Abstract:
A three-dimensional label for a container and a method of forming the label is disclosed. The label includes a first portion flush with a surface of the container, a second portion extending away from the surface of the container, and graphics.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Technical Field 
   The present invention relates generally to labeling, and more particularly, to a method of forming a unique three-dimensional label, and the label so formed. 
   2. Related Art 
   Many labels for containers, such as beverage containers, food containers, etc., have been limited to two-dimensional designs. Attempts have been made to create three-dimensional designs formed out of the container itself, such as embossing, casting, and so on. Similarly, containers have been formed, as disclosed in the patents to Haughk et al. (U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,937,554, and 6,073,373), wherein a portion of the label is placed within the container to give the label a three-dimensional effect. However, none have provided a three-dimensional label attachable to the surface of a container. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The first general aspect of the present invention provides a three-dimensional label for a container, comprising: a raised portion extending away from a surface of the container; and an adhesive material on a surface of the label attaching the label to the surface of the container. 
   The second general aspect of the present invention provides a container having a label affixed to a surface of the container, wherein the label includes a three-dimensional design. 
   The third general aspect of the present invention provides a method of forming a three-dimensional label for a container, comprising: creating an image on a first surface of a flexible material; causing at least a portion of the image to become deformed; and adhering a second surface of the flexible material to a surface of the container. 
   The foregoing and other features of the invention will be apparent from the following more particular description of the embodiments of the invention. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The embodiments of this invention will be described in detail, with reference to the following figures, wherein like designations denote like elements, and wherein: 
       FIG. 1A  depicts a container having a three-dimensional label thereon, in accordance with the present invention; 
       FIG. 1B  depicts a container having a three-dimensional label thereon, in accordance with the present invention; 
       FIG. 2A  depicts the three-dimensional label of  FIG. 1A , in accordance with the present invention; 
       FIG. 2B  depicts the three-dimensional label of  FIG. 1B , in accordance with the present invention; and 
       FIG. 3  depicts a cross-sectional view of the container and the three-dimensional label, in accordance with the present invention. 
   

   DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   Although certain embodiments of the present invention will be shown and described in detail, it should be understood that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the appended claims. The scope of the present invention will in no way be limited to the number of constituting components, the materials thereof, the shapes thereof, the relative arrangement thereof, etc. Although the drawings are intended to illustrate the present invention, the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale. 
   The present invention provides a three-dimensional advertising label  10  on a container  12 , similar to the label  10  illustrated in  FIGS. 1A and 1B . The container  12  may be a beverage container, such as a wine bottle, as shown in this example, a soda container, a juice container, a container for food products, a container for health and beauty items such as a shampoo container, or a container for pharmaceuticals and so on. As illustrated more clearly in  FIG. 3 , which shows a cross-sectional view of the label  10  and container  12 , the label  10  may comprise a flat portion  14 , or a portion laying flush with the surface of the container  12 , and a raised or three-dimensional portion  16 , or a portion extending outward from the surface of the container  12 . Located between the raised or three-dimensional portion  16  and the surface of the container  12  is a vacancy, or space  20 . 
   As illustrated in  FIGS. 2A and 2B , the label  10  may also comprise graphics  18 , such as a company name, the contents of the container  12 , a logo, etc. In the examples illustrated herein, the containers  12  are wine bottles. The graphics  18  are printed on the flat portion  14  of the label  10 , and the three-dimensional portion  16  takes the form of splashing wine. 
   The flat portion  14 , the three-dimensional portion  16 , and the graphics  18  may be formed using various colors. Likewise, the label  10  may take various shapes and sizes, and is in no way limited by the example illustrated herein. The label  10  may cover a portion of the container  12 , as shown, or the entire container  12 , and may be located on any area of the container  12  desired. Likewise, the label  10  may be formed without the flat portion  14 , wherein the graphics  18  are printed within the three-dimensional portion  16 . The label  10  may be formed without graphics  18 . More than one label  10  may be placed on the container  12 , as desired, and so on. 
   The label  10  may be formed using a process referred to as “distortion printing,” or other similar process. For example, a label form and graphic design template is produced using a combination of solid modeling software, e.g., a pro/ENGINEER™ program, a mechanical desktop program, etc., and graphic and/or illustration software, e.g., 3-D studio™ max/viz, Corel™, etc. 
   The template is then printed onto the underside of a substantially planar sheet of flexible material, such as a clear PVC, PTEG, or other similar material, to form a printed blank. A screen printing process, offset lithography, flexographic and digital ink jet printing, or other similar process, may be used to print the template image onto the flexible material. Various color inks may be used to print the template onto the material, thereby providing a wide range of flexibility in the design of the finished label  10 . Thermoformable inks, such as UV curable inks, may be used as they exhibit the characteristics necessary to withstand the subsequent processing, such as being malleable with the application of heat, resistant to melting and bubbling, flexible, adhesive, etc. Screen printing allows for a large quantity of templates to be formed on a flat sheet of material at one time, thereby reducing the time required to produce the label  10 , however, other similar processes may also be used. 
   An adhesive material, to facilitate adhesion of the label  10  to the container  12 , such as a double-faced adhesive sheet is applied to a back surface of the label  10  prior to formation of the three-dimensional form. The three-dimensional image is then formed into the blank using a thermoforming process, or other similar molding processes. For example, the blank is clamped into a thermoforming machine. Within the thermoforming machine the blank is exposed to an array of “zoned” heating elements that bring various portions of the blank to the appropriate temperature levels. Once the blank reaches the appropriate temperature levels, the blank begins to soften. The softened blank is then placed in contact with a molding tool within the thermoforming machine. 
   It should be noted that the label  10  may be formed using a single tool, or multiple tools, such as ganged tools, etc. For instance, for shallow images a male mold may be used wherein the mold is forced into the blank. For deeper images, a female mold may be used in conjunction with a vacuum forming process to draw the blank into the mold. 
   The molded label is then cooled, as needed, and removed from the thermoforming machine. When removing the molded label from the machine, there is the risk of ink delamination. This risk may be minimized by adjusting the heating zones within the machine, utilizing a mold-release spray, drying the ink for a longer period of time before attempting removal, etc. 
   The label  10  is then trimmed, as needed, using a die-cut process, routing process, or other similarly used process. Thereafter, the label  10  is applied to the container  12 , either by hand, using an automated device, or other similarly used application process. Once applied to the container  12 , a vacancy  12 , or space, is formed between the three-dimensional portion  16  and the surface of the container  12 . 
   While this invention has been described in conjunction with the specific embodiments outlined above, it is evident that many alternatives, modifications and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, the embodiments of the invention as set forth above are intended to be illustrative, not limiting. Various changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the following claims.