Protective label

1. An article comprising:

a base panel having at least a portion of its upper surface adapted for retaining thereon indicia of displayed information;

a securing flap secured to the base panel and having an upper surface and a lower surface; and

a flexible protective flap having a lower surface and comprising (i) a fixed-end section that is secured to the base panel and the securing flap and (ii) a free-end section that includes at least a portion of an edge of the protective flap,

wherein:

the base panel and the securing flap are arranged so that at least a portion of the securing flap can overlie indicia retained on the upper surface of the base panel so that the retained indicia are observable through the securing flap;

the base panel, the securing flap, and the protective flap are arranged so that at least part of the free-end section of the protective flap can overlie the retained indicia with at least a portion of the securing flap between the lower surface of the free-end section of the protective flap and the upper surface of the base panel; and

the base panel, the securing flap, and the protective flap are arranged so that the free-end section of the protective flap remains freely, repeatedly movable, without disturbing any of the retained indicia, without any attachment or adhesion to the securing flap, and without any detachment of the fixed-end section of the protective flap, between (i) a first configuration wherein the free-end section of the protective flap overlies the retained indicia and the overlying portion of the securing flap, and (ii) a second configuration wherein the lower surface of the free-end section of the protective flap and the upper surface of the overlying portion of the securing flap are sufficiently separated to yield a line of sight to-the-retained indicia that substantially avoids the protective flap.

2. The article of claim 1 wherein the retained indicia are observable through the protective flap.

3. The article of claim 1 wherein the protective flap comprises an elastically deformable material and is arranged so as to rest with its lower surface against the upper surface of the securing flap in the absence of an externally applied force.

4. The article of claim 1 wherein the securing flap includes an adhesive layer on at least a portion of its lower surface arranged to secure the lower surface of the securing flap to the upper surface of the base panel.

5. The article of claim 4 wherein the securing flap includes a release liner on the adhesive layer.

6. The article of claim 1 wherein the base panel, the securing flap, and the protective flap are secured together near a common edge of each.

7. The article of claim 1 further comprising means for securing together the base panel, the securing flap, and the protective flap.

8. The article of claim 1 further comprising means for hanging the article.

9. The article of claim 1 further comprising a grommet for hanging the article, wherein the grommet penetrates and secures together the base panel, the securing flap, and the protective flap.

10. A method comprising:

adapting at least a portion of an upper surface of a base panel for retaining thereon indicia of displayed information;

securing to the base panel a securing flap having an upper surface and a lower surface; and

securing to the base panel and the securing flap a flexible protective flap having a lower surface and comprising (i) a fixed-end section that is secured to the base panel and the securing flap and (ii) a free-end section that includes at least a portion of an edge of the protective flap,

wherein:

the base panel and the securing flap are arranged so that at least a portion of the securing flap can overlie indicia retained on the upper surface of the base panel so that the retained indicia are observable through the securing flap;

the base panel, the securing flap, and the protective flap are arranged so that at least part of the free-end section of the protective flap can overlie the retained indicia with at least a portion of the securing flap between the lower surface of the free-end section of the protective flap and the upper surface of the base panel; and

the base panel, the securing flap, and the protective flap are arranged so that the free-end section of the protective flap remains freely, repeatedly movable, without disturbing any of the retained indicia, without any attachment or adhesion to the securing flap, and without any detachment of the fixed-end section of the protective flap, between (i) a first configuration wherein the free-end section of the protective flap overlies the retained indicia and the overlying portion of the securing flap, and (ii) a second configuration wherein the lower surface of the free-end section of the protective flap and the upper surface of the overlying portion of the securing flap are sufficiently separated to yield a line of sight to the retained indicia that substantially avoids the protective flap.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein the retained indicia are observable through the protective flap.

12. The method of claim 10 wherein the protective flap comprises an elastically deformable material and is arranged so as to rest with its lower surface against the upper surface of the securing flap in the absence of an externally applied force.

13. The method of claim 10 wherein the securing flap includes an adhesive layer on at least a portion of its lower surface arranged to secure the lower surface of the securing flap to the upper surface of the base panel.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein the securing flap includes a release liner on the adhesive layer.

15. The method of claim 10 wherein the base panel, the securing flap, and the protective flap are secured together near a common edge of each.

16. The method of claim 10 further comprising providing means for hanging the article.

17. The method of claim 10 further comprising providing a grommet for hanging the article, wherein the grommet penetrates and secures together the base panel, the securing flap, and the protective flap.

18. A method comprising:

displaying an article, with a free-end section of a flexible protective flap of the article in a first configuration, in a use environment until exposure to the use environment degrades an exposed upper surface of the protective flap of the article; and

moving the free-end section of the protective flap from the first configuration to a second configuration,

wherein:

the article comprises (a) a base panel having at least a portion of its upper surface adapted for retaining thereon indicia of displayed information, (b) a securing flap secured to the base panel, and (c) the flexible protective flap having a lower surface and the upper surface and comprising (i) a fixed-end section that is secured to the base panel and the securing flap and (ii) the free-end section that includes at least a-portion of an edge of the protective flap;

the base panel and the securing flap are arranged so that at least a portion of the securing flap overlies indicia retained on the upper surface of the base panel;

the base panel, the securing flap, and the protective flap are arranged so that, in the first configuration, at least part of the free-end section of the protective flap overlies the retained indicia with at least a portion of the securing flap between the lower surface of the free-end section of the protective flap and the upper surface of the base panel; and

the base panel, the securing flap, and the protective flap are arranged so that the free-end section of the protective flap remains freely, repeatedly movable, without disturbing any of the retained indicia, without any attachment or adhesion to the securing flap, and without any detachment of the fixed-end section of the protective flap, between (i) the first configuration and (ii) a second configuration wherein the lower surface of the free-end section of the protective flap and the overlying portion of the securing flap are sufficiently separated to yield a line of sight to the retained indicia that substantially avoids the protective flap.

19. The method of claim 18 further comprising, before displaying the article:

applying to the upper surface of the base panel the retained indicia; and

securing at least a portion of the securing flap over the retained indicia.

20. The method of claim 18 further comprising, after moving the free-end section of the protective flap from the first configuration to the second configuration, observing the retained indicia.

21. The method of claim 18 further comprising, after moving the free-end section of the protective flap from the first configuration to the second configuration, permitting the free-end section of the protective flap to return to the first configuration.

22. The method of claim 18 wherein the protective flap comprises an elastically deformable material and is arranged so as to rest with its lower surface against the upper surface of the securing flap in the absence of an externally applied force.

23. The method of claim 18 wherein the securing flap includes an adhesive layer on at least a portion of its lower surface arranged to secure the lower surface of the securing flap to the upper surface of the base panel.

24. The method of claim 18 wherein the securing flap includes a release liner on the adhesive layer, the method further comprising removing the release liner before securing the securing flap to the base panel.

25. The method of claim 18 wherein displaying the article comprises hanging the article.

26. The method of claim 25 wherein the article further comprises a grommet for hanging the article, wherein the grommet penetrates and secures together the base panel, the securing flap, and the protective flap.

27. The method of claim 18 wherein the exposed upper surface of the protective flap is degraded by splattered liquid, chemical damage, air-borne debris, or electromagnetic radiation.