Deformable label

Abstract

A label system is disclosed that is deformable and is useful for the decoration or marking of squeezable bottles or other flexible substrates. The label system is composed of a film of low or medium density polyethylene which .[.is corona.]. .Iadd.may be .Iaddend.treated .Iadd.or otherwise modified .Iaddend.to accept print or decorative resin on .Iadd.the one side .Iaddend.and certain curable .[.pressure sensitive.]. adhesives .Iadd.on the other side.Iaddend., and is affixed by the adhesive to bottles or other substrates in a manner that the label conforms to the shape of the surface of the bottle .Iadd.or other substrate.Iaddend.. The label deforms and recovers in essentially a permanent manner without wrinkling, cracking, tearing or being otherwise defaced due to separation or destructive fracturing of the label-substrate system.

I claim: 
     
       1. A flexible and deformable label on a deformable .[.container.]. substrate comprising a printable polyethylene film layer, together with an adhesive layer to affix said printable polyethylene film layer to said deformable substrate, the polyethylene layer derived from low density polyethylene having a .[.specific gravity.]. .Iadd.density .Iaddend.of from 0.910 to 0.925 .[.g/cc.]. .Iadd.g/cm 3  (25° C.) .Iaddend.and a tensile strength between 70 kg/sq.cm and 175 kg/sq.cm, and having a thickness between .[.0.0127.]. .Iadd.0.05 mm .Iaddend.and 0.127 mm .Iadd.and .Iaddend.wherein the surface of the polyethylene film .[.is treated to enhance bonding with adhesive, and having.]. .Iadd.has .Iaddend.printing on a side thereof and a layer of adhesive on a side thereof, said adhesive being selected from the group of materials .[.generally characterized as pressure sensitive and being further.]. characterized by the ability to form a bond with said film and the substrate such that the strength of the film-adhesive interface and the substrate-adhesive interface and the cohesive strength of the adhesive itself are both greater than the forces required for deformation and recovery of the film itself, .[.such forces being greater than a minimum of 140 g/sq.cm,.]. and wherein the substrate is selected from the group consisting of polyethylene (high and low density), .[.polyvinyl chloride.]. .Iadd.poly(vinyl chloride).Iaddend., polypropylene, polyester, polystyrene, natural rubber, and SBR rubber, said flexible label having improved and surprising characteristics of adhesion to the substrate with resistance to damage from cracking, tearing, creasing, wrinkling or shrinking due to physical abuse and flexing of the substrate material. 
     
     
       2. A flexible and deformable label on a deformable .[.container.]. substrate comprising a printable polyethylene film layer, together with an adhesive layer to affix said printable polyethylene film layer to said deformable substrate, the polyethylene layer derived from medium density polyethylene .[.homopolymer.]. having a .[.specific gravity.]. .Iadd.density .Iaddend.of from 0.925 to 0.940 .[.g/cc.]. .Iadd.g/cm 3  (25° C.) .Iaddend.and a tensile strength between 175 kg/cm 2  and 246 kg/cm 2 , and having a thickness between 0.076 mm and 0.0127 mm, .Iadd.wherein generally higher tensile strengths are associated with thinner film layers and generally lower tensile strengths are associated with thicker film, and .Iaddend.wherein the surface of the polyethylene film .[.is treated to enhance bonding with adhesive, and having.]. .Iadd.has .Iaddend.printing on a side thereof and said layer of adhesive on a side thereof, said adhesive being selected from the group of materials  .[.generally characterized as pressure sensitive and being further.]. characterized by the ability to form a bond with said film such that the strength of the film-adhesive interface and the substrate-adhesive interface and the cohesive strength of the adhesive itself are both greater than the forces required for deformation and recovery of the film itself, and wherein the substrate is selected from the group consisting of polyethylene (high and low density), .[.polyvinyl chloride.]. .Iadd.poly(vinyl chloride).Iaddend., polypropylene, polyester, polystyrene, natural rubber, and SBR rubber, said flexible label having improved and surprising characteristics of adhesion to the substrate with resistance to damage from cracking, tearing, creasing, wrinkling or shrinking due to physical abuse and flexing of the substrate material. 
     
     
       3. A flexible and deformable label on a deformable .[.container.]. substrate comprising a printable polyethylene film layer, together with an adhesive layer to affix said printable polyethylene film layer to said deformable substrate, the polyethylene layer derived from .[.low density.]. polyethylene .[.homopolymer.]. having a .[.specific gravity.]. .Iadd.density .Iaddend.of 0.925±0.01 .[.g/cc.]. .Iadd.g/cm 3  (25° C.) .Iaddend.and a tensile strength of 175±35 kg.sq.cm, and having a thickness of 0.0635±0.025 mm, wherein the surface of the polyethylene film .[.is treated to enhance bonding with adhesive, and having.]. .Iadd.has .Iaddend.printing on a side thereof and said layer of adhesive on a side thereof, said adhesive being selected from the group of materials .[.generally characterized as pressure sensitive and being further.]. characterized by the ability to form a bond with said film and the substrate such that the strength of the film-adhesive interface and the substrate-adhesive interface and the cohesive strength of the adhesive itself are greater than the force required for deformation and recovery of the film itself, and wherein the substrate is selected from the group consisting of polyethylene (high and low density, .[.polyvinyl chloride.]. .Iadd.poly(vinyl chloride).Iaddend., polypropylene, polyester, polystyrene, natural rubber, and SBR rubber, said flexible label having improved and surprising characteristics of adhesion to the substrate with resistance to damage from cracking, tearing, creasing, wrinkling or shrinking due to physical abuse and flexing of the substrate material.