Synthetic resins or natural rubbers -- part of the class 520 ser – Synthetic resins – Processes of preparing a desired or intentional composition...
Reexamination Certificate
2000-03-31
2001-06-05
Szekely, Peter (Department: 1714)
Synthetic resins or natural rubbers -- part of the class 520 ser
Synthetic resins
Processes of preparing a desired or intentional composition...
C524S441000, C156S307400, C156S327000, C156S329000, C156S331700, C156S332000, C156S334000, C427S207100, C427S208200, C427S208400, C427S212000, C428S040200, C428S323000, C428S327000, C428S328000, C428S3550AC, C428S3550EN, C428S3550BL
Reexamination Certificate
active
06242510
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to adhesives generally, and more specifically to an adhesive composition containing small particles of prismatic or holographic film and the method of manufacturing that adhesive for the purpose of creating new and unique adhesive products used in decorative and tamper-indicating applications.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Self-adhering labels have become very popular for use in the decoration, general-purpose marking and identification of manufactured objects. Also referred to as “stickers” or “decals”, the use of these labels continues to grow with more demand being placed upon the design and manufacture of the label material to provide increasingly unique and complex structures. As a result, labels are now printed with one or more types of eye-catching graphics in order to capture consumer attention and create a unique product image.
Holographic or prismatic materials are extensively used as label stock to attract attention with dazzling reflections of refracted light bouncing off the embossed patterns in the material surface. One industry in which these labels are heavily used is the beverage industry wherein the labels may be placed over the exterior of glass or polyester (PET) bottles. Furthermore, the cosmetic food and pharmaceutical industries also place a high value on eye-catching and attractive labeling of their goods.
The visual complexity of these materials has also been exploited to create labels and other marking media that provide evidence of counterfeiting or tampering with the objects on which labels are placed. The tamper-evident nature of prismatic or holographic media rising from the inherent difficulty in copying them also favors their inclusion in these types of labeling materials.
However, one problem with the typical prismatic materials used to form the above-mentioned labels is that the materials tend to be opaque since they are metallic in appearance. The opaqueness of the material detracts from the ability of a consumer to see the contents of the object through the label when placed on the object. Therefore, it is desirable to use a prismatic material to decorate an object that retains some clarity so that one may see through the label and into the contents of the object.
Furthermore, a second problem with prior art material labels arises with respect to the way that the labels are made. Prior art prismatic labels are normally formed entirely of a prismatic film or may include only a section of prismatic material placed on the label by way of stamping a predetermined area of the label with a prismatic or holographic foil. The prismatic materials used to form these labels tend to be expensive due to the multiple-step processes used in producing the embossed and metallized film that will eventually be converted into individual labels.
Therefore, it is desirable to develop an alternative label construction or adhesive composition for use in creating labels for various objects that incorporates some prismatic features to provide a striking, distinctive appearance to the object at a reduced cost, which is also substantially transparent or clear to enable a consumer to view the contents of the object through the label.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide an adhesive composition and a laminate construction employing the composition that includes an amount of platelets or particles of prismatic or holographic material to give the composition a prismatic appearance.
It is further object of the present invention to provide an adhesive composition in which the platelets or particles have a configuration that enables the platelets to position themselves parallel to a surface on which the composition is applied in order to maximize the prismatic effect of the platelets while allowing the composition to remain substantially clear.
It is still a further object of the invention to provide an adhesive composition capable having a highly prismatic or holographic appearance that is inexpensive to manufacture and use in forming various types of laminate compositions, such as labels.
The present invention is an adhesive formulation including a clear, optically transparent adhesive layer that contains a number of thin, generally opaque prismatic or holographic particles or platelets randomly, but evenly, dispersed throughout the adhesive layer. The platelets serve to refract light striking them to give the adhesive a colorful, distinctive and consistent appearance. The adhesive layer containing the platelets is extruded in a thin and continuous layer that is laminated onto a clear film. The adhesive layer is preferably a pressure sensitive adhesive to facilitate the instantaneous bonding of the laminate to the surface of an object. The laminated construction formed by the adhesive and the film is preferably cut into individual sections to form labels that may be applied to a surface by pressing the adhesive portion of the laminate against the surface. The individual laminate sections provide a decorative effect to the objects on which they are applied whereby the platelets reflect light back towards an observer in a prismatic dispersion of color. Furthermore, should a laminate including the adhesive composition be tampered with after being placed on an object, the prismatic platelets will shift and form voids or bubbles in the configuration of the platelets in the composition, providing evidence of a counterfeit object or of tampering with the laminate.
The present invention may take various forms and can be made by employing different techniques to achieve similar end products. A preferred embodiment is hereinafter described to enable one of ordinary skill in the art to understand and reproduce the same. Furthermore, it may be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art that certain improvements may be made to the present invention and its application that are not specifically stated herein. Therefore, the preferred embodiment described herein is only intended to be illustrative of the present invention and should not be construed to limit the scope of the invention as claimed.
Various other features, objects and advantages of the invention will be made apparent from the following description taken together with the drawings.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4248762 (1981-02-01), Hornibrook et al.
patent: 4248917 (1981-02-01), Hornibrook et al.
patent: 4248918 (1981-02-01), Hornibrook et al.
patent: 5202180 (1993-04-01), Watts
Andrus Sceales Starke & Sawall LLP
Green Bay Packaging Inc.
Szekely Peter
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