60/029,467; filed October 28, 1996; titled "Tube Labeling Device"; inventors Gregory E. Reynolds and John W. Kelly; Attorney Docket Number HOE- 5100; which is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to labels for cylindrical objects. More specifically, the present invention relates to a moveable, yet securely attached, label for tubes and wires.

2. Description of the Related Art If an apparatus or work area includes one or more wires or tubes which need to be differentiated from one another, it is advantageous to be able to simply, clearly, inexpensively and permanently identify each and every wire or tube. For example, in an apparatus that requires supplying and discharging chemicals through different tubes, having the tubes separately labeled would enable an operator to quickly identify the correct tube for a particular chemical. This is particularly important if poisonous or radioactive chemicals are being supplied or discharged through some tubes, while water or non-hazardous liquids are being supplied or discharged through others. In an apparatus with many different electrical inputs and outputs, for example, it may also be beneficial to clearly identify the function of each wire.

Existing labeling products are useful, but nevertheless suffer from some drawbacks. One such product, which is widely available, is a set of adhesive-backed strip labels or tapes imprinted with a number. These labels must be wrapped around the tubing, and once affixed, are not moveable.

Many of these tapes have adhesive that is prone to failure or printing that easily rubs off when wetted. Another such product has a relatively expensive complex custom-extruded shape, fabricated of a flexible material, and is imprinted with numbers (Pharmacia Biotech part no. 18-0180-01, Tube Markers). This labeling product can only be attached by threading a free end of the tubing through the label, and doing so tends to entangle the tubing as it is moved.

The Panduit Corporation, for instance, commercially distributes a number of labeling products for electrical use, including "toe tags," which are essentially a label on a loop of string. The label portion of a "toe tag" easily moves apart from the point of attachment and can tangle with other such labels or nearby wires or tubes. Other Panduit Corporation products include: (a) labels designed to be tied to a tube or bundle of tubes with a plastic tie- wrap, but these tie-wraps leave bulky heads and entangling tails unless carefully clipped; (b) labeled C-clips, but the size of the identifying marking is constrained by the diameter of the tubing; (c) ball-ended twist C-clips, which are bulky and tangle badly; and (d) clear shrink tubing, designed to cover a separately printed label. However, in the latter product the shrink tubing is difficult to align properly, is expensive and can only be used with relatively rigid tubes or wires that will not crush when the tubing shrinks.

There is, therefore, a need for a labeling system for labeling cylindrical objects (wires, tubes, etc.) that has the following characteristics: the labels are inexpensive to produce and are easy to apply to the tube or wire; the labels provide a permanent, easily readable identification, and do not tangle with other labels or other wires or tubes; the labels may be securely fastened to the wire or tube but can be easily detached or moved along the tube or wire; the labels do not, in all forms, require that they be threaded onto the tube or wire and can therefore be attached to a tube or wire that does not have a free end; and last, the labels must be able to be used to label both flexible and rigid tubes or wires.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides an inexpensive, easily attachable, tangle-free labeling system that can bear an easily readable identification mark, can be securely mounted on either rigid or flexible cylindrical objects and yet can be easily moved along the cylindrical object.

One embodiment of the invention is a label that includes a label portion connected to two threading portions by semi-rigid portions. In this embodiment, the threading portions both include openings; the openings are preferably rectangular or oval in shape and have a width that is greater than the diameter of the cylindrical object to be labelled. It is also preferred that the label portion be substantially rectangular in shape. In a preferred embodiment, the label portion, the threading portions and the semi-rigid portions are made of the same semi-rigid material.

In another embodiment of the invention, the threading portions also include a cut extending from an outer edge of the threading portion to an inner perimeter defining the opening through the threading portion. These cuts allow a cylindrical object to be threaded through the openings in the threading portions via the cuts.

In another embodiment of the invention, the label also includes an attachment portion, which is preferably attached to one of the threading portions of the label and which include an adhesive compound on at least a portion of its surface. The attachment portion may be used for attaching the label more firmly to the labeled object or to other securing structures such as frames, etc.

Another embodiment of the invention is a labeling system for labeling two or more cylindrical objects. In this case, the labeling system includes a connection strip connected to two or more of the labels described above.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES A better understanding of the features and advantages of the present invention will be obtained by reference to the following detailed description

that sets forth illustrative embodiments in which the principles of the invention are utilized, and the accompanying drawings, which: Figure 1 shows a top view of a label according to the present invention; Figure 2A shows a perspective side view of a label according to the present invention secured on a cylindrical object; Figure 2B shows a perspective side view of a label according to the present invention in its sliding position on a cylindrical object; Figure 3 shows a top view of a further embodiment of a label system according to the present invention; Figure 4 shows a top view of a further embodiment of a label according to the present invention; and Figure 5 shows a top view of a further embodiment of a label according to the present invention.

In these figures, identical or similar elements are identified by the same reference number.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Preferred embodiments of the invention are now described in detail, with reference to the drawings.

Figure 1 shows a label according to the present invention, which is capable of being threaded onto a cylindrical object. The label may be used to label any object having a length greater than its diameter. As used here, "a cylindrical object" means any elongated object with a length greater than any characteristic cross-section of the object taken perpendicular to the lengthwise axis of the object. The cross-section is not limited to circular cross sections.

For example, the present invention may be used to label cylindrical objects with square, rectangular, circular, oval, hexagonal, irregular or other cross- sections.

Figure 1 shows a label 10 according to the present invention that includes a label portion 20, first and second threading portions 30 and 40,

and first and second semi-rigid portions 50 and 60 connecting the threading portions to the label portion. The threading portions 30 and 40 include openings 70 and 80 through which a cylindrical object can be securely threaded. The label may be marked with identifying information (e.g.

number, letter, name, etc.) on label portion 20.

Figure 2A shows the label 10 secured to a cylindrical object 130 (e.g.

tube or wire). To secure the label to the cylindrical object 130, label 10 is flexed sufficiently to allow the cylindrical object 130 to be threaded through openings 70 and 80. Figure 2B shows the label 10 in its flexed position.

Once label 10 has been threaded onto the cylindrical object 130, it can be positioned in such a way that any identifying information placed on label portion 20 is visible. The label can be repositioned along the cylindrical object 130 by pinching threading portions 30 and 40 toward each other slightly, as in Figure 2B, and sliding label 10 along the cylindrical object 130. Once the slight pinching is released, label 10 returns to its secured position (Figure 2A) and resists accidental sliding.

Concerning the rigidity of the semi-rigid portions 50 and 60, these portions of the label must be flexible enough that an operator can easily pinch the threading portions together sufficiently to thread the label onto a cylindrical object and subsequently move the label along the object, as described above. On the other hand, the semi-rigid portions must be rigid enough that when the pinching is released the label flattens enough to secure itself to the cylindrical object 130 due to frictional forces between the edges of openings 70 and 80 and the cylindrical object 130, as shown in Figure 2A.

That is, the material and thickness of the semi-rigid portions must be chosen such that the overall label structure acts as a spring, whereby the spring becomes tensioned when "pinched" and reverts to a less tensioned position when released.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the label portion 20, threading portions 30 and 40, and semi-rigid portions 50 and 60 of the label are all made of the same semi-rigid material. However, as can be seen in

figures 2A and 2B, it is only required that the semi-rigid portions 50 and 60 be capable of flexing when the label 10 is pinched (Figure 2B) and then flattening appreciably when the pinching is released (Figure 2A). Therefore, the label portion 20 and threading portions 30 and 40 of the label 10 need not necessarily be made of a semi-rigid material.

Concerning the shape of the openings 70 and 80, Figure 1 shows a preferred embodiment with substantially rectangular openings with curved corners. The precise shape of the openings is not limited to that of Figure 1; however, the widths of the openings 90 and 100 must be large enough that a cylindrical object may be easily threaded through the openings. The lengths of the opening 110 and 120 must also be large enough that a cylindrical object may be threaded through the openings 90 and 100. It is also preferred that the lengths of the openings 110 and 120 be long enough that the label portion 20 is flattened appreciably when it is in its secured configuration (see Figure 2A). It is also preferred that the widths of the openings 90 and 100 are between about 10% and about 50% greater than the diameter of the cylindrical object 130 and that the lengths of the openings 110 and 120 are between about 50% and about 200% greater than the diameter of the cylindrical object 130.

Regarding the shape of the label portion 20, Figure 1 shows a preferred embodiment with a substantially rectangular shaped label portion 20. The size and shape of label portion 20 are not limited to that of Figure 1; however, the label portion 20 must be large enough to display any required identifying information but not so large as to obscure other labels or become entangled with other tubes, wires or labels.

Regarding the overall shape of the label 10, Figure 1 shows a preferred embodiment with an overall substantially rectangular shaped label.

In this embodiment, the label portion 20 is substantially rectangular and the threading portions 30 and 40 are attached to non-adjacent sides of the label portion 20. Other embodiments of the invention include those in which

threading portions 30 and 40 are attached to adjacent sides of the label portion 20 and those with non-rectangular shaped label portions.

Figures 1-2B show an individual label; however, the labels may be linked as a group or a system for organizing a number of tubes or wires.

Figure 3 shows such an embodiment of a labeling system 140, which includes labels 150, 160, 170 and 180 connected to a connection strip 190 via attachment strips 151, 161, 171 and 181, respectively.

Regarding the relative positions and number of labels attached to the connection strip 190, Figure 3 shows an embodiment with four labels all attached to the connection strip 190 via a threading portion of the labels; however, the number and relative positions of the labels attached to the connection strip 190 is not limited to that of Figure 3. The number of labels will depend on the specific intended use of the labels and the attachment of the labels to the connection strip will depend on the relative positions of the cylindrical objects to be labeled. Individual labels may be connected to a connection strip via their threading portions, label portions, or in any other way that may be desirable for a given use. The connection strip 190 and attachment strips 151, 161, 171 and 181 may be made of any suitable material. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the labels 150, 160, 170 and 180, the connection strip 190 and attachment strips 151, 161, 171 and 181 are all made of the same semi-rigid material, such as inexpensive vinyl sheeting.

Figure 4 shows another embodiment of the invention in which the label 200 further includes an attachment portion 210. In the preferred embodiment shown, the attachment portion 210 is connected to a threading portion 30 of the label 200 via a connector 220. Generally, the attachment portion 210 may be connected to any part of the label 200. The attachment portion 210 is used to more securely attach the label 200 to the cylindrical object or to affix the label 200 to some other surface. This may be accomplished by including an adhesive compound (not shown) on at least a portion of a surface of attachment portion 210; the degree of attachment will

be determined by the nature of the adhesive. The attachment portion 210 and connector 220 may be made of any suitable material. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the label 200, the attachment portion 210 and the connector 220 are all made of the same semi-rigid material.

Illustrated in Figure 5 is another embodiment of the invention. Label 230 of Figure 5 is identical to the label 10 shown in Figure 1, with like numerals are used to designate like elements or dimensions, with the following two exceptions. First, the label 230 includes first cut 240 extending from outer edge 250 of threading portion 30 to inner perimeter 260 of the threading portion 30 (with the inner perimeter 260 defining opening 90). Second, the label 230 includes second cut 270 extending from outer edge 280 of threading portion 40 to inner perimeter 290 of the threading portion 40 (with inner perimeter 290 defining opening 100). The cuts 240 and 270 extend entirely through the threading portions 30 and 40 respectively. Figure 5 shows a preferred embodiment in which the cuts are located close to the semi-rigid portions; however, generally the cuts may be positioned anywhere along the threading portions outer edge. This embodiment of the invention is useful in situations where the ends of the cylindrical object are not free or when it is difficult to move the cylindrical object. In such a situation, the label may be threaded onto the cylindrical object by opening the threading portions 30 and 40 at the cuts 240 and 270 and inserting the cylindrical object into the openings 70 and 80. In this embodiment, the threading portions 30 and 40 must be made of a semi-rigid material that is flexible enough to allow the threading portions 30 and 40 to be opened at the cuts 240 and 270 but rigid enough that the threading portions 30 and 40 return substantially to their closed positions (as shown in Figure 5) after the cylindrical object has be threaded into the openings 70 and 80.

Once attached to the cylindrical object, the labels of the present invention move with sufficient ease that they do not restrict the movement of or cause the entanglement of the cylindrical object, even when the cylindrical

object is moved around. The fact that an identifying marking can be printed on both sides of the label not only simplifies the placement of the label on the cylindrical object, but also provides additional visibility of a marking, particularly when the label is attached to a transparent cylindrical object. The printing area can be enlarged as desired for more noticeable labeling. Labels according to the present invention are preferably produced from inexpensive flat stock with conventional die punch equipment. A variety of printing and lamination techniques well known to those skilled in the art are commercially available to provide a wide choice of colors and any required degree of chemical and moisture resistance.

A typical label according to the present invention is manufactured from 0.015" thick semi-rigid white vinyl sheet stock with a matte finish. The length of the openings in the threading portions is approximately twice the diameter of a cylindrical object to be labeled and the width of the openings is approximately 20% wider than the diameter of the object to be labeled. The ends of the openings in the threading portions may have a semicircular shape with a radius of one half the width of the opening. For example, to attach the label to vinyl tubing of 0. 1875" diameter, the opening in the threading portions is 0.225" wide and 0.39" long. In one embodiment, numbers are silkscreened on the label with an alcohol, water and abrasion-resistant ink.

Label sets (10 pieces, numbered 0 through 9) are preferably attached to a light-tack adhesive sheet, from which they can be individually detached as needed.

It should be understood that various alternatives to the embodiments of the invention described herein may be employed in practicing the invention. It is intended that the following claims define the scope of the invention and that structures within the scope of these claims and their equivalents by covered thereby.