Tag or label with laminated thin, flat, flexible device

DETAILED DESCRIPTION It is an object of the invention to provide a tag or label that has a thin, flat, flexible device laminated between outer sheets of the tag or label in such a manner that the edges of the device are masked in the lamination so as not to give away the presence of the device.
It is another object of the invention to provide an anti-theft tag or label which minimizes evidence of the presence of an electronic protection device laminated within the tag or label.
It is a further object of the invention to provide an anti-theft tag or label that has an electronic protection device laminated therein that does not interfere with variable information printed on outer surfaces of the tag or label.
It is a more particular object of the invention to mask the step presented by the edge at the outer perimeter of the electronic protection device relative to the sheets laminated on both sides of the electronic protection device.
It is a further object of the invention to provide improved tags or labels incorporating thin, flat, flexible electronic devices having a relatively bulky portion.
The invention seeks to mask a bulging area which may occur in a bulging region created by such a bulky portion.
The above and other objects are accomplished according to the invention by the provision of a tag or label, comprising: first and second sheets having facing sides; a thin, flat, flexible electronic device disposed between the facing sides of the first and second sheets and having opposing flat surfaces meeting at a perimeter surrounding the device; and an adhesive fixing the facing sides of the first and second sheets to the opposing flat surfaces of the device and to one another, except in an adhesion-free region.
The adhesion-free region can be: a region extending beyond the perimeter of the electronic device; a region extending both continuously beyond the perimeter of the electronic device, and within the perimeter of the electronic device; a region located entirely within the perimeter of the electronic device; a region located at a relatively bulky portion of the electronic device; a continuous region; a frame-shaped region immediately surrounding the perimeter of the device; or a polygon-shaped region inside the perimeter of the device