Adhesive bonding and miscellaneous chemical manufacture – Methods – Surface bonding and/or assembly therefor
Reexamination Certificate
1999-08-20
2002-04-02
Gray, Linda (Department: 1734)
Adhesive bonding and miscellaneous chemical manufacture
Methods
Surface bonding and/or assembly therefor
C156S252000, C156S253000, C156S270000, C156S277000, C156S289000, C156S291000, C283S070000, C283S081000, C283S104000, C283S105000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06364990
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed to labels, and, more particularly, to a primary label having integrally formed and removable secondary labels attached thereto.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Labels, for example self-adhesive labels, are commonly used to display various indicia or information regarding a chosen object. The labels may be applied to a package or container to identify the contents thereof and/or relate information concerning the contents. It has become increasingly desirable to provide such labels which include, as a part thereof, at least one removable portion which the user may detach from the package.
It is known, for example, to provide labels having removable coupon portions so that the consumer may remove and redeem the coupon at the point of sale. The remainder of the label may remain with the package and may include indicia relating thereto. Because these removable portions are intended to function as conventional coupons once removed, they are typically non-adhesive once removed. Examples of the aforedescribed labels are shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,172,936 to Sullivan et al. and U.S. Pat. No. 5,329,713 to Lundell.
It is also known to provide pressure sensitive labels consisting of an adhesive backed release liner having a self-adhesive backed layer of face stock or the like releasably adhered to the release side of the liner. Such labels may be referred to as “piggy back” labels. After the label has been adhered to a package by means of the adhesive of the release liner, the end user may remove the layer of face stock and reapply it to another substrate using the adhesive on the back of the face stock. These labels are only provided with indicia on the upper surface of the face stock so that, when the upper ply is removed from the label, no indicia disposed on the remaining portion of the label is left to identify or characterize the package. A variation of the above described “piggy back” label is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,822,492 to Crawley wherein the disclosed label is adhered to the package by adhesive disposed on portions of the face stock with a non-adhesive backed release liner interposed between the remainder of the face stock and the package.
While tile above described label products may be suitable for their intended uses, they are wholly inadequate for other applications. For example, in pharmaceutical and similar applications a bulk container is provided to a distributor such as a pharmacist or physician to be subdivided and repackaged. Two concerns arise in such case. First, the bulk container must provided with identifying and descriptive information. The information may include, for example, warnings, advertising, dosage instructions, disclaimers, and lot and expiration data. To ensure that the contents are positively identified and the integrity of the warnings, etc., are brought to the attention of the distributor, this information should be permanently secured to the bulk container. Secondly, provision should be made for conveniently and accurately identifying and describing the contents of the subdivision packages (e.g., containers in which prescribed quantities are distributed to patients). To ensure that the contents are positively identified and the integrity of the warnings, etc., are brought to the attention of the end users, this information should be permanently secured to the second containers.
The label designs of the prior art do not meet the needs of the bulk packaging/repackaging set forth above. In the case of the labels of the first design discussed (i.e., having removable coupons) no provision is made for securing the removable portion to a second substrate, for example, the second container. In the case of the “piggy back” labels, no provision is made for permanently securing indicia to the bulk container.
Accordingly, there exists a need for a label product which provides a primary portion which may be permanently secured to a first object and one or more second portions which are initially carried by the label product on the first object, but may be conveniently removed and permanently secured to a second object. In addition to the above described application, a label product making such provisions would also have many other advantageous uses such as, for example, a product label having removable novelty stickers.
There is a need for such a label product which may be, when positioned on the first object, opened to remove one or more of the second portions and resealed to protect one or more further second portions remaining on the label product.
There is a need for a label product as described above which allows for convenient and effective selection of release materials, stock materials, and adhesives as needed for the intended first and second objects.
There exists a need for a method for forming label products as described above which is efficient and cost effective.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed to a label product for attaching to a package and having, as a part thereof. at least one removable portion which the user may detach from the package and reapply to a second package. Generally, the label product is made up of first and second types of labels formed integrally together. The first type includes primary information to be used on a first type of package and the second type includes secondary information to be used on a second type of package.
In some embodiments, the label product includes a permanent portion having an upper surface and a lower surface. The lower surface is coated with a first adhesive which is operative to substantially permanently secure the permanent portion to the first package. The label product further includes a primary label integrally formed with and as a part of the permanent portion. The primary label has an upper surface and a lower surface. The upper surface has primary indicia thereon representing the primary information concerning the first type of package. The label product also includes at least one temporary portion removably secured to the permanent portion such that the temporary portion may be selectively removed from the first package. A secondary label forms a part of the temporary portion. The secondary label has an upper surface and a lower surface. The upper surface has secondary indicia thereon representing the secondary information concerning the second type of package. The secondary label is adhesively and releasably adhered to the remainder of the label product by a varnish coating and a second adhesive such that the secondary label may be selectively removed from the remainder of the label product and applied to one of the second types of packages.
Preferably, the label. product includes a plurality of the secondary labels.
The label product as described above may be constructed in several forms, as set forth below.
The label product may include a base layer having a lower surface and an upper surface, the first adhesive being disposed on the lower surface of the base layer. A top layer overlies the base layer and has a lower surface and an upper surface. The primary label and the secondary label each form a part of the top layer. The second adhesive is disposed on the lower surface of the top layer. The varnish coating covers a portion of the upper surface of the base layer and a portion-of the upper surface of the base layer is not covered by the varnish coating. The covered portion is disposed beneath the secondary label and the uncovered portion is disposed beneath the primary label.
The label product may be constructed such that the permanent portion includes a first panel having an upper surface and a lower surface. The primary indicia is disposed on the upper surface of the first panel and the first adhesive is disposed on the lower surface of the first panel. The temporary portion includes a second panel joined to an edge of the first panel by a fold. The secondary label is releasably adhered to the second panel by the second adhesive. The secondary label may be adhered to an interior surface of the second
Grosskopf Glenn A.
Treleaven Carl W.
Gray Linda
Myers Bigel & Sibley & Sajovec
Pharmagraphics (Southeast) L.L.C.
LandOfFree
Method for forming primary label with removable... does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Method for forming primary label with removable..., we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Method for forming primary label with removable... will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2914970