Metal working – Method of mechanical manufacture – Disassembling
Reexamination Certificate
1999-09-22
2001-07-03
Echols, P. W. (Department: 3726)
Metal working
Method of mechanical manufacture
Disassembling
C029S426100, C225S102000, C198S415000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06253438
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to rotatable labels, and more particularly to breaking connective elements, such as adhesive or perforated material, between the rotatable portion of the label and the non-rotatable portion.
Rotatable labels are well known and include an inner layer, or base, adhered directly to a container, and an outer layer, or shell, concentrically and rotatably mounted on the base. During manufacture an application to a container, the shell typically is fixed to the base using connective elements, for example, adhesives or perforations. The consumer or user of the container breaks the connective elements, typically by grasping the shell with respect to the container and the base adhered to the container.
A conventional prior art rotatable label, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,884,421, is illustrated in its flat, unapplied state in FIG.
1
and is generally designated
10
. The label includes a base
12
, which is affixed directly to the container (not shown) and a shell having a rotatable portion
14
and top and bottom guide rails
16
,
18
. A transparent window
20
permits consumers to view information on base layer
12
through the shell. The shell is temporarily affixed to the base layer
12
along the top and bottom rails
16
,
18
. Both the base layer and the shell are wrapped around the container. Consumers break the ties
54
manually to allow free the rotatable portion
14
for rotation in the direction designated S.
Rotatable labels present a variety of problems. First, there is no way to assure that the label has been constructed properly. For example, if the base and the shell are unintentionally completely glued to one another, there is no way to test for such a defect. Second, it can be difficult to break the connective elements on large labels used on large containers. Third, elderly and/or weak consumers may have difficulty breaking the perforations or ties utilized with any sized label.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The aforementioned problems are overcome by the present invention which mechanically breaks the ties or perforations associated with rotatable labels during manufacture. The apparatus and related method of pre-breaking ties during manufacture includes a conveyor for transporting containers having rotatable labels adhered thereto, a holding device for preventing rotation of the containers while on the conveyor, and a contacting device for selectively contacting the rotatable shell of the label to rotate the shell and thereby break the perforations and/or ties.
With this apparatus and method of pre-breaking the ties, the construction of the rotatable label can be properly tested. Additionally, the mechanical pre-breaking of the ties or perforations insures that the weak and/or elderly may use the rotatable label effectively. Finally, the pre-breaking apparatus may be adjustably configured to accommodate a variety of different sized containers and labels; consequently, larger rotatable labels having ties or perforations that are difficult to manually disengage may be mechanically broken for ultimate consumer use.
These and other objects, advantages, and features of the invention will become more readily understood and appreciated by reference to the detailed description of the preferred embodiments and the drawings.
REFERENCES:
patent: 2516998 (1950-08-01), Kimball et al.
patent: 4239570 (1980-12-01), Kerwin
patent: 4464884 (1984-08-01), Franks
patent: 5388707 (1995-02-01), Stivison et al.
patent: 5542327 (1996-08-01), Schultz
patent: 5588239 (1996-12-01), Anderson
patent: 5884421 (1999-03-01), Key
Blount Steve
CCL Label Inc.
Echols P. W.
Warner & Norcross & Judd LLP
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