GB2197845A

GB2197845A - Label for a bottle

Info

Publication number: GB2197845A
Application number: GB08727270A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Eric Thomson Coates
Original assignee: Scottish and Newcastle Breweries PLC
Current assignee: Heineken UK Ltd
Priority date: 1986-11-22
Filing date: 1987-11-20
Publication date: 1988-06-02
Also published as: GB8727270D0; GB8628001D0

Abstract

A label 8 for a bottle is provided with an extension in the form of a tape-like tag 12 and a region 11 for display of promotional material. The tag is held to the bottle by the close-fitting of the closure 6, this being achieved by the placing of the tape-like tag near, at or over the bottle top, and the later placing and sealing of a closure. The display region is unobscured by the closure and if an attempt is made to remove this region, the exposed end of the tag, or its concealed end on unwrapping the closure, will remain conspicuous and indicate the removal of the display region. <IMAGE>

Description

Label for a Bottle This invention relates to a label for a bottle.

The invention especially relates to wine bottles, cider bottles and the suchlike that are provided with closures of paper, plastics or malleable metal sheaths, hereinafter called the drinks bottles.

Promotions are increasingly being employed by drinks distributors to increase sales. The promotional material is generally displayed on a loose-fitting label which encircles the neck of each wine bottle such that it rests on the bottle's shoulder. These labels are cheap to produce and easy to attach; they are also easily removed and due to their value prone to pilfering either prior to delivery to the retailer or from open shelves. They leave behind no trace of their former presence such that purchasers and/or retailers remain unaware of the theft.

Other labels, such as those attached by a perforated seam to existing labels, are also little missed and additionally expensive to produce. Gummed labels cannot be easily removed intact for purchasers to claim their value; additionally some glues prevent information being printed on the reverse side.

According to the present invention there is provided a label that is provided with an extension adapted to be retained by a closure of a bottle, said label having a region for display that is not obscured by the closure.

Preferably, the extension is tape-like and therefore considerably longer than it is wide; the display region may be rider than it is long.

Preferably, the extension is of sufficient length for it to lip over a bottle top or lie across and beyond the bottle top.

The bottle may be variously sealed and have a closure of paper, plastics or metal materials.

According to the present invention there is provided a method for attaching a label to a bottle, said label being provided with an extension which is rested near, at or over a bottle top such that the extension is restrained by the subsequent close fit of a closure, a display region to said label being unobscured by said closure.

The close fit of the closure may be achieved by heat for heat-shrinkable plastic sheaths or by pressure for foil circles, malleable metal tubes, and other plastics or paper closures.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig. 1 is an example of a label for a bottle according to the prior art; Fig. 2 is one embodiment of a label for a bottle according to the present invention; and, Fig. 3 is a second embodiment of a label for a bottle according to the present invention.

Referring to the drawings, there are shown labels for bottles. Each bottle 1 has a narrow neck 2, a sloping shoulder 3, and a straight sided base 4 bearing a vineyard's or bottler's label 5. Each bottle is sealed and the seal (not shown) protected by a closure 6. Each bottle 1 is provided with an additional label 7 or 8 generally for display of promotional material.

Referring to Fig. 1 of the drawings, the label 7 of the prior art comprises a loose-fitting length, the ends 9, 10 of which are joined so that it may encircle the neck 2 of the bottle 1 and rest on the bottle's shoulder 3. These labels 7 are cheap to produce and easy to attach but are also easily lost or pilfered leaving no trace.

Referring now to Figs 2 and 3 of the drawings, there is shown a label 8 for a bottle 1 according to the present invention. The label 8 is provided with an extension in the form of a tape-like tag 12 and a region 11 for display of promotional material. The tag 12 is held to the bottle 1 by the close-fitting of the closure 6, this being achieved by the placing of the tape-like tag 12 at or near the bottle top, the later placing of a closure 6 and subsequent application of pressure to the closure, or heat in the case of heat-shrinkable plastics. The tape-like tags 12 may extend for only a short distance under the closure 6 (see Fig. 2) or may pass over the bottle top and recurve (see Fig. 3). In either instance the display region 11 is unobscured by the closure 6.

The display region 11 may vary considerably in size and shape. Generally, however, the display region 11 is broader than high, and narrower than and raised above the widest part of the bottle 1.

Should an attempt be made to remove the display region 11, and thus any promotional material carried thereon, the tag 12 will conspicuously remain. Even if an exposed end 13 is trimmed, the purchaser, on unwrapping the closure 6 and uncovering a remaining length of tag 12, will be aware of the theft.

The label herein described is made of paper, but plastics, coated paper, cloth or metal foil materials could be used.

All would still achieve a cheap to produce, easily fittable, but permanent label.

Modifications and improvements may be incorporated without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A label is provided with an extension adapted to be retained by a closure of a bottle, said label having a region for display that is not obscured by the closure.

2. A label according to Claim 1, wherein the extension is tape-like.

3. A label according to either Claim 1 or 2, wherein the extension is of sufficient length for it to lip over a bottle top or lie across and beyond the bottle top.

4. A method for attaching a label to a bottle, said label being provided with an extension which is rested near, at or over a bottle top such that the extension is restrained by the subsequent close fit of a closure, a display region to said label being unobscured by said closure.

5. A method according to Claim 4, wherein the close fit of the closure is achieved by heat or by pressure.