Container identification mark

Abstract

A bottle or jar identification device comprising a multi-layer token that produces a permanent image when pressure is applied to a writing surface. The token may be affixed to the cap or cover or to the bottle or jar itself. The token can comprise a magic slate, ink meant to fail, lottery type rub-off material, microencapsulated ink, or any other material that produces an image when pressure is applied using a stylus, a fingernail, or any other sharp instrument. The token may also have an adhesive layer. The token having an adhesive layer may be applied to any surface.

Claims

1. A method for permanently and irreversibly marking a container for identification purposes wherein the container comprises at least one side which in turn comprises at least one closed surface, said method comprising: providing a label on an outer surface of the container including a portion comprising ink meant to irreversibly fail; providing a token having an adhesive layer for adherence to at least one outer surface of the container, the token having an outward-facing layer comprising ink meant to irreversibly fail; receiving pressure to the portion causing one or more permanent and irreversible markings to appear on the portion at locations of the received pressure; and receiving pressure to the token causing one or more permanent and irreversible markings to appear on the token at locations of the received pressure; wherein the surface area of the portion is smaller than the surface area of the label.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the label is affixed to at least one side of the container via an adhesive layer.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the container further comprises a top and a bottom.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the container further comprises a removable cap that is attached to the container at its top.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the token is affixed to the removable cap.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the pressure is applied to the token using a stylus, a fingernail, or a sharp instrument.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the token is peeled off a substrate comprising a plurality of multi-layer tokens.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the token adheres loosely to the substrate.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the substrate is a sheet substrate.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein the substrate is a rolled substrate.

11. A container, comprising: a top; a bottom; a rounded or flat side; and a label comprising a portion having an ink layer comprising ink meant to irreversibly fail; wherein the container has a token adhered thereto comprising an adhesive layer for adhering to the container and an outward-facing layer comprising ink meant to irreversibly fail; wherein upon receiving pressure to the portion causes permanent and irreversible markings; and wherein upon receiving pressure to the token causes permanent and irreversible markings.

12. The container of claim 11, wherein surface area of the portion is less than surface area of the label.

13. The container of claim 11, wherein the label is adhered to the container via an adhesive layer.

14. The container of claim 11, wherein the label is printed directly on the container.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIGS. 1A through 1F illustrate various views of the bottle cap.

(2) FIG. 1A is a top plan view of the cap. Note the marking consisting of the letter G.

(3) FIG. 1B is a front elevation view of the cap.

(4) FIG. 1C is a bottom plan view of the cap.

(5) FIG. 1D is an isometric view of the cap.

(6) FIG. 1E is a cross section of the cap.

(7) FIG. 1F is a cross section of a thin slice in the center of the cap.

(8) FIG. 2 illustrates a bottle having a cap as disclosed in the Present Application as well as a token applied to the surface of the bottle.

(9) FIG. 3 is a cross section of the multi-layer magic slate type token.

(10) FIG. 4 is a cross section of the microencapsulated ink type token.

(11) FIG. 5 is a cross section of the rub-off ink meant to fail type token.

(12) FIG. 6 is a cross section of the rub-off material (lottery type) token.

(13) FIGS. 7A through 7D show tokens meant to be pasted onto bottles or caps.

(14) FIG. 7A is an isometric view of a sheet of paste-on tokens.

(15) FIG. 7B is an isometric view of a roll of paste-on tokens.

(16) FIG. 7C is an isometric view of a sheet of personalized paste-on tokens.

(17) FIG. 7D shows a closed roll of paste-on tokens.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(18) FIGS. 1A through 1F illustrate various views of the bottle cap, 1. Bottle cap 1 comprises the cap token 2, and cap 1 may have screw threads 4 (shown in FIGS. 1B, 1C, and 1E). Cap token 2 may be marked with pressure as shown at 3 in FIG. 1A. FIG. 2 illustrates a bottle having cap 1 affixed thereon. Cap token 2 is affixed to the bottle cap, and may be inserted to and made part of the cap or may be affixed to the top of the cap using adhesive on the back side. The bottle token 6 of the Present Invention may also be applied to the surface of the bottle.

(19) FIG. 3 is a cross section of the magic slate type token having thin translucent layer 7, opaque layer 8, backing layer 9, and adhesive layer 10. Applying sharp pressure to translucent layer 7 makes said layer 7 stick to opaque layer 8. The color of layer 8 becomes visible as an image wherever said pressure is applied.

(20) FIG. 4 is a cross section of the microencapsulated ink type token. A layer of microencapsulated ink 11 is applied to backing 12. An adhesive layer 13 is applied to the reverse side of layer 12. Application of sharp pressure to layer 11 releases the ink to produce an image wherever said pressure is applied.

(21) FIG. 5 is a cross section of the ink meant to fail type token. The token comprises an ink layer 14, a writing surface 15, and an adhesive layer 16. Application of sharp pressure to ink layer 14 breaks the encapsulation, thereby releasing the ink to produce an image wherever said pressure is applied. This is accomplished by use of a release agent that is then inked. Two release agents that may be used for this purpose are: 1. Cork Industries makes a varnish which is UV cured to allow release of the ink from the substrate Its product number is Varnish2038HG1. 2. Henkel Corporation makes a product which is called Miracure. This is also UV cured and allows the release of ink. Its product number is L909IV.

(22) FIG. 6 is a cross section of the rub-off lottery type token. A rub-off material 17 is applied to backing layer 18. The token has an adhesive layer 19. Application of sharp pressure to rub-off material 17 removes it an exposes to view the portion of backing layer 18 wherever said pressure is applied.

(23) The token may either be an integral part of the cap or bottle (as sold), or it may be applied by the user. In the latter case, an exemplary embodiment would be paste-on tokens that can be peeled off a substrate and applied to the bottle or cap. The back-side surface of the tokens has an adhesive that adheres loosely to the substrate, but that adheres strongly to other surfaces. FIG. 7A shows bottle token 6 on a sheet substrate 20. FIG. 7B shows bottle token 6 on a rolled substrate. In both FIG. 7A and FIG. 7B, cap token 2 may be substituted for bottle token 6. FIG. 7C shows the pre-marked personalized token 3 on the sheet substrate 20. FIG. 7D shows a closed roll of tokens.

(24) The container (e.g., bottle or jar) can be generalized as a hollow solid shape having at least one closed surface. Here, the Applicant chooses to be his own lexicographer when defining the term closed surface. It will be defined herein as a solid set of planar or three-dimensional surface or surfaces, either alone or in combination, that envelopes a volume in such a manner that there is at least one plane within the volume that intersects the closed surface to form a continuously closed two-dimensional geometric figure. For example, a cylindrical surface that is open at both ends has a closed surface that envelopes a cylindrical volume wherein a plane other than one parallel to the cylindrical axis can intersect the closed surface to form either a circle or an ellipse. A box having four sides at right angles and open at both ends has a closed surface that envelopes a volume that is a cube or rectangular prism wherein a plane may intersect all four sides to form a rectangle.