AU2019202486A1 - Container label, assembly, and use of a container label - Google Patents

Abstract

Title: Container label, assembly, and use of a container label Abstract The disclosure relates to a container label for labelling a container, in particular a plant container. The label comprises a body portion and an insertion portion said insertion portion having a first part connected to the body portion and extending away from said body portion in a first direction, said insertion portion further having a second part connected to the first part. The second part includes a first segment and a second segment, wherein said second segment is connected to the first part via a foldable line, and said first segment is connected to said second segment so that said first segment when seen in the first direction, is, at least in a use position of the container label, located downstream of said second segment, and wherein at least said first segment is configured, in the use position, to cooperate with structures within a slot in the container to inhibit removal of the label from the slot. DIz 01, (Fg -3 Fig. 3

Description

CONTAINER LABEL, ASSEMBLY, AND USE OF A CONTAINER LABEL

Field of the invention

The invention relates to a method for labelling containers, in particular plant containers, such as plant pots, punnets, plant trays, and the like.

Background

It is known to label a container, in particular a plant container, by means of a label in the form of a card or strip provided with information, in particular about a plant or the like held by the container to be labelled. The label may for instance be used by a grower, in a nursery, and/or in a greenhouse, for example to facilitate identifying the plant or the like, such as a planted bulb, a seedling or similar crop. Additionally or alternatively, the label may be used when the plant or the like is on display, for instance at a flower shop, a supermarket, a garden centre or another retailer.

Generally, known plant container labels have an insertion portion for attaching the label directly or indirectly to the plant container. Traditionally, the insertion portion is often simply inserted into soil, or other plant substrate, held within the plant container, such that a body portion of the label provided with information associated with the plant or the like is located above the substrate. Contrary to a sticker or other label provided at a sidewall of a plant container, such a label stuck into the plant substrate can facilitate that information is also visible when the plant containers holding plants or the like are stored displayed in a closely packed relationship. However, such labels can be easily dislodged, for example by accident or when a fraudulent costumer wants to swap the label with a label of a cheaper plant or the like.

Further, plant containers are known which are arranged for attaching a label thereto in order to counteract that the labels will easily

2019202486 09 Apr 2019 dislodge. In particular, such plant containers generally have an insertion aperture, such as a slot, through which an insertion portion of the label can be put. For example, the label may be made of a resiliently flexible sheet material and the distal end of the insertion portion may be formed like an arrowhead having two lateral projections forming barbs that may counteract retracting the insertion portion from the plant container’s insertion aperture.

For example, plant containers are known that are provided with a label mounting device that can receive and retain a specifically arranged label comprising a body portion and an insertion portion that includes a relatively wide head portion that is connected to the body portion via a relatively small neck portion. The head portion has a tapered distal end which may facilitate inserting the head portion into the label mounting device. Said head portion further defines two laterally extending protrusions or so-called barbs forming shoulders that may counteract retracting the label, as said shoulders may engage stop surfaces of the label mounting device of the container. Said label mounting device of such known plant container comprises two offset sidewalls defining a control zone having an elongate entrance opening at its upper end and a corresponding elongate exit opening at its lower end. The first one of said sidewalls is provided with two ramp-shaped stops projecting in the direction of the second sidewall, but leaving enough room to allow a respective portion of the head portion to pass between the respective stop and the second sidewall. The lower end of each of said two stops form a respective one of the stop surfaces that can cooperate with a respective one of the shoulders of the label in order to counteract retracting said label from the label mounting device of the plant container. The stop tapers toward its upper end, thereby facilitating insertion of the label. The second sidewall of the control zone is provided with at least one guide forming a guiding ramp, which tapers towards its upper end, and which projects towards the first sidewall, but leaves enough

2019202486 09 Apr 2019 room to allow a respective portion of the head portion to pass between said stop and the first sidewall. When seen from above or in the insertion direction, distal ends of the ramp-shaped stops and a distal end of the guiding ramps block the control zone to such extent that the insertion portion of the label cannot be inserted without deforming the insertion portion and/or the control zone. By making the label’s insertion portion and/or the control zone resiliently deformable, the label can be inserted, while, after the insertion portion and/or the control zone substantially springs back to its respective initial shape, the stop surfaces of the control zone and shoulders of the label’s insertion portion may be in a position in which retraction of the label can be counteracted relatively well. Different embodiments of such a plant container having such a label mounting device are for example known from Australian patent publication AU 616 346 B2, which also discloses such a label being at least partly resiliently deformable.

Nowadays, many manufacturers of plant containers produce plant containers with label mounting devices similar to the ones described above. Although these label mounting devices and their control zones often have similar designs, the designs of these label mounting devices are not standardized and their dimensions may differ from one plant container design to another. For example, there are variations in for instance the number of ramp-shaped stops, the number of guiding ramps, the size of the interspace between two adjacent ramp-shaped stops, the size of the interspace between two adjacent guiding ramps, the size of the interspace between a respective ramp-shaped stop and a respective adjacent guiding ramp, the extent to which a respective stop protrudes from the first sidewall towards the opposite sidewall, the extent to which a respective guiding ramp protrudes from the second sidewall towards the opposite sidewall, and the extent to which the control zone is resiliently deformable.

It will be appreciated that the different label mounting device designs may give rise to different label designs in order to allow a respective

2019202486 09 Apr 2019 label to cooperate well with a respective corresponding label mounting device. For example, when a respective width of a neck portion of a resilient label exceeds the interspace between two adjacent stops of the mounting device, the neck portion may not fit between these stops and/or the stops may prevent the resilient label to spring back, which may for instance prevent that the barbs spring back to a position in which the shoulders defined by said barbs can cooperate with the stop surfaces of the stops.

For example because a user, such as a grower, often obtains its plant containers from a first supplier and his labels from a second supplier, it may be a logistical challenge to obtain matching supplies, which may become even more difficult if for instance the supplier of the plant container changes the design of the plant container’s label mounting device or when the grower considers obtaining different plant containers, for instance from a supplier offering a better price.

Furthermore, it is known to mount an alternative plant label to a plant container by means of such a label mounting device substantially formed as a label slot provided with one or more ramp-shaped stops, guiding ramps and/or similar barb-like structures. Said known alternative plant label has an insertion portion having a width that for instance may relatively tightly fit between two ramp-shaped stops or similar barb-like structures provided at a first sidewall of the label mounting device. It is noted that, upon installation of the label, said two ramp-shaped stops are then not used as stops preventing retraction of the label. Further, the insertion portion of said label is provided with one or multiple through holes, into which the one or multiple guiding ramps or similar barb-like structures may snap upon inserting the label into the label mounting device. A disadvantage of such alternative plant label may lie in that relatively complex dies may be needed when not only the label has to blanked, for example from paper based or plastic sheet material, but also the one or more through holes have to be pierced. Besides, a disadvantage may lie in that

2019202486 09 Apr 2019 the tooling and/or the production process may be relatively difficult as the scrap material has to be pushed out of the label forming sheet material. For example, when eighty plant container labels, each having two of such through holes, are simultaneously blanked out of a piece of sheet material, a hundred and sixty ejector pins may be needed, which all have to become, and to remain, neatly adjusted with respect to each other.

It is desirable to provide an alternative method for labelling a container, in particular a plant container. In particular, there is a need for a method for labelling a container, in particular a plant container, wherein at least one of the disadvantages of prior art methods, labels and/or containers is counteracted. More in particular, there is a need for a method, label and/or container, wherein at least one of the disadvantages mentioned above is counteracted, for instance wherein there is no need to die cut through holes, such as round holes or slots, out of the label’s insertion portion. In embodiments, the disclosure invention aims at providing relatively much flexibility, for instance to a grower or other user of containers, in particular plant containers, to be labelled and/or to a manufacturer or supplier of container labels or containers.

Summary of the invention

The present disclosure provides a container label for labelling a container, comprising a body portion and an insertion portion said insertion portion having a first part connected to the body portion and extending away from said body portion in a first direction, said insertion portion further having a second part connected to the first part, wherein the second part includes a first segment and a second segment, wherein said second segment is connected to the first part via a foldable line, and said first segment is connected to said second segment so that said first segment when seen in the first direction, is, at least in a use

2019202486 09 Apr 2019 position of the container label, located downstream of said second segment, and and wherein at least said first segment is configured, in the use position, to cooperate with structures within a slot in the container to inhibit removal of the label from the slot.

The present disclosure provides a container label for labelling a container, in particular a plant container, comprising a body portion and an insertion portion, said insertion portion having a first part connected to the body portion and extending away from said body portion in a first direction, said insertion portion further having a second part connected to the first part, wherein the second part includes a first segment and a second segment, wherein said first segment, when seen in the first direction, is, at least in a use position of the container label, located downstream of said second segment, and wherein said first segment has a width, which, measured substantially transverse to the first direction, is less wide than a width of the second segment.

As a result thereof, the second segment can define at least one shoulder extending up to a proximal end of the first segment. Said one or multiple shoulders may then be used to counteract that the insertion portion of an installed label is retracted in a direction substantially opposite to its insertion direction. Besides, such label arrangement allows that, contrary to prior art labels having an insertion portion with a laterally protruding arrow head that is relatively wide with respect to a neck portion of such prior art label, the first part of the insertion portion of the present label can extend over a relatively large width. In particular, the first part of the insertion portion of the present label may, in its installed position, extend along at least one of two relatively outwardly positioned barbs or the like of a container’s label mounting device, which relatively outwardly positioned barbs or the like are provided at a sidewall of said device opposite to a sidewall at which two adjacent intermediate barbs or the like are

2019202486 09 Apr 2019 provided between which the first segment of the second part of the insertion portion can be located when the label is installed. As a result, the insertion portion, which may be made of resiliently deformable sheet material, for instance may, in its installed position, maintain deformed to a certain extent, which may facilitate a relatively secure mounting and/or may counteract dislodgement.

It is noted that, contrary to the here mentioned prior art labels, the insertion portion of the present label may thus be relatively wide at a location just below the label’s body portion, as said relatively large width may be provided for by the insertion portion’s first part, and said first part does not need to define the one or multiple shoulders, because said shoulders may be defined by the insertion portion’s second part.

Since the present label can, contrary to said here mentioned prior art labels, be free of a neck portion that may not be too narrow as to weaken the label too much, but which has to be narrow enough to fit between two adjacent barbs or the like of a container’s label mounting device, the present label’s design can facilitate that a single label can cooperate with a relatively wide range of differently dimensioned label mounting devices, for instance having a relatively wide range of different sizes of interspaces between adjacent barbs.

For instance thereto, the label of the present disclosure can provide relatively much flexibility, for instance to a manufacturer or supplier of container labels, which does not need to supply a different label design for each different label mounting device. For example, one may supply labels with only a few differently dimensioned insertion portions, such as for instance less than ten, preferably not more than three, four or five, differently dimensioned ones, while one may still be capable of supplying labels that can cooperate with many differently arranged and/or dimensioned label mounting devices. For example, a label supplier may carry only three or four differently dimensioned labels, and still be able to

2019202486 09 Apr 2019 supply matching labels for many, if not most, differently dimensioned label mounting devices.

As a result, a producer may for instance need fewer different punching or cutting tools. Additionally or alternatively, a buyer of the labels, such as a grower of plants, may for instance keep using the same labels after switching to using other containers, which may have a differently designed and/or dimensioned label mounting device.

The present disclosure also relates to an assembly of a container and a container label.

Further, the present disclosure relates to a use of a container label, in particular in a method of labelling a container, especially a plant container.

Advantageous embodiments according to the present disclosure are described in the appended claims.

Brief description of the drawings

By way of non-limiting examples only, exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure will now be described with reference to the accompanying figures in which:

Fig. 1 shows a schematic perspective view of four plant containers, two of which are provided with a first embodiment of a plant container label according to an aspect of the present disclosure;

Fig. 2 shows a schematic partly cut-away detail of the perspective view of Fig. 1;

Figs 3 (a) and (b) shows a schematic view of an embodiment of the plant container label;

Fig. 4 shows a schematic view of different embodiments of the plant container label; and

Fig. 5 shows a schematic view of further embodiments of the plant container label.

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Fig. 6 shows a schematic view of a further embodiment of the plant container label.

It is noted that the figures show merely preferred embodiments according to aspects of the present disclosure. In the figures, the same or similar reference signs or numbers refer to equal or corresponding parts.

Detailed description of the invention

Figure 1 shows exemplary embodiments of plant containers 4 of two different designs 4A, 4B. The plant container 4 may be for holding one or more plants or the like, such as one or more planted bulbs, seedlings or similar crop. The plant container 4 may for instance be a punnet, a plant pots, a plant tray, or the like. Here, the plant container 4 comprises a single plant compartment 40, for instance for holding a plant substrate, such as soil or the like. The compartment 40 may be defined at least partly by a bottom and one or multiple sidewalls 41, 42, 43, 44. However, in alternative embodiments, the plant container 4, for instance forming a plant tray, may comprise multiple compartments, each of which for instance may be arranged and/or used for holding a respective plant therein or for holding a respective plant pot or punnet therein. Here, the plant container 4 has a substantially rectangular cross-section, but the plant container 4 may have any other suitable form. For instance, it may have a substantially round cross-section. In embodiments, the plant container 4 may be formed from a plastic material, in particular a thermoplastic material. For example, the container 4 may be an injection molded container. However, the container 4 may be formed by any other suitable method.

Two of the four containers 4 in Fig. 1 are provided with a plant container label 1 or so-called tag 1, which may be formed as a card. The label 1 and the container 4, onto which said label is mounted, can together be part of an assembly 6. In embodiments, said assembly 6 may further comprise substrate, such as soil, birch, coir or the like, for instance held

2019202486 09 Apr 2019 with one or multiple compartments 40 of the container 4 and/or one or more plants or the like, such as one or more planted bulbs, seedlings or similar crop.

Said label 1, which is for labelling a plant container 4, comprises a body portion 2 and at least one insertion portion 3.

The label 1, in particular its body portion 2, may be provided with one or more prints or the like, which for instance may contain information about a plant held by the container 4, such as the plant’s name, a picture of a similar plant, a name and/or logo of the plant’s grower or supplier, water and/or other plant care instructions, a retail price, etc. The exemplary embodiments in the figures show the body portion being rectangular, however the body portion may be formed in any shape, for example circle, oval, polygon or even irregular shapes such as a character or object outline.

The insertion portion 3 can be for insertion into a plant container’s label mounting device 45, which preferably is substantially formed such as to define an aperture 450, more preferably a label slot 450, which can be provided with one or multiple barbs 5 or barb-like structures 5 or ramp-shaped structures or detents or the like, for instance intended to cooperate with a traditionally designed plant port label 1 of a design more or less similar to the design of the label of the above mentioned Australian patent publication AU 616 346 B2. In embodiments, the label mounting device 45 may for instance be provided at a sidewall 41, 42, 43, 44 of the container 4, in particular at an edge, more in particular an upper edge of a container sidewall.

Fig. 2 shows an exemplary embodiment of such a label mounting device 45. This mounting device corresponds with the mounting device 45 of the second design 4B of the plant container of Fig. 1. The label mounting device 45 may be used to mount a plant container label 1 onto the plant container 4, in particular in a manner that may counteract that the label 1 dislodges unintentionally.

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It is noted that the label mounting device 45 of the container 4 may comprise a control zone 46, which can be defined by two offset sidewalls 451, 452 of the label mounting device 45 and two end walls 453. The control zone 46 is preferably elongate, extending from one end wall to the other. The control zone 46 can have an elongate entrance opening 461 at its upper end and a corresponding elongate exit opening 462 at its lower end.

At least one of the two, and preferably both, offset sidewalls 451, 452 can be provided with one or multiple barbs 5 or barb-like structures 5 or detents or the like. The barb 5 or the like may project in the direction of the opposite sidewall 452, 451 in a manner such that, upon mounting the plant container label 1, it leaves sufficient room to allow a respective portion of the label’s insertion portion 3 to pass between said opposite sidewall 452, 451 and the respective barb 5 or the like. Preferably, the barb 5 or the like may define a sloping run-on surface 512, 522, which may be facing the entrance opening 461, and which may facilitate inserting the insertion portion 3 of the label 1. Additionally, the barb 5 or the like may define a stop surface 511, 521 facing the entrance opening 462.

In particular, at least a first one of the sidewalls 451, 452 may comprise at least two of such barbs 5 or the like and the other sidewall 452, 451 may comprise at least one such barb 5 or the like, which, when seen in the elongate direction D461 of the entrance opening 461, is located between two barbs 5 or the like on said first one of the sidewalls 451, 452.

When seen in the insertion direction DO, for instance from above such as is the case in the exemplary embodiments of Fig. 1 and Fig. 2, the distal ends of the barbs 5 or the like may protrude towards the sidewall opposite to the sidewall on which the respective barb or the like is provided, that the barbs 5 or the like together block the control zone 46 to such extent that the insertion portion 3 of the label 1 cannot be inserted without substantially deforming the insertion portion 3 and/or the control zone 46, as for instance may be understood from Fig. 2.

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By making the label’s insertion portion 3 and/or the control zone 46 resiliently deformable, the label 1 can be inserted, while, after the insertion portion 3 and/or the control zone 46 substantially springs back to its respective initial shape, the label 1 may be in a position in which retraction of the label 1 can be counteracted relatively well due to said label mounting device 45. It will be appreciated that the label 1 can thus be snapped onto the container 4 relatively easily.

In this context, it is noted that the label 1 may at least partly be made of sheet material, in particular flexible sheet material, more in particular, resiliently flexible sheet material. For example, the label 1, or at least part of the insertion portion 3, may be made of a water-proofed paper based sheet material. However, alternative materials may be possible as well, such as a plastic sheet material, e.g. a polymeric sheet material, or a composite sheet material. Recycled, recyclable, biodegradable or compostable materials may also be used. The type of material maybe varied depending on the product life cycle and required longevity of the label. For example, labels made from biodegradable and compostable board/sheet materials will gradually degrade over time in a nursery environment, where exposed to watering, sun etc. For example, a compostable fibre or paper material, even if water proofed, will degrade over time. Such labels may be best suited for items typically labelled shortly before display and/or having a high turnover. For example, a home composable label material has a limited effective life once applied to a plant pot in a nursery environment and is therefore best suited for fast moving product lines. Where plants are labelled early (i.e. with a long growing period in the pot or anticipating long shelf/display time) other materials, such as recycled or recyclable plastic (for example thin polypropylene) may be more suitable. The label configuration described herein allows a broader range of materials to be used for slot supported labels than traditional type Australian slot labels.

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As can for instance be seen in Figs 3 (a) and (b), the insertion portion 3 of the label has a first part 31 connected to the body portion 2. Said first part 31 extends away from said body portion 2 in a first direction DI, which first direction DI, during use of the label 1, may correspond with the insertion direction DO. The insertion portion 3 further has a second part 32 connected to the first part 31. The second part 32 is connected to the first part 31 via a foldable line 36. In some embodiment the foldable line 36 includes a segmented line to facilitate a manual folding process. In other embodiments the foldable line may be perforated or scored to facilitate folding.

Said second part 32 of the label’s insertion portion 3 includes a first segment 321 and a second segment 322.

Looking at Figures 3 and 4, for example, said first segment 321, when seen in the first direction DI, is, at least in a use position PII of the plant container label 1, located downstream of said second segment 322.

When in use, the first segment 321 cooperates with a slot 450 in the container 4 to secure the container label 1 in the slot 450 and prevent unfolding. The second segment 322 interact with the barbs 5 or barb-like structures 5 or ramp-shaped structures or detents or the like in the slot 450 of the container 4 to resist against the label being pulled from the slot.

It sould be appreciated that, referring to Figures 3 and 4, the arrow indicating DI is pointing upstream, while the arrow indicating D2 is pointing at a downstream.

In the embodiment shown in Figure 3the insertion portion 3, has some tapering of the first part 31 from the body portion 2 to the fold line 36 then slight widening of the second segment 322, which then tapers away from the first part 31 to a tip which comprises the first segment 321. Thus, the shape of the insertion portion shows a waist at the fold line 36, such that when folded this portion is narrower than the width of the slot. This may, for instance, facilitate the insertion of the insertion portion 3 into the label

2019202486 09 Apr 2019 mounting device 45. The second segment widening slightly causes a longer edge 37 to be provided for engaging with the barbs or ramps in the slot to inhibit dislodgement. However, in other embodiments the second part is defined by parallel or divergent outlines.

It will be appreciated that “downstream” may be considered to mean located at a lower level in case the first direction DI is directed downwards. The second segment 322 can, at least in the use position PII of the plant container label 1, thus form a lower segment of the second part 32, whereas the first segment 321 can, at least in said use position PII, form an upper segment of the second part 32.

Although the first direction DI can often be directed downwards, as is the case in the here shown embodiments, the first direction DI may be directed otherwise, in particular upwards, in alternative embodiments. This may for instance be the case when an installed label 1 is not extending upwards from the container 4, as is the case in Fig. 1, but is extending substantially in front of a respective sidewall 41, 42, 43, 44 of the container

4. For example, in such embodiments, the insertion portion 3 may be inserted into the label slot 450 from below, instead of from above, as is the case in the here shown embodiments. In such alternative embodiments, the first direction DI can thus be directed upwards, and “downstream” may then thus be considered to mean at a higher level.

In use, the insertion part is folded such that the second part 32 substantially abuts the first part 31 in a folded configuration. When not in use, the second part 32 can form arbitrary angles in the respect to the first part 31. In some embodiments, though, even when not in use, the second part 32 abuts the first part 31 in a folded configuration. For example, the labels may be provided flat, optionally with the fold line scored, such that the insertion portion is manually folded before insertion into the label receiving device. In another example the labels may be provided with the insertion portion pre-folded, during the manufacturing process. The labels

2019202486 09 Apr 2019 may be provided stacked, bundled, boxed etc. such that the insertion portion remains folded. In another example the labels may be pre-folded the first part 31 at least partially attached to the second part 32to maintain the folded condition, for example by means of glue or any other suitable attachment means.

Fig. 4 shows different embodiments of the plant container label. In the described embodiment, the first segment 321 has two substantially parallel extending side edges 34, preferably extending substantially in the first direction DI. The parallel extending side edges 34 form a tongue in the distal side of the container label that, in the use position and inserted into the slot 450 prevents unfolding and the second segment 322 cooperates with the barbs 5 or barb-like structures 5 or ramp-shaped structures or detents or the like in the slot 450 of the container 4 to secure the container label 1 therein, inhibiting removal from the slot.

The first segment 321, which in the use position PII may thus be located above the second segment 322, has a width W321, which is less wide than a width W322 of the second segment 322, when measured substantially transverse to the first direction DI and/or when, during use with a container 4, is measured in the elongate direction D461 of a respective elongate entrance opening 461 of a respective label mounting device 45 of said container 4.

In particular as a result thereof, the second segment 322 can define at least one shoulder 37 extending up to a proximal end of the first segment 321. Preferably, the second segment 322 may define two shoulders 37. One shoulder 37 may then be located at a first lateral side of the first segment 321 and a second shoulder 37 may then be located at a second lateral side of the first segment 321.

During use, once the label 1 has been mounted to a container, the one or more shoulders 37 may be cooperate with one or more respective stop surfaces 521 of one or more barbs 5 or the like such that retraction of the

2019202486 09 Apr 2019 label 1 can be counteracted. Contrary to prior art labels having an insertion portion with a laterally protruding arrow head that is relatively wide with respect to a neck portion of such prior art label, the one or more shoulders 37 of the present label 1 can be stopped by an intermediate barb 52 or the like that is, when seen in the elongate direction D461 of the entrance opening 461 and/or in the width direction of the label’s insertion portion 3, located between more outwardly positioned barbs 51 or the like provided at the sidewall 451 opposite to the sidewall 452 at which said intermediate barb 52 or the like is provided.

It will be appreciated that the width W321 of the first segment 321 can for instance be measured from one of its side edges 34 to the other one, in particular in a direction transverse to the first direction DI, which first direction DI may correspond with the direction DO in which the insertion portion 3 is to be inserted in order to mount the plant container label 1 to the plant container 4. Said width W321 of the first segment 321 may, when seen in the elongate direction D461 of the entrance opening 461, preferably be smaller than the size of the interspace between two barbs 5, 52 or the like positioned on a respective sidewall 452.

Advantageously, in particular to facilitate that the label 1 can be used with many different container designs, the width W321 of the first segment 321 of the second part 32 of the insertion portion 3 of the label 1 can be smaller than 12 mm, preferably at most 10 mm, more preferably at most 9 mm or at most 8 mm, such as for instance about 7 mm. As a result of a relatively small width W321 of the first segment 321, it may be facilitated that the label 1 can be mounted to a relatively wide range of containers of different design, in particular containers including a relatively wide range of differently arranged label mounting devices 45, in particular having differently sized interspaces between two adjacent barbs 5, 52 or the like positioned on a respective sidewall 452 between which barbs or the like said first segment 321 is to be installed.

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Additionally or alternatively, the width W321 of said first segment 321 may for instance be at least 4 mm, preferably at least 5 mm or at least 6 mm, such as for instance about 7 mm. As a result, it may for instance be facilitated that said first segment 321 can counteract that the label’s insertion portion 3, once mounted, can be shifted to a relatively large extent in the width direction of said insertion portion 3 and/or in the elongate direction D461 of the entrance opening 46.

The width W31 of the first part 31 of the insertion portion 3 can preferably be wider than the W321 of said first segment 321 of the second part 32 of said insertion portion 3. For example, the width W31 of the first part 31 of the insertion portion 3, at a height level at which the first segment 321 is located in the use position of the plant container label 1, can be at least 2.5 times larger than the width W321 of the first segment 321, preferably at least 3 times or even at least 3.5 times larger than the width W321 of the first segment 321. Additionally or alternatively, the width W31 of said first part 31 can for example be at least 15 mm, preferably at least 17 mm, such as at least 20 mm or at least 25 mm. A relatively large width W31 of the first part 31 may for instance facilitate that the label 1, in particular when made of sheet material, can be relative strong, and/or may for instance counteract that an installed label will topple over.

In embodiments, the width W31 of the first part 31 of the insertion portion 3 can be relatively wide with respect to the width of the entrance opening 46 measured in the elongate direction D461 of said entrance opening 46. For example, the width W31 of said first part 31 may be at least 65%, preferably at least 75%, such as at least 80%, at least 85% or at 90% of the width of said entrance opening 46.

Additionally or alternatively, as for instance is the case in the exemplary embodiment shown in Fig. 2, the width W31 of the first part 31 of the insertion portion 3 can be chosen such that said first part 31, when the label 1 is mounted to the container 4, covers at least one position where a

2019202486 09 Apr 2019 respective one of the more outwardly positioned barbs 51 or the like is positioned that is provided at the sidewall 451 opposite to the sidewall 452 at which two adjacent intermediate barbs 52 or the like are provided between which the first segment 321 of the second part 32 of the insertion portion 3 can be located when the label 1 is installed. As a result, it can be facilitated that said at least one more outwardly positioned barb 51 in a direction D3 towards the sidewall 452 provided with the two adjacent intermediate barbs 52. As a result, it may for instance be facilitated that the first segment 321 can stay positioned between said two adjacent intermediate barbs 52 and it may for instance be counteracted that one or two shoulders 37 will not abut a respect stop surface 521 when one tries to retract the label 1, as it then may be counteracted that the second part 32 can move relatively far away from the sidewall 452 provided with said two adjacent intermediate barbs 52

Besides, it is noted that, in embodiments, the at least one shoulder 37 can be slanted with respect to the first direction DI. As for instance is the case in the embodiments shown in Fig. 2 and Fig. 5, at least one of the one or two shoulders 37 may slant such that, in the use position PII of the label 1, said at least one of the one or two shoulders 37 slopes away from the first segment 321 in the first direction DI.

For instance, in such embodiments, the container label 1 may be arranged such that the second part 32 of the insertion portion 3, at least in the use position of the container label 1, tapers at least partly in a direction D2 substantially opposite to the first direction DI. This may for instance facilitate mounting the label 1 to the container 4.

However, in alternative embodiments, such as for instance in the exemplary embodiment shown at the right hand side of Fig. 4, at least one of the one or two shoulders 37 may slant such that, in the use position, said at least one of the one or two shoulders 37 slopes towards the first segment 321 in the first direction DI. An advantage of such configuration may lie in

2019202486 09 Apr 2019 that it can be counteracted relatively well that an installed plant container label 1 is retracted in a direction D2 substantially opposite to the insertion direction DO.

On the other hand, in embodiments in which at least one shoulder 37 slants such that, in the use position of the label, said shoulder 37 slopes away from the first segment 321 in the first direction DI, the height H321 over which the first segment 321 extends, seen in a direction D2 opposite to the first direction DI, beyond a distal end 322’ of the second segment 322 can be relatively large with respect to the height H34 over which said first segment 321 extends, in said direction D2 opposite to the first direction DI, beyond a point 321’ where the side edge 34 of the first segment 321 and the shoulder 37 defined by the second segment 322 meet each other. Actually, the height H34 over which the first segment 321 extends beyond the shoulder 37 can be the same as the height H321 over which the first segment 321 extends beyond a distal end 322’ of the second segment 322, as said distal end 322’ may be located at the proximal end 321’ of the first segment’s side edge 34 when the shoulder 37 slants such that, in the use position of the label 1, said shoulder 37 slopes away from the first segment 321 in the first direction DI, such as for instance is the case in the exemplary embodiment of Fig. 2. As a result, the width W321 of the first segment 321 may be relatively large with respect to the height H34 over which the first segment 321 extends beyond the shoulder 37, while said width W321 of the first segment 321 may be relatively small with respect to a width W31 of the first part 31 of the insertion portion 3, in particular a width W31 of the first part 31 measured at a height level at which the first segment 321 is located in the use position of the plant container label 1.

Besides, it will be appreciated by the person skilled in the art that the body portion 2 of the label 1 may be wider than the insertion portion 3 such as to counteract that the label can be entirely pushed through the container’s label mounting device 45. Said body portion 2 may thus define

2019202486 09 Apr 2019 one or multiple shoulders 27, which may extend substantially laterally away from the insertion portion 3. When the label 1 has been mounted to a container 1, said shoulders 27 may for instance rest on the container 1, in particular onto a respective part of the container’s label mounting device 45, such as a respective end wall 453, 454 thereof. Alternatively, for instance in case it is desired that the container label 1 has a relatively small width, for instance not substantially exceeding the size of the elongate control zone 46, an proximal end region of the insertion portion 3 and/or a distal end region of the body portion 2 may be provided with one or multiple laterally extending stops, which for instance may define similar shoulders or the like.

It is noted that, when seen in a direction D2 opposite to the first direction DI, the height H321 over which the first segment 321 extends beyond a distal end 322’ of the second segment 322 can relate to some extent with a plant container’s label mounting device 45, which preferably is substantially formed as a label slot provided with one or multiple barb-like structures 5. For example, said height H321 can at least be 65% of the height H46 of the control zone 46, and preferably be at least 75% or at least 90% of said height H46 of the control zone 46, and may be even more than the height H46 of the control zone. Alternatively or additionally, when seen in the direction D2 opposite to the first direction DI, the height H321 over which the first segment 321 extends beyond a distal end 322’ of the second segment 322 can be at least 4 mm, especially at least 5 mm or at least 6 mm, such as for instance about 7 mm.

As is for instance the case in the exemplary embodiment shown in Fig. 2, the label 1 may be arranged such that, at least in the use position PII of the label 1, the first part 31 and the second part 32 of the insertion portion 3 do not lie in the same plane. For example, at least in the use position of the plant container label 1, the second part 32 may overlie the first part 31 at least partly. However, in alternative embodiments the first part 31 may for instance have an opening at the position of the second part

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32, while said second part may then still be located out of the plane in which the first part 31 extends.

Advantageously, the label 1 may be arranged such that, at least in the use position of the container label 1, a distal end 32’ of the second part 32 of the insertion portion 3 is not directly attached to the first part 31. In particular, at least the distal end 32’ of the second part 32, and preferably at least the entire first segment 321 and/or a part of the second segment 322 defining one or more shoulders 37, may be not adhered to the first part 31. This may for instance allow that the second segment 321 can be located relatively well between two respective adjacent barbs 52, and/or it may allow that the one or more shoulders 37 are positioned correctly.

Whereas the distal end 32’ of the second part 32 of the insertion portion 3 may preferably be free from the first part 31, a proximal end 32” of the second part 32 may be directly attached to the first part 31.

In embodiments, the second part 32, in particular at or near its proximal end 32”, can be directly attached to the first part 31 by means of a hinge 36. The hinge may in particular be formed by a fold line 36, more in particular a preformed fold line 36, such as a score line 36.

Additionally or alternatively, the second part 32 may be at least partly biased away from first part 31, especially in a direction D3 substantially transverse to the plane in which sheet material of the first part 31 extends. It will be appreciated that such bias may facilitate that the label’s insertion portion 3 can be locked relatively well in a plant container’s label mounting device 45, which preferably is substantially formed as a label slot provided with one or multiple barb-like structures 5. For example, the bias may facilitate that the first segment 321 can be relatively well kept being located between two respective barbs 52 or the like. Additionally or alternatively, it may counteract that the one or more shoulders 37 defined by the second segment 322 of the second part 32 will not abut a respective stop surface 521 when one tries to retract the label 1 in a direction opposite

2019202486 09 Apr 2019 to the insertion direction DO. The bias may be achieved by additional folds (for example concertina style or triangular fold) or other means.

In advantageous embodiments, at least the second part 32 and the first part 31 of the label’s insertion portion 3 may be formed from a single sheet of sheet material and may be attached to each other by means of a fold line 36 in said sheet material. Upon folding the second part 32 with respect to the first part 31, said fold line 36 may then cause that the second part 32 tends to spring back to some extent to its initial position in which it may have been in line with the first part 31, in particular in case the sheet material is a resiliently flexible sheet material.

Although a respective fold line 36, 38 may for instance be performed by cutting into the sheet material up to a certain depth, the fold line 36, 38 can preferably be formed by denting or crushing, which may provide for relatively much resilience. As a result, the insertion portion’s second part 32 may for instance be biased away from the first part 31 relatively well.

In embodiments, the hinge 36, in particular formed as a score line 36, can be extending substantially transverse to the first direction Dl. As a result, it may be counteracted that the biasing will pull the label 1, once installed on the container 4, out of position. In advantageous embodiments, at least in the use position PII of the label 1, the fold line 36 or alternatively formed hinge 36 extending substantially transverse to the first direction Dl, may be located at, and/or define, the distal end of the insertion portion 3.

Nevertheless, in alternative embodiments, the hinge 36, in particular formed as a score line 36, can be extending in a direction other than substantially transverse to the first direction Dl. For example, the hinge 36 may extend substantially parallel with the first direction Dl, such is for instance the case in some of the exemplary embodiments of Fig. 5. Alternatively, said hinge 36 can extend oblique to the first direction Dl, such is for instance the case in other exemplary embodiments of Fig. 4.

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For example in embodiments in which the hinge 36, in particular formed as a score line 36, does not extends substantially transverse to the first direction DI, the insertion portion 3 may further have a third part 33 connected to the first part 31, preferably by means of a second hinge 38, in particular a hinge formed by a fold line 38, more in particular a preformed fold line 38, such as a score line 38. Advantageously, said second hinge 38 and the first hinge 36 may extend substantially mirror-symmetrically or so called reflection-symmetrically with respect to each other, wherein the line or so called axis of symmetry extends substantially in line with the first direction DI, and preferably extends substantially through the middle of the first part 31 and/or substantially through the middle of the insertion portion 3, at least when the label 1 is in its use position PII.

As, contrary to the exemplary embodiments of Fig. 2 and Fig. 4, is the case in most of the exemplary embodiments shown in Fig. 5, the container label 1 may be arranged such that, at least in the use position PII of the container label 1, a distal end of the insertion portion 3 is tapered to some extent. This may for instance facilitate the insertion of the insertion portion 3 into the label mounting device 45.

As mentioned before, the label 1 may be made at least partly of sheet material. In particular, the sheet material may be flexible sheet material, which for instance may allow that insertion portion 3, in its user position PII, may be bent to some extent about a virtual axis extending substantially parallel with the insertion direction DO, which may facilitate that insertion portion 3 can be inserted between respective barbs 5 or the like, which, when seen in de insertion direction DI, may for instance only leave a substantially meandering space open and not a straight space that would allow insertion of an unbent insertion portion 3. Preferably, the sheet material may be resiliently deformable, for example such as to facilitate that the label locks in the container’s label mounting device 45.

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Preferably, the sheet material may be flat sheet material, and/or the label 1, in particular at least in its initial position PI, may be substantially flat. Additionally, the first part 31 of the insertion portion 3 may be free of folds and/or fold lines, in particular folds and/fold lines extending substantially in the first direction DI. This may for instance further counteract unintentional retraction of an installed label 1.

In advantageous embodiments, the label 1 may be integrally formed and may for example be die-cut or punched out of a single sheet of sheet material. This can offer significant advantages in simplification of manufacturing and/or ability to use different materials (for example, thinner than conventional labels, recyclable, compostable or biodegradable materials),

Advantageously, the label 1 may be arranged such that it, in particular in its initial position PI, does not comprise any through holes or slots out of which scrap material has to be pushed. This may allow for a relatively simple, relatively cost efficient and/or relatively little error-prone production process, and/or may counteract that scrap unintentionally remaining behind could prevent that the label 1 can be mounted properly onto the container 4. Additionally or alternatively, the label 1 may be cut or punched in a single step and/or by means of a single die. In some embodiments, shown for example in Figure 6, the insertion a label blank is a rectangular (or other shaped) sheet and the insertion portion 3 (as described above) is cut into a section of the sheet, within the periphery of the label blank, such that the insertion portion may be pushed out from the sheet to be folded for insertion into a label mounting device, with a portion of the sheet to act as a “skirt” 60 and hang beside the insertion portion 3. When this label is applied to a pot the skirt 60 can sit against the pot on either side of the label mounting device, and in some embodiments (as shown in Figure 6) also below. Thus, the skirt 60 may provide additional label area. Alternatively, the skirt 60 may be slid into the pot along the

2019202486 09 Apr 2019 inner wall of the pot proximate the label mounting device. The skirt 60 may assist in stabilising the label 1 against eh side of the pot - particularly advantageous when very thin label material is used. Where the label is inserted with the skirt 60 extending into the interior of the pot, the label 1 may be further stabilised by soil against this skirt 60.

It is noted that the second part 32 of the label’s insertion portion 3 may thus be formed from said single sheet of sheet material and may be attached to each other by means of a fold line 36. As indicated by arrows 7, said second part 32 has then for example to be folded about said fold line 36 in order to bring the label 1 from an initial position PI into its use position PII in which it may be ready to be installed onto a container 4. In embodiments in which the label’s insertion portion 3 also comprises a third part 33 formed out the same sheet material and connected to the first part 31 by means of a second fold line 38, said third part 33 may also have to be folded about said second fold line 38, as indicated in the Fig. 5 by arrows 8, in order to bring the label 1 in its use position PII. It will be appreciated that, for instance in order to facilitate storing and/or transporting the labels, the label 1 may be stored, transported, sold and/or supplied to user in its initial, unfolded, position PI.

Upon folding the second part 32 with respect to the first part 31, said fold line 36 may then cause that the second part 32 tends to spring back to some extent to its initial position in which it may have been in line with the first part 31, in particular in case the sheet material is a resiliently flexible sheet material.

It is noted that for the purpose of clarity and a concise description features are described herein as part of the same or separate embodiments, however, it will be appreciated that the scope of the disclosure and/or the invention may include embodiments having combinations of all or some of the features described.

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Further, it is noted that the invention is not restricted to the embodiments described herein. It will be understood that many variants are possible.

Such and other variants will be apparent for the person skilled in the art and are considered to lie within the scope of the invention as formulated in the following claims.

In the claims which follow and in the preceding description of the invention, except where the context requires otherwise due to express language or necessary implication, the word “comprise” or variations such as “comprises” or “comprising” is used in an inclusive sense, i.e. to specify the presence of the stated features but not to preclude the presence or addition of further features in various embodiments of the invention.

It is to be understood that, if any prior art publication is referred to herein, such reference does not constitute an admission that the publication forms a part of the common general knowledge in the art, in Australia or any other country.

Claims (22)

1. Claims

   1. A container label for labelling a container, comprising a body portion and an insertion portion said insertion portion having a first part connected to the body portion and extending away from said body portion in a first direction, said insertion portion further having a second part connected to the first part, wherein the second part includes a first segment and a second segment, wherein said second segment is connected to the first part via a foldable line, and said first segment is connected to said second segment so that said first segment when seen in the first direction, is, at least in a use position of the container label, located downstream of said second segment, and and wherein at least said first segment is configured, in the use position, to cooperate with structures within a slot in the container to inhibit removal of the label from the slot.
2. 2. The container label according to claim 1, wherein said first segment has a width, which, measured substantially transverse to the first direction, is less wide than a width of the second segment.
3. 3. The container label according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the second part tapers at least partly in a direction away from the first part.
4. 4. The container label according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the second segment defines at least one shoulder, for engagement with at least one structure within the slot.
5. 5. The container label according to claim 4, wherein the at least one shoulder extends up to a proximal end of the first segment.
6. 6. The container label according to claim 4 or claim 5, wherein the second segment defines two shoulders, i.e. one at a first lateral side of the first segment and a second one at a second lateral side of the first segment.
7. 7. The container label according to any one of claims 4 to 6, wherein the at least one shoulder is slanted with respect to the first direction.
8. 8. The container label according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein a width of the first part of the insertion portion, at a height level at which the first segment is located in the use position of the container label, is at least 2.5 times larger than the width of the first segment.
9. 9. The container label according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein a width of the first part of the insertion portion, at a height level at which the first segment is located in the use position of the container label, is at least 3 times or even at least 3.5 times larger than the width of the first segment.
10. 10. The container label according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the first part and/or the second part is made of sheet material, preferably wherein the entire insertion portion is made of sheet material.
11. 11. The container label according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, at least in the use position of the container label, the first part and the second part do not lie in the same plane.
12. 12 The container label according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, at least in the use position of the container label, the second part overlies the first part at least partly.
13. 13. The container label according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, at least in the use position of the container label, a distal end of the second part is not directly attached to the first part.
14. 14. The container label according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein a proximal end of the second part is directly attached to the first part.
15. 15. The container label according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the second part is directly attached to the first part by means of a hinge, in particular a hinge formed by a fold line, more in particular a preformed fold line, such as a score line.
16. 16. The container label according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the second part is at least partly biased away from the first part.
17. 17. The container label according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, at least in the use position of the container label, a distal end of the insertion portion is tapered to some extent.
18. 18. The container label according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the container label is made of sheet material, in particular flexible sheet material, more in particular, resiliently flexible sheet material.
19. 19. The container label according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the container label is made of a biodegradable material.

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20. 20. The container label according to any one of the preceding claim, wherein at least part of the insertion portion is made of a water-proofed paper-based sheet material.

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21. 21. Assembly of a container, in particular a plant container, and a container label according to any one of the preceding claims.
22. 22. Use of a container label according to any one of claims 1 to 20, in particular in a method of labelling a container, especially a plant container.