The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
May. 21, 2002
Filed:
Aug. 31, 1998
Charles Douglas McCurry, Morganton, NC (US);
Edward George Redman, Morganton, NC (US);
Environmental Inks and Coatings Corporation, Morganton, NC (US);
Abstract
A label system having an unique label stock. The label stock includes a water reducible ink system for forming a water resistant ink label and a scuff resistant protective, clear coat layer. A label carrier, formed from non-absorbent paper or plastic, receives the water resistant ink label. In the preferred embodiment, a heat-activated adhesive is applied to the surface of the color coat layer for transferring the label from the label carrier to the substrate. The heat-activated adhesive has an activation temperature less than the distortion temperature of the label carrier so as to not distort the image during transfer. A heat-activated, cross-linking agent may be added in at least one of the color coat and the protective, clear coat to improve water soak resistance. The heat-activated, cross-linking agent has an activation temperature of greater than the activation temperature of the adhesive. This allows the adhesive to be activated at a first, lower temperature and the cross-linking agent to be activated at a second, higher temperature after the label has been transferred to the substrate. However, because of the mechanics of transferring a label, the heat-activated, cross-linking agent may have an activation temperature down to about equal to the activation temperature of the adhesive and still perform satisfactory.