PRODUCE WASH LABEL

Abstract

A dissolvable produce washing label includes a dissolvable substrate impregnated with a produce cleanser; an adhesive layer; and a coating to seal and protect from water and humidity. When rubbed and washed with water by the end user the top coating wears and breaks to expose the dissolvable substrate, thereby dissolving the substrate and releasing the produce wash.

Claims

1. A produce label, comprising: a produce-cleansing agent; a dissolvable substrate impregnated with the produce-cleansing agent; and a protective coating that is frangible to release the produce-cleansing agent.

2. The produce label of claim 1, wherein the dissolvable substrate is a dissolvable paper substrate or a dissolvable film.

3. The produce label of claim 2, further comprising an adhesive disposed on one side of the dissolvable substrate.

4. The produce label of claim 3, wherein the protective coating surrounds perimeter edges of the dissolvable substrate.

5. The produce label of claim 2, further comprising ink printed on the dissolvable substrate.

6. The produce label of claim 1, further comprising ink printed on the protective coating.

7. The produce label of claim 1, wherein the protective coating is a wax coating.

8. The produce label of claim 2, further comprising another protective coating, wherein the dissolvable substrate is disposed between the protective coating and the another protective coating.

9. The produce label of claim 1, wherein the protective layer or a further layer can be printed via thermal printing.

10. The produce label of claim 1, wherein the dissolvable substrate is a dissolvable film and ink is printed on the dissolvable film, wherein the produce cleansing agent is embedded in the ink.

11. The produce label of claim 1, further comprising an adhesive layer, wherein ink is printed on the adhesive layer.

12. The produce label of claim 1, wherein the protective layer is a blister package that contains the produce cleansing agent.

13. The produce label of claim 12, wherein the blister package includes two layers with a sealed perimeter and the produce cleansing agent is disposed between the two layers.

14. The produce label of claim 13, wherein the blister package includes a frangible escape channel, which opens to release the cleansing agent when the blister package is subjected to a pressure that exceeds a minimum pressure.

15. The produce label of claim 1, wherein the protective coating is frangible so that it breaks apart in response to mechanical agitation during a manual wash of the produce, whereby the dissolvable substrate dissolves after the water resistant coating is broken, leaving no residue on the produce.

16. The produce label of claim 15, wherein the dissolvable substrate is stamped with ink.

17. The produce label of claim 16, further comprising a dissolvable adhesive layer.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0016] The various features, functions and advantages characterizing the invention will be better understood by reference to the detailed description which follows, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0017] FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a label showing a water dissolvable/dispersible substrate with a bottom adhesive layer and top sealant coating applied thereto;

[0018] FIG. 2 is a sectional view of a label constructed in accordance with the present invention;

[0019] FIG. 3 is a sectional view of a label constructed in accordance with the present invention;

[0020] FIG. 4 is a plan view of the a printed label constructed in accordance with the present invention;

[0021] FIG. 5 is a photo of a label constructed in accordance with the current invention attached to an apple;

[0022] FIG. 6A-6B are a side view and top view of another embodiment of a label according to the present invention; and

[0023] FIG. 6C-6D are a side view and top view during release of a produce cleaning agent.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0024] FIG. 1 shows the cross-section of a label constructed in accordance with the first preferred embodiment of the present invention shown generally at 10. A dissolvable paper substrate 15 is made of Sodium Carboxyl Methyl Cellulose and wooden pulp and is impregnated with at least one produce-cleansing agent. Typical produce cleansing wash ingredients include oleic acid and glycerol from vegetable sources, potassium hydrate from basic minerals, baking soda from basic minerals, citric acid from corn starch and molasses, natural cleansing agents derived from plant oils, polysorbate-20 derived from sorbitol/berries, grapefruit seed extract and lemon-orange extract and plant- and citrus-based ingredients. Vinegar and lemon juice (weak organic acids) are also used as anti-microbial and anti-browning agents. (It is also within the scope of the present invention to separate the paper substrate and produce wash component into two separate layers or to substitute the paper substrate altogether with a dissolvable solidified produce cleansing substrate (like soap paper)). A goal in selecting the produce cleansing agent is to provide an effective cleansing ingredient that does not add smell or taste to the produce being washed. The produce cleansing wash ingredients may also include ingredients that include seeds, microbeads, or baking soda or other material that provides a grit for effecting an abrasive, mechanical washing of the produce as well as chemical washing of the produce. Furthermore, the particular cleansing agents used can be tailored to the particular produce on which it is applied. For example, a peach skin has a different texture than an apple skin.

[0025] An acrylic adhesive 12 serves to attach the label to the side of a fruit and is in contact with the lower surface of the dissolvable paper substrate 15. Instead of an acrylic adhesive, any other known or hereafter developed food-grade adhesive can be used. A protective layer 14 such as a natural wax coating, clear acrylic sealant, polyethelene, varnish, or the like is applied to protect the water-soluble paper substrate and produce cleansing agent from water and moisture. In the preferred embodiments described below, a natural wax coating is used. However, in any of the embodiment, the clear acrylic sealant, polyethelene, or varnish can also be used. Generally, natural wax sources are plants, food-grade petroleum products, or insects (similar to honey combs from bees). Another example of a natural wax coating is a canauba wax. The attached article describes various ingredients that may be used in a natural wax. Extensive research by governmental and scientific authorities has shown that approved waxes are safe to eat. Waxes are indigestible, which means they go through the body without breaking down or being absorbed. Food grade edible ink is printed onto the surface of the paper substrate. Edible ink typically comprises at least one edible glycol and an edible colorant. (It is within the scope of the present invention to print directly onto the protective layer 14.)

[0026] The protective layer 14 is frangible in that it breaks when exposed to pressures or forces exerted on the fruit during a normal hand cleaning process. Once the protective layer breaks, the substrate 15 is exposed to water and dissolves. As the substrate dissolves, the produce-cleansing agent is released.

[0027] With reference to FIG. 2 one can see that the edges of a label constructed with a dissolvable adhesive layer 12 may require additional protective layer 14. FIG. 3 shows the dissolvable paper and produce cleanser substrate 15 sandwiched between a top protective layer 14 made of a wax coating and the bottom layer of wax coating 16. A layer of adhesive 12 is in contact with the bottom layer of wax 16. In a further embodiment, the top protective layer 14 and the bottom layer of wax coating 16 are one continuous layer that envelopes the substrate 15.

[0028] The produce cleansing wash will help remove any residue left behind by the label's adhesive 12. Unless, a water dissolving adhesive is employed. In which case the label leaves behind no adhesive residue to clean. Alternative coatings may be used to seal and protect the dissolvable components from water. The coating may be dried in an oven before it has an opportunity to deteriorate the surface of the paper substrate should this be an issue. Printing may be done directly onto the top sealant coating or directly onto the water dissolvable substrate. In an effort to conform to current printing practices, we anticipate potential need for an additional layer of coating such as a coating of a type which can be printed with direct thermal printing.

[0029] Enough fruit wash to clean a single fruit can be embedded in a label the size of a substantially flat fruit label. We have come up with a various methods of creating a fruit label that contains a produce wash to help clean the fruit when the user goes to wash his/her fruit. It is preferred to make the labels thicker rather than larger as the smaller we can keep the labels the less flexibility that is required to contour to the fruit's surface.

[0030] In one example embodiment, a Daymark inkjet printable dissolvable label is used as a dissolvable substrate. Mod Podge, a water based sealer made by Plaid Enterprise, Inc in Georgia, was used as the water resistant coating. The resultant label was extremely water resistant. But, when rubbed enough, the top coating wears and exposes the dissolvable paper substrate. The label would then dissolve away leaving behind no residue as the DayMark labels employs a dissolvable adhesive layer.

[0031] It is also within the scope of the present invention to construct a fruit label having a dissolvable paper substrate (without a produce wash cleansing component); an adhesive layer; and a wax coating. The produce cleansing wash component can be applied as part of the ink. In this case the ink would contain the produce cleansing wash.

[0032] It is also within the scope of the present invention to construct a fruit label having the substrate be made entirely of a sheet of solidified produce cleansing wash on which to coat or print directly. In this case, the substrate would not contain any dissolvable paper at all and it would consist entirely of a water soluble solidified produce cleanser (like soap paper).

[0033] It is also within the scope of the present invention to construct a fruit label having the ink printed directly onto a dissolvable adhesive layer with a sealant coating to protect it from water and humidity. In this case the ink would contain the produce cleansing agent.

[0034] It is also within the scope of the present invention to construct a fruit label having the produce cleansing wash component mixed in with a dissolvable adhesive, creating an adhesive layer/produce wash combination with a top water protectant layer to seal it. Or the solidified produce cleansing wash sheet may be made sticky enough to adhere to the side of a fruit.

[0035] In a further embodiment of the present invention, the substrate 15 may comprise a dissolvable film, such as an orally dissolving film use to deliver mouth-freshening products, instead of a dissolvable paper substrate. These orally dissolving films contain film-forming polymers such as hydroxypropylmethyl cellulose (HPMC), hydroxypropyl cellulose (HPC), pullulan, carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC), pectin, starch, polyvinyl acetate (PVA), and sodium alginate. Additional ingredients may include plasticizers and thickening agents. The orally dissolving films can be manufactured using one or a combination of processes including solvent casting, semisolid casting, hot melt extrusion, solid-dispersion extrusion, and rolling.

[0036] In the embodiment employing an orally dissolving film, the produce cleansing agent is carried in the film and is released when the film dissolves when exposed to water. The dissolving film may be used in any of the embodiments shown in FIGS. 1-3 described above. Instead of two separate protective layers on a top and bottom of the substrate as shown in FIG. 3, the substrate may be encapsulated in a protective coating to provide a reliable water-proof seal. In this embodiment, the information to be displayed by the label is printed directly on the dissolvable film or on the protective layer on top of the dissolvable film. The printing may be realized by any known printing method including stamping, flexo-printing, digital printing, or inkjet printing. In a further embodiment, a thermally printed label may be placed on the substrate.

[0037] It is also within the scope of the present invention to construct a fruit label that is not dissolvable but still contains a produce wash. The Label would be a blister containing a drop of produce wash. The user would press the label to squeezes out the drop of produce wash onto the surface of the fruit or vegetable it is attached to. The label would then need to be peeled off and disposed of. The preferred embodiment of this version would be made of two thin PE layers housing a drop of produce wash. With reference to FIG. 6, one can see a fruit label constructed in accordance with this non-dissolvable instantiation of the present invention shown generally at 60. Two layers of thin PE plastic form a blister 61. The perimeter of the blister 62 is heat sealed. An escape channel 63 for the produce wash 64 to exit upon pressing the blister 61 is provide. FIG. 6A is a side view of the blister label before it is pressed. FIG. 6B is a plan view of the blister label before it is pressed. FIG. 6C is a side view of the blister label after it has been pressed. Once pressed, produce wash 64 is forced out through the channel 63 onto the surface of the fruit. FIG. 6D is a plan view of the blister label after it is pressed. Produce wash 64 is forced out when pressed by the end user.

[0038] While this invention has been illustrated and described in accordance with a first, second, third, fourth and fifth preferred embodiment of the present invention, it is recognized that variations and changes may be made therein. The term produce wash is used throughout to refer to any material or materials that may be used to safely help clean the surface of a fruit and or vegetable. It is also within the scope of the present invention to construct a dissolvable fruit label that is water resistant and requires a minimum amount of mechanical agitation (rubbing) to convert it from a water resistant Fruit Label to a water-dissolving fruit label with no produce cleanser component.