AU5959099A - A label - Google Patents

Description

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act COMPLETE SPECIFICATION

(ORIGINAL)

Class Int. Class Application Number: Lodged: Complete Specification Lodged: Accepted: Published: Priority Related Art: Name of Applicant: Pemara Corporation Pty Ltd Actual Inventor(s): ANDREW MCNAMARA Address for Service: PHILLIPS ORMONDE FITZPATRICK Patent and Trade Mark Attorneys 367 Collins Street Melbourne 3000 AUSTRALIA Invention Title: A LABEL Our Ref: 601377 POF Code: 91021/91021 The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to applicant(s): -1- 6006q 1A A LABEL The present invention relates to an adhesive label of a resealable or permanent tamper evident form. The label has principle application to bags or containers (hereinafter referred to collectively as "containers") and it will be convenient to describe the invention in relation to that application. However, the label is envisaged to have wider application and is not limited to the application described hereafter.

Many containers contain goods, such as edible goods, in which only a portion thereof'are removed or dispensed from the container at any one time.

For such containers, it is desirable that the opening be securely closed when the desired amount of the goods have been removed from the container, so that the remaining goods are securely contained and to a certain degree with relevant goods and relevant containers, the contents of the container are kept fresh. Alternatively, many containers, such as paper or plastic bags, cannot be securely closed and in use, the opening thereof is simply folded over. In such containers described above, it is convenient if means to close or reseal the container are provided, and it is preferable if these are provided as an integral part of the container for convenience.

20 In other containers, and in some containers of the kind described above, the principle concern is to provide evidence when the container has been opened. Tamper evidence can be provided in a variety of forms, generally by way of a label or closure that is in some way permanently and visibly affected upon opening or attempted opening of the container. Some known forms of tamper evident labels are arranged to tear upon opening of the container and such labels normally are permanently adhered to sections of the container that S"bridge the opening.

Labels of the above kind normally have to be applied to the container ;'.after filling, as the adhesive surface of the label is required to be exposed to attach the label to the container, and it is inconvenient to expose only a portion of that surface for attachment to one surface of the container prior to filling.

C:\WMNWORO\SHARO'ANREAPCTCOMP\61975CPfO 2 One form of label that does facilitate exposure of only one section of the adhesive surface is shown in Australia Patent Application 81455/87, but that label is a plastic resealable label which is not suitable as a tamper evident label.

Even as a resealable label it has drawbacks in expense of manufacture, and that sections of the label which are adhered together have been found in practice to be difficult to separate. This can make fitting of the label awkward.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a label which is resealable or tamper evident, and which overcomes or at least alleviates one or more of the disadvantages of the prior art. It is a further object of the invention to provide a label which can be fixed to one section of an article with a permanent adhesive and which can be fixed to another section of the article with a permanent or resealable adhesive in a simple manner. It is still a further object of the invention to provide a label of the above kind that can be fitted to bridge the opening of a container in a closed condition and which can be fitted to the container either prior to or following filling of the container with goods.

The present invention provides a label for attachment to an article, said label including a base sheet layer having an adhesive applied to one of its faces for attaching the label to a surface of the article, and a top sheet layer having a first section adhered to the opposite face of the base sheet layer, and, 20 in a folded condition of the top sheet layer, a second section depending from and folded over the first section, and a third section depending from and folded over the second section, said third section having adhesive applied to the face thereof that, in the folded condition of said top sheet layer, faces said second section and a release layer is interposed between said second and third sections to prevent adhesion therebetween, said label being arranged such that unfolding said second and third sections of said top sheet layer exposes the S" adhesive face of said third section and enables said top sheet layer to be extended, thereby facilitating adhesion of said third section to a surface of the

S.

article spaced from the surface to which said base sheet layer is attached.

The base sheet layer and the top sheet layer can be formed of the same material and preferably that material is an adhesive backed plastic or paper sheet, with a releasable silicon layer attached to the adhesive surface.

C: WINWORD\SHIROMPANDREWPCTCOMP175C.DO 3 Alternatively, the sheet layers may have different characteristics depending on the requirements of the label. For example, in a tamper evident label, it is important that the base sheet layer and the third section of the top layer be permanently attached to the article surfaces to which they are applied, so that they cannot be removed without disturbing the structural integrity of the label.

Thus, in this application, the adhesive applied to both the base sheet layer and the third section may be the same, but in a resealable label, the adhesive applied to the third section may be of reduced strength compared to that of the base sheet layer, so that the third section can be released from attachment with the article surface when desired.

If the base sheet layer is formed of the above type of material, then attachment of the label to the article surface is quickly and easily completed by removing the backing layer and applying the base sheet layer to the article.

Such application can be completed manually, or automatically in an automated process. In one arrangement, a roll containing a plurality of labels formed on a continuous backing layer is provided and that roll can be used in automated packaging machinery which applies labels to containers. In that arrangement, successive labels are peeled off the backing layer and applied to successive containers, while the backing layer is removed in a continuous strip as waste.

20 The first section of the top sheet layer may be adhered to the base sheet 0@e layer in any suitable manner and in one form, the top sheet layer is formed of an adhesive backed plastic or paper sheet with a releasable silicon layer and be-4 the silicon layer is removed in the region of the first section, which is thereafter attached to the base sheet layer. An adhesive suitable to permanently attach the first section of the top sheet layer to the base sheet layer is required.

Alternatively, adhesive may be applied to the first section, or to the base sheet layer in a different manner, such as by roller application, prior to attachment of the first section to the base sheet layer.

S"The second section of the top layer is preferably folded rearwardly to substantially overlie the first section in the folded condition of the label and the arrangement preferably is such that the first and second sections remain within the periphery of the base sheet layer in the folded condition. Likewise, the third C:\WINWORD\SHARONIANDREW\PCTCOMP\561975CP.DOC 4 section is preferably folded forwardly to substantially overlie the second section, so that it also remains within the periphery of the base sheet layer. Thus, in this arrangement, the plan dimensions of the label do not extend beyond the periphery of the base sheet layer. Preferably the base sheet layer, and the top sheet layer in the folded condition, have a generally square or rectangular plan configuration, although in an alternative arrangement, the base sheet layer and/or the top sheet layer may have different plan dimensions, such as round or oval.

The label preferably includes a finger tab which depends from the third section, preferably from the leading or forward edge of that section and which facilitates unfolding of the top sheet layer. The finger tab preferably is not adhered to any other part of the label so that it can be easily gripped. If the top sheet layer is formed from an adhesive backed sheet, then the finger tab may be maintained as a non-adhesive part of the label by retaining the silicon release layer along the finger tab. The finger tab can have any suitable dimension sufficient for it to be easily gripped. Thus, the finger tab may extend fully across the width of the third section (assuming that section is square or rectangular), or across only a portion of that width.

.The top sheet layer can conveniently be formed from a single web of 20 sheet material that is folded to form the first, second and third sections as described above. If the sheet material is adhesively backed, then the required adhesive for attaching the top sheet layer to the base sheet layer can be provided by removing the section of the backing layer existing on the first section.

In a preferred arrangement, a portion of the backing layer remaining on S•the third section is permanently adhered to the base sheet layer adjacent the leading edge of the third section, so that when the top sheet layer is unfolded, the backing layer on the third section does not lift away from the base sheet layer but instead peels away from the third section. The backing layer may be adhered to the base sheet layer in any suitable manner, and in one arrangement, the leading edge of the third section overlies the base sheet layer without interposition of the first or second sections and a strip of hot melt C:\WINWORDSHARO\NDREWlPCTCOMPr58l975CP.DOC adhesive, or other suitable adhesive, is applied to or adjacent the leading edge, or to the section of the base sheet layer underlying the backing layer of that part of the third section, so as to adhesively attach the backing layer of the third section to the base sheet layer. Thus, as the third section is lifted during unfolding of the top sheet layer, the backing layer is removed therefrom to present the adhesive layer for adhesion to the article surface.

In the above arrangement, if a finger tab is provided depending from the third section, it is preferred that the backing layer on the finger tab is not removed therefrom when the top sheet layer is unfolded. Thus, the backing layer on the finger tab may be separated from the backing layer on the third section, such as by a lateral slit.

In an alternative arrangement, the backing layer adhered to the top sheet layer may be removed from the second section adjacent the fold between the first and second sections, to expose a section of adhesive that, in the folded condition of the label, faces and adheres to the backing layer of the third section. When the third section is lifted to unfold the top sheet layer, the adhesive attachment between the backing layer of the third section and the exposed adhesive of the second section will result in the backing layer of the third section peeling away therefrom and exposing the adhesive of the third 0 20 section. If a finger tab is provided, a slit in the backing layer between the third section and the finger tab and forward of the exposed adhesive of the second section will permit the backing layer of the finger tab to remain fixed to thereto during unfolding of the label.

The invention further provides a method of forming a label for attachment to an article, said method involving two adhesively backed sheets having a release layer applied to the adhesive face of each sheet, passing a first of said sheets through a die cutter to apply a lateral slit in the release layer thereof, the slit defining a junction between first and second sections of said first sheet, folding said first sheet so that said second section overlies said first section and folding a third section that depends from said second section to overlie said second section, removing said release layer from said first section and pressing the adhesive face of said first section against the face of said second sheet C:\WINWORD\SHAROMNDREWlPCTCOMM61975CP.DOC 6 which is opposite the adhesive face, to adhere said first and second sheets together.

Preferably the method involves applying a strip of adhesive, such as hot melt adhesive, to the face of the base sheet layer or to the release layer of the third section, so that the release layer is permanently adhered to the base sheet layer along at least a portion thereof and the top sheet can be unfolded and the adhesive backing of the third section be removed to expose the adhesive layer of the third section for adhesion to a surface of the article spaced from the surface to which the base sheet layer is attached. That strip of adhesive is preferably applied to the release layer of the third section after folding of the top sheet layer. For this, preferably the top sheet layer is folded so that the leading edge of the third section overlies the base sheet layer with no intervening sheet layers.

Alternatively, the method can include removing a portion of the release layer from the second section of the top sheet layer such as adjacent to the fold thereof with the first section, to expose a portion of adhesive that the release layer of the third section will adhere to in the folded condition of the top sheet layer. The section removed is preferably a thin strip that extends laterally across the second section and removal is preferably by a die cut slit.

Preferably the method further involves providing a finger tab that depends from the leading edge of the third section and preferably the release layer is not removed from the finger tab, or is not arranged to be removed upon unfolding of the top sheet layer. For this, the method preferably causes the release layer to be slit at the junction between the third section and the finger :I 25 tab, so that the release layer remains attached to the finger tab when the third S•section is stripped from the release layer during unfolding of the top sheet layer.

The label may be printed and it is most preferable that any printing be provided on the face of the third section which is visible when the top sheet layer is folded. While the printing may typically be in the form of advertising, it can also be provided to indicate how the top sheet layer is to be unfolded. For example, the printing may indicate that the finger tab can be gripped and pulled for unfolding purposes.

C:%WINWORD SHARONIANDREVAPCTCOMPL%1975CP.DOC 7 The attached drawings show an example embodiment of the invention of the foregoing kind. The particularity of those drawings and the associated description does not supersede the generality of the preceding broad description of the invention.

Figure 1A shows a perspective view of label according to the invention in a folded condition.

Figure 1B is a cross-sectional view through B-B of Figure 1A.

Figure 2A is a perspective view of the label of Figures 1A and 1B in a semi unfolded condition.

Figure 2B is a cross-sectional view through C-C of Figure 2A.

Figure 3A shows the label of Figures 1A and 1B in a fully unfolded condition.

Figure 3B is a cross-sectional view through D-D of Figure 3A.

Figure 4 illustrates a plurality of labels according to the invention affixed to a continuous strip of backing layer web.

Figure 5 is a layout illustration of an apparatus for forming a continuous roll of labels.

oooo Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view of an unformed label, showing positions for slitting the backing layer thereof.

20 Figures 1 to 3 show a label constructed according to the invention.

Referring first to Figures 1A and 1B, these show side and perspective views of a label 10. The label 10 comprises a base sheet layer 11 and a folded top sheet layer 12. The base and top sheet layers may be of the same material, such as an adhesive backed paper or plastic sheet material having a release layer 13 and 14 applied to the respective adhesive surfaces thereof.

S•The release layer 13 can be removed to expose an adhesive applied to the undersurface 15 of the base sheet layer 11, so that the label 10 can be secured to an article, such as a bag or a plastic container. The removal of the release layer 13 may be achieved either manually or automatically.

The top sheet layer 12 is folded into three sections being a first section 16, a second section 17 and third section 18. The top sheet layer 12 is fixed to the base sheet layer 11 by removal of the release layer 14 from the first section C:WINWORD\HAROMNNDREWAPCTCOMP561975CP.DOC 8 16, whereby the adhesive exposed on the under surface 19 of the first section by removal of the release layer adheres to the upper surface 20 of the base sheet layer 11. The remaining portion of the release layer 14 remains releaseably adhered to the adhesive surface of the second and third sections 17 and 18 as shown so as to prevent those sections from sticking together.

The label 10 can be considered to have a leading end 21 and a trailing end 22 and the release layer 14 is adhered to the upper surface 20 of the base sheet layer 11 adjacent the leading end 21 such by the application of a strip of hot melt adhesive. A slit is made in the release layer 14 forward of that adhesion to form a finger tab 23 that can be gripped when the top sheet layer 12 is to be unfolded. It can be seen that a small section of the release layer 14 remains adhered to the under surface 24 of the finger tab 23 and that prevents the finger tab from adhering to the base sheet layer 11, so that it always presents itself the for easy gripping. The finger tab 23 as shown, has very little depth lengthwise between leading and trailing ends of the label, but this can be altered as necessary.

An alternative to the application of adhesive between the release layer oo o 14 and the upper surface 20 of the base sheet layer 11 is shown in Figure 1C.

In that figure, the base sheet layer 14 is removed not only from the first section S: 20 16, but also from a portion of the second section 17, so that a portion of the adhesive of the second section is exposed for adhesion to the backing layer 14 attached to the third section 18.

In Figure 1C, the backing layer 14 attached to the second section 17 is removed from the second section to expose the adhesive of that section at the region marked R. In the folded condition of the label 10, the backing layer 14 of S"the third section 18 will adhere to the adhesive in the region R, and when the finger tab 23 is lifted during unfolding of the label 10, the backing layer of the S. third section will remain attached at the region R of the second section and will be peeled from the third section to expose the adhesive of that section.

Figures 2A and 2B show the label 10 in an largely unfolded condition in which the third section 18 is ready for being adhesively attached to a container surface. To proceed from the folded condition of Figures 1A and 1B to the C:NWINWORDSHAROWANOREPCTCOMPX581975CP.DOC 9 unfolded condition of Figures 2A and 2B, the finger tab 23 is pulled forward in the direction A and that causes the third section 18 to peel away from the release layer 14 as shown. As shown, this occurs because the release layer 14 is fixed to the base sheet layer 11 adjacent the leading end 21 of the label Thus, the adhesive applied to the third section 18 is exposed.

Figures 3A and 3B show the top sheet layer 12 fully unfolded so that the third section 18 can be adhesively applied to an applicable surface. It can be seen that the release layer 14 of the finger tab 23 remains fixed to the third section 18 even when the third section is ready to be applied to the relevant surface. This facilitates lifting of the finger tab to peel the third section away from that surface if the label 10 is one arranged for resealing. Even if the label is not arranged for resealing, the existence of the release layer 14 on the finger tab 23 does not affect the adhesion of the third section to a relevant surface.

The label 10, as shown in the Figures 1A to 3B, is shown as a single label, but it is envisaged that the labels will be provided in a continuous form on a continuous backing layer web, such as that shown in Figure 4. In this figure, the release layer 14 is continuous and a plurality of labels 10 are spaced along the length thereof. The release layer 14 can be formed into a roll for convenient transport, storage and use.

20 One embodiment for forming a continuous roll of labels is illustrated in Figure 5. The apparatus shown includes two supply rolls 25 and 26 of base sheet layer and top sheet layer material respectively. Each roll is of a material, being either adhesive backed paper or plastic with a release layer applied thereto.

•oo•• The top sheet layer 26 rotates in a clockwise direction and sheet stock is fed through a flat bed die 27. The die 27 applies a pair of lengthwise slits through the release layer of the sheet, but not through the sheet itself. The slits are formed laterally, ie across the length of the label at points S 1 and S 2 as shown in Figure 6 and the position of these slits is also seen in Figure 2B. The top sheet layer 26 then travels through a printing station 28 which can apply print to the upper surface 29 of the layer 26. The sheet then proceeds to a folding tower 30 in which it is folded to configuration shown in Figures 3A and C:\WINWORDSHARONANDREPCTCOMP56197C.OC 3B. The folding tower 30 is of a known kind. The folded sheet then proceeds past a rewind station 31 that removes the portion of the backing strip fixed to the under surface 19 of the first section 16.

The base sheet layer extends from the supply roll 25 past a hot melt glue station 32 which applies a strip of hot melt adhesive to the upper surface 20 of the base sheet layer and the base and the top sheet layers are brought into contact at the pressing station 33. At the pressing station 33, the exposed adhesive surface of the first section 16 of the top layer 12 is pressed into adhesive contact with the upper surface 20 of the base sheet layer 11, so adhesively fixing the two layers together. The backing layer 14 is also adhesively fixed to the upper surface 20 of the base sheet layer 11 by virtue of the hot melt strip, however, the slit S 2 facilitates lifting of the finger tab 23 away from the base sheet layer 11 as shown in Figure lB.

The composite strip 35 as formed above is finally passed through a rotary die cutter 34, that separates the strip into a plurality of labels 10 formed on a release layer 14 as shown in Figure 4. The waste is removed on by a rewind station (not shown) and the strip is formed in a roll.

The roll thus formed can be provided for use in packaging machinery the labels can be fixed to containers which have either been filled or are to 20 be filled. Advantageously, the materials chosen for the base and top sheet layers can be chosen either for resealable or non-resealable applications.

The invention has been developed specifically as a tamper evident closure for plastic containers containing fruit produce, such as strawberries.

For that use, the label is made of a tearable paper product and is fixed to the container prior to the fruit being packed in the container, so that all that is 0000..

S• necessary when the fruit has been packed and the lid closed, is to unfold the top sheet layer of the label and extend the third section thereof over the S•opening of the container and fix it to the surface of the container. Thus, if the container is subsequently opened, the paper will tear, providing a visual and permanent indication of opening. The label of the invention does however have a far wider application to a great variety of containers and indeed to other articles.

C:%WINWORDSHARO'ANDREWPCTCOMP5897SCP.DOC 11 The invention as described above includes reference to three top sheet layer sections, but it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to that arrangement only. For example, the top sheet layer could include more than three sections, if the opening to be bridged required the top sheet layer to have a greater length than available with three sections only. Other reasons for a greater number of sections may also exist. Thus, in terms of the invention, any of the three sections, but in particular the second section can include a plurality of folds.

Additionally, the invention has largely been described in relation to commercial application of the labels, but it is possible that the labels could be provided for domestic use for any container or other suitable article. The labels might, for example be applied to a children's lunch bag to keep the bag securely shut, and for this, the labels may be provided to the householder on a roll or sheet, or individually.

The invention described herein is susceptible to variations, modifications and/or additions other than those specifically described and it is to be understood that the invention includes all such variations, modifications and/or *w o additions which fall within the spirit and scope of the above description.

*o C:kWINWORD\SHROMNDREWPCTCOMP,561875CP.O

Claims (20)

1. A label for attachment to an article, said label including a base sheet layer having an adhesive applied to one of its faces for attaching the label to a surface of the article, and a top sheet layer having a first section adhered to the opposite face of the base sheet layer, and, in a folded condition of the top sheet layer, a second section depending from and folded over the first section, and a third section depending from and folded over the second section, said third section having adhesive applied to the face thereof that, in the folded condition of said top sheet layer, faces said second section and a release layer is interposed between said second and third sections to prevent adhesion therebetween, said label being arranged such that unfolding said second and third sections of said top sheet layer exposes the adhesive face of said third section and enables said top sheet layer to be extended, thereby facilitating adhesion of said third section to a surface of the article spaced from the surface to which said base sheet layer is attached.

2. A label according to claim 1, said top sheet layer being formed from an *l adhesive backed sheet having a releasable backing layer attached over the 20 adhesive, said backing layer being removed from said first section for adhesively attaching said top sheet layer to said base sheet layer and said backing layer attached to said second and third sections forming said release layer interposed between those sections.

3. A label according to claim 1 or 2, said base sheet layer being formed ooooI S•from an adhesive backed sheet having a releasable backing layer attached over the adhesive, which is removed prior to attachment of said base sheet layer to the surface of the article.

4. A label according to any one of claims 1 to 3, the adhesive of said base sheet layer having a greater adhesive strength compared to the adhesive of said third section of said top sheet layer.

C:AMy Documets\SHRARON\rndreAPCTCOMPM61975CP.DOC 13 A label according to any one of claims 1 to 4, the free end of said third section remote from said second section forming a finger tab for gripping thereof to unfold said top sheet layer.

6. A label according to claim 5 when dependent on claim 2, said backing layer remaining attached to said finger tab of said third section when said second and third sections are unfolded.

7. A label according to claim 6, said backing layer attached to said third section being laterally slit to separate the portion of the backing layer backing said finger tab from the remaining portion of the backing layer of said third section to permit the finger tab portion of said backing layer to remain adhesively attached to said finger tab when said top sheet layer is unfolded and said remaining portion of said backing layer peels away from said third section.

8. A label according to any preceding claim, wherein the adhesive of said third section releasably adheres that section to said release layer in said folded condition of said top sheet layer.

9. A label according to any one of claims 3 to 8 when dependent on claim 2, preceding claim, said third section extending beyond the fold between said first and second sections to overlie said base sheet layer in the folded condition of said top sheet layer, said backing layer in the region of said overlying third section being adhesively attached to said base sheet layer, to cause said 000000 backing layer to peel away from said third section when said top sheet layer is being unfolded. A label according to any one of claims 3 to 10 when dependent on claim 2, said backing layer of said third section being attached to said second section in order to be removed from said third section when said top sheet layer is unfolded.

C:NWINWORD\SHARONANDRE'MPCTCOMM81975CP.DOC 14

11. A label according to claim 10, a portion of said backing layer being removed from said second section to expose adhesive in that portion, and said backing layer backing said third section being attached to said exposed adhesive in the folded condition of said top sheet layer and facilitating removal of said backing layer from said third section when said top sheet layer is unfolded.

12. A label according to claim 11, a strip of said backing layer of said second section being removed to expose adhesive to which the backing layer of said third section is attached in the folded condition of the top sheet layer.

13. A label according to claim 12, said strip being removed from the backing layer of said second section adjacent the fold between said first and second sections. s

14. A roll of labels according to any one of claims 1 to 13, said base sheet layer of each of said labels being applied to a continuous roll of release sheet. 20

15. A method of forming a label for attachment to an article, said method involving two adhesively backed sheets having a release layer applied to the adhesive face of each sheet, passing a first of said sheets through a die cutter to apply a lateral slit in the release layer thereof, the slit defining a junction between first and second sections of said first sheet, folding said first sheet so that said second section overlies said first section and folding a third section S•that depends from said second section to overlie said second section, removing said release layer from said first section and pressing the adhesive face of said first section against the face of said second sheet which is opposite the adhesive face, to adhere said first and second sheets together.

16. The method according to claim 15, further including applying a strip of adhesive to said second sheet or to said release layer of said third section of C:\WINWORDMSHARONANDREWPCTCOMP\51975CP.DOC release layer is removed from said third section when said first sheet is unfolded.

17. The method according to claim 15, further including removing a portion of said release layer from said second section of said first sheet to expose a portion of adhesive to which said release layer of said third section will adhere to in the folded condition of said first sheet, so that said release layer will be removed from said third section when said first sheet is unfolded.

18. A method according to any one of claims 14 to 16, further providing a second lateral slit longitudinally inboard of the leading edge of said third section to create a finger tab and which slit permits retention of release layer against the adhesive face of said finger tab, while said release layer is removed from said third section during unfolding of said first sheet.

19. A label substantially as herein described with reference to Figures 1 to 4 and 6.

20. A method of manufacturing a label substantially as herein described with 20 reference to Figure at S DATED: 22 November 1999 PHILLIPS ORMONDE FITZPATRICK 25 Attorneys for: PEMARA CORPORATION PTY LTD SC4 S C AMy DocentsSHARONAndreCTCOMP68l975CP.DOC