Rigid resealable label flap having a hinge

Abstract

A resealable label flap is positionable to cover an opening in a package containing removable articles. The label flap includes a base layer extending between a first and a second end. The base layer includes a first adhesive on a bottom face surface and permits repeated application and separation of the base layer relative to the package. The base layer has a starting tab to permit removal of the base layer from the package. A top layer includes a second adhesive on a bottom face surface that fixes the top layer to a top face surface of the base layer. The top layer is formed with a removed cutout that defines a hinge for enhancing separation of the base layer and the top layer from the package upon manipulation of the starting tab.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A resealable label flap positionable to cover an opening in a package, the label flap comprising:
 a base layer extending between a first end and a second end, the base layer including a first adhesive on a bottom face surface that permits repeated application and separation of the base layer relative to the package, the base layer having a starting tab formed near the second end to permit removal of the base layer from the package;   a top layer attached to a top face surface of the base layer, the top layer including a second adhesive on a bottom face surface that permanently adheres to the top face surface of the base layer;   a flap portion formed as a repeatably removable portion of the label flap from the combined base layer and top layer, the flap portion extending between an attachment end and a removable end including the starting tab; and   a cutout formed in the top layer at the attachment end of the flap portion opposite the starting tab, wherein the cutout is a portion of the top layer removed from the label flap, wherein the base layer adjacent to the cutout defines a hinge, wherein the hinge allows the portion of the top layer that forms the flap portion to completely separate from the package in an open position and bias the flap portion toward a closed position.   
     
     
         2 . The resealable label flap of  claim 1 , wherein the base layer and top layer further defines a frame extending substantially around the flap portion, wherein the flap portion is positioned to resealably cover the opening in the package and wherein the frame remains adhered to the package as the flap portion is removed to uncover the opening. 
     
     
         3 . The resealable label flap of  claim 2 , wherein the flap portion is separated from the frame by a cut line. 
     
     
         4 . The resealable label flap of  claim 3 , wherein the cutout intersects with the cut line to further define the hinge. 
     
     
         5 . The resealable label flap of  claim 1 , wherein a thickness of the base layer is less than a thickness of the top layer. 
     
     
         6 . The resealable label flap of  claim 1 , wherein the first adhesive is a removable pressure-sensitive adhesive and the second adhesive is a permanent pressure-sensitive adhesive. 
     
     
         7 . The resealable label flap of  claim 1 , wherein the cutout has a width between 0.0625 and 0.1875 inches. 
     
     
         8 . A resealable label flap positionable to cover an opening in a package containing removable articles, the label flap comprising:
 a base layer extending between a first and a second end, the base layer including a first adhesive on a bottom face surface that permits repeated application and separation of the base layer relative to the package; and   a top layer attached to a top face surface of the base layer, the top layer including a second adhesive on a bottom face surface thereof that permanently adheres to the top face surface of the base layer;   a flap portion formed as a repeatably removable portion of the label flap from the combined base layer and top layer, the flap portion extending between an attachment end and a removable end;   a starting tab formed near the removable end of the flap portion;   a frame surrounding at least a portion of the flap portion; and   a cutout formed in the top layer at the attachment end of the flap portion opposite the starting tab, wherein the cutout is a portion of the top layer removed from the label flap, wherein the base layer adjacent to the cutout defines a hinge, wherein the hinge allows the portion of the top layer that forms the flap portion to completely separate from the package in an open position and bias the flap portion toward a closed position.   
     
     
         9 . The resealable label flap of  claim 8 , wherein a thickness of the base layer is less than a thickness of the top layer. 
     
     
         10 . The resealable label flap of  claim 8 , wherein the cutout extends completely through the top layer. 
     
     
         11 . The resealable label flap of  claim 8 , wherein the flap portion is separated from the frame by a cutline. 
     
     
         12 . The resealable label flap of  claim 11 , wherein the cutout intersects with the cut line to further define the hinge. 
     
     
         13 . The resealable label flap of  claim 8 , wherein the cutout has a width between 0.0625 and 0.1875 inches. 
     
     
         14 . The resealable label flap of  claim 8 , wherein the cutout underlies the attachment end. 
     
     
         15 . The resealable label flap of  claim 8 , wherein the flap portion is formed in the base layer by a cut line extending through the base layer, the first adhesive, the top layer, and the second adhesive, wherein the cutout extends across the cut line at the attachment end of the flap portion through only the top layer. 
     
     
         16 . A resealable package comprising:
 a package body having an internal space sized to contain a plurality of removable articles;   an opening through the package body to the internal space for accessing the removable articles; and   a resealable label flap positioned on the package and having a flap portion to cover the opening in the package, the label flap including:
 a base layer extending between a first end and a second end, the base layer having a bottom face surface positionable in contact with the package and an opposed top face surface, the bottom face surface including a first adhesive applied thereto that permits repeated application and separation of the base layer relative to the package, the flap portion having a starting tab located at the second end; and 
 a top layer having a bottom face surface attached to the top face surface of the base layer, the top layer including a second adhesive on a bottom face surface that permanently adheres to the top face surface of the base layer; 
 wherein the top layer is formed with a cutout at the attachment end of the flap portion, wherein the cutout is a portion of the top layer removed from the label flap such that the base layer adjacent to the cutout defines a hinge, wherein the hinge allows the portion of the top layer that forms the flap portion to completely separate from the package in an open position and bias the flap toward a closed position. 
   
     
     
         17 . The resealable package of  claim 16 , wherein the base layer and top layer further define a frame extending substantially around the flap portion, wherein the frame remains adhered to the package as the flap portion is removed to uncover the opening. 
     
     
         18 . The resealable package of  claim 17 , wherein the flap portion is formed in the resealable label flap by a cut line extending through the base layer, the first adhesive, and the top layer, and the second adhesive, wherein the cutout extends across the cut line through only the top layer. 
     
     
         19 . The resealable package of  claim 18 , wherein a thickness of the base layer is less than a thickness of the top layer. 
     
     
         20 . The resealable package of  claim 18 , wherein the cutout has a width between 0.0625 and 0.1875 inches.