Note : Les descriptions sont présentées dans la langue officielle dans laquelle elles ont été soumises.
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LABELS AND PROMOTIONAL DEVICES
The present invention relate to labels and promotional
devices which include a display device and in particular to a
display device for incorporation into or onto products for
displaying information to a user or purchaser of the product e.g.
for promotional purposes or for conveying statutory information
such as instructions for use.
There have been developments over recent years in devices
for conveying information to a user or purchaser of a product and
in promotional devices, for example in competitions. Leaflet
labels have been known for a number of years and such leaflet
labels consist of a self-adhesive label incorporating a folded
booklet or leaflet for attachment to a product. The leaflet
label, when unfolded, reveals a large amount of information which
is printed on the leaflet or booklet, and the printed area of the
leaflet label is significantly larger than the footprint area of
the leaflet label which is required for labelling the product.
In this way, a large amount of information can be incorporated
into a relatively small labelling area. Examples of leaflet
labels, in particular overlaminated leaflet labels incorporating
a self-adhesive plastics overlaminate for protecting the leaflet
label, retaining the label in its closed configuration and
permitting reliable repeated access to the information in the
label are disclosed in my European Patent Nos. EP-A-0594560 and
EP-A-0628941.
It is also known to incorporate into products electronic
devices for conveying information to the user or purchaser of a
product. This information may relate to the intended use of the
product or safety information, or alternatively it may relate to
a promotion concerning the product, for example a competition,
a lottery or a money off promotion. For example, my EP-A-0233077
relates to a container for a product which incorporates a
removable closure and wherein removal of the closure from the
container triggers the generation of audible speech from a speech
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synthesiser associated with the container. Such an invention has been used
commercially in
promotions of products, for example in competitions wherein a small number of
winning
containers in a competition include the speech synthesiser in accordance with
my earlier
invention to indicate a winning product when the container is opened. The
container may be,
for example, a drinks can or a packet of dry goods, such as a breakfast
cereal.
There is a generally increasing need to display information on and in relation
to
products. Such information relates not only to promotional purposes, but also
to the provision
of statutory information, such as safety information and product warnings.
There is also a need
to display in relation to a product information which can be variable, and in
particular can be
updated readily over time.
The present invention aims to meet these needs.
Accordingly the present invention provides a label for a product, or a
promotional
device, including a flexible light emitting polymer screen.
The label may incorporate, or be interconnected with, an audible generator for
emitting
sound through the screen or a speaker, in conjunction with an image displayed
by the screen.
The invention in one broad aspect provides a label for a product, the label
including a
flexible light emitting polymer screen and a power and control device for
displaying an image
on the screen, the power and control device including a switching mechanism
which is
operated by touch or by detecting at least one of light, sound, temperature,
humidity or water.
The present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with
reference
to the accompanying drawings, in which:-
Figure 1 is a perspective view of a container labelled with a label in
accordance with
a first embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 2 is a perspective view of a box for a compact disc which is labelled
with a label
in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 3 is a perspective view of a leaflet label incorporating a flexible
light imaging
polymer screen in
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accordance with a third embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 4 is a perspective view of a label comprising a cover
for a printed publication in accordance with a fourth embodiment
of the present invention;
Figure 5 is a perspective view of a promotional device in
accordance with a fifth embodiment of the present invention; and
Figure 6 is a perspective view of a container labelled with
a label in accordance with a sixth embodiment of the present
invention.
Referring to Figure 1 there is shown a container 2 in the
form of a bottle which is labelled with a tubular sleeve-type
label 4 in accordance with a first embodiment of the present
invention. The label 4 comprises a flexible light emitting
polymer screen 6 which is carried on an underlying substrate 8,
for example a plastics layer covered on its rear face which a
pressure-sensitive adhesive so that the substrate is self-
adhesive. The flexible light emitting polymer screen 6 is
connected to a power and control device, indicated generally at
10, for providing the screen with electrical power in a
controlled way to ensure that the correct image is displayed by
the light emitting polymer screen 6. The power and control
device 10 includes a source of electrical power, for example a
battery or a solar cell. The power and control device 10 may
include a switching mechanism for switching on and off the light
emitting polymer screen 6. For example, the switching device may
be operated by detecting light, sound, temperature, humidity or
water or other climatic factors or by touch thereby to switch on
the screen to display a desired image. The desired image may be
preformed in the screen. Alternatively, the image may be a
variable image, with a display being pre-programmed into a
microprocessor of the power and control device 10. The displayed
image may comprise text and/or pictures which may be static or
moving, i.e. a video image. The image may be coloured or in
black and white. The screen could incorporate a hologram. The
screen could be divided into a plurality of areas so that
multiple images can be displayed.
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Flexible light emitting polymer screens.are known in the
art. Such screens consist of a transparent substrate on which
has been deposited, in turn, an electrode layer, two light
emitting polymer layers, and a grid of electrodes. When a
forward voltage is applied across the two light emitting polymer
layers, the light emitting polymer layers are illuminated and the
grid of electrodes is patterned so as define grid cells which can
make up an image. When only a single image is to be displayed
by the light emitted polymer screen, the patterned grid of
electrodes is defined and connected to the power and driving
control device 10 whereby only selected grid cells are
illuminated when the light emitting polymer screen 6 is switched
on. In this way, the selective image may be displayed. When the
screen 6 is intended to display an active changing image, then
each grid cell which is defined by a respective part of the grid
of electrodes requires a self-contained transistor associated
therewith which can be controlled to switch on or off the
respective grid cell on receiving a signal from the power and
control device 10, which typically then includes a
microprocessor.
The screen may be adapted to be a touch screen or audibly
sensitive, for example being voice activated.
In the embodiment of Figure 1, the container is also
provided with a closure 12 incorporating a speech synthesis
device 14 as disclosed in my EP-A-0233077. Alternatively, any
other audible generator could be employed. For example, the
audible generator may include a speaker and/or may be integrated
into or behind the screen 6.
In accordance with the invention disclosed and claimed in
EP-A-0233077, the closure of the container, is provided therein
or in association therewith with a speech processor which is
triggered to generate synthesised speech when the closure 12 is
removed from the container 2. The speech synthesiser may be
driven by a common power source with that of the light emitting
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polymer screen 6. The disclosures of EP-A-0233077 may be
referred to for further details.
Referring to Figure 2, a second embodiment of the present
invention comprises a light emitting polymer screen 16 in the
form of a self-adhesive label which is adhered to a product 18,
such as, in the illustrated embodiment, a plastics box for a
compact disc. Alternatively, the product 18 may comprise a
cigarette carton, or a case for packing a number of products.
As for the embodiment of Figure 1, the label is self-adhesive,
with the adhesive being permanent or removable. The package of
Figure 2 may additionally be provided with a speech synthesis
generator, similar to that described hereinabove with reference
to Figure 1, for generating synthesized speech when, for example
the box is opened. A power and control device 20 for the screen
16 may be disposed within the box 18.
A third embodiment of the present invention is illustrated
in Figure 3.
In this embodiment, a light emitting polymer screen 22 is
integrated into a leaflet label 24. The leaflet., label 24
comprises a rearmost self-adhesive support piece 26 comprising
paper which is coated on its rearmost surface with a pressure-
sensitive adhesive. The support piece 26 is releasably carried
on a backing 28 of release material, for example silicone-coated
paper. A folded leaflet or booklet 30 is disposed on the support
piece 26 and has a front sheet 31 which is covered by the light
emitting polymer screen 22 which is adhered by an adhesive strip
32 to the spine 34 of the leaflet or booklet 30 and by an
adhesive strip 36 to an edge 38 of the support piece 26. A layer
of self-adhesive transparent plastics overlaminate 42 is adhered
over the light emitting polymer screen 22 and is adhered to one
edge 40 of the screen 22 above the edge 38 of the support piece
26 on one side 44 of the label 24 and to the backing 28 of
release material on the other side 46 of the label 24. The
overlaminate 42 incorporates or covers the light emitting polymer
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screen 22. The light emitting polymer screen 22 may be powered
by a solar cell integrated into the leaflet label 24 or
alternatively the light emitting polymer screen 22 may, in use,
be electrically connected to a remote source of electrical power.
The light emitting polymer screen 22 may be arranged to provide
variable information, or updated information on a periodic basis
for subsequent issues of the leaflet label 24.
In an alternative arrangement, multiple screen layers are
provided, and one or more of such layers may be removable.
A fourth embodiment of the present invention is illustrated
in Figure 4. In this embodiment, a light emitting polymer screen
48 comprises, or is incorporated into, a cover 50 for a printed
publication 52, such as a book or a magazine.
A fifth embodiment of the invention is illustrated in Figure
5. In this embodiment, a flexible light emitting polymer screen
54 is formed as a game piece 56 for promotional purposes, for
example in lottery competitions, money off promotions and other
competitions for promotional purposes. The game piece 56
incorporates an integral power source and control device 58 for
the game piece 56. When the game piece is associated with a
label for a container, the power source and/or control device may
be provided in or on the label and/or the container.
A sixth embodiment of the present invention is illustrated
in Figure 6. In this embodiment, a leaflet label 60 comprises
a self-adhesive support piece 62 which is adhered to a product
in the form of a container 64. The leaflet label 60 also
includes a folded leaflet 66 which is adhered to the support
piece 62. The label 60 also incorporates a flexible light
emitting polymer screen 68 which is adhered to the support piece
62 adjacent the folded leaflet 66. The flexible light emitting
polymer screen 68 is arranged to display information, such as
variable information i.e. batch number and expiry date of a
pharmaceutical product to be contained within the container 64,
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the information being indicated by reference numeral 70 in Figure
6. The flexible light emitting polymer screen 68 may be powered
by a combined power source and control device which may be
provided on the support piece 62 as provided by reference numeral
72 or alternatively, the power and control device may be
incorporated within the container 64.
