GB2439300A

GB2439300A - Twin hinged and peelable label top layers

Info

Publication number: GB2439300A
Application number: GB0612158A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Paul Alan Swinney
Original assignee: Paragon Labels Ltd
Current assignee: Paragon Labels Ltd
Priority date: 2006-06-20
Filing date: 2006-06-20
Publication date: 2007-12-27
Also published as: GB0612158D0

Abstract

A label has two hinged 28 and peelable upper layers 16,12 which can be peeled off a base layer, such as to be capable of allowing each of the two areas 16,12 to be peeled and removed at discrete times. This may find application in the form of a price tag label from which a priced and/or barcode portion can be removed whilst other information remains in or on the unpeeled part of the label. This might be used such as for presenting an item as a gift, without the price tag or barcode on it, whilst other product information remains. The label may further feature a deadened portion (20, fig. 1C) in which adhesive is omitted, which may aid the removal of label portions.

Description

1 2439300 t3O6983GB A Self-Adhesive Label The present invention relates

to a self-adhesive label, particularly but not exclusively for use in displaying product information and promotional information on groceries, plants, cut flowers and the like.

Considering the examples of plants and cut flowers, these items are often purchased as gifts for others. They are often provided with labels with pre-printed prices which the gift-giver would wish to remove before giving the item to the gift recipient. It is known to print the price on a corner of a label that is perforated, so that it can be torn off before giving.

However, this arrangement is disadvantageous because the remaining labels looks unsightly, and is not an effective use olthc faces of the label for displaying information.

It is also known to provide money-off coupons on labels by providing tear-off portions, or encapsulating the token between two layers of a label. It is also known to provide additional information on labels, such as product care instructions or recipes. However, such additional information inevitably adds to the area of a label, which may be detrimental to the attractive display of a product.

The present invention seeks to overcome, or at least mitigate the problems of the prior art.

Accordingly, one aspect of the invention provides a self-adhesive label comprising a lower layer for adhesive securement to a surface and an upper layer provided in a face contacting relationship and secured to the lower layer at a securement location so as to define a first hinge panel, the interface between the hinge panel and the lower layer being coated so as to permit the peeling of the first hinge panel from the lower layer, wherein the securement location further defines a second panel of the upper layer in co-planar alignment with the first panel and configured for manipulating with respect to the lower layer.

Embodiments of' the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1A is a plan view of an upper face top layer of a label according to a first embodiment of' the present invention; Fig. lB is a plan view of a lower face of the top layer of Fig. 1A; Fig. IC is a plan view of a top face of a bottom layer of a label according to the first embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 2A to 2C are views of top and bottom layers of a label according to a second embodiment of the present invention corresponding to Figs. 1 A to IC respectively; Figs. 3A to 3C are views of top and bottom layers of a label according to a third embodiment I 5 of the present invention corresponding to Figs. I A to I C respectively; and Figs. 4 to 6 are perspective views of the labels of the first, second and third embodiments of the present invention respectively.

Referring to Fig. 4 a label I 0 according to the first embodiment of the present invention is shown. The label 10 comprises a top layer 12 shown in Figs. I A and I B and a bottom layer 14 shown in Fig. IC. Both the top layers and bottom layers are made from known label materials such as paper, paperboard or plastics materials such as a semi (mid) gloss machine coated paper or card, or a polypropylene or polyethylene film.

The top layer comprises an upper face 16 visible in Fig. IA and a lower atce 18 visible in Fig. lB and partially visible in Fig. IA. l'he bottom layer comprises an upper face 20 and a lower face (not shown).

The upper faces 16 and 20 of the top and bottom layers 12, 14 and the lower face 18 of the top layer are printed with indicia (see Fig. 4), including product information 22a, pricing information 22b, bar codes 22c, product care information 22d and guarantee information 22e.

The lower face of top layer 18 is additionally coated with a known pressure sensitive adhesive 25 (e.g. an acrylic and/or hot melt or rubber based adhesive) over the entire face and has a known deadener (e.g. a lacquer such as a U.V. cured cationic or free radical varnish and/or ink) applied to two of its four corners to fbrm first and second triangular deadened areas 24a and 24b for reasons discussed below.

S The upper face 20 of the bottom layer is provided with first and second regions of release coating 26a and 26b (e.g. a known silicone coating) having a linear spacing therebetween with no coating applied. The lower face of bottom layer 14 is coated with known pressure sensitive adhesive (e.g. acrylic and/or hot melt or rubber based adhesive) in order that the label 10 may he secured to a relevant product.

A perforation strip 28 extends from one long edge of the top layer 12 to a second long edge in a spaced parallel relationship with short edge 30 of the top layer 1 2. The distance between the perforation strip and the short edge 30 is substantially equal to the width of release coating region 26b for reasons discussed below.

The label lOis manufactured as follows: two layers of label material that will ultimately form the top and bottom layers 12, 14 are put through a press (either by having two separate rolls to wind-off from or a cross-over unit on the press to put one layer on top of the other). Each of the faces 16, 18 and 20 of the layers is then printed, and the adhesive applied to the whole lower face 18 and the deadener applied part of the lower face to produce the deadened areas 24a and 24h of the top layer. A release coating is applied to the upper face 20 of the bottom layer 14 to provide release coating regions 26a and 26b. The two layers are then superimposed with the various parts in register (e.g. the deadener in register with the corners of the adhesive 26b). Both layers are then fed through a cutter unit configured to cut the outline of the label 10 and perforation strip 28. The individual labels 10 are then applied in a regular array on a web of liner material and stored for subsequent application to their intended product. Application to a product may be carried out using conventional label applicator machinery.

With reference to Fig. 4 the complete label 1 0 may be seen in use. When applied to a product in-store, the potential purchaser will see the main product identification 22a and pricing information 22b on what appears to be a conventional rectangular label. When the product is purchased, the barcode 22c is also visible to make the checkout procedure rapid.

However, neither the pricing information 22b nor the barcode 22c is attractive or desirable if the product is to be given as a gift. In this case, the gift giver lifts a right-hand panel 32 that is delineated by the perforation strip, with deadened area 24a enabling lifting to be easily achieved. l'he user then tears along the perforation to clearly separate the right-hand panel iiom the remainder of the label. In this embodiment, this reveals the product guarantee information 22c. In other embodiments, the design on the upper face 16 could be continued onto the upper face 20 of the bottom layer 14. in either embodiment the label lOis then in a more attractive state to he given as a gift.

Once the gift recipient has received the gift, they may lift a left-hand panel 34 using deadened area 24b to reveal product care information 22d. Panel 34 is defined by the area of release material 26a such that when the gift recipient peels back the panel 34 it may hinge about the interface between the release material 26a and the uncoated strip of upper face 20, which has securely adhered to the lower face 1 8 of top panel 12 by virtue of the adhesive to form a securement location 21. Once the gift recipient has consulted the product care instructions they may re-adhere the left-hand panel 34 to the release material 26a, so the product information 22a is again visible.

With reference to Figs. 2A to 2C and 5 a second embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in which like parts have been numbered with like numerals with the prefix "I".

Only differences with respect to the first embodiment are discussed in greater detail.

In this second embodiment, the left-hand panel 134 remains unchanged from the panel 34 of the first embodiment, but a circular peel-off panel 132 replaces the right-hand panel 32 of the first embodiment. Circular panel 132 is entirely severed from the surrounding area of top layer 112 except for two small sections of material (not shown) acting to tie them together.

l'he entire lower face 11 8 of the top layer 112 is coated with adhesive 125, and a circular release coating region 126b is provided on the upper face 120 of the bottom layer 114 in register with the circular peel-off panel 132. As the area of face 120 surrounding release coating region 126b is uncoated, this firmly adheres the top layer 112 to the bottom layer 114.

When the two layers are overlain, and provides securernent location 121.

The label 110 is manufactured using a similar process as label 10 of the first embodiment, with printing occurring on faces 116, 118 and 120. The completed label is shown in Fig. 5.

This label is provided with product information 122a on upper face 116.

The circular panel 132 is printed on upper face 116 with indicia representing a token I 22g (e.g. when so many are collected, the purchaser is entitled to money off or a special offer of ome kind). This panel 1 32 is peeled-off by the purchaser and, for example, re-adhered onto a collecting card provided separately. Face 11 8 of panel 1 32 and/or upper face 120 of the bottom layer arc printed with additional information (not shown) regarding the scheme for collecting tokens.

In this embodiment the face 11 8 of left-hand panel 134 and upper face of bottom layer 114 under the panel 1 34 are printed with recipe information I 22f that uses the product purchased as an ingredient.

Referring to Figs. 3A to 3C and Fig. 6, a third embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in which like parts are represented by like numerals with the prefix "2".

The third embodiment of label 210 is similar to their first 10 except that the right-hand panel terminates in a second perforation strip 229 parallel with the first strip 228 proximate a right-hand edge 236 of the top panel 212. The lower face 218 of the top panel is coated with adhesive 225 and over-printed with deadener to provide a deadened area 224a that extends between the first and second perforation strips 228 and 229. A corresponding release coating region 226b is also applied to the upper face 220 of the bottom layer 214 in register with the deadened area 224a.

The manufacture of label 210 is similar to label 10 of the first embodiment. The label 210 is printed with similar information and under the left-hand panel 234 as with the panel 134 of the first embodiment, but the right-hand panel 232 is printed with coupon information 222h on the upper face 216 thereof and coupon redemption information 222i; on the lower face 218 of the top layer 212 and the upper face 220 of the bottom layer 214.

The purchaser of the product lifts the right-hand panel 232 and tears along both perforation strips 228 and 229 to remove the right-hand panel 232 to USC as a coupon for money off future purchasers of this or other products. Since two areas of the upper face 220 of bottom layer of bottom layer 2 14 are not coated with release material, these areas securely retain the remainder of the top layer 212 on the bottom layer 214 and provide securement location 221.

It will be appreciated that the labels of all three embodiments provide labels that are compact (to enable more of the product to which they are affixed to be visible), whilst being cost- 5.ffective to manufacture using existing machinery. The labels make maximum use of the available faces for both displaying product information and attracting the purchase of: a product by the use of various promotional features. In addition, the label of the first embodiment enables pricing information to he removed from a label for giving a product (e.g. flowers) as a gift without compromising the visual appeal of the label with the price removed.

It will he understood that numerous changes may be made within the scope of the present invention. For example, the positions of the left and right-hand panels may he reversed, the shape of the label may he altered. Other shapes contemplated include circles, ovals, stars, triangles, parallelograms, cloud shapes, rhombuses, or any combination of the above. In addition, the label could he longer, so as to be of a "sleeve-simulating" format to enable it to wrap around two, three or four faces of a tray or the like, the perforation strip of the first embodiment may he replaced by a cut line, the deadener on the lower flice of the top layer of the third embodiment may be omitted in the region of the right-hand panel and in this case one or both of the perforation strips may he replaced by cut lines. The dimensions of the panels may, of course also be varied to suit the particular application and information to be provided on the label. The securement location may be arranged so that the panel may have a hinge angled with respect to the edges of the label and/or the hinge may extend between the short edges rather than the long edges. Perforation strips may also be angled and/or extend between the short rather than long edges. The locations of the adhesive, deadener and release materials on the upper and lower faces may be reversed. The labels may he manufactured as linerless labels. The types of information and promotions discussed above are examples only and numerous alternative uses may he found for the removable and peelable panels discussed above (e.g. the circular token panel could be replaced by a variety of different decorative stickers collectable as a set). Additional layers of material could be provided intermediate the top layer and bottom layer if more information were required on a label of the same area.

Claims

Claims 1. A self-adhesive label comprising a lower layer for adhesive

securement to a surface and an upper layer provided in a face contacting relationship and secured to the lower layer at a securement location SO as to define a first hinge panel, the interface between the hinge panel and the lower layer being coated so as to permit the peeling of the first hinge panel from the lower layer, wherein the securernent location further defines a second panel of the upper layer in co-planar alignment with the first panel and configured for manipulating with respect to the lower layer.

2. A self-adhesive label according to claim I wherein the label comprises first and second ends and the securement location terminates at an edge intermediate the first and second ends to act as a first hinge for the first hinge panel.

3. A self-adhesive label according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the interface comprises an adhesive coating on one of said layers and a release coating on the other of said layers.

4. A self-adhesive label according to claim 3 wherein the release layer comprises silicone.

5. A self-adhesive label according to claim 3 or claim 4 wherein a portion of the adhesive is omitted or over-printed with a deadener.

6. A self-adhesive label according to any preceding claim wherein the second panel is configured for detachment from the label.

i. A self-adhesive label according to claim 6 wherein the second panel has a second interface with respect to the lower layer, the second interface being coated so as to permit the peeling of the second panel from the lower layer.

8. A self-adhesive label according to claim 7 wherein the second interface comprises an 1 0 adhesive coating on one of said layers and a release coating on the other of said layers.

9. A self-adhesive label according to any one of claims 6 to 8 wherein the second panel is detachably connected to the lower layer at the securement location.

10. A self-adhesive label according to any one of claims 6 to 9 wherein the second panel is detachably connected to the label by a perforation strip.

II A self-adhesive label according to claim 10 wherein the perforation strip is provided proximate the securement location.

12. A self-adhesive label according to any one of claims 6 to 11 wherein the second panel is detachably secured to the label at a second securement location.

13. A self-adhesive label according to claim 12 when dependent upon any one of claims 6, 7 or 9 to 11 wherein the first and second securement locations provide the only connection between the second panel and the lower layer.

14. A self-adhesive label according to claim 12 or 13 wherein the second securenient location is provided in a spaced relationship to the first location.

15. A self-adhesive label according to any one of claims 12 to 14 wherein the second panel is connected to the label proximate the second securement location by a second perforation strip.

16. A self-adhesive label according to claim 6 or claim 7 wherein the second panel is substantially only releasably secured to the label via an adhesive connection.

17. A self-adhesive label according to any preceding claim wherein the lower layer is a bottom layer of the label and/or the upper layer is a top layer of the label.

18. A self adhesive label assembly comprising a label according to any preceding claim and further comprising a liner layer, the label being secured to the liner layer.

19. A label substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures IA, 1B, lC and 4 of the drawings or Figures 2A, 2B, 2C and 5 of the drawings or Figures 3A, 3B, 3C and 6 of the drawings.