Condition change labels
View Patent ↗Described herein are condition change labels, methods of forming them, and methods of using them. Generally, condition change labels include a first layer including a blister laminated to a first side of a bottom layer thereby creating a container; an indicator substance located in the container; and an adhesive disposed on at least a portion of a second side of the bottom layer, wherein the condition change label has a stiffness less than about 0.06 mN•m.
1. A flexible label including:
a first layer including a blister laminated to a first side of a bottom layer thereby creating a container;
a substance located in the container; and
an adhesive disposed on at least a portion of a second side of the bottom layer wherein the label has a stiffness less than about 0.06 mN·m;
wherein the blister is shaped to minimize the visual impact on the substance in the container when the label is applied to a curved surface.
2. The label of claim 1 , wherein the substance is an indicator substance.
3. The label of claim 2 , wherein the stiffness is between about 0.001 mN·m and about 0.06 mN·m.
4. The label of claim 2 , wherein the first layer is substantially transparent.
5. The label of claim 2 , wherein the bottom layer is opaque.
6. The label of claim 2 , wherein the indicator substance or condition change indicator substance is a solid, a liquid, a gel, a semi-solid, a colloid, a mesh, or a combination thereof that is configured to change state, color, transparency, or a combination thereof upon introduction to the predetermined condition.
7. The label of claim 6 , wherein the predetermined condition is freezing, boiling, exposure to light, exposure to humidity, exposure to excess pressure, subject to contamination, or a combination thereof.
8. The label of claim 7 , wherein the predetermined condition is freezing.
9. The label of claim 2 , wherein the label is sufficiently flexible to wrap around a product container without flagging.
10. The label of claim 9 , wherein the product container is a cylindrical product container.
11. The label of claim 9 , wherein the cylindrical product container has a diameter of 16 millimeters or more, or of 12 millimeters or more, or of 8 millimeters or more.
12. The label of claim 2 , wherein the first layer comprises polypropylene, polyester, polychlorotrifluoroethylene, transparent barrier coatings or combinations of polypropylene, polyester, polychlorotrifluoroethylene, and transparent barrier coatings.
13. The label of claim 2 , wherein the second layer comprises polypropylene, polyester, polychlorotrifluoroethylene, barrier coatings, vacuum deposited aluminum, tempered aluminum foil, annealed aluminum foil or combinations of polypropylene, polyester, polychlorotrifluoroethylene, barrier coatings, vacuum deposited aluminum, tempered aluminum foil or annealed aluminum foil.
14. The label of claim 2 , wherein the label is sufficiently rigid to detach from a liner.
15. The label of claim 2 , having a liner attached to the adhesive.
16. The label of claim 15 , wherein the total thickness of the first layer, the bottom layer, the adhesive and the liner is less than 3 mm.
17. A method of forming the label of claim 2 , comprising:
laminating the first layer to the second layer thereby encasing the indicator substance.
18. The method of claim 17 , further comprising applying the adhesive to the second side of the second layer.
19. The label of claim 1 , which is a condition change label.
20. A label, which is an activatable condition change label, including:
a first layer including a first and a second blister laminated to a first side of a bottom layer thereby creating two containers;
an inactive condition change indicator substance located in the first container;
a liquid activator substance for the inactive condition change located in the second container;
an area of weak adhesion between the top film and the bottom layer in the area between the two containers such that pressure on the second container can force the activator liquid into the first container thereby activating the condition change indicator substance so as to allow it to undergo a change in visual appearance upon introduction to a predetermined peak condition;
an adhesive disposed on at least a portion of a second side of the bottom layer, wherein the condition change label has a stiffness less than about 0.06 mN·m;
wherein the first and/or second blister is shaped to minimize the visual impact on the condition change indicator when the label is applied to a curved surface.