Abstract:
A system and method are disclosed for constructing a rotatable label and attaching the rotatable label to a container. The rotatable label system includes an inner label attached to the container and a rotatable outer label. The inner label may have adhesive on a rear surface of a trailing end alone, or it may have adhesive on a rear surface of both the leading and trailing end for fixedly attaching it to a container. The outer label only has adhesive on a rear surface of a trailing end to secure the outer label to itself. A leading end is temporarily affixed to the container while the outer label is wrapped around the container. Once the trailing end is attached to a front surface of the leading end, the outer label can be rotated about the container over the inner label. Longitudinal movement of the outer label relative to the container may be restricted by disposing the outer label between top and bottom label panels formed on the container. The outer label is preferably adapted with a transparent portion or window permitting viewing of indicia disposed on the inner label.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENTS AND APPLICATIONS 
     The present application is related to and hereby incorporates by reference the following patents and patent applications: (i) U.S. Pat. No. 5,809,674 issued Sep. 22, 1998 (application Ser. No. 08/627,786, filed Mar. 28, 1996), entitled “Apparatus and Method For Increasing An Effective Information Carrying Surface Area On A Container”; (ii) U.S. Pat. No. 5,884,421 issued Mar. 23, 1999 (application Ser. No. 08/741,607, filed Oct. 31, 1996 entitled “Apparatus and Method for Constructing a Rotatable Label Device”; (iii) U.S. Pat. No. 6,086,697 issued Jul. 11, 2000 (application Ser. No. 09/126,010 filed Jul. 29, 1998), entitled “Rotating Label System and Method”; (iv) U.S. patent application No. 09/187,299 filed Nov. 5, 1998 entitled “Rotatable Label System and Method for Constructing the Same”; and (v) U.S. patent application No. 09/247,245, filed Feb. 9, 1999 entitled “Rotatable label System Including Tamper-Evident Feature And Method For Constructing Same”. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates generally to labels, and more particularly to a rotatable label system with inner and outer label surfaces, utilizing a minimum amount of adhesives and eliminating tab related mechanisms. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     Many consumer products, such as vitamins, medications, and food items, are packaged in containers. It is usually desirable to display information in the form of written indicia arranged on the exterior surface of such containers to inform consumers as to the nature and use of the associated product. This information may include directions for use, warnings, dosage amounts, ingredients, company logos, and advertisements. Such information is conventionally printed on a label affixed to the container. 
     Prior art labels may have insufficient area available, however, to accommodate all of the information that a manufacturer may desire to provide to the consumer. Of course, the manufacturer may include all of the desired information on the label by reducing the size or typeface of some or all of the indicia, or by closely spacing the indicia. However, reduction of the size of text and/or graphics may adversely affect the visual appeal of the container, or may render some or all of the information illegible to the consumer. Furthermore, consumers may tend to ignore information presented in “fine print.” 
     A manufacturer who wishes to provide a relatively large amount of information to the consumer may also opt to place some of the information on a separate sheet of paper (known as an “insert”) packaged with the container. This technique is commonly employed in connection with health care items, such as over-the-counter medications and contact lens solutions. However, the insert is frequently lost or discarded after the initial use of the associated product, thus causing information set forth thereon to become unavailable to the consumer. 
     Thus, there is a need in the product packaging art for a system for increasing the amount of information that can be presented on a product container. There is a more specific need for a rotatable label system having an augmented surface area for presenting written information, and which is more easily mounted to the container, but without excessive use of adhesives and tab related release mechanisms. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a rotatable label system, which utilizes a minimal amount of adhesive and eliminates tab mechanisms. The rotatable label system generally includes a container for holding a quantity of a consumer or other type product, and a label or shell disposed about the exterior of the container and conforming thereto. The invention discloses methods and apparatus, and particularly it discloses a label system for application to a container or other object including an inner label having front and rear surfaces and leading and trailing ends. The invention further discloses an adhesive disposed on the rear surface of the inner label at the trailing end for coupling the inner label to the container or itself. Further, the invention discloses an outer label which includes an adhesive only on a rear surface of a trailing end of the outer label for adhering the trailing end of the outer label to the corresponding front surface of the outer label so that the outer label is secured about the container but rotatable about the inner label. 
     The method includes providing a container, and providing an inner label and an outer label, each label having front and rear surfaces and leading and trailing ends; providing an adhesive on the rear surface of the inner label for fixedly mounting the inner label to the container; providing an adhesive on the rear surface of the outer label for adhering the leading end of the outer label only to the trailing end of the outer label to allow the outer label to freely rotate around the inner label. Also provided is a transparent portion formed in the outer label so that the written indicia disposed on the front surface of the inner label is viewable through the transparent portion of the outer label. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     For a more complete understanding of the invention, reference may be had to the following detailed description of the invention in conjunction with the drawings wherein: 
     FIG. 1 is a plan view of a front surface of an outer label in accordance with the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a plan view of a front surface of an inner label in accordance with the present invention; 
     FIG. 3 is a plan view of a rear surface of the outer label of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 4 is a plan view of a rear surface of the inner label of FIG. 2; 
     FIG. 5 a  illustrates the inner label of FIG. 4 partially wrapped about a container in accordance with the present invention; 
     FIG. 5 b  illustrates the inner label of FIG. 4 secured about a container in accordance with the present invention; 
     FIG. 6 a  illustrates a shorter inner label of FIG. 4 partially wrapped about a container in accordance with the present invention; 
     FIG. 6 b  illustrates a shorter inner label of FIG. 4 secured about a container in accordance with the present invention; 
     FIG. 7 a  illustrates the inner label of FIG. 4 with a wider adhesive strip partially wrapped about a container in accordance with the present invention; FIG. 7 b  illustrates the inner label of FIG. 4 secured about a container in accordance with the present invention; 
     FIG. 8 illustrates the outer label of FIG. 3 partially wrapped about a container in accordance with the present invention; 
     FIG. 9 illustrates the outer label of FIG. 3 secured about a container in accordance with the present invention; 
     FIG. 10 illustrates the outer label beginning to be rotated about the circumference of the container over the inner label; 
     FIGS. 11,  12 , and  13  depict three embodiments of inner labels in accordance with the invention; 
     FIG. 14 is a plan view of inner labels being manufactured prior to cutting into strips of individual inner labels; 
     FIG. 15 is a plan view of outer labels being manufactured prior to cutting into strips of individual outer labels; 
     FIG. 16 is a plan view of a strip of outer labels of FIG. 15; 
     FIG. 17 is a schematic side view of inner or outer labels partially wrapped about the circumference of a container; and 
     FIG. 18 is a plan view of a strip of inner labels of FIG. 14 in accordance with the invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     FIG. 1 illustrates a front surface of an outer label or shell  100  according to the principles of the present invention. As shown, the outer label  100  includes a first, leading end  102  and a second, trailing end  104 . As was the case in previous embodiments by this inventor, for example, see U.S. Pat. No. 09/126,010, there is no release tab which was used previously to enhance the mounting and deployment of the outer label to the inner label. In the present invention, no such perforated edge or release tab is necessary. 
     The outer label  100  also includes a transparent portion  112 . The transparent portion  112  is illustrated as being defined by edges  114 ,  116 ,  118 , and  120 . The transparent portion  112  may include an open window with no material disposed between edges  114 - 120 ; or, alternatively, the transparent portion  112  may comprise a transparent film or the like to permit viewing through the transparent portion  112 . As discussed in more detail below, the transparent portion  112  permits an exterior of the underlying container, or underlying label, to be viewed through the outer label  100 . FIG. 1 also shows writing or other indicia  122  that may include outer label messages such as trademarks, contents, usage instructions, etc. 
     The transparent portion  112  permits a user to view an underlying subset of indicia disposed on an inner label affixed to the container  500 . The user or consumer selects which subset of indicia he or she wishes to view by rotating the rotatable outer label  100  about a central axis of the container such that the selected subset of indicia appears within the transparent portion  112 . As depicted in the figures herein, the written indicia may include several subsets (product information, ingredients, and the like) circumferentially arranged on the inner label, each subset being selectively viewable by the user. 
     FIG. 2 illustrates a front surface of an inner label  200 . The inner label  200  includes a first, leading end  202  and a second, trailing end  204 . As can be seen in FIG. 2, the inner label  200  is slightly narrower than the outer label  100  seen in FIG.  1 . As will be seen and described in later figures, inner label  200  is more or less fixedly mounted to a container, while outer label  100  is intended to be movably constructed and mounted over the inner label  200 . Because of the looser mounting of the top label  100  than the mounting of inner label  200 , the narrower width of inner label  200  prevents the inner label  200  from being seen extending out from the edges of the outer label  100 . Clearly seen in FIG. 2 is the fact that inner label  200  is shorter than outer label  100 , seen in FIG.  1 . This is to allow the outer label to be fixed to itself thereby allowing the outer label to rotate about the inner label  200 . 
     FIG. 3 shows the backside of the outer label  100 . Leading end  102  and trailing end  104  are seen in this figure as well. Transparent portion  112  and the edges  114 ,  116 ,  118 , and  120  of the transparent portion  112  are also seen in FIG. 3. A strip of adhesive  122  is shown as being disposed on a rear surface  302  of the outer label  100  adjacent to the trailing end  104  and is further defined by edge  128 . Advantageously, with the exception of the strip of adhesive  122 , the rear surface  302  of outer label  100  is substantially non-adhesive. As is discussed in more detail below, adhesive strip  122  secures the trailing end  104  of the outer label  100  to the leading end  102  when it is mounted over the inner label  200  (FIG.  2 ). It is also seen in FIG. 3, as it was in FIG. 1, that outer label  100  is slightly longer than the inner label  200 , so that the adhesive edge or strip  122  has enough room, as the outer label  100  is wrapped around the container, to adhere to the leading end  102  of outer label  100 , to rotatably affix the outer label  100  about the container. Similarly, as was explained above in FIG. 1, FIG. 3 has no release tabs or perforations, as was evident in the previous related patent applications. 
     FIG. 4 illustrates a rear surface  402  of the inner label  200 . The rear surface  402  has two strips of adhesive  408  and  410  immediately adjacent the leading and trailing ends,  202  and  204 , respectively. Adhesive strip  408  has an edge  406  defined as its limit on the inner label  200 , and adhesive strip  410  has its defining edge  404 , as well. As set forth above, inner label  200  is usually narrower than outer label  100  so that the edges of inner label  200  are not visible above or below the upper and lower edges of outer label  100 . Outer label  100  is longer than inner label  200  so that trailing end  104  of inner label  100  can be attached to leading end  102  by the use of adhesive strip  122 . 
     FIG. 5 a  illustrates the application of the inner label  100  to a container  500 . Such a container could be a glass or plastic bottle, or other type of container such as a metal can or cardboard receptacle. FIG. 5 a  shows the container  500  as having a cap  502  to be removably secured to a body  504 . The body  504  has an exterior surface  506  that includes a top label panel  508 , a bottom label panel  510 , and a recessed surface  512  interposed between the top label panel  508  and bottom label panel  510 . As discussed below, the inner label  200  is applied to container  500  at recessed area  512  between the top label panel  508  and a bottom label panel  510 . 
     After the outer label  100  and inner label  200  are secured about the container  500 , the top and bottom label panels  508 ,  510  limit the longitudinal displacement of the outer label  200  relative to the container  500 . As will be seen below, limiting the longitudinal displacement of the outer label  100  on the container  500  prevents the outer label  100  from slipping off the container  500 . Other label holding means are contemplated, such as rims, seams, ridges, etc. 
     For the embodiment in FIG. 5 a , the length of label  200  is longer than the circumference of recessed surface  512  of container  500 . That is, when inner label  200  is wrapped around the container  500 , inner label  200  will, via rear adhesive strip  410 , overlap and adhere to the leading end  202  of inner label  200 . Adhesive strip  408  is utilized to initially adhere the inner label  200  to container  500 . Adhesive surface strips  408  and  410  are shown in dotted line phantom view because the adhesive is actually on the reverse side of the inner label  200  and would not normally be seen in this view except in dotted line fashion. 
     FIG. 5 b  shows the container  500  with the inner label  200  mounted to the container  500 . Initially, as seen in FIG. 5 a , leading end  202  would be placed on the recessed surface  512  of container  500  and affixed to the container  500  by means of the adhesive  408 . With relative motion between the container  500  and inner label  200 , the inner label  200  would be wrapped around the container with trailing end  204  now overlapping leading end  202  such that adhesive  408  holds the leading end  202  to the container  500  while adhesive  410  holds the trailing end  204  to the overlapping leading end  202  of inner label  200 . 
     FIG. 6 a  is similar to the embodiment shown in FIG. 5 a . It shows container  500  with the removable cap  502  and container body  504  which includes exterior surface  506 , including top label panel  508 , bottom label panel  510 , and a recessed surface  152  in between the top label panel  508  and the bottom label panel  510 . Inner label  200  is also shown in the same position for mounting on the recessed surface  512  of container  500  with leading end  202 , leading adhesive strip  408 , trailing adhesive strip  410 , and shortened trailing end  205  of inner label  200 . The shorter trailing end  205  allows for inner label  200  to be the exact length equaling the circumference of recessed surface  512  of container  500 . Since the length of inner label  200  and the circumference of container  500  at its recessed surface  512  are equal, the inner label  200 , when wrapped around the recessed surface  512 , will not overlap but leading end  202  and trailing end  205  will abut together. The original length, as described in conjunction with FIG. 5 a , is now shown with its trailing end  204  in dotted line fashion to illustrate the shortening of the inner label  200  to shorter trailing end  205 . As in FIG. 5 a , adhesive  408  and  410  are shown in phantom dotted line fashion because the adhesive is actually on the rear side not seen in this figure. 
     FIG. 6 b  shows the inner label  200  wrapped around the bottle or container  500 . As set forth above, the length of the inner label  200  could be the length of the circumference of the recessed surface  512  of container  500 , which would allow leading end  202  and shorter trailing end  205  to abut one another. However, it is also possible that inner label  200  could be shorter than the circumference of recessed surface  512  of container  500  which would provide for a gap between leading end  202  and trailing end  205  of inner label  200 . In this instance, adhesive  408  on leading end  202  would adhere to exterior surface  506  as does adhesive  410  on shorter trailing end  205 . 
     FIG. 7 a  is similar to that of FIG. 6 a  with the container  500  and its similar sections and inner label  200  in place for mounting to the container  500 . In this figure, however, inner label  200  does not have a forward edge adhesive with which to hold the leading end  202  in place while the inner label  200  is wrapped around the recessed surface  512  of container  500 , as was shown in previous figures. However, the trailing end  204  now has a strip of adhesive larger (wider) than the previous strips of adhesive so that when inner label  200  is wrapped around the recessed surface  512  of container  500 , the label section defined between trailing end  204  and edge  404   a  will contact and adhere to the leading end  202  of inner label  200  as well as contacting recessed surface  512  of container  500 . 
     In this embodiment, extraneous means could be used to hold the leading end  202  of the inner label  200  to the container  500 . For example, a blast of air or other gas against the leading end  202  could be used to hold the leading end  202  against the container  500  until the inner label  200  is wrapped completely around the recessed surface  512  of the container  500  and adhesive  410  can be used to affix the inner label  200  to the container  500 . Moisture, such as a small amount of water, could be used to temporarily affix the leading end  202  of the inner label  200  to the container  500  until the entire inner label  200  is wrapped about the container  500 . Of course, the moisture will quickly evaporate leaving no evidence of its use. Alternatively, a hold or pressing apparatus could be used in the wrapping mechanism itself to hold the inner label  200  in place until the inner label  200  is completely wrapped about the container  500 . Further techniques could include supplying a vacuum pressure, or a static electric charge pressure to the inner label  200 . Similar techniques may be used to apply the outer label loo about the inner label  200 . 
     FIG. 7 b  shows the container  500  with an overlapping inner label  200  where the adhesive strip  204  on the trailing end  204  is wider than the overlapping section of inner label  200  such that the adhesive  410  contacts not only the outer edge of the leading end  202  of inner label  200  but also contacts recessed surface  512  of container  500 . In the previous figures, when the leading end  202  overlaps the trailing end  204  with the adhesive only contacting the leading end  202  of the inner label  200 , such as in FIG. 5 b , it is possible for inner label  200  to move with respect to the surface of container  500 . This is undesirable in some instances; and the embodiment shown in FIG. 7 b  is provided so that once the inner label  200  is mounted to the container  500 , the adhesive strip portion  410  which is wider than the overlapping sections of the inner label  200  which allows the inner label  200  to be fixedly mounted to the bottle or container  500 . The adhesive on the trailing end  204  contacts the surface of the container  500  and prevents the inner label  200  from moving circumferentially around the container  500 . 
     FIG. 8 shows container  500  with the inner label  200  already mounted to the recessed surface  512  of container  500 . At this point it is desirable to mount the outer label  100  over the inner label  200  on container  500 . It is clearly shown in this figure that outer label  100  is wider than inner label  200  so that if there is any slight longitudinal movement of the outer label  100  within the recessed surface  512 , none of the inner label  200  will be viewable by a user or consumer of the contents of container  500 . Outer label  100  is the label seen and described above in reference to FIG.  3 . That is, outer label  100  has a leading or front end  102  and a trailing or second end  104 . There is a transparent portion  112  defined by edges  114 ,  116 ,  118 , and  120 . Also shown is adhesive strip  122  illustrated in dotted or dashed phantom line because the adhesive is actually on the rear, nonviewable, surface of outer label  100 . 
     As described in more detail in connection with FIG. 7 a , various techniques may be used to temporarily attach the leading end  102  of outer label  100  to the inner label  200  or container  500 . Such techniques include a blast of air of gas against the leading end  102 , moisture applied to the leading end, vacuum pressure, and static electric charge pressure. Other methods for temporarily positioning the leading end  102  may also be used. 
     When there is relative motion between the container  500  and the outer label  100 , outer label  100  will wrap around the recessed surface  512  of container  500 . By relative motion, it is meant that the outer label  100  is maintained stationary and the container  500  is rotated along a line in order to wrap the outer label  100  about the container  500 . Alternatively, the container  500  may remain stationary and the outer label  100 , by manufacturing means known in the art, wraps around the recessed surface  512  of container  500 . Yet another embodiment may be a combination of the two above-described motions. Similar methods may be used to apply the inner label  200 . 
     Once the outer label  100  is completely wrapped about the container  500 , the adhesive  122  on the trailing end  104  will contact and form a bond with the front surface of the leading end  102 . Because the trailing end  104  overlaps the leading end  102  of the outer label  100 , the adhesive  122  will not contact the inner label  200  or the container  500 . By having the trailing end  104  only adhering to the leading end  102 , the outer label  100  is free to rotate about the inner label  200  and the container  500  once the temporary coupling is removed. 
     FIG. 9 shows outer label  100  disposed around the center recessed surface  512  of container  500  with the adhesive  122  on trailing end  104  adhering to the leading end  102  (not shown in this figure); thus positioning the outer label  100  about the inner label  200 . In this figure, for the first time, one can see the relationship between the inner label  200  and the outer label  100 . With the inner label  200  affixed to the container  500 , and the outer label  100  movably disposed about the inner label  100  but allowed to move circumferentially about the inner label  100  along the recessed surface  512 , the transparent portion  112  in the outer label  100  allows any writing or other indicia on the inner label  200  to be seen through the transparent portion  112  of outer label  100 . As the outer label  100  is rotated about an axis of the container  500 , different portions of the underlying label  200  come into view through the transparent portion  112  of outer label  100 . 
     The motion of the outer label  100  is seen now in FIG.  10 . If the outer label  100  is moved in a clockwise direction as viewed from the top of container  500 , then the right edge  116  of outer label  100  will begin to eclipse the writing underneath as shown by the clipping of the right edge  116  of the letter ‘B’, which is representative of the information printed on the inner label  200 . Of course, the outer label loo may also be moved in a counter clockwise direction as viewed from the top of container  500 , at the choice of the consumer or user of the container  500 . 
     In FIGS. 11,  12 , and  13  are rear surface views of the various inner labels as previously described in conjunction with the drawings. FIG. 11 shows inner label  200  with leading end  202  and trailing end  204  with adhesive  408  adjacent to the leading end  202 , and adhesive  410  adjacent trailing or second end  204 . FIG. 12 shows the same label  200  except that it is slightly shorter and is used in conjunction with the embodiment as shown in FIG. 6 b  as described above. FIG. 13 shows inner label  200  with the extra wider adhesive  410  for use in the overlapping embodiment of the inner label  200  as shown and described in conjunction with FIG. 7 b.    
     FIG. 14 illustrates one embodiment of a plurality of inner labels  200  being manufactured. Shown in FIG. 14 are four rows of inner labels  200  laterally adjacent one another. The length of the material upon which the inner labels  200  are printed depends upon how much material is available and the complexity and capacity of the manufacturing apparatus itself. The printed material shown schematically as the letters ‘B’ on FIG. 14 could be printed by any method; but a typical method of printing could utilize the Flexography method of printing, as is well known in the art. The material itself could comprise biaxially oriented polypropylene, well-known as BOPP. The inner labels  200  would have the length or distance as determined by whether the apparatus is manufacturing labels set forth in FIGS. 11,  12 , or  13 , with concomitant lengths thereof. 
     FIG. 15 shows the makeup of the material used to make the outer labels  100  with the leading and trailing ends and appropriate adhesives depending upon the embodiment shown and to be manufactured. Also shown in FIG. 15 are transparent portions  112  in the outer labels  100  use for viewing the printed material on the inner labels  200  such as the letters ‘B’ as shown and described above in conjunction with FIG.  14 . As set forth above, the transparent portion  112  of outer label  100  could be an actual opening cut into the material or an area left transparent depending upon how the remaining part of the labels are printed and developed utilizing, for example, the Flexography technique. Similar to inner labels  200  in FIG. 11, the outer labels  100  could also be made of biaxially oriented polypropylene, well known as BOPP. 
     FIG. 16 shows a length of outer labels  100  after manufacturing as in FIG.  12  and cut to width. This allows the outer labels  100  to be rolled up as in FIG. 17 which shows roll  415  with a length of outer label  100  beginning to be wrapped around a container  500 . FIG. 18 shows a similar cut length of inner labels  200  and could be rolled similar to the outer label roll  415  shown in FIG.  17 . 
     The invention has been described above with references to specific embodiments. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications may be made and other embodiments can be used without departing from the broader scope of the invention. Therefore, these and other variations upon the specific embodiments are intended to be covered by the present invention, which is limited only by the appended claims.