COMPOUND TEAR LABEL
United States Patent 3750317
A compound label comprising an outer label having a tear tab disposed about an inner label secured in place about the neck of a bottle, for example, the outer label being removable from the bottle neck to expose the inner label when it is desired to reorder another bottle of the same expended contents.
US Patent References:
Combination bottle and booklet package
Rheinstrom - June 1947 - 2422314

Removable identification band for cartons and blank for producing the same
Kramer - August 1967 - 3335937


Application Number:
05/181331
Publication Date:
08/07/1973
Filing Date:
09/17/1971
View Patent Images:
Primary Class:
Other Classes:
283/81, 40/310
International Classes:
G09F3/02; G09F3/10
Field of Search:
40/306,310,312,21B,21R 283/18-22
Primary Examiner:
Grieb, Wm H.
Claims:
What is claimed is

1. A compound label for a container, having an inner label adhesively secured thereto, an outer label comprising a single-ply sheet being disposed over said inner label, and having adhesively secured at one end thereof an elongated tear strip, said tear strip being lightly adhesively secured to said inner label, and the other end of said sheet, opposite said one end, being adhesively secured to the outer portion of said tear strip, said tear strip extending outwardly of said outer label thereby defining a tear tab to be lifted for removal of said tear strip thereby tearing that portion of each said end of said sheet which is secured to said tear strip completely away from the remaining portion thereof so as to completely expose said inner label.

2. The compound label according to claim 1, wherein said one end of said sheet is secured to the outer portion of said tear strip between the opposite sides thereof, and said tear tab extending outwardly from the lower edge of said outer label.

Description:
This invention relates generally to a compound tear label, and more particularly to an outer label disposed about an inner label which is normally secured to a container; the outer label being removable therefrom to thereby expose the brightly colored or luminescent inner label for the purpose of signalling for another container of the same expended contents.

It has not been an uncommon experience for beer drinkers, for example, to patiently wait for the bartender or waiter to serve them another bottle of beer. Many times the patron holds up his hand, shouts, or even holds up his beer bottle in an attempt to attract the attention of the bartender or waiter in reordering another round of beer. It becomes annoying to the patron if he must continually interrupt his conversation or other activity in signalling the bartender or waiter so that it would be to his distinct advantage if he were able to conveniently signal for another beer order without having to make any overt gestures to the bartender or waiter. A simple and effective solution to such a problem is to use the beer bottle label itself for signalling the bartender or waiter that another round of beer is desired. A compound label comprising an inner and outer label disposed about some portion of the beer bottle has therefore been devised in a manner whereby the outer label may be simply torn away, thereby exposing a brightly colored or even luminescent inner label which would be understood by the beer server as a signal for serving another bottle of beer.

Although labels of different types have been designed for a wide variety of purposes, none of them conveniently serve the purpose as the type provided herein. For example, some portion of a single label may be designed to be torn away for the purpose of defacing the label so as to prevent refilling or re-using of the bottle that has once been used without first destroying the label. Or, a label of a two-part construction has been made available wherein an outer label may be torn away from an inner label along a perforated line of weakening to expose the inner label containing indicia relating to directions for using the bottle which may contain some commodity. Moreover, a booklet-type label has been devised to similarly be torn along a perforated line of weakening, thereby leaving a portion of the label affixed to the container so that the booklet which may contain a recipe or the like may be preserved by the user. It can therefore be seen that in these and in other prior art multiple-type labels, the primary objective has been to maintain the identity of some portion of the original label, requiring a somewhat complex construction and for a purpose unlike that of the present invention.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a compound label comprising an outer label lightly secured to an inner label which is affixed to some portion of a container, the outer label being completely removable from the inner label by means of an elongated tear strip to thereby expose a completely distinctive inner label for the purpose of conveniently and effectively signalling for the reorder of another full container.

Another object of this invention, is to provide such a compound label wherein the inner label is secured in place in a normal manner while the outer label is lightly secured thereto by means of a tear strip having adhesive on opposite surfaces thereof, opposite ends of the outer label being secured to the strip about the inner label and being lightly held on the inner label by means of the elongated tear strip.

Other objects, advantages and novel features of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the invention when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a horizontal cross-sectional view of the compound label in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the manner of applying the compound label to the neck of a bottle;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the compound label in place on the neck of a bottle;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view through the compound label and the bottle neck taken substantially along the line 4--4 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the manner of removing the outer label from the inner label, and

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing the inner label remaining on the neck of the bottle after the outer label has been removed therefrom.

Turning now to the drawings, wherein like reference characters refer to like and corresponding parts throughout the several views, there is shown a compound label comprising an inner label 11 and an outer label 12, the inner label having along its inner surface at one end thereof a strip of adhesive material 13 to facilitate securing the inner label to the neck of a bottle B in the customary manner as by overlapping the opposite ends thereof about the bottle neck.

An elongated tear strip 14, having adhesive material on opposite surfaces therof, is provided for both securing the outer label in place and for facilitating removal of the outer label therefrom. The strip 14 is lightly gummed with adhesive along its inner surface so as to prevent shifting of the outer label while in place. The quantity of adhesive material along the outer surface of the strip is slightly heavier so as to permit the opposite ends of the outer label to be securely affixed thereto. As can be clearly seen in FIGS. 2 and 4, one end 15 of the outer label is disposed over the outer adhesive label of the strip substantially along the longitudinal center line thereof between its opposite edges. The other end 16 simply overlaps both the remaining portion of the strip and the end 15 so as to be thereby securely held in place.

FIG. 3 shows the compound label 10 as it appears affixed to the neck of the bottle B. In order to quickly and conveniently remove the outer label from the bottle, the elongated strip is of such a length as to extend outwardly beyond the lower edge of the outer label so as to define a tear tab 17. When the bottle's contents are used up, the user then simply lifts the tear tab 17 and pulls the tear strip 14 upwardly to thereby tear the outer label on opposite edges of the tear strip in a manner shown partially in FIG. 5 of the drawings. In this way, the outer label may be completely removed from the inner label and by reason of the light adhesive on the inner surface of the tear strip, the inner label is left completely intact on the neck of the bottle upon complete removal of the outer label, as can be clearly seen in FIG. 6.

It should be noted that the outer surface of the outer label may contain advertising indicia to identify the contents and the manufacturer while the inner label 11 is of a completely distinctive character from that of the outer label by reason of its bright color or luminescence, or some other type of signalling indicia.

From the foregoing it can be seen that a simple and economical, yet highly effective, means for quickly signalling the bartender or waiter to serve a reorder of a bottle of beer, for example, has been devised in a manner whereby an inner, distinctively colored or otherwise identifiable label is exposed after the patron removes the outer advertising label therefrom.

Obviously, many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in the light of the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described.




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