Partially Transparent Label

This invention relates to adhesive labels, and more particularly, to adhesive labels having transparent and opaque portions to facilitate viewing and labeling functions, respectively.

A very wide variety of adhesive labels are commercially available. Most of these are general purpose labels, having an adhesive layer on one side and having their front surfaces adapted for written or typed identifications. Some are special purpose labels specifically configured for particular uses.

Despite this wide variety of known label types, there are apparently no labels specifically intended for identifying sample tubes having small diameters while simultaneously not obscuring the contents of such sample tubes from view.

A variety of blood collecting devices employ microsample collection tubes. It is necessary to label such tubes unambiguously and securely to provide positive identification from the time a blood sample is taken to the time the sample or the plasma therefrom is removed for analysis. Accordingly, it would be desirable to have a label which can be attached conveniently and securely to a microsample collection tube while not obscuring its contents.

The present invention provides a label for identifying sample collection tubes without obscuring their contents. This label is a strip of plastic having adhesive on one side, having the other side adapted to receive markings from a writing instrument such as a pen or pencil, and having a transparent band through its midsection.

In use, the transparent portion of the label is wrapped around a small diameter sample collection tube and the end portions are stuck to each other, resulting in a miniature flag carrying identifying information while simultaneously permitting the contents of the sample collection tube to be viewed.

The invention will be more fully understood from a consideration of the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the drawing, in which;

FIG. 1 shows a front view of the label of the invention.

FIG. 2 shows an enlarged view of the label of the invention attached to a microsample collection tube.

As shown in FIG. 1, the invention is a label for identifying sample collection tubes, and other laboratory apparatus such as test tubes, syringes, pipet tips, etc., without obscuring their contents, and comprises a strip of plastic having first and second end portions 10 and 12 respectively, first and second substantially parallel edges 14 and 16 respectively, third and fourth substantially parallel edges 18 and 20 respectively which are themselves substantially perpendicular to first and second edges 14 and 16, a front surface 22, a rear surface 24, and a middle portion 26 which extends between the first and second edges 14 and 16.

Front surface 22 is adapted to receive markings from a writing instrument such as a pencil, a pen, or a laboratory marker. The rear surface 24 has a layer of adhesive material covering at least one end portion 10 or 12 and middle portion 26. This adhesive generally covers the entire rear surface 24.

Middle portion 26 is transparent, to permit ready viewing of the contents of a labeled tube. At least one of the end portions 10 and 12 is opaque to provide a contrasting background for the labeling information. Generally, both end portions are opaque. The end portions are generally lightly colored, and are preferably white. The opaque areas of the label have a surface which accepts markings from pen, pencil, "magic" laboratory markers, and other sorts of marking instruments.

In one embodiment of the invention, dark narrow bands 28 are located adjacent the third and fourth edges 18 and 20, to aid in removing the label from the backing sheet by making it more visible, and to aid in attaching the labels to the sample collection tubes to be identified, as will be made clear below.

The labels of the invention are readily manufactured by well-established techniques known to those skilled in the art. Suitable plastics for use in the inventive labels are such materials as poly(vinyl chloride), polyethylene, polypropylene, and polyesters such as mylar. The sheets of plastic from which the labels are made are generally 0.001-0.01 inches thick, preferably between 0.002 and 0.005 inches in thickness.

Adhesives suitable for use in the inventive labels are those known in the trade as permanent pressure-sensitive adhesives and which are also compatible with most plastics such as polyethylene, polypropylene, teflon, styrene, and ABS. Adhesives meeting these criteria will also bond to other materials such as metal and glass.

The labels are produced by any suitable technique known to the art, such as, for example, by applying a layer of adhesive to one side of a sheet of clear or frosty plastic, adhering the sheet to a backing sheet from which it can be removed, printing white areas intended to be end portions of the labels adapted to accept writing, and printing black stripes on desired sections of the end portions, this step being an optional operation to provide an aid for bringing the label ends together. The final steps involve die-cutting the labels from the sheet and stripping away excess plastic, leaving labels attached to a backing sheet.

Various methods of use are possible. In one, the label is commonly marked with an identifying name, number, or symbol on the front surface 22 of one or both of the end portions 10 and 12. Generally marking is done before the label is removed from its backing sheet but may be done after wrapping of the label around the tube. The label is next removed from the backing sheet and the transparent middle portion 26 is wrapped around a microsample collection tube to be labeled, third and fourth edges 18 and 20 are brought together, proper alignment being assisted by dark bands 28, and the rear surfaces of end portions 10 and 12 are brought into contact, thus giving rise to a flag attached to the sample collection tube, as shown in FIG. 2. The dark bands 28 assure that the ends will be brought together exactly, leaving no portion of exposed adhesive, and thus permitting the flag to be "furled" about the tube for insertion into a centrifuge head, and "unfurled" easily without sticking to itself. As the transparent middle portion 26 of the label is wrapped around the tube, the contents of the tube are visible through the label and are not obscured.

The label thus attached to the sample collection tube being identified serves not only as the identifying label, but also serves as a handle for the tube, facilitating subsequent laboratory operations.

Other embodiments of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from a consideration of this specification or practice of the invention disclosed herein. It is intended that the specification and example be considered as exemplary only, with the true scope and spirit of the invention being indicated by the following claims.