CA1115194A - Labelling laminate - Google Patents

Abstract

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE

A pressure sensitive laminate and method of making same for effecting an image transfer and attachment which includes a carrier layer having releasably bonded thereto a coloring pigment or dye, and a complementary adhesively backed laminate which is normally maintained in spaced relationship by a spacer interposed between the carrier and covering layers whereby the transfer is effected by applying a predetermined pressure for bringing the adhesive backed layer into intimate contact with the releasably pigment of the carrier layer in the area of applied pressure only. Upon stripping the covering layer from the carrier layer with the pigment adhered thereto along the area of intimate contact, the covering layer can be readily applied to a given surface.

Description

~ t This invention related to labelling laminates andmethods of making such laminates.
The invention relates in particular to the use of such materials using which images can be readily formed by a transfer process upon the application of a predetermined pressure which is generally greater than normal handling pressures of the laminate. It is frequently desirable to have labels made for identifying various subject matters. Heretofore, various printing and/or embossing devices having been made where-by a user may readily make or print his own label or sign. One such device is known under the trade name Dymo. Other similardevices are also known. Labels made by such devices are formed by embossing print on a relatively thick strip of material which is then adhered to a given surface.
Labels so formed have no protective covering for the embossed images so formed. Frequently it is difficult to adhere such labels to certain types of surfaces, and more specifically, to curved and/or compounded curved surfaces and/or to rough or un-even surfaces. As the print or image is not protected from the environment, such print is subjected to the wear and tear of the elements. Also the nature and appearance of labels so formed donot give an appearance of being an integral part of the surface to which it is adhered, and therefore, tends to detract from the object or surface to which it is attached.
With the prior embossing method, the lettering was limited to relatively thin lined letters; and as such, relat-ively wide printing fonts with high contrast was not feasible.
The present invention provides a pressure sensitive laminate and method of making same for effecting an image trans-fer and attachment which includes a carrier layer having re-leasably bonded thereto a colouring pigment or dye, and a com-plementary adhesively backed laminate which is normally main-

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tained in spaced relationship by a spacer interp~sC;~ ~ehNe~the carrier and covering layers whereby the transfe; s ~ffect-ed by applying a predetermined pressure for bringing the adhes-ive backed layer into intimate contact with the releasable pig-ment of the carrier layer in the area of applied pressure only.
Upon stripping the covering layer from the carrier layer with the pigment adhered thereto along the area of intimate contact, the covering layer can be readily applied to a given surface.
Such an improved labelling laminate enables various images to be readily formed on a relatively thin substrate by a transfer process; the transferred image can then be readily attached to a given surface in a manner whereby the image is protected from the environment.
The invention may provide, in one embodiment, a self-adhering label or the like which will adhere to a given surface only upon the application of a predetermined force. The lamin-ate may be constructed to provide labels where the legend con-trasts markedly with the background.
The pressure sensitive laminate of the invention includes a carrier layer which has a pigmented coating or ink releasably connected to the carrier layer, and which coating is covered by an adhesively backed covering layer. A spacer is disposed between the carrier layer and the covering layer so as to normally maintain the adhesive back of the covering layer out of contact with the pigmented coating of the carrier layer. The arrangement is such that when a predetermined pres-sure is applied to the laminate spaced layers, the adhesive backed portion of the covering layer is brought into intimate contact with the releasable coating of pigment on the carrier layer throughout the area of intimate contact therebetween.
Upon separation of the respective layers, the pigment adhered to the adhesive backing is removed from the carrier layer ~5~

whereupon the adhesive backed covering material with the trans-ferred image thereon can be readily applied to a given surface.
In accordance with this invention various types of spacers can be interposed between the carrier layer and covering layer to normally maintain the respective layers spaced apart during normal handling and which one layer will deform upon the appli-cation of a force or pressure to effect a transfer.
Features A feature of this invention resides in the provision of effecting an image transfer to the adhesive side of a cello-phane tape.
Another feature of this invention resides in the pro-vision of forming an image transfer onto the adhesive side of a sheet material by the application of pressure only.
Another feature of this invention resides in the pro-vision of a laminated transfer system wherein the laminates are maintained in slightly spaced relationship until the transfer is effected.
Other features and advantages will become more apparent when considered in view of the drawings and description in which:
Figure 1 is a side sectional elevation view of a self-adhering laminate embodying the invention.
Figure 2 is an end sectional view taken along line 2-2 on Figure 1.
Figure 3 is a plan view illustrating the pressure sensitive laminate in use as applied to a surface.
Figure 4 is a sectional view taken along line 4-4 on Figure 3.
Figure 5 is a sectional view of 2 modified embodiment.
Figure 6 is a sectional view of another modified embodiment.

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Figuxe ~ is a sectional view of another mo~
embodiment.
Figure 8 is a sectional view of another embodiment.
Figure 9 is a sectional view of another embodiment.
Figure 10 is a sectional view of a pressure sensitive laminate.
Figure 11 is a sectional view of another modified embodiment.
Figure 12 is a sectional view of another modified embodiment Figure 13 is a sectional view of a further embodiment.

Detailed Pescription Referring to the drawings, and more specifically to Figures 1 through 4, there is shown therein a pressure sensitive laminate 20 embodying the present invention. For purposes of illustration, the proportion of the laminates are exaggerated.
As shown, the pressure sensitive laminate comprises a carrier layer 21 to which there is bonded to one surface thereof by a suitable adhesive 22 a plurality of particles or grits 23 to provide spacer elements as will be hereinafter described. Such carrier layer may comprise sandpaper, emory cloth and the like.
The particle surface of the carrier layer 21 is covered with a layer of coloring pigment 24, e.g., powdered charcoal, graphite, or other suitable printing type pigment or ink. Thus the layer of charcoal or coloring pigment 24 is disposed onto the carrier layer 21 so as to be disposed in the valleys or voids defined between adjacent particles 23. Any excess of the charcoal, graphite or coloring pigment 24 is brushed off the tops of the particles or spacers 23 so that the tops or ends of the parti-cles 23 extend above the coloring layer of pigment, charcoalor graphite. Thus the peaks or top surfaces of the abrasive particles 23 are free of any coloring pigment or charcoal as the coloring pigment is confined in the valleys or spaces de-fined between the particles.
A transparent covering layer 25, e.g., cellophane tape S or sheet of material is applied over the tops of the abrasive particles 23. The covering layer has an adhesive coating or layer 26 on the back thereof whieh normally rests on the peaks or tops of particles 23. Thus the adhesive backing of the cello-phane tape is not normally in contact with the graphite, char-eoal, or pigmented coloring layer 24 which occupies the valleys between the particles 23. The laminate 20 thus described can be readily rolled into a roll and be subjected to ordinary hand-ling without causing the adhesive backing 26 of the covering layer 25 to contact the layer of coloring pigment 24, which is releaseably held to the carrier layer 21 between or in the valleys defined by the particles 23.
In accordance with this invention, an image transfer is effected by applying a predetermined pressure or forc~ on the laminate 20 so as to effect the displacement of the cover-ing layer 25 so as to bring adhesive 26 into intimate contact with the eoloring layer 24 disposed in the valleys between ` the partielesA This ean be readily attained by applying the pressure mechanically, e.g., by means of a die or printing font 27. By disposing a platen 28 below the carrier layer 21, and by bringing a die or printing font 27 under pressure onto the eovering layer 25, the adhesive baek 26 of the eovering layer 25 is foreed into intimate eontaet with the eoloring layer 24 of the earrier layer 21 in the area of the intimate eontaet. When this oeeurs, the eoloring pigment is released from the earrier layer and adheres to the adhesive baeking 26 of the eovering layer 25 to define a given image 29, sinee the adhesive of the covering material is selected so as to be stronger than that adhesive releaseably securing the coloring layer 24 to the carrier layer 21. Thereafter the cover layer 25 can be stripped from the carrier layer 21 with the coloring pigment adhered to the adhesive backing of the covering material in accordance with the impression 29 made.
With the image thus transferred and formed on the adhesive side of the covering layer, the covering layer 25 can then be applied to a given surface 30 so that the image 29 can be fixedly secured to a given surface, which image is rend-ered readily visible through the transparent covering layer or cellophane tape 25. The described laminate 20 can be used to form or print various labels and/or other printed or pictorial matter directly onto an adhesive back material by pressure sen-sitive transfer method, and thereafter applied to a givensurface 30 so that the image 29 thus transferred is protected from the surrounding environment. Because the imprint is done on relatively thin cellophane type sheet material, which is adhesively backed, the cellophane sheet can be readily applied to irregular surfaces and/or can be stretched to provide a neat and pleasing appearance whereby the image 29 appears to be an integral part of the identified surface or object 30.
To minimize problems of static and other undesirable or unintentional transfer of the coloring pigment 24 from the carrier layer 21 to the adhesive backing 26 of the covering material or cellophane tape 25, the coloring pigment 24 can be coated onto the carrier layer with an adhesive which will releaseably maintain the pigment to the carrier layer until a sufficient pressure has been applied to the covering material 25 to force the adhesive backing 26 thereof into intimate contact with the coloring layer of pigment, whereby the pigment is released as he covering material 25 is stripped from the carrier layer 21.
A pressure sensitive transfer laminate 20 herein described may be formed first by spraying the carrier layer 21 with a strong adhesive, and thereafter apply the particles.
The adhesive is sufficient to bond the particles 23 thereto.
When the bonding adhesive 22 of the particles 23 is only partially cured, thereby leaving it weakly tacky, the coloring pigment is applied over the surface so that the pigment is re-leaseably held to the partially cured adhesive only. It will be understood that the size, shape, density, distribution and the nature of the particles will have an effect on the fidel-ity of the image. Accordingly, such factors are taken into consideration in determining the desired end result of the type of image to be formed.
With the pressure sensitive laminate 20 described, it will be noted that the transfer or forming of an image can be readily effected by the application of a pressure exerted be-tween a die member or printing fort 27 and a platen 28, the hard-ness of which may be chosen to given an optimum image transfer quality.
It will be understood that the carrier layer 21 may be formed of any suitable material, e.g., paper, plastic, fabric and the like. The covering layer 25 may also be formed of a paper, plastics foil or fabric material. In the described form of the invention, the particles 23 bonded to the carrier layer 21 define spacer means or elements which will normally maintain the adhesive backlng of the coveriny layer 25 out of contact with the coloring pigment 24 until such time that a predetermined pressure is applied so as to effect the displace-ment of the covering material 25 so as to bring the adhesive back surface 26 thereof into intimate contact with the coloring gment 24 in accordance with the area of applied pressure.
Figure 5 illustrates a modified form of the invention.
In this form of the invention, the spacing element between the carrier layer 31 and the covering layer 32 comprises very fine short lengths of fibres 33 which are commercially referred to as flocking. In this form of the invention, the flocking 33 is layed on the carrier layer 31 in an errect or perpendicular orientation with respect to the carrier layer 31. This per-pendicular orientation of the relatively short flock fibres 33 can be effected electrostatically. The flock fibres 33 are bonded perpendicularly to the caxrier layer by an adhesive layer 34. The coloring pigment 35 is thereafter interspaced between ; the flocking fibres on the adhesive layer 34 in a manner whereby the thickness of the coloring layer is less than the height of the flocking fibres 33. The covering layer 32 is thereafter placed over the upper ends of the flocking fibres 33. The flocking fibres 33 function to normally maintain the adhesive backing 36 of the covering layer 32 spaced above the surface of the coloring pigment layer 35, which is releaseably bonded to the carrier layer 31 between the flocking fibres. The adhesive back 36 of the covering material or layer 32 is weakly adhered to the upper ends of the flocking fibres 33 thereby forming a laminate comprising a carrier layer 31, a covering layer 32 and a releaseable coloring layer 35 wherein the adhesive backing of the covering layer 32 is slightly spaced from the coloring pigmented layer 35, until a transfer pressure is applied.
Accordingly, the laminate so formed can be rolled onto a spool or roll and dispensed in a manner similar to ordinary tape.
However, when a pressure greater than normal handling pressure is applied to the laminate construction as described with respect to Figure 5, the displacement of the covering layer 32 _g_ :
to cause intimate -G ,act between the adhesive backing 36 there-of and the pigmented layer 35 whereby the pigmented layer will adhere to the adhesive backing of the covering layer 32 where such contact has been made. Upon the stripping of the covering S layer 3?, as hereinbefore described, from the carrier layer 31, the image coincident with the area of applied pressure is trans-ferred onto the covering material. Upon separation of the cover-ing material, it can then be applied and adhesively secured to a given surface whereby the image is protected by the co~ering layer and rendered visible therethrough. It will be understood that when the pressure is applied to effect the image transfer, that the flock fibres 33, being flexible, will bend so as to enable the adhesive backing of the covering material 32 to make contact with the layer of color pigment to effect the image transfer.
With the construction of Figure 5, it will be noted that the pressure at which the image is transferred can be controlled by adjusting the density and/or pattern of distrib-ution of the flocking fibres 33. Also, the amount of pressure required can be controlled by taking into consideration thelength, diameter, nature, composition, and bending strength of the respective flocking fibres 33.
Figure 6 illustrates another form of the invention.

In the form of the invention the spacing elements for maintain-ing the covering layer 41 normally spaced from the pigmented layer 45, which is releaseably bonded to the carrier layer 42, comprises a series of micro-capsules 43. The micro-capsules 43 are distributed on the carrier layer 42 and are suitably bonded thereto by a layer of adhesive 44. The micro-capsules 43 comprise hollow bodies of minute size formed of a crushable material. The arrangement is such that the micro-capsules will normally prevent the adhesive backing 46 of the covering layer 41 contacting the pigmenled i~ye 45 dispersed in the voids or spaces between the micro-capsules 43.
As an alternate construction, the micro-capsules 43 may be filled with an adhesive so that when the pressure is applied to the covering layer 41 for effecting the image transfer, the micro-capsules where the pressure is applied are crushed thereby releasing the adhesive contained therein. The released adhesive functions to enhance the bond effected between the coloring pigment 45 and the adhesive back of the cover layer 41 to result in a more positive color transfer as the covering laminate 41 is pulled or separated from the carrier layer 42. In such instances the adhesive may be an active one, or it may consist of a component or one part of a two part adhesive system, in which case, the other adhesive component having been previously coated onto the carrier layer 42 for releaseably securing the color layer 45 to it. Conversely the second part of such two part system may be coated on the adhesive backing 46 of the covering layer 41.

In all other respects the construction and operation of the pressure sensitive laminate of Figure 6 is similar to that hereinbefore described.
In another form of the invention, as shown in Figure 7, the spacing element between the carrier layer 50 and the covering layer 51 may comprise a fine mesh or screen 52. In this embodiment, the pigment layer 53 is composed of a medium which will flow under moderate pressure and which is adhesively and releaseably secured to the carrier layer. Thus when pres-sure is exerted against the laminate, as shown in Figure 7, the ink or pigment layer 53 will flow up through the screen aperatures where the adhesive backing 54 of the covering layer 51 will pick up the coloring pigment to effect an exact ~!

reproduction of the image defined by the pattern of the applied pressure, to result in an image much like that produced by silk screen printing.
In all other respects the construction and operation S of the pressure sensitive laminate 49 of Figure 7 is similar to that hereinbefore described.

!; Figure 8 illustrates another modified form of the in-vention. In this form of the invention, the spacing elements between the carrier 60 and the covering layer 61 comprises a rubbery or deformable matrix 62 which is micro porous, and which pores are filled with the pigmentation or printing ink composition 63 which will flow out of the pores 64 when pres-sure has been applied to the laminated construction 59 of Figure 8. It will be understood that upon the application of a pre-determined pressure, the adhesive backing 65 of the coveringlayer 61 is brought into intimate contact with the pores of the micro porous spacer 63 so that the pigment contained in the pores thereof is released and adhered to the adhesive back-ing of the covering layer in accordance with the area of in-timate contact therebetween. Thus, when the covering layer61 is stripped from the carrier layer 60 and its connected micro porous spacing elements 62, the image transferred there-by is removed. Thus the covering layer 61 with the image so formed thereon can be readily applied to a given surface in a manner similar to that of ordinary cellophane tapei with the image being fully protected by the covering layer.
It will be understood that the micro porous spacer 62 may be also formed of a rigid material, and the pores 64 thereof being filled with a coloring pigment 63 as hereinbe-fore described. Where a rigid micro-porous spacer is utilized, the transfer is effected by the adhesive backing of the cover-ing layer 61 being deformed so as to penetrate into the pores 64 to pick up the coloring pigment contained therein. Whether the spacer element 62 is a flexible porous member or a rigid ; porous member, the end result is similar. It will be under-stood that the spacers be something other than fibres 82 or embossments 85. They may also take the spacer forms as defined with respect to Figures 1 to 6.
Figure 9 illustrates another embodiment of the present invention. As shown in Figure 9, the bonding adhesive or glue 70 is applied to an uncoated carrier layer 71 through a screen which has holes of relatively small size separated from each other by a relatively large distance. In this manner, a pattern of minute glue spots 70 are produced on the carrier layer 71. In accordance with the embodiment, flocking fibres 72 or other spacing means are applied to the glue spots 70 to extend normal thereto. The pigment dispersed in a thermo-plastic powder 73 is electrostatically applied over the carrier layer 71. Thus the pigmented layer 73 dispersed in the plastic powder is adhered to only in the areas of the carrier layer where the flocking 72 of spacing means has not been applied.
The coloring pigment 73 dispersed in the thermo plastic powder is thereafter releaseably fused to the carrier layer 71, e.g., by infrared light or heat. The arrangement is such that the coloring pigment 73 is thus releaseably bonded between the flocking material or spacers 72 to the carrier layer 71.
An adhesive back covering layer 74, similar to that hereinbe-fore described, is disposed in contact with the extended ends of the flocking fibres 72. In this arrangement, the image transfer is effected by applying pressure to the laminate structure described so as to bring the adhesive backing of the covering layer 74 into intimate contact with the pigmented layer 73.

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An alternate construction of makin~, a laminate embody-; ing the present invention is to apply to the surface of the carrier layer a resin or glue which becomes only lightly tacky when heated. On top of this layer, a pattern of glue spots is applied through an appropriate screen or mesh as hereinabove described. The flocking fibres can then be applied and adhered to the glue spots only.
The exposed areas of the heat sensitive glue which is rendered tacky by heating is then covered with the suitably pigment layer which may be electrostatically applied. The color thus applied will adhere in a releaseable manner to the slightly tacky glue area of the carrier layer.
In all other respects the function and construction is similar to that described hereinabove lS From the foregoing described embodiments, it will be noted that the laminate structure described provides various means Gf keeping two normally reactive materials or layers in continguous relationship in a manner so as to prohibit reaction therebetween unt_l a sufficient pressure has been applied - 20 thereto so as to bring the reactive layers into actual in-timate contact with one another. Upon the image transfer being effected in accordance with the area of intimate contact, the covering layer can be stripped from the carrier layer, and applied to a given surface with the secured image protected thereby.

Figure 10 illustrates a pressure sensitive layer 80 which can be readily applied to any given surface. As shown in Figure~10, the label comprises a backing material 81 which has suitable indicial 84 thereon. The back or one side of the material 81 is then coated with a suitable pressure sens-itive adhesive 83 to which a series of flocking fibres 82 ~5L~
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are bonded. The arrangement is such that the adhesive is pressure sensitive so that the label 81 can be readily applied to a surface when sufficient pressure has been applied thereto.
The arrangement is such that the exposed ends of the flocking fibres 82 are such that the backing of the label is essentially non-tacky to the touch. However, when pressure is applied, the flock fibres 82 are displaced causing the adhesive to adhere to any surface brought in contact therewith. Thus the label of Figure 10 is rendered adhesive to an adjacent surface only when sufficient pressure is applied to effect the dis-placement of the flock fibres 82. Under normal conditions, the flocking will prohibit the label from being adhered to any surface. Thus the pressure sensitive tape with the flocking backing as described with respect to Figure 10 can have appli-cation in those areas where it is desireable to adhere a tape or other object to a given surface merely by the application of pressure thereto, and which under normal circumstances is prevented from adhereing to such surface until such suffic-ient pressure is applied thereto.
In another form of the invention the pressure sensi-tive layer 80A of Figure 11 may be formed with spacers 85 which are formed as embossments; i.e., the material of the layer 80A
is formed or pressed out of the plane thereof as protrusions.
Thus as seen in Figure 11, the protrusions 85 extend beyond the surface of the adhesive layer 86. Thus when the adhesive coating is placed face down against a surface, the protrusions will normally maintain the adhesive layer spaced from the surface until a pressure is exerted on layer 80A sufficient to deform the protrusions. Therefore, the protrusions are constructed so as to resist normal handling pressure, but will deform when a predetermined force is applied thereto.
In Figure 12, embossment or protrusion 90 may also ~\ .
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function as spacers in transfer laminate, wherein the pro-trusions are formed integral with the carrier layer 91 where-in the adhesive layer 92 and coloring pigment 93 are dispersed between the voids defined by such protrusions or embossments 90. The covering layer 94 with adhesive backing 95 is disposed so as to engage the top of the protrusions or embossments 90.
Thus as hereinbefore described when an applied force is imparted to the laminate; the covering layer 94 is deformed so that the adhesive backing 95 engages the coloring pigment 91 only in the area of the applied force so as to effect a transfer of the pigment from the carrier 91 to the covering layer 94 as hereinbefore described.
A particularly preferred embodiment of the present invention is shown in section in Figure 13. The assembly shown in this Figure consists of a transparent cellulosic tape having a cellulosic film backing 100 and an applied adhes-ive layer 101 and an embossed polyethylene substrate 102. The surface of the polyethylene substrate 102 bears a regular array of peaks 103 which may be formed e.g. by passing polyethylene sheet into contact with an engraved surface under the action of heat and pressure. Engraved surfaces having a very large number of very small apertures evenly distributed therein are easily manufactured by screening and etching techniques well known in the printing art.
The areas between projections 103 are almost but not quite filled with pigmented colouring material 104, e.g. a black ink. In the laminate as shown, the adhesive layer 101 of the cellulosic foil based tape rests on the tops of peaks 103 so holding the laminate together. If sufficient pressure is applied to the assembly to force the adhesive layer 101 into contact with the ink 104, then on peeling apart backing 100 from polyethylene foil 102, the pigmented layer 104 will . .

; d -remain adherent to adhesi~e 101 in those areas where pressure was applied. Pressure may be appl.ied by any suitable means, e.g. by writing on the tape with a stylus, by the use of a metal stamp or die or by inserting the type into a typewriter or other appropriate machine provided with a font of type which can be selectively pressed against the laminate.

Claims (20)

WHAT I CLAIM IS:

1. A labelling laminate comprising:
a carrier layer, a shearable layer of coloured material releasably connected to the carrier layer, a covering layer, adhesive between the covering layer and the carrier layer, and spacing means between the carrier layer and covering layer or forming part of the carrier layer for normally maintaining the layer of coloured material and the adhesive slightly spaced apart so that the application of a predetermined pressure on the assembly of the layers causes the adhesive to come into intimate contact with the layer of coloured material permitting the coloured material to adhere to the adhesive in the area of contact and so to be rendered releasable therewith when the covering layer is stripped from the carrier layer.

2. A laminate according to claim 1 wherein the covering layer is transparent.

3. A laminate according to claim 2 wherein the covering layer is an adhesive tape.

4. A laminate according to claim 3 wherein the spacing means includes a plurality of flocking fibres that are perpendicularly oriented relative to the layers.

5. A laminate according to claim 4 wherein the spacing means comprises a plurality of readily crushable hollow microcapsules.

6. A laminate according to claim 5 wherein the micro-capsules are filled with an adhesive.

7. A laminate according to any of claims 1 to 3 wherein the spacing means comprises a screen mesh.

8. A laminate according to any of claims 1 to 3 wherein the spacing means comprises a microporous layer of material, and the colouring layer is dispersed in the pores of the microporous layer.

9. A laminate according to any of claims 1 to 3 wherein the spacing means comprises:
particles randomly disposed between the carrier layer and the covering layer, the particles being bonded to at least one of the carrier layer and the covering layer, and sized so as to maintain the layers slightly spaced from the shearable layer of colouring material until the predetermined pressure is applied.

10. A laminate according to claim 3 wherein the spacing means comprises a plurality of readily deformable fibres.

11. A laminate according to claim 10 wherein the fibres extend normal to the plane of the carrier layer.

12. A transfer laminate according to claim 3 wherein the spacing means are connected to the carrier layer and have end portions which extend from the carrier layer slightly further than the layer of the coloured material, and the covering layer bears a layer of pressure sensitive adhesive on one side thereof, which adhesive is contiguously disposed relative to the end portions of the spacing means so that the adhesive layer is normally spaced from the coloured material, the covering layer when subjected to a predetermined force being deformable so as to bring the adhesive into intimate contact with the coloured material to adhere the coloured material to the covering layer in accordance with the area of intimate contact.

13. A laminate according to claim 12 wherein the covering layer comprises a clear plastics foil.

14. A laminate according to claim 13 wherein the spacer means comprises an embossed pattern of deformable material formed on at least one of the carrier layer and the covering layer.

15. A laminate according to claim 14 wherein the carrier layer is of plastics foil and the spacing means is an array of raised portions of the foil integral therewith and formed by embossing.

16. A laminate according to claim 15 wherein the shearable layer of coloured material comprises carbon powder.

17. A laminate according to claims 1 or 16 wherein the shearable layer of coloured material is formed of a printing ink.

18. A method of making a labelling laminate comprising the steps of forming a substrate with a series of embossments, releasably bonding a coloured coating to the substrate in the voids between the embossments whereby the embossments extend beyond the surface of the coloured coating, and applying an adhesive coated sheet on to the emboss-ments whereby the adhesive coating on the sheet laminate is normally spaced from the coloured coating.

19. A method of making a label which consists in applying a predetermined amount of pressure over areas of a labelling laminate according to claims 1 or 17 whereby the adhesive is pressed into intimate contact with the coloured material in the areas of applied pressure, and removing the covering layer with part of the coloured material thereon from the carrier layer.

20. A method of labelling an article which comprises carrying out the method of claim 19 and adhering coloured material adhesively attached thereto to a surface of the article.