NZ237813A - Label with protruding head for locking into mounting socket on container - Google Patents

Description

2 3 7 8 1 3 ?:'K Patents Form # 5 * • | (_u>iipio ,»,• . IZ-. . i <"!*<•*: gfoSX . C^f.l l«.SJ ; | i k<Pclf,sW>!--*-'. ' P.O. Jy.'-rif I : ■ ■ ■ ■■.nn*.

NEW ZEALAND Patents Act 1953 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION LABEL 1. I/We,: Norwood Industries Pty Ltd Address: 41 Rushdale Street, Knoxfield, Victoria, Australia Nationality: State of Victoria, Australia do hereby declare the invention for which I/we pray that a patent may be granted to me/us and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: The following page is numbered "la" PF05.JWP FEE CODE - 1050 This invention relates to a label, and more particularly, although not exclusively, to a label suitable for coaction with a label mounting device of the type described in New Zealand Patent Specification No. 234539.

It is important, at least in some situations, that labels are securely connected to the item they are intended to mark. The label mounting device depicted in Specification No. 234539 includes a slot adapted to receive an end of a specially configured label, and guide and/or stop means within the slot are adapted to cause the label to resiliently deflect as it is inserted into the slot. The label has a head and a neck, when the head has been fully inserted into the slot the head clips behind the stop to lock the label to the mounting device. The specification of Specification No. 234539 is incorporated herein by reference.

It is desirable to ensure that the locking coaction is as secure as possible. This is to ensure that labels do not inadvertently become detached from the label mounting device. Also, it is desirable, at least in some situations, that removal 20 of the label from the mounting device by unauthorised persons for fraudulent or dishonest purposes is made as difficult as possible.

It is an object of this invention to provide a label for operative coaction with a label mounting device of the type 25 described in Patent Specification No. 234539 which provides an improved interlocking engagement with said device.

A label according to the invention comprises an elongate planar sheet of resiliently flexible material, said sheet having a body, a head, and a neck joining the head to the body, the head being characterized in that it is permanently deformed to a non- planar condition. The head preferably comprises a central portion longitudinally aligned with the longitudinal axis of the label, and edge regions on opposite sides of the central portion, the deformation is such that at least one of the edge regions of the head is located in a different plane to the central--portion ; v : " ■ '"'V -/ \ " ">SSHPJ993i- « /' 4908PS2.993/at ^ O ! u thereof.

It is preferred that the central portion is co-planar with the body, and it is further preferred that the edge regions are 5 symmetrically angled relative to the central portion along permanent fold or crease lines which lie parallel to the longitudinal axis of the label. A label having those features can be constructed in a variety of ways but it will be convenient to hereinafter describe one particular construction which has 10 been found satisfactory in operation.

An embodiment of the invention is described in detail in the following passages of the specification which refer to the accompanying drawings. The drawings, however, are merely illustrative of how the invention might be put into effect, so 15 that the specific form and arrangement of the various features as shown is not to be understood as limiting on the invention.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a label according to the invention; Figure 2 is a cross sectional view along line II-II of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a front perspective view of a label according to the invention mounted in a punnet which includes a label mounting device; Figure 4 is an enlarged rear perspective view of the label and a label mounting device in interlocking engagement, and Figure 5 is an enlarged sectional view through a label mounting device along line V-V of Figure 3 whilst a label according to the invention is being operatively inserted therein. 30 Referring initially to Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings a label 1 is shown comprising a planar sheet of resilient material which may conveniently be a plastics material. The label includes a body 3, a neck 4 and a head 5. The neck 4 is of narrower width than the body 3 or head 5 so that a pair of 35 shoulders 6 are formed on the forward facing end of the body 3 and a pair of shoulders 7 are formed on the rearward facing end of the head 5. Preferably the label is symmetrical about the longitudinal axis 8 of the label so that the widfclre. of. the two //? '' 490BP52.993/*t ' w IT 15S£P|993i -.a y + * / shoulders 6 are the same. The widths of the two shoulders 7 are preferably also the same but the overall width of the head 5 is preferably less than the overall width of the body 3 so that each 5 shoulder 7 is of a lesser dimension than the opposed shoulder 6.

The forward facing end of the head 5 is tapered as indicated at edges 9, the two tapered edges 9 leading to a point 10 on a forward end of the label. The tapered edges 9 facilitate the insertion of the label 1 into a label mounting device 11 as 10 depicted in Figures 3 to 5.

The head 5 is plastically deformed such that at least portions of the head 5 do not lie in the same plane as the plane of the body 3. This deformation may be achieved, as shown in Figure 1, by the head 5 including a pair of fold or crease lines 15 12 which are parallel to the axis 8 but are spaced laterally and equidistantly from that axis 8. The head 5 is thus divided by the fold lines 12 into a central portion 13 and two edge regions 14 which are joined to the central portion 13 along the fold lines 12. The fold lines 12 may be formed in the sheet material 20 in a die or other distortion device which will permanently distort the form of the head. Conveniently this is done during the die cutting of the label, the die having an insert therein which will form the fold lines 12 but which will not actually cut through the sheet material. The creases or folds thereby formed 25 will cause the head to distort to the form depicted in Figure 2. Since the plastics material is not actually cut through by the die inserts the integrity and strength of the label in the region of the head will not be significantly affected by the provision of those fold lines 12. The purpose of the distortion is to 30 increase the effect of dimension of the head in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the label 1. The effect of the fold lines 12 is to bias the edge regions 14 away from coplanar condition with the remainder of the label to a raised position as depicted more clearly in Figure 2. It is preferred that the edge 35 regions 14 are raised towards the front side 15 of the label for reasons which will be made clear herebelow. The edge regions are preferably angled relative to the central portion at between 10 degrees and 20 degrees. . - ' 4908PS2.993/«t The length of the neck 4, that is, the distance between the shoulders 6 and the shoulders 7 is depicted by a dimension line d in Figure 1. The length of the neck 4 is selected so that the 5 label is adapted to coact with a label mounting device of the type depicted in Figures 3 to 5 of the drawings. It will be appreciated from Patent Specification No. 234539 that the label mounting device can take various forms. However, the length of the neck 4 is selected so that the entrance and exit of the 10 control zone are spaced apart a distance which is slightly less than the length of the neck 4.

Turning to Figures 3 and 4 of the drawings a punnet 20 which is conventionally used for growing seedlings is shown. The punnet 20 includes a base 21, sidewalls 22 and an upper edge rim 15 23. At least one label mounting device 11, and preferably four such devices 11 are formed in the upper edge rim 23. As shown most clearly in Figure 4, the label mounting device includes a front wall 25, a rear wall 26 and a control zone 27 therebetween. Intruding into the control zone 27 is a pair of tapered guide 20 wedges 28 which are attached to the rear wall and project across the control zone 27 towards the front wall 25. Facing in the opposite direction, that is, attached to the front wall and facing towards the rear wall is a pair of spaced apart tapered stop formations 29. Both the guide formations 28 and the stop 25 formations 29 stop short of the respective opposite side wall to permit the passage of the label into the label mounting device when the label is inserted therein. The manner in which the label is caused to distort during insertion into the label mounting device will be described in more detail herebelow with 30 reference to Figure 5.

The stop formations 29 are spaced sufficiently far apart to locate on opposite sides of the neck 4 of the label. However, the stop formations 29 are sufficiently close together so that when the label 1 is properly located in the label mounting device 35 the shoulders 7 locate below the lower edge 30 of the stop formations to securely retain the label operatively within the label mounting device. The shoulders 6 seat on the uppe;c_.edge 31 of the label mounting device 11 and thus, because^b©^h' 'shoulders h 4908PS2.993/at t ,SS&I9SS'° 6 and 7 are in contact with opposite edges of the label mounting device 11 the label 1 will be securely held within the label mounting device.

As mentioned above it is important that the label is not inadvertently able to become detached from the label mounting device. It can happen, for example, that either the front wall 25 or the rear wall 26 can distort as indicated at dotted lines 33 in Figure 5. The effect of this distortion will be to widen 10 the space between the front and rear walls and thereby allow the shoulders 7 to disengage from the stop formations 29 and allow the label to be withdrawn from the label mounting device.

The angled configuration of the edge regions 14 relative to the central portion 13 increases the effective locking action of 15 the label within the label mounting device. In this regard, and with reference to Figure 3, it will be noted that the edge rim 23 of the container 20 includes a downwardly facing lip 34 and the edge regions 14 will clip under this lip 34 after the label has been properly inserted into the label mounting device to thereby 20 securely lock the label within the label mounting device.

Referring to Figure 5, a view of the head 5 of the label as it passes through the control device during insertion of the head into the control device is shown. The guide formations 28 and the stop formations 29 cause the head of the label to distort to 25 a form similar to that shown in Figure 5 during insertion. The head is able to distort to this form because of the resilience of the material from which it is formed but once it is passed through the control zone the edge regions 14 will snap back to their rest position underneath the stop formations 29 and also 30 under the lip 34 thereby securely locking the head of the label within the label mounting device. Clearly, if the label mounting device 11 is formed from a relatively lightweight or flexible plastics material the front and rear walls 25 and 26 may distort somewhat under the influence of the label as it passes through 35 the control zone 27, the walls 25 and 26 will also snap back to their rest position to properly lock the label within the mounting device.

It will be appreciated that the effect of haying the' head 490APS2.993/ftt \\-A Vss^m„, of the label permanently distorted to a non-planar configuration will increase the effective width of the head in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the central portion. This effective increase in the width of the head can be achieved with other permanently deformed configurations. For example, it may be preferable in some situations to plastically and permanently deform the head of the label into a wave or corrugated or concave form which will also have the effect of increasing the effective transverse width of the label head. Provided the label head is able to resiliently deflect as it passes through the control zone the fact that the head is permanently deformed in this manner will enhance locking characteristics of the label once it is being operatively and fully inserted into the label mounting device.

It is envisaged that this improved locking facility will find considerable favour for labels used to mark plant pots and like containers. This is because the enhanced locking arrangement operates automatically and without requirement that the label be specially manipulated or handled in order for that improved locking arrangement to be made effective. All that is required is for the label to be inserted into the label mounting device and the label mounting device will flex the head of the label as it passes through the control zone, and as previously mentioned, this flexing is possible because of the resiliently flexible nature of the material from which the label is made.

Various alternations, modifications and/or additions may be introduced into the constructions and arrangements of parts previously described without departing from the ambit of the invention as defined by the appended claims. / 1SS£Pl993| ,» j/ V?4(V t!/

Claims (9)

bl -7- WHRT WF. n.RTM IS;

1. A label adapted to be mounted to a label mounting device according to any one of claims 1 to 8 of New Zealand Patent 5 Specification No. 234539, comprising an elongate substantially planar sheet of resiliently flexible material, said sheet having a body, a head, and a neck joining the head to the body, the head being permanently deformed to a non-planar condition.

2. A label according to claim 1 wherein the head is comprised 10 of a central portion longitudinally aligned with the longitudinal axis of the label, and edge regions on opposite sides of the central portion, said deformation being such that at least one of said regions is in a different plane to the central portion.

3. A label according to claim 2 wherein said central portion 15 is co-planar with the body and the edge regions are angled relative to the central portion.

4. A label according to claim 3 wherein said edge regions each form a shoulder which faces towards said body.

5. A label according to claim 3 or 4 wherein the edge regions 20 are angled relative to the central portion at an angle of between 10 degrees and 20 degrees.

6. A label according to any preceding claim wherein the body is wider than the head when measured in the plane of the sheet material and perpendicular to the length of the label. 25

7. A label according to any preceding claim when made from a plastics material.

8. A label according to any preceding claim in assembly with a label mounting device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 3 to 5 of the drawings. 30

9. A label substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the drawings. 35 JAMES W PIPER & CO. Attorneys for the Applicant: Norwood Industries Pty Ltd 4908PS2.993/«t c ,7-, / * /* 'SsEp »9S Si t-