Abstract:
A bottle is disclosed with a configuration allowing for multiple labeling options. Specifically, the sidewall of the bottle includes at least label boundaries, defined in the generally cylindrical portion thereof. These label boundaries further define at least two labeling options for the bottle.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0002]    This invention relates generally to a bottle configuration having multiple indented label panels suitable for attaching a variety of label sizes. The labels are generally a wrap-a-round variety or a stretchable sleeve variety. The bottle typically has a circular cross-sectional shape, but largely square, rectangular, oval or other cross-sectional shapes are practical. The invention is suited for bottles made of polyester materials, such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET), or other polymeric materials.  
           [0003]    2. Description of the Prior Art  
           [0004]    In the scheme of things, the bottle serves various purposes in today&#39;s market, particularly for products sold and delivered through “self-service” outlets. The bottle often plays an important role in product marketing and promotion. The bottle helps establish a product image and usually helps to differentiate the product from other similar products. The bottle often provides consumer convenience and ease of product use. Consequently, many different bottle shapes are evident in the marketplace.  
           [0005]    However, the bottle itself is usually not a consumer product. Its primary purpose is to serve as a vessel necessary to hold, convey, and protect the product until used by the consumer. The consumer usually discards the bottle when finished. Consequently, a bottle, while interested in properly protecting and creating a positive product image, is also interested in a functional low cost bottle.  
           [0006]    A bottle supplier can reduce cost by minimizing the amount of material used. Bottle functionality, while often specific to each application, involves careful detailing of bottle shape and structure, particularly when minimizing the amount of material used. Some shapes are more suitable than others for providing high structural functionality at a reduced weight.  
           [0007]    Furthermore, the bottle supplier can reduce cost through standardization. Certain economies are available if the bottle manufacturer can supply the same functional bottle shape to several bottlers. Nonetheless, a standardized bottle shape sold to several bottlers makes marketplace differentiation more difficult for each bottler, particularly for a commodity product like bottled water.  
           [0008]    Fortunately, the bottlers can also establish marketplace differentiation through bottle labeling. The colors, graphics, shape and size all play an important role. Unfortunately, bottle handling, at the bottling facility and at the consumer outlet, can scuff or otherwise damage the bottle label, distracting from product image. Consumers in a “self-serve” outlet will not likely select a bottle with a damaged label when a bottle without a damaged label is readily at hand.  
           [0009]    The labeling area of the bottle can be recessed or indented. This indentation helps to protect the label, such as a wrap-a-round label, a sleeve label or other label, from damage caused during bottle handling. The wrap-a-round label is a flat sheet. When applied to the bottle, two ends of the wrap-a-round label overlap and attach to each other. The stretchable sleeve label is a tube. Applying the stretchable sleeve label is usually from above and from a direction corresponding to the neck finish. In the case where the stretchable sleeve label is used, the indentations help retain the label in its proper location minimizing slippage.  
           [0010]    Before to this invention, an indentation provision was specific for a particular label size and position. For that bottle, no matter what label the bottlers applied, label size and position relative to other bottle features was constant. Label graphics, notwithstanding, products packaged in a standardized bottle shape with a standardized label size and position by several bottlers will tend to look the same to many “self-serve” shoppers making a quick choice decision.  
           [0011]    The purpose of this invention is to provide a highly functional lightweight, standardized bottle shape for commodity products, such as bottled water. The bottle offers the bottlers the advantage of indented labeling surfaces that help to protect applied labels from damage, while allowing a selection of alternative label size and positions. This arrangement provides the bottlers the opportunity for better product differentiation with out resorting to more costly customized bottle configurations.  
           [0012]    The bottle comprises a neck finish having an opening through which the filler typically fills product into the bottle and the consumer typically dispenses the product from the bottle. Depending from the neck finish is a bottle sidewall. Depending from the sidewall is a closed base. In most applications, this base supports the bottle while it rests on a suitable surface. The sidewall features at least three indented label boundaries. The bottlers can combine these boundaries to create at least two label area alternatives for either the wrap-a-round label or the stretchable sleeve label.  
           [0013]    In the case of three boundaries, one of the boundaries is common for two alternatives. The other two boundaries create two alternative labeling areas. The larger of the two alternative labeling areas requires an applied label to cover and conceal one of the indented boundaries. To minimize “print-through,” depth of the concealed boundary indentation is often at a minimum. “Print-through” is a slight bulge or mark on the applied label at the point of the concealed boundary.  
           [0014]    In another embodiment, the sidewall features four indented label boundaries. In this case, two of the boundaries are near the bottle neck-finish. The other two boundaries are near the bottle base. This arrangement offers the bottlers four labeling alternatives. Although the bottle shape is identical, the label alternatives have different size and/or position offering opportunities when combined with different label graphics to create a strikingly different look to the bottle.  
           [0015]    Other embodiments include, five indented boundaries offering the bottlers six labeling alternatives and six indented boundaries offering nine labeling alternatives.  
           [0016]    From the following description of the preferred embodiment, the appended claims, and the accompanying drawings, additional benefits and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art to which the present invention relates. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0017]    FIG. I is an elevational view of a bottle with multiple label panels;  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 1 a  and  1   b  are enlarged views, each of a portion of the bottle shown in FIG. 1;  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 2 is a top view of the bottle seen in FIG. 1; and  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 3 a ,  3   b ,  3   c , and  3   d  are elevational views of the bottle in FIG. 1 showing various label treatments.  
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0021]    Referring now to the drawings, FIG. 1 illustrates a bottle  10  with a neck finish  12  for attachment of a closure (not illustrated) and having an opening  14  (FIG. 2), a sidewall  16 , and a base  18 . For purposes of this application, sidewall  16  is the entire length from the neck finish  12  to base  18 . Grooves  36  are typical reinforcements to stiffen the sidewall  16 .  
         [0022]    Sidewall  16  features four label boundaries  20 ,  22 ,  24 , and  26  defined by shoulders and forming four labeling areas or label panel options, a large label panel  28 , a first intermediate label panel  30 , a second intermediate label panel  32 , and a small label panel  34 .  
         [0023]    As seen in FIG. 1 a  and  1   b , each label boundary  20 ,  22 ,  24 , and  26  steps a radial distance  21 ,  23 ,  25 , and  27  respectively. For most bottle  10  configurations, the distances  21 ,  23 ,  25 , and  27  are typically between 0.010 to 0.040. In other words, the radial distance between two adjacent portions of the labeling areas, as measured from a central longitudinal axis  29 , is in the range of 0.01 and 0.04 inch, and preferably between 0.010 to 0.015 inch.  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 2 is a top view clearly showing that bottle  10  is circular in nature. Circular bottles are typically lighter in weight for a given size and generally more suitable for applying a “wrap-a-round” 0  or stretchable sleeve label; however, this invention is equally suitable for bottles with a substantially oval, square, or rectangular nature.  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 3 a ,  3   b ,  3   c , and  3   d  illustrate available label options. FIG. 3 a  shows a large label  29  sized between the label boundaries  20  and  26 . The areas immediately above and below the label boundaries  20  and  26 , respectively, define the maximum diameter of the bottle  10 . The large label  29  when applied to the large label panel  28  conceals the label boundaries  22  and  24  shown in FIG. 1. Accordingly, the large label panel  28  defines a first effective diameter.  
         [0026]    [0026]FIG. 3 b  shows a first intermediate label  31  sized between the label boundaries  20  and  24 . The first intermediate label  31  when applied to the first intermediate label panel  30  conceals the label boundary  22  shown in FIG. 1. With the first intermediate label  31 , the label boundary  26  remains visible. The first immediate label panel  30  defining another effective diameter being less than said first effective diameter. In calculating said second effective diameter, it may be considered as either the average between the two adjacent portions of the labeling areas or just the lesser of the two. This is also applicable to the second immediate label  33  and small label  35 .  
         [0027]    [0027]FIG. 3 c  shows a second intermediate label  33  sized between the label boundaries  22  and  26 . The second intermediate label  33  when applied to the second intermediate label panel  32  will conceal the label boundary  24  shown in FIG. 1. With the second intermediate label  33 , the label boundary  20  remains visible.  
         [0028]    [0028]FIG. 3 d  shows a small label  35  sized between the label boundaries  22  and  24 . The small label  35  when applied to the small label panel  34  will not conceal the other label boundaries. With the small label  35 , the label boundaries  20  and  26  remain visible.  
         [0029]    The label boundaries  20  and  26  indented the distance  21  and  27  respectively, effectively indents the large label panel  28 , which helps to protect, the large label  29  from damage or minimizes slippage of the large label  29  from its proper position. The indentation of the large label panel  28  effectively indents the first intermediate label panel  30 , second intermediate label panel  32 , and small label panel  34  as well.  
         [0030]    For a given bottle  10  configuration, the distance  21 ,  23 ,  25 , and  27  can be identical. To provide an extra measure of label protection, the distance  21  and  27  can be slightly greater than the distance  23  and  25 . Alternatively, reducing the distance  23  and  25  to a minimum needed to define the label boundary  22  and  24  helps to reduce a label “print-through,” not illustrated, of those boundaries concealed when the bottler applies the large label  29 , first intermediate label  31 , or second intermediate label  33  option to the bottle  10 . The label “print-through” is a slight bulge or mark on the label surface at the location of the concealed label boundary.  
         [0031]    Minimizing the distance  23  and  25  to a dimension of about    0 . 010   inch to minimize or eliminate “print-through” will not sacrifice label protection still effectively provided by the label boundaries  20  and  26 . Label protection is in part a function of total indentation. In other words, the distance  21  of label boundary  20  enhances the label protection label boundary  22  provides. The label protection of boundary  22  is generally a sum of the distance  21  and  23 . Likewise, the distance  27  of label boundary  26  enhances the label protection label boundary  24  provides.  
         [0032]    The forgoing description illustrates the invention with four label boundaries providing four label options. Those skilled in the art will recognize that the invention applies equally to a configuration with three, five or six indented boundaries respectively providing three, six, or nine label options.