Abstract:
A resealable extended text film panel system. The resealable extended text film panel comprises a shrink sleeve portion and a film text panel. The shrink sleeve portion is integral with the film text panel so that the film text panel is not readily removed from the shrink sleeve portion. A seam is formed between the integral shrink sleeve portion and a first end of the film text panel that delineates the film text panel from the shrink sleeve portion. A resealable strip is affixed to an edge of the film text panel. This resealable strip permits the film text panel to cooperate with the shrink sleeve portion, allowing the film text panel to be unsealed and sealed to the shrink sleeve portion a plurality of times, allowing the printable material on the shrink sleeve portion and on the film text panel to be read by a user as frequently as desired. The resealable strip can be applied to the film text panel or to a portion of the shrink sleeve portion underlying the film text panel. A method of forming the resealable extended text film panel system is also provided.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention is directed to labeling applied to packaging, and more specifically to an extended shrink sleeve label that includes a resealable panel that permits the inclusion of additional text. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    Labels are currently applied to packaging such as containers by standard shrink sleeve processes. These processes involve printing labels with the desired information, which may include product identification and instructions for use of the product. Printing is usually performed on a printable and shrinkable material such as polyvinyl chloride (PVC) sheet. After printing, the labels are seamed, usually with an adhesive/solvent, to form a standard shrink sleeve. These labels are printed in this fashion by the printer and then shipped to the product manufacturer. The product manufacturer typically applies the labels to the container packaging. The labels are placed over the packaging and contracted, or shrunk, to fit tightly around the container. Alternatively, or in addition, the product packaging may be provided with an adhesive/solvent to assure there is no movement of the label once applied to the container. This is standard, current state of the art, shrink sleeve processing. Since the labels are usually heated to an elevated temperature during the shrink sleeve processing, a heat-activated adhesive is suitably applied for such applications when no label movement or removal is specified, although the adhesive employed is not limited to heat-activated adhesives. One of the limitations of the current shrink sleeve process for labeling is that the printing area is limited to space available on the outer surface of the container or packaging. If additional information is required, it must be provided by some other means. 
         [0003]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,800,893 to Harden, issued on Sep. 1, 1998, discloses a double blinded label applied adhered to a container. The double blinded label includes a first section and a second section. The second section is held to the container with an adhesive. The first section which includes a blinding label is removed from the second section which remains on the container by tearing along perforations. The second section includes an adhesive allowing it to be attached to a record with the blind in place. The blind can be removed if necessary to expose the information underlying it. 
         [0004]    One extended text concept is depicted in  FIG. 1 . In the concept depicted in  FIG. 1 , text is printed on a plurality of pages, each page being pressure sensitive material. This printed pressure sensitive material is then applied to a shrink-fit label. The pressure sensitive pages may even be adhered to the shrink-fit label in one or more corners. However, since the pressure sensitive pages are not integral and can be peeled from the label or the container, thereby resulting in a loss of the instructions, which can be vital for prescription drug applications, it is necessary to provide additional instructions on a box containing the product, or it is necessary to provide duplicate instructions in another manner. Loss of these additional instructions can make the product unsafe or unusable. U.S. Pat. No. 7,357,422 to Seidl issued Apr. 15, 2008, is exemplary of this arrangement. Printed information carries in the form of a booklet which is adhered to the container and covered by the label which can be peeled back so that the booklet can be removed, reviewed, replaced and rewrapped. 
         [0005]    U.S. Pat. No. 7,114,446 to Sellars issued Oct. 3, 2006, discloses a method for providing a label suitable for being adhered about an object once removed from the release liner, the label having a length greater than the circumference of the object and the release liner providing a mechanical support for the label prior to being adhered about the object, the method including: printing at least a portion of the label with indicia; printing at least a portion of the release liner with indicia, and at least partially severing the printed portion of the release liner from the release liner such that upon removal of the label from the release liner, the printed portion of the release liner remains releasably adhered to the label. 
         [0006]    U.S. Patent Publication 2009/0206594 published Aug. 20, 2009, discloses a folded label produced without the necessity of adhering any portions of a sheet to each other. The label uses only one sheet having display contents described on predetermined portions of both sides thereof. The label is formed by folding the sheet. The label is formed without any portions of the sheet adhered to each other, without any portions of the sheet adhered to each other. 
         [0007]    What is needed is a product label that can provide extended text information while at the same time is not readily removed from the label. Other features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following more detailed description of the preferred embodiment, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings which illustrate, by way of example, the principles of the invention. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0008]    A resealable extended text film panel system is provided. The resealable extended text film panel comprises a shrink sleeve portion and a film text panel. The shrink sleeve portion is integral with the film text panel so that the film text panel is not readily removed from the shrink sleeve portion. A seam is formed between the integral shrink sleeve portion and a first end of the film text panel that delineates the film text panel from the shrink sleeve portion. A resealable strip is affixed to an edge of the film text panel away from the seam. This resealable strip permits the film text panel to cooperate with the shrink sleeve portion, allowing the film text panel to be unsealed and sealed to the shrink sleeve portion a plurality of times, allowing the printed material on the shrink sleeve portion and on the film text panel to be read by a user as frequently as desired. The resealable strip can be applied to the film text panel or to a portion of the shrink sleeve portion underlying the film text panel. 
         [0009]    A packaging system comprises a package having an exterior surface. A resealable extended film text panel system is applied to the package. The resealable extended film text panel system includes a sleeve portion that extends around the exterior surface of the package. A film text panel is integral with the sleeve portion. A seam is formed between the sleeve portion and a first end of the film text panel, the film text panel extending away from the seam. The film text panel that extends away from the seam overlaps a section of the sleeve portion, the section of the sleeve portion that is overlapped being equal to the amount of the film text panel that extends away from the seam. A resealable strip cooperates with the film text panel so that the film text panel can be unsealed from and sealed to the sleeve portion a plurality of times. The resealable strip is attached to either the film text panel or to the section of the sleeve portion underlying the overlapping film text panel. The film text panel and at least the section of the sleeve portion overlapped by the film text panel may include printable material. 
         [0010]    An advantage of the present invention is that since the shrink sleeve portion is integral with the film text panel, the film text panel cannot readily be removed from the shrink sleeve portion. The result is that the film text panel and any instructions can only be removed from the container intentionally, for example, by cutting off the shrink sleeve portion and hence the film text panel. 
         [0011]    Another advantage of the present invention is that it is no longer necessary to provide a second set of instructions with the packaging, since instructions provided on the film text panel are substantially permanently associated with the package or container. 
         [0012]    Still another advantage of the present invention is that area is available for printing on the shrink sleeve portion, and additional area is available on the film text panel for additional instruction because of the arrangement of the film text panel with respect to the shrink sleeve portion. 
     
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0013]      FIG. 1  depicts a typical prior art extended text label currently in the market. 
           [0014]      FIG. 2  depicts an extended text shrink sleeve of the present invention with no resealable strip. 
           [0015]      FIG. 3  depicts an extended text shrink sleeve of the present invention with a resealable strip and the top edge pulled back prior to application to packaging. 
           [0016]      FIG. 4  depicts the extended text shrink sleeve of  FIG. 2  after application to packaging. 
           [0017]      FIG. 5  depicts the extended text shrink sleeve of  FIG. 3  after application to packaging with the top edge of the resealable strip pulled back. 
           [0018]      FIG. 6  depicts a roll of material used to form the extended text shrink sleeve of the present invention. 
           [0019]      FIG. 7  depicts the width of a single extended text shrink sleeve with folds to illustrate fabrication of the present invention into an extended text shrink sleeve. 
           [0020]      FIG. 8  depicts the formation of a seam in the extended text shrink sleeve. 
           [0021]      FIG. 9  depicts a portion of the extended text shrink sleeve with the resealable strip applied. 
           [0022]      FIG. 10  depicts a portion of the extended text shrink sleeve of  FIG. 9  with the film text panel open. 
           [0023]      FIG. 11  depicts an elastically elongated extended text shrink sleeve applied to a bottle. 
           [0024]      FIG. 12  depicts an extended text shrink sleeve shrunk fit onto the bottle of  FIG. 11 . 
           [0025]      FIG. 13  depicts the extended text shrink sleeve of  FIG. 12  with the film text panel opened to display printed material in the extended text region and on the sleeve portion. 
           [0026]      FIG. 14  depicts the extended text shrink sleeve of  FIG. 12  or  FIG. 13  with the film text panel being resealed onto the shrink portion of the extended text shrink sleeve. 
           [0027]      FIG. 15  is a view of automated machinery for forming extended text shrink sleeve of the present invention, the machinery applying an adhesive to the roll of  FIG. 6  after folding a length of the roll in accordance with  FIG. 7 . 
           [0028]      FIG. 16  depicts a seaming needle developed for applying an adhesive to form a seam in an automated process for fabricating the extended text shrink sleeve of the present invention. 
           [0029]      FIG. 17  depicts a roll of resealable strip assembled to the automated machinery for fabricating the extended text shrink sleeve the present invention. 
           [0030]      FIG. 18  depicts application of the resealable strip to the extended text shrink sleeve thereby completing the extended text shrink sleeve of the present invention. 
           [0031]      FIG. 19  is a perspective view of a fabricated extended text shrink sleeve prior to application to container. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0032]    The present invention is directed to a label that includes a resealable extended text film panel that holds additional text and/or copy. The label material is capable of being stretched or elongated. The label material is first stretched in a transverse direction so that it is extended dimensionally in this direction. The material used for labels preferably has a size or shape memory so that it will attempt to return to its original size or shape usually upon application of heat. The material usually is procured in the elongated condition, but may be stretched, or elongated, by the graphics vendor so the text and/or copy is applied to the material in its stretched condition. Allowance is made when applying text or graphics for shrinkage of the printed material as the label material returns to its original shape or size. The resealable extended text film panel, once applied to the packaging or cartons, is integral with the label and is not readily separable from the label. Thus, it is not necessary to provide additional labeling on packaging or cartons as a contingency in the event that extended text instructions provided with the label are separated. As used herein, packaging or cartons refers to bottles, boxes, containers, jars, cans or other vessels used to transport, ship, convey, hold, contain or deliver product. The resealable extended text film panel preferably is provided as an integral part of a shrink sleeve label. The shrink sleeve label that includes a resealable extended text film panel is referred to herein as an extended text shrink sleeve. The resealable strip that forms part of the extended text film panel includes any strip that reseals to itself, including but not limited to pressure sensitive adhesive strip, Velcro® strip, magnetic strip, static recharge strip and the like. 
         [0033]      FIG. 2  illustrates an extended text shrink sleeve of the present invention prior to application to packaging and without a resealable strip. This embodiment simply shows the white plastic material that may be used as a label or film text panel  22  for use with an extended text shrink sleeve  10 . The extended text shrink sleeve comprises a white opaque material which will display contrasting, printed text. However, the extended text shrink sleeve is not so restricted, as any other color material may be chosen, including translucent material or clear material, provided the combination of text printing ink and background is selected to permit text printed on the material to be read. Background may be provided by the packaging itself. 
         [0034]      FIG. 3  depicts an extended text shrink sleeve  10  of the present invention with a resealable strip  18 . The top right edge  20  of the film text panel  22  is pulled back to illustrate how the extended text printing information on sleeve portion underlying the film text panel can be accessed. The resealable strip  18  includes an adhesive selected based on its ability to be resealed after a seal is broken, although, as noted above, resealing is not restricted to adhesive means. The resealable strip  18  is capable of being resealed a plurality of times, and not a single time. This enables the film text panel to be opened to access printed instructions and then resealed. Preferably, the resealable strip  18  can be cycled by opening it, resealing 6 to 12 times, and more preferably, at least 20 times. When an adhesive is used, it preferably is a pressure-sensitive adhesive. 
         [0035]      FIG. 4  depicts the extended text shrink sleeve  10  of  FIG. 2  after application to packaging. In this figure, the packaging is a bottle  30 , and film text panel  22  extends from the shrink seal label. However, in  FIG. 4 , the extended text shrink sleeve  10  does not yet include a resealable strip  18 . 
         [0036]      FIG. 5  depicts the extended text shrink sleeve  10  of  FIG. 3  after application to packaging. In this figure, the packaging is a bottle  30 . As previously noted, the packaging may take the form of any other vessel. Extended text shrink sleeve  10  has been applied to bottle  30  by a shrink fit process. As in  FIG. 3 , film text panel  22  is adhered with resealable strip  18 , although film text panel  22  is pulled back at its top right edge  20  merely to illustrate how any extended text printing information can readily be accessed. 
         [0037]      FIG. 6  depicts a roll of material  40  used to form the extended text shrink sleeve of the present invention. The width of the roll of material  40  is selected based on the size (circumference) of the container, such as bottle  30  in  FIG. 5 , plus the desired width of film text panel  22 . The material typically is a thermoplastic polymer, although any material upon which printing may be applied and that can be shrunk fit onto a container may be used. Preferably, the material is selected from the group consisting of a polyvinyl chloride (PVC), a polyethylene terephthalate (PETG), oriented polystyrene (OPS) and polylactide (PLA). As will be explained, the material can be unrolled, printed upon and shrunk fit onto a container to form the extended text shrink sleeve  10  of the present invention. 
         [0038]      FIG. 7  depicts a single extended text shrink sleeve  42  with section  44 ,  46 ,  48  defined by folds  52 ,  54  to illustrate the first step in fabrication. The overall width of extended text shrink sleeve  10  corresponds to the width of roll  40  depicted in  FIG. 6 . Folds  52 ,  54  divide the single extended text shrink sleeve  10  into three sections. The three sections  44 ,  46 ,  48  are not necessarily equal in width. The next step of the process forms the shrink sleeve for the container, which in the illustrations provided, is bottle  30 . This step involves folding one of the outer sections  44 ,  48  over middle section  46 . The outer section not folded over will form the film text panel  22 . In this example, first section  44  is folded over second (middle) section  46 . A permanent adhesive/solvent is applied either to middle section  46  along its edge adjacent to fold  54  to join section  44  to section  46  or to the edge of first section  44  in order to join section  44  to second middle section  46  adjacent to fold  54 . This adhesive/solvent may be pre-applied prior to folding. Preferably, the adhesive is applied to first section  44  after folding it over middle section  46 , as will be explained later.  FIG. 8  as well as  FIG. 19  ( FIG. 19  further depicts a tri-fold) depict the first section  44  folded over middle or second section  46 . The lower left edge of first section  44  is raised for illustration purposes. Once the adhesive/solvent has cured, the shrink sleeve portion of the extended text shrink sleeve  10  is complete and the shrink portion of extended text shrink sleeve  10  includes a seam  16 . As an alternative to using an adhesive/solvent, seam  16  may be formed by application of heat, such as by use of a heat bar, thereby permanently joining first section  44  to either middle section  46  or to third section  48  adjacent to fold  54 . Of course, these figures are illustrations only, and any required printing would already have been accomplished by the graphics supplier. A heat bar can be used to join section  44  to section  46  with or without the use of a heat activated adhesive using techniques well known in the art. 
         [0039]    The next step of the process is application of an adhesive strip or other type resealable strip  18  to film text panel  22  so that film text panel  22  can be adhered to and released from the portion of the extended text shrink sleeve  10  applied to bottle  30 . Resealable strip  18  can be applied to the right edge of first section  44  in the Figures so that film text panel  22 , which is now formed by section  48 , can be opened and closed. 
         [0040]      FIG. 9  depicts film text panel  22  with resealable strip  18  applied. Preferably, resealable strip  18  is an adhesive strip that also includes a pressure-sensitive adhesive that permits film text panel  18  to be releasably secured onto extended text shrink sleeve  10 . A resealable strip that may be used with the present invention is commercially available from Sealstrip Corp. of Boyertown, Pa. The preferred resealable strip  18  is a polypropylene film coated with a pressure sensitive adhesive. The pressure sensitive adhesive preferably is applied to the edge of the film text panel  22  opposite seam  16  so that the pressure sensitive adhesive interfaces with the shrink sleeve portion, although the pressure sensitive adhesive may be applied as well to adjacent edges of the resealable strip substantially perpendicular to seam  16  or any other area of the shrink sleeve portion underlying resealable strip  18 . The treated edge of film text panel  22  to which the adhesive resealable strip  18  is applied must be ink and slip coat free, as the pressure sensitive adhesive used to join the adhesive resealable strip  18  to film text panel  22  is adversely affected by ink, adhesive, dirt or other contaminants. The width required for application of resealable strip  18  must be sufficient so that resealable strip  18  will not release during application processes, but still will be able to be used, sealed and resealed multiple times. The resealable adhesive must be of sufficient strength so that it won&#39;t pull back from the film during additional processing. Typically the width required for the resealable portion of resealable strip  18  is about 5 mm at the overlap with film text panel  22 . Preferably the width required for the resealable strip  18  is about 3 mm, although it may be possible to develop and provide a resealable strip  18  that is as narrow as 1-2 mm. Minimizing the area required for the resealable strip results in increased area available for printed material on film text panel  22 . It is preferred that the overall width of resealable strip  18  plus film text panel  22  plus the tab associated with resealable strip  18  is about one third or less of width of film roll  40 , the balance of the width being associated with the shrink sleeve itself. 
         [0041]      FIG. 10  depicts the extended text shrink sleeve of  FIG. 9  with the film text panel  22  in an open position. As can be seen from  FIGS. 9-10 , printed information can now be included on both sides of film text panel  22  as well as on the shrink sleeve portion of extended text shrink sleeve  10  underlying film text panel  22 . Since film text panel  22  is an integral portion of extended text shrink sleeve  10 , about three times as much information can now be included on extended text shrink sleeve  10  as compared to an area of a prior art shrink sleeve. A prior art shrink sleeve could provide only an equivalent area of one surface of film text panel  22 , unless a plurality of pages is attached, as previously described and set forth in prior art embodiments. However, additional separate instructions in addition to those provided on the extended text shrink sleeve  10  are not required with the present invention since film text panel  22 , being an integral portion of extended text shrink sleeve  10 , cannot readily be separated from shrink sleeve  10 . Extended text shrink sleeve  10  can be fabricated in the form shown in  FIGS. 9 and 10  and shipped to a customer for application to the customer&#39;s containers. 
         [0042]      FIG. 11  depicts an elastically elongated extended text shrink sleeve applied to a bottle  30 . The operations performed in applying extended text shrink sleeve  10  to packaging such as bottle  30  are typically performed by the customer, and the operations described herein are exemplary. Extended text shrink sleeve  10 , having been elastically elongated and then printed upon, can now be subjected to a temperature for shrinking, usually between 80° F.-200° F. The material may be purchased in the deformed or elongated condition. The polymeric material is formed by a process known to those skilled in the art as tentering. As will be understood by those skilled in the art, when this temperature range may include ambient temperatures, the printed labels may be shipped elongated in a refrigerated condition in order to prevent the elastically elongated material from contracting prematurely. As previously discussed, the material used in shrink applications is extended dimensionally in the transverse direction. The material will maintain this extended transverse dimension temporarily until heat within the range identified is applied. Since the material has a size or shape memory, it will attempt to shrink to the original dimension upon application of heat. Once the extended text shrink sleeve  10  is suitably elongated in the transverse direction, printed upon, and formed so that it has the film text panel  22  of the present invention, it is placed over packaging such as bottle  30 . It may be possible to print upon the extended text shrink sleeve prior to elongation, so than no allowance for shrinkage in the printing operation is required. Next, heat, most preferably as radiant heat or convection heat, is applied to the printed label, and the extended text shrink sleeve  10  is “shrunk” onto the bottle as it attempts to return to its original dimensions. 
         [0043]      FIG. 12  depicts the extended text shrink sleeve  10  of  FIG. 11  after it has been shrunk fit onto bottle  30 . Extended text shrink sleeve  10 , in this example, has the same circumference as bottle  30 . The extended text shrink sleeve  10  returns to its original dimensions or takes the shape of bottle  30  and is friction fit onto bottle  30 . Alternatively, extended text shrink sleeve  10  may include a heat sensitive adhesive on the inside surface of its circumference, so that when the extended text shrink sleeve  10  is shrunk onto the bottle, it is held in place not only by friction and stress due to the shrink fit but also by the heat activated adhesive. Preferably, the adhesive is a heat-activated adhesive. After extended text heat sleeve  10  is applied to bottle  30 , the adhesive can be activated, if it has not already been activated, by raising the temperature of the sleeve and bottle to activate the adhesive. 
         [0044]      FIG. 13  depicts the extended text shrink sleeve of  FIG. 12  with film text panel  22  opened to display printed material on film text panel  22  and on the shrink fit portion of the extended text shrink sleeve  10  underlying film text panel  22 . Printed information can now be provided on both sides of film text panel  22  as well as on extended text shrink sleeve  10  underlying film text panel  22 . This permits additional instructions to be provided without concerns about the instructions being separated from the container or bottle  30 . 
         [0045]      FIG. 14  depicts the extended text shrink sleeve of  FIG. 12  with film text panel  22  being resealed onto the shrink sleeve portion of extended text shrink sleeve  10 . Once the instructions have been reviewed, film text panel  22  can be resealed against the shrink sleeve portion of extended text shrink sleeve  10 . 
         [0046]      FIGS. 6 through 9  are illustrative of the manipulation of a roll  40  of material to produce an extended text shrink sleeve  10  of the present invention. However, while illustrative of the manipulation, these figures are not representative of the automated equipment and processing methods used to mass-produce the extended text shrink sleeves  10  of the present invention.  FIGS. 15 through 18  provide a clearer representation of the automated equipment and processing used to mass-produce the extended text shrink sleeves  10  of the present invention.  FIG. 15  is a view of automated machinery for forming extended text shrink sleeve  10  of the present invention, the machinery applying an adhesive to the roll  40  of  FIG. 6  after folding a length of the roll  40  in accordance with  FIG. 7 . In  FIG. 15 , sheet from the film roll  40  has been dispensed onto machine  62  and folded into three sections. The width of the film roll is larger than has been used by prior art processes for fabricating shrink sleeve labels. The width of the film roll is determined by the size of the packaging and the size of the film text panel. The width is the sum of the sleeve portion, in the unstretched condition, and the film text panel. Second section  46  faces the platen of the machine and is not visible in  FIG. 15 . However, first section  44 , having a first or distal edge and a second opposed or proximal edge, is shown folded over second section  46 , having a first or proximal edge that corresponds to or is coextensive with the proximal edge of first section  44 , and a second opposed or distal edge, underneath third section  48 , having a proximal edge that corresponds to or is coextensive with the second distal edge of second section  46 . Also visible is an adhesive application tool  60  extending underneath third section  48 . Projecting from adhesive application tool  60  is a needle  66  (not visible in  FIG. 15 ) that extends underneath and across third section  48 . This needle  66  differs from prior art needles used to fabricate shrink fit labels in that it is longer, since it must extend all the way across the folded material in order to apply an adhesive in an effective amount onto the film adjacent to fold  54  as one exemplary method of joining first section  44  to second section  46  to form a sleeve portion. The folded material from roll  40  is advanced by a plurality of rollers  64  so that adhesive can be applied to form a seam in a continuous fashion.  FIG. 16  depicts the seaming needle  66  adjacent to prior art needles, labeled A and B, used for adhesive application. Seeming needle  66  was developed for applying an adhesive to form a seam adjacent to fold  54  in the automated process for fabricating the extended text shrink sleeve  10  of the present invention. Needle A is a standard application needle, while needle B is about 1.5 inches in length. Seeming needle  66  will vary in size depending on the position of fold  54 . In this example, needle  66  is 2 inches in length. 
         [0047]      FIG. 17  depicts a roll of resealable strip  18  assembled to the automated machine  62  for fabricating the extended text shrink sleeve  10  of the present invention. The roll of resealable strip  18  is adjacent to rollers in  FIG. 17 . Referring now to  FIG. 18 , which depicts application of resealable strip  18  to extended text shrink sleeve  10  thereby completing the extended text shrink sleeve  10  of the present invention, extended text shrink sleeve  10  from  FIG. 15  is fed through rollers. As the extended text shrink sleeve is fed through one set of rollers, resealable strip  18  is fed through a second set of rollers more clearly seen in  FIG. 17 , onto the edge of film text panel  22  and adhered to it. This completes the automated fabrication of extended text shrink sleeve  10 . The extended text shrink sleeve  10  can be provided to the customer as requested. It can be rolled onto a separate roll and shipped in this form to the customer, in which case it is likely that a perforation will be added between each individual extended text shrink sleeve  10  to simplify separation of each extended text shrink sleeve  10  by the customer. Alternatively, the customer may desire to have the extended text shrink sleeve  10  cut into individual units and shipped in a box, each box including a plurality of individual extended text shrink sleeves  10 . 
         [0048]      FIG. 19  is a perspective view of a fabricated extended text shrink sleeve  10  prior to application to container. The extended text shrink sleeve  10  will ship as a roll, or as individual units, cut and boxed in accordance with customer specifications. However the perspective view of  FIG. 19  clearly depicts the film text panel  22  which permits the addition of additional printed instructions. First section  44  is turned over at fold  52  over second section  46  and adhered to third section  48  to form seam  16  adjacent to fold  54 . After formation of seam  16 , the shrink sleeve portion  24  of the extended text shrink sleeve  10  and the film text panel  22  are formed. Resealable strip  18  is applied at an edge of the third section  48  which now forms the film text panel  22 , so that film text panel  22  can be repeatedly opened and closed against shrunk sleeve portion  24  to access additional printed information. 
       Example 
       [0049]    Referring again to  FIG. 19 , an extended text shrink sleeve of the present invention after shrinking is depicted. Dimension A is the width of film text panel  22 . In one preferred embodiment, the width of the film text panel is 76 mm. It will be understood that dimension A can be varied depending upon the information required on the label, which in turn dictates the size of the label and the size required for the shrink fit. Thus, the present invention provides an additional 152 mm (76×2) of width for printing than a conventional label. The additional overall area available for printing with the present invention in this example would be the width of film text panel  22  multiplied by the vertical dimension V of extended text shrink sleeve  10 . Dimension B is the width of inside seam  16  that forms the circumference or sleeve opening and delineates the border between this sleeve opening and film text panel  22 . In this example, Dimension B is 5 mm. Dimension C is the circumference of the sleeve opening after the sleeve is shrunk by the shrink fit process, which shrinks the sleeve onto a container. This circumferential dimension in this example is 96 mm. Resealable strip  18  includes an adhesive. Dimension D represents the width of adhesive portion of resealable strip, which is 2 mm. Each of these dimensions is exemplary, and can be varied depending upon the application. 
         [0050]    Because the present invention includes film text panel  22 , the starting film roll  40  is wider than film rolls utilized in fabricating prior art labels. The width of the starting film roll must be equal to the sum of the exterior dimensions or circumference of the packaging plus the width of film text panel  22 . The present invention also provides the advantage of automated fabrication. This fabrication uses existing machinery with modifications to permit the use of wider film rolls. The machinery is further modified to fold the film rolls and to apply an adhesive at an edge or to permit heat sealing across the width of the folded film rolls. The machinery also includes some additional equipment to permit application of resealable strip  18 . 
         [0051]    While the invention has been described with reference to a preferred embodiment, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the invention. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiment disclosed as the best mode contemplated for carrying out this invention, but that the invention will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims.