GB2382810A

GB2382810A - A label for necked containers

Info

Publication number: GB2382810A
Application number: GB0129101A
Authority: GB
Inventors: David Stevenson; Raymond Young
Original assignee: DITONE LABELS Ltd
Current assignee: DITONE LABELS Ltd
Priority date: 2001-12-05
Filing date: 2001-12-05
Publication date: 2003-06-11
Anticipated expiration: 2021-12-05
Also published as: GB2382810B; GB0129101D0

Abstract

A label (50) comprises a body (52) defining a hanger for hanging the label (50) around a necked-container and a leaflet (16) mounted on the body by a transparent film laminated to the body (52). The transparent film may be bonded to the body (52) in at least two spaced apart locations. Part of the film at one location may act as a hinge (25) when the other part (24) of the film is released from the opposing location. A method of making the label (50) comprises providing sheet material for forming the label (50); mounting a leaflet (16) on the sheet material by bonding a transparent film to the sheet material, sandwiching the leaflet (16) therebetween; and cutting the sheet material to define a label body having a hanger for hanging around a necked container.

Description

TITLE: LABEL DESCRIPTION The present invention relates to a label, and more particularly, but not exclusively to a hangable label for hanging around necks of containers such as bottles and the like.

In accordance with a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a label comprising a body defining a hanger for hanging the label around a neckedcontainer and a leaflet mounted on the body by a transparent film laminated to the body.

The transparent film may wholly or partially cover one face of the label, and may be made of any suitable material e. g. polypropylene, polyethylene or acetate. The transparent film may provide protection in damp or dirty environments, possibly increasing the longevity of the

label, whilst still allowing consumers to see the front of the leaflet therethrough. The transparent film may also reduce the risk of the label being torn or ripped off during handling or transportation of the container.

The transparent film may be bonded to the body in at least two spaced apart locations, one on either side of the leaflet. Part of the transparent film adjacent one location may act as a hinge when another part of the transparent film is released from the opposing location.

In this way, the leaflet may be moved relative to the body, for example to review the reverse side of the leaflet. The front of the leaflet may be bonded to the transparent film, in between the two spaced apart locations. In this way, the leaflet may be pivoted relative to the body around the hinge part of the transparent film. The leaflet may include at least one fold, whereby the leaflet may be unfolded when the transparent film is released from the location on the body spaced from the hinge part of the transparent film.

A release additive may be provided in one of the spaced apart locations, whereby the bond between the transparent film and body is resealable once first broken.

A non-setting adhesive may be used for the bond.

The leaflet may comprise promotional or advertising material, e. g. vouchers. The leaflet may comprise information on a product in the container, which may be in one or more languages or in larger print for the visually impaired. By folding the leaflet, a large amount of

information may be presented on one label without necessitating a large area of label.

The label may have an opening along one side of the leaflet, for example extending between the two spaced-apart locations. The opening may facilitate release of that part of the transparent film from the body on one side of the leaflet. The body may comprise two sections joined by a frangible connection. In this way, one section including the leaflet may be readily detached from the other section including the hanger. The frangible connection may extend through the transparent film, and may comprise a line of perforations. The line of perforations may extend adjacent one side of the leaflet, perhaps opposing the aforementioned opening. In this way, detaching one section of the body from the other produces an opening along one side of the leaflet. Once detached, a consumer may store the leaflet for future reference independently of the remainder of the label.

The body of the label may be made of any suitable material e. g. paper, card, polypropylene, polyethylene or acetate or combinations thereof. The body of the label may have a non-stick rear surface to prevent the label adhering to the container or to equipment used to apply the label.

The label may thus be removed easily without damage to any existing labels on the container. Thus, if the label is to be used for a particular promotion which is delayed or cancelled, the label may be removed without damage and extra cost.

The label shape and size may be selected so that, in use, the label does not obscure any information printed on the container. The body of the label may be printed with information, e. g. general product information, including brand name and purpose.

The hanger may be in the form of a collar of open/closed loop configuration, which fits around a neck of the container, the neck being thinner than the body of the container. Thus the label may be a neck-label and may be used with containers such as wine or sprit bottles or containers for shampoo or similar toiletries products, bleaches, floor cleaners or similar household products, automotive cleaners and polishes, chemical products and squash, fizzy or juice drinks.

According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a series of labels as hereinbefore described mounted on a backing layer. The series may be in the form of a sheet of labels or a reel of labels. The backing layer may be silicon based and may be of dry-peel construction.

According to a third aspect of the invention, a method of making a label for hanging around the neck of a container comprises providing sheet material for forming the label; mounting a leaflet on the sheet material by bonding a transparent film to the sheet material, sandwiching the leaflet therebetween; and cutting the sheet material to define a label body having a hanger for hanging around a necked container.

The sheet material may be supported on a backing layer, perhaps with a dry-peel adhesive. The transparent film may have an adhesive backing which bonds on contact with the leaflet and the sheet material. The transparent film may be applied by unwinding the film from a reel and rolling the film on to the sheet material and leaflet. The method may comprise applying a release coating to at least a part of the sheet material before the transparent film is bonded thereto.

The cutting step may comprise introducing frangible connections, e. g. perforations, between two sections of sheet material whereby in use the hanger and the leaflet may be readily detachable. The method may comprise winding the cut label onto a reel and may comprise winding waste onto a waste reel. The method may comprise printing the sheet material, for example, using flexography, letterpress, digital, lithographic, screen, hot and cold foil, or inkjet printing processes.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure la is a plan view of a label embodying the present invention ; Figure Ib is a cross-section view of the label of Figure la along line AA ; Figure 2 is a perspective view of an alternative label embodying the present invention ; Figure 3 is a perspective view of a section of a strip

of the labels shown in Figure 2, and Figure 4 is a schematic side view of apparatus for manufacturing the label of Figure la or 2.

Figures la and Ib shows a label 10 comprising a body 12 defining a hanger 14 for hanging the label on a container (not shown) and a leaflet 16 mounted to the body 12. The hanger 14 is in the form of a collar defining an aperture 18 which fits around a neck of the container.

The body 12 comprises frangible connections in the form of perforations 20 whereby the hanger 14 is detachable from the portion of the body 12 which supports the leaflet.

The line of perforations 20 extends adjacent an upper edge 21 of the leaflet 16 whereby detaching one section of the body from the other produces an opening along one side of the leaflet 16.

The leaflet 16 is in the form of a folded booklet. A transparent film 26 covers the whole label and is bonded to the body 12 on both sides of and below the leaflet whereby the leaflet 16 is held to the body 12. On one side of the leaflet, the film 26 forms a breakable seal 24 along one edge of the body which allows a user to access the leaflet by breaking the seal 24. On the opposed side of the leaflet 16, the film 26 forms a hinge 25 whereby the leaflet may be moved relative to the body, for example to review the reverse side of the leaflet. The pivoting motion is more clearly shown in Figure 2.

Figure 2 shows an alternative label 50 which has been opened by a user to allow access to the leaflet 16. The

label 50 is generally similar to the label 10 of Figures la and 1b and thus elements in common have the same reference numbers. In contrast to the label of Figures la and lb, the body 52 of the label 50 does not extend beyond the lower edge 55 of the leaflet 16. The film 26 is not bonded to the body 52 below the leaflet 16 and thus when the label 50 is closed, an opening extends along the lower edge 54 of the leaflet 16, between the hinge 25 and the seal 24. The opening may facilitate release of the seal 24.

The seal 24 comprises areas 54 of release additive whereby the bond between the transparent film 26 and body is resealable once first broken. The front of the leaflet 16 is bonded to the transparent film 26 between the seal 24 and hinge 25. Thus, when the seal is broken, pivoting the portion of the film 26 which forms the seal 24 causes the leaflet 16 to rotate about the hinge 25.

Figure 3 shows a series of labels 50 attached to a backing sheet 56 in the form of a strip which may be wound onto a reel. The backing layer is of dry-peel construction whereby when a label 50 is removed from the backing sheet 56, the label has a non-adhesive rear surface.

Figure 4 is a schematic illustration of apparatus used to produce a label according to the invention. The apparatus comprises a reel 30 of a sheet material 32,34 comprising a body layer 32 which forms the body of the label and an optional release layer 34 which comprises a release agent mixed with a varnish and which forms an upper surface of the body of the label. The sheet material 32,34

is mounted on a silicon backing layer 35 using a dry-peel construction whereby when the body layer 32 is removed from the backing layer 35, no trace of adhesive remains.

The apparatus comprises a printing station 36 downstream of the reel 30 which may print on the sheet material. The printing station may use flexography, letterpress, digital, lithographic, screen, hot and cold foil, or inkjet printing processes and may print in any number of colours.

Downstream from the printing station is an applying means (not shown) for applying the leaflet 16 and a roller 38 which laminates a transparent film 26 to the sheet material. The transparent film 26 is fed from a reel 40 and seals the leaflet 16 to the release layer 34 of the sheet material. Since the release layer 34 comprises a release agent, at least a portion of the transparent film 26 is releasable from and resealable to the sheet material.

Such a release agent may also be applied to the transparent film 26 so that the leaflet is releasable from the transparent film. The leaflet is pre-printed for example by any of the methods used in the printing station 36 and is pre-folded to the required size.

Downstream from the roller 38 is a cutting station 42 in the form of a rotary cutter which cuts the labels to size and cuts apertures to define the hanger. Additional cutters (not shown) may be included to trim and finish the label outline. Waste material is rolled onto a waste reel

44 and the finished labels on the silicon backing layer are drawn on to a reel 46.

The apparatus operates according to the following method steps ; a) A sheet material 32,34 mounted on a silicon backing layer 35 is unwound from a reel 30. The sheet material forms the body of the label b) Information is optionally printed on the sheet material, e. g. on the release layer 34. c) A leaflet 16 is applied to the sheet material. d) A transparent film 26 is unwound from a reel 38 and bonded to the sheet material, e. g. to the release layer 34, sandwiching the leaflet 16 therebetween. e) The sheet material is cut by cutting means 42 to define a label body having a hanger for hanging around a necked-container. f) The finished label on its backing layer is wound onto a reel 46 and the waste 48 on to a waste real 44.

The label is supplied on the reel 46, the diameter of which may be dictated by a customer. The reels 46 may be fed into conventional labelling equipment and thus no extra time is required to apply labels according to the invention. Furthermore, investment costs in specialist equipment or extra costs for hand-applying the labels may be avoided. Alternatively, the process may be adapted to supply the label on sheets if required.

As described, the label may be completed in one pass on a conventional narrow web label printing press which

manufactures labels and which has been adapted by provision of the converting press. Thus, leaflets may be applied to existing labels without the need to redesign the label which saves money and allows small quantities of label according to the invention to be made. Thus, small promotions, e. g. regional promotions, may be more easily achieved.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. A label comprising a body defining a hanger for hanging the label around a necked-container and a leaflet mounted on the body by a transparent film laminated to the body.
2. A label according to claim 1, wherein the transparent film wholly covers one face of the label.
3. A label according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the transparent film is bonded to the body in at least two spaced apart locations, one on either side of the leaflet.
4. A label according to claim 4, wherein part of the transparent film adjacent one location acts as a hinge when another part of the transparent film is released from the opposing location.
5. A label according to claim 3 or claim 4, wherein the leaflet includes at least one fold, whereby the leaflet may be unfolded when the transparent film is released from the location on the body spaced from the hinge part of the transparent film.
6. A label according to any one of claims 3 to 5, wherein a release additive is provided in one of the spaced apart locations, whereby the bond between the transparent film and body is resealable once first broken.
7. A label according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising an opening along one side of the leaflet.
8. A label according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising two sections joined by a frangible connection, whereby one section including the leaflet is readily

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detached from the other section including the hanger.
9. A label according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising a non-stick rear surface to prevent the label adhering to the container or to equipment used to apply the label.
10. A label according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the a hanger is in the form of a collar which fits around a neck of the container, the neck being thinner than the body of the container.
11. A series of labels according to any one of claims 1 to 10 mounted on a backing layer.
12. A series of labels according to claim 11, wherein the backing layer is of dry-peel construction.
13. A method of making a label for hanging around the neck of a container, comprising providing sheet material for forming the label; mounting a leaflet on the sheet material by bonding a transparent film to the sheet material, sandwiching the leaflet therebetween; and cutting the sheet material to define a label body having a hanger for hanging around a necked container.
14. A method according to claim 13, comprising supporting the sheet material on a backing layer.
15. A method according to claim 13 or claim 14, comprising applying a release coating to at least a part of the sheet material before the transparent film is bonded thereto.
16. A method according to any one of claims 13 to 15, wherein the cutting step comprises introducing frangible

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connections between two sections of sheet material whereby in use the hanger and the leaflet are readily detachable.
17. A label substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in Figures la and 1b or Figure 2.
18. A series of labels substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in Figure 3.