PLANT-POT LABELLING SYSTEMS

Abstract: A plant-pot labelling system provides an elongate slot (17) in the rim region of the pot (10), to receive the mounting leg (24) of an information-carrying label (23). A barb-like projection (18) extends from one side wall (15) of the slot (17) towards the opposed side wall (16), generally centrally of the slot, and a pair of ribs (21) are formed on the opposed side wall (16), to project towards the one side wall (15), with one rib (21) on each side of the projection (18), respectively. The leg (24) of the label is provided with an aperture (27) through which the barb-like projection (18) may extend, when the leg is pushed sufficiently far into the slot (17). The ribs (21) serve to maintain that engagement and so to add to the security of attachement of the label to the pot.

Description: PLANT-POT LABELLING SYSTEMS This invention relates to a container labelling system, and also both to a container and, separately, to a label, each adapted for use in such a labelling system. The invention finds particular application to the labelling of plant-pots and other plant-growing containers, and the invention will consequently be described hereinafter exclusively with reference to that application. It will however be understood that the invention is not to be regarded as limited to that use and may be employed in the labelling of containers intended to hold other items or objects besides plants. The term plant-pot or simply pot as used herein should consequently be construed very broadly, to cover these other kinds of containers. The satisfactory labelling of plant-pots has become increasingly important with self-service nurseries. Customers wish to be sure that they are buying the plant that they think they are buying after considering the label. Often, specialist help is not available to confirm that a plant truly is what the label says it is. Thus, it is most important that a label associated with a plant growing in a pot and placed there by the original nursery remains securely associated with that plant until the plant is sold, at the retail level. Experience shows that plant-pot labels can inadvertently be detached from a pot by a variety of causes. Handling of the pots both prior to and during transit from a grower to a retail outlet can dislodge a label, as can subsequent handling in a retail outlet, either by the staff or prospective purchasers. Further, a loosened label can even be dislodged by wind or rain. The consequence is that perhaps as many as 40% or so of labels originally attached by a grower no longer are present by the time a plant is placed on sale at a retail outlet. The secure labelling of plants is also important for another reason: it is not uncommon for dishonest people to switch the labels of plants offered for sale in a self-service nursery, so that they may present to a checkout till a relatively expensive plant but carrying the label of a relatively cheap plant. The cashier at the till very often does not have sufficient expertise to know that such a switch has occurred. ln an attempt to address the above issues, there have been various proposals to ensure that a label associated with a growing plant in a plant-pot and applied by the original growing nursery cannot easily be removed from the pot. These proposals aim at overcoming both the problem of accidental dislodgement of the label through handling of the plant-pot and also deliberate dislodgement, to exchange that label with another of a cheaper variety. However, the most secure proposals are relatively expensive to implement at the manufacturing stage of the plant-pots or labels, and so have not been widely adopted. On the other hand, those cheaper proposals which have been adopted lend little security against deliberate exchanging of labels, though they may assist with the problem of accidental dislodgement, caused for example through handling of the pots either by nursery staff or by potential purchasers. An example of a labelling technique is to be found in GB-2257109A. Here, a plant-pot is provided with a series of slots around its upper periphery and a hanging label has an enlarged head on a mounting leg, such that when the head is pushed through one of the slots, the label is retained therein. However, this arrangement only allows a label to hang downwardly from the slot, to lie alongside the side wall of the pot. In effect, therefore, only one face of the label can carry useful information and further, since the main area of the label cannot up-stand from the pot, it does not in general add to the sales appeal of the plant growing in the pot. Another proposal is to be found in WO-93/19446. This provides a slot adjacent the upper periphery of the pot, with a tongue projecting from one edge of the slot towards the other side; a label has a leg with an aperture therethrough so that on pushing the leg into the slot, the tongue engages the aperture to hold the label in the slot. To increase the security of this system, the label is creased along its length so that the resilience of the label tends to push the aperture deeper onto the tongue. This however increases the manufacturing cost of the label and makes it much more difficult for the label to be handled mechanically, both during the printing operations and subsequently when the label is to be connected to a container. It is a principal aim of the present invention to provide a container labelling system suitable for the labelling of plant-pots and which is relatively simple to implement during the manufacturing stage of both the containers and the labels, whilst offering a reasonably high degree of security, once a label has been attached to a container. According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a container labelling system suitable for use with a plant pot, wherein the label is formed from a flexible substantially planar sheet material to have a main information-carrying area from which projects a mounting leg having an aperture formed therethrough, and wherein the container has a mouth with a rim region therearound which rim region has an elongate slot defined by a pair of opposed container wall portions for receiving the mounting leg of the label, one of said opposed wall portions carrying a barb-like projection formed to project across the slot and the other of said opposed wall portions carrying a pair of ribs also formed to project across the slot with one to each side of said barb-like projection, whereby insertion of the leg into the slot deforms the leg around the barb-like projection until said projection engages into the aperture in the leg of a label pressed sufficiently far into the slot, the engagement thereafter being maintained by the ribs such that the barb resists withdrawal of the leg from the slot. It will be appreciated that the label for use in the system of this invention may be essentially conventional, and so correspond to a typical label which is simply pressed into the growing medium in a plant pot, except that the leg of the label has an aperture formed therethrough. Equally, the container may also be essentially conventional and generally correspond to plant-pots or other growing containers which are widely used by nurseries and retail outlets, except that the container has a slot moulded into its rim, which slot has a barb-like projection extending thereacross from one side and a pair of ribs extending thereacross from the other side, with one rib to each side of the barb. In view of the barb-like form of the projection, the leg of the label may be pressed relatively easily into the slot, with the leg of the label deflecting as necessary by virtue of the presence of the ribs, until the projection is received in the aperture. The ribs serve to push the label deeper into engagement with the barb, which action is assisted by the label tending to spring back to its original shape. It will thus be very difficult to remove the label without destroying either the leg of the label or the rim portion of the container. Of course, with sufficient ingenuity and perhaps with a suitable levering tool it would be possible to remove a label, but such activity is likely to be noticed in a retail outlet and in any event the labelling system will solve the accidental dislodgement problem in a satisfactory manner. Most preferably, the mounting leg has side edges which taper towards each other, away from the main area of the label. At least one side edge, but preferably both side edges, may be provided with a step adjacent the main area of the label, the or each step being engageable beneath the rim portion of the container when the label is pressed sufficiently far into the slot - and advantageously such engagement should take place simultaneously with the barb-like projection being received in the aperture in the leg. The maximum width of the leg, across the steps, may be slightly greater than the length of the slot, so that the leg of the label in the region of the steps must deform slightly as the label is pressed home. Such an arrangement gives even greater security and makes it yet more difficult deliberately to remove a label from a slot in a container rim, as well as helping to hold the label in a generally upright position. Each rib preferably projects by an increasing amount from its associated wall, in the direction of insertion of a label leg. This assists the insertion of a label without detracting from the label leg deforming function of the rib. The container advantageously comprises a plastics material moulding, the barb-like projection being moulded integrally with the side wall of the container, and the ribs being moulded integrally with the opposed wall defining the slot. Both the projection and also the aperture through the leg of the label may be of generally rectangular configuration, so as to give a secure, high- strength connection between the label and the container. Depending upon the container design, the slot may have either a generally linear form, for rectangular containers, or may be arcuate and follow the radius of curvature of the mouth of the container. In either case, the barb- like projection preferably is disposed substantially centrally of the length of the slot, with the ribs disposed symmetrically to each side thereof. This invention extends to a container for use in a container labelling system of this invention as described above, which container has a side wall defining a mouth with a rim region therearound. The rim region has a pair of opposed wall portions defining a slot with a barb-like projection projecting across the slot from one opposed wall portion and a pair of ribs projecting across the slot from the other wall portion with the ribs disposed one to each side of the barb-like projection, whereby on pushing a label having a main information-carrying area, a flexible planar mounting leg projecting from said area with an aperture formed therein, the ribs will deform the leg around the barb-like projection until said projection engages in the aperture, whereafter the ribs will maintain the engagement to resist withdrawal of the leg from the slot. Further, this invention extends to an information label for use with a container as defined above, which label comprises a main information-carrying area, a flexible planar mounting leg projecting from said area and there being an aperture formed through the mounting leg of the label, whereby on pushing a label leg into the slot, the ribs will deform the leg around the barb-like projection until said projection engages in the aperture, whereafter the ribs will maintain the engagement to resist withdrawal of the leg from the slot. This invention extends to an information label specifically adapted for use in conjunction with a container labelling system of this invention as described above. The invention further extends to a container having a rim portion around its mouth and a slot formed through that rim portion together with a barb-like projection extending across the slot, for use with such a label in a container labelling system of this invention. By way of example only, one specific embodiment of labelling system of this invention will now be described in detailed, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, in which:- Figure 1 is a perspective view of a plant-pot moulded for use with the labelling system; Figure 2 is a plan view on an enlarged scale of a part of the rim region of the plant-pot of Figure 1 ; Figure 3 is a side view of a label, shown on a reduced scale, for use in the labelling system; Figure 4 is an isometric view on part of the leg of the label of Figure 3; Figures 5 and 6 shown the insertion of a label into the slot of the plant- pot of Figures 1 and 2; Figure 7 is an enlarged view, partly cut-away, of a label leg engaged with the slot of the plant-pot of Figures 1 and 2; Figure 8 is a isometric view on a modified label leg; Figure 9 is a detail view showing a modified barb; and Figure 10 is similar to Figure 7, but showing the label leg of Figure 8 engaged with a slot including a modified barb of Figure 9. Figures 1 and 2 show an essentially conventional injection-moulded plastics material plant-pot 10, but modified so as to be suitable for use with the container labelling system of this invention. The pot 10 is of circular cross- sectional shape defined by a side wall 11 upstanding from a base 12, typically provided with drainage holes (not shown). Moulded around the upper edge of the side wall 11 is an outwardly projecting flange 14, so defining a rim region of the pot, surrounding the pot mouth. Moulded integrally with the pot 10 is an arcuate wall portion 15, to lie externally of and parallel to a portion 16 of the upper part of the pot side wall 11 , in the region of the mouth, for a part of the circumference of the side wall. That wall portion 15 and the opposed pot wall portion 16 together form an arcuate slot 17, for receiving a label. Moulded so as to project from the pot wall portion 16 towards the opposed wall portion 15 is a barb 18 having a tapered upper face 19 and a lower face 20 extending essentially parallel to the base 12 of the pot. A pair of ribs 21 are moulded integrally with the wall portion 15 so as to project towards the opposed pot wall portion 16, with one rib on each side of the barb 18. The amount by which each rib 21 projects towards the opposed pot wall portion 16 increases, from the upper end of the slot 17 down towards the lower end of the slot, as best seen in Figure 7. Figures 3 and 4 show a typical label for use with the plant-pot of Figures 1 and 2, which label has a main information-carrying area 23 from which projects a mounting leg 24. The mounting leg has side edges 25,26 which taper towards each other, away from the main area 23. A generally rectangular aperture 27 is formed through the mounting leg, centrally of that leg. Though the main area 23 has been shown in Figure 3 as having an attractive shape for carrying plant labelling information, it will be appreciated that the main area may have any desired shape. Such a label should be of sheet plastics material so as to have sufficient strength and flexibility for its intended use. Figures 5 and 6 show the two stages of inserting the mounting leg 24 of the label of Figures 3 and 4 into the slot 17 of the plant-pot of Figures 1 and 2. As can be seen from Figure 5, the leg 24 of the label is deflected outwardly by the upper face 19 of the barb 18 during the first stage of the insertion of the leg into the slot. At the same time, the ribs 21 deflect the lateral parts of the leg inwardly towards the side wall of the pot, so forcing the leg of the label to take up a transversely curved profile. Then, when the label leg 24 has been sufficiently inserted to bring the aperture 27 into register with the barb 18 (as shown in Figures 6 and 7), the leg of the label tends to spring flat so causing the barb to project through the aperture. Thus, the lower face 20 of the barb engages the lower edge 28 of the aperture 27 and is maintained in that position by the ribs 21 bearing on the leg, to each side of the aperture 27. In this way, the label is held in the slot by the barb; removal of the label is possible only by prising the lower part of the leg over the barb, against the action of the ribs 21, or by destroying one (or both) of the label leg and the wall portion 15 defining the slot 17. The width across that part of the mounting leg 24 of the label which lies substantially on the plane of the lower face 20 of the barb 18, when engaged with the aperture 27, should be approximately equal to the length of the slot 17. Thus, when the label is secured to the plant-pot, the inter-engagement of the side edges 25,26 with the ends of the slot 17 will serve to hold the label substantially in an upright position. Figure 8 shows a modified form of label leg, wherein there is provided in each side edge 25,26 a step 30, substantially on the same level as the lower edge 28 of the aperture 27 through the leg. The maximum width of the leg at the steps is arranged to be slightly greater than the length of the slot 17 with which the label is to be used, so that insertion of the leg 24 into a slot to engage the barb in the aperture will also engage the steps 30 behind the rim portion of the pot, as shown in Figure 10. This requires the label leg to be deformed slightly, across its width. However, once the barb has engaged in the aperture of the label leg, that leg may return to its original shape and the steps 30 serve further to add security to the retention of the label, to the plant-pot. As can be seen in Figures 9 and 10, the lower face 20 of the barb 18 is provided with a lip 31 at its outer edge, behind which the lower edge 28 of the aperture is trapped, once the barb has projected therethrough. This lip increases the security of the attachment of the label leg to the container and further resists withdrawal of a label.

Claims: CLAIMS 1. A container labelling system suitable for use with a plant pot, wherein the label is formed from a flexible substantially planar sheet material to have a main information-carrying area from which projects a mounting leg having an aperture formed therethrough, and wherein the container has a mouth with a rim region therearound which rim region has an elongate slot defined by a pair of opposed container wall portions for receiving the mounting leg of the label, one of said opposed wall portions carrying a barb-like projection formed to project across the slot and the other of said opposed wall portions carrying a pair of ribs also formed to project across the slot with one to each side of said barb-like projection, whereby insertion of the leg into the slot deforms the leg around the barb-like projection until said projection engages into the aperture in the leg of a label pressed sufficiently far into the slot, the engagement thereafter being maintained by the ribs such that the barb resists withdrawal of the leg from the slot. 2. A container labelling system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the mounting leg has side edges which taper towards each other, away from the main area of the label. 3. A container labelling system as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the aperture through the label leg is of generally rectangular form. 4. A container labelling system as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the container comprises a plastics material moulding and the barb-like projection is moulded integrally with the container. 5. A container labelling system as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the barb-like projection is formed immediately below the level of the open mouth of the container. 6. A container labelling system as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the slot has a generally linear form. 7. A container labelling system as claimed in any of claims 1 to 5, wherein the slot is arcuate and follows the radius of curvature of the mouth of the container. 8. A container labelling system as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the barb-like projection is disposed substantially centrally of the length of the slot. 9. A container labelling system as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the barb-like projection is formed integrally with a wall portion of the container immediately adjacent the mouth thereof to project generally outwardly across the slot. 10. A container labelling system as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein a downwardly depending lip is provided at the free end of the barb-like projection to resist removal of a label once engaged with the projection. 11. A container labelling system as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein at least one of the side edges of the mounting leg of the label are provided with a step adjacent the main area of the label, which step is engageable beneath the rim portion of the container when the label is pressed sufficiently far into the slot. 12. A container for use in a container labelling system according to any of claims 1 to 11 , which container has a side wall defining a mouth with a rim region therearound, which rim region has a pair of opposed wall portions defining a slot with a barb-like projection projecting across the slot from one opposed wall portion and a pair of ribs projecting across the slot from the other wall portion with the ribs disposed one to each side of the barb-like projection, whereby on pushing a label having a main information-carrying area, a flexible planar mounting leg projecting from said area with an aperture formed therein, the ribs will deform the leg around the barb-like projection until said projection engages in the aperture, whereafter the ribs will maintain the engagement to resist withdrawal of the leg from the slot. 13. A container as claimed in claim 12 and in the form of a moulded plastics material plant-pot. 14. An information label for use with a container having a mouth with a rim region therearound, which rim region has a pair of opposed wall portions defining a slot with a barb-like projection projecting across the slot from one opposed wall portion and a pair of ribs projecting across the slot from the other wall portion with one rib disposed one to each side of the barb-like projection, which label comprises a main information-carrying area, a flexible planar mounting leg projecting from said area and there being an aperture formed through the mounting leg of the label, whereby on pushing a label leg into the slot, the ribs will deform the leg around the barb-like projection until said projection engages in the aperture, whereafter the ribs will maintain the engagement to resist withdrawal of the leg from the slot. 15. A label as claimed in claim 14, wherein the leg has side edges which taper towards each other, away from the main area of the label. 16. A label as claimed in claim 15, wherein a step is formed in at least one side edge of the leg of the label, which step may engage behind the rim portion of a container when the label leg is inserted sufficiently far into the slot of a container. 17. A label as claimed in any of claims 14 to 16, wherein the label is formed from sheet plastics material.

Inventors: BROUGH DENNIS MICHAEL, BROUGH, DENNIS, MICHAEL
Applicants: BROUGH DENNIS MICHAEL, SYNPRODO PLANTPAK LTD, BROUGH, DENNIS, MICHAEL, SYNPRODO PLANTPAK LIMITED
Application year: 2000
Main classification: G09F3
IPC codes: G09F3