FLEXIBLE SELF-ADHESIVE LABEL WITH A COVERED ADHESIVE REGION SELECTIVELY PEELABLE AND CLOSEABLE PRODUCT INCLUDING SAID LABEL

Abstract

Flexible self-adhesive label with a covered adhesive region selectively peelable, the label comprising a flexible layer (10); a pressure-sensitive adhesive layer (20) covering at least a first region (22) of a first side of the flexible layer (10); a liner (30) with a first liner region (32) adhered over the first region (22) and intended to be removed from the first region (22) leaving it exposed; wherein the adhesive layer (20) also covers a second region (23) of the first side of the flexible layer (10); and the liner (30) includes a base region (31), attached to the second region, the base region (31) and the first liner region (32) being connected through a first fold line (33) whose ends are approximately tangent to anti-tear configurations (36) of the liner (30), allowing to expose the first region (22) keeping the liner (30) attached to the second region (23).

Claims

1. Flexible self-adhesive label with a covered adhesive region selectively peelable, the label comprising: a flexible layer with a first side and a second side oppositely disposed to each other; a pressure-sensitive adhesive layer configured to cover at least a first region of the first side of the flexible layer; a liner with a first liner region adhered over the first region of the first side of the flexible layer configured to be removed from the first region leaving the first region of the flexible layer with pressure-sensitive adhesive layer exposed; the adhesive layer also configured to cover a second region of the first side of the flexible layer the liner includes comprising a base region attached to the second region, the base region and the first liner region being connected through a first fold line whose ends are approximately tangent to two cuts comprising anti-tear configurations of the liner, and configured to allow the first region to be exposed and to keeping the liner attached to the second region of the adhesive layer.

2. The flexible self-adhesive label according to claim 1 wherein the flexible layer is elongated defining a central portion and two extreme portions, the first region of the adhesive layer being on a first one of the extreme portions, on the first side of the flexible layer, and a second one of the extreme portions containing, on the first side thereof, a surface superimposable to the first region by bending the central portion resulting in the first one and the second one of the extreme portions being adhered to one another.

3. The flexible self-adhesive label according to claim 2 wherein the surface of the second one of the two extreme portions, configured to be adhered to the first region, further comprises an additional first region and additional second region of the adhesive layer covered by an additional liner including an additional base region, attached to the additional second region, the additional base region and the additional first liner region being connected through an additional first fold line whose ends are approximately tangent to two cuts comprising anti-tear configurations of the additional liner, and configured to allowing the additional first region to be exposed and to keep the additional liner attached to the additional second region of the adhesive layer.

4. The flexible self-adhesive label according to claim 1 wherein the adhesive layer is configured to also cover a third region of the second side of the flexible layer the liner being configured not to cover the third region, the third region being adherable to a first surface of a flap of a closeable product.

5. The flexible self-adhesive label according to claim 1 wherein the layer of pressure-sensitive adhesive is configured to also cover a third region of the first side of the flexible layer, the liner being configured not to cover the third region, the third region being adherable to a first surface of a flap of a closeable product.

6. The flexible self-adhesive label according to claim 5 wherein the label comprises a weakened line configured to provide a tamper-evidence feature between the first region and the third region.

7. The flexible self-adhesive label according to claim 5 wherein the first region is located between the third region and the second region.

8. The flexible self-adhesive label according to claim 5 wherein the second region is located between the third region and the first region.

9. The flexible self-adhesive label according to claim 8 wherein the first liner region includes a second fold line parallel to the first fold line, defined by discontinuous cuts of the liner.

10. The flexible self-adhesive label according to claim 8 wherein the adhesive layer is configured to also cover a fourth region of the first side of the flexible layer, located on one side of the first fold line opposite to the side where the first region is located, the liner being configured not to cover and leave exposed the fourth region.

11. The flexible self-adhesive label according to claim 9 wherein the adhesive layer is further configured to cover a fourth region of the first side of the flexible layer located on the same side of the first fold line as the first region, and wherein the liner being configured to cover the fourth region.

12. The flexible self-adhesive label according to claim 1 wherein the two anti-tear configurations of the liner are curved cuts or are located on one side of the first fold line opposite to the side where the second region is located.

13. The flexible self-adhesive label according to claim 1 wherein the first liner region extends over a portion of the first side of the flexible layer not covered by the adhesive layer or covered by the adhesive layer but with an adhesive capacity inhibited by an inhibition treatment, comprising a grip tab.

14. A closeable product comprising a container including an opening and a closure configured to close an opening and a flexible self-adhesive label according to claim 1 wherein: the flexible self-adhesive label is attached to, or integrated in, a support surface of the closeable product; the support surface and the first region of the adhesive layer being configured to provide a seal or a tamper-evident seal of the closure of the closable product. the support surface is defined on the closure of the closeable product, the first region of the adhesive layer being located in a region opposable to a surface of the closeable product and adjacent to the closure; or the support surface is defined on a product surface adjacent to the closure, the first region of the adhesive layer being located in a region opposable to a surface of the closure.

15. The closeable product according to claim 14, further comprising a weakened line around the surface where the first region is intended to be adhered or around the surface where the third region is adhered, providing a tamper-evident feature.

16. The flexible self-adhesive label according to claim 1 wherein the cuts constitutive of anti-tear configurations do not affect the flexible layer.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0058] The foregoing and other advantages and features will be more fully understood from the following detailed description of an exemplary embodiment with reference to the attached drawings, which are to be taken in an illustrative and not limitative manner, wherein:

[0059] FIGS. 1A, 1B and 1C show a view of the flexible adhesive label according to a first embodiment, wherein the second region of the adhesive layer is located between the first and third regions of the adhesive layer;

[0060] FIG. 1A shows, with the liner removed, the first side of the first film with the adhesive layer on the first, second, third and fourth regions, indicated by a hatching, the rest of the first side being devoid of adhesive or covered with a passivated adhesive;

[0061] FIG. 1B shows the flexible adhesive label shown in FIG. 1A with the liner adhered over the first and second regions of the adhesive layer; and

[0062] FIG. 1C shows the flexible adhesive label shown in FIG. 1B but with the first liner region of the liner separated from the first region and superimposed over the base region of the liner;

[0063] FIGS. 2A, 2B and 2C show a view of the flexible adhesive label according to a second embodiment similar to that shown in FIGS. 1A, 1B and 1C, but wherein the first liner region of the flexible layer includes a second fold line that allows the first liner region to be folded in half when separated from the second region of the adhesive layer, the two folded halves being superimposed on the base region of the first liner;

[0064] FIGS. 3A, 3B and 3C show a view of the flexible adhesive label according to a third embodiment similar to that shown in FIGS. 1A, 1B and 1C, but wherein the second adhesive zone is located between the first and third adhesive layer zones;

[0065] FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of a closeable product, in the form of a flexible pouch, comprising the flexible adhesive label with the third region of the adhesive layer adhered to a surface adjacent to the closeable product opening, the remainder of the label overhanging the edge of the closeable product opening, and the liner adhered to the first and second regions of the adhesive layer; this embodiment including in dashed lines three different locations for a weakened line constitutive of a tamper-evident feature;

[0066] FIG. 5 shows the same closeable product as in FIG. 4 but in which the closeable product has been folded by overlapping the edge of the opening with a surface of the closeable product to which the second region of the adhesive layer has been adhered;

[0067] FIG. 6 shows three embodiments of the closeable product after the reopening thereof by breaking the tamper-evident feature through the three alternative positions of the weakened lines;

[0068] FIGS. 7 and 8 shows a front view, in open and closed positions, of the closeable product being an envelope with a self-adhesive label with a third region on the first side adhered on an outer side of the envelope flap;

[0069] FIGS. 9 and 10 shows a front view, in open and closed positions, of the closeable product being an envelope with a self-adhesive label with a third region on the second side adhered on an inner side of the envelope flap;

[0070] FIG. 11 shows a front view, in extended position and folded position, of the self-adhesive label being an elongated label constitutive of a luggage tag with the first and second regions being placed on one extreme portion thereof.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF AN EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENT

[0071] The attached figures show illustrative, not limitative examples of embodiments of the present invention

[0072] The present invention concerns to a flexible adhesive label formed by a flexible layer 10 with a layer of pressure-sensitive adhesive 20 distributed over some selected areas of a first side of the flexible layer, and with a liner 30 adhered over some of said selected areas.

[0073] According to a first embodiment of the invention, shown in FIGS. 1A, 1B, 1C, 4 and 5, on the flexible layer are disposed, in succession, a third region 21, a fourth region 24, a second region 23 and a first region 22 of the adhesive layer 20, as shown in FIG. 1A.

[0074] In a standby position, shown in FIG. 2B, the liner 30 will have a base region 31 adhered over the second region 23 and a first liner region 32 adhered over the first region 22 of the adhesive layer 20. Furthermore, in the standby position, the third region 21 of the adhesive layer 20 will not be covered by any additional liner, allowing it to be adhered over a surface of a closeable product.

[0075] In this example, the liner 30 is circular in shape, and includes two curved cuts 36 on both sides. Between the two curved cuts 36 is defined a first fold line 33 tangent at its ends to said two curved cuts 36. Optionally, the first fold line 33 will include discontinuous cuts to facilitate its folding.

[0076] The set of curved cuts 36 and first fold line 33 define the boundary between the first region 22 and the second region 23 of the adhesive layer 20.

[0077] In a closing position, shown in FIG. 1C, the first liner region 32 is separated from the first region 22 of the adhesive layer 20, leaving it exposed, proceeding to fold the liner 30 along the first fold line 33, overlapping the first liner region 32 to the base region 31. Being the label in said closing position, it is possible to proceed to adhere the first region 22 on an outer surface of the closeable product causing its closure, as shown in FIG. 5, without generating waste.

[0078] In this example, a fourth adhesive region 24 is located between the third region 21 and the second region 23 of the adhesive layer 20 which is exposed in the standby position, as it is not covered by the liner 30. One end of the first liner region 32, in this case a grip tab will be overlapped and adhered to said fourth region 24 when placed in the closed position, retaining it in said closed position

[0079] Optionally, the fourth region 24 may be surrounded by the second region, exposed and accessible through an opening of the base region 31 of the liner 30.

[0080] A second embodiment, shown in FIGS. 2A, 2B and 2C, is very similar to that shown in FIGS. 1A, 1B and 1C, but wherein the first liner region 32 of the liner 30 includes a second fold line 34 parallel to the first fold line 33, defined by discontinuous cuts of the liner 30.

[0081] This allows that, in the closed position, the first liner region 32 of the liner 30, can easily be folded in half along said second fold line 34, reducing its overall length from the first fold line 33, remaining folded and superimposed on the base region 31 of the liner 30.

[0082] In this second embodiment, a fourth region 24 of the adhesive layer 20, located between the first and second regions 22, 23, adjacent to the first fold line 33, is also optionally included.

[0083] Said fourth region 24 will be covered by a portion of the first liner region 32 adjacent to the first fold line 33, when in the standby position, and upon moving to the closed position will be briefly uncovered, by separating the first liner region 32, but will immediately be covered again by adhering over it a distal end away from the first fold line 33 of the first liner region 32, in this example shown in FIG. 2C a grip tab, located above the fourth region 24 by folding the first liner region 32 along the second fold line 34.

[0084] FIGS. 3A, 3B and 3C show a third embodiment of the invention very similar to that shown in FIGS. 1A, 1B and 1C, but with the position of the first and second regions 22, 23 interchanged, and thus also with the position of the base and first liner regions 31, 32 of the liner 30 interchanged.

[0085] According to the first embodiment, the first region 22 is located in the region of the flexible layer 10 furthest from the third region 21, and the first liner region is folded towards the third region 21, when folded by the first fold line 33 in the closed position.

[0086] On the other hand, in the third embodiment, it is the second region 23 that is located in the region of the flexible layer 10 furthest away from the third region 21. In this case, the first liner region 32 of the liner 30 is folded away from the third region 21 when folded along the first fold line 33 in the closed position. This allows the first liner region 32 to remain away from the first region 22, without interfering with the process of closing the closeable product, and also allows a single movement of pulling the end of the first liner region 32 to expose the first region 22 while pulling the entire adhesive label to adhere the first region 22 to a surface of the closeable product.

[0087] According to an embodiment, the self-adhesive label can be a luggage tag for attaching information to a luggage handle. In this embodiment the self-adhesive label is an elongated label with the first and second regions of the adhesive layer being located at one extreme thereof.

[0088] The peeling of the first region of the adhesive layer, by the removal of the first liner region 32 of the liner 30, allows for the adhesion of the first region to be adhered on the opposed extreme end of the same label, producing the folding of the label forming a closed loop.

[0089] According to an alternative of the same invention, shown in FIG. 11, the elongated label can also include, on the opposed extreme thereof away from the extreme portion containing the first and second regions of the adhesive layer, an additional first region and an additional second region of the adhesive label covered with an additional liner with the same configurations than the liner covering the first and second regions of the adhesive layer on the opposed extreme portion of the label. According to this embodiment, the first region and the additional first region can be adhered to each other providing a strong bonding.

[0090] The present invention also covers an alternative embodiment, not shown in the drawings, in which only one extreme portion of the elongated label contains the first and second regions of the adhesive layer, the opposed extreme portion being devoid of adhesive layer or including only passivated or covered adhesive layer.

[0091] The proposed self-adhesive label can also be attached to, or integrated in, a closeable product such a paper bag, as shown in FIGS. 4, 5 and 6, and envelope, as shown in FIGS. 7 to 10, or a rigid box.

[0092] It is also proposed to include tamper-evident features in the self-adhesive label, for example a weakened line dividing the portion of the flexible layer containing the first and second regions 22 and 23 from the portion containing the third region 21. This option is shown as a dashed line transverse to the label in FIG. 5, and the result of its breaking is shown in left view of FIG. 6.

[0093] Alternatively or additionally, the tamper-evident features can be included in the closeable product, for example as a weakened line surrounding the surface where the third region is adhered. This option is shown as a semi-circular dashed line in FIGS. 4 and 5, and the result of its breaking is shown in central view of FIG. 6.

[0094] Alternatively or additionally, the tamper-evident features can be included as a weakened line surrounding the surface where the first region is intended to be adhered. This option is shown as a circular dashed line in FIGS. 4 and 5, and the result of its breaking is shown in right view of FIG. 6.

[0095] Alternatively, the tamper-evident feature could comprise the configuration of the surface of the closeable product, where the first region and/or the third region is/are adhered, to be peelable. The peelable configuration will be attached to the surface of the closeable product with an attachment whicker than the adhesion force of the first region and/or the third region thereon.

[0096] Similar tamper-evident features can be included in the alternative embodiments shown in the rest of the Figures.

[0097] According to an alternative, the closeable product can also include, an additional first region and an additional second region of the adhesive label covered with an additional liner with the same configurations than the liner covering the first and second regions of the adhesive layer described above. Those additional first region and additional second region will be placed on the surface where the first region of the label is intended to be adhered, so that the first region will be adhered to the additional first region providing a strong bonding.

[0098] According to this embodiment, the first region and the additional first region can be adhered to each other providing a strong bonding.