Protective label form and method

A protective label system for use with a computer printer and the like having a plurality of labels which can be serially printed on said printer in a continuous manner comprising:

• a generally rectangular carrier having opposing edges for being fed through said printer;
• a plurality of labels carried on said carrier, each said label including a first panel and a second panel carried by said carrier lying generally in a common plane between said edges of said carrier with a first panel end generally abutting a second panel end;
• an imprintable surface carried on a front face of said first panel;
• a protective film layer carried on a backside of said second panel;
• hinge means joining said first and second panels together and forming a hinge between said first panel end and said second panel end about which said second panel is folded over said first panel;
• marginal tab means carried by said second panel for releasing a marginal portion of said second panel from said protective film layer to expose said film layer and by which said protective film layer is pulled over said imprintable surface on said first panel when said second panel is folded about said hinge means;
• and
• means for separating said imprintable surface and overlaid protective film layer from said carrier.

A method of producing printed labels comprising:

• carrying a plurality of continuous label forms on a label carrier having a first imprintable panel and a second juxtaposed panel;
• passing said carrier through said printer with said first and second panels lying in a common plane;
• printing information on said first panel of said label forms continuously and in series;
• separating said label forms from said carrier;
• folding said second panel generally over said first panel;
• separating said second panel from said carrier to expose a protective film carried on a backside of said second panel;
• applying an adhesive side of said protective film over said printed information on said first panel;
• and
• removing said protective film and said covered printed information as a unit.

A method of producing serially printed labels comprising:

• carrying a plurality of continuous label forms having juxtaposed first and second panels on a label carrier;
• printing information on said first panel of said label forms continuously and in series to provide desired serially printed labels;
• separating said label forms from said carrier;
• folding said second panel generally over said first panel;
• removing said second panel to expose a protective film;
• applying an adhesive side of said protective film over said printed label;
• and
• separating said printed label and protective film from said first panel.