U.S. patent application number 12/964449 was filed with the patent office on 2011-06-23 for customizable wrapper.
This patent application is currently assigned to Continental Datalabel, Inc.. Invention is credited to Allison L. Kuranda.
Application Number | 20110147255 12/964449 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 39316982 |
Filed Date | 2011-06-23 |
United States Patent
Application |
20110147255 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Kuranda; Allison L. |
June 23, 2011 |
CUSTOMIZABLE WRAPPER
Abstract
A customizable wrapper for a product, such as a candy bar,
including a wrapper assembly having a pair of removable edges. A
face sheet of the wrapper assembly includes a printable surface and
an integrated wrapper sized to cover the product on both a front
and back. A back sheet of the wrapper assembly includes a removable
portion at least partially overlaying the wrapper, the removable
portion removable to expose an adhesive surface along the wrapper.
The customized wrapper is then wrapped around the product and
adhered along the exposed adhesive.
Inventors: |
Kuranda; Allison L.;
(Belvidere, IL) |
Assignee: |
Continental Datalabel, Inc.
Elgin
IL
|
Family ID: |
39316982 |
Appl. No.: |
12/964449 |
Filed: |
December 9, 2010 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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11585789 |
Oct 24, 2006 |
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12964449 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
206/459.5 ;
53/461 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65B 11/48 20130101;
B65C 9/0006 20130101; B65C 9/08 20130101; B65D 65/14 20130101; B65C
1/04 20130101; B65C 9/0015 20130101; B65B 11/00 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
206/459.5 ;
53/461 |
International
Class: |
B65D 85/00 20060101
B65D085/00; B65B 11/00 20060101 B65B011/00 |
Claims
1. A method of customizing a wrapper of a product, comprising the
steps of: feeding a wrapper assembly into a printer; printing a
custom graphic on a printable surface of the wrapper assembly;
separating a wrapper including the custom graphic from the wrapper
assembly; wrapping the wrapper around the product; and adhering the
wrapper to cover a front and back of the product with the
wrapper.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein the wrapper assembly comprises a
face sheet including an adhesive coating and a back sheet disposed
over the adhesive coating.
3. The method of claim 2, further comprising removing a removable
edge from the wrapper assembly, the removable edge defined by a
tearable line of weakness extending through the face sheet and the
back sheet.
4. The method of claim 2, further comprising removing a removable
portion of the back sheet to expose the adhesive coating.
5. The method of claim 4, wherein the removable portion extends
along an edge of the wrapper.
6. The method of claim 4, wherein the removable portion extends
around a perimeter of the wrapper.
7. The method of claim 1, wherein the product is a candy bar.
8. The method of claim 7, wherein the wrapper is sized to extend
around a central portion of the candy bar and leaving end portions
of the candy bar exposed.
9. A method of customizing a wrapper of a product, comprising the
steps of: feeding a wrapper assembly into a printer; printing a
custom graphic on a printable surface of a face sheet of the
wrapper assembly; removing a removable edge from the wrapper
assembly to produce a wrapper sized to extend around the product;
removing a removable portion of a back sheet from the wrapper
assembly to expose an adhesive coating, the removable portion at
least partially overlaying the wrapper portion on the face sheet,
to expose the adhesive surface along at least one edge of the
wrapper; wrapping the product within the wrapper; and adhering the
exposed adhesive to cover a front and back of the product with the
wrapper.
10. The method of claim 9, wherein the face sheet includes the
adhesive coating and the back sheet is disposed over the adhesive
coating.
11. The method of claim 9, further comprising adhering the exposed
adhesive to the product.
12. The method of claim 11, wherein the removable portion extends
along an edge of the wrapper.
13. The method of claim 11, wherein the removable portion extends
around a perimeter of the wrapper.
14. The method of claim 9, wherein the product is a candy bar.
15. The method of claim 7, wherein the wrapper is sized to extend
around a central portion of the candy bar with ends of the candy
bar exposed.
16. A customizable wrapper for a product comprising: a wrapper
assembly having a face sheet, a back sheet, and a pair of removable
edges, each removable edge defined by a tearable line of weakness
extending through the face sheet and the back sheet; a printable
surface of the face sheet extending between the removable edges,
the printable surface being sized to wrap around and over the
product on both a produce front and a product back side; and a
removable portion defined by a tearable line of separation
extending through only the back sheet, the removable portion at
least partially overlaying the face sheet and removable to expose
an adhesive surface along the printable surface.
17. The customizable wrapper of claim 16, wherein the removable
portion extends along an edge of the wrapper.
18. The customizable wrapper of claim 16, wherein the wrapper is
sized to cover a candy bar.
19. The customizable wrapper of claim 16, further comprising
removable edges that are removable to define a size of the
wrapper.
20. The customizable wrapper of claim 19, wherein the wrapper
assembly is dimensioned to pass through a printer prior to removal
of the removable edges.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)
[0001] This application is a continuation of U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 11/585,789, filed on 24 Oct. 2006. The
co-pending parent application is hereby incorporated by reference
herein in its entirety and is made a part hereof, including but not
limited to those portions which specifically appear
hereinafter.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] This invention is directed to a customizable wrapper that
includes a wrapper assembly with a label having a printable
surface.
[0004] 2. Description of Related Art
[0005] Weddings, parties, corporate events, trade shows and similar
gatherings often require favors or giveaways. Typically, such
giveaways are customized by the giver to suit the particular event.
Several mail order companies exist that permit customization of
candy bars and similar items by custom printing wrappers to replace
the existing wrapper. Such wrappers are generally printed bands
that are swapped in exchange for the original band.
[0006] As such, a need arises for a customizable wrapper that a
gift or favor giver may design that is appropriate for the
particular gift, event, occasion, season and/or recipient.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] It is an object of the present invention to provide a
customizable wrapper for a product, such as a candy bar.
[0008] The above and other objects of this invention can be
attained with a wrapper assembly that includes a face sheet, a back
sheet and a pair of removable edges. The face sheet preferably
includes a printable surface, specifically along a wrapper portion
of the face sheet, which is sized to cover a product, preferably on
both a front and back, such as a candy bar.
[0009] According to a preferred embodiment of this invention,
removable edges are removed to define a size of the wrapper. Such
removable edges preferably permit standard sizing of the wrapper
assembly and thus permit feeding the wrapper assembly within a
typical consumer printer.
[0010] The back sheet of the wrapper assembly preferably includes a
removable portion at least partially overlaying the wrapper that is
removable to expose an adhesive surface along the wrapper.
According to one preferred embodiment of this invention, the
removable portion extends around a perimeter of wrapper, although
additional configurations are contemplated by this invention.
[0011] According to one preferred embodiment of this invention, one
or more lines of weakness may extend across the wrapper assembly to
define two or more wrappers within the wrapper assembly.
[0012] A corresponding method of customizing the wrapper for a
suitable product includes the step of feeding the wrapper assembly
into a printer. The printable surface is next printed with
customized information on the wrapper assembly, specifically on the
wrapper. Following removal from the printer, the pair of removable
edges are detached from the wrapper assembly and the removable
portion of the back sheet is removed from the wrapper assembly. The
removable portion thereby exposes an adhesive surface along at
least a portion of the wrapper. The product may then be wrapped
within the wrapper to cover a front and back of the product.
[0013] Other objects and advantages of this invention are apparent
to those skilled in the art, in view of the following detailed
description taken in conjunction with the appended claims and
drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0014] The present invention can be better understood with
reference to the following drawings. In the drawings, like
reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the
several views. The drawings are not necessarily to scale and
emphasis is placed upon clearly illustrating principles of the
present invention.
[0015] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a customized wrapper in
association with a candy bar according to one preferred embodiment
of this invention;
[0016] FIG. 2 is a plan view of a face sheet side of a wrapper
assembly according to one preferred embodiment of this
invention;
[0017] FIG. 3 is a plan view of a back sheet side of the wrapper
assembly opposite a face sheet side shown in FIG. 2, according to
one preferred embodiment of this invention; and
[0018] FIG. 4 is a plan view of a back sheet side of the wrapper
assembly opposite a face sheet side shown in FIG. 2, according to
another preferred embodiment of this invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0019] The present invention is directed to a customizable wrapper
for a wrapped product, such as shown in FIG. 1, including product
15 and wrapper assembly 20, such as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. At
least a portion of wrapper assembly 20 is preferably printable or
otherwise customizable and then assembled with product 15 to result
in a customized product 10.
[0020] Product 15 according to a preferred embodiment of this
invention may include a candy bar or any other suitable product,
edible or otherwise, that generally includes a wrapper or similar
identifiable packaging.
[0021] Wrapper assembly 20 preferably includes a face sheet 30 and
back sheet 60 removably adhered to face sheet 30. Face sheet 30
preferably includes at least one wrapper 50 that is removable from
the back sheet 60 and separable from wrapper assembly. Label 50
preferably includes at least one printable surface 52 upon which
information, decorations, personalization, etc. can be printed to
customize wrapper 50 and, thus, product 15.
[0022] FIGS. 2 and 3 show each side of wrapper assembly 20 (not
necessarily shown to scale) according to one embodiment of this
invention. Wrapper assembly 20 is desirably formed of a face sheet
30, shown in FIG. 2, and an opposite back sheet 60, shown in FIG.
3. Back sheet 60 is desirably approximately the same size as face
sheet 30, but may be larger or smaller than face sheet 30. A
surface of face sheet 30 that is disposed toward back sheet 30
preferably includes an adhesive material coating. The adhesive
coating can include any adhesive material known and available to
those skilled in the art for forming pressure sensitive, or
self-adhesive labels.
[0023] Wrapper assembly 20 is preferably of any suitable shape, and
generally any suitable size that can be accepted by and fed through
a printer, such as a laser printer or an ink jet printer. Common
sizes of paper generally fed through printers are 8.5 inches by 5.5
inches, 8.5 inches by 11 inches, 8.263 inches by 11.688 inches (A4
size), and 8.5 inches by 14 inches. Face sheet 30 is preferably,
but not necessarily, constructed of any suitable paper, paper
composite, non-metal and/or metal material that can be used as a
label. Other suitable materials for constructing face sheet 30
include fabric, plastic, and metal foils. The adhesive coating
covered by back sheet 60 is preferably applied to face sheet 30 in
any suitable manner known to those skilled in the art. Face sheet
30 desirably has a printable surface 52 on a side opposite the
adhesive coating.
[0024] Face sheet 30 and printable surface 52 can be any of a
variety of face materials used to make pressure sensitive, or
self-adhesive labels. Such face materials may include, but are not
limited to: smudgeproof stock, litho stock, cast coated stock, tag
stock, fluorescent stock, foils, computer printable polyester,
vinyl, satin cloth, Tyvek.TM. material, flexible plastic, book
papers, photo quality papers and/or photo quality film.
Furthermore, various portions of the face materials can be
different colors, thereby resulting in different colored parts.
[0025] The phrase "printable surface" relates to a surface of any
type of matter upon which a person or machine can draw, print,
color, paint, photocopy, write, emboss, or make any other type of
mark or graphic. Laser printers, ink jet printers, impact printers,
thermal transfer printers, direct thermal printers, typewriters, or
any other suitable graphic printing devices are preferred but not
necessary for use with printable surfaces according to this
invention. Customization on wrapper 50 may include one or more
images, patterns, print, pictures, drawings, letters, numbers,
words and/or symbols, for example, to relate the gift giver,
receiver and/or contents of product 15 to the customization.
[0026] As briefly described above, a layer of an adhesive is
preferably positioned between back sheet 60 and face sheet 30 so
that the adhesive adheres to face sheet 30 exclusively or at least
adheres to face sheet 30 more than to back sheet 60 when back sheet
60 is removed from face sheet 30, as described hereafter. As a
result of this configuration, wrapper assembly 20 preferably
includes face sheet 30 having a printable side and an opposite,
adhesive side and back sheet 60 including a separable side and an
opposite side.
[0027] Face sheet 30 may include a plurality of shapes of wrappers
50, defined in face sheet 30 as one or more individual wrappers 50
according to this invention. The phrase wrapper 50, "shape," or the
phrase "removable or tearable shape," are intended to relate to a
shape, such as the shapes identified in FIG. 2 by element reference
numeral 50, that can be removed or torn away from a remaining
portion of wrapper assembly 50, such as by removing edges 40.
Specifically, as described below in more detail, wrapper 50 is
preferably dimensioned to wrap a particular product 15 depending on
the size and shape of such product 15.
[0028] Tearable lines of weakness 45 can be formed as a
perforation, cut or similar weakness in wrapper assembly 20 known
to those skilled in the art, such as die-cut lines, perforated
lines, micro-perforated lines, or any combination of these types of
separation, or any other suitable structure that enables
separation, specifically separation of edges 40 from wrapper
assembly 20 and/or separation of multiple adjacent wrappers 50 from
each other. A preferred type of line of weakness 45 is a
perforation, such as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. Wrapper 50 can be
die-cut along at least a portion of a periphery, such that wrapper
50 can be easily removed or separated from face sheet 30, for
example after wrapper assembly 20 is run through a printer and edge
portions 40 of wrapper assembly 20 are removed as described
below.
[0029] In operation, wrapper assembly 20 includes face sheet 30 and
a pair of removable edges 40. Face sheet 30 includes printable
surface 52 as described, specifically along wrapper 50 which is
sized to cover product 15, preferably on both a front and back.
[0030] According to a preferred embodiment of this invention shown
in FIGS. 2 and 3, removable edges 40 are removed to define a size
of wrapper 50. As such, a smaller wrapper 50 will include larger
removable edges 40 and vice versa. Such removable edges 40 permit
standard sizing of wrapper assembly 20 and thus cooperation of
wrapper assembly 20 within a typical consumer printer.
[0031] Back sheet 60 of wrapper assembly 20 preferably includes
removable portion 70 at least partially overlaying wrapper 50 and
removable to expose an adhesive surface along wrapper 50. According
to one preferred embodiment of this invention, shown in FIG. 3,
removable portion 70 extends around a perimeter of wrapper 50.
[0032] Alternatively, or in addition, two removable portions 70 may
overlay wrapper 50 in parallel strips, such as shown in FIG. 4. The
two removable portions 70 may be removable to expose corresponding
strips of adhesive along wrapper 50. Wrapper assembly 20 may be
configured in other manners wherein removable portion 70 overlays
the entire wrapper 50 or a portion of wrapper 50 and wherein the
adhesive surface coats the entire wrapper 50 or only partially
coats wrapper 50.
[0033] According to one preferred embodiment of this invention, one
or more lines of weakness 45 may extend across wrapper assembly 20
to define two or more wrappers 50 within wrapper assembly 20, such
as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3.
[0034] A corresponding method of customizing wrapper 50 for a
suitable product 50 according to this invention includes the step
of feeding wrapper assembly 20 into a printer. Printable surface 52
is suitably printed with customized information on wrapper assembly
20, specifically on wrapper 50.
[0035] Following removal from the printer, a pair of removable
edges 70 are preferably detached from wrapper assembly 20. Wrapper
assembly 20 may then be subdivided into multiple wrappers 50 along
one or more lines of weakness 45.
[0036] Removable portion 70 of back sheet 60 is then removed from
wrapper assembly 20. Removable portion 70 thereby exposes an
adhesive surface along at least a portion of wrapper 50 for
instance, along at least one edge of wrapper 50 or around a
perimeter of wrapper 50. Product 15 may then be wrapped within
wrapper 50 which is adhered either to itself and/or product 15
along the adhesive surface to cover a front and back of product
15.
[0037] To decorate wrapper 50 according to one preferred embodiment
of this invention, wrapper assembly 20 is routed through a suitable
printer. Information downloaded from an internet website or saved
on a computer database for example, is printed on at least one
printable surface 52 of face sheet 30. For example, in one
preferred embodiment of this invention, a first set of information,
such as a corporate logo, is printed on printable surface 52 of
wrapper 50. In one preferred embodiment of this invention, a
database containing or having a plurality of downloadable images is
accessible from a personal computer or work station. At least one
of the downloadable images can be selected to download. After the
image is downloaded, the image is printed on wrapper 50. As used in
the specification and in the claims, the term "information" refers
to any suitable or desirable electronic image or design, such as a
digital photograph, picture, drawing, pattern, text and/or
symbol.
[0038] While in the foregoing specification this invention has been
described in relation to certain preferred embodiments thereof, and
many details have been set forth for purpose of illustration, it
will become apparent to those skilled in the art that the invention
is susceptible to additional embodiments and that certain of the
details described herein can be varied considerably without
departing from the basic principles of the invention. Therefore, to
particularly point out and distinctly claim the subject matter
regarded as the invention, the following claims conclude the
specification.
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