BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to a label construction with a built-in handle, for
hanging infusion bottles and vessels in general.
[0002] A number of self-adhesive devices, for example two adhesive devices previously patented
by the same Applicant, to hang or suspend infusion liquid administering bottles and
vessels to a support are already know.
[0003] Said devices have two operating functions, that is a label function for indicating
the product to be administered and a hook function for hanging the vessel to a support
generally constituted by a vertical pole or upright including a horizontal bracket.
[0004] Prior labels are substantially of two types, the first of which is a single-layer
label comprising a hanging or suspending handle formed on the label surface, by removing
an adhesive material at the handle region, whereas the second label type comprises
two label layers, to one of which is applied a prediecut outer handle element, said
label element being transparent for allowing an underlying label indicating portion
to be read out.
[0005] The above prior labels are affected by some drawbacks.
[0006] The single-layer label has the drawback of interrupting the label continuity as the
label handle is raised thereby either interrupting words written on the label or greatly
reducing the space for writing wordings and instructions thereon, and limiting graphic
material patterns to be applied to the label body and label handle, in particular
written great length words or text patterns, or company logos and marks considering
that each product supplier will user a property label type.
[0007] Prior labels with applied handles require moreover a lot of complex machining operations,
such as printing the label and applying a separate handle element thereto.
[0008] Thus, the above second label is very expensive and complex, because of very strict
requirements the thus formed label must meet.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0009] Accordingly, the aim of the present invention is to provide a label construction
with a built-in handle, for hanging infusion liquid administering bottles and vessels,
adapted to overcome the above mentioned drawbacks.
[0010] Within the scope of the above mentioned aim, a main object of the invention is to
provide such a label construction made by a single pass of a printing machine without
interrupting already printed wordings and allowing to preserve any desired original
graphic patterns as required by a customer.
[0011] Another object of the present invention is to provide such a compact label construction
devoid of label projections hindering labeled vessel packaging operation.
[0012] Another object of the present invention is to provide such a label construction much
cheaper than prior double-layer handle label constructions.
[0013] Yet another object of the present invention is to provide such a product tracking
service label with a very small base label pattern surface.
[0014] According to one aspect of the present invention, the above mentioned aim and objects,
as well as yet other objects, which will become more apparent hereinafter, are achieved
by a label construction with a built-in handle, for hanging infusion liquid administering
bottles and vessels,
characterized in that said label construction comprises a first plastics self-adhesive film, either transparent
or mat, thereon a base label showing target patterns and wordings is printed; a transparent
silicone paint layer adjustably printed on said base label at a region of said base
label provided for forming therein said handle, and a second transparent self-adhesive
film covering all the surface of the label.
[0015] According to one aspect of the present invention, the second transparent or clear
self-adhesive film, covering all said surface of the label is bound or laminated to
said base label in the same printing machine.
[0016] Alternatively, it is possible to provide a handle which can be opened or raised,
by printing a transparent or clear silicone paint on a material layer at a handle
forming region, the thus made laminated assembly being subjected to a double die-cutting
operation to form said handle, by a half cut, and for cutting through a handle contour.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0017] Further characteristics and advantages of the present invention will become more
apparent hereinafter from the following detailed disclosure of a preferred, though
not exclusive, embodiment of the invention, which is illustrated, by way of an indicative,
but not limitative, example in the accompanying drawings, where:
Figure 1 is a perspective view of the label construction with a built-in handle according
to the invention, and being illustrated with the handle withdrawn therefrom and in
a ready for use condition;
Figure 2 is a perspective view of a bottle or vessel including the label according
to the present invention in which the label handle has not been withdrawn;
Figure 3 is a schematic perspective view showing an application of a second self-adhesive
transparent or clear film, covering all of the surface of the label;
Figure 4 is a perspective view of the self-adhesive transparent or mat plastics material
film thereon the base label supporting a wording pattern has been printed:
Figure 5 is yet another perspective view of a label coil or roll portion, with the
labels in an already printed condition, and ready to be taken for application to respective
bottles or vessels;
Figure 6 schematically shows a removal or detachment of a label from the label coil
or roll;
and
Figure 7 is an exploded perspective view showing the label construction according
to the present invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0018] With reference to the number references of the above mentioned figures, the adhesive
label construction with a built-in handle, according to the present invention, which
has been generally indicated by the reference number 1, is made starting from a self-adhesive
plastic film coil or roll 2, said film being either clear or mat, and thereon being
printed a base label 3 including a target word pattern.
[0019] Then, a clear silicone paint is printed in a registered condition on the region for
forming the label handle 4 therein, to allow said handle to be opened or raised as
desired.
[0020] To the above mentioned layer is coupled or laminated, in a printing machine, a second
self-adhesive clear film 5 covering all the label surface.
[0021] Alternately to the above disclosed method, it is further possible to provide an openable
handle 4 by printing a clear silicone paint on the clear film adhesive side at the
region thereat the label handle 4 will be formed, the thus made laminated material
being subjected to a double die-cutting operation to form a half-cut defining said
handle 4, and for cutting through the label 1 handle contour 6.
[0022] The handle 4 is accordingly arranged within a film 5, having a same size as the base
label, said handle being formed therefrom at a use time.
[0023] To allow said handle 4 to be easily opened, with said handle contour embedded in
a surface of the base label, said label construction comprises screen printed ridges
7 on the bottom layer 3 to allow a gripping region to be raised therefrom.
[0024] Moreover, from the top clear film 5 it is possible to form a further small auxiliary
self-adhesive label 8 to be over-printed upon packaging a drug to allow the drug user
to apply data related to the drug being administered on a patient clinic data sheet
or on another information medium.
[0025] It has been found that the invention fully achieves the intended aim and objects,
since it provides a novel label construction, which may be made in a single operating
passage through the printing machine. And which, in its use condition, that is with
the bottle or vessel suspended by the label handle, prevents wordings from being interrupted.
[0026] The label construction according to the present invention allows moreover to preserve
a starting graphic pattern as desired by the customer.
[0027] The subject label, moreover, is very compact, since it is devoid of projections susceptible
to hinder labeled vessel packaging operations.
[0028] Moreover, the label construction according to the present invention is much cheaper
than prior double-layer handle labels.
[0029] Another important advantage of the label construction according to the present invention
is that it allows to form herein a service or auxiliary drug tracking label, without
increasing the surface of the base label.
[0030] In practicing the invention, the used materials, as well as the contingent size and
shapes, can be any, depending on requirements.
1. A label construction with a built-in handle, for hanging infusion liquid administering
bottles and vessels, characterized in that said label construction comprises a first either transparent or mat plastics self-adhesive
film , thereon a base label showing target patterns and wordings is printed; a transparent
silicone paint layer adjustably printed on said base label at a region of said base
label provided for forming therein said handle, and a second transparent self-adhesive
film covering all the surface of the label.
2. A label construction, according to claim 1, characterized in that said second transparent or clear self-adhesive film is bound or laminated to said
base label in the same printing machine.
3. A label construction, according to claim 1, characterized in that said handle can be opened by printing a transparent or clear silicone paint on a
material layer at a region provided for forming therein said handle, the thus made
laminated assembly being subjected to a double die-cutting operation to form said
handle, by a half cut, and for cutting through the handle contour.
4. A label construction, according to claim 1, characterized in that said handle is arranged within a film having a same size as said base label, to be
formed at an use time.
5. A label construction, according to claim 1, characterized in that, to allow said handle to be easily opened, with said handle contour embedded in a
surface of the base label, said label construction comprises screen printed ridges
which are screen printed on a label bottom layer, to cause a gripping region to be
raised therefrom.
6. A label construction, according to claim 1, characterized in that said label construction comprises an auxiliary self adhesive label formed in a clear
or transparent top film and overprinted in a drug or medicament packaging step, to
allow a drug or medicament user to mark the administered product data on a clinical
card of the patient or on another medium.