US2013164502A1PendingUtilityA1

Thermoform Labeling

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Assignee: GHIAM FARID FPriority: Sep 8, 2010Filed: Sep 8, 2011Published: Jun 27, 2013
Est. expirySep 8, 2030(~4.2 yrs left)· nominal 20-yr term from priority
Inventors:Farid F. GhiamVictor P. HolbertMichael J. ZajaczkowskiKevin O. Henderson
B29C 51/16B32B 27/08Y10T156/1002B32B 27/32B29C 2043/185B29C 43/30B29C 43/00B32B 27/10B32B 2519/00Y10T428/28B32B 2307/7244B32B 2307/75B29C 43/28B32B 27/308B32B 27/12B32B 38/145B32B 27/34Y10T428/24736B29C 51/02B29C 43/14
52
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Claims

Abstract

Processes for forming a thermoformed labeled article are described. Labels are attached to a sheet to be thermoformed or to a section thereof. Label attachment can optionally use an adhesive. If the label material is completely or partially compatible with the sheet then the use of adhesive may not be necessary. The labels may also receive various graphics or other designs, such as by printing. After appropriate placement of the label relative to the sheet, the assembly of both sheet and label is thermoformed. After thermoforming, a finished and labeled article is produced. Also described are various labels and label assemblies which are uniquely suited for use in the processes described herein.

Claims

exact text as granted — not AI-modified
1 . A method for producing a labeled article, the method comprising:
 providing a thermoforming apparatus having a thermoform surface;   providing a label defining a first face and a second face;   forming a visual design on at least one of the first face and the second face of the label;   providing a sheet defining a first face and a second face;   positioning the label along one of the first and second faces of the sheet to form an article intermediate;   immediately thermoforming the article intermediate using the thermoforming apparatus, whereby the article intermediate deforms to the thermoform surface to thereby form the labeled article.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 cooling the labeled article;   removing the labeled article from the thermoforming apparatus.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 attaching the label to the sheet.   
     
     
         4 . (canceled) 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein forming a visual design on the label is performed by:
 printing an ink on the label to form the visual design.   
     
     
         6 .- 9 . (canceled) 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein thermoforming includes:
 heating at least one of the label, the sheet, and the article intermediate; and   contacting the article intermediate with the thermoform surface.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the sheet includes a material selected from the group consisting of polymeric materials, paper-based materials, and composite materials. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the sheet includes a polymeric material. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the polymeric material in the sheet is selected from the group consisting of polystyrene, poly(ethylene terephthalate), poly(ethylene terephthalate glycol), polyacrylates, polycarbonates, polyolefins, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the polymeric material in the sheet is polyolefin. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the polyolefin is selected from the group consisting of polyethylene, polypropylene, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the label includes a polymeric material. 
     
     
         17 .- 19 . (canceled) 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the label includes at least one functional additive. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the functional additive is selected from the group consisting of barrier agent(s), colorant(s), UV resistant agent(s), fragrance agent(s), light enhancement agent(s), gloss promoting agent(s), gloss reducing agent(s), and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the label is free of functional additives. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the labeled article defines an outer face and the label partially covers the outer face. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the labeled article defines an outer face and the label entirely covers the outer face. 
     
     
         25 . The labeled thermoformed article produced by the method of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         26 . A method of forming a labeled article, the method comprising:
 providing a polymeric sheet, the sheet including a first material;   providing a polymeric label, the label including a second material;   printing a visual design on the label;   attaching the label alongside the sheet to form an article intermediate;   immediately thermoforming the article intermediate to thereby form the labeled article.   
     
     
         27 .- 29 . (canceled) 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 26 , further comprising:
 cooling the labeled article.   
     
     
         31 .- 35 . (canceled) 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the thermoforming operation includes:
 heating at least one of the label, the sheet, and the article intermediate.   
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein printing on the label occurs before attaching the label. 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein attaching the label occurs before printing on the label. 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the first material in the sheet is selected from the group consisting of polystyrene, poly(ethylene terephthalate), poly(ethylene terephthalate glycol), polyacrylates, polycarbonates, polyolefins, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 39 , wherein the first material in the sheet is polyolefin. 
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 40 , wherein the polyolefin is selected from the group consisting of polyethylene, polypropylene, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the label includes at least one functional additive. 
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 42 , wherein the functional additive is selected from the group consisting of barrier agent(s), colorant(s), UV resistant agent(s), fragrance agent(s), light enhancement agent(s), gloss promoting agent(s), gloss reducing agent(s), and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the label is free of functional additives. 
     
     
         45 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the labeled article defines an outer face and the label partially covers the outer face. 
     
     
         46 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the labeled article defines an outer face and the label entirely covers the outer face. 
     
     
         47 . The labeled article produced by the method of  claim 26 . 
     
     
         48 .- 69 . (canceled) 
     
     
         70 . A label adapted for placement on a sheet and concurrently thermoforming the label and the sheet, the label comprising:
 at least one layer of a polymeric film defining an underside; and   a layer of an adhesive disposed on the underside of the polymeric film;   wherein the material of the polymeric film has a softening point, the material of the sheet has a softening point, and the difference between the softening point of the material of the polymeric film and the softening point of the sheet is less than 10° C.

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