GB2528942A

GB2528942A - Resealable label

Info

Publication number: GB2528942A
Application number: GB1413944.8A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Tony Kelly; Raymond Young; Darren Chamberlain; Alan Lambert
Original assignee: CLONDALKIN PHARMA & HEALTHCARE HULL Ltd
Current assignee: CLONDALKIN PHARMA & HEALTHCARE HULL Ltd
Priority date: 2014-08-06
Filing date: 2014-08-06
Publication date: 2016-02-10
Also published as: WO2016020461A1; GB201413944D0

Abstract

A resealable label component 30 having a first part 40 and second part 50 for covering an opening 24 in a packaging body 20. The second part is pivotal relative to the first part along the line of weakness 32 which is formed in the label and defines a pivot axis 36. The line of weakness has at least one slit 34 extending through the label from an upper surface of the component. The at least one slit may extend from the upper surface to the lower surface of the label and may have an arched profile so as to form a protuberant part 60 extending away from the pivot axis. The protuberant part may have a curved tapered profile, decreasing in width with increasing distance from the pivot axis. The label may be for wipe packages.

Description

TITLE: RESEALABLE LABEL

DESCRIPTION

The present invention relates to a resealable label component and particularly, but not exclusively, to a multilayer resealable label component comprising a base layer and an upper layer wherein the base layer is formed from a relatively stiff material compared to the upper layer.

It is well known in the art to provide packaging for pre-moistened wipes (e.g. wipes for personal hygiene such as baby wipes or wipes for household cleaning) including a flexible packet for containing the wipes and a flexible label with a resealable flap portion for covering an opening provided in the packet for accessing the wipes. A reusable pressure-sensitive adhesive applied to a lowermost surface of the flap portion allows repeated application and removal of the flap portion whilst forming a substantially airtight seal around the opening in the packet when the flap portion is in a closed position. Although such labels provide a cost-effective way of providing a resealable item of packaging, after repeated opening of the flap portion and removal of contents from the packet both the flap and packet will tend to become more readily misshapen leading to a reduced capacity to form a suitable airtight seal around the opening. Whilst the use of a more rigid label would assist in providing a more consistent sealing action, there are problems associated with forming an acceptable hinge with a more rigid label.

A solution to this problem has ready been proposed in PP 2202176 which discloses a multilayer resealable label comprising a relatively stiff base layer and relatively flexible upper layer, with a slit being formed in the base layer to isolate a flap part of the label from a surrounding frame part of the label with the top layer extending over the slit to connect the flap and frame parts and form a hinge there between. Whilst the arrangement of EP 2202176 appears to overcome the problems associated with the use of a relatively stiff base layer, the present applicant has identified that there remains a tendency for the upper layer when folded back in the open position to potentially undesirably draw the open flap back to the closed position.

The present applicant has identified the need for an improved resealable label that overcomes or at least alleviates problems associated with the prior art.

In accordance with a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a resealable label component comprising: a first part (e.g. fixed or frame part); and a second part (e.g. flap part) for covering an opening in a packaging item, the second part being pivotal relative to the first part along a line of weakness formed in the resealable label component and defining a pivot axis; wherein the line of weakness comprises at least one slit extending through the resealable label component from an upper surface thereof (e.g. surface facing away from the packaging item when the resealable label component is applied to the packaging item).

In one embodiment, the second part comprises a front region furthest from the pivot axis and a rear region at an opposed end of the second part to the front region (thereby defining a forward direction and a rearward direction for the resealable label component). In one embodiment, the front region defines an opening tab to assist opening of the second part.

In one embodiment, the second part is configured to pivot in an opening direction as it moves relative to the first part from a closed position to an open position.

In one embodiment, the second part is configured to pivot in a closing direction as it moves relative to the first part from an open position to a closed position.

In one embodiment, the at least one slit extends from the upper surface of the resealable label component to a lower surface ofthe resealable label component (e.g. with the at least one slit extending through a frill thickness of the resealable label component at the location of the at least one slit).

In one embodiment, the at least one slit has an arched profile extending between first and second spaced points along the pivot axis to form a protuberant part extending away from the pivot axis. The term arched profile is intended to cover any profile defined by a path extending away from the pivot axis at a first location along the pivot axis and returning to the pivot axis at a second location along the pivot axis spaced from the first location (e.g. to form a region bounded by the path and the pivot axis). The arched profile may be a curved (e.g. U-shaped), triangular (e.g. V-shaped) or square arched profile.

In one embodiment, the protuberant part extends away from the pivot axis in the rearward direction to form in the second part at least one gripping element configured to move in the forward direction as the second part pivots in the opening direction and grip against an upper surface of the packaging item when the second part is in the open position (hereinafter "rearwardly extending slit").

In one embodiment, the protuberant part extends away from the pivot axis in the forward direction to form in the first part at least one stabilising element extending beyond the pivot axis in the forward direction (hereinafter "forwardly extending slit") In one embodiment, the protuberant part has a tapered profile that decreases in width with increasing distance from the pivot axis. In one embodiment, the tapered profile is a straight tapered profile (e.g. V-shaped profile). In another embodiment, the tapered profile is a curved tapered profile (e.g. arcuate profile).

In one embodiment, the at least one slit is one of a plurality of slits extending through the sealable label component from the upper surface of thereof (e.g. with the plurality of slits forming a perforation line). In one embodiment, the plurality of slits comprises at least one rearwardly extending slit and at least one forwardly extending slit. Advantageously, the combination of one or more of rearwardly extending slit and one or more forwardly extending slit been found to provide a resealable label component with a flap part that is stable in the open position whilst additionally reducing the risk of the first part lifting from the upper surface of the packaging item. In one embodiment, at least one forwardly extending slit is provided on opposed lateral sides of the at least one rearwardly extending slit (e.g. to provide stabilisation either side of the rearwardly extending slit).

In one embodiment, the resealable label component comprises a region of reusable adhesive for permitting repeated application and removal of the second part (e.g. adhesive permitting repeated application and removal of the second part for holding the second part in the closed position). The reusable adhesive may be a pressure-sensitive adhesive (e.g. removable pressure-sensitive adhesive). Typically, the region of reusable adhesive is provided on an underside of the flap part (e.g. extending substantially along a lower surface of the second part, with the exception of a lower surface of the opening tab). The resealable label component may further comprise at least one further region of adhesive (e.g. using the same or a different adhesive to the first-defined region) for attaching the first part to an upper surface of the packaging item, In the ease of a sealable label component comprising at least one forwardly extending slit, the at east one further region of adhesive may include a region applied to a lower surface of the forwardly extending slit).

In one embodiment, the resealable label component is formed from a single layer (e.g. a single transparent layer for allowing graphics printed on the packaging item to be viewed through the resealable label component). The single layer may have a stiffness or resilience associated therewith that requires formation of a line of weakness to permit adequate ease of pivoting of thc second part relative to the first part.

In one embodiment, the resealable label component is formed from multiple layers. For example, the resealable label component may comprise a base layer (e.g. defining a lower surface of the resealable label component; it should be noted that the base layer itself may comprise multiple layers) and an upper layer (e.g. defining an upper surface of the resealable label component). The upper layer may be a protective transparent layer for allowing graphics printed on the base layer to be viewed through the upper layer. In one embodiment, one of the base layer and the upper layer has a higher stiffness than the other (e.g. base layer has a higher stiffness than the upper layer or vice versa). In one embodiment, the at least one slit extends I 5 through both the base layer and upper layer.

In accordance with a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a resealable packaging item comprising: a packaging body defining a chamber and an opening for accessing the chamber; and a resealable label component comprising: a first part (e.g. fixed or frame part) attached (directly or indirectly) to the packaging body ad] acent the opening; and a second part (e.g. flap part) for covering the opening in the packaging body, the second part being pivotal relative to the first part along a line ofwealcness formed in the resealable label component and defining a pivot axis; wherein the line of weakness comprises at least one slit extending through the resealable label component from an upper surface thereof (e.g. surface facing away from the packaging item).

The resealable label component may comprise a resealable label component in accordance with any of the embodiments of the first aspect of the invention.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1A is a schematic illustration of packaging comprising a resealable label in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention with the resealable label in a closed configuration; Figure lB is a schematic illustration of the packaging of Figure IA with the resealable label in an open configuration; Figure IC is a perspective side view of the packaging of Figure IA with the resealable label in the open configuration; Figure ID is a side view of the packaging of Figure IA with the resealable label in the open configuration; Figure 2 is a schematic illustration of packaging comprising a resealable label in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 3 is a schematic illustration of packaging comprising a resealable label in accordance with a third embodiment of the present invention; and Figure 4 is a schematic illustration of packaging comprising a resealable label in accordance with a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

Figures 1A-D show a resealable packaging item 10 comprising a flexible packaging body 20 and a multilayer resealable label 30.

Packaging body 20 defines a chamber 22 for storing items such as pre-moistened wipes and an opening 24 formed on an upper surface 26 of packaging body 20 for accessing the chamber 22.

Resealable label 30 comprises: a frame part 40 attached to upper surface 26 of packaging body 20 to partially surround opening 24; and a flap part 50 for covering opening 24 in packaging body 20 and including an opening tab 52, flap part 50 being pivotal relative to frame part 40 along a line of weakness 32 formed in resealable label 30 formed by a plurality of mutually spaced rearwardly extending V-shaped slits 34 to define a pivot axis 36. Flap part 50 may be formed by a pair of cut lines 52A, 52B (which may be continuous cut lines as shown or non-continuous cut lines including small tie regions at spaced locations to hold flap part 50 in place during the manufacturing and subsequent packing process/provide a tamper evident feature) extending through the full thickness of the label.

As shown in Figure ID, resealable label 30 is formed by a base layer 30A and an upper layer 3DB defining an upper surface 38 of resealable label 30, with base layer 30A having a higher stiffness (although in another embodiment the top layer could be the stiffer layer and the base layer the more flexible layer) than upper layer 3DB, Base layer 30A and upper layer 3DB are connected by a first layer of adhesive 30C. A second layer of adhesivc 30D forms a lower surface 39 of resealable label 30 for attaching to upper surface 26 of packaging body 20 and includes a region of reusable adhesive (e.g. removable pressure-sensitive adhesive) extending along a lower surface 54 of flap part 50 for permitting repeated application and removal of flap part 50 to and from packaging body 20. Where second adhesive layer 30D extends to fully cover flap part 50, one or more masking regions (not shown) may be applied to the regions of lower surface 54 of flap part 50 intended to directly cover opening 24 and form opening tab 52.

Flap part 50 comprises a front region 56 (where opening tab 52 is formed) furthest from pivot axis 36 and a rear region 58 at an opposed end of flap part 50 to the front region 56 to define a forward direction "FD" and a rearward direction "RD". Flap part 50 is configured to pivot in an opening direction "OD" as it moves relative to frame part 40 from a closed position to an open position and to pivot in a closing direction "CD" as it moves relative to frame part from an open position to a closed position.

Plurality of rearwardly extending V-shaped slits 34 extend from upper surface 38 of resealable label 30 and through the frill thickness of upper layer 30B and base layer 30A (and through first and second adhesive layers 30C, 30D if present at the location of the slits). Each V-shaped slit 34 extends between spaced points along pivot axis 36 to form a protuberant gripping element (or tooth-like projection) 60 extending away from pivot axis 36 in the rearward direction RD. Each protuberant gripping element 60 has a straight tapered V-shaped profile decreasing in width with increasing distance from pivot axis 36 and terminating in a sharp point 62. Each protuberant gripping element 60 forms part of flap part 50 and is configured move in the forward direction PD as flap part 50 pivots in the opening direction OD and grip against upper surface 26 of packaging body 20 when flap part 50 is in the open position.

Figure 2 shows a resealable packaging item 10' based on packaging item 10 (corresponding features are labelled according) in which rearwardly extending V-shaped slits 34 are replaced by rearwardly extending arcuate (U-shaped) slits 34' extending frilly through the thickness of the resealable label to form protuberant gripping elements 60' each having a curved tapered (e.g. arcuate) profile, Arcuate protuberant gripping elements 60' function in the same way as gripping elements 60.

Figure 3 shows a resealable packaging item 10" based on packaging item 10 (corresponding features are labelled accordingly) in which all but a single central rearwardly extending V-shaped slit 34" are replaced by forwardly extending V-shaped slits 35 (again extending frilly through the thickness of the resealable label) each forming in frame part 40" a stabilising element 70 extending beyond pivot axis 36" in the forward direction FD and configured to attach to upper surface 26" of packaging body by virtue of second adhesive layer 30D coextensive with each stabilising element, Advantageously, the combination of one or more of rearwardly extending V-shaped slits 34" and one or more forwardly extending V-shaped slit 35 been found to provide a resealable label with a flap part 50" that is stable in the open position whilst additionally reducing the risk of frame part 40 lifting from upper surface 26' of the packaging body 20.

Figure 4 shows a resealable packaging item 10" based on packaging item 10' (corresponding features are labelled according) in which all but central rearwardly extending U-shaped slit 34" are replaced by forwardly extending U-shaped slits 35' (again extending fully through thc thickness of the resealable label) each forming in frame part 40" a stabilising element 70' extending beyond pivot axis 36" in the forward direction FD and configured to attach to upper surface 26" of packaging body by virtue of second adhesive layer 30D coextensive with each stabilising element. As with resealable packaging item 0", forwardly extending stabilising elements 70 help improve stability of resealable label 30" against unwanted lifting from packaging body 20".