GB2061869A

GB2061869A - Labelling a container

Info

Publication number: GB2061869A
Application number: GB7938558A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: HINTEREGGER P
Current assignee: HINTEREGGER P
Priority date: 1979-11-07
Filing date: 1979-11-07
Publication date: 1981-05-20
Also published as: ATE7478T1; GB2061869B; DE3067886D1; EP0029669A1; EP0029669B1

Abstract

The invention relates to labeling a container. A container (10), for example a packaging for eggs, fruit or the like, has a lid portion (12) hinged to a base portion (11). The lid (12) or hinge (13) has a flat internal surface (15) defining an area to which a label (23) is to be applied. For removably holding the label in position a plurality of projections (22) are disposed on the periphery of that area, which projections are moulded integrally with the container and extend in overlapping, spaced relation with the area of the surface to which the label is to be applied.

Description

1 GB 2061 869A 1

SPECIFICATION

Containers This invention relates to containers.

It is known to apply a label to a container by adhesive. However, such a process requires a labelling machine, and does not render the label to be readily remQvable from the container without tearing.

According to the invention a container has a plurality of projections to retain in position at least one label applied to the container.

Preferably the container is moulded from plastics material and the projections are formed during the moulding of the container.

It is also preferred that the projections are formed on an internal surface or surfaces of the container so that the label may be applied within the container.

Preferably the container or that portion of the container to which the label is to be applied is formed of transparent material. The label may then be applied internally of the container so that it may be viewed from outside the container. Alternatively, the container may be formed wholly of opaque material, for example, foamed polystyrene.

Whether the container is formed at least partly of transparent material or wholly of opaque material, the label may be applied internally or externally of the container.

The container may comprise a lid portion hinged to a base portion, the projections be- ing formed on the lid portion.

In another embodiment of the invention, the container comprises a lid portion connected to a base portion by a web constituting a double hinge, the projections being formed on the longitudinal edges of the web.

Preferably the projections are a series of pips extending parallel to a surface of the container in which the label is to be applied, whereby, in use, the edges of the label are removably held between the pips and said surface of the container.

The container may be a packaging for eggs, fruit or the like.

The invention also provides a container defined as above, the container having a label applied thereto and being removably held in position by the projections.

By way of example, specific embodiments in accordance with the invention will be de- scribed with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings in which:- Figure 1 is a perspective view of an egg box with the lid open having a label applied internally of the lid, the label being partly cut- away; Figure 2 is a internal view of the lid of the egg box of Fig. 1; Figure 3 is a section along line 111-111 in Fig. 2; Figure 4 is an internal view of the lid of another egg box having two labels applied internally of the lid; and Figure 5 is a perspective view of a further egg box with the lid open having a label applied to the internal surface of a double hinge connecting the lid to the base of the egg box.

Referring to Figs. 1 to 3, a container 10 for packaging eggs comprise a one-piece mould- ing of transparent, high impact polystyrene. The container has a base 11 and a lid 12 both of which are hinged to an intermediate web 13 constituting a double hinge. The base 11 has six egg receiving pockets 14 which are of conventional design, whilst the lid 12 has a single recess 20.

The lid 12 has a flat upper surface 15 having an external peripheral rim 16 and, when the lid is closed, it is supported by posts 17 upstanding from the base 11. To releasably retain the lid in its fully closed position, there is provided a pair of interengaging pins 18 and sockets 19, the pins 18, in this embodiment, depending from the lid adjacent its edge which is opposite the lid hinge and the respective sockets 19 comprising upwardly open recesses in the base 11.

The sides 21 of the recessed lid 12 have six pips 22 located adjacent the junctions of the sides 21 and the upper surface 15 of the lid. The pips are formed during the moulding of the egg box and extend inwardly of the lid and parallel to the upper surface 15 of the lid but spaced therefrom. The pips 22 thus define six slots for receiving the edges of the label 23 to be applied to the inner face of the upper surface 15 of the lid, and for removably holding the label in position. The label in thereby viewed through the upper surface 15 of the lid.

It will be appreciated that in order that the label may be viewed from outside the egg box, it is sufficient for the lid rather than the whole egg box, or if desired only the upper surface 15 of the lid to be formed of transparent material.

Alternatively, this feature of the egg box described above may not be required, in which case the egg box may be formed wholly of opaque material, for example, foamed polystyrene. The label will then be seen only when the lid is opened.

The embodiment of Fig. 4 concerns an egg box similar to the one shown in Figs. 1 to 3 except that the lid 30 has six egg receiving recesses 31 corresponding to the recesses in the base, instead of a single recess. Each set of three recesses 31 are joined to form a trough 35 extending longitudinally of the egg box, the trough having a flat base 32. In this embodiment two labels 33 are applied internally of the lid, one in each trough. Each label 33 is held in position within its own trough 35, in like manner to the label 23 of the embodiment of Figs. 1 to 3, by four pips 34 2 GB 2 061 869A 2 moulded in pairs on opposite sides of the trough.

Fig. 5 shows a further embodiment of egg box in which the lid 40 is again connected to the base 41 by a web 42 constituting a double hinge, but in this embodiment a label 43 is applied to the inner face of the web 42 instead of internally of the lid. As in each of the other embodiments, the label 43 is held in position by a series of pips 44 which in this case are three pips integrally moulded along each longitudinal edge of the web. It will be appreciated that the label retaining pips 44 comprise projections which are additional to 5. A container as claimed in any one of any others which may be provided due to the 80 the preceding claims, wherein the container is construction of the web 42 as a double hinge. formed wholly of opaque material.

Each of the embodiments of Figs. 4 and 5, 6. A container as claimed in any one of like the embodiment of Figs. 1 to 3, may be the preceding claims, comprising a lid portion moulded wholly or partly of transparent matehinged to a base portion, the projections be riai or wholly of opaque material. 85 ing formed on the lid portion.

An advantage of each embodiment of egg 7. A container as claimed in any one of

Claims

box described above is that the label may be Claims 1 to 5, comprising a lid portion con manually applied to the egg box. The label is nected to a base portion by a web consituting also readily removably from the egg box since a double hinge, the projections being formed it is applied to the egg box without the use of 90 on the longitudinal edges of the web. adhesive. This feature is another advantage if 8. A container as claimed in any one of it is desired that the label should form a the preceding claims, wherein the projections are a series of pips extending parallel to a - surface of the container to which the label is to be applied, whereby, in use, the edges of the label are removably held between the pips wherein the container is moulded from plastics material and the projections are formed during the moulding of the container. 3. A container as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein the projections are formed on an internal surface or surfaces of the container so that the label may be applied internally of the container. 4. A container as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the container or that portion of the container to which the label is to be applied is formed of transparent material. receipt of purchase to enable the purchaser to obtain a further item. Each of the specific embodiments shown in the drawings allows a removable label to be inserted into an empty carton prior to a conventional filling operation, the label being held positively in position within the lid or adjacent the web throughout the filling operation. Such a procedure is advantageous when compared with the usual step of feeding a label into each carton in a random fashion at some stage during the filling of the carton, the label remaining loose within the carton. The invention is not restricted to the specific details of the embodiments described above. For example, the container may be a carton or box for packaging other articles besides eggs, for example fruit. Also, in each embodiment, the pips for. holding the label or labels in position may be provided externally of the container, instead of internally. For example, in the case of the egg box shown in Figs. 1 to 3, the pips 22 may protrude from the rim 16 whereby the label 23 may be applied to the outer face of the upper surface 15 of the lid. Similarly, in the case of the egg box shown in Fig. 4, the pips 34 may be formed on the external longitudinal edges of the troughs 35 in the lid 30, and in the case of -the egg box shown in Fig. 5, the pips 44 may be formed on the external longitudinal edges of the web 42.

1 CLAIMS 1. A container having a plurality of projections adapted to retain in position at least one label applied to the container.

2. A container as claimed in Claim 1, and said surface of the container.

9. A container as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the container is a packaging for eggs, fruit or the like.

10. A container as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, having a label applied thereto and being removably held in position by the projections.

11. A container substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.

CLAIMS (4 Nov 1980) 1. A container moulded from plastics ma terial comprising a lid portion hinged to a base portion, the lid or hinge having a flat internal surface defining an area to which a label is to be applied, wherein for removably holding the label in position a plurality of projections are disposed on the periphery of said area, which projections are moulded integrally with the container and extend in overlapping,'spaced relation with the area of said surface to which the label is to be applied.

2. A container as claimed in claim 1, wherein the container, or at least said surface to which a label is to be applied, is formed of transparent material.

3. A container as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the lid portion is formed with at least one recess, the or each receiss having side walls surrounding a flat upper surface to which a label is to be applied internally thereof, and wherein the projections W 3 GB2061869A 3 for holding the or each label extend inwardly from the side walls of the respective reces's and lie parallel to the associated upper sur face.

4. A container as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the hinge is a double hinge having a flat web interconnecting the lid por tion and the base portion, and the label holding projections are provided on the longitudinal edges of said web.

5. A container as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the label holding projections are a series of pips beneath which the edges of a label may be tucked.

6. A container as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the container is a packaging for eggs.

7. A container as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, having a label applied to an internal surface of the lid or hinge and being removably held in position by the projections.

8. A container substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.

Printed for Her Majesty's Stationery Office by Burgess & Son (Abingdon) Ltd-1 98 1. Published at The Patent Office, 25 Southampton Buildings, London, WC2A 1 AY, from which copies may be obtained.