In-mold label with perforations

• US 20020124945A1
• Filed: 02/09/2001
• Published: 09/12/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 02/11/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Mail-Well, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Mail-Well, Inc.
• Inventors: Lachance, Rene, Muir, Ron
• Application Number:
  US09/780,062
• Publication Number:
  US 20020124945A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 156/245
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2049/2412 outside the article
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2049/2425 Perforated, corrugated or embossed labels
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2049/2437 Cutting
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2049/2472 using vacuum
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 49/04 Extrusion blow-moulding
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 49/24 Lining or labelling
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 49/2408 In-mould lining or labelling
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2995/005 Oriented
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2995/0053 bi-axially
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2031/712 Containers; Packaging elements or accessories, Packages closures therefor B29L2031/56; ink or toner cartridges B29L2031/7678; squeeze tubes B29L2023/20; suitcases B29L2031/7418
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 3/04 to be fastened or secured by the material of the label itself, e.g. by thermo-adhesion by a separate adhesive layer G09F3/10
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24273 including aperture
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24322 Composite web or sheet

Abstract

An improved method for preparing a molded plastic container with embedded label in which the label contains one or more perforations to reduce blistering during the blow molding process. In a preferred embodiment, the perforations are larger on one side of the label than the other to facilitate the release of gases that otherwise would be trapped behind the label.

Claims

1. A method for forming a product containing a label embedded therein by blow molding comprising:

placing a pre-printed label in a mold, said label containing one or more perforations sufficient to lessen the entrapment of gases by the label during the molding process thereby preventing blistering;

placing a parison of liquid plastic in the mold;

blowing air into the mold to conform the liquid plastic to the shape of the mold; and

cooling and curing the plastic in the shape of the product.

2. The process of claim 1 wherein the product is in the form of a hollow container.

3. The process of claim 1 wherein the perforations have an opening between approximately 0.00 1 inch and 0.1 inch in diameter.

4. The process of claim 2 wherein the perforations comprise an opening between approximately 0.001 inch and 0.1 inch in diameter.

5. The process of claim 3 wherein the perforations are located between approximately 0.25 to 2 inches from one another.

6. The process of claim 4 wherein the perforations are located between approximately 0.25 to 2 inches from one another.

7. The process of claim 3 wherein the openings of at least one perforation are wider on one side of the label than on the other.

8. The process of claim 4 wherein the openings of at least one perforation are wider on one side of the label than on the other.

9. The process of claim 7 wherein the label includes an adhesive substance on one side and the perforation is wider on that side of the label than on the other.

10. The process of claim 8 wherein the label includes an adhesive substance on one side and the openings of the perforation are wider on that side of the label than on the other.

20. In a method for forming a molded product containing a label embedded therein the improvement comprising:

placing a pre-printed label in a mold, said label containing one or more perforations sufficient to lessen the entrapment of gases by the label during the molding process thereby preventing blistering.

21. The process of claim 20 wherein the product is in the form of a hollow container.

22. The process of claim 20 wherein the perforations have an opening between approximately 0.001 inch and 0.1 inch in diameter.

23. The process of claim 21 wherein the perforations have an opening between approximately 0.001 inch and 0.1 inch in diameter.

24. The process of claim 22 wherein the perforations are located between approximately 0.25 to 2 inches from one another.

25. The process of claim 23 wherein the perforations are located between approximately 0.25 to 2 inches from one another.

26. The process of claim 22 wherein the openings of at least one perforation are wider on one side of the label than on the other.

27. The process of claim 23 wherein the openings of at least one perforation are wider on one side of the label than on the other.

28. The process of claim 26 wherein the label includes an adhesive substance on one side and the perforation is wider on that side of the label than on the other.

29. The process of claim 27 wherein the label includes an adhesive substance on one side and the openings of the perforation are wider on that side of the label than on the other.

30. A label for use in forming a molded product containing the label embedded therein, said label comprising:

a substrate;

one or more perforations in the substrate sufficient to lessen the entrapment of gases by the label during molding thereby preventing blistering.

31. The label of claim 30 further comprising printing on at least one side of the substrate, and adhesive on at least one side of the substrate.

32. The label of claim 30 wherein the perforations have an opening between approximately 0.001 inch and 0.1 inch in diameter.

33. The label of claim 31 wherein the perforations have an between approximately 0.001 inch and 0.1 inch in diameter.

34. The label of claim 32 wherein the perforations are located between approximately 0.25 to 2 inches from one another.

35. The label of claim 33 wherein the perforations are located between approximately 0.25 to 2 inches from one another.

36. The label of claim 34 wherein the openings of at least one perforation are wider on one side of the label than on the other.

37. The label of claim 35 wherein the openings of at least one perforation are wider on one side of the label than on the other.

38. The label of claim 36 wherein the label includes an adhesive substance on one side of the substrate and the perforation is wider on that side of the label than on the other.

39. The label of claim 37 wherein the label includes an adhesive substance on one side of the substrate and the perforation is wider on that side of the label than on the other.

40. The label of claim 30 wherein the substrate comprises an extruded plastic film.

41. The label of claim 30 wherein the label contains a plurality of perforations configured in parallel rows.

42. The label of claim 41 wherein said perforations are approximately one-half inch apart in said rows and the perforations in each row are offset from perforations in adjacent rows by approximately one-quarter inch.

43. The label of claim 41 wherein the openings of at least one perforation are circular in shape.

44. The label of claim 36 wherein the ratio between the width of the opening of the perforation on the respective sides is between about two-to-one and four-to-one.

45. The label of claim 37 wherein the ratio between the width of the opening of the perforation on the respective sides is between about two-to-one and four-to-one.