LABEL ALIGNER FOR CYLINDRICAL PRODUCTS INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO BOTTLES, JARS AND CUPS

An adjustable belt and loop system provides a use to consistently align and attach labels and at correct heights onto cylindrical products. This belt and loop are flexible with a narrow end attached to its opposite end using a loop from one or more cut slits. The diameter of the belt and loop are adjustable by the user using two tabs. This adjustable diameter formed by the belt and loop must be tightened and secured onto the outside of cylindrical products with varying diameters. This belt and loop contain a cut-out or groove and graphics to indicate where the user should align and attach their labels onto the cylindrical product to have their labels attach straight and at a correct height. Combination of belts and loops can define various geometries to position different types of labels and to different bottles or other cylindrical products.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

This label aligner is a belt and loop made from a flexible sheet and secured itself around the outside of cylindrical products, such as bottles, to provide the user a location to consistently apply their labels straight and at the correct height.

Description of the Related Art

When manually applying a label to a cylindrical product including (but not limited to) bottles, jars, and cups, it is difficult to apply the label straight and at the correct height. Often the label will be applied crooked. It is more difficult to apply labels to multiple identical bottles and have their placement consistent with one another by not being crooked and at differing heights. This inconsistency in label placement will seem unprofessional when the user is trying to attain a certain look, such as labels on coffee bean containers in an upscale kitchen or shop.

Many labels are professionally attached in factories using machinery. But there are few solutions which professionally attach labels for the at-home users seeking to customize their cylindrical products.

Creating an aligner solution from machining, casting, injection molding, or similar manufacturing procedures is not only expensive, but can also be bulky. It would be difficult to economically ship such bulky designs to users or bundle them with cylindrical products needing to be labeled.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This label aligner is designed to allow the user to consistently apply their labels to their substantially cylindrical products every time. It is made from a flexible sheet and has a belt and loop design to secure itself around the outside of the cylindrical product. This label aligner is adjustable to fit around cylindrical products with varying diameters. The label aligner sits flush with the surface it shares with itself and the cylindrical product. There is a groove cut on the top edge of this label aligner accompanied with graphical designs to indicate where the user should place their label to consistently apply it to their cylindrical product straight and at the correct height.

This label aligner can be cut from flexible materials such as paper or plastic, which is a very inexpensive manufacturing procedure. Shipping of this label aligner will also be inexpensive since it is very lightweight. This invention may also be conveniently wrapped around cylindrical products needing labels and then shipped to users without any significant increase in shipping costs.

It is an object of the invention to provide consistent and corrected aligned and attached labels to heights of substantially cylindrical products.

It is another object to provide combinations of belts and loops to define various geometries to position different types of labels and with different bottles.

The above and yet other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the hereinafter set forth Brief Description of the Drawings, detailed Description of the Invention, and Claims appended herewith.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION

FIG.1Ais the front 2D view of the label aligner for cylindrical products. As an example, its dimensions are 317 mm by 55 mm (12.48 inches×2.17 inches). This label aligner for cylindrical products is made from a single flexible sheet, such as paper or plastic. The lines100are the cut lines which serve as the borders of this label aligner, forming its shape. There are also cut-lines shown at120the loop entrance slot, the loop exit slot130, and the cut lines150needed to make TAB1,160. There black dash lines are fold lines110which are used at to bend160TAB 1 slightly outwards allowing the user to more easily grip it. The loop190is the area between120the loop entrance slot, and the loop exit slot130.

The narrow end of this label aligner180serves as the belt. The narrow end (belt)180is inserted into the loop190by first entering the loop entrance slot120, then exiting the loop exit slot130. After this insertion, TAB 1160and TAB 2170are gripped by the user and pulled opposite from one another to tighten this label aligner around a cylindrical product. The groove140on the top of the label aligner indicates to the user where they should place their labels so that it is not crooked and at the correct height. The width of this groove140is cut to be slightly larger than the width of the label intended for use. The bottom edge of groove140is horizontal and is where users will align the bottom of their labels to avoid applying it crooked. The left and right edges of groove140are vertical and also indicates where users should align their label to avoid applying it crooked. The bottom edge of the label aligner for cylindrical products200is horizontal. The bottom edge of groove140is parallel to the bottom edge of the label aligner for cylindrical products200.

FIG.1Bis similar toFIG.1A, with the addition of graphical designs used to assist the user. These graphic designs are provided to the manufacturer for printing directly on this label aligner for cylindrical products. Graphical design is used to indicate the location of TAB1160. to the user, whereas graphical design is used to indicate the location of TAB2170. Multi-step instructional graphics210is printed along the middle of this label aligner. The tail of the arrow graphical design220indicates to the user the location of the loop entrance slot of where they should first insert TAB2170. The pointer of the arrow graphical design230indicates to the user the location of the loop exit slot of where they should next insert TAB2170. Warning graphic240tells the user to not carry their cylindrical products using this label aligner, as they may drop it which can be dangerous. Graphic250is printed just below groove140, to indicate to the user where to align their labels' corner and bottom edge to avoid it being applied crooked and at the wrong height. Graphic260is a QR code that links to video instructions when users use their smartphone camera to scan it. Graphic270and270A indicates what this product is used for just in case the user does not recognize it at first.

InFIG.1Cis a detailed aspect ofFIG.1AandFIG.1Bshowing the use of multiple cut-lines120A (the belt re-entry slot) and130A (also for belt re-exit slot) for the right tab.

FIG.2Ais the front view of the first preliminary step which needs to be taken before the user can use the label aligner for cylindrical products. The cylindrical product280must be placed on a flat surface290. In this example we are using a cylindrical glass bottle product.

FIG.2BandFIG.2Cis the front perspective view of the label aligner for cylindrical products second step as TAB2170and narrow end (belt)180is inserted into the loop190. First, TAB2170is inserted into loop entrance slot120from the front. Next, TAB2170is inserted into loop exit slot130from the back. Narrow end (belt)180should be inserted behind TAB1160and must not block it. To adjust this label aligner diameter, the user can tighten it by pulling TAB1160and TAB2170in the opposite direction of one another. Because of this adjustable feature, this label aligner for cylindrical products can be adjusted to fit around the outside of cylindrical products of varying diameters.

FIG.3is the front view of the third step where the entire label aligner for cylindrical products300is slid onto the cylindrical product280from the top. The label aligner300should slide all the way down to the bottom of the cylindrical product280and have its bottom edge200be flush and straight with flat surface290.

FIG.4is the front view of the fourth step where the label aligner for cylindrical products300is tightened onto the outside of the cylindrical product280. The user tightens this Label Aligner by pulling TAB1160and TAB2170in the opposite direction of one another. The user must now ensure that the label aligner300is still slid to the bottom of the cylindrical product280, and still has its bottom edge200be flush and straight with flat surface290.

FIG.5is the front view of the fifth step where the label310is aligned with the groove140in the label aligner for cylindrical products300. The bottom left corner of the label310should first be aligned with the bottom left corner of the groove320. Next, the bottom edge of the label310should be aligned with the entire bottom edge of the groove330. The right side of label310looks larger here inFIG.5because it is being held by the user and is further away from the cylindrical product280compared to the left side of label310. In this step, the label should only be aligned and not yet attached to the cylindrical product280.

FIG.6is the front view of the sixth step where the label310is applied to the cylindrical product280. In this example, label310has an adhesive backing (which this label aligner is not limited to) to attach itself onto the cylindrical product280. This label310should first be applied at its entire bottom edge330. To avoid air bubbles behind label310, it should next be applied from its bottom edge upwards. Label310should only be fully applied to the cylindrical product280if its bottom edge is confirmed to be aligned with the bottom edge of the label aligner groove330. If the label310is not aligned properly and is crooked, the user may carefully remove the label310and try again. If the label310is aligned properly and fully applied to the cylindrical product280, the user should finally slide cylindrical product280up and out of the label aligner for cylindrical products300.

FIG.7is the front view of multiple cylindrical products280that used the label aligner for cylindrical products to apply their labels310consistently straight and at the correct height. Because each label310was placed at identical locations on each cylindrical product280by the user's own hands, together they achieve a professional look as if they were assembled by machines in a factory.

FIG.8is the front view photograph of the label aligner for cylindrical products attached around a cylindrical product, with a label applied straight and at the correct height. TABS1and2were pulled in opposite directions of one another to tighten this label aligner around the outside of this cylindrical product. The label aligner is sitting flush with the flat surface it shares with the cylindrical product. The label was properly aligned using the cutout groove and graphical indicator at the top of this label aligner.

FIG.9is the front view photograph of the label aligner for cylindrical products alone sitting on a flat surface. The narrow end is inserted into the loops' entrance and exit slots allowing it to form an adjustable diameter. All edges of the groove used to indicate where to place the label is visible.

FIG.10is the top view photograph of the many iterative prototypes of the label aligner for cylindrical products. InFIG.10Ashows the first geometry101,104A and107A of the said label. InFIG.10Bis showing a second embodiment102of the label. InFIG.10Cis showing the third embodiment103and104B. InFIG.10Dis provided a fourth embodiment104and140of the label. InFIG.10Eis shown a fifth embodiment105,107A and305. InFIG.10Fshows a six embodiment104C and106. InFIG.10Gis shown100,107C and140is a seventh embodiment. InFIG.10His shown104D and107in an eighth embodiment. InFIG.10Iis shown100A,140D and340of the invention also shown inFIG.1B. Therein various geometry of the labels may be used within the scope of the system and method herewith.

While there has been show and described above the preferred embodiment of the instant invention it is to be appreciated that the invention may be embodied otherwise than is herein specifically shown and described and then certain changes may be made in the form and arrangement of the parts without departing from the underlying ideas or principles of this invention as set forth in the Claims appended herewith.