COLLAPSIBLE BOTTLE WITH SHRINK LABEL

Abstract: A bottle (20) having a bellows portion (40) may be successfully labelled by shrinkwrapping (30).

Description: COLLAPSIBLE BOTTLE WITH SHRINK LABEL The present invention relates to bottles having labels thereon. Liquids are frequently supplied in bottles which can generally be of such materials as glass, ceramics and plastics. These bottles may be labelled by any suitable means, if desired. Labels typically comprise a paper or plastic layer in association with a logo, or information, and which is adhered to or wrapped about the bottle. In some cases, it is desirable to provide the bottle in the form of a concertina, either for aesthetic reasons, or because it is desired to compress the bottle to eject the liquid. Such bottles will typically be made of flexible plastics material. However, in these instances, it is not possible to label the bottle by conventional means in any satisfactory manner, owing to the absence of any signifcant continuous surface area, so that the bottle will frequently be provided in a secondary container with a suitable label thereon, if labelling is desired. In the instance where the bottle is intended for use in medicine, then it is important that the end-user knows what is in the bottle, and if the bottle is provided in a secondary container, perhaps together with several other bottles, then it is possible that the bottles will become separated from the container, with no indication as to their content. We have now, surprisingly, found that it is possible to label such bottles by shrink-sleeve wrapping them. Thus, in a first aspect, the present invention provides a bottle having a bellows portion, at least the bellows portion being made substantially from flexible plastics material, characterised in that at least a part of the bellows portion is shrink-wrapped. Essentially, it has been discovered that it is possible to shrink-wrap a plastic bottle, provided that the bottle contains liquid in the area to be shrink-wrapped. Thus, although the necessary heating will serve to ensure contraction of the plastic used for the shrink-wrap, the liquid in the bottle serves as a heat sink to prevent melting of the bottle itself. This has not previously been recognised, but now provides a solution to the problem of labelling bottles with bellows portions. Preferably, the shrink-wrap is a label, but a clear or monochrome film may be used, for example to protect the bottle from deformation or scratching. As used herein, the term "label" includes reference to such embodiments, unless otherwise indicated. The bottle is typically made of one material, although it is possible that just the bellows portion is made of flexible plastic. Especially where the bottle is intended for medical use, it is preferred that the plastic used for the bellows portion is polyethylene, although it is possible to use some grades of polypropylene. The preferred polyethylene is Lupolen (TM) 3040. Suitable thicknesses of polyethylene will be apparent to those skilled in the art but, in the event of using a low density polyethylene, such as Lupolen 3040, preferred thicknesses lie in the range of 500-1000μm, more preferably 650-850μm and especially about 750μm. The label will typically comprise HPVC, suitable grades of which are well- known to those skilled in the art. Other suitable materials for shrink-wrapping will also be apparent to those skilled in the art, and may equally be used, although HPVC is preferred. If desired, the PVC to form the label (PVC, as used herein, encompasses any suitable material to form the label) may be decorated with any desired indicia before or after application to the bottle, or may have no indicia at all. In addition, it is possible to provide a first label layer in the vicinity of the bellows portion of the bottle, over which the PVC is placed for shrink-wrapping. Thus, the first label layer may carry any suitable indicia. Where such a first label layer is used, this may be loosely associated with the bottle, or there may be some adhesive used to help to keep it in place, for example, although, given the lack of substantial amounts of surface area, such adhesion tends to unsatisfactory in the absence of the shrink-wrap. The bellows portion of the bottle typically comprises a regular "concertina" shape, so that a bulging area will be associated with a concomitant waist, so that the whole can be resiliently deformed to eject any liquid in the bottle through a suitable aperture. The bulges will typically be regular and may be of rounded or angled outline. Suitable bottles are known in the art, but will generally be of the blow-fill-seal type having an integral cap associated with the neck, wherein the cap is twisted off prior to use. In general, the bottles will be intended for single usage, although there is no reason why such bottles could not be used for multiple usage. If desired, the label may be removed, prior to usage. This may be effected by cutting, for example, although this may damage the bottle. Accordingly, it is preferred to provide perforations in the label so that a user may tear the label along the perforations. However, it is generally preferred that the label does not need to be removed, so that the label will typically either crumple as the bottle is squeezed, or remain as a tube in which the bottle is compacted. In the latter case, it will be appreciated that at least one end of the label should not be adhered to the bottle, other than by the effects of the shrink-wrapping process, in order to allow disassociation of the bottle from the label. It will be appreciated that the bottles of the present invention need not necessarily be bottles, as such, and may be other forms of liquid container, such as vials or ampoules, provided that there is a bellows portion for dispensing liquid. Although it is not necessary, it is preferred that any bellows portion is resiliently deformable, so that release of the bellows portion once the liquid has been ejected will tend to result in reformation of the expanded bellows portion, and this may be used to draw any suitable substance, especially liquid, back into the bottle. The present invention will now be illustrated further with respect to the accompanying drawing in which: Figure 1 shows a preferred embodiment of the present invention. In Figure 1 a bottle with a label on is generally shown at (10). The bottle (20) has, associated with it, label (30). The bellows portion of the bottle (20) is generally indicated at (40), and comprises a series of bulges (50) and waists (60). The label (30) is secured over a number, but not necessarily all, of the bulges (50) by means of shrink-wrapping, so that label (30) is held in place, at least partially, by ends (70, 70') shrinking about shoulders (80, 80'). The label (30) may also be held in place by a degree of adhesion caused through a minor amount of melting of either the surface of the bottle (20) or the label (30) and, further, may also be held in place by being tightly associated with the bellows portion (40). The bottle (20) has a neck (90) and a removable cap (100) which can be removed to expose aperture (110) to dispense liquid from the bottle. During the shrink- wrapping operation, the liquid in the bottle should be present in sufficient volume such that the label to be shrink-wrapped onto the bottle does not come into contact with any part of the bottle of the level of the liquid therein. Thus, it is generally preferred to apply the label with the bottle in the upright position. Preferably the volume of the liquid should be such that most, if not all, of the bellows portion is filled when the bottle is upright.

Claims: CLAIMS: 1. A bottle having a bellows portion, at least the bellows portion being made substantially from flexible plastics material, characterised in that at least a part of the bellows portion is shrink-wrapped. 2. A bottle according to claim 1, wherein the shrink-wrap is a label. 3. A bottle according to claim 1 or 2, wherein bellows portion of the bottle is formed from polyethylene. 4. A bottle according to any preceding claim, wherein the thickness of the bottle wall in the bellows portion is in the range of 500-1 OOOμm, more preferably 650-850μm and especially about 750μm. 5. A bottle according to any preceding claim, wherein the label comprises HPVC. 6. A bottle according to any preceding claim, which is a blow-fill-seal bottle. 7. A bottle according to any preceding claim, wherein the label does not need to be removed prior to usage. 8. A bottle according to any preceding claim, wherein the bellows portion is resiliently deformable.

Inventors: SMITH GRAHAM STUART, SMITH, GRAHAM, STUART
Applicants: MAELOR PHARMACEUTICALS LIMITED, SMITH GRAHAM STUART, SMITH, GRAHAM, STUART
Application year: 1998
Main classification: B65D1
IPC codes: B65D1, B65D23