Composite container having an electromagnetic surveillance device

Abstract

A composite container having an electromagnetic surveillance device such as an EAS or RFID device or the like, and an outer label and/or inner liner that does not contain a metal foil layer. The label in one embodiment comprises a lamination of a paper layer and at least one polymer film layer. The polymer film layer is either metallized with a vapor-deposited layer of metal, or has a metallic ink disposed thereon. The liner comprises a paper layer, a barrier-coated film attached to the inner surface of the paper layer, and a sealant layer disposed on an opposite side of the barrier-coated film from the paper layer and forming an innermost surface of the liner, the sealant layer comprising a heat seal material. The barrier-coated film can comprise a metallized film, an aluminum oxide-coated film, a silicon oxide-coated film, or the like.

1 . A container, comprising: 
 a tubular body wall comprising from one to a plurality of paperboard body plies wrapped about an axis into a tubular shape and adhered together, the body wall having an inner surface and an outer surface;    a label wrapped about and adhered to the outer surface of the body wall, the label comprising a paper layer laminated to a generally transparent polymer film layer, the paper layer being disposed between the body wall and the polymer film layer, the polymer film layer having an inwardly facing surface that faces the paper layer, the label having a layer comprising one of a metallic ink and a vapor-deposited coating of metal disposed on the inwardly facing surface of the polymer film layer; and    an electromagnetic surveillance device incorporated into the container.    
   
   
       2 . The container of  claim 1 , further comprising a liner adhered to the inner paperboard surface of the body wall, the liner comprising: 
 a paper layer having an outer surface facing the inner surface of the body wall and having an inner surface facing toward the interior of the container;    a barrier-coated film attached to the inner surface of the paper layer, the barrier-coated film comprising a polymer film substrate having a vapor-deposited layer of barrier material applied to one surface of the substrate; and    a sealant layer disposed on an opposite side of the barrier-coated film from the paper layer and forming an innermost surface of the liner, the sealant layer comprising a heat seal material.    
   
   
       3 . The container of  claim 2 , wherein the barrier-coated film of the liner comprises a metallized film.  
   
   
       4 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the layer disposed on the inwardly facing surface of the polymer film layer of the label comprises a vapor-deposited coating of metal, and wherein the label includes a layer of ink disposed on an outwardly facing surface of the polymer film layer.  
   
   
       5 . The container of  claim 4 , wherein the label further comprises a protective layer covering the layer of ink.  
   
   
       6 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the layer disposed on the inwardly facing surface of the polymer film layer comprises a vapor-deposited coating of metal, and wherein the label further comprises a reverse-printed polymer film layer laminated to an outwardly facing surface of the polymer film layer having the vapor-deposited coating of metal.  
   
   
       7 . A container, comprising: 
 a tubular body wall comprising from one to a plurality of paperboard body plies wrapped about an axis into a tubular shape and adhered together, the body wall having an inner surface and an outer surface; and    a label wrapped about and adhered to the outer surface of the body wall, the label comprising a paper layer laminated to a generally transparent polymer film layer, the paper layer being disposed between the body wall and the polymer film layer, the polymer film layer having an inwardly facing surface that faces the paper layer, the label having a layer comprising one of a metallic ink and a vapor-deposited coating of metal disposed on the inwardly facing surface of the polymer film layer.    
   
   
       8 . The container of  claim 7 , further comprising a liner adhered to the inner paperboard surface of the body wall, the liner comprising: 
 a paper layer having an outer surface facing the inner surface of the body wall and having an inner surface facing toward the interior of the container;    a barrier-coated film attached to the inner surface of the paper layer, the barrier-coated film comprising a polymer film substrate having a vapor-deposited layer of barrier material applied to one surface of the substrate; and    a sealant layer disposed on an opposite side of the barrier-coated film from the paper layer and forming an innermost surface of the liner, the sealant layer comprising a heat seal material.    
   
   
       9 . A container, comprising: 
 a tubular body wall comprising from one to a plurality of paperboard body plies wrapped about an axis into a tubular shape and adhered together, the body wall having an inner surface and an outer surface; and    a label wrapped about and adhered to the outer surface of the body wall, the label comprising: 
 a metallized polymer film comprising a generally transparent polymer film layer having first and second sides, and a vapor-deposited layer of metal on the first side of the polymer film layer; and  
 a paper layer laminated to the metallized polymer film such that the layer of metal is disposed between the polymer film layer and the paper layer, the paper layer of the label being adhesively attached to the outer surface of the body wall.  
   
   
   
       10 . The container of  claim 9 , wherein the label further comprises an outermost transparent layer joined to the second side of the polymer film layer of the metallized polymer film, and an ink layer disposed between the outermost transparent layer and the polymer film layer of the metallized polymer film.  
   
   
       11 . A label for a composite container, the label comprising: 
 a metallized polymer film comprising a generally transparent polymer film layer having first and second sides, and a vapor-deposited layer of metal on the first side of the polymer film layer;    a paper layer laminated to the metallized polymer film such that the layer of metal is disposed between the polymer film layer and the paper layer;    an outermost transparent layer joined to the second side of the polymer film layer of the metallized polymer film; and    an ink layer disposed between the outermost transparent layer and the polymer film layer of the metallized polymer film;    the paper layer forming one surface of the label for adhesion to an outer surface of a composite container body, and the outermost transparent layer forming an opposite surface of the label.    
   
   
       12 . The label of  claim 1   1 , wherein the outermost transparent layer comprises a polymer film layer that is reverse-printed with the ink layer and is laminated to the metallized polymer film.  
   
   
       13 . The label of  claim 1   1 , wherein the outermost transparent layer comprises one of a coating of lacquer and a vacuum acrylate coating, the ink layer being printed onto the second side of the polymer film layer of the metallized polymer film.  
   
   
       14 . A label for a composite container, the label comprising: 
 a generally transparent polymer film layer having first and second sides;    a paper layer laminated to the polymer film layer adjacent the second side thereof; and    a layer of metallic ink disposed between the polymer film layer and the paper layer.    
   
   
       15 . The label of  claim 14 , wherein the layer of metallic ink is uniformly disposed over the entire surface of the polymer film layer.  
   
   
       16 . A container, comprising: 
 a tubular body wall comprising from one to a plurality of paperboard body plies wrapped about an axis into a tubular shape and adhered together, the body wall having an inner surface and an outer surface; and    a label wrapped about and adhered to the outer surface of the body wall, the label consisting essentially of a polymer film having a vapor-deposited layer of metal covering substantially an entire surface of the polymer film such that the label gives the container a metallic appearance.    
   
   
       17 . A container, comprising: 
 a tubular body wall comprising from one to a plurality of paperboard body plies wrapped about an axis into a tubular shape and adhered together, the body wall having an inner surface and an outer surface; and    a label wrapped about and adhered to the outer surface of the body wall, the label consisting essentially of a polymer film having a layer of metallic ink covering substantially an entire surface of the polymer film such that the label gives the container a metallic appearance.    
   
   
       18 . A composite container, comprising: 
 a tubular body wall comprising paperboard material, the body wall defining an inner paperboard surface facing toward an interior of the container;    a liner adhered to the inner paperboard surface of the body wall, the liner comprising:    a paper layer having an outer surface facing the inner paperboard surface of the body wall and having an inner surface facing toward the interior of the container;    a barrier-coated film attached to the inner surface of the paper layer, the barrier-coated film comprising a polymer film substrate having a vapor-deposited layer of barrier material applied to one surface of the substrate; and    a sealant layer disposed on an opposite side of the barrier-coated film from the paper layer and forming an innermost surface of the liner, the sealant layer comprising a heat seal material; and    an EM surveillance device incorporated in the container.    
   
   
       19 . The container of  claim 18 , wherein the barrier-coated film comprises a metallized film.  
   
   
       20 . The container of  claim 19 , wherein the polymer film substrate of the metallized film comprises a film core having opposite first and second surfaces and a coating of a metallization-promoting material applied to the first surface of the film core, the metal layer of the metallized film being applied to the metallization-promoting material.  
   
   
       21 . The composite container of  claim 20 , wherein the metallization-promoting material comprises acrylate.  
   
   
       22 . The composite container of  claim 20 , wherein the metallization-promoting material comprises polyvinyl alcohol.  
   
   
       23 . The composite container of  claim 20 , wherein the metallization-promoting material comprises ethylene vinyl alcohol.  
   
   
       24 . The composite container of  claim 19 , wherein the metallized film includes a protective coating over the metal layer.  
   
   
       25 . The composite container of  claim 19 , wherein the metallized film comprises a first protective coating applied over the metal layer, a second metal layer applied over the first protective coating, and a second protective coating applied over the second metal layer.  
   
   
       26 . The composite container of  claim 19 , wherein the liner further comprises a second metallized film disposed between the paper layer and the sealant layer.  
   
   
       27 . The composite container of  claim 19 , wherein the liner further comprises an aluminum oxide-coated film disposed between the paper layer and the sealant layer.  
   
   
       28 . The composite container of  claim 19 , wherein the liner further comprises a silicon oxide-coated film disposed between the paper layer and the sealant layer.  
   
   
       29 . The composite container of  claim 19 , wherein the liner further comprises an oriented polymer film disposed between the paper layer and the sealant layer.  
   
   
       30 . A high-barrier liner for a composite container, comprising: 
 a paper layer having an outer surface for attachment to an inner paperboard surface of a body wall of a composite container and having an opposite inner surface;    a barrier-coated film attached to the inner surface of the paper layer, the barrier-coated film comprising a polymer film substrate having a vapor-deposited layer of barrier material applied to one surface of the substrate; and    a sealant layer disposed on an opposite side of the barrier-coated film from the paper layer and forming an innermost surface of the liner, the sealant layer comprising a heat seal material.    
   
   
       31 . The high-barrier liner of  claim 30 , wherein the barrier-coated film comprises a metallized film.  
   
   
       32 . The high-barrier liner of  claim 31 , wherein the polymer film substrate of the metallized film comprises a film core having opposite first and second surfaces and a coating of a metallization-promoting material applied to the first surface of the film core, the metal layer of the metallized film being applied to the metallization-promoting material.  
   
   
       33 . The high-barrier liner of  claim 31 , wherein the metallization-promoting material comprises acrylate.  
   
   
       34 . The high-barrier liner of  claim 31 , wherein the metallization-promoting material comprises polyvinyl alcohol.  
   
   
       35 . The high-barrier liner of  claim 31 , wherein the metallization-promoting material comprises ethylene vinyl alcohol.  
   
   
       36 . The high-barrier liner of  claim 31 , wherein the metallized film includes a protective coating over the metal layer.  
   
   
       37 . The high-barrier liner of  claim 31 , wherein the metallized film includes a protective coating over the metal layer.  
   
   
       38 . The high-barrier liner of  claim 37 , wherein the protective coating comprises a lacquer.  
   
   
       39 . The high-barrier liner of  claim 37 , wherein the protective coating comprises a vacuum acrylate coating.  
   
   
       40 . The high-barrier liner of  claim 31 , wherein the metallized film comprises a first protective coating applied over the metal layer, a second metal layer applied over the first protective coating, and a second protective coating applied over the second metal layer.  
   
   
       41 . The high-barrier liner of  claim 31 , wherein the liner further comprises a second metallized film disposed between the paper layer and the sealant layer.  
   
   
       42 . The high-barrier liner of  claim 31 , wherein the liner further comprises an aluminum oxide-coated film disposed between the paper layer and the sealant layer.  
   
   
       43 . The high-barrier liner of  claim 31 , wherein the liner further comprises a silicon oxide-coated film disposed between the paper layer and the sealant layer.  
   
   
       44 . The high-barrier liner of  claim 31 , wherein the liner further comprises an oriented polymer film disposed between the paper layer and the sealant layer.