Identification system for individual containers

Abstract

An identification system for identifying a container has distinct and visibly different printed identifying indicia each for identifying the container and disposed on a surface portion of the container. An opaque covering material covers the printed identifying indicia. The opaque covering material is removable to selectively expose a preselected one of the printed identifying indicia for identifying the container by visual inspection of the exposed printed identifying indicia.

1 - 32 . (canceled)  
   
   
       33 . An identification system for identifying a container, the identification system comprising: 
 a substrate layer having a first main surface for connection to a surface portion of a container;    a plurality of distinct and visibly different printed identifying indicia each for identifying the container and disposed on a second main surface of the substrate layer; and    an opaque covering material covering the printed identifying indicia, the opaque covering material being removable to selectively expose a preselected one of the printed identifying indicia for identifying the container by visual inspection of the exposed printed identifying indicia.    
   
   
       34 . An identification system according to  claim 33;  further comprising an adhesive layer disposed on the first main surface of the substrate layer for adhering the substrate layer to the surface of the container.  
   
   
       35 . An identification system according to  claim 34;  further comprising a removable backing layer disposed over the adhesive layer for protecting the adhesive layer prior to adhering the substrate layer to the surface of the container.  
   
   
       36 . An identification system according to  claim 35;  wherein the opaque covering material comprises a coating of scratch-off non-transparent material that conceals the printed identifying indicia until the coating is scratched off to expose the preselected printed identifying indicia.  
   
   
       37 . An identification system according to  claim 33;  wherein the plurality of distinct and visibly different printed identifying indicia comprises a plurality of first distinct and visibly different printed identifying indicia and the surface portion of the container comprises a first surface portion of the container; and further comprising a plurality of second distinct and visibly different printed identifying indicia each corresponding identically to a respective one of the first printed identifying indicia, each of the second printed identifying indicia being configured to be disposed over a second surface portion of the container different from the first surface portion thereof so as to be generally aligned with a corresponding identical one of the first printed identifying indicia.  
   
   
       38 . An identification system according to  claim 37;  wherein the opaque covering material comprises a coating of scratch-off non-transparent material that conceals the first printed identifying indicia until the coating is scratched off to expose the preselected first printed identifying indicia.  
   
   
       39 . An identification system according to  claim 33;  wherein the opaque covering material has a plurality of visible discrete areas each covering a respective one of the printed identifying indicia.  
   
   
       40 . An identification system according to  claim 33;  wherein the opaque covering material comprises a coating of scratch-off non-transparent material that conceals the printed identifying indicia until the coating is scratched off to expose the preselected printed identifying indicia.  
   
   
       41 . An identification system for identifying a container, the identification system comprising: 
 a plurality of distinct and visibly different printed identifying indicia each for identifying a container and disposed on a surface portion of the container; and    an opaque covering material covering the printed identifying indicia, the opaque covering material being removable to selectively expose a preselected one of the printed identifying indicia for identifying the container by visual inspection of the exposed printed identifying indicia.    
   
   
       42 . An identification system according to  claim 41;  wherein the opaque covering material comprises a coating of scratch-off non-transparent material that conceals the printed identifying indicia until the coating is scratched off to expose the preselected printed identifying indicia.  
   
   
       43 . An identification system according to  claim 41;  wherein the plurality of distinct and visibly different printed identifying indicia comprises a plurality of first distinct and visibly different printed identifying indicia and the surface portion of the container comprises a first surface portion of the container; and further comprising a plurality of second distinct and visibly different printed identifying indicia each corresponding identically to a respective one of the first printed identifying indicia, each of the second printed identifying indicia being configured to be disposed over a second surface portion of the container different from the first surface portion thereof so as to be generally aligned with a corresponding identical one of the first printed identifying indicia.  
   
   
       44 . An identification system according to  claim 43;  wherein the opaque covering material comprises a coating of scratch-off non-transparent material that conceals the first printed identifying indicia until the coating is scratched off to expose the preselected first printed identifying indicia.  
   
   
       45 . An identification system according to  claim 41;  wherein the opaque covering material has a plurality of visible discrete areas each covering a respective one of the printed identifying indicia.  
   
   
       46 . An identification system according to  claim 45;  wherein the opaque covering material comprises a coating of scratch-off non-transparent material that conceals the printed identifying indicia until the coating is scratched off to expose the preselected printed identifying indicia.  
   
   
       47 . An identification system according to  claim 45;  wherein the visible discrete areas comprise portions of the opaque covering material separated by visible demarcations.  
   
   
       48 . An identification system according to  claim 45;  wherein the visible discrete areas comprise a plurality of separated portions of the opaque covering material disposed in spaced-apart relation from one another.  
   
   
       49 . An identification system according to  claim 48;  wherein the plurality of distinct and visibly different printed identifying indicia comprises a plurality of first distinct and visibly different printed identifying indicia and the surface portion of the container comprises a first surface portion of the container; and further comprising a plurality of second distinct and visibly different printed identifying indicia each corresponding identically to a respective one of the first printed identifying indicia, each of the second printed identifying indicia being configured to be disposed over a second surface portion of the container different from the first surface portion thereof so as to be generally aligned with a corresponding identical one of the first printed identifying indicia.  
   
   
       50 . An identification system according to  claim 49;  wherein the opaque covering material comprises a coating of scratch-off non-transparent material that conceals the first printed identifying indicia until the coating is scratched off to expose the preselected first printed identifying indicia.  
   
   
       51 . An identification system for identifying a container, the identification system comprising: 
 a plurality of distinct and visibly different printed identifying indicia each for identifying a container, the printed identifying indicia being disposed in spaced-apart relation from one another and arranged in a prescribed pattern along an exterior sidewall surface of the container; and    a plurality of opaque coverings covering the respective printed identifying indicia, the opaque coverings being removable to selectively expose a preselected one of the printed identifying indicia for identifying the container by visual inspection of the exposed printed identifying indicia.    
   
   
       52 . An identification system according to  claim 51;  further comprising a plurality of exposed distinct and visibly different printed identifying indicia each corresponding identically to a respective one of the first printed identifying indicia covered by the respective opaque covering, each of the exposed printed identifying indicia being disposed along the exterior sidewall surface of the container so as to be generally aligned with a corresponding identical one of the printed identifying indicia covered by the respective opaque covering.