US2831277A - Wire tab dispenser - Google Patents

Description

April 22, 1958 H. G. STRACHAN WIRE TAB DISPENSER Filed Feb. 17, 1954J lO l2a4 2 12 I I. I I I I I I7 ATTORNEYS United States Patent O WIRE TAB DISPENSER Harry Gray Strachan, Westlake, Ohio Application February 17, 1954, Serial No. 410,821 2 Claims. (Cl. 40-2) This invention relates to identifying means, such as tabs and labels, for electric wire and the like and more particularly to a card comprising a number of tabs or labels.

Wire tabs, labels or markers are most commonly used, for example, for marking and identifying wires and circuits in electric wiring systems, cables, or in complex electrical or electronic apparatus or devices. Such markers generally are long and narrow, are provided with one pressure sensitive adhesive side or face, and are printed on their non-adhesive face with any desired identifying number, letter or code. The assembly of such wiring systems, apparatus and devices requires dexterity and much manipulation on the part of the worker, and it is therefore desirable that the markers for identifying the respective wires and circuits be furnished in a form which will facilitate the selection of the proper marker for each wire or circuit and which will simplify and expedite the application of the marker to the item to be identified.

Initially in the prior art such markers were furnished as a part of a continuous adhesive roll from which each marker was cut off as it was needed. This proved extremely inconvenient and tedious for the worker, especially where frequent application 'of markers was necessary. Early attempts to solve this problem resulted in the development of a wire tab, label, or marker card comprising a series of transversely extending adjacent, pressure sensitive markers or labels mounted on a cardboard backing member. It was not desirable to permit the labels to extend beyond or terminate along the edge of the backing member because of the probability of damage to the label or exposure of the adhesive thereon to the deleterious effects of air. The backing member was therefore made of greater width than the length of the labels. A worker, using such a card, was required to have a pick or pointed tool available for lifting an end of each label as it was needed, so that the end might be grasped and the label or marker removed. This was, 1

also, a slow, ctunbersome procedure and often resulted in damage to the markers or labels.

Another attempt to provide a satisfactory wire tab, label or marker card comprises a series of adjacent pressure sensitive markers mounted on a backing member which extends beyond the ends of the markers or labels. A concreted backing member is used and the backing member is scored along a longitudinal line which underlies the markers. In use, the backing member is repeatedly bent back and forth along the aforementioned line until it becomes severed into two parts. One part of the back is then peeled away exposing the marker ends for grasping and removal. When it is necessary to remove a marker other than the endmost, the back is peeled away to the desired marker, which is then grasped and removed, and the back is then pressed against and readhered to the ends of the intervening markers.

This card tends to eliminate the necessity of using a pick or pointed tool to remove the marker, but the use of such a card has not proved satisfactory in'thatthe C ice P tented Apr. 22, 1958 selection of any but the endmost marker is difficult. Additionally, the adhesive is subjected to the deleterious effects of the air along the line at which the back is separated and at the ends of the markers whenever the back is peeled away from more than the endmost one. The repeated separating and readhering of the marker of label ends to the backing member, when inner markers are removed, also reduces the adherability of the marker.

It is therefore a general object of my invention to provide a wire tab, label 'or marker card, of improved design, construction and utility which overcomes the aforementioned disadvantages of prior cards. It is a further general object of my invention to provide a marker card having characteristics which will minimize damage to the individual markers and exposure of the adhesive thereon, to the air during the use, handling, shipping or storage of the card. It is a further object of my invention to provide a marker card from which the markers may be easily and rapidly removed without the use of a pick or pointed tool and without exposing the adhesive of any marker or part thereof to the air prior to removal. It is a further object of my invention to provide a marker card from which the markers may be indi- -vidually and selectively removed without any deleterious effect on intervening or adjacent markers. *It is a further object of my invention to provide a marker card having individual adhesive markers, which terminate in soft, pliable, non-adhesive removable end flaps orgrips which may be easily grasped to remove the respective markers from the card and then may if theworker 'so desires be easily removedfrom the marker as the marker isapplied to the item to be identified. It is a further object of my invention to provide a marker card from which the individual markers may be removed without the use of tools and without scratching or injuring the fingers of the worker. It is a further object of my invention to provide a marker card having marker end flaps or grips which may be variously colored to conform with the NEMA color code, therebyproviding an additional means of identification for each marker.

It is a further object of my invention to provide a marker card having an improved backing member Which is substantially impervious to air and which has excellent adhesive release characteristics and from which the individual markers may be removed easily and selectively without the necessity for bending, tearing, perforating or slitting the backing member. Y

It is a further object of my invention to provide a marker card which has the above described characteristics and advantages and which is economical to manufacture, convenient to use, and which has a longshelf life.

These and other objects and advantages of my invention will appear from thefollowing description of a preferred embodiment thereof, reference being made to the appended drawings. I;

Figure 1 is a plan view of a portion of a wire marker card embodying my invention. f

Figure 2 is an enlarged transverse sectional view taken along the line 22 of Figure 1 and showing one marker partially removed from the card.

Figure 3 is a side elevation of the card shown in Figure 2.

Figure- 4 is a fragmentary perspective view of a fied marker card.

Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective 'viw of the card of Figure 1.

Figure 6 is a schematic drawing of the marker card with the card parts partially assembled and illustrating the method of manufacturing-the marker card Figure 7 an enlarged fragmentary sect onal view modialong the line 7-7 of Figure 2 showing the card arrangement in detail.

Referring now particularly to Figures 1, and 6 a preferred form of my wire tab, label or marker card C comprises amain backing member 1 to the upper surface of which is adhesively and removably secured, a plurality of transversely extending, separatelyremovable markers 2, at the respective ends of each of which are disposed freely accessible flaps orgrips 3 which are adhesively, and preferably removably secured to the-respective markers but are freely removable from thebacking member 1. In the manufacture of the finished cards C the several elements may be assembled in the form of continuous longitudinally extending strips or ribbons as shown in Figure 6 with the lower strip S comprising thebacking members 1 underlying a pair of laterally spaced continuous strips or ribbons R and R comprising the flaps orgrips 3 which .are fed or laid upon the upper, as view in the drawings, marginal portions of the backing member strip S. A confinuous strip or ribbon T, narrower than the strip S is laid on top of and overlies the inner edge portions of ribbons R and R and strip T and comprises the stock or backing of the markers. Both edges of the strip T are spaced inwardly from the respective edges of the strip S. The under surface of strip T is provided with a pressure sensitiveadhesive film 5 which, in the first instance joins the ribbons R and R and strips S and T together, and ultimately provides the adhesive by which the individual markers are secured to the items to be identified.

As shown in Figures 2 and 4 the ribbons R and R in the first instance and the flaps orgrips 3 in the final form are secured in the card assembly by theadhesive film 5 on the inner edge portions of the upper surfaces of the ribbons R and R and are substantially freely removable from thebacking member 1 with their marginal edges preferably about even with or extend slightly beyond the side edges of thebacking member 1 for easy gripping and handling by the consumer.

Cards C are formed by cutting the continuous strips and ribbons described above to appropriate lengths and coincidentally, or at any appropriate time, the strip T along with the ribbons R are cut transversely alongtransverse lines 4, see Figure 1, to define the lateral edges of theseparate markers 2 and to facilitate separate removal of themarkers 2 from thebacking member 1 of the card C.

Themain backing member 1 of card C is preferably made of a relatively stiff material which is substantially impervious to air and moisture and has an upper surface having good adhesive release qualities whereby to protect themarkers 2 and facilitate individual removal of the same as hereinafter more fully explained. Thebacking member 1 may for example comprise abody portion 6, see Figures 2, 3 and 7, of stout paper, such as heavy kraft paper, having its upper surface coated with aplastic film 7, such as cellulose acetate. Thebacking member 1 may be of any convenient length and width although the width should be greater than the length of theindividual markers 2 preferably by an amount sufiicient to underlie the exposed or projecting portion of theflaps 3 extending outwardly from the markers. so that the ends of the flaps lie along the edge of the backing member. When so made, thebacking member 1 supports both themarkers 2 and flaps 3 and prevents theflaps 3 from being separated from the markers and/ or the markers being pulled away from the backing member.

Additionally theflaps 3 prevent air from reaching the adhesive at the ends of the labels and causing loss of adhesive characteristics where adhesion normally is most desired when the label is in use. The kraft paper has suflicient rigidity and strength to protect themarkers 2 and flaps 3 from shipping and handling damage and also facilitates removal of the labels by eliminating the necessity for bending and/or tearing the backing member during use. The acetate film lengthens the shelf life of '4 the card by preventing air from penetrating thebacking member 1 to the adhesive, has excellent adhesive release qualities facilitating removal of the individual marker strips, and does not have surface fibers which might adhere to the adhesive when the strips are removed.

Thebody portion 6 of thebacking member 1 preferably is provided on its lower face with a film or coating 8 similar to the coating '7. This gives the backing member a convenient finish and increases imperviousness of same to air and moisture.

The strip T from which themarkers 2 are formed comprises a pliable stock or backing 9 such as 80-80 cotton cloth having on its lower face, as viewed in the drawings, a pressuresensitive adhesive 5 which as previously explained secures the marker to theflap 3 and backingmember 1 in the first instance and subsequently to the item to be identified.

The markers or labels are printed or stamped on their upper or non-adhesive face with any desired number, letter or code which serves to identify the item to which the marker or label is ultimately applied.

If desired each marker orlabel 2 may be lightly scored at or near its center, as at 10, Figures 1 and 2, to facilitate separating each label into two labels of shorter length, or may be heavily scored to provide two rows of short labels.

The flaps orgrips 3 are made of a soft, pliable, nonfibrous material such a polyvinyl acetate and are secured to the ends of themarkers 2, a portion of theflap 3 underlying the end of the marker and being releasably held thereto by the adhesive 5. The remainder of theflap 3 extends outwardly from the end of the marker and overlies the marginal edge of thebacking member 1 and is exposed for easy grasping by the consumer or worker. Theflaps 3 are held fiat against thebacking member 1 only by themarkers 2 and are not otherwise secured or adhered to the backing member.

Theflaps 3 may be made in colors corresponding to the 'NEMA code, thereby providing an additional identifying means for each marker.

In use, the worker may easily remove each individual marker orlabel 2 by grasping and pulling upon aflap 3 secured thereto. Thereafter the flaps may at any time be easily removed from the marker or be allowed to remain attached thereto either to lengthen the marker or serve as an additional code marker as hereinbefore described. Since eachmarker 2 is separate from the adjacent markers and has its own flaps the worker may select and easily remove any desired marker or label without disturbing any other and without exposing the adhesive of any other marker to the air. As theflaps 3 are made of a soft and pliable material, removal of a great many markers by the Worker will not result in irritation to or scratching of the workers fingers.

Thus I have invented a wire tab, label or marker card which not only protects the markers from damage during shipping and handling, but also permits the selective removal of any desired marker without the use of a pick or pointed tool, without injury to the workers fingers and without exposing the adhesive of any marker to the air prior to its removal from the card.

A wire tab, label or market card embodying my invention may, for example, have abacking member 1 9" long, 2" wide and .02" thick,markers 2 about 1 /2" long and A" wide, andpolyvinyl flaps 3 approximately .41 long, A wide and 0.004" thick. Theflaps 3 preferably extend under themarkers 2 approximately /8".

Figure 5 shows an alternate form of a wire tab, marker, or label card for use in those instances where a label or marker of full length is desired. For such use the markers or labels are not scored and accordingly each marker or label need have aflap 3 at only one of its ends.

Although I have illustrated and described a specific form of my invention, various changes and modifications will occur to those skilled in the art, all within the precepts of my invention, and I do not care to be limited in the scope of my patent to the precise embodiment herein particularly illustrated and described nor in any other manner inconsistent with the progress by which my invention has promoted the art.

I claim:

1. A wire tab, label or marker card comprising an elongated backing member, a plurality of separate, adjacent markers coated with pressure sensitive adhesive and detachably secured to said backing memb r and of less length than the width of said backing :1 her and extending transversely thereof and lying within the confines thereof, and a plurality of pliable flaps detachably secured to said markers and supported by but unsecured to said backing member, one said flap underlying an end of each said marker and being detachably secured thereto by said adhesive, and extending outwardly from said marker and overlying said backing member and having its outer end terminating in substantial alignment with said backing member, the upper side of each said flap being exposed between the end of said marker and the edge of said backing member.

2. A wire tab, label or marker card comprising a backing member and a series of transversely extending, separate, adjacent, pressure sensitive markers detachably se cured to at least one face of said backing member, said backing member comprising a relatively stiff paper-like body having a cellulose acetate film or coat on said one face thereof, said markers each comprising a textile backing having a pressure sensitive adhesive coating on one face thereof adjacent said acetate coated face of said backing member for releasably securing said marker to said backing member, a polyvinyl flap detachably secured to an end of each said marker, said backing member being of greater width than the length of said markers and extending beyond the ends of said markers, a portion of each said flap being disposed between the backing member and the marker to which it is attached and underlying a portion of said marker and being secured thereto by said adhesive, the remainder of each said flap extending therefrom and overlying a marginal portion of said backing member, said flaps being unattached to said backing member, the outermost end of each of said flaps being substantially aligned with the edge of said backing member the upper side of each of said flaps being exposed between the end of said marker and the outermost end of said flap, and each of said markers being selectively removable from said backing member without exposing the adhesive of any other of said markers to air.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,139,377 Mull Dec. 6, 1938 2,248,317 Van Cleef July 8, 1941 2,372,994 Welch Apr. 3, 1945 2,434,545 Brady Jan. 13, 1948 2,699,103 Stasikewich Jan. 11, 1955

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