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(11) | EP 0 535 843 A2 |
| (12) | EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION |
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| (54) | Identification strip assembly |
| (57) A backing sheet (20) including at least one cut area defining a handling tab (16)
produced by cut lines in the backing sheet (20) and a tape sheet (10) overlying the
backing sheet (20) and at least a portion of the tab (16) so that removal of the tab
(16) from the backing sheet (20) results in removal of the tape sheet (10) overlying
the tab (16) from the backing sheet (20) wherein the tape sheet (10) may be handled
without contacting the adhesive of the tape sheet (10). |
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to the field of pressure sensitive tapes and particularly those supplied on a backing sheet to allow removal of the tape from the backing sheet for use.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] It is desirable in some instances to apply strips of tape to structures such as electrical wires for identification of the same. In the past, a number of individually cut, adhesively-coated identification strips (known as wire markers if used with electrical wires) have been provided on a release backing, thus permitting removal of one of the strips from the backing and application to the wire or other structure to be identified. Grasping of the tape for removal of the tape from the backing and application to the item to be identified unfortunately usually resulted in contamination of the adhesive of the tape. Thus the end of the tape which is grasped for removal of the strip from the backing does not adhere to the item or, if the tape is helically wound on the item, to itself and eventually unwraps from the identified item. The objects of the present invention are to provide an identification strip which may be easily grasped and handled during application of the strip to the item to be identified without contaminating the adhesive portion of the strip.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0003] The objects of the present invention are accomplished according to the present invention by providing an identification strip assembly including a backing sheet having at least one cut area defining a handling tab produced by cut or partially cut lines in the backing sheet and a tape sheet overlying the backing sheet and at least a portion of said tab, the tape being adhesively and releasably attached to the backing sheet so that removal of the tab from the backing sheet results in removal of the tape from the backing sheet wherein the tape may be handled without contacting the adhesive of the tape. The identification strip assembly is preferably provided in the form of a large backing sheet including a plurality of tabs and tape associated with each of the tabs.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0004] The present invention will be more particularly described with respect to the accompanying drawings, wherein like numbers refer to like parts in the several views, and wherein:
Figure 1 is a plan view of a single identification strip according to the invention;
Figures 2, 3 and 4 illustrate an electrical wire in cross-section and the identification strip of Figure 1 in sequential stages of application to the wire; and
Figure 5 is a plan view of a stacked pad including a number of identification strips according to the invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED
EMBODIMENT
[0005] Figure 1 illustrates an identification strip, generally indicated as 10, which includes a transparent portion 12, an opaque portion 14 and a tab 16 of backing material releasably attached to the transparent portion 12 of the strip 10 by a pressure-sensitive adhesive coating the complete underside of the strip 10.
[0006] Figures 2-4 illustrate typical usage of the identification strip 10 wherein the strip 10 is applied to a wire 18 by pressing the opaque portion 14 against the wire and helically winding the strip 10 around the wire 18 to cover itself. The tab 16 is provided so that a user may grasp the end of the strip 10 in contact with the tab 16 without contaminating the adhesive coating of the strip 10. It is apparent that without the tab 16, the user would have to touch the adhesive of the strip 10 in order to grasp the strip 10 in the process of application of the strip 10 to the wire 18. The transfer of contaminates from the users hand to the strip 10 might result in a lack of adhesion at the end of the strip 10 and possible unwinding of the strip 10 from the wire 18.
[0007] Figure 5 illustrates the preferred manner in which the identification strips 10 are provided to the user. A number of individual strips 10 are produced from a sheet of paper backing material 20, preferably 80 pound, semi-bleached,white kraft paper, which is cut or partially cut (perforated) to produce a number of tabs 16. The backing material 20 is covered by a transparent or translucent tape material, preferably vinyl, which is coated with a pressure-sensitive adhesive, preferably an acrylic, for releasable adhesion to the backing 20 and ultimate attachment to an item to be identified. The portions of the tape material overlying the tabs 16 are removed to provide access to the tabs 16 and the opaque portion 14 of the tape is produced by coating the tape with an opaque material such as paint or ink to provide a writing surface which will accept identification markings.
[0008] In use, a person grasps the backing sheet 20 and bends it at the tab 16 to separate the tab 16 from the backing sheet 20. The separated tab 16 and the overlying tape portion can then be removed togetherfrom the backing sheet 20 and applied to an item to be marked, such as the wire 18 illustrated in Figures 2-4. Thus the tape may be applied without touching and contaminating the adhesive of the strip 10.
[0009] The sheet of identification strips 10 illustrated in Figure 5 is preferably formed as a pad by stacking a number of backing sheets 20 and connecting the upper margin of each sheet to those above and below, as by stapling. A strip of tape 22 may be removed and the backing sheets 20 perforated at 24 so the used backing sheet 20 can be removed from the pad when all identification strips 10 have been removed.
[0010] Although the present invention has been described with reference to only a single embodiment, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that numerous modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. For example, the tape may cover more or less of the tabs 16, although the end of the tape should not extend beyond the end of the tab 16 or adhesive will be exposed when the tab 16 and its associated tape section are removed from the backing sheet 20.
1. An identification strip assembly comprising:
a backing sheet (20) including at least one cut area defining a handling tab (16) produced by cut or partially cut lines in said backing sheet (20);
a tape sheet (10) overlying at least a portion of said backing sheet (20) and at least a portion of said tab (16), said tape sheet (10) being adhesively and releasably attached to said backing sheet (20) so that removal of said tab (16) from said backing sheet (20) results in removal of said tape sheet (10) overlying said tab (16) from said backing sheet (20) wherein said tape sheet (10) may be handled without contacting the adhesive of said tape sheet (10).
2. An identification strip assembly according to claim 1 wherein said backing sheet
(20) includes a plurality of said tabs (16) and said tape sheet (10) is cut to define
a section of said tape sheet (10) associated with each of said tabs (16).