EP1262414A2

EP1262414A2 - Thermally insulating label for beverage vessels

Info

Publication number: EP1262414A2
Application number: EP02011927A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Giancarlo Vimercati
Original assignee: PILOT ITALIA SpA
Current assignee: PILOT ITALIA SpA
Priority date: 2001-05-31
Filing date: 2002-05-29
Publication date: 2002-12-04
Also published as: ITMI20011165A1; EP1262414A3; ITMI20011165A0

Abstract

The present invention relates to a thermally insulating label (1), specifically designed for self-heating or self-cooling vessels for beverages and the like, comprising a label body, including at least a foamed plastic material layer (2), which can be applied to a vessel or the like by an auto-adhesive material layer.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a thermally insulating label, specifically designed for self-heating or self-cooling vessels for beverages and the like.
As is known, prior self-heating vessels for beverages and the like generally comprise a vessel compartment, in which the beverage is filled-in, said beverage compartment being encompassed by a further vessel compartment in which calcium chloride is filled-in.
The latter, as it is wetted by water coming from a suitably provided bag, at the use time, provides a greatly exothermal reaction, which causes the beverage to be heated.
During the heating operation, the outer surface of the vessel can achieve a comparatively high temperature, and, because of this reason, it is necessary to provide on the outer surface of the vessel an outer jacket, which practically forms a thermal membrane or diaphragm.
In prior self-heating beverage vessels, the mentioned jacket constitutes an additional element which must be applied on the vessel after having applied the conventional label.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, the aim of the present invention is to overcome the above mentioned drawbacks, by providing a thermally insulating label, specifically designed for self-heating or self-cooling vessels for beverages and the like, allowing to provide the desired thermal insulation, without using additional thermally insulating elements.
Within the scope of the above mentioned aim, a main object of the invention is to provide such a thermally insulating label, which, while having greatly improved technical characteristics, can be applied to the beverage vessel by a conventional applying method.
Another object of the present invention is to provide such a thermally insulating label which, owing to its specifically designed constructional features, is very reliable and safe in operation.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide such a thermally insulating label, specifically designed for self-heating or self-cooling beverage vessels and the like, which can be easily made starting from easily available elements and materials and which, moreover, is very competitive from a mere economic standpoint.
According to one aspect of the present invention, the above mentioned aim and objects, as well as yet other objects, which will become more apparent hereinafter, are achieved by a thermally insulating label, specifically designed for self-heating or self-cooling vessels for beverages and the like, characterized in that said thermally insulating label comprises at least a foamed plastic material layer to be applied to a beverage vessel and the like, by an auto-adhesive material layer.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Further characteristics and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent hereinafter from the following detailed disclosure of a preferred, though not exclusive, embodiment of a thermally insulating label, specifically designed for self-heating or self-cooling beverage vessels and the like, which is illustrated, by way of an indicative, but not limitative, example, in the accompanying drawings, where:
Figure 1 illustrates the thermally insulating labels according to the present invention, as applied to a supporting layer, before the use thereof;
Figure 2 illustrates, in a layered condition, the thermally insulating label according to the invention; and
Figure 3 is a schematic view illustrating a thermally insulating label according to the invention applied to a beverage vessel or the like.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

With reference to the number references of the above mentioned figures, the thermally insulating label, specifically designed for self-heating beverage vessels and the like, according to the present invention, which has been generally indicated by the reference number 1, comprises a layer 2, made of a foamed plastic material, having a thickness of 300/350 µm.
Advantageously, for forming said layer, a film comprising foamed or expanded polystyrene has been used.
The label 1, in a per known manner, is applied to a silicone processed material supporting. layer 3, allowing said label to be easily detached and being provided with an anti-adhesive layer 4, which has been specifically designed for providing the desired adhering and cohesion properties of the adhesive material.
From experimental tests, it has been found that the foamed polystyrene material has a poor structure compactness.
For this reason it is preferable to provide a coupling of said foamed polystyrene with a base layer 5 which, advantageously, comprise a polyester film having a thickness of 12 µm, allowing to provide the label with improved stability and strength characteristics, both in its transforming process and in its printing process, and during the die-cutting operation, as well as during the vessel labeling processes.
The foamed polystyrene has a specific gravity of about 0.26.
Thus, its volume will be practically four times greater than that its starting volume.
Moreover, in order to facilitate the application of the label to curved or bent surfaces, on the side edges of the elongated configuration label is provided a perforated line 10, operating to reduce the label stiffness, thereby preventing the applied label to be raised from the vessel.
The thus made label provides a very good thermal insulation.
Thus, the inventive label can replace the plastic material jacket which was conventionally used on self-heating or self-cooling beverage vessels and the like.
The invention, as disclosed, is susceptible to several modifications and variations, all of which will come within the scope of the invention.
Moreover, all the constructional details can be replaced by other technically equivalent elements.
In practicing the invention, the used materials, as well as the contingent size and shapes can be any, depending on requirements.

Claims

A thermally insulating label, specifically designed for self-heating or self-cooling vessels for beverages and the like, characterized in that said thermally insulating label comprises at least a foamed plastic material layer to be applied to a beverage vessel and the like, by an auto-adhesive material layer.
A label, according to the preceding claim, characterized in that said label comprises at least a layer of a foamed plastic material having a thickness from 300/350 µm.
A label, according to the preceding claims, characterized in that said foamed plastic material layer is made of foamed polystyrene.
A label, according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said label comprises a base layer to provide said plastic material layer with an improved compactness.
A label, according to one or more of the. preceding claims, characterized in that said base layer comprises a polystyrene material.
A label, according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said label is applied, before a use thereof, on a silicone processed support layer.
A label, according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said label comprises, at its side edges, perforated line for preventing the edges of said label from raising as said label is applied on a curved surface.
A thermally insulating label, specifically designed for self-heating beverage vessels and the like, according to one or more of the preceding claims, and substantially as broadly disclosed and illustrated and for the intended aim and objects.