Patent Publication Number: US-2015086744-A1

Title: Label With Detachable Ticket

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Labels provide a useful means for communication. Labels can convey various information, including product description, advertisements, and warnings. Labels can be attached to numerous items in a variety of ways. Labels are often affixed to an article of commerce to communicate an advertisement. There exists a need for a better way to affix and distribute these labels. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The novel features believed characteristic of the invention are set forth in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, as well as a preferred mode of use, further objectives and advantages thereof, will be best understood by reference to the following detailed description of illustrative embodiments when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
         FIG. 1  shows the front face of a label in one embodiment; 
         FIG. 2  shows the back face of a label in one embodiment; 
         FIG. 3  shows the back face of the detachable portion with an adhesive area on the lower portion in one embodiment; 
         FIG. 4  shows the back face of the detachable portion with adhesive areas located on the left and right edges of the detachable portion in one embodiment; 
         FIG. 5  shows the front face of a label in one embodiment; 
         FIG. 6  shows the front face of a label affixed to a product in one embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Several embodiments of Applicant&#39;s invention will now be described with reference to the drawings. Unless otherwise noted, like elements will be identified by identical numbers throughout all figures. The invention illustratively disclosed herein suitably may be practiced in the absence of any element that is not specifically disclosed herein. 
     Various embodiments relate to a label  101  with a detachable portion  103 . For example,  FIG. 1  shows the front face  100  of a label  101  in one embodiment. In this embodiment, the label  101  comprises a remaining portion  102 , a detachable portion  103 , and a weakened connection  104 . As used herein, a “label”  101  is anything that can be affixed to an article of commerce to communicate information such as product description, advertisements, and warnings. A label  101  can include any material, including but not limited to paper, polypropylene, plastic, cloth, film, metallic film, thermal label stock, thermal transfer ribbon, etc., and combinations thereof. 
     The label  101  can be made from a single-layer material or from a material with multiple layers. In one embodiment, the label  101  comprises a material made of a plurality of substrates, wherein the substrates are permanently adhered such that the substrates form a single layer. As used herein, a “single layer” can refer to one layer, but it can also refer to more than one layer wherein the layers are permanently adhered and look and function as if a single layer. 
     As depicted in  FIG. 1 , the remaining portion  102  is coupled to the detachable portion  103  via a weakened connection  104 . As used herein, a “weakened connection”  104  refers to a connection that is weakened so that it can be separated by an ordinary consumer. Examples of a weakened connection  104  include perforation lines, scoring lines, double perforation lines, and double scoring lines. Another example of a weakened connection  104  includes striped lamination whereby, for example, a laminate which normally has three layers only has two at the weakened connection. 
     In one embodiment, the perforation line is led with a cut line. This means, as can be seen in  FIG. 1 , that the perforation line comprises a cut which extends to the edge of the label  101 . A cut line which extends to the edge of the label  101  assists in the propagation of the tear and ensures that the tear occurs at the desired location, specifically the perforation line or lines. In one embodiment, the perforation line is led with a cut of about 1 mm to about 3 mm in length. In one embodiment standard perforations are used whereas in other embodiments micro-perforations can be used. 
     As noted above, in one embodiment two or more weakened connections  104  are utilized. Having two or more weakened connections  104  helps the tear propagate in the desired location. If upon tearing, the tear line leaves one weakened connection  104  and begins to tear along the label where there is no weakened connection  104 , then the tear line will intersect a second weakened connection  104 . Given that the weakened connection  104  is a path of least resistance, having two or more weakened connections  104  decreases the possibility that a label will be torn in an undesired location. 
     While a perforation line has been described, the weakened connection  104  is not so limited. In another embodiment, the weakened connection  104  comprises a scoring line or a plurality of scoring lines. A scoring line acts like a perforation line previously described and provides decreased resistance to ensure that a tear propagates in the desired location. Score lines can be created with any method known in the art, including but not limited to, chemical reactions, mechanical scoring, scoring via laser, etc. In one embodiment, the weakened connection  104  forms a line that is approximately straight. Thus, for example, in one embodiment, and as depicted in  FIG. 1 , the remaining portion  102  of the label  101  and the detachable portion  103  form shapes that are approximately rectangular. In other embodiments, the weakened connection  104  forms a line that is non-linear or complex. In these embodiments, the remaining portion  102  and detachable portion  103  can form a shape that is approximately a regular polygon, a quadrilateral, circular, elliptical, a complex polygon, or an irregular polygon. In other embodiments, the weakened connection  104  forms a plurality of lines, forming various shapes. Those skilled in the art will understand that various modifications can be made to the number of weakened connections  104 , to the shape of the remaining portion  102  and the detachable portion  103 , and to the number or remaining portions  102  and detachable portions  103  without departing from the spirit and scope of the these embodiments. 
     In the embodiment presented in  FIG. 1 , the remaining portion  102  comprises any message typically associated with a label  101 . Examples of remaining portions  102  include a printed message  105 , an image  106 , a barcode  107 , or any combination of these. 
     As depicted in  FIG. 1 , the detachable portion  103  comprises a ticket  108 . As used herein, a “ticket”  108  is any item that can be used when separated from a label  101 . Examples of a ticket  108  include a coupon, a promotional game piece, an advertisement, a marker, a tag, a token, a warning, an instruction, a collectible item, a recipe, etc. 
     It often is beneficial to place a ticket  108  on the front face  100  of a product. Such placement can more easily influence a potential purchaser at the point of sale than if the ticket  108  is placed on the product in another location. In such embodiments, because the ticket  108  is located on the front face of the product, the customer can better see the ticket  108 . This is an advantage over embodiments wherein a coupon, for example, is placed on a back or side facing label. 
     In one embodiment the removable portion  103  is integrally made with the product label  101 . As used herein, two portions are “integrally made” if they are manufactured as a single body and look and function as if a single body. An integrally made ticket  108  and label  101  decreases capital costs, decreases manufacturing costs, simplifies the manufacturing process, and increases the speed of production. When a ticket  108  is not integrally made, a product manufacturer must purchase a separate ticket  108  and must have a separate application station to affix the ticket  108  to the product. An integrally made label  101  and ticket  108  greatly simplifies the packaging process. 
     In one embodiment, the detachable portion  103  and the remaining portion  102  are integrally made and then a weakened connection  104  is added to the label  101  such that the detachable portion  103  and remaining portion  102  are removably coupled. The weakened connection  104  can be added before label printing or after label printing. 
     In some embodiments the detachable portion  103  is of a sufficient size such that the detachable portion  103  is large enough that it can be easily read. In addition, it can be beneficial for the detachable portion  103  to be of sufficient size that it can convey certain information. Thus, in one embodiment, the detachable portion  103  comprises greater than about 25% of the total surface area of the label  101 . In another embodiment, the detachable portion  103  comprises more than about 50% of the total surface area of the label  101 . 
       FIG. 2  shows the back face  209  of a label  101  in one embodiment. In the embodiment depicted in  FIG. 2 , the back face  209  of the label  101 , including the remaining portion  102  and the detachable portion  103 , comprises an adhesive  210 . As depicted, the entire back face  209  comprises an adhesive. In some embodiments it is beneficial for the entire back face  209  of the label  101  to comprise an adhesive  210  because it can be cheaper and quicker to apply an adhesive  210  to the entire back face  209  of the label  101  rather than determining specific regions of the label  101  in which adhesive  210  will be and will not be applied. Thus, in some embodiments over 75% of the back label face  209  surface area comprises an adhesive. In other embodiments over 90% of the back label face  209  surface area comprises an adhesive. 
     As used herein, an “adhesive”  210  is any substance that allows one surface to adhere to another surface. Examples of an adhesive  210  include but are not limited to a pressure sensitive adhesive, a hot-melt adhesive, a water-activating adhesive, a thermoplastic adhesive, a wet glue, and a water moistenable gummed adhesive. In one embodiment the label  101  itself can act as an adhesive. For example, if the label  101  is plastic, the label  101  can be heat sealed against a container. In still other embodiments, an adhesive is a separate material which is applied to label to affix the label  101  to a product. 
     In one embodiment, and as depicted in  FIG. 2 , the same adhesive  210  is applied to the remaining portion  102  and the detachable portion  103 . This promotes efficiency and decreases costs as a single adhesive can be applied to the entire label. However, in another embodiment dissimilar adhesives are utilized. For example, a first adhesive is applied in the remaining portion  102  whereas a second adhesive is applied in the detachable portion  103 . In one embodiment, the first and second adhesives comprise different strengths. As an example, the second adhesive in the detachable portion  103  can be weaker than the first adhesive in the remaining portion  102 , such that the detachable portion  103  is removably adhered while the remaining portion  102  is permanently adhered. 
     As mentioned above, it is often cheaper and quicker to apply an adhesive  210  universally to the entire label  101 . However, so that the detachable portion  103  can be detached, the back face  209  of the detachable portion  103  in certain embodiments comprises an adhesive  210  and a non-adhesive  211 , as depicted in  FIG. 2 . 
     As used herein, a “non-adhesive” refers to any substance that deactivates or covers an adhesive rendering the adhesive inactive. Various non-adhesives  211  can be used, such as resin varnish, acrylic varnish, waterborne varnish, spirit varnish, oil varnish, drying oil, lacquer, polyurethane varnish, and epoxy varnish. In one embodiment the non-adhesive comprises another layer of film which covers the adhesive rendering it inactive. 
     A non-adhesive  211  on the detachable portion  103  weakens or deactivates the adhesive such that the detachable portion  103  is not permanently adhered to the product. Thus, the non-adhesive  211  allows the detachable portion  103  to be removed while allowing the remaining portion  102  to remain adhered to the container. The consumer can then use the detachable portion  103  in the desired manner such as redeeming as a coupon, raffle, etc. 
     As depicted in  FIG. 2 , the entire label, including the remaining portion  102  and the detachable portion  103 , is covered by an adhesive  210 . Further, as depicted, the entire detachable portion  103  is covered with a non-adhesive  211 . This embodiment, however, is not so limiting. In other embodiments, as will be discussed in more detail below, the non-adhesive  211  is not applied to the entire detachable portion  103  leaving some adhesive  210  activated. Further, in some embodiments, the non-adhesive  211  can be pattern applied to deactivate sufficient adhesive to allow the detachable portion  103  to be detachable. Thus, for example, rather than the non-adhesive  211  covering the entire detachable portion  103  as depicted in  FIG. 2 , only portions of the detachable portion  103  comprise non-adhesive  211  and there are portions of exposed adhesive  210 . 
     In the embodiment presented in  FIG. 2 , the back face  209  of the detachable portion  103  further comprises a ticket  108 . In one embodiment it is beneficial for both the front face  100  and the back face  209  of the detachable portion  103  to comprise a ticket  108  because it increases the amount of surface area available to communicate information. Thus, in certain embodiments, the back face  209  of the detachable portion  103 , like the front face  100  of the remaining portion  102 , comprises a printed message  105 , an image  106 , a barcode  107 , or any combination previously described. 
     In some embodiments, one problem that occurs when the detachable portion  103  comprises a non-adhesive  211  is that the detachable portion  103  can curl up, creating an appearance that is undesirable. This is exacerbated when the label is applied hot because as the label cools it retracts. Because in some embodiments the detachable portion  103  is not adhered due to the non-adhesive  211 , the detachable portion  103  retracts and curls as it cools. Further, an additional problem is if the corners and edges are not adhered, the corners and edges can be unintentionally snagged to initiate a tear. To overcome these problems, in some embodiments, the non-adhesive  211  is not applied to the entire back face  209  of the detachable portion  103 . Thus, not all of the adhesive  210  on the back face  209  of the detachable portion  103  is deactivated. 
       FIG. 3  shows the back face of the detachable portion with an adhesive area on the lower portion in one embodiment. In this embodiment, the detachable portion  103  comprises a non-adhesive area  312  which comprises a non-adhesive, and an adhesive area  313  which does not comprise a non-adhesive. As depicted, the non-adhesive area  312  is located closest to the weakened connection and is above the adhesive area  313 . The adhesive area  313 , as shown, comprises a line along the lower edge of the detachable portion  103 . This arrangement is for illustrative purposes only and should not be deemed limiting. The non-adhesive area  312  in this embodiment comprises an adhesive  210  and a non-adhesive  211  located atop the adhesive  210 . The non-adhesive area  312  is the portion of the detachable portion  103  which is not adhered to the product. Also depicted, the adhesive area  313  in this embodiment comprises an adhesive  210  but does not comprise a non-adhesive  211 . In one embodiment, the adhesive  210  in the adhesive area  313  of the detachable portion  103  has not been deactivated. This adhesive  210  adheres the adhesive area  313  to the product and decreases and/or eliminates curling due to unintentional snags and cooling. In one embodiment the surface area of the adhesive area  313  provides sufficient adhesion to prevent curling but not so much adhesion as to prevent the detachable portion  103  from detaching. Thus, in one embodiment the adhesion force provided by the adhesive area  313  can be easily broken by a customer wishing to detach the detachable portion  103 . The thickness of the adhesive area  313  can vary by application. Thicknesses lower than a millimeter and larger than ½ of an inch can be utilized. In one embodiment the adhesive area  313  comprises a thickness of ⅛ of an inch. 
     In some embodiments the surface area of the adhesive area  313 , the portion of the detachable portion  103  which remains adhesive, is minimized to prevent the detachable portion  103  from becoming permanently adhered to the product or from undesirably preventing the detachable portion  103  from becoming detachable. Thus, in one embodiment, the non-adhesive area  312  of the detachable portion  103  of the label  101  comprises at least about 80% of the surface area of the detachable portion  103 . In another embodiment, the non-adhesive area  312  comprises at least about 90% of the surface area of the detachable portion  103 . In another embodiment, the non-adhesive area  312  comprises at least about 95% of the surface area of the detachable portion  103 . 
     While  FIG. 3  shows the adhesive area  313  located as a line along the lower edge of the detachable portion  103 , this example is for illustrative purposes and should not be deemed limiting. The adhesive area  313  of the detachable portion  103  can be located in a variety of places.  FIG. 4  shows the back face of the detachable portion with adhesive areas  313  located on the left and right edges of the detachable portion. As depicted, the non-adhesive area  312  is in the middle and is flanked by two adhesive areas  313  on either side. The selective application of the non-adhesive  211  as demonstrated in  FIG. 4  prevents the detachable portion  103  from experiencing curl-up while still allowing the detachable portion  103  to be easily removed by an ordinary consumer. While  FIGS. 3 and 4  have shown embodiments wherein the adhesive areas  313  are located along an edge, these locations are for illustrative purposes only and should not be deemed limiting. For example, the selective application of non-adhesive  211  can be utilized in the corners to prevent curling. In such embodiments, only the corners will comprise an adhesive area  313  whereas the other portions of the detachable portion  103  comprise a non-adhesive area  312 . Taken further, while  FIGS. 3 and 4  have illustrated a linear shape for the adhesive area  313 , this shape is not limiting. The adhesive area  313  and the non-adhesive area  312  can comprise virtually any shape. 
     Returning back to  FIG. 3 , while an embodiment showing the adhesive portion  313  and the non-adhesive portion  312  having the same adhesive  210  have been described, separate adhesives are utilized in some embodiments. For example, a first adhesive is applied in the adhesive area  313  while a second dissimilar adhesive is applied in the non-adhesive area  312 . In one embodiment, the first and second adhesives comprise different strengths. As an example, the second adhesive applied in the non-adhesive portion  313  can be weaker than the first adhesive applied in the adhesive area  313 , such that the adhesive area  313  is more difficult to remove than the non-adhesive area  312  to prevent curling and accidental tearing. 
     In one embodiment the label  101  comprises a plurality of detachable portions  103 .  FIG. 5  shows the front face  100  of one embodiment. In this embodiment, a label  101  comprises a remaining portion  102 , two detachable portions  103 , and three weakened connections  104 . In this embodiment, each detachable portion  103  comprises a ticket  108 . While an embodiment showing a label  101  comprising two detachable portions  103  has been described, a label  101  comprises a plurality of detachable portions  103  in another embodiment. In one embodiment, the detachable portions  103  are positioned such that they share one or more weakened connections  104 . In another embodiment, the detachable portions  103  do not share a weakened connection  104 . 
       FIG. 6  shows the front face  100  of one embodiment. In this embodiment, a label  101  is affixed to a product  616 . As used herein, a “product”  616  is any article of commerce upon which a label  101  can be affixed. Examples of a product  616  include but are not limited to non-packaged goods, such as fruit, vegetables, or other produce, and packaged goods, such as cans, containers, jars, bags, and bottles. 
     In one embodiment, the label is affixed to a product  616  so as to act as a security device which shows when a product has been opened. For example, in one embodiment the detachable portion  103  is positioned over the lid. When the detachable portion  103  has been removed, this demonstrates that the package has been opened. This embodiment is suitable for virtually any type of product including software, food, pharmaceuticals, etc. 
     As noted above, in one embodiment the detachable portion  103  is located on the front label  101 , a customer is more likely to see and utilize the detachable portion  103  compared to embodiments wherein a coupon, for example, is on the back or side faces of the package which are not visible. Consequently, locating a detachable portion  103  on the front face of a package increases visibility, and therefore distribution of the detachable portions  103 . 
     The first step in increasing distribution of a coupon is obtaining a label  101  as previously described. Thereafter, an adhesive is applied. In one embodiment, the step of applying an adhesive  210  comprises applying the adhesive  210  to the label  101 . In another embodiment, the step of applying an adhesive  210  comprises applying the adhesive  210  to the product  616 . As noted, in one embodiment the same adhesive is applied to the remaining portion and the detachable portion. 
     Next, a non-adhesive  211  is applied. The non-adhesive  211  can be applied to the label or to the product. In one embodiment the entire detachable portion  103  is coated with a non-adhesive  211 . In other embodiments, however, portions of the detachable portions  103  are not coated with a non-adhesive resulting in an adhesive area  313 . In one embodiment the non-adhesive  211  is applied atop the adhesive  210 . 
     Thereafter, the label  101  is affixed to a product  616 . In one embodiment the affixing step comprises affixing such that the remaining portion  102  is permanently adhered to the product  616  and such the detachable portion  103  is removably adhered. 
     Finally, the product  616  is distributed. Consumers can detach the detachable portion  103  and redeem for the stated use. As noted, such method increases the distribution rate of the detachable portion. 
     As noted above, the method of distribution has several advantages. First, the redemption rates are increased compared to supplemental coupons which are affixed to the rear or sides of the containers. Redemption rates of coupons have increased by 3-4 times compared to traditional coupons. Further, because the coupon is integrated into the label, existing packaging machinery can be utilized. This reduces capital cost as additional equipment is not required. 
     While  FIG. 6  shows an embodiment of one ticket  108  that can be distributed, the method of distributing a ticket  108  herein described applies to all of the labels  101 , remaining portions  102 , and detachable portions  103  previously described herein. 
     In one embodiment, the label  101  can be attached to a product  616  as a security device that shows when the product  616  has been opened, including products  616  such as a pharmaceutical bottle or a desktop computer. In another embodiment, the label  101  can be attached to a surface. 
     While the invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to a preferred embodiment, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and detail may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.