Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The Invention relates to a combination container such as a beverage or food
container
for a primary product and having a label provided with a compartment for
storing a
secondary item such as a novelty or the like, or consumeables such as cookies,
or
candy, and in particular to such a container in which the label of the
container
incorporates a secondary compartment, outside the container.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
At various sporting events, and other public events, venues and vacation
locations
containers, usually containing beverages or food products , are provided to
consumers
and to spectators, In many such occasions or events, these persons may wish to
be
provided with a secondary item or a novelty item or some memento of the
occasion or
event. They may also wish to have the convenience of a paper towel or so
called "wet
wipe". In many cases such an item may for example be a pennant, or a picture
of a
participant or some article such as a badge, these being merely a few typical
examples
of such secondary items novelties or mementos, or consumables such as cookies,
candy , breath mints or the like, collectively herein "secondary items ". It
is considered
desirable to provide a combination container, for example a beverage container
for a
primary product and which incorporates a secondary compartment for carrying
such a
secondary item . In this way, when the person uses such a beverage or food
container,
the secondary item can be withdrawn from the compartment and either used as
part of
the persons activity or can be retained as a memento, or in the case of a
paper towel
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can allow the person to clean up.
Companies may wish to advertise new products or services, and may cross-
promote
with other companies selling the food or beverage item.
It has been known in the past to provide adhesive shipping labels, with
various forms of
compartments for containing letters, invoices, instructions, and address
information.
Examples of such earlier labels are shown in US. Patent 4928874, Granted May
29,
1990, Title: Mailer Like Business Form with Transparent Front, Inventor:
P.T.Henriette
et al.; US Patent 5226710, Granted July 13, 1993, Title: Vented Flexible Thin
Chemi-
Luminescent Device, Inventor: RD Giglin et al.; U. S Letters Patent 4932529
Granted
June 12,1990, Title: Display and Storage Container with a liner having a
spacer flap for
photographic prints, Inventor: H.M. Levine; U.S. Letters Patent 6589623
Granted July 8,
2003, Title: Duplex Label Pocket, Inventor: JD Roth; US Letters Patent 6234673
Granted May 22, 2001, Title: Total Value Package, Inventor: B.M. Tonoff,; U.S.
Letters
Patent 5531325 Granted July 2, 1996 Title: Storing and Dispensing System for
products packaged in a sealed pouch, Inventor: J.F. Deflander et al., U.S.
Letters
Patent 7717620, Granted May 18, 2010, Title: Flexible Packaging Structure with
a built-
in opening and re-close feature and method for making same, Inventor: R.C.
Hebert et
al.
All of these proposals are related to labelling devices which could be applied
to a
package having a flat surface, and are used simply for addressing the envelope
or
package.
The problem presented by the present invention is the fact that containers
such as
those sold at sporting events or other public occasions for example, are
usually round,
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although in some cases can be square sided. The usual label for these
containers, in
many cases, is simply printed on the round container itself. In other cases,
it may be
that an adhesive label is applied to the container. It is desirable to provide
a
combination container, having a first container for a primary product , a
secondary
compartment for a secondary item in such an adhesive label which can be
applied to a
round or square sided container, and still provide sufficient space within the
compartment to receive an item. It will also be appreciated that not
withstanding the
desirability of providing such a label with a secondary item compartment for
packaging
an item, on a container, the label on the container shall be clearly visible
to project the
primary message or identification of the primary product to the consumer . In
the case
where the primary label is printed directly on the container, the item
compartment
should be such that it does not obscure the label. In other cases, where the
label is
made as an adhesive sheet which is applied to the container, it is desirable
that the
item compartment in such a label shall not obscure the principal or primary
message
containing the name of the beverage.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
With a view to providing an article which achieves these various objectives,
the
invention provides a combination container, the container carrying a primary
product ,
and having a label bonded to the container, a secondary item compartment
integrally
formed with the label, and an access opening for said compartment, and a
closure
integrally formed with the label for closing the item compartment, the closure
being
releasable to remove the item.
Preferably the invention provides such a combination container in which the
label is
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formed of thermo plastic material, and an item compartment portion is formed
with the
label, and a closure for the compartment, all being integrally bonded
together.
Preferably, in one embodiment, the combination container will be a bottle with
a cap,
and the label will be bonded around the bottle, and the secondary item
compartment
will extend out from the label.
In this case the bottle will have a curved contour and the label will fit
around the curved
contour, the label having a predetermined first width, and the item
compartment having
a predetermined second width greater than said first width.
The various features which characterize the invention are pointed out with
more
particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure.
For a better
understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and specific objects
attained
by its use, reference should be made to the accompanying drawings and
descriptive
matter in which there are illustrated and described preferred embodiments of
the
invention.
IN THE DRAWINGS
Figure la is a perspective illustration of a combination container, in this
case a bottle
with a label, incorporating an integral secondary item compartment and
closure, and
showing a beverage container partially cut away;
Figure lb is a perspective illustration of the embodiment of Figure 1 a shown
applied to
an open topped cup, or container sleeve;
Figure 2a is a an exploded perspective illustration partially cut away,
illustrating the
embodiment of Figure 1 a or 1 b;
Figure 2b is a section along line 2b - 2b of Figure 2a;
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Figure 3a is a perspective illustration of an alternate embodiment ;
Figure 3b is a perspective illustration of Figure 3a embodiment shown applied
to open-
topped container such as a cup or a container sleeve;
Figure 4a is a perspective illustration of a further alternate embodiment;
Figure 4b is a perspective illustration of the 4a embodiment, shown applied to
an open-
topped container or a sleeve;
Figure 5a is a perspective illustration of a further embodiment of the
invention shown for
holding, for example, an elongated item; and ,
Figure 5b is a perspective illustration of the Figure 5a embodiment, shown
applied to an
open-topped container or a sleeve.
DESCRIPTION OF A SPECIFIC EMBODIMENT
As shown in Figure 1 a and Figure 2, a preferred embodiment of the invention
is shown
for the purposes of illustrating the invention. In this embodiment, a primary
product
container (10) which in this case is in the shape of a bottle, but which may
be of any
material, or any other form of container or package, is shown having a label
(12) ,
applied to the exterior. Typically the label will wrap around, or at least,
three quarters of
the way around the container, and is usually adhesively bonded to the
container. The
label is usually formed of paper, thermo plastic material or the like, such as
is well
known in the labelling art.
On the face of the label, there is a secondary item pocket (14), typically
adhesively
bonded to the label. The pocket may be adhesively bonded along three edges.
The
pocket typically is made of thermo plastic material so as to be somewhat
resilient and
stretchable or at least capable of adopting the shape of the secondary item to
be
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inserted into it.
Typically the pocket (14) will have a front panel portion (16) and side panel
portions
(18) which are bonded to the label (12) or joined around the three sides,
leaving the
pocket free in the main central area (20). The front portion (16) is therefore
capable
of being somewhat expanded and extended relative to the label (12), to
accommodate
a secondary item (T). A closure flap (22) may fold over the open side of the
front
portion. The closure may be adhesively bonded to the front portion (16) for
security.
As shown in more detail in Figure 2 a and 2 b , the front portion (16) of the
pouch or
pocket (14) will preferably provide a pocket, into which an item (T) can be
inserted. The
front portion (16) of the pocket (14), may be formed with generally L-shaped
end walls
(24) , providing a marginal bonding area for bonding to the label (12) .
End walls (24) are gussets which are pleated so as to permit expansion of
front panel
portion (16) to accommodate a more bulky item, as shown in phantom.
Preferably,
there will be suitable graphics (G ) printed on the front portion panel (16) .
Typically
there will also be a printed or bonded rearward label (26) , so as to provide
a complete
wrap around the container (10).
A secondary item indicated generally as (T), is shown schematically, prior to
insertion
into the pocket (14), and the closure flap (22 ) would then be folded over and
optionally
bonded to the front portion (16) , to retain the item (T) in position. As
noted the item T
may be selected from a wide group of secondary items, which would be suited to
the
purpose of supplying a combined package consisting of the main container (10)
with its
contents, whether food or drink, and the pocket containing the secondary item
T, of
whatever nature is deemed to be suitable for supplying as the combined with
the
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primary product in container (10)
Referring now to Figure 1 b, this illustrates a pouch or pocket (30) similar
to Figure 1 a,
when applied to an open-topped cup or container (C), which may contain a food
item or
a beverage or any other item that may be sold to a consumer. The Figure 1 b
illustration also represents a sleeve (32) , typically a thermal insulation
sleeve, which
may be slid onto a container where the container, for example, contains a hot
beverage, and some form of thermal insulation is required for comfort.
The sleeve, would thus be provided with the label and pouch (30) .
Referring now to Figures 3a, this illustrates an alternate form of label. In
this case,
there is a wrap around label (40) , and a front panel (42) is adhered to the
label (40)
down each of three edges, as shown in phantom, leaving a loose distended
portion (44)
between the three bonded edges. This embodiment would be substantially similar
to
the Figure 1 embodiment with the exception that there is no closure flap
required.
Figure 3b illustrates an embodiment similar to Figure 3a but when applied to a
cup, or
for example, a thermal insulating sleeve for a hot beverage.
Figure 4a is a further embodiment. In this case, it is assumed that the item
(not shown)
would be relatively thin and not require a distended pouch. Such an item
might, for
example, be a souvenir player card, or for example, a ticket to some other
event, or a
ticket for another product, or a discount offer, (not shown).
In this case, the pouch will consist of a single panel label (50 ) which is
wrapped
around the container (10). The panel (50) is provided with a single transverse
slit (52).
The bonding of the panel (50) will be restricted by the phantom lines (54) .
In this way a front portion of the panel (50) is left free of bonding to the
container. A
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thin item can then be slid into the slit, (52) and hidden behind the un-bonded
portion of
the panel (50).
A similar embodiment is shown in Figure 4b, in which case, the label (50) is
shown
applied either to an open-topped cup or a thermal insulating sleeve.
A further embodiment is shown is Figure 5a. In this case the label consists of
a
rearward panel 60 ) which is bonded to the container (10). A front pocket
panel (62) is
in the form a strip with side edges and bonded as shown in phantom, along each
side
edge (64). Along the top and bottom edges (66) of the front panel (62) ,
generally U-'
shaped indents (68) are formed. This embodiment will be particularly suitable
for the
use of the insertion of items of slim but elongated nature. Such items may
include,
simply, a straw, or a flag or some other item which may be rolled tightly up.
Such an
elongated item is slid under the front panel (62) , and the U-shaped indents
(68)
facilitate the insertion of the item into the front panel (62) .
Figure 5b illustrates an embodiment similar to 5a but shown applied to an open-
topped
cup, or for example, a thermal insulating sleeve.
The foregoing is a description of a preferred embodiment of the invention
which
is given here by way of example only. The invention is not to be taken as
limited to any
of the specific features as described, but comprehends all such variations
thereof as
come within the scope of the appended claims.
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