U.S. patent application number 12/924728 was filed with the patent office on 2011-04-28 for wrap label with patterned adhesive.
Invention is credited to Robert E. Williams, JR..
Application Number | 20110094915 12/924728 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 43897483 |
Filed Date | 2011-04-28 |
United States Patent
Application |
20110094915 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Williams, JR.; Robert E. |
April 28, 2011 |
Wrap label with patterned adhesive
Abstract
A label for use on separable-lid containers, hinged-lid
containers, film-lid containers, and other types of packaging. The
label includes at least one primary surface and at least two ends,
with a patterned adhesive applied to said ends, and is designed to
wrap substantially around a container, adhering to the container
only at the surfaces with patterned adhesive. The bottom side of
the primary surface of the label is left free for printing,
couponing, or other use.
Inventors: |
Williams, JR.; Robert E.;
(Collinsville, IL) |
Family ID: |
43897483 |
Appl. No.: |
12/924728 |
Filed: |
October 4, 2010 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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61278383 |
Oct 6, 2009 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
206/459.5 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 65/14 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
206/459.5 |
International
Class: |
B65D 90/48 20060101
B65D090/48 |
Claims
1. A wrap label for application to a container, comprising a
patterned, die-cut piece of substantially planar flexible material,
said label having a top and bottom surface, at least one primary
surface for application of indicia, and at least two ends, with a
patterned adhesive applied to the bottom surface of said ends for
wrapping partially upon a container.
2. The label of claim 1, wherein adhesive is applied to the ends of
the label and to at least one other portion of the bottom surface
of the label.
3. The label of claim 1, wherein the ends of the wrap label contain
series of perforations, within the region of the planar adhesive as
applied to the bottom surface of the ends, said lines of
perforation facilitating the removal of the label as the container
is opened.
4. The wrap label of claim 3 wherein said label is formed of
paper.
5. The wrap label of claim 3 wherein said label is fabricated of
polymer.
6. The wrap label of claim 3 wherein said label applies over the
top of a container, an adhesively connects at its ends to one of
the sides or bottom of the container.
7. The wrap label of claim 3 wherein the top of the wrap label is
capable of adhering indicia thereon.
8. The wrap label of claim 3 wherein the top of the label is
capable of adhering at least one coupon thereon.
9. The wrap label of claim 3 wherein the ends of the wrap label are
substantially wider than the legs, to provide a greater expanse of
surface area to which adhesive made be applied for adhering the
label to the sides or bottom of the container to which the label is
applied.
10. The wrap label of claim 9 wherein the lines of perforation are
provided at the juncture between the label legs and their ends.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This non provisional patent application claims priority to
the provisional patent application having Ser. No.61/278,383,
having filing date Oct. 6, 2009.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] This invention relates generally to a label or tag with
patterned adhesive backing that can be affixed to a package or
product for identification, couponing, advertisement, bar coding,
or any other information that may be added to the package. Adhesive
labels in an enormous variety of shapes and sizes are attached to
packages to carry printed information about contents, safety,
manufacturer, and any number of other subjects. One of the severest
limitations of the utility of an adhesive label is the area of the
label available for printing. A simple label with adhesive covering
the majority of its bottom face has only the primary surface of the
top face for printing the desired information.
[0003] Various means have been proposed to increase the label area
available for printing. A common solution taught, for example, in
U.S. Pat. No. 6,073,377, to Mehta, and in U.S. Pat. No. 4,727,667,
to Ingle, employs what may be called an extended wrap label. Such a
label has a length greater than the circumference of the container
and wraps over itself, using a releasable adhesive to attach the
upper layer or layers to the layer affixed to the container.
[0004] Another means of increasing the label area available for
printing is taught, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 7,306,263, to
Hudson. The Hudson patent teaches a label with a plurality of
contiguous fan-folded pages affixed by adhesive to the surface of
the label, with strips of adhesive on the edges of the pages to
hold them flat when not in use.
[0005] These inventions teach labels with adhesive substantially
covering their bottom surfaces. The information-carrying potential
of the bottom surfaces of these labels is therefore wasted. In
addition, the width of these labels is uniform throughout,
requiring the inclusion of non-utile material.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] The present invention provides a label with patterned
adhesive that allows for more efficient use of the primary surface
of the label using less material. The label is designed to wrap
around three or four sides of the container or package, with
adhesive applied only to the ends of the label so that the label is
primarily adhered to the sides or bottom of the container while
leaving non-adhesive, unattached portions available on the primary
surface of the label for back printing, couponing, bar coding, or
any other purpose.
[0007] In the preferred embodiment, a label is designed for a
six-sided container. The label is a planar section of material with
a front, a back, two ends, a primary surface roughly midway between
the two ends, and two `legs,` narrower than the primary surface,
extending between the primary surface and the ends. The primary
surface is of a greater width than the remainder of the label. An
adhesive is applied to tabs at each end of the label. The label may
be constructed of a variety of films in a variety of calipers,
including, but not limited to, high density polyethylene (HDPE),
polypropylene, vinyl, polyester, polystyrene, and synthetic papers.
The label may also be constructed of a variety of calipers and
types of traditional papers, including, but not limited to,
electronic data processing (EDP), bond, offset, tag, index, ledger,
direct thermal, thermal transfer, high-gloss, semi-gloss, and linen
papers. In the preferred embodiment, the adhesive is a
pressure-sensitive adhesive, but a variety of adhesives may be
used, including, but not limited to, permanent and removable
adhesives; emulsion acrylic adhesives; hot melt rubber base
adhesives; and UV curable adhesives. The primary surface of the
label may be printed on either or both sides for use as a coupon,
warning label, description of contents, bar code, promotion,
incentive, or any other use desired. The primary surface of the
label is placed on the top of the package or container, and the
legs of the label wrap around the sides and/or bottom of the
container, where the ends are affixed thereto by the adhesive on
the end tabs. The primary surface of the label thus remains
unaffixed to the container. The label may also be shaped so that
the legs can be threaded through part of the container itself prior
to attachment of the label ends.
[0008] In another embodiment, adhesive may also be applied to the
back of the primary surface of the label to facilitate application
with automatic labeling equipment.
[0009] In another embodiment, a booklet or similar means of
expansion may be affixed by reusable adhesive to either side of the
primary surface of the label to provide greater capacity for
printed information.
[0010] In another embodiment, perforation may be added to the label
to allow for detachment of the primary surface from the remainder
of the label.
[0011] A further concept of this invention is to provide a label
that is tamper proof, and should the label be torn, or partially
removed, it would be indicative of an unauthorized entry into the
container, to caution a potential purchaser against
acquisition.
[0012] The principal object of this invention is to provide a
patterned adhesive label that attaches to the sides or bottom of a
container while leaving the primary surface unattached. In this
way, the tag may be used for a variety of purposes including, but
not limited to, sealing of clam shell containers; sealing of lidded
containers; providing evidence of tampering; single or double-sided
coupons; booklets; and product identification. The design of the
label lends itself to various sustainability initiatives including,
but not limited to, recycling, reduction of package material, and
use of biodegradable materials.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0013] In referring to the drawings,
[0014] FIG. 1 shows a bottom plan view of a wrap label with a
relatively larger primary surface, two relatively narrow legs, and
two adhesive ends;
[0015] FIGS. 2 and 3 show a wrap label in use on a hinged-lid
container. The primary surface of the tag substantially covers the
top of the container, and the adhesive ends of the tag are affixed
to the sides and bottom of the container;
[0016] FIG. 4 provides a plan view of a modification to the wrap
label, showing its pattered adhesive perforated tear lines when the
label is properly removed from its container.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0017] With reference to the drawings:
[0018] FIG. 1 is a bottom plan view of the preferred embodiment of
a wrap label 10 with primary surface 11, legs 12, and ends 13.
Slanted lines represent the patterned adhesive applied to the
bottom surfaces of ends 13. Broken vertical lines represent the
borders of the adhesive surfaces as at 14. The perforated lines 15
are to facilitate the tearing of the label from its applied
container, when a purchaser has acquired the food product or other
packaged goods, and desires to remove the label to attain access
into the container. The lines of perforation facilitate the tearing
at that location, particularly since the purchaser may want to
retain the label 10 intact, since it may contain instructions
coupons, or other useful information.
[0019] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a wrap 10 label in use on a
substantially six-sided hinged-lid container. The label has been
formed so that its primary surface 11 substantially covers the top
of the container, and the edges of the primary surface are
substantially contiguous with the contoured edges of the container
to make maximum use of the information-carrying capacity of the
label's primary surface. As can be seen and understood, the bottom
face of the primary surface is not adhered to the container. The
legs 12 of the label, as in FIG. 2, need not remain in close
contiguity with the container throughout their length. The ends of
the label are shown adhered to the vertical sides and the
horizontal bottom of the container. As can be seen and understood,
the design of the label is such that a single label is suitable for
use on a variety of container designs. The container in FIG. 2, for
instance, has an asymmetrical top surface, but the symmetrical
label is easily adapted for use with the container, as can be seen
in the illustration. A wrap label may also be fashioned
specifically for use on a particular type or shape of
container.
[0020] FIG. 3 is a second perspective view of the wrap label 10 in
use on the container of FIG. 2.
[0021] FIG. 4 shows a plan view for another label, of different
appearance, as can be noted at 16. This label likewise has a
substantial primary surface 17, and having integral legs 18
extending laterally from its surface. At the ends of the legs, as
at 19, there are a series of perforations, as at 20, and which
facilitate the removal of the label intact, by tearing at the lines
of perforation, when the primary surface of the wrap label 16 is to
be removed. Also, adhesive is applied to the undersurface of the
ends 19 of the label, at the region of the lines of perforation, to
allow the label to be applied to a container, after the container
is filled and latent with product for purchase.
[0022] Variation or modifications to the subject matter of this
invention may occur to those skilled in the art upon review of the
summary of the invention as provided herein, and upon undertaken a
study of the description of its preferred embodiment, in view of
the drawings. Such variations, if within the spirit of this
invention, are intended to be encompassed within the scope of any
claims to patent protection obtained hereon. For example, the
patterned label may be fabricated of paper, of a plastic, but which
may likewise, do to their patterned perforation, be easily torn
free from the latent container.
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