PRESSURE SENSITIVE PRINTABLE PAPER PRODUCTS AND THEIR USE WITH PACKAGING AND CONTAINERS

Abstract

This disclosure is concerned with pressure sensitive adhesive printable paper products, such as labels, and their use with various substrates, such as packaging and containers, including food containers. This disclosure is also concerned with repositionable pressure sensitive adhesive printable paper products and their transformation into semi-permanent or permanent adhesive products with respect to such substrates. This disclosure is also concerned with food and drink containers, methods of making them and their use with removable or repositionable adhesive labels. More particularly, this disclosure is concerned with containers for food or drink having chemical functionality, such as in coatings, to facilitate the use of adhesive labels with such containers.

Claims

1-10. (canceled)

11. A container for food or drink, said container comprising: a base portion; a plurality of walls extending from said base portion to define a receptacle portion for receiving food or drink; said walls having inner and outer surfaces; said inner and/or said outer surfaces being made of a material; said container having at least one surface having a chemical functionality or bearing a coating that meets a safety standard for food contact surfaces; said functionality or coating having an affinity for the adhesive of repositionable adhesive labels by enhancing the tack of such adhesives compared to the material of said inner and/or outer surfaces.

12. A container as claimed in claim 11, further comprising a lid portion attached to at least one of said walls.

13. A container as claimed in claim 11, wherein said container is a clamshell food container.

14. A container as claimed in claim 12, wherein said coating is applied to at least said lid portion.

15. A container as claimed in claim 11, wherein said container is a fast food container.

16. A container as claimed in claim 11, wherein said coating is applied to at least one of said outer surfaces.

17. A container as claimed in claim 11, wherein said container is made from a paper product.

18. A container as claimed in claim 17, wherein said container is made from a sugar cane fiber product.

19. A container as claimed in claim 11, wherein said container is a disposable fast food container.

20. A container as claimed in claim 11, wherein said coating has an affinity for a microsphere adhesive.

21. (canceled)

22. A bag formed of a material and comprising sidewalls extending upwardly to upper edges forming an opening that permits items to be placed in the bag, at least one of the sidewalls having at least one zone coated with a composition adapted to interact with the adhesive of a repositionable pressure sensitive adhesive label to increase the bonding of such a label to the bag compared to such bonding to the material of the bag.

23. A bag as claimed in claim 22, wherein the material of the bag makes the outer surface of the bag rough or fibrous.

24. A bag as claimed in claim 22, wherein the bag comprises at least one such zone adjacent a first upper edge of the bag and another such zone adjacent a second opposing upper edge of the bag, so that such a label can bridge the opening of the bag and close the first and second edges by applying adhesive to the locations of the zones.

25. A bag as claimed in claim 24, wherein there are two such zones spaced apart and adjacent each of the first and second upper edges so that two such labels can be used to close the opening.

26. A bag as claimed in claim 22, wherein the bag comprises at least one such zone adjacent a first upper edge of the bag and at least one another such zone on at least one of the sidewalls, so that the top of the bag can be folded over to bring the upper edges into proximity with the at least another zone whereby the opening of the bag can be closed by at least one such label bridging the at least one such zone adjacent a first upper edge of the bag and the at least one another such zone on at least one of the sidewalls by applying adhesive to the respective zones.

27. A bag as claimed in any of claim 24, further comprising at least one repositionable pressure sensitive adhesive label applied to said zones and closing the bag by becoming non-repositionable by interaction with the coating of the zones.

28. A bag as claimed in claim 27, wherein the at least one label is provided with information on the contents of the bag and/or destination for delivery of the bag.

29. A bag as claimed in claim 27, wherein the bag cannot be opened to access contents without tearing the label or labels or disrupting the surface of the bag, such that the bag is tamper evident.

30. A bag as claimed in any of claim 22, wherein the zone or zones is or are marked with indicia to assist in locating them.

31. A bag as claimed in claim 30, wherein the indicia comprises color or a logo or a graphic.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0057] Some preferred features of this disclosure will now be more particularly described by reference in and to the following figures, which are only exemplary of the disclosure.

[0058] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a food container according to this disclosure showing schematically the location of an adhesive receptive coating.

[0059] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of two food containers according to this disclosure nested together and showing schematically the location of an adhesive receptive coating.

[0060] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a food container according to this disclosure showing food and, schematically, the location of an adhesive receptive coating and a repositionable adhesive label attached thereto.

[0061] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a food container according to this disclosure showing schematically the location of an adhesive receptive coating and a repositionable label attached thereto.

[0062] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a food container according to this disclosure showing schematically the location of an adhesive receptive coating and a repositionable label attached thereto.

[0063] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a drink container according to this disclosure showing schematically the location of an adhesive receptive coating.

[0064] FIG. 7A is a perspective view of a bag having its opening closed by pressure sensitive adhesive tamper evident labels.

[0065] FIG. 7B is a perspective view of a bag having its opening closed folding and the fold attached to the bag by pressure sensitive adhesive tamper evident labels.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0066] FIG. 1 illustrates a food container (1) according to the invention and comprising a base portion (2) and a top portion (3). Base portion (2) and top portion (3) are connected together by a hinge portion (4). Base portion (2) comprises a bottom (5), from which extend walls (6), which together form a receptacle portion (7) for receiving food (not shown). The walls (6) each have an inner surface (8) and an outer surface (9). Top portion (3) comprises a top (10) from which extend, towards the base portion (2), walls (11). Top (10) and walls (11) together form a cover portion (12), which is sized to cover the base portion (2) and any food therein. The inner surface (8) of one wall (6) is provided with a coating (13), which enhances the ability of a removable label (not shown) to stick to the container (1). While coating on the outer surfaces are preferred, such inner surface coating may be appropriate, for example when using inkjet printed labels.

[0067] FIG. 2 illustrates two food containers (20 and 20′) according to the invention and similar to that shown in FIG. 1 that are nested together and each comprise a base portion (21) and a top portion (22). Base portion (21) and top portion (22) are connected together by a hinge portion (23). Base portion (21) comprises a bottom (24), from which extend walls (25), which together form a receptacle portion (25a) for receiving food (not shown). The walls (25) each have an inner surface (26) and an outer surface (27). Top portion (22) comprises a top (28) from which extend walls (29). Top (28) and walls (29) together form a cover portion (30), which is sized to cover the base portion (21) and any food therein. The outer surface (27) of one wall (25) of each container is provided with a coating (31), which enhances the ability of a removable label (not shown) to stick to the containers (20 and 20′).

[0068] Such food containers are typically shipped nested together, for ease of packaging and handling. The outer surfaces (27) of walls (27) are therefore frequently in contact with the inner surfaces (26) of walls (27). Since the inner surfaces are food contact surfaces, coating (31) will be in contact with food contact surfaces and therefore it is important that the coating material complies with safety regulations for food contact surfaces.

[0069] FIG. 3 illustrates a food container (40) according to the invention and similar to that of FIG. 1 and comprising a base portion (41) and a top portion (42). Base portion (41) and top portion (42) are connected together by a hinge portion (43). Base portion (41) comprises a bottom (not shown), from which extend walls (44), which together form a receptacle portion (45) for receiving food (46). The walls (44) each have an inner surface (45) and an outer surface (46). Top portion (42) comprises a top (43) from which extend, towards the base portion (41), walls (47). Top (43) and walls (47) together form a cover portion (48), which is sized to cover the base portion (41) and food (46). The inner surface (45) of one wall (44) of base portion (41) is provided with a coating (49), which enhances the ability of a removable label (50) to stick to the container (40). Label (50) is printed with a customer identifier (51) and with information (52) relating to the food ordered.

[0070] FIG. 4 illustrates a food container (60) according to the invention and similar to that of FIG. 1 and shown closed. The container (60) comprising a base portion (61) and a top portion (62). Base portion (61) and top portion (62) are connected together by a hinge portion (not shown). Base portion (61) comprises side walls (63), which together form a receptacle portion for receiving food (not shown). The walls (63) each have an outer surface (64). Top portion (62) comprises a top (65) from which extend, towards the base portion (61), walls (66). Top (65) and walls (66) together form a cover portion, which is sized to cover the base portion (61) and food (not shown). The outer surface (67) of one wall (66) of top portion (62) is provided with a coating (68), which enhances the ability of a removable label (69) to stick to the container (60).

[0071] FIG. 5 illustrates a food container (70) according to the invention shown closed and similar to that of FIG. 4. The container (70) comprising a base portion (71) and a top portion (72). Base portion (71) and top portion (72) are connected together by a hinge portion (not shown). Base portion (71) comprises side walls (73), which together form a receptacle portion for receiving food (not shown). Top portion (72) comprises a top surface (74) from which extend, towards the base portion (71), walls (75). Top (74) and walls (75) together form a cover portion, which is sized to cover the base portion (71) and food (not shown). The top surface (74) is provided with a coating (76), which enhances the ability of a removable label (77) to stick to the container (70). The label (77) is printed with a customer identifier (78) and information (79) relating to the food ordered.

[0072] FIG. 6 illustrates a drink container (80) according to the invention and comprising a bottom portion (not shown) from which walls (81) extend upwardly to form between them a receptacle portion (not shown) for containing a drink. A top portion (82) is removable attached to the top of the walls (81). Around the walls (81) is provided a coating (83) which enhances the ability of a removable label (not shown) to stick to container (80).

[0073] FIG. 7A illustrates a bag (90), for example a delivery bag containing food (not shown) in which the bag (90) is made of recycled stock and has an exterior surface (91) that contains a high amount of loose fibers. Regular repositionable pressure sensitive adhesive tags are very difficult to attach to this kind of surface. The opening (92) of the bag is formed by upper edges (93) of the walls (94) of the bag and is closed by repositionable pressure sensitive adhesive tags (95) made of lightweight paper. The tags or labels (95) are made of thermal paper and from a POS printer at the restaurant or fast food location have been printed with information (96) relating to the food ordered, the customer and the delivery location. The bag surface (91) is provided with areas (97) coated with a composition having an affinity for the adhesive so as to transform the repositionable tags into labels having such adhesive bonding to the bag (90) that the bag cannot be opened to reach the food within without tearing the labels (95). The labels (95) are thus tamper evident.

[0074] FIG. 7B illustrates a bag (101) similar to that shown in FIG. 7A, but with the upper edges (102) folded over (as at (103)) and attached to the exterior surface (104) of the bag (101) by means of a repositionable pressure sensitive adhesive tag (105) made of lightweight paper similar to that shown in FIG. 7A. The tag or label (105) is printed with information (106) relating to the food ordered, the customer and the delivery location The bag surface (104) is provided with an area (not shown) coated with a composition having an affinity for the adhesive so as to transform the repositionable tag into a label having such adhesive bonding to the bag (101) that the bag cannot be opened to reach the food within without tearing the label (105). The label (105) is thus tamper evident.

EXAMPLES

[0075] In the following examples various commercial packaging products were provided with or without a coating having a functionality to interact with a pressure sensitive adhesive.

[0076] In the examples repositionable pressure sensitive adhesive paper was cut into tape 24 mm wide tape. The patches of adhesive with adhesive pattern type paper were justified center of the 24 mm strip. After a dwell time of 5 minutes, the tape was pressed onto either the uncoated or coated substrate and subjected to a peel strength test in accordance with ASTM method ASTM D3330 (Method F) also known as PSTC (Pressure Sensitive Tape Council) 101 (Method F). Thus, the adherence of the tape was measured when peeled at a 90 degree angle to the surface of the indicated products at a rate of 12 inches per minute. The force required to effect peel was measured. The equipment used was a MARK-10 ESM 303 force test stand with a DC4060 controller and a M5-2 force gauge, each manufactured by Mark-10 Corporation.

[0077] The packaging products were a sandwich box (from McDonalds), a paper cup (a McCafe paper cup from McDonalds), a pizza box (from Avicolli's Pizza), a bagasse clam shell container (from McDonalds) and a recycled paper bag (from Sweet Green). These products were tested having a surface coated with the said functionality and the same product surfaces uncoated to provide comparative examples.

[0078] The coating material used was 3992PMR Primer from Royal Adhesives. The coating was applied to the surface in the amount of 0.5-3.0 g/sm. The adhesive tapes were single coated with the adhesive in discrete areas in three different coating weights of 10, 9, and 14 grams per square meter. These are identified as product 1, 2, and 3, respectively, and are available from Documotion Research Inc. as StickyPOS® BT 80×350, INO 80×350 and 2HT-14 40×250, respectively. The adhesive was 3991PLV Repositionable Glue from Royal Adhesives.

[0079] The peak peel values and their averages are summarized in Table 1 and the Peel test graphs for the respective examples are shown in examples 1 to 30, with the X axis representing time and the Y axis units in gF. Because of the adhesive being in discrete areas on the test tape, the peel test results drop to zero in the spaces between the adhesive areas.

[0080] Table 2 summarizes the adhesion peel test results of Examples 1 to 30 expressed as the percent increase in the average peel values for each packaging substrate and using pressure sensitive adhesive tape products 1-3.

[0081] Table 3 summarizes the adhesion peel test results of Examples 1 to 30 expressed as the number of times stronger the adhesion of the pressure sensitive adhesive tape is for each packaging substrate.