Abstract:
A multi-ply label structure is especially, although not necessarily, adapted for affixation to a vessel. The multi-ply label is intended to protect a game piece, coupon, or other material from moisture and other detrimental external environments before affixation to the vessel. As a result, the bottle can be immersed in water for an extended period without destroying the integrity of the label structure.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    This invention relates to labels and structural features thereof and more particularly to labels having game pieces, coupons, or promotional materials therein and which retain their integrity notwithstanding immersion in liquid nor exposure to detrimental external environments for extended periods.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    U.S. Pat. No. 4,846,504 to MacGregor, et al., incorporated herein in its entirety by this reference, discloses various “secure on-pack promotional coupons.” Such coupons include concealed promotional materials and may be secured to packaging of consumer products. In one embodiment of the assemblies described in the MacGregor, et al. patent, the coupons consist of a set or series of labels, each label formed of a base portion, an intermediate (promotional) portion, and an outer portion.  
           [0003]    Repeatedly emphasized in the MacGregor, et al. patent is the requirement that the promotional coupon be  
           [0004]    secured to a product by water soluble adhesive, so that the purchaser of the product must run water over the label or coupon in order to expose the coupon . . . and remove it from the product.  
           [0005]    See MacGregor, col. 1, lines 56-60; see also id., col. 2, lines 20-23; col. 4, line 67 through col. 5, line 6. According to the MacGregor, et al. patent, this requirement purportedly deters “persons from removing or tampering with the labels prior to purchasing the products.” See id., col. 1, lines 63-65. It is, moreover, based on the assumption that water (or other liquid) is of only “limited availability . . . in stores.” See id., line 61.  
           [0006]    While not necessarily erroneous, the assumption made in the MacGregor, et al. patent is inconsistent with certain present-day practices. For example, grocery and convenience stores (among others) now often include freestanding displays in which plastic beverage bottles are wholly or partially immersed in ice water. Conventional coolers and other containers similarly surround bottles with ice water in many cases. In each of these instances, promotional coupons of the type disclosed in the MacGregor, et al. patent may lose their integrity through immersion in or contact with water. As the water contacts the promotional coupons, the effectiveness of the water-soluble adhesive is diminished, resulting in premature separation of the outer portion from the remainder of the assembly and undesired exposure of the intermediate (promotional) portion.  
           [0007]    Moreover, some types of plastic and other bottles are cleansed with hot water after all labeling is affixed. This cleansing is also likely to disturb the water-soluble adhesive used in the promotional coupons of the MacGregor, et al. patent and precipitate loss of integrity of the overall label assembly. Again, the result is premature separation of the outer portion and exposure of the promotional material.  
           [0008]    Among initial attempts to solve this problem associated with water baths was utilizing a film to attach a paper game piece to a bottle. The larger film, to which adhesive was applied to the perimeter of its underside, effectively sandwiched the game piece against the outer surface of the bottle. Any defect in applying the film to the bottle permitted water to seep beneath the film into contact with the paper game piece, however, diminishing its viability as a solution to the problem.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0009]    By contrast, the present invention avoids problems associated with, among other things, these water baths by providing a multi-ply label structure in which a game piece is sealed from the ambient environment before affixation to a bottle. Because developed for purposes different than the promotional coupons of the MacGregor, et al. patent, moreover, the label structures of the present invention do not utilize water-soluble adhesive to attach components to a bottle. Instead, the innovative labels described herein are designed especially to retain their integrity notwithstanding immersion in either hot or cold water (or other liquid) for extended periods.  
           [0010]    A label according to one embodiment of the invention includes three plies. In this embodiment, a base ply is a filmic material, such as polypropylene, or other substrate whose underside is adherable to, among other things, a plastic bottle. Positioned atop the base ply, and typically (although not necessarily) of lesser length and width, is a middle ply or layer formed of, for instance, a paper or filmic material. The middle ply or layer is not limited to a single ply or material but, alternatively, may be a game piece or premium construction that includes, but is not limited to, labels, scratch off coatings, reactive coatings, redeemable materials, currency and the like. The underside of the middle ply may in some cases be temporarily adhered to the upper surface of the base ply, thereby forming a laminated structure.  
           [0011]    Adhered to the base ply along the perimeter of its upper surface is a second ply, which is a polypropylene or other filmic material. This second ply constitutes the top of the multi-ply structure, and together with the base ply forms a pouch in whose central area the middle ply, which may be a game piece, coupon, or other material resides. The base and second plies and an adhesive attaching them are selected so as to be water-impervious, thereby sealing the game piece from any water that might contact the label. Thus, neither immersion in water of a bottle containing such a label nor defective affixation of the label to the bottle is likely to destroy the integrity of the multi-ply assembly or the contents of the game piece contained therein.  
           [0012]    As noted above, if desired, the underside of the middle ply may contain an adhesive to prevent the game piece from changing position within the pouch. The multi-ply assembly additionally may be manufactured on a backing tape or web for easy storage and transport in rolls. Such web, as is conventional, would have an upper surface coated with a release layer to facilitate removal of the assembly for affixing to a bottle or other suitable substrate. Because the game piece is protected from moisture while within the assembly, furthermore, it may include inks, scratch-off coverings, holograms, labels, premiums, involvement devices, currency and other features that it otherwise could not successfully have.  
           [0013]    Certain other embodiments of the invention utilize solely water-impervious or insoluble materials to form multi-ply label structures. Containing two or more plies, such labels may include a base ply whose underside is adapted to be adhered to a substrate. Like base plies of embodiments of the invention discussed earlier, these base plies may be formed of filmic materials other than paper, including plastics such as (but not necessarily limited to) polypropylene, polystyrene, polyethylene, and polyester.  
           [0014]    Positioned over each base ply is an upper, non-paper ply similarly typically, although not necessarily, formed of polypropylene or other material. In certain embodiments of the invention, no plies other than the base ply and upper ply are incorporated into the water-impervious label although additional upper plies may be desirable. The base ply and upper ply, therefore, contain all of the promotional or game-playing indicia present on the label.  
           [0015]    To accomplish this result, the indicia, and any scratch-off coverings, are printed directly onto either or both of the base ply and upper ply. The upper surface of the base ply is especially suited for receiving this printed indicia, as either a removable covering printed onto the upper surface of the base ply over the indicia, or an opaque covering printed on either surface of the upper ply, may obscure the printed indicia from view. Alternatively, the indicia (and perhaps a scratch-off covering) may be placed on the underside of the upper ply, with the top surface of the upper ply containing an opaque, water-insoluble ink designed to prevent premature viewing of the contents of the underside of the ply. In similar embodiments containing three or more plies, water-insoluble inks are not necessary for use on the top surface of the upper ply if other plies protect the inks from the likely ambient environment. Yet another alternative is to print the indicia onto an opaque “lilly pad” of ink printed directly onto the underside of the upper ply. Alternatively, gaming or other premium indicia may be printed or imaged similarly as previously mentioned while absent of specific opacifying materials. Such indicia or coatings would require only resistance properties to survive immersion or moisture exposure.  
           [0016]    These two-ply versions of the present invention usually are designed so that only peripheral portions of the base ply and upper ply are adhered to each other. If perforations on the upper ply delineate the peripheral boundaries of the ply adhered to the base ply, the central portion of the upper ply may be made to be removable simply by tearing it along the perforations. Doing so exposes both the underside of the upper ply and the upper surface of the base ply as well as any indicia or scratch-off coverings printed thereon.  
           [0017]    It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a label structure that includes a game piece, coupon, or other promotional material.  
           [0018]    It is another object of the present invention to provide a label structure which retains its integrity notwithstanding immersion in liquid or other exposure to moisture for extended periods.  
           [0019]    It is an additional object of the present invention to provide a label structure in which the game piece forming part of the assembly is sealed from the ambient environment before being affixed to, e.g., a bottle or other packaging vessel.  
           [0020]    It is a further object of the present invention to provide a label structure avoiding use of a water-soluble adhesive to attach any portion of the structure to a bottle or other surface.  
           [0021]    It is also an object of the present invention to provide a three-ply label including a layer of film and a base layer positioned intermediate the film layer and a substrate such as a bottle.  
           [0022]    It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a label utilizing solely water-impervious or insoluble materials.  
           [0023]    It is still a further object of the present invention to provide a label that utilizes adhesive that are recyclable or repulpable.  
           [0024]    Other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become apparent with reference to the remainder of the text and the drawings of this application. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0025]    [0025]FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a label structure according to a first embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0026]    [0026]FIG. 2 is an exploded cross-sectional view of the label structure of FIG. 1 before attachment to a bottle.  
         [0027]    [0027]FIG. 3 is a plan view of a label structure according to a second embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0028]    [0028]FIG. 4 is an exploded cross-sectional view of the label structure of FIG. 3 before attachment to a bottle. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0029]    Illustrated in FIGS. 1-2 is an exemplary label  10  according to a first embodiment of the present invention. The label  10  shown in FIGS. 1-2 includes three plies: a base  14  ply, a middle ply or game portion  22 , and a second ply  26 . In use, these plies are effectively laminated to form the single assembly  10  which may be attached to a substrate, such as bottle B.  
         [0030]    Each of base ply  14  and second ply  26  may have the same length and width if necessary or desired. Equating dimensions of these components may enhance the aesthetic appeal of the label  10  in some cases and may promote protection of game portion  22  from the ambient environment. Base ply  14  and second ply  26  need not be dimensioned identically, however, nor need they be substantially rectangular as shown in FIGS. 1-2. Instead, those skilled in the art will recognize that these components may have different dimensions and shapes than those expressly illustrated herein.  
         [0031]    Generally, however, the length and width of game portion  22  will be less than those of base ply  14  and second ply  26 . These relative dimensions permit the base ply  14  and the second ply  26  to encase game portion  22  when their respective peripheries  30  and  34  are adhered. As so encased, game portion  22  is sealed in a pouch or protective enclosure formed between central areas  38  and  42  of base ply  14  and second ply  26 , respectively.  
         [0032]    Certain embodiments of label  10  are designed to include clear polypropylene film (which may be one mil thick) as the second ply  26 . Because such film is impervious to water, sealing game portion  22  underneath second ply  26  helps prevent any substantial seepage of moisture into the pouch containing game portion  22 . Thus, game portion  22  is not typically subjected to the detrimental effects of moisture even should it be bathed or immersed in water for an extended period of time. This avoidance permits game portion  22  to have numerous features (such as inks, scratch-off materials, etc.) to enhance its promotional or entertainment abilities that otherwise could not be present if subject to contact with moisture.  
         [0033]    Base ply  14  may, if desired, be a layer of greater thickness than second ply  26 . In addition to helping seal game portion  22  from moisture, base ply  14  functions to attach the remainder of label  10  to the bottle B or another substrate. It thus must be sufficiently thin and flexible to accommodate and conform to a contoured surface S of bottle B yet sufficiently strong to maintain its structural integrity when subjected to automatic affixation techniques, temperature extremes, and moisture. A presently-preferred material for the base ply  14  is a 2.6 mil thick white polypropylene film with a #43 liner, which also has sufficient opacity to prevent someone from visually discerning the contents of game portion  22  by peering through whatever liquid is contained within bottle B. The base ply  14  is not limited to this material but may be formed of other filmic materials that are water-impervious, such as polyethylene, polystyrene, or polyester.  
         [0034]    Because a consumer need not remove base ply  14  from the bottle B to access game portion  22 , base ply  14  may be attached to the bottle B using a substantially permanent pressure-sensitive or other adhesive  46  placed on its underside  50 .  
         [0035]    The adhesive  46  used to secure the base ply to the substrate is preferably also recyclable. Some commonly used adhesives to secure labels to a substrate are incompatible with recycling processes. In the recycling of PET bottles and other goods, the PET is reclaimed by placing the goods in a caustic bath, such as a 1% sodium hydroxide bath. Some of the commonly used adhesives, however, are not removed after being immersed in the sodium hydroxide bath and are therefore not recyclable. Further, some of these adhesives are not repulpable since the presence of these adhesives contaminate the PET recycling stream.  
         [0036]    In the label  10  according to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the adhesive  46  is one that resists water permeation but which is resoluble upon exposure to a caustic bath. As a result, the adhesive  46  complies with recyclability parameters such that its residual effects be cleanly removed following a mild caustic bath exposure. Examples of suitable adhesives  46  include, but are not limited to, EOA 109 from Fasson Roll North America (FRNA), a division of Avery Dennison of Pasadena, Calif., and #758 from Green Bay Packaging of Green Bay, Wis.  
         [0037]    By contrast, game portion  22  is typically removed from base ply  14  by shearing a suitable adhesive  54 , including one cured using ultraviolet radiation (a “UV adhesive”), a laminating adhesive, or a pressure sensitive adhesive. The adhesive  54  may be applied either to upper surface  58  of base ply  14  or underside  70  of the game portion  22 , or both, to adhere the two together.  
         [0038]    Placed atop adhesive  54  and upper surface  58  in central area  38  is the game piece  22 . If completely or substantially opaque, game portion  22  may include text, symbols, or other information on its underside  70  that is obscured from view on the one hand by its upper surface  74  and on the other by the base ply  14 . Similarly, because game portion  22  obscures central area  38  of upper surface  58  from view, hidden textual or other information may be printed or otherwise included thereon as well. As noted above, scratch-off or other material, including any or all of the elements of the cards disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,569,512 to Brawner, et al. and 5,601,887 to Rich, et al. (incorporated herein in their entireties by this reference), may be included on either or both of underside  70  or upper surface  74  of game portion  22  as well as upper surface  58  of base ply  14  or conversely the underside of the second layer  26 .  
         [0039]    To encase game portion  22 , an adhesive  78  is applied to either or both of peripheries  30  and  34  to bond them together. Doing so effectively forms a pouch or protective enclosure between central areas  38  and  42  in which game portion  22  resides. If necessary or appropriate to prevent game portion  22  from moving within the pouch, the adhesive  54  may be used to attach underside  70  of the game portion  22  or to the upper surface  58  of the base ply  14 . Adhesives  78  and  54  may, in the vernacular of the MacGregor, et al. patent, be “removable” or otherwise temporary bonding agents, as they usually should not prevent a consumer from removing game portion  22  from the remainder of the label  10 . It may be further desirable that adhesives  78  and  54  be permanent in nature thus requiring physical invasive methods such as cutting of the pouch to remove game portion  22 .  
         [0040]    To access game portion  22 , in most cases the consumer need merely peel second ply  26  away from the remainder of the label  10 . Facilitating such removal may be information printed on the upper surface  58  of the base ply  14  such as the phrase “pull here” and an arrow pointing to a corner of the label  10 . Removing the second ply  26  exposes the upper surface  74  of game portion  22 . If (temporary) adhesive  54  is present, a consumer may merely peel composite game portion  22  away from the upper surface  58  of the base ply  14  to expose underside  70  and remove the game portion  22  from the remainder of label  10 . Alternatively, the game portion  22  may possess a perforation along a select region delineating a tab enabling adhesive  54  to selectively bond the tab to the upper surface  58  of the base ply  14  while permitting a residue free portion of the game portion  22  to be cleanly removed.  
         [0041]    Those skilled in the art will recognize that game portion  22  is not limited to two-sided structures, but may instead contain folds, cut-outs, or pop-ups, for example, or otherwise be more complex than a simple two-sided material. Further, as discussed above, the game portion  22  is not limited to a single ply structure but may encompass a scratch off coating, a hologram, and other additional layers or coatings. Additionally, in some cases, game portion  22  may be of foreign origin such as a stamp, tattoo, currency or other premium or incentive.  
         [0042]    [0042]FIGS. 3-4 detail an alternative label  100  of the present invention. As shown in these figures, the label  100  includes base ply  104  and upper ply  108 . Both base ply  104  and upper ply  108  are made of water-impervious materials such as, for example, polypropylene. In some versions of assembly  100 , base ply  104  may be similar or identical to base ply  14  of FIGS. 1-2. Also, the upper ply  108  may be similar or identical to the second ply  26 .  
         [0043]    In use, the label  100  is intended to be attached to a bottle B or other substrate. Adhesive  112  (which may be pressure sensitive if appropriate) thus may be placed on an underside  116  of the base ply  104 , with such adhesive  112  connecting the label  100  to a surface S of a bottle B. Since in most (if not all) instances consumers need not remove base ply  104  from the bottle B, the adhesive  112  may be water-insoluble or otherwise substantially permanent. Because the bottle B may need to be recyclable, the adhesive  112  is preferably a recyclable adhesive that degrades upon exposure to a mild caustic bath. Suitable adhesives includes those mentioned above with reference to adhesive  46 .  
         [0044]    Upper surface  120  of base ply  104  defines peripheral portions or edges  124 A and  124 B, intermediate which is central portion  128 . Lower surface  132  of upper ply  108  likewise defines edges  136 A and  136 B and a central portion  140 . By applying a water-insoluble adhesive  142  to either edges  124 A or  136 A (or both) and edges  124 B and  136 B (or both) and affixing edge  124 A to edge  136 A and edge  124 B to edge  136 B, a single label assembly  100  may be formed. Such affixation usually occurs prior to the label  100  being connected to the bottle B or a similar substrate, although it need not if necessary to do otherwise. In addition to being insoluble in water, the adhesive  142  may also be substantially permanent if desired.  
         [0045]    Also illustrated in FIGS. 3-4 is top surface  144  of the upper ply  108 . Sets of perforations  148 A and  148 B extend from top surface  144  through to lower surface  132  of upper ply  108 , with perforation set  148 A differentiating edge  136 A from central portion  140  and perforation set  148 B differentiating edge  136 B from the central portion  140 . The central portion  140  of the upper ply  108  has an upper surface  152 . To remove the central portion  140  of the upper ply  108  from the remainder of the label  100 , a consumer need merely grasp a top section  156  of the upper ply  108  and pull it toward a bottom section  160  of the upper ply  108  to rupture the perforations of sets  148 A and  148 B.  
         [0046]    Because the materials incorporated in the label  100  are impervious to water, they are unlikely to be damaged or altered due to exposure from the ambient environment when assembly  100  is intact. Either or both of such central portions  128  and  140  may thus contain promotional or game-playing indicia unlikely to be damaged even should bottle B be placed for an extended period in an ice-water bath. Either or both of central portions  128  and  140  additionally may include a scratch-off or other removable coating if desired to obscure the indicia from view temporarily. If game indicia is printed directly onto central portion  140  (without, for example, an underlying “lilly pad” of ink) and upper ply  108  is transparent, opaque, water-insoluble ink may need to be applied to top surface  152  of the central portion  140  to prevent viewing of the indicia (through the transparent ply  108 ) before the central portion  140  is removed from the remainder of the label  100 .  
         [0047]    The foregoing is provided for purposes of illustrating, explaining, and describing embodiments of the present invention. Further modifications and adaptation to these embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art and may be made without departing from the scope of spirit of the invention.