Label systems for reusable containers and the like

• US 5,417,790 A
• Filed: 08/19/1994
• Issued: 05/23/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 10/01/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: MPT Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Michael R. Kennedy
• Inventors: Petrou, Robert J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Simmons, David A.
• Application Number:
  US08/292,882
• Time in Patent Office: 277 Days
• Field of Search: 156/247, 156/248, 156/249, 156/344, 428/40, 40/594
• US Class Current: 156/249
• CPC Class Codes: B65C 1/00 Labelling flat essentially-rigid surfaces labelling of fabrics B65C5/00
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 5/4233 Cards, coupons, labels or the like formed separately from the container or lid
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 2003/023 Adhesive
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 2003/0272 Labels for containers
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 3/10 by an adhesive layer
• CPC Class Codes: Y02W 30/80 Packaging reuse or recycling, e.g. of multilayer packaging bio-packaging Y02W90/10
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 156/921 Delaminating container component in preparation for recycling, e.g. glass bottle, plastic bottle
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/1142 Changing dimension during delaminating [e.g., crushing, expanding, warping, etc.]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/1195 Delaminating from release surface

Abstract

A method of labeling reusable containers is disclosed. A placard having a release coating on one side is adhesively secured to the container. The placard is transparent with instructional printing applied to one surface. Pressure-sensitive labels are placed on the exposed surface of the placard. The labels contain indicia relating to the status of the container. When the status of the container changes, the label is removed and a new label is substituted on the placard.

Claims

1. A method of labeling and relabeling a reusable container comprising:

a) providing a placard for supporting pressure-sensitive adhesive-backed labels, said placard having a release coated face and an adhesive coated face, and a liner covering said adhesive coating;

b) removing said liner from said adhesive coated face;

c) substantially permanently attaching the placard to the object by adhering said placard to said container using said adhesive coated face;

d) placing a pressure-sensitive adhesive coated label on the release coating of said placard wherein said label has indicia printed thereon;

e) removing said label from the placard while leaving the placard adhered to the container, replacing said label with another adhesive coated label having different indicia printed thereon by adhering the adhesive coating of said another label to the release coating of the placard.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the provided placard is substantially transparent and printing is applied to one of the faces under the coating of said one of the faces.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the one face is the adhesive coated face.

4. A method of using a reusable container for products comprising:

a) substantially permanently affixing a placard to the container with a release coated face oriented outwardly by pressing a pressure sensitive placard adhesive layer against the container;

b) inserting a first product into the container;

c) at a selected one of a time prior to and a time subsequent to the first product insertion step, adhering a pressure sensitive adhesive coating of a first label bearing first product information to the release coating of the placard;

d) removing the first product from the container;

e) inserting another product into the container; and

,

f) at a selected one of a time prior to or subsequent to the another product insertion step, removing the first label while leaving the placard affixed to the container and thereafter adhering a pressure sensitive adhesive coating of a second label bearing second product information to the release coating of the placard.

5. The method of claim 4 further including prior to the placard adhering step, the step of exposing the placard layer of pressure sensitive adhesive by removing a backing liner having a release layer adhered to the placard pressure sensitive layer.

6. A process for providing product information on objects for retaining product quantities comprising;

a) substantially permanently affixing a placard to one such structure with a release coated surface of the placard oriented outwardly;

b) providing a first label bearing information related to a first set of products carried by the object;

c) applying the first label to the placard by securing a pressure sensitive adhesive coating of the first label to the placard release coating;

d) at a selected one of a time prior to and a time subsequent to the first label applying step positioning a first product set on the object;

e) removing the first product set from the object and replacing it with a second product set; and

,

f) at a selected one of a time prior to and subsequent to the first set removal step removing the first label from the placard while leaving the placard affixed to the object and applying to the release coated surface of the placard a pressure sensitive surface of a second label bearing information related to products of the second set.

7. The process of claim 6 wherein the object is a product container.

8. The process of claim 6 wherein the step of removing the first label includes removing the pressure sensitive adhesive of the first label from the release coating.