Patent Application
20060028014
The present invention relates generally to removable labels applied to beverage bottles and, more particularly, to a peel-off label applied to a beverage bottle and adapted to facilitate recollection of a beverage contained in the bottle, and to a method of manufacturing and marketing using such a peel-off label.
The growing popularity of wines, specialty beverages and the like have greatly increased the types, brands, and varieties of beverages available to consumers. This abundance of choices can make it difficult for consumers to recollect the information necessary to reacquire previously sampled beverages. Specifically, it can be difficult to recall the vintage, vineyard and varietal of a specific wine after it has been consumed and the bottle has been discarded.
Recollection of a previously consumed wine benefits a vineyard in the form of increased sales and brand recognition. Further, the ability to recollect beverage or wine benefits consumers by allowing them to continue to enjoy favorite wines and beverages after their initial sampling of these beverages. Thus, it is desirable for all parties involved in the production, sales and consumption of wine and other beverages to have a system for facilitating recollection of wine or other consumed beverages.
A known method of recollection involves permanently attaching a sheet material to a liquor bottle. The sheet material, which may be written upon, includes an anchor portion, and has detachable parts connected to the anchor portion. The detachable parts are not directly attached to the liquor bottle, and thus the detachable parts may be detached individually from the bottle in order to memorialize the storage and movement of the liquor bottle.
Another known method of recollection describes a system for organization, inventory control, and reordering of hardware items that includes a label attached to a face of a carton. The label includes one portion that displays indicia representing the particular hardware item stored in the carton, e.g. a drawing of the hardware type, a description of the contents, and quantity. Each label also has a detachable perforated portion that can be peeled off from the carton and reaffixed to another object using a reusable pressure-sensitive backing. Thus, when a carton is low, the user simply removes the perforated portion of the label from the face of the carton and affixes it to the order form to complete the order.
Yet another known method of recollection includes a removable label applicable to the wine bottle. The label is removable and is capable of placement on a memorandum of the transaction by which the user acquired the wine, such as a sales slip or other receptacle. The label can be attached to the bottle with reusable glue or other reusable means, such as Velcro®.
Still other known methods involve peeling or cutting the beverage labels from the surface of a bottle using a knife, adhesive tape, etc. Another known method is for the consumer to simply retain the bottle of the label in place.
For a more complete understanding of the invention, reference should be made to the following detailed description and accompanying drawings wherein:
Although the following text sets forth a detailed description of exemplary embodiments of the invention, it should be understood that the legal scope of the invention is defined by the words of the claims set forth at the end of this detailed description. The detailed description is to be construed as exemplary only and does not describe every possible embodiment of the invention since describing every possible embodiment would be impractical, if not impossible. Numerous alternative embodiments could be implemented, using either current technology or technology developed after the filing date of this patent, all of which would still fall within the scope of the appended claims.
Referring now to the drawings,
The peel-off label assembly 22 includes a first panel 24 which, in the disclosed example, is substantially superimposed over a second panel 26 (obscured in
Referring now to
In accordance with the disclosed example, the adhesive layer 28 is preferably a dry-peel adhesive product. The dry-peel adhesive product also may be referred to by those of skill in the art as a dry-tack adhesive or as a dry-release adhesive. A dry-peel adhesive product is used to provide a releasable adhesive bond between to panels, substrates, or other items. This releasable adhesive bond, once released, does not have residual tackiness. Accordingly, once the original bond is released, the dry-peel adhesive product remaining on one or both of the panels is dry and is not sufficient to form a new bond if a user attempts to attach one or both of the panels to another surface. One such dry-peel adhesive for laminating the panels together may be a fugitive water-based adhesive available National Starch & Chemical. Another potential adhesive is available from Beacon Adhesives Company of Mount Vernon, New York, under the trade name MAGNA-CRYL 6551, and is described as a fugitive adhesive designed to temporarily laminate two substrates. Similar to a removable adhesive, a fugitive adhesive temporarily adheres two substrates but leaves no tack and residue once the substrates have been separated. Other suitable dry-peel adhesives may be obtained from 3M Corporation, under a variety of trade names. Thus, it will be understood that the adhesive 28 forms a removable or releasable bond between the inner surface 38 of the panel 24 and the outer surface 32 of the panel 26. Those of skill in the art will readily understand matching the piece of to be substrates to be joined or laminated may involve some degree of trial and error, as different films, substrates, papers etc. are more suitable for joining more laminating use one adhesive as opposed to another. One of skill in the art of label making can, based on the selected substrates, and based upon a reading of this specification, readily choose the best adhesive.
Typically, the adhesive 28 may be applied in a liquid form and, upon drying, forms the releasable bond between the two panels 24 and 26. Upon destruction of this releasable bond, which happens upon the removal of the panel 24 from the panel 26 as will be outlined in greater detail below, the dry-peel or dry-release adhesive cannot be used to reattach the removed panel 24 to anything else, because any residue remaining from the original bond after the panel 24 has been separated from the panel 26 simply is not sufficient to form another bond. Similarly, there is little or no is residue on the outer side 32 of the panel 26 sufficient to stick anything else onto the outer side 32 of the remaining panel 26.
The adhesive 29 is preferably the type of adhesive conventionally used to attach a label to a beverage bottle. Such conventional adhesives are well known in the art. As would also be known, the adhesive 29 is intended to form a “permanent” bond between the panel 26 of the peel-off label assembly 22. Although this bond may be referred to herein as “permanent,” those of skill in the art will readily understand that consumers have long attempted to, and succeeded at, removing conventional, single-panel labels that have been “permanently” attached from beverage bottles (as is outlined above in the Background of the Invention section of this specification).
As shown in
Referring still to
In accordance with the disclosed example, and depending on the type of liquid 12 stored or contained within the beverage bottle 10, the indicia 34, 36 may take the form of product information of the type that may be required by law. For example, the indicia 34 and 36 may take the form of product information intended to comply with applicable government regulations, such as, for example, federal regulations established by the United States Alcohol Tobacco and Trade Bureau (TTB). In further accordance with the disclosed example, the indicia 34 and the indicia 36 may be identical or substantially identical. Consequently, the indicia 36 that remains on the panel 26 after the panel 24 has been removed is the same (or substantially similar) as the indicia 34 originally visible to a viewer prior to the removal of the panel 24. For example, if the liquid 12 contained within the bottle 10 is wine, then the indicia 34 and 36 may include, by way of example rather than limitation, the brand of the wine, the alcohol content, the address of the wine source, the amount of wine, content information, the country of origin, and a health disclaimer.
In accordance with the disclosed example, by duplicating or substantially duplicating the indicia 34, 36 on both of the first and second panels 24, 26, the peel-off label assembly 22 aids consumers in recollecting aspects of the liquid 12 originally contained in the bottle 10. For example, if a consumer enjoys a bottle of wine, the first panel 24 can be removed from the bottle 10 by detaching the first panel 24 from the second panel 26, thus breaking the original bond formed by the piece of 28. The removable panel 24, by virtue of the indicia 34, allows the consumer to keep a complete copy of the indicia 34 related to the wine. As stated above, the indicia 34 contains various product information indicative of the wine originally contained in the bottle 10.
Referring now to
The peel-off label assembly 22 preferably includes a handle assembly 42. A handle assembly 42 enables the user to grasp the panel 24 in order to remove the panel 24 from the underlying panel 26. A handle assembly 42 may take a number of forms. For example, and referring now to
Alternatively, and referring now to
Referring now to
Each of the foregoing handle assemblies 42 provides a way for the consumer to grasp and separate the first panel 24 from the second panel 26: It will be appreciated that, in addition to specific constructions shown, the handle assembly 42 may take other suitable forms.
Of course the indicia 34 contained on the side 30 of the panel 24 has been readily visible to an observer. It will be understood that, upon removal of the first panel 24 from the second panel 26, the indicia 36 printed on the panel 26 now becomes visible to the observer. Also, removal all the panel 24 from the panel 26 enables the observer to view the indicia 40 printed on the side 38 of the panel 24. As discussed above, if the act of peeling away the first panel 24 from the second panel 26 releases or destroys the original bond formed by the adhesive layer 28.
At a block 46, the process begins with printing the first panel 24. The first panel 24 is typically the standard wine label currently known and used by vineyards or bottlers. The first panel 24 may be manufactured from a variety of materials such as, for example, rolls of Estate stock No. 8, linen stock, including linen stock that can be embossed or foiled in any desired manner. The first panel 24 may further be formed at any other suitable label material has commonly employed in the art of applying labels to beverage bottles such as wine bottles. As discussed above in connection with
The indicia 34 is generally printed in a 6-8 color printing process that provides for the fine detail and clarity desirable for product label, and especially for wine bottle labels. The indicia 40, which is printed on the reverse or second side 38 of the first panel 24, is preferably printed in a more economical 2 color printing process, although the 6-8 color printing process may be employed. Depending on the characteristics of the chosen material for the panel 24, and depending on the colors used in printing the indicia 34, it may be necessary to print or otherwise apply a coating 51 to the second side 38 of the panel 24 using a transparent, translucent, or opaque, or partially opaque ink. The additional opaque ink coating 51 prevents the indicia on one side of the panel 24 from bleeding through and being visible on the other side of the panel 24. The coating typically is applied before the panel is printed. Because of the wide variety of possible label materials and/or colors used in the process of applying the indicia, one or more test runs may be required in order to choose the proper coating 51 in order to satisfy the printer of the labels. It will be understood that the coating 51 may not be required in all circumstances.
Continuing with
At a block 50, the second panel 26 is printed on an underlying roll stock such as a coated one side material (hereinafter referred to as “C1S”). The C1S based second panel 26 may be printed in a manner similar to the printing process used to print the first panel 24. In particular, the indicia 36 printed on the first side 30 of the second panel 26 preferably is applied in a 6-8 color printing process that provides for the fine detail and clarity desirable for product labels such as wine labels. As would be known, the C1S stock material is engineered to accept printing as described above and the permanent adhesive layer 29 for bonding to the outer surface 14 of the beverage bottle 10. The printing and adhesive application using the C1S stock for the panel 26 all may be accomplished using conventional label making techniques.
At a block 52, the roll of double-sided first panel 24 and the roll of C1S-based second panel 26 are prepared for attachment to one another. It will be understood that the second panel 26 can be printed and aligned with the completed first panel 24 in a single process, however the steps are described separately for the sake of clarity. In order to aid in alignment between the first and second panels 24, 26 such that the panels 24 and 26 are substantially superimposed, the printed indicia 34, 36 may include a visual marker or aid that can be detected by a recognition device such as a camera. The recognized visual marker on the first panel 24 can be correlated with the recognized visual marker on the second panel 26 based on, among other things, the relative location of the cameras, the speed at which the two rolls of labels are being process within the equipment and the relative location of the markers within the printed indicia 34, 36. Once the positions of the recognized markers are positively established relative to one another, the first and second panels 24, 26 are considered to be aligned. Alternatively, alignment can be performed using perforations formed at precise locations within each of the rolls of labels.
At a block 54, the aligned first and second panels 24, 26 are secured together via the adhesive layer 28. Once the adhesive 28 of the adhesive layer 28 is dry and has set, the first panel 24 and the second panel 26 are releasably secured together in an aligned manner, as described above. The adhesive layer 28 can be applied, for example, as a continuous film or in a pattern that includes the hold-out 42 (see for example
At a block 56, the bonded first panel 24 and second panel 26 are die cut to the desired final shape. Specifically, the bonded first panel 24 and second panel 26 are aligned relative to a cutting punch and die (not shown) and are separated from the excess roll stock material upon which they were originally printed. At this point, the assembled peel-off label assembly 22 appears similar to a standard wine label of the type currently known and used by vineyards or bottlers and may be handled as such.
At a block 58, the separated peel-off label assembly 22 including the first and second panels 24, 26 is affixed to a liner (not shown) via the adhesive applied to the C1S material of the second panel 26. The resulting liner and peel-off label assembly 22 combination is wound around a spindle to produce a continuous roll of labels ready for attachment to the beverage bottle 10. It should be noted that the continuous rolls of labels are typically arranged such that the peel-off labels 22 have an inward or concave curvature. The inward or concave curvature helps to prevent undesirable separation of the bonded first panel 24 and second panel 26 from each other and/or the liner. Typically it is desirable to limit the minimum external bend radius experienced by the peel-off labels 22, such as, for example, during the application or bottling process, to 2 or 3 inches.
The liner may be conventional, such as a forty (40) lb. or fifty (50) lb. liner. Eventually, the label assembly 22 will be peeled-off the liner in preparation for applying the label assembly 22 to the bottle. When the label assembly 22 is peeled-off the liner, the adhesive 29 is “live.” Referring still to
The first panel 64, as discussed above in connection with the first panel 24, is typically manufactured from the same material used to produce standard bottle labels. For example, rolls of Estate No. 8 label stock are printed with indicia 72 on a first side 74 in a 6-8 color printing process. The label stock is further printed on a second side 76 with indicia 78 in, for example, a more economical 2 color printing process (see
The second panel 66 is a clear laminate layer, e.g., a common 0.001 mil clear laminate stock, which is transparent. The second panel 66 may be bonded or otherwise suitably releasably secured to the first panel 64 using an adhesive layer such as the adhesive layer 28 shown in
The peel-off label assembly 60 preferably includes a handle assembly 42, which preferably may be the same or similar to the handle assembly 42 discussed above with respect to the first disclosed example. The handle assembly 42 enables the user to grasp the panel 64 in order to remove the panel 64 from the underlying panel 66. As with the handle assembly 42 discussed above with respect to the first disclosed example, the handle assembly 42 of the peel-off label assembly 60 may take a number of forms, including any of the forms discussed above. In the example of
In accordance with the example of
At a block 92, the completed double-sided first panel 64 is mated or affixed to the clear laminate second panel 66. In particular, the first and second layers 64, 66 are secured together via the dry-release adhesive layer 28. As previously discussed, the dry release adhesive provides a bond between the first panel 64 and the second panel 66 that results in little or no tackiness or residue between the layers after they are separated by the consumer.
At a block 94, the bonded first and second layers 64, 66 are die cut to the desired final shape. Specifically, the bonded first panel 64 and second panel 66 are die cut to remove excess stock material and provide complete label that appears to be the standard wine label currently known and used by vineyards or bottlers rather than the two piece label shown in
At a block 96, the media page 70 is printed or otherwise manufactured with the desired text or images. The printing may include a bottle graphic 86 intended to resemble the wine or beverage bottle 10 being sold or may include text, logos or any other desired advertising messages.
At a block 98, the media page 70 and the peel-off label 60 are prepared for attachment to each other. The media page 70 and the peel-off label 60 may be aligned relative to each other using a visual marker or aid that can be detected by a recognition device such as a camera. The recognized visual marker on the media page 70 can be correlated with the recognized visual marker on the peel-off label 60 based on, among other things, the relative location of the cameras, the speed at which the two components are being process within the equipment, etc. In this manner, the relative positions of the visual markers and the thus the media page 70 and the peel-off label 60 are established relative to each another.
At a block 100, the aligned peel-off label 60 including the first and second layers 64, 66 is affixed to the media page 70 via the permanent adhesive layer 29 applied to the second side 82 of the second panel 66 to secure the peel-off label 60 to a surface 84 of the media page 70. In particular, the peel-off label 60 will be secured to appear as an integral part of the bottle graphic 86 printed on the surface 84 of the media page 70.
At a block 102, the combination media page 70 and peel-off label 60 are secured or placed within a periodical, newspaper, pamphlet or other advertising medium. The combination media page 70 and peel-off label 60 may be a blow-in insert placed within the periodical or may be fixedly joined or bound during final manufacture or printing of the product.
Upon receipt of the periodical containing the combination media page 70 and peel-off label 60, the consumer can remove the first panel 64 by destroying the releasable bond formed by the dry release adhesive of the adhesive layer (not shown) to reveal indicia 78 or coupon printed on the second side 76. Once the first panel 64 has been removed, the clear second panel 66 allows the consumer to view the indicia 88 that was printed as an integral part of the bottle graphic 86. The indicia 72, 88 can be the same information or can, for example, be part of a promotional game where the consumer removes the first panel 64 to determine if they have won a prize.
While these exemplary peel-off label assemblies 22, 60 have been described herein as they relate to the distribution and advertisement of wine and wine products, it will be understood that these labels can be adapted for wide variety of products. For instance, the peel-off label assembly 22 can be affixed to a beer bottle and used to advertise related services and products, e.g., snack foods. Depending on the application, the dry release adhesive used in the peel-off label assembly 22 may be reformulated to prevent unintended separation caused by condensation gathering along the surface of the beverage bottle 10.
In addition to the construction described above, the label assemblies also may be constructed so as to be fed into a cassette-type feeder having its own glue bay for applying the glue that holds the label assembly to the bottle, and which may use a cold glue format.
Additional details concerning the manner by which a removable label may facilitate the recollection of wine consumed from a wine bottle may be found in co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/392,045, entitled “Method of Facilitating Recollection of a Wine Consumed From a Bottle” filed Mar. 19, 2003, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.
Numerous modifications and alternative embodiments of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art in view of the foregoing descriptions. Accordingly, these descriptions are to be construed as illustrative only and are for the purpose of teaching those skilled in the art the best mode or modes presently contemplated for carrying out the invention. The details of the foregoing examples need not be mutually exclusive, as it is contemplated that each embodiment may incorporate features and structures as shown in the other embodiment. Finally, the details of the structure or structures disclosed herein may be varied substantially without departing from the spirit of the invention, and the exclusive use of all modifications which come within the scope of the appended claims, either literally or under the doctrine of equivalents, is reserved.
This patent claims the priority benefit of U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/571,433, filed on May 14, 2004, titled “PEEL-OFF LABEL”, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 60571433 | May 2004 | US |
