WO2019155340A1

WO2019155340A1 - Label with seal for containers

Info

Publication number: WO2019155340A1
Application number: PCT/IB2019/050861
Authority: WO
Inventors: Valerio Binda
Original assignee: Masterpack S.P.A.
Priority date: 2018-02-08
Filing date: 2019-02-04
Publication date: 2019-08-15
Also published as: EP3749587B1; IT201800002495A1; ES2914837T3; EP3749587A1

Abstract

Label (1) having an upper surface and a lower surface (3) provided at least partially with adhesive, which label (1) comprises at least one seal (5) defined by at least three incisions (tl, t2, t3) which connect the upper surface with the lower surface (3) of the label (1) and also define an appendix (6) that protrudes towards the inside of the seal (5) and is joined to a portion (la) of the label (1) external to the seal (5), wherein the lower surface of the seal (5) is provided at least partially with adhesive and the lower surface of the appendix (6) is substantially free from adhesive, so that the appendix (6) is suitable to be torn from the seal (5) when the label (1), applied to a surface (2), is lifted from this surface (2). The present description also relates to a sheet (2) and a container comprising said label (1).

Description

Label with seal for containers

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present description relates to a label, in particular a label comprising a seal, which can be applied on containers to allow them to be opened or closed and to identify any tampering thereof. The present description also relates to a sheet and a container comprising said label.

FRAMEWORK OF THE DESCRIPTION

Different types of products are packaged in containers provided with an access window covered by a label which, once removed, allows the user to take the product inside the container. The labels are often made in order to maintain self-adhesive properties over time at least at the perimeter of the access window to close the container and preserve the properties of the product for longer.

In particular, for some product categories, such as foods, cosmetics or personal hygiene products, it is important to preserve the integrity of the product until consumption. For this reason, in order to highlight the tampering of the packaging, anti tamper labels have been developed, provided with particular seals formed by incisions or notches, which allow to highlight if the container has been opened.

An example of an anti-tampering label of this type is described in EP 3023357 Bl, which has the disadvantage of breakages with random shapes, since the lower surface of the seal is provided with a continuous layer of adhesive.

Moreover, to allow the opening of this type of containers, the labels are often provided with an opening tab which the user must lift, grasp firmly between two fingers and firmly pull in a direction consistent with that of lifting the same tongue. Since this operation requires at the same time the ability to grasp and pull an object, it can be particularly difficult, especially for children, elderly people or disabled. Therefore, to facilitate the opening of the packages, the opening tab of the label can be provided with a hole in which the user inserts a finger to engage the flap itself. In this way, the user can lift the label with just one finger without having to hold the entire tab between the fingers.

An example of a label without tamper-evident seals and provided with an opening tab with a hole is described in WO 2015/145339 Al.

SUMMARY OF THE DESCRIPTION

Object of the present description is therefore to provide a label free from such drawbacks. Said object is achieved with a label, a sheet and a container whose main features are specified in the attached claims.

Thanks to the particular arrangement of the incisions and the adhesive, the label according to the present description allows to obtain with a synergistic effect not only an anti-tampering seal more effective than that of EP 3023357 Bl but also an opening in the label which facilitates the opening, as in the label of WO 2015/145339 Al.

In fact, since the lower surface of the seal is provided at least partially with adhesive while the lower surface of the appendix is substantially adhesive-free, when the label is raised relative to the container, the seal remains attached to the container, thus determining the formation of a hole on the label, while the appendix is tom from the seal, thus proving that the package has been opened.

The hole formed on the label during the lifting of the latter allows the user to insert a finger inside it and hook the label so that it can be lifted without having to hold it between the fingers.

The incisions are preferably connected to each other, so as to form a single continuous cut in the label and thus reduce the manufacturing costs and times of both the seal and the hole.

The arrangement of the seal in the hole improves the anti-tampering effect also because the insertion of the finger certainly causes the breaking of the seal, when this has not already happened due to the lifting of the label.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Further advantages and characteristics of the label and the sheet according to the present description will be clear to those skilled in the art from the following detailed and non-limiting description of some embodiments thereof with reference to the attached drawings wherein:

Figure 1 shows a top view of a first embodiment of the label applied to the sheet;

Figure 2 shows enlarged detail II of Figure 1;

Figure 3 shows section III-III of Figure 1;

Figure 4 shows the label of Figure 3 with the tab which starts to be lifted;

Figure 5 shows the label of Figure 3 when the tab and the appendix are raised;

Figure 6 shows the label of Figure 3 when the appendix is detached from the seal;

Figure 7 shows the label of Figure 3 when it is removed from the seal;

Figure 8 shows a top view of a second embodiment of the label;

Figure 9 shows a top view of a third embodiment of the label;

Figure 10 shows a top view of a fourth embodiment of the label.

EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

Figure 1 shows a first embodiment of a label 1, applied on a surface of a sheet 2, for example of a food container.

The label 1 has an upper surface and a lower surface, of which at least the lower surface 3, namely the surface which comes into contact with the sheet 2, is provided at least partially with adhesive, namely it has adhesive regions and regions without adhesive, or substantially less adherent than the former.

The label 1 comprises a seal 5 which allows to highlight the occurred separation of the label 1 with respect to the sheet 2, and therefore to highlight the opening of the container on which the label 1 is applied.

The seal 5 is defined by at least three incisions tl, t2, t3 which connect the upper surface with the lower surface 3 of the label 1 and are mutually arranged so as to further define at least an appendix 6, which projects inwards of the seal 5 and is joined to a portion of the label 1 external to the seal 5. In particular, two ends of the first two incisions tl and t2 are connected to each other by at least a third incision t3 made in such a way as to define a region comprising the incisions tl and t2. Thus, the first two incisions tl and t2 define the appendix 6 which protrudes within the region delimited by the third incision t3, i.e. the region occupied by the seal 5.

The lower surface 3 of the label 1 at the seal 5 is provided at least partially with adhesive whereas the lower surface 3 at the appendix 6 is substantially free of adhesive. Therefore, the lower surface of the appendix 6 does not adhere (or adheres minimally) to the sheet 2, while the lower surface of the seal 5 adheres to the sheet 2.

The adhesive applied to the lower surface 3 of the label 1 is preferably a PSA (Pressure Sensitive Adhesive) adhesive.

As shown in detail in Figure 2, the surface occupied by the seal 5 in the label 1 is defined by two dimensions, dl and d2, preferably both at least equal to 13 mm and even more preferably greater than 15 mm. Therefore, the seal 5 occupies in the label 1 at least a surface equal to that of a circle having a diameter of at least 13 mm, even more preferably greater than 15 mm, namely equal to the minimum cross-section of a finger of a hand.

Preferably, at least one incision t3 defining the seal 5 has a substantially the shape of a circle or ellipse arc and/or the incisions tl and t2 defining the appendix 6 are substantially parallel to each other and/or parallel to a diameter of perimeter of the seal 5. Furthermore, the free end of at least one of the incisions tl and t2 defining the appendix 6 is connected to a curved incision t4, t5 which extends in the seal 5 externally with respect to the appendix 6, so to facilitate a detachment between the appendix 6 and the seal 5. Finally, the incisions tl and t2 defining the appendix 6 preferably develop along the opening direction of the label 1, so that the end of the appendix 6 which is joined to the portion la of the label 1 faces the edge of the label 1 which is closer to the seal 5 and is adapted to be gripped by a user to open the label 1.

Preferably, two or more incisions tl, t2, t3, t4 and/or t5 are connected to each other so as to form a continuous cut in the label 1.

The label 1 can have a first portion la and a second portion lb. The first portion la defines an opening tab at an edge and/or at an angle of the label 1.

Referring also to Figure 3, it is seen that the lower surface 3 of the first portion la of the label 1 is at least partially free from adhesive so as to facilitate the lifting of the latter, with respect to the sheet 2, by gripping it between the fingertips of the fingers of a hand.

The second portion lb of the label 1 is intended, in use, to cover an access window 10, namely an opening, on the sheet 2. In particular, the lower surface 3 of the second portion lb of the label 1 can have a region 8 free from adhesive, suitable for covering the access window 10, surrounded by an adhesive perimetric strip 9 which seals said access window 10. Furthermore, part of the adhesive perimetric strip 9 may be permanently connected to the sheet 2, so as to prevent complete removal of label 1 from sheet 2.

Preferably, the seal 5 is arranged between the first portion la and the second portion lb of the label 1.

When the container is closed, the label 1 completely adheres to the sheet 2. Then in this position, the lower surface 3 of the label 1 is in contact with the sheet 2.

When a user wants to open the container, he lifts with a finger U of the hand the first portion la and starts lifting it in the lifting direction indicated by the arrow in figure

4.

As the lifting proceeds, the appendix 6, since it is free from adhesive on its lower surface, is lifted together with the first portion la while the remaining part of the seal 5 remains attached to the sheet 2, as shown in Figure 5.

Continuing further in lifting, a moment is reached when the appendix 6 is in traction because it is no longer free to rise together with the first portion la. Furthermore, in this position, since the seal 5 remains attached to the sheet 2, a hole is formed, namely an opening, in the label 1.

Then, the user can proceed with the removal of the label 1 by inserting a finger U of the hand inside the hole and continuing to lift the label 1 in the lifting direction. With reference to Figure 6, at a certain point of the lifting, the appendix 6 breaks off from the seal 5 remaining connected to the first portion la.

Finally, as shown in Figure 7, the user can keep his finger U inside the hole to continue lifting the label 1. In this way, the label 1 is raised with respect to the sheet 2 so that, in use, the access window 10 on the container is not covered by the label 1.

As shown in Figures 8, 9 and 10, the incisions tl and t2 defining the appendix may be rectilinear, broken and/or curvilinear. Figure 8 shows in particular a label 1 comprising two seals 5.

Any variations or additions may be made by those skilled in the art to the embodiments described and illustrated herein while remaining within the scope of the following claims. In particular, further embodiments may include the technical characteristics of one of the following claims with the addition of one or more technical characteristics described in the text or illustrated in the drawings, taken singularly or in any mutual combination.

Claims

1. Label (1) having an upper surface and a lower surface (3) provided at least partially with adhesive, which label (1) comprises at least one seal (5) defined by at least three incisions (tl, t2, t3) which connect the upper surface with the lower surface (3) of the label (1) and also define an appendix (6) that protrudes towards the inside of the seal (5) and is joined to a portion (la) of the label (1) external to the seal (5), wherein the lower surface of the seal (5) is provided at least partially with adhesive, characterized in that the lower surface of the appendix (6) is substantially free from adhesive, so that the appendix (6) is suitable to be torn from the seal (5) when the label (1), applied to a surface (2), is lifted from this surface (2).

2. Label (1) according to the previous claim, characterized in that the seal (5) occupies in the label (1) at least one surface equal to a circle having a diameter of at least 13 mm, preferably greater than 15 mm.

3. Label (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one incision (t3) defining the seal (5) is substantially circular/elliptical arc shaped.

4. Label (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the incisions (tl, t2) defining the appendix (6) are substantially parallel to each other and/or parallel to a diameter of the perimeter of the seal (5).

5. Label (1) according to one of the previous claims, characterized in that the free end of at least one of the incisions (tl, t2) defining the appendix (6) is connected to a curved incision (t4, t5) which extends into the seal (5) externally with respect to the appendix (6).

6. Label (1) according to one of the previous claims, characterized in that the end of the appendix (6) which is joined to the portion (la) of the label (1) faces the edge of the label (1) nearest to the seal (5).

7. Label (1) according to one of the previous claims, characterized in that the lower surface of the portion (la) of the label (1) provided with the seal (5) is at least partially free from adhesive.

8. Label (1) according to one of the previous claims, characterized in that the lower surface of the portion (la) of the label (1) provided with the seal (5) is joined to a second portion (lb) of the label (1) having a lower surface which in turn has a region (8) free from adhesive surrounded by a perimetric adhesive strip (9).

9. Label (1) according to the previous claim, characterized in that the seal (5) is arranged between the first portion (la) and the second portion (lb) of the label (1).

10. Label (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that two or more incisions (tl, t2, t3, t4, t5) are connected to each other so as to form a continuous cut in the label (1).

11. Sheet (2), characterized by comprising at least one opening (10) covered by a label (1) according to one of the previous claims.

12. Container, characterized by comprising at least one label (1) according to one of claims 1 to 10.