Labels and manufacture thereof

Claim 1

A self-adhesive label (32) on a release backing material (17) comprising a sheet (4) which has been folded so that an upper sheet portion (5) covers, and extends over an edge (19) of, a lower sheet portion (6), the upper surface (8) of the upper sheet portion (5) bearing a desired lithographically-printed image and the two opposed inner surfaces (9, 10) of the sheet portions (5, 6) bearing a second desired printed image, a support web (13) comprising a self-adhesive backed material (16) carried on a release backing material (17), the lower surface (11) of the lower sheet portion (6) and the lower surface (12) of the extending part of the upper sheet portion (5) being adhered to the upper surface of the adhesive-backed material (16), and a weakened tear line (38) which extends across that part of the upper sheet portion (5) which covers the lower sheet portion (6) whereby the tear line (38) can be torn thereby to unfold the label (32) and reveal the two opposed inner surfaces (9, 10).

Claim 7

A method of producing a succession of folded lithographically-printed self-adhesive labels (32) on a length of release backing material (17), the method comprising the steps of:- (a) providing a plurality of sheets (4) carrying on one side thereof a first desired image produced by lithographic printing and on the other side thereof a second desired printed image; (b) folding each of the sheets (4) so that an upper sheet portion (5) covers, and extends over an edge (19) of, a lower sheet portion (6), the upper surface (8) of the upper sheet portion (5) carrying the first image and the two opposed inner sheet surfaces (9,10) carrying the second image; (c) adhering the lower surface (11) of the lower sheet portion (6), and the lower surface (12) of the extending part of the upper sheet portion (5), of each of the folded sheets (4) successively to a support web (13) comprising a self-adhesive backed material (16) carried on a release material (17), the folded sheets (4) being adhered to the upper surface of the adhesive-backed material (16); (d) cutting through the adhered folded sheets (4) and through the self-adhesive backed material (16) as far as the release material (17) thereby to form the required folded labels (32) with the upper sheet portion (5) being connected to the lower sheet portion (6) via a fold line (7); (e) removing the unwanted portions (28) of the printed sheets (4) and the self-adhesive backed material (16) adhered thereto from the release material (17); and (f) forming, at any stage in the method, a weakened tear line (38) in each sheet (4) so that in the resultant labels (32) the tear line (38) extends across that part of the upper sheet portion (5) which covers the lower sheet portion (6) and can be torn thereby to unfold the label (32) and reveal the said two opposed inner surfaces (9,10).

Claim 8

A method of producing a succession of folded lithographically-printed self-adhesive labels (32) on a length of release backing material (17), the method comprising the steps of:- (a) providing a plurality of sheets (4) carrying on one side thereof a first desired image produced by lithographic printing and on the other side thereof a second desired printed image; (b) folding each of the sheets (4) so that an upper sheet portion (5) covers, and extends over an edge (19) of, a lower sheet portion (6), the upper surface (8) of the upper sheet portion (5) carrying the first image and the two opposed inner sheet surfaces (9,10) carrying the second image; (c) adhering the lower surface (11) of the lower sheet portion (6), and the lower surface (12) of the extending part of the upper sheet portion (5), of each of the folded sheets (4) successively to a support web (13) comprising a self-adhesive backed material (16) carried on a release material (17), the folded sheets (4) being adhered to the upper surface of the adhesive-backed material (16); (d) cutting through the adhered folded sheets (4) and through the self-adhesive backed material (16) as far as the release material (17) thereby to form the required folded labels (32) with the upper sheet portion (5) being connected to the lower sheet portion (6) via a fold line (7); (e) removing the unwanted portions (28) of the printed sheets (4) and the self-adhesive backed material (16) adhered thereto from the release material (17); and (f) forming, at any stage in the method, a weakened tear line (38) in each sheet (4) so that in the resultant labels (32) the tear line (38) extends across that part of the upper sheet portion (5) which covers the lower sheet portion (6) and can be torn thereby to unfold the label (32) and reveal the said two opposed inner surfaces (9,10).

Claim 11

A method according to any one of Claims 6 to 8, further comprising the step of forming a second weakened tear line (40) in each sheet (4) so that in the resultant labels (32) the second tear line (40) extends across the upper sheet portion (5) and is positioned adjacent and parallel to the folded edge (7) of the upper portion (5).

Claim 12

A method according to any one of Claims 6 to 9, wherein during step (d) in the region of the fold line (7) the self-adhesive backed material (16) is cut through along a line which is adjacent to and generally parallel with the fold line (7).

Claim 13

A method according to any one of Claims 6 to 10, wherein the self-adhesive backed material (16) is self-adhesive on each side thereof and in the adhering step (c) the folded sheets (4) are pressed onto the upper self-adhesive surface of the self-adhesive backed material (16).