Multi-ply resealable label

Abstract
A label includes a base label having upper and lower opposed surfaces and first and second opposed ends. A base adhesive coats the lower surface of the base label. A top panel overlies the upper surface of the base label and is joined to the base label adjacent the first end. The top panel has an upper surface. A tab having upper and lower opposed surfaces overlies the upper surface of the base label. An adhesive patch is interposed between the base label and the tab adjacent the second end. The adhesive patch secures the lower surface of the tab to the upper surface of the base label. A laminate cover overlies the top panel and the tab. A laminate adhesive secures the laminate cover to the upper surface of the top panel and releasably joins the laminate cover to the upper surface of the tab.
Description




FIELD OF THE INVENTION




The present invention relates to labels and, more particularly, to multi-ply labels.




BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION




For many applications, the need for available label area is continually increasing. For example, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has proposed regulations to require pharmaceutical, vitamin and nutraceutical manufacturers to include supplementary disclosure data on various over-the-counter medications sold in the U.S. At the same time, hospitals and other health organizations often need or desire to include bar code and other automatic identification indicia on products passing through the health care system. One known method for providing additional area for such indicia includes attaching folded leaflets or booklets to webs to create so-called expanded content or extended text labels. Such labels may be relatively expensive to manufacture and handle, and may not satisfy all the needs of the user.




SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION




According to embodiments of the present invention, a label includes a base label having upper and lower opposed surfaces and first and second opposed ends. A base adhesive coats the lower surface of the base label. A top panel overlies the upper surface of the base label and is joined to the base label adjacent the first end. The top panel has an upper surface. A tab having upper and lower opposed surfaces overlies the upper surface of the base label. An adhesive patch is interposed between the base label and the tab adjacent the second end. The adhesive patch secures the lower surface of the tab to the upper surface of the base label. A laminate cover overlies the top panel and the tab. A laminate adhesive secures the laminate cover to the upper surface of the top panel and releasably joins the laminate cover to the upper surface of the tab.




According to further embodiments of the present invention, a label includes a base label having upper and lower opposed surfaces and first and second opposed ends. A base adhesive coats the lower surface of the base label. A top panel overlies the upper surface of the base label and has an upper surface. The top panel and the base label are mutually discrete members. A hinge adhesive is interposed between the top panel and the base label adjacent the first end. The hinge adhesive connects the top panel and the base label to form a hinge portion. A laminate cover overlies the top panel. A laminate adhesive secures the laminate cover to the upper surface of the top panel. The laminate adhesive releasably joins the laminate cover to the upper surface of the top panel and releasably joins the laminate cover to the upper surface of the base label.




According to embodiments of the present invention, a label includes a base label having upper and lower opposed surfaces and first and second opposed ends. A base adhesive coats the lower surface of the base label. A release liner panel is joined to the base panel and has a release coated upper surface. A top panel overlies the upper surface of release liner panel. The top panel has an upper surface. An intermediate adhesive coats the release coated upper surface of the release liner panel and releasably joins the top panel to the release liner panel. A top panel tab having upper and lower opposed surfaces overlies and is connected to the upper surface of the base label. A laminate cover overlies the top panel and the top panel tab. A laminate adhesive secures the laminate cover to the upper surface of the top panel and releasably joins the laminate cover to the upper surface of the top panel tab.




According to method embodiments of the present invention, a method for forming a label includes providing a release liner and a base web releasably secured to the release liner by a base adhesive coating an inner surface of the base web. A hinge adhesive is applied to an outer surface of the base web. A top sheet is applied to the outer surface of the base web such that a portion of the top sheet is secured to the base web by the hinge adhesive. A self-adhesive laminate web is applied over the base web and the top sheet. Each of the laminate web, the top sheet and the base web is cut through to form the label, the label including a laminate cover formed from the laminate web, a top panel formed from the top sheet, and a base label formed from the base web. At least the laminate cover and the top panel are substantially coextensive.




According to further method embodiments of the present invention, a method for forming a label includes providing a release liner having a base adhesive on an outer surface thereof. A leaflet assembly is provided including a top panel and a bottom panel joined to the bottom panel along a fold. The leaflet assembly further includes a hinge adhesive coating respective inner surfaces of the top panel and the bottom panel adjacent the fold and securing the top and bottom panels to one another. The leaflet assembly is applied to the release liner such that the bottom panel is releasably secured to the release liner by the base adhesive. A self-adhesive laminate web is applied over the leaflet assembly and the release liner. Each of the laminate web, the top panel and the bottom panel is cut through to form the label. The step of cutting includes severing the fold from each of the top panel and the bottom panel.




According to method embodiments of the present invention, a method for forming a label includes providing a release liner and a base web releasably secured to the release liner by a base adhesive coating an inner surface of the base web and providing a top web. A pattern of active adhesive is provided on at least one of an inner surface of the top web and an outer surface of the base web. The pattern of active adhesive includes a hinge adhesive portion. A self-adhesive laminate web is provided. The release liner, the base web, the top web and the laminate web are married such that the top web is interposed between the base web and the laminate web. Each of the laminate web, the top web and the base web is cut through to form the label. The label includes a laminate cover formed from the laminate web, a top panel formed from the top web, and a base label formed from the base web. The hinge adhesive portion secures the top panel to the base label.




Objects of the present invention will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art from a reading of the figures and the detailed description of the preferred embodiments which follow, such description being merely illustrative of the present invention.











BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS





FIG. 1

is a perspective view of a label according to a first embodiment of the present invention disposed on a release liner and in a closed position;





FIG. 2

is a perspective view of the label of

FIG. 1

disposed on the release liner and in an open position;





FIG. 3

is a schematic diagram of an apparatus for forming the label of

FIG. 1

;





FIG. 4

is a schematic side view of an intermediate construction formed by the apparatus of

FIG. 3

;





FIG. 5

is a top view of a sheet for forming the label of

FIG. 1

;





FIG. 6

is a top view of an alternative sheet for forming the label of

FIG. 1

;





FIG. 7

is a side view of a leaflet for forming the label of FIG.


1


and formed from the sheet of

FIG. 6

;





FIG. 8

is a schematic diagram of a further apparatus for forming the label of

FIG. 1

;





FIG. 9

is a bottom view of an intermediate construction formed by the apparatus of

FIG. 8

;





FIG. 10

is a perspective view of a label according to a further embodiment of the present invention disposed on a release liner;





FIG. 11

is a perspective view of a label according to a further embodiment of the present invention disposed on a release liner;





FIG. 12

is a bottom, perspective view of a secondary label forming a part of the label of

FIG. 11

;





FIG. 13

is a perspective view of a label according to a further embodiment of the present invention disposed on a release liner;





FIG. 14

is a top view of a sheet for forming the label of

FIG. 13

; and





FIG. 15

is a perspective view of a label according to a further embodiment of the present invention disposed on a release liner.











DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS




The present invention now will be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which preferred embodiments of the invention are shown. This invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout. It will be understood that when an element such as a layer, region or substrate is referred to as being “on” another element, it can be directly on the other element or intervening elements may also be present. In contrast, when an element is referred to as being “directly on” another element, there are no intervening elements present. “Upper,” “lower” and like terms as used herein refer to relative positions of components. However, it will be appreciated that labels according to the invention may be formed or mounted such that the relative positions of the components are reversed or are horizontally rather than vertically aligned, in which case it will be understood that “upper,” “lower” and the like describe the relative positions of the components along a selected axis (which my or may not be fully or partially vertically oriented).




With reference to

FIG. 1

, a label according to the present invention is shown therein disposed on a release liner


102


and generally designated


100


. The label


100


includes a base label


110


releasably adhered to the release liner


102


by a pressure-sensitive base adhesive


104


. A top panel


130


overlies a portion of the base label


110


and has a portion


132


secured to the base label


110


by a strip of adhesive


134


. The strip of adhesive


134


preferably extends across the full width of the label


100


and permanently secures the top panel


130


to the base label


110


to form a hinge


106


. Preferably, the adhesive strip


134


has a width W


1


of between about ⅛ and ½ inch, and more preferably of about ¼ inch.




A die cut


136


is formed in the top panel


130


and defines a tab


137


. The tab


137


is permanently adhered to the upper surface of the base label


110


by a pressure-sensitive adhesive


138


. A release varnish


139


coats the upper surface of the tab


137


.




A laminate cover


150


overlies the top panel


130


and is adhered thereto by a laminate adhesive


154


. Preferably, the laminate cover


150


and the laminate adhesive


154


are co-extensive with the top panel


130


. A portion


157


of the laminate cover


150


is releasably adhered to the varnish coated upper surface of the tab


137


by a portion


154


A of the laminate adhesive


154


. The laminate cover


150


is preferably formed of a 1.5 mil polypropylene film. The laminate cover


150


is preferably transparent, but may be opaque.




The top panel


130


and the laminate cover


150


overlie a covered portion


116


of the base label


110


. A printable portion


112


of the base label


110


is disposed adjacent the edge of the base label


110


opposite the top panel


130


. The upper surface of the portion


112


is preferably formed or prepared so as to be easily printable and is not varnished. An intermediate portion


114


of the base label


110


extends between the portions


112


and


116


. Preferably, the portions


114


and


116


are coated with a varnish. Preferably, the width W


2


of the portion


116


is about the same as the sum of the widths W


3


and W


4


of the portions


114


and


112


. Preferably, the width W


4


is about ½ inch. Preferably and as illustrated, only the portion


132


and the tab


137


are adhered to the upper surface of the base label


110


so that an adhesive-free region is defined between the top panel


130


and the base label


110


from the adhesive strip


134


to the adhesive


138


.




Suitable indicia may be printed on the top and bottom surfaces of the base label


110


, the top panel


130


and the laminate cover


150


. Suitable indicia


117


such as “lot:” and “exp:” prompts may be printed on the portion


112


. The portion


112


is particularly well suited for imprinting variable indicia such as a lot number and an expiration date.




The base label


110


and the top panel


130


are preferably formed of a conventional paper or film facestock. Suitable varnishes for the varnish


139


on the upper surface of tab


137


include varnish product number L075 available from Paragon Inks of Boxburn, Scotland. The varnish on the upper surfaces of the portions


114


,


116


is preferably a water-based varnish having weaker release characteristics (i.e., provides less releasability) than the varnish


139


. Preferably, the portions of the base label upper surface beneath the adhesive strip


134


and the adhesive patch


138


are not coated with varnish. However, if a varnish of sufficient weakness is used, these portions may also be varnish coated.




The adhesives


134


,


138


may be different from the laminate adhesive


154


. This allows the adhesives to be better selected for their respective functions. The laminate adhesive may be chosen to provide the desired release and hold characteristics to allow for opening and closing of the label


100


(as discussed below) while the adhesives


134


,


138


may be selected to ensure the desired permanent securement between the panels


110


,


130


and strength of the hinge


106


. The ability to use different adhesives


134


,


138


and


154


allows for greater flexibility in selecting the materials of the components that these adhesives engage as well. Preferably, the adhesive


134


and the adhesive


138


are more aggressive adhesives than the laminate adhesive


154


. Suitable laminate adhesives


154


include emulsion acrylic adhesives. Suitable combined laminate/laminate adhesive materials include product number 505 from Adhesive Coated Products of Troy, Ohio. Suitable adhesives for the adhesives


134


and


138


include hot melt permanent pressure-sensitive adhesives such as product number HL2203X available from H. B. Fuller Co. of Minneapolis, Minn.




The label


100


may be used in the following manner. The label


100


may be applied to a suitable substrate such as a container using any suitable automatic or manual labeling equipment such that the label


100


is adhered to the substrate by the base adhesive


104


. When the user wishes to access the information on the inside of the label


100


, the user may grasp the corner or pull tab


103


of the combined top panel


130


and laminate cover


150


adjacent the tab


137


. The user may then pull the corner


103


toward the hinge


106


(as illustrated from right to left), thereby causing the laminate adhesive portion


154


A to peel away from the varnish coated tab


137


. The underside of the top panel


130


preferably includes printed indicia


118


such as a bar code. The top panel


130


may be repeatedly opened and closed by rejoining the adhesive portion


154


A with the tab


137


. The area of adhesive


154


A exposed upon opening the label


100


may be limited to that needed to ensure reliable closure of the label.




According to the first method for forming the label


100


, a plurality of sheets


131


A (see

FIG. 5

) are provided. The sheets


131


A may be formed on a conventional printing press. A web of paper or film is unwound and indicia corresponding to the indicia on the upper and lower surfaces of the top panel


130


are printed thereon. The printing process employed may be flexography, UV flexo, rotary letterpress, conventional offset, digital offset, hot stamping, silkscreen or gravure. Release varnish patches


139


A are printed on the upper surface of the web in locations corresponding to the tabs


137


. The web is diecut to form cut lines


136


A corresponding to the cut line


136


. The web is thereafter diecut into individual sheets


131


A, each of which includes a waste portion


133


A and portions


130


A generally corresponding to the top panels


130


.




With reference to

FIG. 3

, an apparatus


10


for forming labels


100


using the sheets


131


A is shown schematically therein. A web


14


is unwound from an unwind stand


12


. The web


14


includes the release liner


102


and a facestock web


110


A (see

FIG. 4

) corresponding to the base label


110


adhered to the release liner


102


by an adhesive


104


A corresponding to the adhesive


104


. Desired indicia are printed on the web


110


A by a suitable printing station


16


. The printing process employed may be, for example, flexography, UV flexo, rotary letterpress, conventional offset, digital offset, hot stamping, silkscreen or gravure. The print station


16


or an additional print station may also print a conventional water base or UV varnish on the upper surface of the web


110


A.




A series of alternating adhesive strips


134


A and


138


A (see

FIG. 4

) are printed on the upper surface of the web


110


A by an adhesive print station


18


. The adhesive strips


134


A correspond to the adhesive strip


134


and the adhesive strips


138


A correspond to the adhesive patch


138


. The adhesive patches


138


A do not extend fully across the web


110


A. Additional adhesive may be applied to the perimeter of the sheets


131


A along the web length. The adhesive print station


18


is preferably a flexographic printing press such as a Flexocoat adhesive printing apparatus available from GRE International of Switzerland.




A sheet applicator


20


applies a series of the sheets


131


A to the upper surface of the web


110


A. The sheet applicator may be, for example, an Onserter feeding device, available from Longford Equipment of Toronto, Ontario. The sheets


131


A are applied in seriated and imbricated relation such that the overlapping portions


21


of the respective sheets


131


A overlie portions of the respective immediately upstream sheets


131


A. Preferably, the amount of overlap is between about ⅛ and {fraction (3/16)} inch. Each applied sheet


131


A adheres to a respective adhesive strip


134


A and a respective adhesive strip


138


A.




Thereafter, a laminate web


150


A corresponding to the laminate cover


150


is unwound from an unwind stand


22


and married to the web


14


and sheets


131


A by nip rollers


23


to form the construction as shown in

FIG. 4. A

die cutter


24


cuts through the overlaminate web


150


A and the individual sheets


131


A down to, but not through, the web


110


A to form cut lines A (see FIG.


5


). The cut lines A formed by the die cutter


24


define the laminate cover


150


and the top panel


130


as shown in

FIG. 1

or may be slightly larger. A waste matrix


28


including the waste portions


133


A of the sheets


131


A, the overlaminate web


150


A and the adhesives


134


A and


138


A outside of the laminate covers


150


and the top panels


130


is taken up on a winding stand


26


.




A further die cutter


30


forms a die cut down through the web


110


A to the release liner


102


to form the periphery of the finished labels


100


. A waste matrix


34


including the portions of the overlaminate web


150


A, the base web


110


A and the adhesive


104


A outside of the labels


100


is taken up on a winding stand


32


. The finished labels


100


disposed on the release liner


102


may thereafter be wound onto a winding stand


36


. Optionally, the release liner may be slit to provide side by side webs.




Notably, as a result of the overlapping relation of the sheets


131


A and the small amount or absence of adhesive between the waste portions of the sheets


131


A and the web


110


A, the waste matrix


28


may be easily and reliably removed. However, the portions


130


A of the sheets


131


A which form parts of the finished labels


100


remain anchored to the web


110


A by the adhesive strips


134


(which are formed from the adhesive strips


134


A) and the adhesive patches


138


(which are formed from the adhesive patches


138


A). Preferably, the die cutter


24


cuts the sheets


131


A and the overlaminate web


150


A to a size slightly larger than the corresponding dimensions of the top panel


130


and the laminate cover


150


. The die cutter


30


cuts these elements to their ultimate dimensions on the three external edges.




With reference to

FIGS. 6 and 7

, the labels


100


may be formed using folded leaflets


140


B, as shown in

FIG. 7

, in place of flat sheets


131


A. The leaflet


140


B is formed from a sheet


131


B (see

FIG. 6

) which may be formed in a manner similar to that of the sheet


131


A. The sheet


131


B includes J-shaped cuts


136


B formed therein. A continuous strip or dots of adhesive


134


B corresponding to the adhesive strips


134


are applied along the sheet


131


B. Adhesive patches


138


B are applied to the sheet


131


B in locations corresponding to the adhesive patches


138


. Varnish patches


139


B (see

FIG. 7

) are printed on the opposite side of the sheet


131


B adjacent the cut lines


136


B and in locations corresponding to the varnish


139


. The sheet


131


B is folded along a fold


135


B to divide the sheet


131


B into a top panel


130


B corresponding to the top panels


130


and a bottom panel


110


B corresponding to the base labels


110


. The adhesive


134


B adheres the panels


130


B and


110


B adjacent the fold line


135


B.




The labels


100


may be formed according to the second method using the leaflet


140


B and an apparatus similar to the apparatus


10


. In place of the composite web


14


, an adhesive-coated release liner is supplied (the adhesive coating corresponding to the adhesive


104


). Alternatively, a silicone coated release liner may be provided and an adhesive applicator such as a GRE International Flexocoat print station may apply a pattern of pressure-sensitive hot melt adhesive to the release liner.




Printing steps corresponding to the printing steps of the printing stations


16


and


18


are executed on the sheet


131


B prior to folding the sheet to form the leaflet


140


B, and the printing stations


16


,


18


may, therefore, be eliminated in this method. The leaflets


140


B are applied by the leaflet applicator


20


, preferably in overlapping relation. The overlaminate web


150


A is applied over the release liner and the leaflets


140


B. Thereafter, the leaflets


140


B are cut in the same manner as described above (the bottom panels


110


B corresponding to the base web


110


A) except that a cut line C—C is also formed through the bottom panel


110


B and the top panel


130


B adjacent the fold


135


B of each leaflet


140


B and across the web to sever the panels


110


B and


130


B. In this case, the die cutter


24


is preferably a “suck and blow” type die cutter.




With reference to

FIG. 8

, an apparatus


50


for forming labels


100


according to a further method is shown therein. A composite web


54


corresponding to the web


14


is supplied from an unwinding station


52


and suitable indicia and varnish are printed on its upper surface by print stations


56


and


58


corresponding to the print stations


16


and


18


, respectively. A second web


130


C is supplied from an unwind station


60


. Suitable indicia may be printed on either or both sides of the web


130


C by a print station


62


.




An adhesive applicator


66


applies adhesive to the undersurface of the web


130


C. The adhesive applicator


66


may fully coat the web


130


C with adhesive. Alternatively, the web


130


C may be pre-coated with a layer of adhesive (e.g., the web


130


C may be a commercially available self-adhesive face stock). If the web


103


C is fully coated with adhesive by the applicator


66


or by pre-coating, an adhesive deadener applicator


68


will apply a pattern of adhesive deadener to the layer of adhesive on the undersurface of the web


130


C. With reference to

FIG. 9

, which shows the lower face of the web


130


C following the station


68


, the station


68


applies the deadener such that a deadened adhesive region


133


C on the lower face of the web is substantially surrounded by active adhesive portions


141


C,


134


C,


138


C. The adhesive portion


134


C corresponds to the adhesive strip


134


. The adhesive portion


138


C corresponds to the adhesive patch


138


. The adhesive portion


141


C helps to hold the intermediate construction together to facilitate processing, in particular during the cutting and waste stripping steps. Suitable deadeners include Product 800 available from Radcure of Fairfield, N.J.




Alternatively, the adhesive print station


66


may apply the adhesive in a pattern corresponding to the pattern of active adhesive as shown in

FIG. 9

but such that the region


133


C remains free of adhesive. Suitable adhesive applicators for this purpose include a FlexoCoat PrintCoat Pattern Applicator, model number HM 410, available from FlexoCoat International, Inc. In this case, the adhesive deadener applicator


68


would not be used.




As a further alternative, the adhesive corresponding to the adhesives


134


and


138


may be applied to the upper surface of the web


54


rather than to the lower surface of the web


130


C. Similarly, the upper surface of the web


54


may be fully coated with adhesive and adhesive deadener applied to form the adhesive portions corresponding to the adhesives


134


and


138


.




A die cutter


70


forms a J-shaped die cut


136


C (see

FIG. 9

) through the web


130


C. The web


130


C is thereafter married with the web


54


by nip rollers


72


. The overlaminate web


150


A is supplied from an unwind stand


74


and married to the combined webs


54


,


130


C by nip rollers


75


. A die cutter


76


cuts down through the overlaminate web


150


A and the web


130


C as far as, but not through, the web


54


to form the cut line D as shown in

FIG. 6. A

waste matrix


80


including those portions of the web


130


C and the overlaminate web


150


A outside of the cut line D is taken up on a reel


78


. A die cutter


82


thereafter forms the outer periphery of the label


100


. A waste matrix


84


including those portions of the web


54


outside of the label


100


is taken up on a reel


86


. The labels


100


and the release liner


102


may thereafter be taken up on a roll


88


.




Optionally, in each of the alternative methods described above with regard to the apparatus


50


, each of the printing, cutting and, if applicable, adhesive and adhesive deadener steps executed on the web


130


C prior to the nip rollers


72


may be executed and the web


130


C thereafter wound onto a roll. The roll would then be transferred to a second unwind stand and unwound to the nip rollers


72


.




With reference to

FIG. 10

, a label


200


according to a further embodiment of the present invention is shown therein disposed on a release liner


202


. The label


200


corresponds to the label


100


except that the base label


210


thereof includes an extended portion


218


extending leftwardly beyond the edges of the laminate cover


250


and the top panel


230


adjacent the hinge


206


. The base label portion


218


is coated on its undersurface by the base adhesive


204


. The label


200


may be employed where it is desired to provide additional printable surface area on the base label. The label


200


may be formed using each of the above-described methods with suitable modifications as will be readily apparent to those or ordinary skill in the art upon reading the description herein.




With reference to

FIG. 11

, a label


300


according to a further embodiment of the present invention is shown therein disposed on a release liner


302


. The label


300


corresponds to the label


100


except as follows. In addition to a cut line


336


(which defines a tab


337


), a cut line


331


is formed through the top panel


330


so that the top panel


330


is divided into a marginal strip


330


B, a central portion


330


A, and a tab


337


. The upper surface of the tab


337


is coated with a release varnish


339


corresponding to the varnish


139


. The upper surface of the portion


330


B is coated with a varnish


335


, preferably of the type described above with regard to the varnish


139


.




The label


300


may be used in the same manner as described above with regard to the label


100


. Additionally, the user may remove a secondary label


301


forming a part of the label


300


in the following manner. After the user has lifted the laminate cover


350


and the top panel


330


, the user may continue pulling these elements leftward so that the laminate adhesive portion


354


B of the laminate adhesive


354


which adheres the laminate cover


350


to the top panel portion


330


B peels away from the varnish coated upper surface of the portion


330


B. The portion


330


B is adhered to the base label


310


by the adhesive strip


334


and therefore remains with the article. Similarly, in the manner described above, the tab


337


remains secured to the base label


310


. The central top panel portion


330


A, which is permanently secured to the laminate cover


350


by the laminate adhesive portion


354


C, is removed with the laminate cover


350


. Thereafter, the secondary label


301


as shown in

FIG. 12

will have exposed adhesive portions


354


A and


354


B. The user may thereafter readhere the secondary label


301


to the label


300


or to a further substrate by means of the adhesive portions


354


A and


354


B.




The label


300


may be employed where it is desired to provide additional printable surface area on the base label. The label


300


may be formed using each of the above-described methods with suitable modifications as will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon reading the description herein.




With reference to

FIG. 13

, a label


400


according to a further embodiment of the present invention is shown therein disposed on a release liner


402


. The label


400


corresponds to the label


100


except with regard to the construction of the top panel and the manner in which the label


400


is held in the closed position. The top panel


430


of the label


400


is formed with a peripheral cut out


437


defined by a peripheral edge


436


. A portion


457


of the laminate cover


450


extending beyond the edge


436


is directly adhered to the upper surface of the base label


410


by a portion


454


A of the laminate adhesive


454


. The engaged upper surface of the base label


410


is coated with a suitable release varnish patch


439


so that the laminate adhesive portion


454


A may be peeled away from the base label


410


and resealed as desired. The varnish


439


may be of the type described above with regard to the varnish


139


.




It will be appreciated that the label


400


may be modified to include various aspects as described above with regard to the labels


100


,


200


,


300


. For example, the label


400


may be modified to include an extended base label portion corresponding to the extended base label portion


218


. Similarly, the label


400


may be modified to include a removable secondary self-adhesive label corresponding to the secondary label


301


.




The label


400


may be formed using methods similar to each of the methods described above with regard to the label


100


. More particularly, labels


400


may be formed using the first method as described above with reference to

FIGS. 3-5

with the following modifications to the method. The sheet


131


A is replaced with a sheet


431


A (see

FIG. 14

) which has holes


436


A pre-formed therein in place of the J-shaped cut lines


136


A and the varnish regions


139


A. In place of the adhesive patches


138


A, release varnish is printed on the upper surface of the base web


110


A in locations corresponding to the varnish patches


439


underlying the laminate cover portions


457


. Additional portions of the base web may also be coated with the varnish. The die cutter


24


forms cut lines M corresponding to the cut lines A (see

FIG. 5

) and intersecting the holes


436


A.




The label


400


may be formed using the second method as described above with regard to

FIGS. 6 and 7

with the following modifications. The cut lines


136


B in the sheet


131


B are replaced with holes corresponding to the cut outs


437


and the adhesive patches


138


B are replaced with regions of release varnish.




The labels


400


may be formed using the third method as described above with regard to

FIGS. 8 and 9

with the following modifications. Rather than forming cut lines


136


C, the die cutter


70


punches holes in the web


130


C, the interior waste portions of which may be removed by a suction device or other suitable means. No adhesive regions corresponding to the adhesive portion


138


C are printed on the lower face of the web. Accordingly, when the overlaminate web


150


A is applied, portions thereof corresponding to the laminate portions


457


engage the web


54


through the holes in the web


130


C.




With reference to

FIG. 15

, a label


500


according to a further embodiment of the present invention is shown therein disposed on a release liner


502


. The label


500


corresponds to the label


100


except as follows.




A release liner panel


560


having a release coated (e.g., silicone coated) upper surface and a non-releasable lower surface is releasably adhered to the lower surface of the top panel


530


by a layer of intermediate adhesive


564


. Preferably, the release liner panel


560


, the adhesive


564


, the top panel


530


, the laminate cover


550


and the laminate adhesive


554


are all coextensive.




The release liner panel


560


is permanently adhered to the base label


510


by the adhesive strip


534


and the adhesive patch


538


. A cut line


536


extends through the top panel


530


and the release liner panel


560


to define superimposed tabs


537


,


567


. A release varnish


539


coats the upper surface of the tab


537


. A portion


557


of the laminate cover


550


is releasably adhered to the varnish


539


by the laminate adhesive


554


.




In use, the user may open the label


500


in the same manner as the label


100


, in which case the release liner panel


560


will fold up with the top panel


530


about the hinge


506


and the tabs


537


and


567


will remain secured to the base label


510


. If desired, the user may also peel the laminate cover


550


and the top panel


530


away from the release liner panel


560


. The adhesive


564


will remain on the lower surface of the panel


530


.




According to certain embodiments, the adhesive


564


is selected such that it will remain tacky to allow the top panel


530


and the laminate cover


550


to be re-adhered to a second substrate or to the label


500


. Alternatively, the adhesive


564


may be a fugitive adhesive so that it will be substantially non-tacky once the top panel


530


is peeled away. “Fugitive adhesives” are characterized in that they are operative to adhere two layers (in this case, the release liner panel


560


and the top panel


530


) but, when the two layers are separated, the exposed adhesive


564


is substantially non-adherent. When the adhesive dries, the bond will remain strong enough to hold the layers together until the bond is broken by deliberately separating the layers. The adhesive is then dry and tackless (i.e., at least nontacky to the touch) and will not adhere to anything or unduly collect dirt and debris. The particular characteristics of the adhesive will depend on the materials chosen for the layers to be bonded as well as the required performance parameters (e.g., the desired amount of force required to break the bond between the layers). Suitable adhesives include WB 4738 available from H. B. Fuller of St. Paul, Minn. An alternative suitable adhesive is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,479,838 to Dunsirn et al., the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. It is particularly contemplated that the top panel


530


may be printed with coupon or proof of purchase indicia.




The label


500


may be modified to omit the varnish


539


, in which case, when the label is folded open, the entirety of the top panel


530


will lift with the laminate cover


550


and the top panel


530


will peel away from the tab


537


. The label


500


may also be modified to include a cut away corresponding to the cut away


437


in place of the tabs


537


,


567


.




The label


500


and the modified embodiments as described above may be formed using the methods and apparatus described above with suitable modifications. In each case, the web from which the top panel


130


,


230


,


330


,


430


is formed is replaced with a two-ply web including a facestock corresponding to the top panel


530


, an adhesive corresponding to the adhesive


564


and a release liner corresponding to the release liner panel


560


. Thereafter, the two-ply web may be processed in the same manner as the single-ply web of the aforementioned methods.




Preferably, as illustrated and described, the top panels


130


,


230


,


330


,


430


and


530


are mutually discrete members from the base labels


110


,


210


,


310


,


410


and


510


, respectively. That is, the top panel and the base label do not include a continuous sheet or strip that forms a part of both the top panel and the base label (e.g., with a fold formed in the strip between the top panel and the base label). However, labels according to aspects of the present invention may include a top panel and a base label formed of a folded leaflet. In this case, the fold is preferably located along the edge between the base and top panels opposite the closure tab, and the hinge adhesive strip (e.g., adhesive strip


134


,


344


,


534


) may or may not be omitted.




Preferably, and as illustrated, the laminate covers and the top panels of the labels are substantially coextensive. Additionally, the base labels may be coextensive with the top panels and the laminate covers. In this case, the cutting steps for forming the base label and for forming the top panel may be merged into a single diecut step. Lot and expiration information or the like may be printed on the top panel and/or the laminate cover over the hinge adhesive strip (e.g., the adhesive strip


134


).




The foregoing is illustrative of the present invention and is not to be construed as limiting thereof. Although a few exemplary embodiments of this invention have been described, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that many modifications are possible in the exemplary embodiments without materially departing from the novel teachings and advantages of this invention. Accordingly, all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of this invention. Therefore, it is to be understood that the foregoing is illustrative of the present invention and is not to be construed as limited to the specific embodiments disclosed, and that modifications to the disclosed embodiments, as well as other embodiments, are intended to be included within the scope of the invention.



Claims
  • 1. A label comprising:a) a base label having upper and lower opposed surfaces and first and second opposed ends; b) a base adhesive coating said lower surface of said base label; c) a top panel overlying said upper surface of said base label and joined to said base label adjacent said first end, said top panel having an upper surface; d) a tab having upper and lower opposed surfaces and overlying said upper surface of said base label; e) an adhesive patch interposed between said base label and said tab adjacent said second end, wherein said adhesive patch secures said lower surface of said tab to said upper surface of said base label; f) a laminate cover overlying said top panel and said tab; and g) a laminate adhesive securing said laminate cover to said upper surface of said top panel and releasably joining said laminate cover to said upper surface of said tab.
  • 2. The label of claim 1 wherein said tab is formed from said top panel.
  • 3. The label of claim 1 including a release varnish coating said upper surface of said tab, wherein said laminate adhesive releasably engages said release varnish.
  • 4. The label of claim 1 wherein said base label includes an extended portion extending beyond each of said top panel and said laminate cover.
  • 5. The label of claim 1 wherein said top panel and said laminate cover are substantially coextensive.
  • 6. The label of claim 1 including a hinge adhesive interposed between said top panel and said base label adjacent said first end, wherein said hinge adhesive connects said top panel and said base label to form a hinge portion.
  • 7. The label of claim 6 wherein said top panel and said base label are mutually discrete members.
  • 8. The label of claim 1 including a tear line in said top panel adjacent said first end, and wherein:said tear line defines a marginal strip of the top panel; and said laminate cover is releasably joined to said marginal strip.
  • 9. The label of claim 8 including a release varnish coating said marginal strip, wherein said laminate adhesive releasably engages said release varnish.
  • 10. A label comprising:a) a base label having upper and lower opposed surfaces and first and second opposed ends; b) a base adhesive coating said lower surface of said base label; c) a release liner panel overlying and joined to said base panel, said release liner panel having a release coated upper surface; d) a top panel overlying said upper surface of release liner panel, said top panel having an upper surface; e) an intermediate adhesive coating said release coated upper surface of said release liner panel and releasably joining said top panel to said release liner panel; f) a top panel tab having upper and lower opposed surfaces and overlying and connected by an adhesive to said upper surface of said base label; g) a laminate cover overlying said top panel and said top panel tab; and h) a laminate adhesive securing said laminate cover to said upper surface of said top panel and releasably joining said laminate cover to said upper surface of said top panel tab.
  • 11. The label of claim 10 including:a release liner tab interposed between said base label and said top panel tab, said release liner tab having a release coated upper surface; a first tab adhesive securing said release liner tab to said upper surface of said base label; and a second tab adhesive releasably securing said top panel tab to said release coated upper surface of said release liner tab.
  • 12. The label of claim 10 wherein said intermediate adhesive is readherable when said top panel is removed from said release liner panel.
  • 13. The label of claim 10 wherein said intermediate adhesive is a fugitive adhesive.
  • 14. The label of claim 12 including a release varnish coating said upper surface of said top panel tab, wherein said laminate adhesive releasably engages said release varnish.
RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/211,983, filed Jun. 16, 2000, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

US Referenced Citations (19)
Number Name Date Kind
4153496 Swift May 1979 A
4744161 Instance May 1988 A
5021273 Kobayashi Jun 1991 A
5207458 Treichel et al. May 1993 A
5284363 Gartner et al. Feb 1994 A
5474173 Hodapp Dec 1995 A
5588239 Anderson Dec 1996 A
5700537 Instance Dec 1997 A
5727819 Grosskopf et al. Mar 1998 A
5738382 Grosskopf et al. Apr 1998 A
5766716 Barry Jun 1998 A
5829789 Treleaven et al. Nov 1998 A
5863628 Barry Jan 1999 A
5944357 Instance Aug 1999 A
5975575 Instance Nov 1999 A
5975582 Treleaven Nov 1999 A
6057019 Barry May 2000 A
6254137 Baum, Jr. et al. Jul 2001 B1
6413604 Matthews et al. Jul 2002 B1
Foreign Referenced Citations (1)
Number Date Country
0 153 185 Sep 1991 EP
Provisional Applications (1)
Number Date Country
60/211983 Jun 2000 US