Abstract:
A method for saving and reusing fluid content in a drinking container, the method includes providing a resealable label having a body with a puncturable portion and aligning the puncturable portion with an opening on the container. The method also includes securing the resealable label to the container such that the puncturable portion overlays the opening on the container to seal the fluid within the container. Further, the method includes puncturing the puncturable portion with a straw and inserting the straw through the drinking container opening and at least partially into the container.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/220,900, filed Mar. 20, 2014, pending, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
     
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0002]    This disclosure relates to labels, and more particularly, to adhesive labels for resealing beverage containers. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE 
       [0003]    Beverage containers often include an opening that allows access to a liquid within the container. When the liquid is to be consumed, the container opening is opened to allow access to the liquid, oftentimes by piercing or puncturing the opening. The liquid may then be consumed or dispensed as the liquid exits the container through the punctured opening. 
         [0004]    Beverage containers come in various sizes that include various amounts of liquid. While some beverage containers are sized to include an amount of liquid that can be consumed in a single serving, it is often the case that liquid remains in a beverage container after a serving of the liquid has been consumed. The remaining liquid is often difficult to store and may spill from the container. Unfortunately, the remaining liquid is often discarded rather than being saved for later consumption because of the difficulty of transporting and/or storing the remaining liquid. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0005]    According to a first aspect, there is provided a resealing label for resealing an opening on a beverage container. The label includes a body having a top surface and a bottom surface. A puncturable portion is formed on at least a portion of the body and is formed of a puncturable material. The puncturable portion is sized to overlay the opening. An adhesive is disposed on the bottom surface to adhere the resealing label to the beverage container when the puncturable portion is aligned with and overlays the opening in order to seal the beverage container opening. 
         [0006]    In other certain embodiments, the resealable label also includes a removable backing member secured to and overlaying the adhesive. 
         [0007]    According to other embodiments, the puncturable portion includes a weakened portion of the body. 
         [0008]    According to yet another embodiment, the puncturable portion includes a score line. 
         [0009]    In certain embodiments, the puncturable portion is formed of a metallic material. 
         [0010]    In other certain embodiments, the puncturable portion is constructed of a different material than the remainder of the body. 
         [0011]    In still other embodiments, the body is formed having a top layer, a bottom layer, and the puncturable portion is disposed between the top layer and the bottom layer. 
         [0012]    In yet another embodiment, the retention member includes a first opening and a second opening and a retention strip disposed between the first and second openings to secure the object. 
         [0013]    In a second aspect, there is provided a method for resealing a drinking container having an opening therein. The method includes providing a resealable label having a body with a puncturable portion, aligning the puncturable portion with the opening of the container, and securing the resealable label to the container such that the puncturable portion overlays and seals the opening on the container. 
         [0014]    According to some embodiments, securing the resealable label to the container includes securing the resealable label to the container with an adhesive. 
         [0015]    In certain embodiments, aligning the puncturable portion with the opening of the container includes aligning the puncturable portion with an opening on a juice box. 
         [0016]    In still other embodiments, the method further includes providing a retention member on the resealable label, the retention member having at least one opening to receive a straw. 
         [0017]    In other certain embodiments, the method further includes puncturing the puncturable portion to reopen the container 
         [0018]    In yet other embodiments, the method includes resealing the container by the following steps: (i) providing a second resealable label having a body with a puncturable portion, (ii) aligning the puncturable portion with the opening of the container, and (iii) securing the second resealable label to the container such that the puncturable portion overlays and seals the opening on the container. 
         [0019]    In a third aspect, there is provided a beverage container having an outer wall forming a storage area for storing liquid therein and an opening formed on the outer wall to facilitate access to the storage area. A resealing member removably secured to the outer wall, the resealing member including a puncturable portion formed through at least a portion of the resealing member and formed of a puncturable material, the resealing member removable from the outer wall and reattachable to the container such that the puncturable portion overlays and seals the opening on the outer wall to facilitate subsequent storage, transport and consumption of the unconsumed portion of the beverage within the container. 
         [0020]    In a fourth aspect, there is provided a resealing apparatus for resealing a beverage container. The resealing apparatus includes a top layer having a top opening, a bottom layer having a bottom opening and a puncturable layer disposed between the top layer and the bottom layer. The top opening is aligned with the bottom opening to allow for puncturing of the puncturable layer without puncturing the top layer or the bottom layer. An adhesive is disposed on the bottom layer to adhere the resealing apparatus to the beverage container so that the top opening and the bottom opening are aligned with a pre-existing opening on the beverage container. 
         [0021]    In certain embodiments, a backing layer is disposed on the adhesive to protect the adhesive from unintentional adhering prior to removal of the backing layer. 
         [0022]    In other certain embodiments, the resealing apparatus further includes a retention member having a first opening, a second opening and a retention strip disposed between the first and second openings. The retention member is configured to support an object when the object is inserted through the first opening and the second opening. 
         [0023]    In still other embodiments, the puncturable layer is formed of a material that is more easily punctured than the material of the top layer or bottom layer. 
         [0024]    Other aspects, features, and advantages will become apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which are a part of this disclosure and which illustrate, by way of example, principles of the inventions disclosed. 
     
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
         [0025]    The accompanying drawings facilitate an understanding of the various embodiments. 
           [0026]      FIG. 1  is a top view of an embodiment of a resealing label in accordance with this disclosure. 
           [0027]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of an embodiment of a resealing label coupled to a beverage container. 
           [0028]      FIG. 3  is a cutaway side view of another embodiment of a resealing label in accordance with this disclosure. 
           [0029]      FIG. 4  is a top view of a sheet that includes a plurality of resealing labels in accordance with this disclosure. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0030]      FIGS. 1 and 2  illustrate an embodiment of a resealing label  100  for covering an opening  103  on a beverage or drinking container  140 , such as, for example, a children&#39;s juice box or milk container. As illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the label  100  includes a body  101  having a puncturable portion  104  that overlays and closes the opening  103 , and a retention member  106  for retaining, as discussed in greater detail below, a straw  105  ( FIG. 3 ). In use, the puncturable portion  104  is aligned with and otherwise positioned over the opening  103  of a partially-consumed container  140 , which acts to seal the container  140  for subsequent storage, transport and consumption. As discussed in greater detail below, the resealing label  100  enables the contents inside the container  140  to be saved rather than discarded since the opening  103 , and thus container  140 , can be sealed. When it is desired to reopen the container  140  for consumption, the puncturable portion  104  is punctured (via the straw  105  or otherwise) to facilitate access to the liquid inside the container  140 . If necessary, a second resealing label  100  can be placed over the first resealing label  100  to re-seal the container  140  for subsequent storage, transport and consumption. 
         [0031]    As described above, the puncturable portion  104  is formed of a material to enable it to be punctured, torn, popped or otherwise opened in order to provide an opening through the label  100 . In the embodiment of  FIG. 1 , for example, the puncturable portion  104  includes a main opening  108  enclosed by a puncture layer  110 . The puncture layer  110  may be made of a material such as, for example, a thin metallic foil material or a plastic material. Regardless of the material, the puncturable portion  104  is formed so that it is easily punctured by a drinking straw, a user&#39;s finger/finger nail or any other object suitable for puncturing to create an opening therethrough to allow liquid passage from the container  140 . 
         [0032]    In other embodiments, the puncturable portion  104  includes weakened or scored portions of the label  100  that break away from the remainder of the label  100  when a force is applied thereto. For example, in some embodiments, the puncturable portion  104  includes a circular score line on the top surface  102  and/or bottom surface of the label  100  (i.e., the surface that contacts and/or otherwise abuts the container  140 ). In other embodiments, the puncturable portion  104  includes two score lines that intersect each other in the shape of a “T” or cross. In another embodiment, the puncturable portion  104  is a thinned region that can be easily punctured. In some embodiments, the entire label  100  is formed of a puncturable material. In addition, the puncturable portion  104  can include indicia, such as a printed circle or an “X”, to help the user align the label  100 , and in particular, align the puncturable portion  104  over the pre-existing opening  103  of the container  140 . 
         [0033]    Referring specifically to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the retention member  106  may be any mechanism suitable for securing the object  105  to the label  100 , and thus, the container  140 . In one embodiment, the retention member  106  includes a first opening  112 , a second opening  114  and a retention strip  116  disposed between the first and second openings  112  and  114 . The first opening  112  and the second opening  114  extend through the label  100  to enable an object, such as the drinking straw  105 , to be threaded through the first opening  112 , positioned under the retention strip  116  and through the second opening  114 , as best illustrated in  FIG. 2 . In this manner, a straw  105  or other object, typically sold and/or used with a children&#39;s juice box or milk container, may be removably stored with the juice box or milk container. According to some embodiments, the retention strip may be formed of a stretchable or otherwise elastic material to secure the straw  105  therethrough. 
         [0034]    In other embodiments, the retention strip  116  is formed to protrude from the top surface  102  of the label  100  to facilitate placing an object through the first opening  112 , under the retention strip  116  and through the second opening  114 . In some embodiments, the bottom surface of the retention strip  116  (i.e., the surface that faces or abuts the container  140 ) does not include an adhesive so that the retention strip  116  will not adhere to the container  140  when the label  100  is adhered to the container  140 . As such, the retention strip  116  can be pulled and/or otherwise deformed away from the container  140  to place an the straw  105  or other object between the retention strip  116  and the container  140 . In the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the retention strip  116  is formed integral with the label  100 ; however, it should be understood that the retention strip  116  may be separately attached to the label  100 , such as a separate piece of material that is otherwise secured to the label  100 . Furthermore, while the puncturable portion  104  is located adjacent a first end  118  of the resealing label  100  and the retention member  106  is located adjacent a second end  120  of the resealing label  100 , the puncturable portion  104  and the retention member  106  may be located at any other suitable location on the resealing label  100 . 
         [0035]    In other embodiments, the retention member  106  includes two scored or weakened areas on either side of a retention strip  116 . Thus, when the retention member  106  is to be used, the scored or weakened areas are punctured so that the straw  105  or other object can be placed under the retention strip  116  as previously discussed. 
         [0036]    According to embodiments disclosed herein, the label  100  is formed of any suitable material, such as paper, plastic, or may be metallic, and may include combinations thereof. For example, in some embodiments, the label  100  includes an area that is made of a material that can be marked with a pen or marker, for example, to place the name of the user. In other embodiments, the label  100  may include foil materials, such as a metal foil or a plastic foil. According to embodiments disclosed herein, the label  100  may be constructed of a single layer of material or, as discussed in greater detail below, be constructed of multiple layers that are fused, molded, glued or otherwise adhered to each other. The label  100  may be any suitable shape, such as, for example, rectangular, circular or triangular in shape. In some embodiments, the shape of the label  100  is customized to fit on a particular container  140 . 
         [0037]    In the embodiment illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the label  100  includes an adhesive (not shown) on all or a portion the bottom surface of the label  100 . In some embodiments, the label  100  includes a second layer (not shown), such as for example, a backing strip, which is attached to the adhesive so that the label  100  can be stored without exposing the adhesive. Thus, when the label  100  is to be used, the backing layer is peeled away and/or otherwise removed to expose the adhesive to facilitate application of the label  100  to the container  140 . In some embodiments, the backing layer may also include an adhesive thereon to allow the backing layer to be adhered to a surface, such as the surface of the container  140 . Thus, for example, the backing layer can be adhesively attached to the container  140  during manufacture and prior to the sale of the container  140 . When it is desired to use the label  100 , the label  100  is peeled away and/or otherwise removed from the backing layer, which remains adhered to the container  140 . The exposed adhesive is used to secure the label  100  to the container  140  and over the opening  103 , as previously discussed. 
         [0038]    In some embodiments, the label  100  is formed without a retention member  106 . In yet other embodiments, the label  100  is formed without a puncturable portion  104  and only a retention member  106 . In other embodiments, the retention member  106  is removable or otherwise separable from the portion of the label  100  that includes the puncturable portion  104 . For example, in some embodiments, a score line, perforation line or other weakened line  107  ( FIG. 1 ) is formed between the retention member  106  and the puncturable portion  104  on the label  100  to facilitate tearing and separation of the label  100  along the line  107 . In other embodiments, the label  100  includes two separate portions. In such an embodiment, the puncturable portion  104  is be located on a first portion of the label  100  and the retention member  106  is located on a separate, second portion of the label  100 . As such, the first portion of the label  100  that includes the puncturable portion  104  may be adhered to a beverage container so that the puncturable portion  104  covers the opening  103  of the container  140  and the portion of the label  100  that includes the retention member  106  may be separately adhered to a side  142  surface of the container  140 . 
         [0039]    According to some embodiments, the label  100  is formed of a substantially flat, flexible material or, in the alternative, the label  100  is preconfigured in a specified shape. For example, in some embodiments, the puncturable portion  104  and surrounding portions of the label  100  are creased or otherwise bent so that the puncturable portion  104  can be easily adhered on a valley-shaped surface, such as a valley-shaped surface found on some juice pouch containers. According to some embodiments, the adhesive is a food-grade adhesive and the label  100  is formed of a food-grade material. 
         [0040]      FIG. 3  is a side view of another embodiment of a sealing label  200  that includes a top layer  230 , a bottom layer  234  having an adhesive  280 , a middle layer  232  disposed between the top and bottom layers  230  and  234 , and an optional backing layer  284  attached to the adhesive layer . In  FIG. 3 , the top layer  230  includes a top opening  236  that is aligned with a bottom opening  238  in the bottom layer  234 . In some embodiments, the perimeter of the top opening  236  is coextensive with the perimeter of the bottom opening  238  and the middle layer  232 , which is formed of a puncturable material, is disposed between and otherwise exposed via the openings  236  and  238 . Thus, in use, a user inserts an object, such as, for example, a straw, through the resealing label  200  by entering the top opening  236 , puncturing the middle layer  232  and then exiting through the bottom opening  238 . In some embodiments, the top and bottom layers  230  and  234  are made of a plastic material and the middle layer  232  is made of a thin and easily puncturable metal material that may include a thin plastic coating. While the middle layer  232  is shown to be co-extensive with the top and bottom layers  230  and  234 , the middle layer  232  may be smaller or larger than the top and bottom layers  230  and  234 . Similarly, the top and bottom layers  230  and  234  may be coextensive or the top layer  230  may be larger or smaller than the bottom layer  234 . 
         [0041]    In the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 3 , the retention member  206  includes a first opening  212 , a second opening  214  and a retention strip  216  disposed between the openings  212  and  214 . The first and second openings  212  and  214  pass through all or part of the top layer  230 , the middle layer  232  and/or the bottom layer  234 . The retention strip  216  is located between the first opening  212  and the second opening  214  and is detachable from the middle layer  232  or the bottom layer  234 , depending on which layers  230 ,  232  and/or  234  are passed through by the first opening  212  and the second opening  214 . In some embodiments, for example, the first opening  212  and the second opening  214  pass through at least a portion of the top layer  230  and the retention strip  216  is formed by the portion of the top layer  230  between the first opening  212  and the second opening  214 . In some embodiments, the first opening  212  and the second opening  214  pass through the top layer  230  and the middle layer  232  and the retention strip  216  is formed by the top layer  230  and the middle layer  232 . 
         [0042]    As described above, the bottom layer  234  may include an adhesive  280  or may be formed of an adhesive material. In some embodiments, the exposed portion of the middle layer  232  may also include an adhesive (not shown). The adhesive  280  allows the resealing label  200  to be secured to a beverage container to seal a pre-existing opening of the beverage container. All or only parts of the bottom layer  234  may include the adhesive  280 . For example, the retention strip  216  may not include the adhesive  280 , as shown in  FIG. 2 . 
         [0043]    Referring again to  FIG. 2 , the retention member  106  is secured to a lateral side  142  of the container  140 . In some embodiments, for example, a user may consume some of the liquid in the container  140  using a straw that was included with the container  140 . If the user does not consume all of the liquid in the container  140 , the user may place a label  100  on the container  140  so that the puncturable portion  104  is positioned over the pre-existing opening  103  and the retention member  306  is secured to the container  140 , and as shown in the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the lateral side  142  of the container  140 . The user may then place the straw  105  in the retention member  106  by placing the straw  105  through the first opening  312 , under the retention strip  116  and then through the second opening  114 . In this manner, the retention strip  116  holds the straw  105  against and with the beverage container  140  so that the straw  105  can be transported and stored with the beverage container  140  and then reused. When the user desires to consume more liquid in the container  140 , the user removes the straw  105  from the retention member  106  and uses an end of the straw to puncture the puncturable portion  104  to gain access to the contents inside the container  140 . If further storage of the contents inside the container  140  is desired, a second label  100  can be used to overlay the first label  100  and subsequently punctured as previously described. 
         [0044]      FIG. 4  shows a top view of a sheet  402  that includes a plurality of sealing labels  400 . The labels  400  may be secured to the sheet  402  by the adhesive that is later used to secure the label  400  to the container  340 . In other embodiments, the sealing labels  400  include a second or backing layer (such as backing layer  284  in  FIG. 3 ) having an adhesive thereon so that the second or backing layer is secured to the sheet  402 . As such, the label  400  can be removed from the sheet  402  with the second or backing layer attached to the label  400  so that the adhesive of the label  400  is not yet exposed. The backing layer can later be removed from the label  400  to expose the adhesive of the label  400  when the label  400  is ready to be placed on a beverage container  140 . In some embodiments, the backing layer may be employed without an adhesive thereon such that the label can be transported in a purse, a pocket, or otherwise, and then when it is desired to use the label  400 , the backing can be peeled away to expose the adhesive layer for securing to the container  140 . According to some embodiments, extra straws  105  may be pre-packaged with the sheet  402  or one or more labels  400  for subsequent use therewith. 
         [0045]    In the foregoing description of certain embodiments, specific terminology has been resorted to for the sake of clarity. However, the disclosure is not intended to be limited to the specific terms so selected, and it is to be understood that each specific term includes other technical equivalents which operate in a similar manner to accomplish a similar technical purpose. Terms such as “left” and right”, “front” and “rear”, “above” and “below” and the like are used as words of convenience to provide reference points and are not to be construed as limiting terms. 
         [0046]    In this specification, the word “comprising” is to be understood in its “open” sense, that is, in the sense of “including”, and thus not limited to its “closed” sense, that is the sense of “consisting only of.” A corresponding meaning is to be attributed to the corresponding words “comprise”, “comprised” and “comprises” where they appear. 
         [0047]    In addition, the foregoing describes only some embodiments of the invention(s), and alterations, modifications, additions and/or changes can be made thereto without departing from the scope and spirit of the disclosed embodiments, the embodiments being illustrative and not restrictive. 
         [0048]    Furthermore, while invention(s) have been described in connection with what are presently considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that the inventions are not to be limited to the disclosed embodiments. Also, the various embodiments described above may be implemented in conjunction with other embodiments, e.g., aspects of one embodiment may be combined with aspects of another embodiment to realize yet other embodiments. Further, each independent feature or component of any given assembly may constitute an additional embodiment.