The present invention pertains to product containers having in-mold labels and a method of manufacturing such containers. An in-mold label for a product container is a label that is adapted for placement into a mold cavity prior to inserting molding material into the mold cavity. The label displays information related to the product.
The present invention provides a hollow multi-layered container, comprising: an outer layer including a label, wherein the label has a barrier material that impedes one or more substances that emanate from a product from penetrating through the label, and wherein the label displays information related to the product; and an inner layer that is injection molded; wherein the inner layer and the barrier material of the outer layer are substantially coextensive.
The present invention also provides a label for a hollow container having a sidewall and a shoulder extending inward from the sidewall; wherein the label displays information related to a product; wherein the label includes a primary segment for covering the sidewall of the container and a plurality of shoulder pads configured for covering the shoulder in at least approximately contiguous alignment with adjacent said shoulder pads; and wherein the full extent of the label includes a barrier material that impedes one or more particular substances that emanate from the product from penetrating through the label.
The present invention further provides a method of inserting an in-mold label for an injection molded product into the mold, comprising the steps of:
(a) inserting the label partially into a cavity bounded by a cavity mold part so that one end of the label extends from the cavity; and
(b) upon closing the mold, pushing the label fully into the cavity by pushing against the label with a mold part that is moved toward the cavity when the mold is closed so that when the label is fully within the cavity, the lateral edges of the label are aligned with each other.
The present invention still further provides a method of injection molding a layer of a hollow container having a sidewall and an inclined shoulder extending inward from the sidewall, comprising the steps of:
(a) prior to inserting a core mold part into a cavity mold part to thereby provide a mold cavity, inserting an in-mold label into the cavity mold part, wherein the label includes a primary segment for covering the sidewall of the container and a plurality of shoulder pads configured for at least approximately contiguous alignment with adjacent said shoulder pads when the in-mold label is fully inserted into the cavity mold part;
(b) fully inserting the in-mold label into the cavity mold part;
(c) inserting the core mold part into the cavity mold part to compress the shoulder pads of the in-mold label against the portion of the cavity mold part that forms the outer surface of the shoulder of the container to thereby enhance the stability of the position of the core mold relative to the cavity mold part; and
(d) injecting molding material into the mold cavity to form the layer of the product container.
Additional features of the present invention are described with reference to the detailed description.
Referring to
The inner layer 14 is injection molded while the label 16 is in the mold cavity.
The inner layer 14 and the barrier material included in the in-mold label 16 of the outer layer 12 are substantially coextensive.
The container 10 has a sidewall 18 and an inclined shoulder 20 extending inward from the sidewall 18.
The label 16 includes a primary segment 22 covering the sidewall 18 of the container 10 and a plurality of shoulder pads 24 covering the shoulder 20 of the container 10 in at least approximately contiguous alignment with adjacent shoulder pads 24. The full extent of the label 16 includes the barrier material.
The container 10 has an exterior-threaded neck 26 extending from the shoulder 20. A cap 28 for the container 10 has an interior-threaded sidewall that is dimensioned for enabling the cap 28 to be screwed onto the neck 26 of the container 10 and for contacting the shoulder 20 of the container 10. The cap is molded. The full extent of the cap 28 includes a barrier material that impedes one or more substances that emanate from the product.
The inner layer 14 of the container also functions as a barrier material that impedes substances that emanate from the product. Examples of molding materials that function as barrier materials for impeding particular substances include the following:
EVALâ„¢ EVOH, manufactured by Kuraray America, Inc., which functions as a barrier material for impeding oxygen, moisture, carbon dioxide, nitrogen and helium.
PA MXDX nylon, manufactured by Mitsubishi Gas Chemical Company, which functions as a barrier material for impeding oxygen, moisture and carbon dioxide.
ALATHON types M5010 and M6019, manufactured by Lyondell Basell, which function as a barrier material for impeding oxygen and moisture.
SURPASS type sHDPE, manufactured by Nova Chemicals, which functions as a barrier material for impeding moisture.
BAREX type AN COPOLY, manufactured by Ineos, which functions as a barrier material for impeding oxygen, moisture, carbon dioxide and nitrogen.
OPP BARRIERCOATED FILM type NS3-OPP70, manufactured by Nanoseal, which functions as a barrier material for impeding oxygen and moisture.
SARAN type MA film, manufactured by Dow Chemical, which functions as a barrier material for impeding moisture.
EVALâ„¢ EVOH can also be used as a label material that functions as a barrier material for impeding oxygen, moisture, carbon dioxide, nitrogen and helium.
Aluminum can be used as a label material that functions as a barrier material for impeding most substances. In one embodiment, aluminum foil encased in a plastic material, such as transparent polypropylene, is included in the in-mold label.
A thermoplastic and compatible cyclodextrin derivative, as described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,218,013, which functions as a barrier material for a variety of materials such as moisture, aliphatic or aromatic hydrocarbons, monomer materials, off flavors, toxic compounds etc.
In an alternative embodiment (not shown), the hollow container has a sidewall, but does not have an inclined shoulder extending inward from the sidewall. An outer layer of the container includes a label having an outer surface that displays information related to a product; and the label having a barrier material that impedes one or more particular substances that emanate from the product from penetrating through the label. A molded cap for use with the container of this embodiment extends to the sidewall and includes a barrier material that impedes one or more substances that emanate from the product. In other respects this alternative embodiment of a hollow container has the same features as the hollow container described above with reference to
A method of inserting an in-mold label for an injection molded product into the mold cavity, is described with reference to
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In an alternative embodiment (not shown), the container is formed by a molding method other than injection molding after the in-mold label has been inserted into the mold cavity.
In an alternative embodiment (not shown), the label shown in
Another alternative embodiment includes an inner molded layer, an intermediate molded layer and an outer layer. The outer layer includes an in-mold label. The outer surface of the label displays information related to the product. The label has a barrier material that impedes one or more substances that emanate from a product from penetrating through the label. Both the inner layer and the intermediate layer include barrier materials that impede one or more substances that emanate from a product.
The various features of the different embodiments described herein may be combined with one another to the extent that they are not incompatible with one another.
The benefits specifically stated herein do not necessarily apply to every conceivable embodiment of the present invention. Further, such stated benefits of the present invention are only examples and should not be construed as the only benefits of the present invention.
While the above disclosure contains many specificities that may or may not be common to all of the embodiments described herein, these specificities are not to be construed as limitations on the scope of the claimed invention, but rather as examples of the preferred embodiments described herein. For example, the scope of the method claims should not be construed to cover only methods having the steps occur in the sequence recited herein. Other variations are possible and the scope of the present invention should be determined not by the embodiments described herein but rather by the claims and their legal equivalents. The claims require no implicit limitations. Each claim is to be construed explicitly as stated, or by its legal equivalent.
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind | 371c Date |
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PCT/US11/46486 | 8/3/2011 | WO | 00 | 1/31/2013 |
Number | Date | Country | |
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61370296 | Aug 2010 | US |