WO2003017237A1

WO2003017237A1 - System and methods for labeling products

Info

Publication number: WO2003017237A1
Application number: PCT/SE2002/001435
Authority: WO
Inventors: John Tomas Robert Dannelind
Original assignee: John Tomas Robert Dannelind
Priority date: 2001-08-13
Filing date: 2002-08-08
Publication date: 2003-02-27
Also published as: SE519119C2; SE0102712L; SE0102712D0

Abstract

Detachable and re-attachable information stickers or labels that can identify goods sold or provided in disposable or semi-disposable refill-packages or packages that for some reason or the other are not the preferred storage medium for handling the 'product' when used.

Description

SYSTEM AND METHODS FOR LABELING PRODUCTS

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Technical Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to labeling of products and particularly labeling for later identification. Products in shops are always labeled in some way or the other in order for the consumer to identify the product. Identifiers like brand, "best before date", ingredients, ..., etc are important information for the consumers. Besides brand and other important product information everybody nowadays also wants to be environmentally friendly this goes for both producer and customer. By environmentally friendly one usually means that the less effort or energy that goes in to recycling or handling the waste products that all products eventually emanates 'to i.e. garbage or containers reusable (recycling) or non-reusable. The most environmentally friendly packaging methods known of today are the refill products that leaves nothing to recycle but merely garbage that you can throw in your regular garbage can. Consumers on the other hand usually feels that a regular glass/PET or other encapsulation of the products is easier to handle since you don't have to re-fill ex a glass jar with ex marmalade if it is bought in such a packaging from the beginning.

Buying refills ex jam, marmalade, instant coffee, serials, ... that you want to "re-package" at home in order to preserve or store for further use consumption is today a hassle.

Description of Related Art

No relevant prior art was found when searching patent and non-patent literature. No known prior art dealing with detachable labels deals with the problem of identification of a product having been refilled into another container. Listed below are a couple of references that are related. The references below are found in Appendix A-E and are incorporated by reference. Examples :

• US 5639529 deals with an easily removable label for use in connection with a container to be recycled (first 7 pages)

• O0011584 deals with computer game for producing stickers for toy vehicle playset

• DE-4338060 deals with mail handling - supply return mail address by removing sticker (symbols/mark) . Enables the reuse of envelopes or packages

_• GB2357059 deals with promotional premiums ex promotional premiums inserted in snack food products

• O200133532 deals with instructions for obtaining at least one promotional item relating to ex theme of game

• EP-1114379 deals with peel and stick labels used in a computer game

• US-5.535.536 deals with a removable label capable of being placed on a memorandum of a transaction

• JP2000122548 deals with adhesive label with peelable base layer for goods identification and sorting for cargo transportation

• 09841966 deals with labels that are detachable

• DE-3620264 Deals with peel-off label for stock control or inventorying and future purchasing

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A system and method used for enabling identification of a product after having been repackaged by a consumer, the product originally having been packaged in a first storage medium by it's producer and where another second storage medium is preferred by the consumer for consumption, use or storage of the product, characterized in that said first storage medium comprises a detachable and re-attachable identifier, said identifier being capable of being detached from said first storage medium by the consumer and re-attached to said second storage medium.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A more complete understanding of the present invention may be had by reference to the following Detailed Description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 shows a detachable and re-attachable identifier/label/sticker that is removed from a refill-type product (refill-tube of jam) and re- attached to a glass or plastic jar.

FIG. 2 shows how a portion of a label/identifier on a can of engine oil is detachable and possible to re- attach under the hood of a car.

FIG. 3 shows a detachable and re-attachable identifier/label/sticker that is removed from a refill-type product (refill-bag of ex liquid soap) and re-attached to more user-friendly type of container equipped with a pump.

FIG. 4 shows a detachable and re-attachable identifier/label/sticker that is removed from a refill-type product (refill-bag of coffee) and re- attached to a tin can with a lid.

FIG. 5 shows a detachable identifier/label/sticker on a can of engine oil that is removed and re-attached under the hood of a car. Even if this fig shows that the identifier is re-attached under the hood it might as well have been put on the oil-cap of the car. FIG. 6 shows a detachable identifier/label/sticker that is removed from a refill-type product (refill-bag of Nestle coffee) . The identifier has a specific shape similar or identical to the shape of the hard version of the product.

FIG. 7 shows a detachable identifier/label/sticker that is removed from a refill-type product (refill-bag) . The identifier is a specific identifier and re- attached to a more suitable can/bottle for consumption.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Detachable and re-attachable information stickers or labels that can identify goods sold or provided in disposable or semi- disposable refill-packages or packages that fore some reason or the other are not the preferred storage medium for handling the "product" when used. The sticker or label contains information pertinent to the goods ex brand, ingredients, "best before date" etc. Before or after having re-packaged the product into a preferred storage medium (ex gloss jar) the detachable sticker is removed from the refill and reattached to the preferred storage medium enabling identification at a later stage. As to the sticker it can be attached to the "product" with an adhesive (solvent, re-usable glue, Velcro™, ...) which allows the label to be easily peeled from the product and at the same time also allows the label to be re-used like Post-its®.

Merits of invention:

_• Enables identification of product after having disposed of the disposable, semi-disposable package. How do you identify 3 glass jars of jam (strawberry, raspberry and lingonberry) from each other in your refrigerator? Or x nr of detergents for cleaning cloth.

Safe (allergy problems) . Not being able to identify products can be dangerous.

Simple to implement in production of refills

Ease of re-labeling (re-packaging) by consumer

Cheap

Environmentally friendly

Less carrying/transporting of heavy containers => less energy consumption

Less carrying/transporting of containers (glass, PET, non-disposable plastic containers, ... to the recycling station.

Brand loyalty. The sticker can have the same size and/or shape as an already bought container (ex glass jar or the like ex Nestle instant coffee) .

The sticker can be an integral part of the label or part of the label on the merchandise

... etc

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. A method for enabling identification of a product after having been repackaged by a consumer, the product having been packaged in a first storage medium by it's producer and where a second storage medium is preferred by the consumer for consumption, storage or use of the product, characterized by that the first storage medium having a removable and re- attachable identifier and by the steps of;

A) removing the removable identifier of the product from the first storage medium;

B) attaching said identifier to said second storage medium;

C) filling said second storage medium with the product of said first storage medium;

D) disposing of the first storage medium if empty.

2. A method for enabling identification of a product after having been repackaged by a consumer, the product having been packaged in a first storage medium by it's producer and where a second storage medium is preferred by the consumer for consumption, storage or use of the product, characterized by that the first storage medium having a removable and re- attachable identifier and by the steps of;

A) filling said second storage medium with the product of said first storage medium;

B) removing said identifier of the product from the first storage medium;

C) attaching said identifier to a second storage medium;

D) disposing of the first storage medium if empty.

3. A system used for enabling identification of a product after having been repackaged by a consumer, the product having been packaged in a first storage medium by it's producer and where a second storage medium is preferred by the consumer for consumption, use or storage of the product, characterized in that said first storage medium comprises a detachable and re- attachable identifier, said identifier being capable of being detached from said first storage medium by the consumer and re-attached to said second storage medium.

4. The system according to claim 3, characterized in that the first storage medium is of a disposable or semi-disposable refill-package or economy (large) package type.

5. The system according to anyone of the claims 3-4, characterized in that the identifier is or forms part of the label of the product packaged in the first storage medium.

6. The system according to anyone of the claims 3-5, characterized in that the identifier is a specific detachable label on the product packaged in the first storage medium.

7. The system according to anyone of the claims 3-6, characterized in that the identifier has a specific shape, the shape being suitable for re-attachment onto a second storage medium having a specific shape similar or identical to the shape of the hard version of the product.

8. The system according to anyone of the claims 3-7, characterized in that said identifier contains product data/information and or picture indicative of the product first having been packaged in said first storage medium, like Name of product, brand, best before date, ingredients, instruction on usage/dosage, etc or any subset thereof.

9. The system according to anyone of the claims 3-8, characterized in that said identifier has a reusable adhesive which allows it to be detached from said first storage medium and re-attached to said second storage medium.

10. The system according to anyone of the claims 3-9, characterized in that said identifier has the shape suitable to for attaching to a lid/cap.