Field of Invention

The present invention relates to linerless labels.

Background

Linerless labels are labels used to label products, packaging and other articles and do not have a release liner that is typically associated with more conventional labels. This absence of a release liner can afford linerless labels with a number of advantages over more conventional lined labels or labels with backing sheets, including reduced waste and thus reduced landfill and similar environmental impacts, reduced energy requirements during manufacture, reduced number of component materials within the labels helping with manufacturing costs and facilitating recycling.

Larger numbers of linerless labels can be incorporated in standard size/weight rolls, thus offering further advantages in relation to production and also transport and storage.

However, linerless labels cover or mask products or other articles to which they are applied.

Summary of Invention

According to the present invention there is provided a linerless label comprising a flexible label substrate having a first side, a second side, and an aperture through the substrate extending between the first side and the second side, at least one area of the first side bearing a non-stick material, at least one area of the second side bearing an adhesive material, and a transparent or translucent window material fixed to the flexible label substrate to extend over the aperture and provide a viewing window through the linerless label.

The linerless label may comprise a plurality of apertures that extend through the substrate.

The window material may be flexible.

The window material may be secured around the aperture or apertures to provide a sealed cover over the aperture(s) to provide (a) viewing window(s) through the linerless label.

The window material may be sealed around the perimeter edge of the, each or some of the aperture(s).

The window material may be water repellent.

The window material may be waterproof.

The window material may comprise one or more of polypropylene, oriented polypropylene, polyethylene, polyethylene terephthalate, paper, or any other suitable transparent or translucent material.

The window material may be fixed to the first side or the second side of the flexible substrate structure.

The window material may be fixed to the second side of the flexible label substrate.

Alternatively, the window material may be fixed to both the first and second sides of the flexible label substrate. A crease or fold line may be provided on or through the substrate, about which the linerless label can be creased or folded, and the window material may be fixed to extend over the crease or fold line.

Two substantially parallel crease or fold lines may be provided on opposite sides of the aperture or plurality of apertures about which the linerless label can be creased or folded and the window material may be fixed to extend over both of these crease or fold lines.

The window material may be fixed to extend over only a part of the first side and/or second side of the flexible label substrate to extend over the aperture or apertures and provide a viewing window or viewing windows through the linerless label.

Alternatively, the window material may be fixed to extend over all or substantially all of the first side and/or second side of the flexible label substrate to extend over the aperture or apertures and provide a viewing window or viewing windows through the linerless label.

The window material may be fixed to the flexible label substrate with adhesive.

The adhesive may be water-based adhesive.

The adhesive may be UV curable.

The adhesive may be one or more of acrylic-based adhesive containing one or more of wax(es), resin(s) and synthetic polymer(s), water-based pressure sensitive adhesive, PVA, water-based adhesive with modified cross linking agent.

The window material may be secured with a continuous bead or pattern of adhesive around the entire perimeter of the aperture. The flexible label substrate may comprise one or more of cardboard, paperboard, paper, polypropylene, polyethylene, polyethylene terephthalate.

The non-stick material may comprise silicone.

The non-stick material may be provided in a strip across the first side of the label substrate.

The non-stick material may be provided in a strip that runs across the first side of the label substrate to be substantially parallel to the crease or fold line(s).

The non-stick material may be provided in two substantially parallel strips that run across the first side of the substrate to be substantially mutually parallel.

The non-stick material may be provided in two substantially parallel strips that run substantially along two opposite edges of the first side of the label substrate.

The adhesive material may be provided in a strip across the second side of the label substrate.

The adhesive material may be provided in a strip that runs across the second side of the label substrate to be substantially parallel to the crease or fold line(s).

The adhesive material may be provided in two substantially parallel strips that run across the second side of the substrate to be substantially mutually parallel.

The adhesive material may be provided in two substantially parallel strips that run substantially along two opposite edges of the second side of the label substrate. The or each strip of adhesive material on the second side of the label substrate may run in alignment or substantially in alignment with a corresponding strip of non-stick material on the first side of the label substrate.

The width of a strip of non-stick material may be greater than the width of an aligned or substantially aligned strip of adhesive.

The adhesive material may comprise an adhesive that adheres to the label substrate but not to the non-stick material.

The adhesive material may comprise adhesive that will adhere to the window material but not to the non-stick material.

The adhesive material may comprise or be based on one or more of acrylic, rubber, hot melt, cold melt.

The adhesive material may be permanent or semi-permanent. The adhesive may enable selective separation from the label substrate and/or the window material.

The flexible label substrate may be printed on one or both of the first side and the second side.

The flexible label substrate may be printed with imagery, product information, data, branding and any other print required or desired for the intended utility of the linerless label.

The flexible label substrate may have a perforated tear line that extends across the label to provide for the label to be selectively tom along that line.

The flexible label structure may have a perforated tear strip that extends across the label to allow the label to be selectively tom along that tear strip. The tear line/strip may extend substantially parallel to a crease or fold line.

The tear line/strip may extend substantially adjacent to a crease or fold line.

The invention further provides a roll of linerless labels comprising a series of linerless labels as defined in any of the preceding forty one paragraphs, with the area or areas of non-stick material on the first side of the flexible label substrate of labels in the series aligned with the area or areas of adhesive on the second side of the flexible label substrate of other labels in the series, this alignment enabling the labels to be rolled over each other without the adhesive sticking contacting labels together.

The invention further provides a process for manufacturing a linerless label, the process comprising cutting an aperture through a flexible label substrate between a first side and a second side of the flexible label substrate and fixing a transparent or translucent window material to the flexible label substrate to extend over the aperture to provide a viewing window through the linerless label, applying a non-stick material to at least one area of the first side of the flexible label substrate and applying adhesive to at least one area of a second side of the flexible label substrate.

A series of separate or separable labels may be produced along a length of label substrate.

Description of Drawings

Specific embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig 1 is a diagrammatic view of a second side of a linerless label according to the present invention; Fig 2 is a diagrammatic cross-section of the linerless label of Fig 1 in the plane ll-ll;

Fig 3 is a diagrammatic view of a first side of the linerless label of Fig 1 ;

Fig 4 is a diagrammatic cross-section in the plane IV-IV of Fig 3;

Fig 5 is a diagrammatic view of a partial series of linerless labels of the embodiment of Fig 1 ;

Fig 6 is a diagrammatic view of a second side of a linerless label according to a second embodiment of the present invention;

Fig 7 is a diagrammatic view of a second side of a linerless label according to a third embodiment of the present invention;

Fig 8 is a diagrammatic view of a second side of a linerless label according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention; and

Fig 9 is a diagrammatic cross-section of the linerless label of Fig 8 along the plane IX-IX.

Description of the Specific Embodiments

With reference to Figs 1 to 4, the present invention provides a linerless label 10 comprising a flexible label substrate 12 having a first side 14, a second side 16 and an aperture 18 through the substrate 12 extending between the first side 14 and the second side 16, at least one area 20 of the first side 14 bearing a non-stick material 22 and at least one area 24 of the second side 16 bearing an adhesive material 26, and a transparent or translucent window material 28 fixed to the flexible label substrate 12 to extend over the aperture 18 and provide a viewing window 30 through the linerless label 10.

In more detail, the window material 20 is a flexible material that would typically be transparent, providing a clear viewing window 30 through the linerless label 10, although in certain embodiments the material may be translucent, thus providing a viewing window with limited or obscured visibility through the lined linerless label 10.

The window material 28 is secured around the aperture 18 to provide a sealed cover over the aperture 18 and thus provide the viewing window 18 through the linerless label.

In the embodiment illustrated in Figs 1 to 4, the window material 28 is sealed around the perimeter edge 32 to ensure that the window material 18 is securely fixed over the aperture 18.

The window material 28 is secured using an adhesive, which in certain embodiments is a water-based adhesive. In certain embodiments the adhesive is UV curable, so as to be cured upon exposure to ultraviolet light.

The window material 28 can be secured with a continuous bead or pattern of adhesive around the entire perimeter of the aperture 18.

Suitable adhesives include acrylic-based adhesive containing one or more of wax(es), resin(s) and synthetic polymer(s), water-based pressure sensitive adhesive, PVA, water-based adhesive with modified cross linking agent.

The window material 28 is water repellent, and for certain applications is waterproof. The window material comprises one or more of polypropylene, oriented polypropylene, polyethylene, polyethylene terephthalate, suitable paper, or indeed any other suitable transparent or translucent material.

The flexible label substrate comprises one or more of cardboard, paperboard, paper, polypropylene, polyethylene, polyethylene terephthalate.

In the embodiment shown in Figs 1 to 4, the window material 28 is fixed to the second side 16 of the flexible label substrate 12.

The linerless label 10 has two parallel crease or fold lines 34 that extend one either side of the aperture 18 to provide lines about which the linerless label 10 can be creased or folded.

The window material 28 extends over these crease or fold lines 34.

In this embodiment the window material 28 does not extend over all or substantially all of the second side 16, but extends over the aperture 18 to a short distance beyond the crease or fold lines 34 to provide areas 36 on either end of the label 10 over which the window material 28 does not extend.

In the present embodiment, two areas 20 of the first side 14 bear a respective strip of non-stick material 22 and these two areas 20 are substantially mutually parallel and extend across the label 10 at or close to two opposite sides 38 of the label 10 and along the areas 36. These two strips of non-stick material also run parallel or substantially parallel to the crease or fold lines 34.

The non-stick material 22 is typically silicone, although other suitable non-stick materials can be used.

Two areas 24 of the second side 16 bear a respective strip of adhesive material 26, and these two areas 24 are substantially mutually parallel and extend across the areas 36 and run in alignment or substantially in alignment with corresponding areas 20 and strips of non-stick material 22 on the first side 14 of the label substrate 12.

The width of a strip of non-stick material 22 is typically greater than the width of an aligned or substantially aligned strip of adhesive 26.

This alignment of the areas/strips of adhesive material 26 and non-stick material 22 enable a series of linerless labels 10 to be rolled over each other in an axial direction to form a roll of labels with adhesive strips rolled onto nonstick strips of other labels in the roll, thus preventing those labels from adhering to each other.

The adhesive material 26 is such that it will not stick to the non-stick material 22, but will stick to the flexible label substrate 12 and/or the window material 28, so that when a single label is wrapped around product or product packaging by folding about the crease or fold lines 34, the adhesive material 26 will adhere the label 10, to itself and/or to the product or the packaging to which it is applied.

The adhesive material comprises or is based on one or more of acrylic, rubber, hot melt or cold melt adhesive.

In certain embodiments the adhesive material is permanent, in others semipermanent. In certain embodiments the adhesive provides for selective separation from the label substrate and/or the window material and/or product.

The label 10 is typically printed with imagery, information, data, design and artwork, logos and trade marks, other branding and the like, required or desired for the intended utility of the linerless label 10 on both the first and second sides, although in certain embodiments the labels may be printed on just one side. The linerless label 10 also has a perforated tear line 40 that extends across the flexible label substrate and in the illustrated embodiment is located in the area of overlap between one of the crease/fold lines 34 and the outer edge 42 of the window material 28. The tear line 40 runs parallel or substantially parallel to a crease/fold line 34.

In an alternative embodiment, a perforated tear strip is provided in addition to or as an alternative to the tear line 40.

The tear line/strip 40 provides for selective tearing of the label 10, which can help with the removal of the label from its position on product, packaging or other article or item to which the label has been applied.

The tear line/strip can be formed of a continuous line of the same or similar cuts or perforations separated by the same or similar ties, of a line of cuts or perforations of differing size and/or shape separated by the same or similar ties, of a line of the same or similar cuts or perforations separated by ties of differing size and/or shape, or of any other suitable combination known to those skilled in the art.

In certain embodiments the tear line/strip can be formed of a line of weakness formed in the label substrate without perforation through the label substrate.

In the embodiment illustrated the tear line/strip 40 extends across the full width of the label 10, but in other embodiments the tear line/strip extends only partially across the width.

Linerless labels 10 of the present invention can be used to label products, packaging, be a part of packaging for products, and to label other articles or items in essentially the same or similar manner to conventional linerless labels, but offer the advantage over conventional linerless labels in that the window 30 provides for visibility through the label 10. The labels 10 would be applied to products, packaging, etc so that the window 30 is positioned at the desired place on the product, packaging. This would typically be on the top and/or front side of the product/packaging (the top side being an upper and typically upward-facing side when the product/packaging is in its normal orientation for presentation to a viewer and the front side would be a forward-facing side when the product/packaging is in its normal orientation for presentation to a viewer).

This visibility enables consumers and other viewers to look through the window 30 of the label 10 to see what lies beneath the label 10. This can enable viewers to see product that lies beneath a label 10 whilst the label is in situ, which is not only convenient and useful, but can avoid the temptation for labels to be removed to allow product labelled thereby to be seen.

One example where this ability to see product through the linerless labels 10 of the present invention has particular advantage is in relation to foodstuffs like meats, fish, seafood, prepared fruits/vegetables, prepared or part-prepared meals, etc, that are contained in a transparent container such as a plastic tray sealed with a transparent plastic film. Labelling such packaged foodstuffs with the linerless labels of the present invention enables a potential consumer to view the foodstuff through the label 10 and the transparent film to help form a view on the suitability or desirability of that foodstuff for purchase, consumption, etc. This is not only convenient for the potential consumer but also helps reduce the temptation for the consumer to remove or reposition the label on the product, which in turn mitigates the risk of damage to the label.

It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the provision of a window through the linerless labels of the present invention offers many opportunities to enhance the experience of consumers, potential customers and others who will find advantage from being able to view product or further product packaging that lies directly beneath the labels of the present invention, and that would be obscured from view by conventional linerless labels.

Linerless labels 10 are typically manufactured as a roll of such labels 10 with a series of linerless labels 10 extending end on end. A partial roll is illustrated diagrammatically in Fig 5, which shows a central linerless label 10 and adjacent labels 10A, 10B on either end of the label 10. The labels 10A and 10B are identical to the label 10 and a cut line 46 separates adjacent labels 10, 10A, 10B from each other in the roll.

Typically, there would be hundreds or thousands of labels 10 in a roll of labels.

The series of labels is rolled in the direction along the series of labels so that the areas 20 of non-stick material 22 and the areas 24 of adhesive material 26 are aligned over each other as the labels are rolled to prevent the adhesive material 26 adhering to mutually contacting labels in the roll.

It will be appreciated that it is the direction of extension of the adhesive material 26 and non-stick-material 22 that determines the direction of roll.

Providing the area 20 of non-stick material 22 of greater width than the area of adhesive material 26 helps to accommodate minor misalignments of these areas and the corresponding strips of adhesive material 26 and non-stick material 22 during formation of a roll of labels.

The linerless labels 10 of the present invention are manufactured according to a process wherein a series of labels 10 are cut along a length of flexible label substrate 12. The length of flexible label substrate 12 may be partially cut or marked to be cut into separate linerless labels 10 and an aperture 18 cut into the respective label 10 at the location predetermined with reference to the intended location of the window 30 when the label 10 is applied to product. One or both sides of the flexible label substrate 12 is printed, and this could be printed before or after the labels 10 are part-cut/marked for cutting and/or the apertures 18 are cut.

The crease/fold lines 14 are applied and then adhesive is applied around the perimeter 32 of the apertures 18 and the window material 28 adhered over the flexible label substrate 12, to cover the aperture 18 and to provide the viewing window 30 in each partially-completed label 10.

At this stage, the series of partially-completed labels 10 can be rolled and stored.

The series of partially-completed labels 10 can then be further processed by the application of the non-stick material 22 and adhesive material 26 on the respective sides 14, 16 of the flexible label substrate 12 and then the labels 10 further rolled into rolls of completed linerless labels 10.

Fig 6 is a diagrammatic view of the second side of a linerless label 110 according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

Many of the features of this linerless label 110 are shared with the label 10 described above, and these features are referenced with the same numeral, prefixed with the number T.

In this embodiment, the aperture 118 is of a general 'C or ‘II’ shape to define a viewing window 130 through the linerless label 110 of that particular shape.

It will be appreciated that the aperture through the flexible label substrate 112 can be shaped to provide a viewing window of any desired size, shape and configuration within the parameters of the space available on the substrate material. To give some examples, the aperture could be round, square, oval, hexagonal, elliptical, triangular, or indeed any suitable or desired shape.

In the further embodiment of the present invention shown in Fig 7, a plurality of apertures 218A, 218B, 218C is provided through the flexible label substrate 212.

The majority of the features of the linerless label 210 of Fig 7 are shared with the linerless label 10 described above, and these features are referenced with corresponding numerals, prefixed with the numeral '2'.

In the embodiment shown in Fig 7, a series of generally elliptical apertures 218A, 218B, 218C is provided to provide a series of viewing windows 230A, 230B, 230C.

It will be appreciated that where a plurality of apertures is provided, the apertures may all be the same shape and size as each other, or they may differ in shape and/or size.

The pattern or configuration of apertures can be selected according to the desired viewing characteristics through the label.

Figs 8 and 9 are diagrammatic representations of a linerless label 310 according to a still further embodiment of the present invention, which again shares many of the features of linerless label 10, and corresponding features have been referenced with the same numerals, prefixed with the number '3'.

In the embodiment of Figs 8 and 9, the window material 328 extends over the entirety of the second side 316 of the flexible label substrate 318. Providing the window material 328 over the entirety, or at least substantially the entirety, of the second side provides the label 310 with a side with overall water repellent and/or waterproof characteristics.

This enables these labels 310 to be used in environments where such water repellent/waterproof characteristics have utility, such as in the labelling of products that may in themselves be wet or damp or susceptible to wet or damp or stored in conditions that can generate wet or damp, such as refrigerated and cold storage products such as meats, fish, vegetables, fruits, prepared and part- prepared meals and foods, and the like.

Figs 8 and 9 show an embodiment with the window material 328 extending over the second side 316, but it will be appreciated that in other embodiments the window material 328 could extend over the first side 314.

Various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the present invention.

The window material may be provided on both the first and second sides.

In such embodiments the window material may extend over the entirety or substantially the entirety of both sides, or may extend over part of one side and the entirety or substantially the entirety of the other side.

Whilst the above embodiments have been described with the labels having two strips of adhesive on one side and two strips of non-stick material on the other side, the number, position and general configuration of these strips can vary, provided that the adhesive strips and the non-stick strips are configured to allow for the linerless labels to be rolled as described above, without the labels sticking to each other. The labels are shown with two crease/fold lines, but it will be appreciated that the number of crease/fold lines can be varied, according to the desired configuration and utility of the labels. The labels are shown with one tear I ine/strip, but it will be appreciated that the number of tear I ine/strips can be varied, according to the desired configuration and utility of the labels.

Whilst endeavouring in the foregoing specification to draw attention to those features of the invention believed to be of particular importance it should be understood that the Applicant claims protection in respect of any patentable feature or combination of features hereinbefore referred to and/or shown in the drawings, whether or not particular emphasis has been placed thereon.