Foldable Bag

Abstract

A foldable bag for insulating a bottle or other beverage container comprises means for attaching the bag in its folded state wherein the bag can serve as a label on the outside of the bottle, and means for attaching the bag to the bottle in its unfolded state wherein the bag envelops the bottle to provide thermal insulation. A method for attaching a folded label to a bottle comprises: attaching a first side of the label to the bottle using a glue; wrapping the label around the bottle; attaching a second side of the label to the surface of the label using glue, in such a way that the label becomes attached to the bottle and the second side covers the side opening at the first side of the label.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a foldable bag for thermal insulation of a a bottle or another beverage container.

2. Description of Related Art Including Information

In summer or in places of hot weather, it is desirable to keep drinks cool. A dinner or another event may take some time, and a cool bottle may heat up.

Furthermore, condensation causes water drops on the outer surface of the bottle, which may collate to a liquid spill on the table.

In prior art, there are bags for enveloping bottles, to achieve thermal insulation. These bags are inconvenient to the user, as they have to be stored separately from the bottle. Various sizes of bottles may not be suitable for any bags.

It may be difficult to attach the bag to the bottle, so the bag keeps in place to cool the bottle while the bottle is in use and may be moved about.

If the bag becomes separated from the bottle and drifts away, it may create pollution.

There is also the problem of preparing labels for efficient attachment to bottles in a mass production environment.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to one aspect of the present invention, a foldable label is attached to a bottle in production, so the bottle with its label are sold together, as one unit.

When the user desires to achieve thermal insulation of the bottle, the label is removed from the bottle and unfolded, to become a bag. The bag can be used to envelope the bottle. Specially devised means on the label/bag allow for efficient and easy attaching to the bottle.

When folded, the label covers just a small part of the bottle area. Thus, the bottle can be efficiently cooled in a refrigerator or freezer.

Further purposes and benefits of the current invention will become apparent upon reading the present disclosure and the related drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a bottle with unfolded label, used for thermal insulation

FIG. 2 details a folded label attached to a bottle

FIG. 3 details the folded label detached from the bottle

FIG. 4 details the detached label unfolded

FIG. 5 details the detached label opened to receive bottle therein

FIG. 6 details the opened label enveloping the bottle

FIG. 7 details stage 1 of preparing a labels sheet

FIG. 8 details stage 2 of preparing a labels sheet

FIG. 9 details stage 3 of preparing a labels sheet

FIG. 10 details stage 4 of preparing a labels sheet (roll)

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The current invention will now be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 illustrates a bottle 1 with unfolded label 2, used for thermal insulation of the bottle 1. The label 2 can be used for another type of beverage container.

The bag 2 covers the bottle 1 in order to achieve thermal insulation. The recesses 12 in the bottle create air cushions between the bottle 1 and bag 2, which further improve the thermal insulation.

In a preferred embodient, the bag is so devised as to achieve a tight adherence to a bottle; as the bottle has recesses on its surface, air is trapped between each recess and the bag surface, such that there is no air passage between the separate recesses. This improves the thermal insulation.

An optional transparent window 22 in the bag 2 is useful to check the level of the liquid in the bottle 1, especially in case the bag 2 is not transparent (in a preferred embodiment of the present invention, it may be printed with advertisements or various announcements and information, etc.). Ataching means 23 on the bag 2 hold the bag attached to the bottle 1.

FIG. 2 details a folded label 2 attached to a bottle 1 with a glued surface 24 (glue is applied to the side of the label facing the bottle). The glue on the label 2 serves to hold the end of the label as shown, so that the label 2 surrounds the bottle and is kept in place in that state.

In a preferred embodiment, a relatively weak glue is used, which allows removal of the label by the user by applying a reasonable pulling force.

The glue is so devised, that it allows several cycles of attachment/detachment of the label from the bottle.

A free tongue 25 is formed by a part protruding to one side as shown, and there is no glue attached to it; thus part 25 is free and can be easily pulled by the user, to pull open the label by pulling the surface 24 away from the bottle 1.

The width 31 (H2) of the label 2 is an important parameter; according to the present invention, its value should be equal to, or larger than, a value corresponding to the circumference of the bottle 1 whose radius is R:

H2>=pi*R/2

where pi is the constant 3.14159 . . .

The present inventor found that, if H2 is slightly larger than the above value, the bottle 1 can be inserted into the unfolded label 2; in another embodiment, H2 can be still larger, to form an air volume between the bottle 1 and bag 2.

Benefits include, among others:

a. The folded label 2 covers just a small part of the bottle 1 area, thus there is no considerable thermal insulation. The bottle may be placed in a refrigerator or freezer for efficient, fast cooling.

b. The label may be imprinted with advertisements, information, etc. as desired. Prior art labels may be used for ads, but their area is small; the bag in the present invention, when unfolded to envelop the bottle, has a much larger area, thus increasing the area available for ads.

c. In prior art, there are created water drops on the surface of a cold bottle or can, as a results of condensation of water vapors in the air; this may result in a puddle of water on the table. This effect is reduced or eliminated with the present invention, when the bottle is enveloped with the plastic bag.

d. In prior art, users could carry bags or insulating means, separately. This is inconvenient in use; the present invention, wherein the bottle comes with the bag already built in, is much more convenient to users.

e. Low impact on the end product—the product out of the manufacturing line is a filled bottle with a label attached thereto, just in prior art. Thus the product is easy to handle, package, transport and store-just like in prior art. No drastic changes are required.

On the other, hand, the user benefits from a detachable label which can be used to thermally insulate a cold or hot bottle.

f. Existing means for thermal insulation can be used with the new bottle with label, if the user so desires.

FIG. 3 details the folded label detached from the bottle. This is the label 2, after being removed from the bottle 1 in FIG. 2, viewed from the side of the surface closer to the bottle. There is a first glued surface 26, which is used to attach one end of the label 2 to the bottle 1; and a second glued surface 24, used to attach the other end of label 2 to itself, to keep it wrapped around the bottle 1.

Also shown are the dimensions: width 31 of the label, and width 32 of the glued part 24 and the tongue 25; tongue 25 has no glue thereon.

FIG. 4 details the detached label 2 unfolded; in FIG. 3 it was folded along folding line 27, and was opened by unfolding as per arrows 34.

The dimension 33 is such, that it generally equals the circumference of bottle 1, to allow wrapping the label 2 around the bottle 1 as shown in FIGS. 1, 2. Actually, the dimension 33 minus dimension 32 should generally equal the bottle circumference, so that the glued part 24 attaches to the label 2 after the label 2 completely surrounds the bottle 1.

There is an opening 28 in label 2, on the right side of the drawing as shown; all the other three sides of the label 2 are closed.

FIG. 5 details the detached label 2, opened to receive a bottle therein.

The label 2 has an opening 28 on its upper side, as shown; the other sides are closed. Further on the upper side of the label 2 are the glued surface 24 (with the glued surface on the side away from the viewer, that is the inner side of the label), and tongue 25.

FIG. 6 details the opened label 2 enveloping the bottle 1.

In a preferred embodiment, the dimensions of label 2 are such as the length of the open label 2 extends upwards up to the tapering bottleneck 14 as shown in the figure. The glued surface 24 (with glue on the side pointing toward the bottle) attaches to the bottle 1 so as to hold the label 2, now shaped as a bag, upright and enveloping the bottle 1.

In a preferred embodiment, there is a folding line 29 extending downwards, to allow folding the bag 2 as shown while attaching the glued surface 24 to the bottle 1. This structure offers the benefit, among others, that the bag 2 is narrower on its upper side, to better insulate the beverage in the bottle 1. The tongue 25 remains free and unglued, thus facilitating removal of the label

Method 1 for attaching a folded label to a bottle

a. The label 2 shown in FIG. 4 is folded along folding line 27, in the opposite direction of arrows 34. The resulting, folded label is shown in FIG. 3

b. The label 2 is so rotated as its length span in a direction normal to the longitudinal axis of a bottle 1, with the glued part 26 pointing toward the bottle 1. The part 26 is attached to the bottle.

Part 26 of the label is attached to the bottle in such an orientation, that the folding line 48 is on the upper side of the bottle (the side closer to the bottlenecking). This prevents dust and dirt falling down from entering into the folded label.

c. The label 2 is wrapped around the bottle 1, until it wraps the bottle as shown in FIG. 2.

d. The other glued end 24 of the label 2 is pressed down, so that end is secured to the label, thus holding the label in place.

Thus, the second side of the label 24 is attached to the surface of the label using glue, such that label becomes attached to the bottle and the second side 24 covers the side openings at the first side 26 of the label. Thus, the label is closed on its lateral sides, to prevent dust from entering therein.

**End of method**

Method 2 for removing a label from a bottle

a. The free tongue 25 of the label 2 (see FIG. 2) is pulled away from the bottle 1; this causes the glued surface 24 to separate from the bottle.

b. The label 2 is unwrapped away from the bottle 1.

c. The other glued end 26 of the label 2 is pulled away from the bottle 1, thus completely separating the label 2 from the bottle 1.

d. The folded label (see FIG. 3) is unfolded along folding line 27 (see FIG. 4) to result in the unfolded label/bag 2 of FIG. 4.

e. The open side 28 of the label 2 (see FIG. 5) is opened, in preparation for inserting the bottle into the label 2, with the label 2 now shaped like a bag.

**End of method**

Method 3 for insulating a bottle

a. The label 2 is removed from the bottle, unfolded and opened up as per Method 2 for example.

b. The bottle 1 is inserted into the bag 2, into the position as in FIG. 1.

c. The glued surface 24 is used to secure the bag 2 to the upper part of the bottle 1 (the part of bottle 1 closer to the bottleneck).

Preferably, the upper part of bag 2 is folded inside prior to securing it, as shown in FIG. 6, in order to reduce the opening in the upper side of the bag 2.

**End of method**

Method 4 for using the bottle with removable label

a. The bottle 1, with the label 2 in its folded state as shown in FIG. 2, is placed in a refrigerator or freezer to be cooled down. The label does not insulate the bottle, so the bottle will be cooled fast and efficiently.

b. To use the bottle, i.e. in a picnic, the label is removed from the bottle as per Method 2, and unfolded into a bag which is attached to a bottle so as to envelop it, as per Method 3 for example.

**End of method**

Method 5 for preparing a labels sheet or roll

The method is used to prepare, from an elongated planar sheet, a plurality of labels ready to be attached to bottles or other beverage containers.

a. See FIG. 7 which details stage 1 of preparing a labels sheet. An elongated sheet 4 moves for example in the direction 43 as shown.

In this stage, parts 45 are cut away from the sheet 4.

Moreover, two parallel cut lines 46 extend further into the sheet as shown, toward side 41. A first folding line 47 is formed on the sheet, separating the sheet into two halves lengthwise. The sheet is folded along the first folding line 47, this resulting in the sheet shown in FIG. 8.

b. See FIG. 8 which details stage 2 of preparing a labels sheet. As the sheet 4 moves in the direction 43 as shown, a second folding line 48 is formed along the middle of the sheet, and the sheet is again folded along line 48 to result in the doubly folded sleeve 481.

c. The sheet is soldered on an L-shaped soldering area; in another embodiment, these sides of the sheet can be glued together, etc. This forms a bag closed on three sides (the lower side 47 is the result of a prior folding and it closed too); only the side 489 remains open.

d. See FIG. 9 which details stage 3 of preparing a labels sheet.

As the sheet 481 moves in the direction 43 as shown, there are formed parts between cut lines 484; these are the separate labels, which will be attached to bottles. The sheet 481 will be cut into separate labels by cutting it along cut lines 484 during a subsequent stages, as detailed below, see for example Method 6.

e. See FIG. 10 which details stage 4 of preparing a labels sheet (roll).

The sheet 4 is collected onto a rotating roll 49.

This roll 49 is ready for use, to supply labels to be attached to bottles.

**End of method**

Note: On the sheet 4, parts 481 comprise four layers (as a result of two foldings) whereas parts 483 comprise only one layer, see FIG. 9.

Method 6 for attaching a label to a bottle

a. The roll 49 (see FIG. 10) is rotated in the opposite direction, to pull out labels for use.

The sheet 4 (see FIG. 9) is cut into separate labels, by cutting it along the cut lines 484. A label is formed between every two cut lines 484.

b. Each label is cut away from the folded sleeve 4. The resulting sleeve was soldered or glued on two sides, so that only one side remains open.

c. A glue is attached to the surfaces 24, 26, see FIG. 3. This is a weaker glue, which can be separated later without an excessive effort, by the user.

In a preferred embodiment, the glue has medium strength—on the one hand it is strong enough to hold the label attached to the bottle; on the other hand, the whole label can be detached from the bottle, when the user pulls the label using a reasonable force, not too strong so as not to damage the label.

Furthermore, the glue is so devised that it remains attached to the label when the label is pulled away from the bottle, and the glue can be used to reattach the areas 24, 26 to the bottle, when the bottle is inserted into the label as shown in FIG. 1.

No glue is applied to the area 25 (see FIG. 9). This part remains free and detached from the bottle; the user can easily take hold of it and use it to pull the label away from the bottle.

d. The label thus resulting is attached to a bottle as detailed in the Method 1 above. In a preferred embodiment, a label is attached to a bottle in such an orientation, that the folding line 48 (see FIG. 8 for example) is on the upper side of the bottle (the side closer to the bottleneck). A benefit of this feature is that dust and dirt falling down will not enter into the label itself—the open side of the label points downwards.

**End of method**

It will be recognized that the foregoing is but one example of an apparatus and method within the scope of the present invention and that various modifications will occur to those skilled in the art upon reading the disclosure set forth hereinbefore.

Claims

1. A foldable bag for insulating a bottle or other beverage container, comprising means for attaching the bag in its folded state wherein the bag can serve as a label on the outside of the bottle, and means for attaching the bag to the bottle in its unfolded state wherein the bag envelops the bottle to provide thermal insulation.

2. The foldable bag according to claim 1, further including means for fast removal of the bag from the bottle.

3. The foldable bag according to claim 2, wherein the means for fast removal of the bag from the bottle comprise a weak glue for attaching the bag to the bottle and an unglued tongue for pulling the bag away from the bottle.

4. The foldable bag according to claim 1, wherein the label in its folded state covers only a small part of the bottle or beverage container, and when unfolded it transforms into a bag which can provide thermal insulation by attaching it to the bottle, wherein a large part of the bottle is covered.

5. The foldable bag according to claim 1, wherein the bag is so devised in size and shape as to conform to the bottle it is intended to insulate, by providing a tightly close cover therefor.

6. The foldable bag according to claim 5, wherein the bottle has recesses on its surface, and wherein air is trapped between each recess and the bag surface, in such a way that there is no air passage between the separate recesses.

7. The foldable bag according to claim 1, wherein the label is made of an thermally insulating material such as plastic, with or without a coating, and the coating reflects light and/or is water resistant.

8. The foldable bag according to claim 1, further including means for allowing reuse of glue—the same glue used for attaching the folded label to the bottle, is used after unfolding the label into a bag, to attach the bag to the bottle wherein the bag envelops the bottle.

9. The foldable bag according to claim 1, further including an unglued tongue which facilitates removal of the label/bag from the bottle.

10. The foldable bag according to claim 1, wherein the label is transparent or has transparent parts to allow checking the level of the liquid in the bottle.

11. The foldable bag according to claim 1, wherein the label is imprinted so that the printed message becomes visible when the label is unfolded.

12. The foldable bag according to claim 1, wherein the label is attached to a bottle having a bottleneck which becomes gradually narrower, to help keep the label in place.

13. A method for attaching a folded label to a bottle comprising:

a. attaching a first side of the label to the bottle using a glue;

b. wrapping the label around the bottle

c. attaching a second side of the label to the surface of the label using glue, in such a way that the label becomes attached to the bottle and the second side covers the side opening at the first side of the label.

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein the label is attached to the bottle in such an orientation, that a folding line is on the upper side of the bottle (the side closer to the bottlenecking).

15. The method according to claim 13, wherein the glue is so devised as to remain attached to the label when the label is removed from the bottle, and wherein the glue further retains its properties to allow more than one cycle of attaching/detaching the label from the bottle.

16. A method for preparing, from an elongated planar sheet, a plurality of labels ready to be attached to bottles or other beverage containers, comprising:

a. as the sheet is moved in a predefined direction, parts preferably of a rectangular shape are cut away therefrom, at fixed predefined intervals along the sheet;

b. a first folding line is formed on the sheet, separating the sheet into two halves lengthwise;

c. the sheet is folded along the first folding line;

d. a second folding line is formed along the middle of the sheet, and the sheet is again folded along line that line to result in a doubly folded sleeve;

e. the sheet is soldered on an L-shaped soldering area.

17. The method according to claim 16, further including the step of rolling the resulting sheet onto a rotating roll.

18. The method according to claim 16, further including the step of defining cut lines for future cutting the sheet into separate labels, each label to be attached to a bottle.

19. The method according to claim 16, wherein, as the sheet is moved in a predefined direction and parts preferably of a rectangular shape are cut away therefrom, also two cut lines are formed which further extend into the sheet.

20. The method according to claim 16, wherein the resultant sheet comprises alternating parts having four layers (as a result of two foldings) and parts having only one layer.