# US 7,744,131 B2 · One-piece label with integral tear strip

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- Number: US 7,744,131 B2
- Document ID: US7744131B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 11/868,098
- Filed: 2007-10-05
- Published: 2009-04-09
- Granted: 2010-06-29
- Earliest claimed: 2007-10-05
- Assignees: Corporate Express US Inc.
- Inventors: Debra A. Urbanek
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7744131B2

## CPC

- G09F 3/0288: {Labels 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}
- G09F 3/0341: {having label sealing means}
- G09F 2003/0202: {printed before use}
- G09F 2003/022: {Shipment}
- G09F 2003/0257: {Multilayer}
- G09F 2003/0269: {perforated}
- Y10T 428/15: Sheet, web, or layer weakened to permit separation through thickness
- G09F: DISPLAYING; ADVERTISING; SIGNS; LABELS OR NAME-PLATES; SEALS
- Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION

## Abstract

A one-piece adhesive label is provided incorporating an integral tear strip. The tear strip is formed as the user grasps one activation tab that resides on either opposite end of the label. Preferably, one tab is formed at each opposite end. Slits formed on the opposite ends of the label adjacent the tabs enable the label to be torn in a uniform manner, taking advantage of the particular material characteristics of the label sheet that has unidirectional fibers.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A label comprising:
a label sheet made of a single sheet of an extruded polymer having first and second faces, said second face having adhesive provided thereon for adhesively coupling the label to an object, said label sheet further having a first side edge and an opposite second side edge;
at least one tab formed from said label sheet and extending beyond one of said first and second side edges;
a pair of parallel spaced slits formed on the label sheet and intersecting opposite portions of the corresponding side edge where the tab extends from the label sheet, said pair of slits extending in a first direction, said slits collectively not extending upon a majority of a length of said label sheet;
printing applied to said first face;
a deadened area incorporated on said second face, said deadened area bounded by an area between tear lines formed when a user pulls said tab; and
wherein said label sheet is made of the single sheet of the extruded polymer having fibers extending in the first direction and substantially parallel with said pair of slits.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

A label as claimed in claim 1, wherein:
said at least one tab includes two tabs, one tab extending beyond said first side edge and said second tab extending beyond said second side edge, said tabs bisecting said label and extending along a longitudinal axis of said label.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

A label, as claimed in claim 2, wherein:
said pair of parallel spaced slits includes two pairs of parallel spaced slits, one pair of parallel spaced slits formed on the first side edge, and the other pair of parallel spaced slits formed on the second side edge.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

A label, as claimed in claim 1, wherein:
said material comprises an extruded Polyolefin.

### Claim 5

A method of opening a package by removing a part of a label applied to the package, said method comprising the steps of:
providing a label sheet made of a single sheet of material having first and second faces, said second face having adhesive provided thereon for adhesively coupling the label to an object, said label sheet further having a first side edge and an opposite second side edge;
forming at least one tab from said label sheet and extending beyond one of said first and second side edges;
creating a pair of parallel spaced slits on the label sheet and intersecting opposite portions of the corresponding side edge where the tab extends from the label sheet, said pair of slits extending in a first direction, said slits collectively not extending upon a majority of a length of said label sheet;
wherein said label sheet is made of an extruded polymer having fibers extending in the first direction and substantially parallel with said pair of slits;
grasping at least one tab;
pulling at least one tab thereby tearing the label sheet forming a pair of tear lines linearly aligned with said pair of slits;
further pulling the tab to remove a strip of the label sheet bounded by said tear lines and, wherein said second face of said label includes a deadened area bounded by an area between the tear lines such that the strip of label sheet is removed without interference by adhesive remaining on said second face.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

A label, as claimed in claim 1, wherein:
said slits each have a length of about 1/16 inch.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

A label, as claimed in claim 6, wherein:
said slits each have a length of about 1/16 inch.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

A label, as claimed in claim 1, wherein:
said printing is applied at a location remote from said tab and said deadened area.

### Claim 9 (depends on 5)

A label, as claimed in claim 5, wherein:
said printing is applied at a location remote from said tab and said deadened area.