Methods of in-molding labels and dispensers thereof
AssigneeKimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
InventorsJonathan Green, Klemen Erzen, Joseph E. Oberdorf
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Methods for producing a dispenser for dispensable products are disclosed. The method includes attaching a label to the front plate of the dispenser by an in-mold process. The label has a label height (H2) that is less than the front plate height (H1) and label width (W2) that is less than the front plate width (W1) such that a border is formed around at least a portion of the label in the front plate. The front plate can be formed from a transparent material while the label is formed from an opaque material.
Claims18
A method of forming a front cover assembly for a dispenser for dispensing a dispensable product, comprising:
- positioning a label in a mold, the label having a label height (H2) and label width (W2);
- injecting a first material into the mold to form a front plate, the front plate having a front plate height (H1) that is greater than the label height (H2) and a front plate width (W1) that is greater than the label width (W2) such that a border is formed around at least a portion of the label in the front plate, wherein the front plate is formed from a transparent material and the label is formed from an opaque material;
- and
- injecting a second material into the mold to form one or more sidewalls, a top wall, a bottom wall, or combinations thereof of the front cover assembly.
A method of forming a front cover assembly for a dispenser for dispensing a dispensable product, comprising:
- positioning a label in a first mold, the label having a label height (H2) and label length (L2);
- injecting a first material into the first mold to form a front plate with in-mold label, the front plate having a front plate height (H1) that is greater than the label height (H2) and a front plate width (W1) that is greater than the label width (W2) such that a border is formed around at least a portion of the label in the front plate, wherein the front plate is formed from a transparent material and the label is formed from an opaque material;
- cooling the front plate with in-mold label;
- ejecting the front plate with in-mold label from the first mold;
- transferring the front plate with in-mold label to a second mold;
- injecting a second material into the second mold to form one or more sidewalls, a top wall, a bottom wall, or combinations thereof of the front cover assembly.
A dispenser for dispensing a dispensable product, comprising:
- a housing having an interior volume so as to retain a dispensable product, the housing including a front cover assembly;
- and
- a dispensing mechanism contained within the housing for dispensing the dispensable product;
- wherein the front cover assembly comprises:
- (1) a front plate having a first side and a second and opposite side, the first side forming an exterior surface of the dispenser, the front plate having a front plate height (H1) and a front plate width (W1);
- (2) a label attached to the front plate via an in-mold process, wherein the label has a label height (H2) that is less than the front plate height (H1) and a label width (W2) that is less than the front plate width (W1) such that a border is formed around at least a portion of the label in the front plate, wherein the front plate is formed from a transparent material and the label is formed from an opaque material;
- and
- (3) one or more sidewalls and a top wall molded to the front plate.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.