Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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BOTTLE WITH PEELABLE LABEL
Technical Field
[0001] The present disclosure relates generally to labeled bottles, and labels
for
such bottles; and specifically to hinged labels and bottles comprising them.
Background
[0002] Bottles used for products such as medications, vitamins, food, liquids,
and
the like, often include one or more labels for displaying information and/or
images
associated with the contents of the bottle or with the manufacturer of the
product.
In many industries, regulatory or other requirements may be imposed which
specify
at least a portion of information that must be included on such a label. For
example, bottles containing medications may be required to display information
relating to usage. active ingredients, recommended dosage and potential side
effects of the medication.
[0003] The amount of information to be displayed on a label may be quite
significant. If the printable area of a bottle label is not sufficient for all
the desired
information, a manufacturer may need to either a) increase the size of the
bottle in
order to allow for a larger label or b) decrease the size of the printing
and/or
images.
[0004] Increasing the size of a bottle may be undesirable for a number of
reasons.
First, requiring a larger bottle may increase manufacturing, storage and
shipping
costs. Retailers may prefer smaller bottles because less shelf space is
required to
display the bottles. Smaller bottles are also desirable for environmental
reasons
due to the excess waste larger bottles may create.
[0005] Decreasing the size of the printing and/or images on a label may also
be
undesirable as this may reduce the visibility and/or legibility of the
information.
This may be particularly problematic to consumers with visual impairments.
[0006] Therefore, it may be advantageous to maximize the printable area on a
label
without requiring an increase in the size of the bottle to which it is
affixed.
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Summary
[0007] In one aspect the invention provides labeled bottles. A bottle
according to
such aspect comprises an outer surface having at least one substantially flat
face
portion, and a label. The label comprises a permanent label portion and at
least
one hinged leaf portion. The permanent label portion has an outer surface and
a
inner surface, the inner surface being attached to the outer surface of the
bottle by
an adhesive. The at least one hinged leaf portion is hingeably attached to the
outer
surface of the permanent label portion, and is configured to overlie at least
a
portion of the outer surface of the permanent label portion. The portion of
the
permanent label portion overlaid by the hingeably-attached portion is
substantially
adjacent to the at least one substantially flat face portion of the bottle.
The labeled
bottle further comprises a re-sealable agent (also known as a 'release agent')
disposed between an inner surface of the at least one leaf portion and the
outer
surface of the permanent label portion in such manner as to re-sealably attach
the
leaf portion to the permanent label portion.
[0008] The label, or portions of it, may be laminated, and may comprise one or
more tabs configured to aid in peeling the hinged leaf portion from the
permanent
label portion. The label may comprise a plurality of hinged leaf portions
hingeably
attached to the outer surface of the permanent label portion.
[0009] Labels in accordance with the invention, or various portions thereof,
may
comprise information printed theren for consideration by a user of the bottle
and/or
its contents.
Brief Description of the Drawings
[0010] Reference will now be made to the drawings, which show by way of
example
embodiments of the present disclosure.
[0011] FIG. la shows a front elevation view of an embodiment of a bottle in
accordance with the disclosure, comprising a hinged, peelable label portion in
a
closed position.
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[0012] FIG. lb shows a bottom plan cross-sectional view of a bottle consistent
with
Figure la, and showing a second hinged, peelable label portion.
[0013] FIG. 2a shows a front elevation view of an embodiment of a bottle in
accordance with the disclosure, comprising a hinged, peelable label portion in
an
open position.
[0014] FIG. 2b shows a bottom plan cross-sectional view of a bottle consistent
with
Figure 2a, and showing a second hinged, peelable label portion, each hinged
label
portions in an open position.
[0015] Throughout the appended drawings, like features are identified by like
reference numerals.
Descriution of Example Embodiments
[0016] Reference is made to Figures 1 and 2, which show an example of a
combination 100 in accordance with the invention, comprising a bottle 101 and
a
peelable label 102 affixed thereto in accordance with the disclosure herein.
[0017] In the example shown in Figures 1 and 2, bottle 101 forms a vessel for
containing any solids, liquids, etc. as desired, including for example any
bottles
known in the art and otherwise compatible with the disclosure herein, and
comprises a plurality of substantially flat face portions 120, 122; corners
123
connecting the substantially flat face portions in a desirably fluid- or solid-
tight
configuration; and a cap 124 of suitable configuration.
[0018] Bottle 101 may be made of any material suitable for its intended
purpose,
such as, for example, glass, metal or plastic. The cross-section of bottle
101, and
in particular the plan cross-section (i.e., an upwardly- or downwardly-
considered
cross section when conceptually viewed along a horizontal plane through the
bottle,
as shown in Figures lb and 2b), may be of any shape any suitable shape, such
as,
for example, square, rectangular, rounded (with, as explained below, a
relatively
large radius of curvature) or triangular. It may be particularly advantageous
to use
labels 102 in combination with bottles of substantially rectangular cross
section, as
they provide relatively large substantially flat surfaces on which to place re-
sealable
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in accordance with the disclosure, and it may be advantageous, in various
applications, for all or substantially all of a re-sealably peelable hinge
portion of a
label to overlie a substantially flat portion of the outer surface of the
bottle.
Moreover, bottles of substantially rectangular cross section (as shown in
Figures 1 -
2) may offer other advantages such as, for example, very efficient packaging
in
boxes and storage on shelves, etc. The contents of bottle 101 may include any
type of solid or liquid substance(s) such as, for example, medications,
vitamins,
food, liquids, or the like. Those of skill in the art will recognize that a
wide variety
of bottles are suitable for use with peelable label 102 in accordance with the
invention.
[0019] It has been found that the use of bottles having one or more
substantially
flat faces, as for example any one or more of faces 120 of bottle 101 shown in
the
figures, are particularly well suited to implementation of the invention, as
hinged
leaf portions of labels of the type described herein are enabled to re-close,
or re-
seal, without assistance from a user of the bottle, or with reduced assistance
from
such user, in a noticeably improved fashion. Such bottles include, for
example,
bottles of substantially rectangular cross section.
[0020] To say that a curved surface such as those of bottle faces 120 of
Figures 1
and 2 is substantially flat means, functionally, that they are sufficiently
flat to allow
hinged or other re-sealably engaged leaf portions as described herein to re-
close, or
re-seal, when released from an open position, without significant assistance
from a
user of the bottle, or with reduced assistance. For example, it has been found
that
bottles having faces which comprise radii of curvature of approximately ten
inches,
or 1/3 meter, or more, will serve, when implemented using materials as
disclosed
or suggested herein. A bottle of approximately the geometry shown in Figures 1
-
2 (particularly Figures lb and 2b), taken as actual size when printed on
letter-sized
paper, will serve well, particularly with respect to faces 120, 122.
[0021] In the example shown in Figures 1 and 2, label 102 comprises permanent
label portion 104 and a plurality (in the example shown, two) hinged leaf
portions
103. Permanent label portion 104 includes an outer surface 109 (i.e., the
surface
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visible to a viewer of the bottle when the label is installed on the bottle)
and an
inner surface, 110.
[0022] Peelable label 102 may be comprised of any suitable material(s) or
combination(s) of materials, such as, for example, any or all of paper,
plastic, and a
wide variety of polymers. For example, a label comprising one or more plies of
polymer film or paper and polymer film laminate will serve. The selection of
suitable label materials will not trouble those skilled in the relevant
art(s), once
they have been made familiar with this disclosure. A suitable material or
combination of materials is a material or combination having a sufficient
combination of flexibility and rigidity (or resiliency) that, when used in
conjunction
with release agent(s) as disclosed herein, an opened hinged leaf portion 103
tends
to resealably close itself when released by a user of the bottle.
[0023] It has been found that suitably-configured labels composed of paper
laminated with various plastics, such as for example acetate, vinyl,
polypropylene
(including for example biaxially oriented polyproylene, or BOPP) and/or
polyethylene terephthalate (PET) film provide a number of advantages, such as
sufficiently high strength, flexibility,resiliency (or rigidity),
transparency, resistance
to tearing, etc. to accomplish the purposes herein. The use of BOPP, acetate,
vinyl,
and/or PET laminates can for example provide enough stiffness to aid in
unassisted
resealing, when used with release agents as described herein, without unduly
hindering a user in opening the label as, for example, to read material
printed on
either side thereof. Laminated paper used in implementing the invention may be
of
any weight and/or thickness compatible with the purposes disclosed herein, for
example within the range of about 40 to about 200 grams per square meter
(g/m2),
and particularly within the range of about 30 to about 150 grams per square
meter
(g/m2).
[0024] As a specific example, it has been found that in combination with a
bottle of
approximately the dimensions shown in Figures 1 - 2 (taken as life-sized), a
combination of laminated paper with BOPP coating, permanent adhesive, and
release agent according to the following specifications will serve:
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1 ml lam P/P paper, with film and permanent adhesive - 30 g/m2
3.2 raw BOPP - 56 g/m2
Release agent (as below) - 54 g/m2
Combination - adhesive, paper, laminate, release agent:
2.6 ml w/BOPP - 140 g/m2
[0025] In the embodiments shown in Figures 1 and 2, permanent label portion
104
comprises outer surface(s) 109 and inner surface(s) 110. Outer surface 109 of
permanent label portion 104 may have information printed thereon including,
for
example, words or images. Inner surface 110 may be affixed to the outer
surface
of bottle 101 using an adhesive 107 disposed, for example, in a layer on some
or all
of inner surface 110 of permanent label portion 104 and/or on the outer
surface of
bottle 101. Adhesive 107 may comprise any suitable adhesive material useful
for
affixing labels. Permanent label portion 104 may be affixed around any or all
of the
circumference of bottle 101. In some embodiments, one end of permanent label
portion 104 may overlap another end of permanent label portion 104.
[0026] Leaf portion(s) 103 may be hingedly attached to the outer surface of
the
permanent label portion 104 such that it/they overlie at least a portion of
the outer
surface of permanent label portion 104, and particularly so that each can
overlie at
least a portion of a substantially flat portion of the outer surface of bottle
101.
FIGs. la and lb show leaf portion(s) 103 in a closed attached positions.
[0027] Leaf portion(s) 103 may be provided through the use of separate label
portions, permanently adhered to permanent label portion 104, and/or through
the
use of a single label, wrapped around the bottle 101 and permanently adhered
thereto so as to overlap itself and overhang by a length sufficient to provide
a
pendant, hinged leaf 103.
[0028] Leaf portion(s) 103 may comprise one or more tab portions 105 useful in
aiding in the release or opening of leaf portion(s) 103 as will be discussed
below in
relation to FIGs. 2a and 2b. In some embodiments, the radius of the bottle,
and
particularly a corner radius 123, may allow tab portion 105 to "pop out",
making it
easier for a consumer to grab and use the tab. For example, in some
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embodiments, the bottle may have a substantially rectangular cross-section
such
that the tab portion is in close proximity to a sharp curvature of the bottle
making
causing the tab portion 105 to partially release from permanent label portion
104.
[0029] A peelable label 102 may comprise a single piece of material which
includes
one or more integral leaf portion(s) 103 configured for folding or otherwise
hingeable attachment. Alternatively, leaf portion(s) 103 may be a separate
piece of
material attached to permanent label portion 104. In some embodiments, a
permanent adhesive substance may be used to hingedly attach leaf portion(s)
103
to permanent label portion 104.
[0030] A re-sealing, or release, agent 108 may be disposed, as for example in
a
spread or affixed layer, between leaf portion(s) 103 and permanent label
portion
104. Re-sealable agent layer 108 may be adapted to keep leaf portion(s) 103
attached to permanent label portion 104 when leaf portion(s) 103 is in a
closed or
attached position, as shown in FIGs. la and 1b. This release agent layer may
comprise any type of releasable agent suitable for use with a label described
herein.
The re-sealable agent may be applied to leaf portion(s) 103 or permanent label
portion 104 or both. Examples of compounds which have been reported to have
been used as release agents 108 with satisfactory results include ultraviolet-
light
(UV) - activated flexographic silicone-based release agents. A specific
example of a
release agent reported to have been used satisfactorily is Crystal Coat
Barrier
CAOP-3631 from Akzo Nobel, Inc..
[0031] Permanent attachment of label 102 to bottle 101 may be accomplished
through the use of any adhesive compatible with the purposes and materials
disclosed or suggested herein. Examples of compounds which have reportedly
been
used permanent adhesives by others, in analogous applications, Fasson S-1000,
S-
900, or 5-2001.
[0032] The combination(s) of label materials, adhesives, and bottle geometry
disclosed herein may be exploited to provide labels which are flexible enough
to
open easily, as for example to allow a user of a bottle to read material
printed on
the label(s), yet stiff enough re-close, or re-seal, without or substantially
without
assistance from such user. In particular, the re-closing or re-sealing process
has
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been observed to be materially aided through the use of bottles 101 having
substantially flat surfaces overlaid with re-openable, re-closeable, and/or re-
sealable hinged portions, coated with resealing agents, as disclosed herein.
Thus in
some embodiments, the material(s) used in creating leaf portion(s) 103 may be
rigid but still elastic enough to bias back to the closed position. For
example, in
some embodiments, leaf portion(s) 103 may comprise paper permanently coated
with a laminate coating. The laminate coating may be comprised of plastic or
any
suitable material.
[0033] The outside surface 112 of leaf portion(s) 103 may have information
printed
thereon including, for example, words or images representing useful
information
about the contents of a bottle, a manufacturer, warnings, etc.
[0034] Leaf portion(s) 103 may be configured to as to provide a gap 106
between
leaf portion(s) 103 in a closed position and a main part of permanent label
portion
104. Gap 106 may be useful in the releasing and reattaching of leaf portion(s)
103.
[0035] Peelable label 102 may comprise any number of leaf portions 103. For
example, in FIG. 1b, peelable label 102 is shown with two leaf portions 103,
one on
either side of bottle 101.
[0036] Reference will now be made to FIGs. 2a and 2b which show an example of
a
bottle 101 with an embodiment of a peelable label 102 affixed thereto with
leaf
portion(s) 103 shown in an open or released position in accordance with the
invention.
[0037] Leaf portion 103 may be released from, and subsequently re-attached to,
permanent label portion 104. Releasing leaf portion(s) 103 may require force
to be
applied to the label, such as a consumer pulling on tab portion 105. In some
embodiments, once the force is removed from leaf portion(s) 103, leaf
portion(s)
103 may automatically return to a closed position.
[0038] The use of a permanent adhesive substance to hingedly attach leaf
portion(s)
103 to permanent label portion 104, as described above, may help limit the
amount
that leaf portions(s) 103 may be pulled away from permanent label portion 104
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which may help ensure that leaf portions(s) 103 will automatically return to a
closed position.
[0039] As noted, the use of a substantially rectangular bottle 101 having
substantially flat sides may also help ensure that leaf portions(s) 103 will
automatically return to a closed position as leaf portions(s) 103 will
generally not
be pulled as far from the closed position as with, for example, a
substantially round
bottle 101.
[0040] Leaf portion(s) 103 comprises an inner surface 111, some or all of
which
may be visible when leaf portion(s) 103 is in an open position as shown in
FIGs. 2a
and 2b. Inner surface 111 of leaf portion(s) 103 may have information printed
thereon including, for example, words or images. The area of permanent label
portion 104 underlying leaf portion(s) 103 when the leaf portion(s) 103 is in
a
closed position may also have information printed thereon including, for
example,
words or images. In some embodiments, information may be displayed on peelable
label 102 in a format similar to a book when leaf portion(s) 103 is in an open
position, as shown in FIG. 2a.
[0041] While the disclosure has been provided and illustrated in connection
with
specific, presently-preferred embodiments, many variations and modifications
may
be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention(s)
disclosed
herein. The disclosure and invention(s) are therefore not to be limited to the
exact
components or details of methodology or construction set forth above. Except
to
the extent necessary or inherent in the processes themselves, no particular
order to
steps or stages of methods or processes described in this disclosure,
including the
Figures, is intended or implied. In many cases the order of process steps may
be
varied without changing the purpose, effect, or import of the methods
described.
The scope of the claims is to be defined solely by the appended claims, giving
due
consideration to the doctrine of equivalents and related doctrines.
