Abstract:
A peelable label for a container includes a fixed label and a removable label removably attached to at least a portion of the fixed label. A first securement feature is formed along a first side of the removable label and a second securement feature is formed along a second side of the removable label opposite the first side. The first and second securement features cooperate to retain the removable label in a shape of a frustoconical funnel.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/641,621, filed on May 2, 2012, and U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/768,148, filed Feb. 22, 2013, both incorporated by reference herein. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    The present invention relates generally to a peelable label and, more particularly, to a peelable label and method of using the peelable label. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0003]    In illustrative embodiments, a peelable label for a container includes a fixed label and a removable label removably attached to at least a portion of the fixed label. A first securement feature is formed along a first side of the removable label and a second securement feature is formed along a second side of the removable label opposite the first side. The first and second securement features cooperate to retain the removable label in a shape of a frustoconical funnel. 
         [0004]    In illustrative embodiments, a method of using a peelable label including a fixed label disposed on a container and a removable label removably attached to at least a portion of the fixed label includes the steps of removing at least a portion of the removable label from at least a portion of the fixed label and manipulating the removable label to form a funnel. The method further includes the step of securing a first side of the removable label to a second side of the removable label opposite the first side to connect the first and second sides and retain the removable label in the form of the funnel. 
         [0005]    According to yet further illustrative embodiments, a peelable label for a container includes a fixed label and a removable label. The removable label including a retained portion that remains attached to the fixed label and a removable portion that is removable from the fixed label. The removable portion of the removable label includes first and second opposing and generally parallel side edges and a third side edge extending between the first and second side edges. At least a portion of the third side edge includes a semi-circular shape that, when the removable portion is formed into a shape of a funnel, forms an exit of the funnel. The removable portion also includes a fourth side edge extending between the first and second side edges opposite the third side edge. 
         [0006]    According to further illustrative embodiments, a label assembly for a container comprises a fixed label having a first side and a second side, the first side adapted to be secured the to the container. A removable label is positioned to overlay at least a portion of the fixed label, the removable label having a removable portion and a retained portion, the retained portion adapted to be secured to the second side of the fixed label and the removable portion is adapted to be secured to the retained portion, the removable portion formed to include a slot. Pulling the removable portion away from the fixed label causes separation of the removable portion from the fixed label and the retained portion. The removable portion includes a tab that can be inserted into the slot upon manipulating the removable label portion into a frustoconical shape. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0007]      FIG. 1  is a front elevational view of a container; 
           [0008]      FIG. 2  is a rear elevational view of the container of  FIG. 1  depicting a first embodiment of a peelable label; 
           [0009]      FIG. 3  is a rear elevational view of the container of  FIG. 1  as the peelable label is removed from a rear wall of the container; 
           [0010]      FIG. 4  is a rear elevational view of the container of  FIG. 1  with the peelable label removed therefrom; 
           [0011]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the peelable label after it has been removed from the container of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0012]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the peelable label as it is rolled to form a funnel and further depicting a peelable strip that may be removed from an edge of the peelable label; 
           [0013]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of the peelable label after it has been rolled to fully form a funnel and after the peelable strip has been removed to expose sealing tape that seals an edge of the funnel to itself; 
           [0014]      FIG. 8  is a front and side perspective view of a container including a second embodiment of a peelable label; 
           [0015]      FIG. 9  is an exploded view of the container and peelable label of  FIG. 8  with a portion of the peelable label removed from a remainder of the peelable label; 
           [0016]      FIG. 10  is a top perspective view of the peelable label of  FIG. 8  as it is rolled into a funnel; 
           [0017]      FIG. 11  is a top perspective view of the peelable label of  FIG. 8  after it has been rolled into a funnel and a tab of the peelable label is inserted into a slot for retaining the peelable label in the form of the funnel; 
           [0018]      FIG. 12  is a top perspective view of another embodiment of a peelable label after it has been rolled into a funnel and a corner of the peelable label is inserted into a slot for retaining the peelable label in the form of the funnel; and 
           [0019]      FIG. 13  is a top perspective view of a further embodiment of a peelable label as it is rolled into a funnel. 
       
    
    
       [0020]    Other aspects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent upon consideration of the following detailed description, wherein similar structures have like or similar reference numerals. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0021]    The present disclosure is directed to a peelable label assembly. While the present disclosure may be embodied in many different forms, one specific embodiment is discussed herein with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered only as an exemplification of the principles of the disclosure, and it is not intended to limit the disclosure to the embodiment illustrated. 
         [0022]    Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , a container  20  is shown for holding a liquid or other flowable material that may be poured from the container. The liquid or flowable material may be a motor oil, an antifreeze, granular substances or any other flowable material that is held and/or sold within a container. The container  20  includes a body  22  having a front wall  24 , a rear wall  26 , a handle  28  disposed between the front and rear walls  24 ,  26  adjacent a top  30  of the container  20 , and an opening (not shown) for pouring a liquid from the container  20 . A cap  32  may be disposed over the opening to enclose the liquid within the container  20 . 
         [0023]    As seen in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , a peelable label  34  is disposed on the rear wall  26  of the container  20 , but could alternatively be placed on any wall or area of the container  20 . The peelable label  34  includes a fixed label  36  that remains on the rear wall  26  of the container  20  and a removable label  38  that is attached to the fixed label  36  during manufacture of the container  20  and removed from the fixed label  36  by a user (see  FIGS. 3 and 4 ). Fixed label  36  is affixed to the container by use of an adhesive or other lamination process. At least a portion of removable label  38  is releasably secured to the fixed label  36  by use a low bond strength adhesive or pressure sensitive adhesive that permits removable label  38  to be peeled from fixed label  36 . Removable label  38  includes an adhesive sealing tape  50  along edge  48  that is covered by release liner  46 . 
         [0024]    Once the removable label  38  has been removed from the fixed label  36 , as seen in  FIG. 5 , a user positions the label so that a first surface  40  of the removable label  38  that faced outwardly when the removable label  38  was attached to the fixed label  36  faces away from the user&#39;s hand and a second surface  42  opposite the first surface  40  is in contact with the user&#39;s hand. The user thereafter rolls the removable label portion  38 , as seen in  FIG. 6 , with the second surface  42  forming an outside of a frustoconically-shaped funnel  44 . 
         [0025]    Once the funnel  44  has been formed in any manner desired by the user, release liner  46  disposed along an edge  48  of the removable label portion  38  on the second surface  42  is removed, exposing an adhesive sealing tape  50 . The sealing tape  50  is attached to the second surface  42  of the removable label portion  38  to fully form the funnel  44  and prevent the funnel  44  from unrolling, as seen in  FIG. 7 . As seen in  FIGS. 6 and 7 , directions for forming the funnel  44  may be provided on the second surface  42  or any other surface of the label  34  or the container  20 . 
         [0026]    A second embodiment of a peelable label  98  on a container  100  is depicted in  FIG. 8 . The container  100  is shown for holding a liquid or other flowable material that may be poured from the container  100 . The liquid or flowable material may be a motor oil, an antifreeze, a granular substance, or any other material that is held and/or sold within a container. The container  100  includes a body  102  having a front wall  104 , a rear wall  106 , a handle  108  disposed between the front and rear walls  104 ,  106  adjacent a top  110  of the container  100 , and an opening (not shown) for pouring the liquid from the container  100 . A cap  112  is disposed over the opening to enclose the liquid within the container  100 . 
         [0027]    As seen in  FIGS. 8 and 9 , the peelable label  98  is disposed on the rear wall  106  of the container  100 , but may alternatively be disposed on any wall or area of a container  100 . The peelable label  98  includes a fixed label  116  that is secured to the rear wall  106  of the container  100  and a removable label  117  that includes at least a portion that is removably secured to the fixed label  116 . Removable label  117  can be made from a polymer material or a coated paper that is water resistant. The removable label  117  includes retained label portions  118   a - 118   c  and a removable label portion  120 . Retained label portions  118   a - 118   c  are adapted to remain attached to the fixed label portion  116  when the removable label portion  120  of the removable label  117  is removed from the fixed label  116  by a user, as shown, for example, in  FIG. 9 . Fixed label  116  is secured to the container  100  by adhesive or other lamination means. 
         [0028]    Retained label portions  118   a - 118   c  can be secured to fixed label  116  by adhesive or other lamination means. Removable label portion  120  is secured to retained label portions  118   a - 118   c  by perforations  130   a,    130   b,  as shown, for example, in  FIG. 8 . Removable label portion  120  alternatively can be secured to the fixed label  116  by use of a low bond or pressure sensitive adhesive. If a low bond adhesive is used in connection with the removable label portion  120 , removable label portion  120  can be separated from one or more of the retained label portions  118 - 118   c  by die cutting. 
         [0029]    The removable label portion  120  is removed from the fixed label  116  and the retained label portions  118   a - 118   c  by grasping a first side edge  132  or a second side edge  134  of the removable label portion  120  and pulling the removable label portion  120  toward the other of the first side edge  132  and the second side edge  134 . As the removable label portion  120  is pulled, the removable label portion  120  is separated from the retained label portions  118   a,    118   b.  The retained label portion  118   c  is also left behind on the fixed label  116  (with the fixed label portions  118   a,    118   b ). Removable label portion  120  may also include written instructions to inform the user on how to convert the label portion  120  into a funnel  156 . Removal of the removable label portion  120  exposes indicia formed on the second side of the fixed label  116 . The removable portion  120  also includes indicia that is similar to the indicia formed on the second side of the fixed label  116 . 
         [0030]    Referring to  FIGS. 8 and 9 , the removable label portion  120  includes a top edge  140  that is generally linear and a bottom edge  142  that is non-linear and includes a first, generally linear segment  144 , a second, semi-circular segment  146  extending from the first segment  144 , and a third, diagonal segment  148  extending from the second segment  146 . The semi-circular segment  146  is positioned between the linear and diagonal segments  144  and  148 . In an illustrative embodiment and as seen in  FIG. 9 , the semi-circular segment  146  forms from about  20  percent to about  50  percent of the bottom edge  142 . The removable label portion  120  further includes an angled perforation line  148  that forms a slot  154  when the perforation line is broken. 
         [0031]    In an illustrative embodiment, the perforation line  142  is angled downwardly as it extends in a direction away from the first side edge  132  toward the second side edge  134 . Further, after removal of the removable label portion  120  from the fixed label  116  and the retained label portions  118   a - 118   c,  the removable label portion  120  is formed to include a cutout  150  along first side edge  132  that forms a tab  152 . Tab  152  is spaced from the bottom edge  142  of the removable label portion  120 . In an illustrative embodiment, the tab  152  is formed adjacent the bottom edge  142  to facilitate insertion into the slot  154 . 
         [0032]    Once the removable label portion  120  is removed from the container  100 , a user breaks the perforation line  148  to form an angled slot  154  having the same angle as the angled perforation line  142 , as seen in  FIGS. 9-11 . Optionally, the perforation line  142  may be broken upon removal of the removable label portion  120  from the fixed label  116 . Thereafter, the user rolls or manipulates the second side edge  134  toward the first side edge  132  of the removable label portion  120 , as seen in  FIG. 10 , until the tab  152  is adjacent the slot  154 . As seen in  FIG. 11 , the tab  152  is inserted into the slot  154  to retain the removable label portion  120  in a rolled form, which forms the funnel  156 . The top edge  140  of the removable label portion  120  forms a top edge or inlet  155  of the funnel  156  through which a fluid may be poured. In the funnel orientation, first side edge  132  also forms portion of the top edge of the funnel  156 . In this position, first side edge  132  forms a sloping sidewall portion  157  of the funnel  156 . 
         [0033]    The bottom edge  142  of the removable label portion  120  forms a bottom edge of the funnel  156 , wherein the second, semi-circular segment  146  forms an outlet  159  through which fluid may exit into the container  100 . As seen in  FIG. 11 , a first end  160  of the funnel  156  is wider than a second end  162  of the funnel  156  to facilitate pouring of the fluid into a narrow opening. When removable label portion  120  is rolled into funnel  156 , linear segment  144  is generally parallel to second side edge  134 . 
         [0034]    A further illustrative embodiment of a removable label portion  120  is depicted in  FIG. 12 , in which the removable label portion  120  is similar to the removable label portion  120  of  FIGS. 9-11 , except that the tab  152  of the embodiment of  FIG. 12  is formed by use of a corner of the removable label portion  120 . Still another illustrative embodiment of a removable label portion  120  similar to the removable label portion  120  depicted in  FIGS. 9-11  is depicted in  FIG. 13 . The tab  152  of the removable label portion  120  of  FIG. 13  is formed by two cutouts  150 . In an illustrative embodiment, the cutouts  150  may form a second tab  153  capable of insertion into the slot  154 . While a tab and a slot  154  are depicted, the tab  152  may be replaced by a slot or the slot  154  may be replaced by a tab. Optionally, any number of tabs and/or slots may be used or the tab and slot are used in combination with adhesive to form the funnel  156 . While specific embodiments of the container  20  are depicted, the present disclosure may be implemented on any container. 
         [0035]    The fixed, removable, and retained portions of the labels disclosed herein may be made of any suitable material. 
         [0036]    In an illustrative embodiment, the fixed label  116  may be attached to a container using any permanent, semi-permanent adhesive, or combinations thereof. The retained label portions  118   a - 118   c  may be attached to the fixed label  116  or directly to the container  100  using any permanent, semi-permanent adhesive, or combinations thereof. The removable label portion  120  may be secured by the perforations  130   a,    130   b  to the retained label portions  118   a - 118   c  or attached to the container or the fixed label  116  using a non-permanent adhesive, a pressure sensitive adhesive, a semi-permanent adhesive, or combinations thereof. Any of the adhesives may be water-based, acrylic-based, or rubber. 
         [0037]    In another embodiment, the removable label  117  may include retained label portions  118   a - 118   c  that are adhered or laminated directly to the container instead of to the fixed label  116 . In this embodiment, removable label portion  120  can be separated from the retained label portions  118   a - 118   c  to be used as the funnel  156 . In this embodiment, removable label portion  120  may or may not include adhesive to secure the removable label portion  120  to the container  100 . 
         [0038]    Numerous modifications to the present disclosure will be apparent to those skilled in the art in view of the foregoing description. Accordingly, this description is to be construed as illustrative only and is presented for the purpose of enabling those skilled in the art to make and use the peelable label and to teach the best mode of carrying out same.