in which the labels may be easily removed. 5 BACKGROUND OFTHE INVENTION Any discussion of the prior art throughout the specification should in no way be considered as an admission that such prior art is widely known or forms part of common general knowledge in the field. Address labels on printable 8/2 x 11 and A4 sheets have been in use for a number 10 of years as a means of printing a medium to large number of addresses or other information in a relatively short period of time. After the label sheets have been printed, these labels must then be removed from the sheet and applied to an envelope or other substrate. The standard method for removing the labels by hand is that the user bends back the label sheet somewhere in the vicinity of one of the edges or corners of the first 15 label to be removed. This causes a separation between the label and the liner. The user grasps the label in the area where the separation has been created, and removes the label from the sheet. This operation is then repeated for each label. This operation can be somewhat difficult and time consuming, and requires a fair amount of manual dexterity. In addition, some combinations of materials such as a thin or flexible face and thick 20 paper liner can be difficult to die cut without cutting into the liner. When the die cut extends into the liner, the user can accidentally tear off a section of the liner in the process of removing the label from the liner. Label strips or webs have also been invented for use with automated label removal and placement machinery. U.S. Patent No. 5,788,284 issued to Hirst discloses a 25 label strip with a cut running down the centerline of the release liner and underneath the center of the individual labels. The label strip moves over a V-shaped notch in a separator plate, thereby automatically separating the labels from the release liner. U.S. Patent No. 5,182,152 issued to Ericson discloses a Bible index label dispensing sheet having a weakened line in the backing and fold lines in the individual 30 labels. A release strip overlies the weakened backing line on one side of each horizontal row of labels. The release strip acts as an adhesive tape to prevent premature rupture of -2 the sheet. The user grasps and pulls away the release strip, and tears off the backing from a portion of the horizontal row of labels. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to overcome or ameliorate at least one of 5 the disadvantages of the prior art, or to provide a useful alternative. It is an advantage of some embodiments of the invention to provide a label sheet assembly which may be fed through a printer such as a laser printer, an ink jet printer, or other printer attached to a personal computer, for desktop printability. Thereafter, a narrow strip of the release liner can be torn off in a single motion. This exposes a narrow 10 strip of each label within a row or column of labels, allowing the labels to be easily removed and placed on some other object or substrate one-by-one. In a label sheet which has a border or matrix surrounding the labels and/or running between the labels or portions of the labels, both the release liner and the matrix have weakened separation lines therein. The separation lines are formed by a series of cuts and ties in the release 15 liner and in the matrix. The ties are preferably strongest near the edges of the sheet and weaker in the interior portion of the sheet. This allows the sheet to resist tearing along the weakened separation lines due to normal handling or printing in the printer, but once the tearing has begun the tearing continues easily until an entire strip of the release liner has been stripped away. A notch is preferably formed in a release liner and the matrix if 20 applicable at each end of the weakened separation line. The notch is aligned with the weakened separation lines in both the liner and in the matrix. The notch helps to ensure that tearing will begin along the weakened separation lines. The two separation lines are sufficiently close together that the user can tear away the strip of release liner from the remainder of the sheet in a single motion without having to remove a separate release 25 strip, and the tearing, once begun, will continue until the release liner is torn entirely away from the remainder of the sheet. The size of the cuts and the size of the ties are chosen so that the assembly is strong enough to be fed through a printer such as a laser printer or an ink jet printer, but weak enough so that the user can tear off the release liner strip along the separation line in an easy and fluid motion without any other mechanical 30 preparation of the label sheet between the printing and the tearing steps. The ratio of cut length to overall separation line length is greater than 95% to ensure ease of separation. Preferably, the separation line lies approximately 0.6 centimetres (approximately % inch) -3 from the edge of a column or column of labels. In this way there is sufficient overhang of the exposed portion of the labels that a user can easily grasp the labels, but a sheet of labels which has had one column or column of labels partially exposed will not have so much exposed adhesive area that the label sheet will readily stick to a desk or other 5 surface on which the label sheet is placed. According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a label sheet assembly comprising: a. a thin, flexible release liner that is configured to be fed through a desktop printer; and 10 b. facestock material having a printable surface, a back surface, and a pressure-sensitive adhesive applied to the back surface, wherein the facestock material is releasably adhered to the release liner; c. wherein: i. the facestock material has formed therein a first label and a second 15 label, ii. the first label has a shape and a surface that is adhered to the release liner, iii. the second label has a shape and a surface that is adhered to the release liner, 20 iv. the first label and the second label are adjacent to one another and are separated by a cut in the facestock material, v. the cut in the facestock material between the first label and the second label defines at least a portion of the first label's shape and a portion of the second label's shape, 25 vi. a portion of the release liner is configured to be separated from a part of the first label and a part of the second label with the majority of both the first label's surface and the second label's surface remaining adhered to another portion of the release liner, and vii. the label sheet assembly is configured to be placed on a flat 30 surface after the separation of the portion of the release liner from the part of the first label without creating an adhesive bond between the first label and the flat surface.
-4 According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a label sheet assembly comprising: a. a thin, flexible release liner that is configured to be fed through a desktop printer; 5 b. facestock material having a printable surface, a back surface, and a pressure-sensitive adhesive applied to the back surface, wherein the facestock material is releasably adhered to the release liner; and c. a label sheet assembly edge; d. wherein: 10 i. the facestock material has formed therein a first label and a second label, ii. the facestock material has formed therein a matrix between the first label and the label sheet assembly edge, iii. the first label is adhered to the release liner, 15 iv. the second label is adhered to the release liner, v. the first label and the second label are adjacent to one another and are separated by a cut in the facestock material, vi. a portion of the release liner is configured to be separated from a part of the first label and a part of the second label so that a portion of the first 20 label's surface and a portion of the second label's surface is exposed while the majority of both the first label's surface and the second label's surface remains adhered to another portion of the release liner, and vii. the label sheet assembly is configured to be placed on a flat surface after the separation of the portion of the release liner from the part of the 25 first label without creating an adhesive bond between the first label and the flat surface. According to a third aspect of the invention, there is provided a label sheet assembly comprising: a. a thin, flexible release liner that is configured to be fed through a desktop 30 printer; and - 4a b. facestock material having a printable surface, a back surface, and a pressure-sensitive adhesive applied to the back surface, wherein the facestock material is releasably adhered to the release liner; c. wherein: 5 i. the facestock material has formed therein a first label and a second label, ii. the first label has a surface that is adhered to the release liner, iii. the second label has a surface that is adhered to the release liner, iv. the first label is separated from the second label only by a single 10 cut in the facestock material, v. a portion of the release liner is configured to be separated from a part of the first label and a part of the second label so that a portion of the first label's surface and a portion of the second label's surface is exposed while the majority of both the first label's surface and the second label's surface remains 15 adhered to another portion of the release liner, and vi. the label sheet assembly is configured to be placed on a flat surface after the separation of the portion of the release liner from the part of the first label without creating an adhesive bond between the first label and the flat surface. 20 According to a fourth aspect of the invention, there is provided a label sheet assembly comprising: a. a thin, flexible release liner that is configured to be fed through a desktop printer; and b. facestock material having a printable surface, a back surface, and a 25 pressure-sensitive adhesive applied to the back surface, wherein the facestock material is releasably adhered to the release liner; c. wherein: i. the facestock material has formed therein a first label and a second label, 30 ii. the first label has a shape and a surface that is adhered to the release liner, - 4b iii. the second label has a shape and a surface that is adhered to the release liner, iv. the first label and the second label abut one another and are separated from one another only by a single cut in the facestock material, 5 v. the cut in the facestock material between the first label and the second label defines at least a portion of the first label's shape and a portion of the second label's shape, vi. a portion of the release liner is configured to be separated from a part of the first label and a part of the second label so that a portion of the first 10 label's surface and a portion of the second label's surface is exposed while the majority of both the first label's surface and the second label's surface remains adhered to another portion of the release liner, and vii. the label sheet assembly is configured to be placed on a flat surface after the separation of the portion of the release liner from the part of the 15 first label without creating an adhesive bond between the first label and the flat surface. According to a fifth aspect of the invention, there is provided a label sheet assembly comprising: a. a thin, flexible release liner that is configured to be fed through a desktop 20 printer and that includes a weakened separation line; and b. facestock material having a printable surface, a back surface, and a pressure-sensitive adhesive applied to the back surface, wherein the facestock material is releasably adhered to the release liner; c. wherein: 25 i. the facestock material has formed therein a first label and a second label, ii. the first label has a shape, an edge, and a surface, iii. the first label's surface is adhered to the release liner, iv. the second label has a shape, an edge, and a surface, 30 v. the second label's surface is adhered to the release liner, vi. the first label and the second label are adjacent to one another and separated by a cut in the facestock material, - 4c vii. the weakened separation line underlies the first label, the second label, and the cut in the facestock material, viii. the weakened separation line is offset from the first label's edge and the second label's edge, 5 ix. the weakened separation line underlies the first label and the second label less than one centimeter from the first label's edge and the second label's edge, respectively, x. the cut in the facestock material between the first label and the second label defines at least a portion of the first label's shape and a portion of the 10 second label's shape, xi. the release liner is configured to be torn by a user along the weakened separation line, and in doing so, separate a portion of the release liner from a part of the first label and a part of the second label so that a portion of the first label's surface and a portion of the second label's surface is exposed while the 15 majority of both the first label's surface and the second label's surface remains adhered to another portion of the release liner, and xii. the label sheet assembly is configured to be placed on a flat surface after the separation of the portion of the release liner from the part of the first label without creating an adhesive bond between the first label and the flat 20 surface. According to a sixth aspect of the invention, there is provided a label sheet assembly comprising: a. a thin, flexible release liner that is configured to be fed through a desktop printer and that includes a weakened separation line; and 25 b. facestock material having a printable surface, a back surface, and a pressure-sensitive adhesive applied to the back surface, wherein the facestock material is releasably adhered to the release liner, wherein the facestock material includes a weakened separation line; c. wherein: 30 i. the facestock material has formed therein a first label and a second label, ii. the first label has a shape, an edge, and a surface, - 4d iii. the first label's surface is adhered to the release liner, iv. the second label has a shape, an edge, and a surface, v. the second label's surface is adhered to the release liner, vi. the first label and the second label are adjacent to one another and 5 separated by a cut in the facestock material, vii. the release liner's weakened separation line underlies the first label, the second label, and the cut in the facestock material, viii. the release liner's weakened separation line is offset from the first label's edge and the second label's edge, 10 ix. the cut in the facestock material between the first label and the second label defines at least a portion of the first label's shape and a portion of the second label's shape, x. the facestock material's weakened separation line is generally parallel to the release liner's weakened separation line, 15 xi. the label sheet assembly is configured to be torn by a user simultaneously along both the release liner's weakened separation line and the facestock material's weakened separation line so that a portion of the first label's surface and a portion of the second label's surface is exposed while the majority of both the first label's surface and the second label's surface remains adhered to 20 the release liner, and xii. the label sheet assembly is configured to be placed on a flat surface after the portion of the first label's surface is exposed without creating an adhesive bond between the first label and the flat surface. According to a seventh aspect of the invention, there is provided a label sheet 25 assembly comprising: a. a plurality of labels having a printable surface and an adhesive back surface; and b. a thin, flexible release liner that is configured to be fed through a desktop printer, coupled to and underlying the plurality of labels; 30 c. wherein: i. each one of the plurality of labels has an end and a surface area, - 4e ii. each one of the plurality of labels abuts at least another one of the plurality of labels, iii. a first portion of the release liner is configured to separate from each one of the plurality of labels so that after the first portion of the release liner 5 is separated from each one of the plurality of labels the end of each one of the plurality of labels no longer is coupled to the release liner while a second portion of the release liner continues to underlie and be coupled to a majority of the surface area of each one of the plurality of labels, and iv. the label sheet assembly is configured to be placed on a flat 10 surface after the separation of the first portion of the release liner from each one of the plurality of labels without creating an adhesive bond between at least one of the plurality of labels and the flat surface. According to a eighth aspect of the invention, there is provided a label sheet assembly comprising: 15 a. a thin, flexible release liner that is configured to be fed through a desktop printer; and b. a plurality of labels having a printable surface and an adhesive back surface that is coupled to the release liner; c. wherein: 20 i. each one of the plurality of labels has an end and a surface, ii. each one of the plurality of labels abuts another one of the plurality of labels, iii. a first portion of the release liner is configured to separate from each one of the plurality of labels so that after the first portion of the release liner 25 is separated from each one of the plurality of labels the end of each one of the plurality of labels no longer is coupled to the release liner and a second portion of the release liner continues to be coupled to a majority of the surface of each one of the plurality of labels, and iv. the label sheet assembly is configured to be placed on a flat 30 surface after the separation of the first portion of the release liner from each one of the plurality of labels without creating an adhesive bond between at least one of the plurality of labels and the flat surface.
- 4f According to a ninth aspect of the invention, there is provided a label sheet assembly comprising: a. a thin, flexible release liner that is configured to be fed through a desktop printer and having a weakened separation line; and 5 b. a plurality of labels having a printable surface and an adhesive back surface that is coupled to the release liner and overlies at least a portion of the weakened separation line; c. wherein: i. each of the plurality of labels has a surface, 10 ii. at least one of the plurality of labels abuts another one of the plurality of labels, iii. the release liner is configured to be torn along the weakened separation line so that a portion of the release liner is decoupled from the surface of each of the plurality of labels while another portion of the release liner 15 continues to be coupled to a majority of the surface of each of the plurality of labels, and iv. the label sheet assembly is configured to be placed on a flat surface after the portion of the release liner is decoupled from the surface of each of the plurality of labels without creating an adhesive bond between at least one 20 of the plurality of labels and the flat surface. According to a tenth aspect of the invention, there is provided a label sheet assembly comprising: a. a release liner; and b. facestock material that is releasably adhered to the release liner; 25 c. wherein: i. the facestock material has formed therein a first label and a second label, ii. the first label has a shape and a surface that is adhered to the release liner, 30 iii. the second label has a shape and a surface that is adhered to the release liner, - 4g iv. the first label and the second label are adjacent to one another and are separated by a cut in the facestock material, v. the cut in the facestock material between the first label and the second label defines at least a portion of the first label's shape and a portion of the 5 second label's shape, vi. the release liner includes a weakened separation line that underlies the first label and the second label, vii. the label sheet assembly is configured to be torn by a user along the weakened separation line, and in doing so, remove both a portion of the 10 release liner and a portion of the facestock material, leaving a portion of the first label's surface exposed and a portion of the second label's surface exposed, with the majority of both the first label's surface and the second label's surface remaining adhered to another portion of the release liner, and viii. the label sheet assembly is configured to be placed on a flat 15 surface after the separation of the portion of the release liner from the part of the first label without creating an adhesive bond between the first label and the flat surface. According to a eleventh aspect of the invention, there is provided a label sheet assembly comprising: 20 a. a release liner; and b. facestock material that is releasably adhered to the release liner; c. wherein: i. the facestock material has formed therein a first label and a second label, 25 ii. the first label has a shape and a surface that is adhered to the release liner, iii. the second label has a shape and a surface that is adhered to the release liner, iv. the first label and the second label are adjacent to one another and 30 are separated by a cut in the facestock material, - 4h v. the cut in the facestock material between the first label and the second label defines at least a portion of the first label's shape and a portion of the second label's shape, vi. the release liner includes a weakened separation line that underlies 5 the first label and the second label, vii. the release liner has an edge, and the weakened separation line includes a tie at the release liner edge, viii. a portion of the release liner is configured to be separated from a part of the first label and a part of the second label, with the majority of both the 10 first label's surface and the second label's surface remaining adhered to another portion of the release liner, and ix. the label sheet assembly is configured to be placed on a flat surface after the separation of the portion of the release liner from the part of the first label without creating an adhesive bond between the first label and the flat 15 surface. According to a twelfth aspect of the invention, there is provided a label sheet assembly comprising: a. a release liner; and b. facestock material that is releasably adhered to the release liner; 20 c. wherein: i. the facestock material has formed therein a first label and a second label, ii. the first label has a shape and a surface that is adhered to the release liner, 25 iii. the second label has a shape and a surface that is adhered to the release liner, iv. the first label and the second label are adjacent to one another and are separated by a cut in the facestock material, v. the cut in the facestock material between the first label and the 30 second label defines at least a portion of the first label's shape and a portion of the second label's shape, vi. the facestock material includes a weakened separation line, - 4i vii. the release liner includes a weakened separation line that underlies the first label and the second label, viii. a portion of the release liner is configured to be separated from a part of the first label and a part of the second label, with the majority of both the 5 first label's surface and the second label's surface remaining adhered to another portion of the release liner, and ix. the label sheet assembly is configured to be placed on a flat surface after the separation of the portion of the release liner from the part of the first label without creating an adhesive bond between the first label and the flat 10 surface. According to a thirteenth aspect of the invention, there is provided a label sheet assembly comprising: a. a release liner; and b. facestock material that is releasably adhered to the release liner; 15 c. wherein: i. the facestock material has formed therein a first label and a second label, ii. the first label has a shape and a surface that is adhered to the release liner, 20 iii. the second label has a shape and a surface that is adhered to the release liner, iv. the first label and the second label are adjacent to one another and are separated by a cut in the facestock material, v. the cut in the facestock material between the first label and the 25 second label defines at least a portion of the first label's shape and a portion of the second label's shape, vi. the release liner includes a weakened separation line that underlies the first label and the second label, vii. the weakened separation line includes at least one tie that underlies 30 the first label and at least another tie that underlies the second label, viii. a portion of the release liner is configured to be separated from a part of the first label and a part of the second label, with the majority of both the - 4j first label's surface and the second label's surface remaining adhered to another portion of the release liner, and ix. the label sheet assembly is configured to be placed on a flat surface after the separation of the portion of the release liner from the part of the 5 first label without creating an adhesive bond between the first label and the flat surface. According to a fourteenth aspect of the invention, there is provided a label sheet assembly comprising: a. a release liner; and 10 b. facestock material that is releasably adhered to the release liner; c. wherein: i. the facestock material has formed therein a first label and a second label, ii. the first label has a shape and a surface that is adhered to the 15 release liner, iii. the second label has a shape and a surface that is adhered to the release liner, iv. the first label and the second label are adjacent to one another and are separated by a cut in the facestock material, 20 v. the cut in the facestock material between the first label and the second label defines at least a portion of the first label's shape and a portion of the second label's shape, vi. the release liner includes a weakened separation line that underlies the first label and the second label, 25 vii. the release liner further includes a notch adjacent to and aligned with the weakened separation line, viii. the notch is configured to facilitate tearing by a user of the liner sheet along the weakened separation line, ix. a portion of the release liner is configured to be separated from a 30 part of the first label and a part of the second label, with the majority of both the first label's surface and the second label's surface remaining adhered to another portion of the release liner, and - 4k x. the label sheet assembly is configured to be placed on a flat surface after the separation of the portion of the release liner from the part of the first label without creating an adhesive bond between the first label and the flat surface. 5 According to another aspect of the invention there is provided a label sheet assembly constructed for easy removal of labels by hand, comprising: a release liner, and a sheet of facestock material releasably adhered to the release liner, the facestock material including at least one row or column of labels formed therein; 10 wherein: a first weakened separation line is formed in the release liner, the first weakened separation line running below and close to an edge of the row or column of labels; and the facestock material is sufficiently the weak in an area between an edge of the assembly and nearby edge of one of the labels to be easily torn by a user, and the 15 weakened separation line in the liner is sufficiently close to an edge of the labels that is parallel to the weakened separation line, such that the user can simultaneously remove both a strip of the liner and a strip of the facestock adhered thereto leaving each label within said row or column of labels with an exposed end and the strip of its liner removed; and 20 wherein said release liner includes a tie near the edge thereof, the tie being provided such that an end of the first weakened separation line does not reach the edge of the release liner. According to another aspect of the invention there is provided a label sheet assembly constructed for easy removal of labels by hand, comprising: 25 a release liner, and a sheet of facestock material releasably adhered to the release liner, the facestock material including at least one row or column of labels formed therein; wherein a first weakened separation line is formed in the release liner, the first weakened separation line running below and close to an edge of the row or column of 30 labels; wherein the facestock material sheet is sufficiently weak in an area between an edge of the assembly and nearby edge of one of the labels to be easily torn by a user, and - 41 the first weakened separation line in the liner is sufficiently close to an edge of the labels that is parallel to the first weakened separation line, such that the user simultaneously remove both a strip of the liner and a strip of the facestock adhered thereto leaving each label within said row or column of labels with an exposed end and the strip of its liner 5 removed; and wherein said first weakened separation line runs underneath labels of said row or column of labels and less than 1 cm from an edge of said row or column of labels, such that a partially used label sheet assembly may be placed on a flat surface without creating a significant adhesive bond between said labels and said flat surface, on which said labels 10 are placed. According to another aspect of the invention there is provided a label sheet assembly constructed for easy removal of labels comprising: a release liner; and a sheet of facestock material releasably attached to the release liner, the facestock 15 material including at least one row or column of labels formed therein; wherein: a first weakened separation line is formed in the release liner, the first weakened separation line running below and close to an edge of the row or column of labels; a second weakened separation line formed in the facestock material in an area that 20 is not part of the labels, the second weakened separation line extending in a direction that is parallel to the direction of the first weakened separation line, the second weakened separation line being offset from the first weakened separation line by less than 1 cm; and wherein said release liner includes a tie near the edge thereof, the tie being provided such that an end of the first weakened separation line does not reach the edge of 25 the release liner. According to another aspect of the invention there is provided a label sheet assembly constructed for easy removal of labels, comprising: a release liner, and a sheet of facestock material releasably adhered to the release liner, the facestock 30 material including at least one row or column of labels formed therein; - 4m wherein a first weakened separation line is formed in the release liner, the first weakened separation line running below and close to an edge of the row or column of labels; wherein a second weakened separation line formed in the facestock material sheet 5 in an area that is not part of the labels, the second weakened separation line extending in a direction that is parallel to the direction of the first weakened separation line, the second weakened separation line being offset from the first weakened separation line by less than I cm; and wherein said first weakened separation line runs underneath labels of said row or 10 column of labels and less than 1 cm from an edge of said row or column of labels, such that a partially used label sheet assembly may be placed on a flat surface without creating a significant adhesive bond between said labels and said flat surface, on which said labels are placed. In another aspect of the invention there is provided a label sheet assembly 15 modified for easy removal of labels by hand, comprising a release liner and a sheet of facestock material releasably adhered to the release liner, the facestock material including at least a first column of labels formed therein and a matrix at least partially bordering the labels wherein a first weakened separation line is formed in the release liner below the column of labels and offset from a center of the column of labels toward 20 an edge of the labels, and a second weakened separation line is formed in the matrix running generally parallel to the first weakened separation line. The release liner has a notch aligned with the two weakened separation lines, and preferably a notch at either end of the separation lines. The weakened separation lines are offset from each other by a short distance so that a user can tear off a strip of the liner and a strip of the matrix in a 25 single motion leaving each label within the column of labels with a portion of its liner removed, thereby allowing easy removal of the labels from the label sheet assembly after the tearing operation without the need for the user to perform any other physical preparation of the label sheet between the printing and tearing operations. The weakened separation lines are preferably formed by cuts and ties in the liners and cuts and ties in 30 the matrix when present, with the strongest of the ties being positioned next to the edges of the assembly or the notch when present. For label sheets having multiple columns of - 4n labels, the sheet has a weakened separation line in the liner and in the matrix when present below each column of labels. Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, throughout the description and the claims, the words "comprise", "comprising", and the like are to be construed in an 5 inclusive sense as opposed to an exclusive or exhaustive sense; that is to say, in the sense of "including, but not limited to". Exemplary embodiments of the invention will be further described below with reference to the drawings, in which like numbers refer to like parts. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 10 FIG 1 is a plan view of the label sheet according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a close up of the lower right hand corner of the label sheet of FIG. I. FIG. 3 shows the back side of the portion of the label sheet shown in FIG. 2. FIG.4 shows a first method of using the label sheet of FIG. 1. 15 FIG. 5 shows the label sheet of FIG. 4 after strip 26 has been completely removed. FIG. 6 shows a second method of using the label sheet of FIG. 1. FIG. 7 shows a label sheet according to a second embodiment of the present invention. 20 FIG. 8 illustrates a third embodiment of the invention without notches at the edges of the assembly. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 shows label sheet assembly 10 in which the labels can be easily peeled according to a first embodiment of the present invention. The label assembly 10 is 25 preferably of an overall standard size such as 8-1/2 inches by 11 inches, or A4 (approximately 21 cm x 29.7 cm), or 4 inches by 6 inches, or other size compatible with standard printers used with personal computers. Assembly 10 includes a release liner sheet or simply release liner 16 with a sheet of facestock material releasably adhered thereto via a pressure sensitive adhesive. The release liner 16 is coated with a thin layer 30 of release material such as silicone, or is otherwise constructed or treated such that the labels can be easily removed therefrom. The sheet of facestock material comprises a generally rectangular sheet of paper or film facestock with a plurality of labels 12 formed therein such as by die cutting. The section of the facestock sheet not used for labels constitutes the border or matrix 14. In the figure the facestock sheet is shown smaller than the release liner 16, although it is not necessary that the facestock sheet be smaller than the release liner. Additionally, although the assembly 10 is shown with a matrix, it Is not necessary for the invention that the label assembly 10 includes a matrix 14 surrounding and/or between labels 12. [0018] FIG. 2 shows a close up of the lower right hand comer of the label assembly 10 of FIG. 1. The matrix 14 has a weakened separation line 20 formed therein near one edge of the column of labels. Matrix separation line 20 includes a plurality of cuts 22 and a plurality of small ties 24, The liner includes a weakened-separaton line 30 which is shown In phantom In FIG. 2. This weakened separation line or liner separation line 30 runs generally from one edge of the assembly 10 to an opposite edge of the assembly 10 and runs preferably linearly beneath labels 12 along a column of labels, near an edge of the labels. Preferably liner separation line 30 runs less than one centimeter from the edge of the labels, and more preferably approximately 0.6 centimeters (approximately 1 / Inch) from the edge of the labels. Liner separation line 30 is shown running vertically underneath a column of labels; however, the assembly can alternatively be constructed such that the separation lines run horizontally beneath a row of labels. Liner 16 also optionally includes a notch 18 generally In alignment with the liner separation line 30 and the cuts and ties 22/24 In matrix 14. As shown in FIG. 1, a similar structure of weakened separation lines and notches is created at the top right hand comer of the assembly. Additionally, assembly 10 includes two other sets -of weakened separation lines and notches, one set for each column of labels with the weakened separation lines running underneath the column of labels at approximately 0.6 centimeters from one edge thereof, if the assembly 10 had been laid out to include a different number of columns of labels, e.g. two columns, four columns, five columns, etc., the assembly would Include a corresponding number of sets of separation lines and notches. Arrows printed on the facestock material Instruct or encourage the user to begin tearing the assembly at notches 18. Alternatively, other instructional Indicia or. 5 written instructions, such as the words "Tear Here" or the like, could be printed on the assembly. [0019] The distance between liner separation line 30 and the cuts and ties 22/24 in the matrix which form matrix separation line 20 is exaggerated in the figures for illustration: purposes. The separation lines in the liner and In the matrix are preferably placed close enough together such that, after assembly 10 has been printed on by a printer, a user can tear off the strip 26 of liner and matrix as illustrated in FIG. 4 in a single fluid motion without any further physical preparation of assembly 10 being required between the printing and the tearing steps. At the same time, the separation lines are slightly separated so that the portion of the matrix overying liner separation line 30 helps to keep liner 16 from prematurely tearing, and the portion of the liner underneath matrix separation line 20 helps to keep the matrix from prematurely tearing. Another reason for offsetting the two separation lines has to do with the manufacturing process. If the. separation line in the facestock were to be die cut directly over the separation line in the liner, the die pressing into the facestock would have a tendency to deform the facestock material rather than cut cleanly into it because there would be insufficient liner strength to support the dies cutting into the facestock. Therefore, the two separation lines are preferably offset by enough distance such that normal manufacturing tolerances are unlilkely to produce a cut-on-cut situation. Preferably, rntrin separation line 20 is offset the liner separation line 30 by less than 6 mm; more preferably, the two are separated by less than 2 mm; more preferably still, the two are separated by less than 1 mm. It has been found that an offset distance of approximately 0.5 mm produces good results for typical sheets of paper labels. However, the exact separation distance Is not critical. Furthermore, the preferred separation distance can vary depending upon the thickness and strength of the liner and matrix, the strength of the pressure sensitive adhesive and the effectiveness of the release liner, the overall size of the assembly, and other factors. [00201 FIG. 3 shows the back side of the lower right hand corner of the label assembly 10 Illustrated in FIG. 2. Liner separation line 30 Is illustrated in greater detail. It includes a plurality of cuts 32, and plurality of ties 36 and 38. In the embodiment shown two small ties 36 lie underneath the matrix, and one small tie 38 lies. underneath each 6 label 12. The particular locations of the ties are not critical. Additionally, release liner 16 includes a large tie 31 near notch 18 or, If no notch is present, near the edge of release liner 16. [00211 Both the matrix separation line 20 and the liner separation line 30 run parallel to the edge of a column of labels and disposed about 0.6 centimeters from the edge of the column. The exact distance Is not critical. Preferably, however, the separation lines are offset from the edge of the column of labels far enough so that when strip 26 is removed labels 12 can be easily grasped and removed by the user. At the same time, the separation lines are close enough to the edge of the labels such that when strip 26 is removed a narrow enough edge of the labels Is exposed so that when the label sheet Is placed onto a table or similar surface, the exposed edge of the unremoved labels 12 do not easily and inadvertently stick to the table. [00221 The purpose of these structures will now be described with reference to FOGS. 3, 4 and 5. FIG. 4 shows one method of using the label sheet assembly of FIG. 1. For purposes of this discussion, It will be assumed that the upper right hand comer of label assembly 10 has a structure that Is the mirror image of the structure shown In FIG. 2, with corresponding parts having the same reference designators. The user grasps one comer of label assembly 10 at approximately position 27 with one thumb and forefinger, and wIththe other thumb and forefinger grasps the narrow strip 26 of release lIner and matrix so as to focus the shear forces at notch 18 and large tie 31, and begins tearing strip 26 away from the rest of the sheet. After large tIe 31 is broken, the tearing away of matrix liner strip 26 progresses relatively easily through small ties 36 and 38 within release liner 16, and through small ties 24 within matrix 14, until strip 26 Is completely tom off. This leaves the label assembly 10 as shown in FIG. 5, i.e., with one column of labels 12 mostly attached to the release liner 16 but having a relatively narrow strip of the labels with the underlying liner portion removed. The user can then easily peel off the individual labels 12 by hand one-by-one as desired without having to bend and manipulate the assembly 10 each time the user wishes to remove the next label. [00231 FIG. 6 shows a second method of using label sheet assembly 10 of FIG. 1. The assembly Includes three sets of vertical separation lines, one set of separation lines 7 associated with each column of labels. The separation lines divide the assembly into three individual portions 40, 50 and 60 which may be individually separated from each other. In FIG. 6, the left hand portion 40 has been separated from the center portion 50 and right hand portion 60. The labels within left hand portion 40 are now ready to be easily peeled one by one from the liner and applied to envelopes or dther substrate. Sections 50 and 60 do not have any portions of the labels with their adhesive sides exposed. Thus, portions 50 and 60 can be handled and/or stored for later use without any degradation of the adhesive on the backs of those labels. Remaining portion 50/60 could even be fed through a printer for later printing. For example, if only ten or fewer labels needed to be prited and used, the user could run assembly 10 through the printer and print only on labels within the column of labels in section 40. The user would then separate section 40 and use the labels within that section. Remaining sections 50/60 would be stored for later use. When additional labels are ready to be printed, the label assembly could be fed through the printer beginning with the right hand edge of section 60. Alternatively, the software could be Instructed to shift the printing of labels over to the right slightly from the normal position, such. that section 60/60 could be fed through the printer beginning with the left hand side of section 50. The sdftware. could be commanded to make such an adjustment by a selectable software switch or option. Using this latter method, a first column ofI labels 40 could be printed, tom off, and used; at a later time a second column of labels 60 could be printed, tom off, and used; and at a later time still a third column of labels 60 could be printed and used. [00241 Of course, the labels on the label sheet need not be generally rectangular in shape and butting against each other as in the first embodiment shown in FIG. 1. The labels could be virtually any shape and could be completely separated from each other by matrix therebetween or by bare liner. FIG. 7 shows one such possibility In which the labels are round and slightly separated one from another. [0025] The size of the cuts and the size of the ties are chosen so that the assembly is strong enough to be fed through a printer such as a laser printer or an Ink jet printer, but weak enough so that the user can tear off the release liner strip along the separation Jine in an easy and fluid motion without any other mechanical preparation of the label 8 sheet between the printing and the tearing steps. The ratio of cut length to overall separation line length is greater than 95% to ensure ease of separation. It has been found that an average tensile strength of the facestock and liner along the separation lines of 6 gm/cm produces good results, and it is expected that values of about 4 gm/cm to 10 gm/cm would also produce good results, and that value of about 2 gm/cm to 15 gm/cm would also be acceptable. [00261 FIG. 8 shows a third embodiment similar to the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, except that the label assembly does not Include notches. [0037] As shown In FIGS. 1 and 2, the facestock material is slightly smaller than the, liner 16 such that matrix 14 does not extend to the edge of the label assembly. If the facestock were to extend to the edge of the label sheet, it would be desirable to form notch 18 in both matrix 14 and liner 16. [00281 In yet another possible embodiment, the label assembly would not even Include a matrix bordering the labels. In FIG. 1, for example, matrix 14 could be entirely stripped from the label sheet before the product Is sold. Alternatively, the entire sheet of facestock material could be die cut such that the entirety of the facestock material formed labels. The facestock material could either take up the same amount of fecestock area shown in PS. 1, or a significantly smaller areas. Rgarwdlass of how the facestock material were construcied, shaped, and cut, a label sheet without a mairix could still employ the present invention so that a narrow strip of liner material could be easily removed In a fluid motion from a number of labels at a single time, thus exposing a minor portion of those labels so that they could thereafter be easily removed from the remaining portion of the liner. [0029] In a still further embodiment, the label sheet could be symmetrical. For example, a label sheet could include two columns of labels. For the right hand column of labels, separation lines would be offset slightly from the right hand edge of that right hand column of labels, and for the left hand column of labels, separation lines would be offset slightly from that left hand edge of the left hand column of labels. 9 (0030] Additionally, it will be understood that the present Invention can be used with various types and media of labels such as metallic foil, clear plastic, MYLAR®, and other well known materials. The labels could be colored or clear, and could contain pre printed Indicia such as text, two dimensional graphic or photographic images, or holographic images. The invention could be used with a variety of printing devices including but not limited to printers for use with a personal computer. [00311 The present Invention is well suited for applications in which the labels will be individually removed by hand. However, the Invention is not limited to hand use. The Invention could be used with automated machinery for tearing strip 26 away and thereafter placing labels 12 on a substrate. The invention could also be used in applications in which a plurality of labels are to be positioned over one or more substrate objects and applied thereto as a group in the same relative positions on which those labels are found on label assembly 10. [O0321 It will be appreciated that the term "present Invention" as used herein should not be construed to mean that only a single invention having a single essential element or group of elements is presented. Although the present invention has thus been described in detail with regard to the preferred embodiments and drawings thereof, it should be apparent to those skilled in the art that various adaptations and modifications of the present invention may be accomplished without departing from the spirit and the scope of the Invention. For example, different sizes of label assemblies could be used, either with or without matrices. The labels could be of various shapes and sizes, and need not all be of the same shape or size. The pressure sensitive adhesive could be weak or strong. The term "standard size" will be understood to mean approximately standard size, and "8-1/2 in, x 11 in." and "A-4" and the like will be understood to mean approximately those sizes. The weakened separation lines could be forced by various known methods. The weakened separation lines are generally linear and parallel, but need not be strictly linear or strictly parallel. Accordingly, it Is to be understood that the detailed description and the accompanying drawings as set forth hereinabove are not intended to limit the breadth of the present invention, which should be inferred only from the following claims and their appropriately construed legal equivalents. to

Claims (41)

1. A label sheet assembly comprising: a. a thin, flexible release liner that is configured to be fed through a desktop printer; and 5 b. facestock material having a printable surface, a back surface, and a pressure-sensitive adhesive applied to the back surface, wherein the facestock material is releasably adhered to the release liner; c. wherein: i. the facestock material has formed therein a first label and a second to label, ii. the first label has a shape and a surface that is adhered to the release liner, iii. the second label has a shape and a surface that is adhered to the release liner, 15 iv. the first label and the second label are adjacent to one another and are separated by a cut in the facestock material, v. the cut in the facestock material between the first label and the second label defines at least a portion of the first label's shape and a portion of the second label's shape, 20 vi. a portion of the release liner is configured to be separated from a part of the first label and a part of the second label with the majority of both the first label's surface and the second label's surface remaining adhered to another portion of the release liner, and vii. the label sheet assembly is configured to be placed on a flat 25 surface after the separation of the portion of the release liner from the part of the first label without creating an adhesive bond between the first label and the flat surface.
2. The label sheet assembly according to claim 1, wherein the release liner includes a weakened separation line that underlies the first label and the second label. - 12
3. The label sheet assembly according to claim 2, wherein: a. the first label has an edge; and b. the second label has an edge.
4. The label sheet assembly according to claim 3, wherein the weakened separation 5 line is offset from the first label's edge and the second label's edge.
5. The label sheet assembly according to claim 3, wherein the weakened separation line underlies the first label less than one centimeter from the first label's edge.
6. The label sheet assembly according to claim 2, wherein the weakened separation line underlies the cut in the facestock material between the first label and the second 10 label.
7. The label sheet assembly according to claim 2, wherein the weakened separation line is a straight line.
8. The label sheet assembly according to claim 2, wherein the release liner is configured to be separated from the part of the first label and the part of the second label 15 along the weakened separation line.
9. The label sheet assembly according to claim 2, wherein the label sheet assembly is configured to be torn by a user along the weakened separation line, and in doing so, remove both a portion of the release liner and a portion of the facestock material, leaving a portion of the first label's surface exposed and a portion of the second label's surface 20 exposed.
10. The label sheet assembly according to claim 2, wherein: a. the release liner has an edge; and b. the weakened separation line includes a tie at the release liner edge.
11. The label sheet assembly according to claim 2, wherein the facestock material 25 includes a weakened separation line. - 13
12. The label sheet assembly according to claim 11, wherein the facestock material's weakened separation line is generally parallel to the release liner's weakened separation line.
13. The label sheet assembly according to claim 11, wherein the label sheet assembly 5 is configured to be simultaneously torn by a user along both the release liner's weakened separation line and the facestock material's weakened separation line.
14. The label sheet assembly according to claim 2, wherein the release liner's weakened separation line includes a plurality of cuts and a plurality of ties.
15. The label sheet assembly according to claim 2, wherein the weakened separation 10 line includes at least one tie that underlies the first label and at least another tie that underlies the second label.
16. The label sheet assembly according to claim 2, wherein: a. the release liner further includes a notch; b. the notch is adjacent to and aligned with the weakened separation line; and 15 c. the notch is configured to facilitate tearing by a user of the liner sheet along the weakened separation line.
17. The label sheet assembly according to claim 2, wherein the label sheet assembly is sufficiently strong along the weakened separation line so that the label sheet assembly can be fed through a printer without the liner sheet separating along the weakened 20 separation line.
18. The label sheet assembly according to claim 1, wherein: a. the label sheet assembly further includes an edge; b. the label sheet assembly includes facestock material between the first label and the label sheet assembly's edge; and 25 c. the facestock material between the label sheet assembly's edge and the first label is configured to be torn by a user. -14
19. A label sheet assembly comprising: a. a thin, flexible release liner that is configured to be fed through a desktop printer; b. facestock material having a printable surface, a back surface, and a 5 pressure-sensitive adhesive applied to the back surface, wherein the facestock material is releasably adhered to the release liner; and c. a label sheet assembly edge; d. wherein: i. the facestock material has formed therein a first label and a second 10 label, ii. the facestock material has formed therein a matrix between the first label and the label sheet assembly edge, iii. the first label is adhered to the release liner, iv. the second label is adhered to the release liner, 15 v. the first label and the second label are adjacent to one another and are separated by a cut in the facestock material, vi. a portion of the release liner is configured to be separated from a part of the first label and a part of the second label so that a portion of the first label's surface and a portion of the second label's surface is exposed while the 20 majority of both the first label's surface and the second label's surface remains adhered to another portion of the release liner, and vii. the label sheet assembly is configured to be placed on a flat surface after the separation of the portion of the release liner from the part of the first label without creating an adhesive bond between the first label and the flat 25 surface.
20. The label sheet assembly according to claim 19, wherein the matrix is configured to be torn by a user.
21. The label sheet assembly according to claim 19, wherein: a. the release liner includes a weakened separation line that underlies the first 30 label and the second label; and b. the matrix overlies a portion of the weakened separation line. - 15
22. The label sheet assembly according to claim 21, wherein both the matrix and the liner sheet are configured to be torn by a user when the liner sheet is torn by the user along the weakened separation line.
23. A label sheet assembly comprising: 5 a. a thin, flexible release liner that is configured to be fed through a desktop printer; and b. facestock material having a printable surface, a back surface, and a pressure-sensitive adhesive applied to the back surface, wherein the facestock material is releasably adhered to the release liner; 10 c. wherein: i. the facestock material has formed therein a first label and a second label, ii. the first label has a surface that is adhered to the release liner, iii. the second label has a surface that is adhered to the release liner, 15 iv. the first label is separated from the second label only by a single cut in the facestock material, v. a portion of the release liner is configured to be separated from a part of the first label and a part of the second label so that a portion of the first label's surface and a portion of the second label's surface is exposed while the 20 majority of both the first label's surface and the second label's surface remains adhered to another portion of the release liner, and vi. the label sheet assembly is configured to be placed on a flat surface after the separation of the portion of the release liner from the part of the first label without creating an adhesive bond between the first label and the flat 25 surface.
24. The label sheet assembly according to claim 23, wherein: a. the first label has a shape; b. the second label has a shape; and c. the cut in the facestock material between the first label and the second 30 label defines at least a portion of both the first label's shape and the second label's shape. - 16
25. A label sheet assembly comprising: a. a thin, flexible release liner that is configured to be fed through a desktop printer; and b. facestock material having a printable surface, a back surface, and a 5 pressure-sensitive adhesive applied to the back surface, wherein the facestock material is releasably adhered to the release liner; c. wherein: i. the facestock material has formed therein a first label and a second label, 10 ii. the first label has a shape and a surface that is adhered to the release liner, iii. the second label has a shape and a surface that is adhered to the release liner, iv. the first label and the second label abut one another and are 15 separated from one another only by a single cut in the facestock material, v. the cut in the facestock material between the first label and the second label defines at least a portion of the first label's shape and a portion of the second label's shape, vi. a portion of the release liner is configured to be separated from a 20 part of the first label and a part of the second label so that a portion of the first label's surface and a portion of the second label's surface is exposed while the majority of both the first label's surface and the second label's surface remains adhered to another portion of the release liner, and vii. the label sheet assembly is configured to be placed on a flat 25 surface after the separation of the portion of the release liner from the part of the first label without creating an adhesive bond between the first label and the flat surface.
26. A label sheet assembly comprising: a. a thin, flexible release liner that is configured to be fed through a desktop 30 printer and that includes a weakened separation line; and - 17 b. facestock material having a printable surface, a back surface, and a pressure-sensitive adhesive applied to the back surface, wherein the facestock material is releasably adhered to the release liner; c. wherein: 5 i. the facestock material has formed therein a first label and a second label, ii. the first label has a shape, an edge, and a surface, iii. the first label's surface is adhered to the release liner, iv. the second label has a shape, an edge, and a surface, 10 v. the second label's surface is adhered to the release liner, vi. the first label and the second label are adjacent to one another and separated by a cut in the facestock material, vii. the weakened separation line underlies the first label, the second label, and the cut in the facestock material, 15 viii. the weakened separation line is offset from the first label's edge and the second label's edge, ix. the weakened separation line underlies the first label and the second label less than one centimeter from the first label's edge and the second label's edge, respectively, 20 x. the cut in the facestock material between the first label and the second label defines at least a portion of the first label's shape and a portion of the second label's shape, xi. the release liner is configured to be tom by a user along the weakened separation line, and in doing so, separate a portion of the release liner 25 from a part of the first label and a part of the second label so that a portion of the first label's surface and a portion of the second label's surface is exposed while the majority of both the first label's surface and the second label's surface remains adhered to another portion of the release liner, and xii. the label sheet assembly is configured to be placed on a flat 30 surface after the separation of the portion of the release liner from the part of the first label without creating an adhesive bond between the first label and the flat surface. -18
27. A label sheet assembly comprising: a. a thin, flexible release liner that is configured to be fed through a desktop printer and that includes a weakened separation line; and b. facestock material having a printable surface, a back surface, and a 5 pressure-sensitive adhesive applied to the back surface, wherein the facestock material is releasably adhered to the release liner, wherein the facestock material includes a weakened separation line; c. wherein: i. the facestock material has formed therein a first label and a second 10 label, ii. the first label has a shape, an edge, and a surface, iii. the first label's surface is adhered to the release liner, iv. the second label has a shape, an edge, and a surface, v. the second label's surface is adhered to the release liner, 15 vi. the first label and the second label are adjacent to one another and separated by a cut in the facestock material, vii. the release liner's weakened separation line underlies the first label, the second label, and the cut in the facestock material, viii. the release liner's weakened separation line is offset from the first 20 label's edge and the second label's edge, ix. the cut in the facestock material between the first label and the second label defines at least a portion of the first label's shape and a portion of the second label's shape, x. the facestock material's weakened separation line is generally 25 parallel to the release liner's weakened separation line, xi. the label sheet assembly is configured to be torn by a user simultaneously along both the release liner's weakened separation line and the facestock material's weakened separation line so that a portion of the first label's surface and a portion of the second label's surface is exposed while the majority 30 of both the first label's surface and the second label's surface remains adhered to the release liner, and -19 xii. the label sheet assembly is configured to be placed on a flat surface after the portion of the first label's surface is exposed without creating an adhesive bond between the first label and the flat surface.
28. A label sheet assembly comprising: 5 a. a plurality of labels having a printable surface and an adhesive back surface; and b. a thin, flexible release liner that is configured to be fed through a desktop printer, coupled to and underlying the plurality of labels; c. wherein: 10 i. each one of the plurality of labels has an end and a surface area, ii. each one of the plurality of labels abuts at least another one of the plurality of labels, iii. a first portion of the release liner is configured to separate from each one of the plurality of labels so that after the first portion of the release liner 15 is separated from each one of the plurality of labels the end of each one of the plurality of labels no longer is coupled to the release liner while a second portion of the release liner continues to underlie and be coupled to a majority of the surface area of each one of the plurality of labels, and iv. the label sheet assembly is configured to be placed on a flat 20 surface after the separation of the first portion of the release liner from each one of the plurality of labels without creating an adhesive bond between at least one of the plurality of labels and the flat surface.
29. The label sheet assembly according to claim 28, wherein the release liner includes a weakened separation line that defines a boundary between the first and second portions 25 of the release liner.
30. A label sheet assembly comprising: a. a thin, flexible release liner that is configured to be fed through a desktop printer; and b. a plurality of labels having a printable surface and an adhesive back 30 surface that is coupled to the release liner; -20 c. wherein: i. each one of the plurality of labels has an end and a surface, ii. each one of the plurality of labels abuts another one of the plurality of labels, 5 iii. a first portion of the release liner is configured to separate from each one of the plurality of labels so that after the first portion of the release liner is separated from each one of the plurality of labels the end of each one of the plurality of labels no longer is coupled to the release liner and a second portion of the release liner continues to be coupled to a majority of the surface of each one 10 of the plurality of labels, and iv. the label sheet assembly is configured to be placed on a flat surface after the separation of the first portion of the release liner from each one of the plurality of labels without creating an adhesive bond between at least one of the plurality of labels and the flat surface. 15
31. The label sheet assembly according to claim 30, wherein the release liner includes a weakened separation line that defines a boundary between the first and second portions of the release liner.
32. A label sheet assembly comprising: a. a thin, flexible release liner that is configured to be fed through a desktop 20 printer and having a weakened separation line; and b. a plurality of labels having a printable surface and an adhesive back surface that is coupled to the release liner and overlies at least a portion of the weakened separation line; c. wherein: 25 i. each of the plurality of labels has a surface, ii. at least one of the plurality of labels abuts another one of the plurality of labels, iii. the release liner is configured to be torn along the weakened separation line so that a portion of the release liner is decoupled from the surface 30 of each of the plurality of labels while another portion of the release liner - 21 continues to be coupled to a majority of the surface of each of the plurality of labels, and iv. the label sheet assembly is configured to be placed on a flat surface after the portion of the release liner is decoupled from the surface of each 5 of the plurality of labels without creating an adhesive bond between at least one of the plurality of labels and the flat surface.
33. The label sheet assembly according to claim 32, wherein: a. the plurality of labels includes a first label and a second label; b. the label sheet assembly further includes a cut between the first label and 10 the second label; c. the cut has a width; and d. the first label is separated from the second label by only the width of the cut.
34. A label sheet assembly comprising: 15 a. a release liner; and b. facestock material that is releasably adhered to the release liner; c. wherein: i. the facestock material has formed therein a first label and a second label, 20 ii. the first label has a shape and a surface that is adhered to the release liner, iii. the second label has a shape and a surface that is adhered to the release liner, iv. the first label and the second label are adjacent to one another and 25 are separated by a cut in the facestock material, v. the cut in the facestock material between the first label and the second label defines at least a portion of the first label's shape and a portion of the second label's shape, vi. the release liner includes a weakened separation line that underlies 30 the first label and the second label, - 22 vii. the label sheet assembly is configured to be torn by a user along the weakened separation line, and in doing so, remove both a portion of the release liner and a portion of the facestock material, leaving a portion of the first label's surface exposed and a portion of the second label's surface exposed, with 5 the majority of both the first label's surface and the second label's surface remaining adhered to another portion of the release liner, and viii. the label sheet assembly is configured to be placed on a flat surface after the separation of the portion of the release liner from the part of the first label without creating an adhesive bond between the first label and the flat 10 surface.
35. A label sheet assembly comprising: a. a release liner; and b. facestock material that is releasably adhered to the release liner; c. wherein: 15 i. the facestock material has formed therein a first label and a second label, ii. the first label has a shape and a surface that is adhered to the release liner, iii. the second label has a shape and a surface that is adhered to the 20 release liner, iv. the first label and the second label are adjacent to one another and are separated by a cut in the facestock material, v. the cut in the facestock material between the first label and the second label defines at least a portion of the first label's shape and a portion of the 25 second label's shape, vi. the release liner includes a weakened separation line that underlies the first label and the second label, vii. the release liner has an edge, and the weakened separation line includes a tie at the release liner edge, 30 viii. a portion of the release liner is configured to be separated from a part of the first label and a part of the second label, with the majority of both the - 23 first label's surface and the second label's surface remaining adhered to another portion of the release liner, and ix. the label sheet assembly is configured to be placed on a flat surface after the separation of the portion of the release liner from the part of the 5 first label without creating an adhesive bond between the first label and the flat surface.
36. A label sheet assembly comprising: a. a release liner; and b. facestock material that is releasably adhered to the release liner; 10 c. wherein: i. the facestock material has formed therein a first label and a second label, ii. the first label has a shape and a surface that is adhered to the release liner, 15 iii. the second label has a shape and a surface that is adhered to the release liner, iv. the first label and the second label are adjacent to one another and are separated by a cut in the facestock material, v. the cut in the facestock material between the first label and the 20 second label defines at least a portion of the first label's shape and a portion of the second label's shape, vi. the facestock material includes a weakened separation line, vii. the release liner includes a weakened separation line that underlies the first label and the second label, 25 viii. a portion of the release liner is configured to be separated from a part of the first label and a part of the second label, with the majority of both the first label's surface and the second label's surface remaining adhered to another portion of the release liner, and ix. the label sheet assembly is configured to be placed on a flat 30 surface after the separation of the portion of the release liner from the part of the first label without creating an adhesive bond between the first label and the flat surface. - 24
37. The label sheet assembly according to claim 36, wherein the facestock material's weakened separation line is generally parallel to the release liner's weakened separation line.
38. The label sheet assembly accordingly to claim 36, wherein the label sheet 5 assembly is configured to be simultaneously torn by a user along both the release liner's weakened separation line and the facestock material's weakened separation line.
39. A label sheet assembly comprising: a. a release liner; and b. facestock material that is releasably adhered to the release liner; 10 c. wherein: i. the facestock material has formed therein a first label and a second label, ii. the first label has a shape and a surface that is adhered to the release liner, 15 iii. the second label has a shape and a surface that is adhered to the release liner, iv. the first label and the second label are adjacent to one another and are separated by a cut in the facestock material, v. the cut in the facestock material between the first label and the 20 second label defines at least a portion of the first label's shape and a portion of the second label's shape, vi. the release liner includes a weakened separation line that underlies the first label and the second label, vii. the weakened separation line includes at least one tie that underlies 25 the first label and at least another tie that underlies the second label, viii. a portion of the release liner is configured to be separated from a part of the first label and a part of the second label, with the majority of both the first label's surface and the second label's surface remaining adhered to another portion of the release liner, and 30 ix. the label sheet assembly is configured to be placed on a flat surface after the separation of the portion of the release liner from the part of the - 25 first label without creating an adhesive bond between the first label and the flat surface.
40. A label sheet assembly comprising: a. a release liner; and 5 b. facestock material that is releasably adhered to the release liner; c. wherein: i. the facestock material has formed therein a first label and a second label, ii. the first label has a shape and a surface that is adhered to the 10 release liner, iii. the second label has a shape and a surface that is adhered to the release liner, iv. the first label and the second label are adjacent to one another and are separated by a cut in the facestock material, 15 v. the cut in the facestock material between the first label and the second label defines at least a portion of the first label's shape and a portion of the second label's shape, vi. the release liner includes a weakened separation line that underlies the first label and the second label, 20 vii. the release liner further includes a notch adjacent to and aligned with the weakened separation line, viii. the notch is configured to facilitate tearing by a user of the liner sheet along the weakened separation line, ix. a portion of the release liner is configured to be separated from a 25 part of the first label and a part of the second label, with the majority of both the first label's surface and the second label's surface remaining adhered to another portion of the release liner, and x. the label sheet assembly is configured to be placed on a flat surface after the separation of the portion of the release liner from the part of the 30 first label without creating an adhesive bond between the first label and the flat surface. - 26
41. A label sheet assembly substantially as herein described with reference to any one of the embodiments of the invention illustrated in the accompanying drawings and/or examples.
AU2008243283A 2003-02-28 2008-11-17 Label sheet design for easy removal of labels Ceased AU2008243283B2 (en)

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AU2008243283A AU2008243283B2 (en) 2003-02-28 2008-11-17 Label sheet design for easy removal of labels
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CA2512250A1 (en) 2004-09-16
EP1597061A4 (en) 2007-10-31
EP2277689A1 (en) 2011-01-26
CN100504964C (en) 2009-06-24
AU2003217779B2 (en) 2008-11-20
CA2512250C (en) 2014-02-11
MXPA05008849A (en) 2005-10-18
EP1597061A1 (en) 2005-11-23
EP1597061B1 (en) 2014-05-07
DK1597061T3 (en) 2014-08-11
JP4029353B2 (en) 2008-01-09
JP2006514335A (en) 2006-04-27
ES2489515T3 (en) 2014-09-02
AU2008243283A1 (en) 2008-12-04
AU2003217779A1 (en) 2004-09-28
CN1744987A (en) 2006-03-08
WO2004078468A1 (en) 2004-09-16
EP2277689B1 (en) 2014-05-07

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