EP1584570A1 - Wiederverschliessbare flexible Verpackung sowie Verfahren zu deren Herstellung - Google Patents

Wiederverschliessbare flexible Verpackung sowie Verfahren zu deren Herstellung Download PDF

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Publication number
EP1584570A1
EP1584570A1 EP05251325A EP05251325A EP1584570A1 EP 1584570 A1 EP1584570 A1 EP 1584570A1 EP 05251325 A EP05251325 A EP 05251325A EP 05251325 A EP05251325 A EP 05251325A EP 1584570 A1 EP1584570 A1 EP 1584570A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
flexible panel
seal
article
fastener means
reclosable fastener
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP05251325A
Other languages
English (en)
French (fr)
Inventor
Amy L. Kraimer
Edward L. Haedt
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Bemis Co Inc
Original Assignee
Curwood Inc
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Curwood Inc filed Critical Curwood Inc
Publication of EP1584570A1 publication Critical patent/EP1584570A1/de
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D33/00—Details of, or accessories for, sacks or bags
    • B65D33/16—End- or aperture-closing arrangements or devices
    • B65D33/25—Riveting; Dovetailing; Screwing; using press buttons or slide fasteners
    • B65D33/2508—Riveting; Dovetailing; Screwing; using press buttons or slide fasteners using slide fasteners with interlocking members having a substantially uniform section throughout the length of the fastener; Sliders therefor
    • B65D33/2516—Riveting; Dovetailing; Screwing; using press buttons or slide fasteners using slide fasteners with interlocking members having a substantially uniform section throughout the length of the fastener; Sliders therefor comprising tamper-indicating means, e.g. located within the fastener
    • B65D33/2533—Riveting; Dovetailing; Screwing; using press buttons or slide fasteners using slide fasteners with interlocking members having a substantially uniform section throughout the length of the fastener; Sliders therefor comprising tamper-indicating means, e.g. located within the fastener the slide fastener being located between the product compartment and the tamper indicating means
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
    • B65B61/00—Auxiliary devices, not otherwise provided for, for operating on sheets, blanks, webs, binding material, containers or packages
    • B65B61/18—Auxiliary devices, not otherwise provided for, for operating on sheets, blanks, webs, binding material, containers or packages for making package-opening or unpacking elements
    • B65B61/188—Auxiliary devices, not otherwise provided for, for operating on sheets, blanks, webs, binding material, containers or packages for making package-opening or unpacking elements by applying or incorporating profile-strips, e.g. for reclosable bags
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D33/00—Details of, or accessories for, sacks or bags
    • B65D33/16—End- or aperture-closing arrangements or devices
    • B65D33/18—End- or aperture-closing arrangements or devices using adhesive applied to integral parts, e.g. to flaps
    • B65D33/20—End- or aperture-closing arrangements or devices using adhesive applied to integral parts, e.g. to flaps using pressure-sensitive adhesive
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D33/00—Details of, or accessories for, sacks or bags
    • B65D33/16—End- or aperture-closing arrangements or devices
    • B65D33/25—Riveting; Dovetailing; Screwing; using press buttons or slide fasteners
    • B65D33/2508—Riveting; Dovetailing; Screwing; using press buttons or slide fasteners using slide fasteners with interlocking members having a substantially uniform section throughout the length of the fastener; Sliders therefor
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D75/00—Packages comprising articles or materials partially or wholly enclosed in strips, sheets, blanks, tubes, or webs of flexible sheet material, e.g. in folded wrappers
    • B65D75/28—Articles or materials wholly enclosed in composite wrappers, i.e. wrappers formed by associating or interconnecting two or more sheets or blanks
    • B65D75/30—Articles or materials enclosed between two opposed sheets or blanks having their margins united, e.g. by pressure-sensitive adhesive, crimping, heat-sealing, or welding
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D81/00—Containers, packaging elements, or packages, for contents presenting particular transport or storage problems, or adapted to be used for non-packaging purposes after removal of contents
    • B65D81/18—Containers, packaging elements, or packages, for contents presenting particular transport or storage problems, or adapted to be used for non-packaging purposes after removal of contents providing specific environment for contents, e.g. temperature above or below ambient
    • B65D81/20—Containers, packaging elements, or packages, for contents presenting particular transport or storage problems, or adapted to be used for non-packaging purposes after removal of contents providing specific environment for contents, e.g. temperature above or below ambient under vacuum or superatmospheric pressure, or in a special atmosphere, e.g. of inert gas
    • B65D81/2069—Containers, packaging elements, or packages, for contents presenting particular transport or storage problems, or adapted to be used for non-packaging purposes after removal of contents providing specific environment for contents, e.g. temperature above or below ambient under vacuum or superatmospheric pressure, or in a special atmosphere, e.g. of inert gas in a special atmosphere
    • B65D81/2084—Containers, packaging elements, or packages, for contents presenting particular transport or storage problems, or adapted to be used for non-packaging purposes after removal of contents providing specific environment for contents, e.g. temperature above or below ambient under vacuum or superatmospheric pressure, or in a special atmosphere, e.g. of inert gas in a special atmosphere in a flexible container

Definitions

  • the present invention relates generally to reclosable flexible packages and more specifically, to reclosable flexible packages which are thermoformed and may be hermetically sealed if desired.
  • the invention is also concerned with a method of manufacturing the packages according to the present invention.
  • the slider device which is connected to the two interlocking members, helps to engage the interlocking zipper members when the slider device is moved in a first direction along the zipper, thereby closing the package.
  • the slider device also helps pry apart or disengage the interlocking zipper members when the slider device is moved in an opposite direction along the zipper, thereby opening the package.
  • Non-mechanical fasteners have also been used to provide reclosability which include peelable and resealable strips and adhesives.
  • tamper-evident features have been added which alert the consumer to any breach of security prior to purchase.
  • the tamper-evident feature is a structural feature such as a hood or shroud which covers part or all of the reclosable fastener which must be removed in order to operate to the reclosable fastener.
  • the present invention is directed to thermoformed flexible packages suitable for packaging food and non-food items.
  • the packages are provided with a reclosable fastener means which allow the consumer to open and reclose the package at his or her own discretion.
  • the packages are further provided with a tamper-evident structure which preserves the integrity of the package before purchase and may be easily removed to gain access to the reclosable fastener means of the package. Accordingly, the packages may further be hermetically sealed to protect the food and non-food items contained therein.
  • the packages of the present invention include a front flexible panel having an interior surface and an exterior surface and comprising a first thermoplastic film.
  • the packages also include a rear flexible panel having an interior surface and an exterior surface and comprising a second thermoplastic film which is thermoformed.
  • the front flexible panel and rear flexible panel each have a perimeter having a first peripheral side edge and an opposing second peripheral side edge, connected by a peripheral top edge and an opposing bottom peripheral edge.
  • the interior surface of the front flexible panel is joined to the interior surface of the rear flexible panel by either a contiguous seal or a plurality of seals.
  • the contiguous seal includes a first side seal portion, an opposing second side seal portion, and a top seal portion, an opposing bottom seal portion in which the seal portions are connected to form a seal perimeter between the front flexible panel and rear flexible panel thereby forming a receptacle cavity.
  • the plurality of seals includes a first side seal, an opposing second side seal, and a top seal, an opposing bottom seal in which the seals are connected to form a perimeter between the front flexible panel and rear flexible panel thereby forming a receptacle cavity.
  • the package further includes a reclosable fastener means which allow a consumer to gain access to the receptacle cavity of the package.
  • the reclosable fastener means is disposed between the interior surface of the front flexible panel and the interior surface of the rear flexible panel.
  • a tamper-evident structure is also incorporated into the package to encompass the reclosable fastener means thereby giving the consumer a visual indication that the integrity of the package has been compromised.
  • the tamper-evident structure serves as a barrier to the reclosable fastener means by having a first portion comprising the front flexible panel which extends from at least one line of structural weakness in the exterior surface of the front panel to either the top seal portion or top seal, and a second portion comprising the rear flexible panel which extends from at least one line of structural weakness in the exterior surface of the rear panel to either the top seal portion or the top seal.
  • the package further includes at least one line of structural weakness in the exterior surface of the front panel which extends transversely from one side peripheral edge of the package to the opposite second side peripheral edge, and at least one line of structural weakness in the exterior surface of the rear panel which extends transversely from one side peripheral edge of the package to the opposite second side peripheral edge.
  • the at least one line of structural weakness in the exterior surface of the front panel and the at least one line of structural weakness in the exterior surface of the rear panel are both positioned below and adjacent to the reclosable fastener means.
  • the inventive package includes an interior surface of the front flexible panel joined to the interior surface of the rear flexible panel by a contiguous seal such that the contiguous seal comprises a first side seal portion, an opposing second side seal portion, and a top seal portion, an opposing bottom seal portion.
  • the seal portions are connected to form a seal perimeter between the front flexible panel and rear flexible panel thereby forming a receptacle cavity.
  • Each seal portion may be either a hermetic seal or a non-hermetic seal, preferably, a hermetic seal.
  • the inventive package in another embodiment, includes an interior surface of the front flexible panel joined to the interior surface of the rear flexible panel by a plurality of seals comprising a first side seal, an opposing second side seal, and a top seal, an opposing bottom seal.
  • the seals are connected to form a perimeter between the front flexible panel and rear flexible panel thereby forming a receptacle cavity.
  • the first side seal extends longitudinally between the peripheral top sedge and the peripheral bottom edge and is positioned proximate to the first peripheral side edge;
  • the second side seal is opposite to the first side seal and extends longitudinally between the peripheral top sedge and the peripheral bottom edge and is positioned proximate to the second peripheral side edge;
  • the top seal extends transversely from the first peripheral side edge to the second peripheral side edge and is positioned proximate to the peripheral top edge;
  • the bottom seal is opposite to the top seal and extends transversely from the first peripheral side edge to the opposing second peripheral side edge and is positioned proximate to the peripheral bottom edge.
  • Each seal may be either a hermetic seal or non-hermetic seal, preferably, a hermetic seal.
  • the present invention is directed to a thermo formed reclosable package having a reclosable fastener comprising a peelable resealing strip.
  • the present invention is directed to a thermoformed reclosable package having a reclosable fastener comprising a first interlocking member and a second interlocking member.
  • a reclosable fastener comprising a first interlocking member and a second interlocking member.
  • the first interlocking member and the second interlocking member are adapted to engage and disengage with each other.
  • the present invention is directed to a thermoformed reclosable package having a reclosable fastener comprising a first interlocking member, a second interlocking member and a slider device.
  • the first interlocking member includes an attachment flange.
  • the second interlocking member includes an attachment flange.
  • the inventive package includes a reclosable fastener means comprising a first interlocking member having a attachment flange which is sealed to the interior surface of the front flexible panel, and a second interlocking member having a attachment flange which is sealed to the interior surface of the rear flexible panel.
  • the at least one line of structural weakness in the exterior surface of the front flexible panel has a depth which is less than the entire thickness of the front flexible panel.
  • the at least one line of structural weakness in the exterior surface of the rear flexible panel has a depth which is less than the entire thickness of the rear flexible panel.
  • the taper-evident structure covers a portion of the reclosable fastener means, more preferably, the taper-evident structure covers the entire reclosable fastener means.
  • the inventive package includes a frangible seal joining the interior surface of the front flexible panel to the interior surface of the rear flexible panel and extends transversely from the first peripheral side edge to the opposing second peripheral side edge and is positioned below and adjacent to the at least one line of structural weakness in the exterior surface of the front flexible panel and the at least one line of structural weakness in the exterior surface of the rear flexible panel.
  • This disclosure is also directed to a process of manufacturing the reclosable thermoformed packages for containing an article.
  • the present invention is directed to a method comprising dispensing a rear flexible panel from a first roll in which the rear flexible panel comprises a first thermoplastic film; providing a reclosable fastener means; tacking the reclosable fastener means to the interior surface of the rear flexible panel; thermoforming the rear flexible panel; placing an article onto the rear flexible pane; dispensing a front flexible panel from a second roll to cover the article; joining the reclosable fastener means to both the interior surface of the rear flexible panel and the interior surface of the front flexible panel to form a seal perimeter between the front flexible panel and the rear flexible panel thereby defining a receptacle cavity therewithin, such that the seal perimeter includes an aperture adapted to allow the receptacle cavity to communicate with the outside of said package; modifying the atmosphere within the receptacle cavity through said aperture in said seal perimeter; and sealing the aperture of the seal perimeter.
  • thermoformed refers to a thermoplastic film or sheet which has been heated until softened and then formed, molded, drawn, or vacuum pulled into a desired shape.
  • a thermoplastic film sheet is fed through an oven and heated to bring it to a thermoformable temperature.
  • the sheet is heated to a softening point and may be either immediately shaped to the desired configuration or advanced to a forming station and then drawn to a predetermined shape. Differential pressure is maintained until the film has cooled.
  • thermoplastic film refers to any mono-layer or multilayer polymeric materials that soften when exposed to heat and returns to its original condition when cooled to room temperature.
  • thermoplastic films may include, but are not limited to, natural polymers, biodegradable polymers, and synthetic polymers such as polyolefins, including polyethylenes, polypropylenes, polybutylenes, polyamides, polyesters, ethylene/vinyl alcohol copolymers, polyvinylidene chlorides and the like.
  • Thermoplastic materials may also include any synthetic polymer that are cross-linked by either radiation or chemical reaction during a manufacturing process operation.
  • multilayer refers to a plurality of layers in a single film structure generally in the form of a sheet or web which can be made from a polymeric material or a non-polymeric material bonded together by any conventional means known in the art, i.e., coextrusion, extrusion coating, and lamination, vacuum vapor deposition coating, solvent coating, emulsion coating, or suspension coating or combination of one or more thereof.
  • the multilayer films may include as many layers as desired.
  • polymer refers to the product of a polymerization reaction, and is inclusive of homopolymers and copolymers, including bipolymers, terpolymers, etc.
  • the layers of a film can consist essentially of a single polymer, or can have still additional polymers together therewith, i.e., blended therewith.
  • structural weakness refers to perforations, holes, score lines, laser score lines, tear lines, tear strips, cut patterns, and microperforations in a film structure specifically designed to minimize the digital force required to tear apart a portion of a film or sheet and create a predetermined tear path for removal of a portion of the film. It should be understood that the use of the phrase “structural weakness” should include an area of the package that is intentionally designed to be easily torn by the consumer to allow exposure to the reclosable fastener means.
  • joining and “sealing” are used interchangeably and are defined as directly adhering the subject surface to the object surface using an adhesive, a cold-seal, heat-seal or other means known to those skilled in the art.
  • the term "cold-seal” refers to the union of a surface (or portion thereof) of one film to a surface (or portion thereof) of another film or of two different portions of a surface of the same film by means of an adhesive material.
  • heat-seal refers to the union of a surface (or portion thereof) of one film to a surface (or portion thereof) of another film or of two different portions of a surface of the same film using heat and pressure.
  • the heat-seal is achieved by bringing two surfaces or portions of a surface into contact, or at least close proximity, with one another and then applying sufficient heat and pressure to a predetermined area of the two surfaces to cause the contacting surfaces to become molten and intermix with one another, thereby forming as essentially inseparable fusion bond between the two surfaces in the predetermined area when the heat and pressure are removed therefrom and the area is allowed to cool.
  • hermetic seal refers a seal on a container or package that has been completely closed by fusion (heat) or other comparable means so as to prevent any external atmosphere from entering the package through the sealed area.
  • tacking refers to the step of adhering or sealing a surface of one object to a surface of a second object by either fusion (heat) or an adhesive such that the two surface are bonded temporarily. Generally, tacking a surface of one object to another surface of a second object results in a non-hermetic seal.
  • the present invention is both a method and a structure resulting from the method.
  • the method of the present invention while unique and fully described herein, may be used on machinery known to a person of ordinary skill in the art.
  • FIG. 1 is a schematic, front plan view of a thermoformed flexible package of one embodiment of the reclosable fastener means according to the present invention.
  • package 10 is depicted with a turned up corner comprising a front flexible panel 11 having an interior surface 12a (See FIG. 2) and an exterior surface 12b and a rear flexible panel 13 having an interior surface 14a (See FIG. 2) and an exterior surface 14b, the latter (i.e., rear flexible panel 13 ) being thermoformed to provide a receptacle cavity 15 (See FIG. 2) for containing a food or non-food item.
  • the interior surfaces and exterior surfaces of front and rear flexible panels 11 and 13 are relative to the package 10.
  • the front flexible panel 11 may comprises any mono-layer or multilayer thermoplastic film suitable for packaging food and non-food items and should not be limited to any particular film composition.
  • the rear flexible panel 13 may be any mono-layer or multilayer thermoplastic film capable of being thermoformed and suitable for packaging food and non-food items.
  • the rear flexible panel 13 may comprise thermoplastics which include, but is not limited to, polyesters, preferably, polyethylene terephthalates, most preferably, non-oriented polyethylene terephthalates, polyamides, preferably, cast polyamides and blends thereof, such as those films described in U.S. Pat. Application No. 10/237,949 to Schell et al., entitled "Packaging Films Containing Coextruded Polyester And Nylon Layers", which is expressly incorporated herein by reference.
  • the mon-layer or multilayer thermoplastic films in view of the present invention and described hereinabove may be provided by conventional film forming processes which include, but are not limited to, for example, extrusion, coextrusion, single- or double-bubble blown film extrusion, cast extrusion, lamination, coating lamination or similar processes or a combination thereof.
  • the depicted package 10 has a first peripheral side edge 16 and opposing second peripheral side edge 17.
  • the first peripheral side edge 16 and opposing second peripheral side edge 17 are connected by a peripheral top side 18 and opposing peripheral bottom side edge 19.
  • top and bottom are relative terms used in respect to package 10 as shown in FIGS. 1-3.
  • package 10 can be oriented in different directions, so that, for example, peripheral top side 18 would not be at the top most portion of the figure but would be positioned else where.
  • Interior surface 12a (See FIG. 2) of front flexible panel 11 is joined to interior surface 14a (See FIG. 2) of rear flexible panel 13 by a plurality of seals which include a first side seal 20, an opposing second side seal 21, and a top seal 22, an opposing bottom seal 23.
  • the seals are connected to form a seal perimeter 24 between front flexible panel 11 and rear flexible panel 13 thereby forming a receptacle cavity 15 (See FIG. 2) of package 10.
  • First side seal 20, opposing second side seal 21, and top seal 22, opposing bottom seal 23 may each be a cold-seal or a heat-seal, preferably, a heat-seal, most preferably, a hermetic heat-seal.
  • a reclosable fastener means 25 having a slider device 26 is provided across the top portion of package 10 extending from first peripheral side edge 16 to second peripheral side edge 17.
  • a slider device 26 is mounted on reclosable fastener means 25 to facilitate opening and closing of the reclosable fastener.
  • Suitable reclosable fastener means according to the present invention may include, but are not limited to, those reclosable fastener means having interlocking members, preferably, interlocking members and a slider device.
  • Suitable reclosable fastener means in general, are known and are taught, for example, in U. S. Patent Nos.
  • reclosable fastener means is not limited to any particular number of interlocking members and/or slider device structure. It will be appreciated that the reclosable fastener means may be chosen which does not include a slider device and/or interlocking members.
  • At least one line of structural weakness 27 and 28 are at least one line of structural weakness 28 on the exterior surface 12b of front flexible panel 11 and on the exterior surface 14b of rear flexible panel 13 is at least one line of structural weakness 28. Formation of the at least one line of structural weakness 27 and 28 maybe accomplished by methods disclosed in U.S. Patent Nos. 3,626,143; 3,909,582; 4,778,058; 4,834,245; 5,001,325; 5,613,779; 5,630,308; and 6,427,420, which are hereby incorporated by reference.
  • both at least one line of structural weaknesses 27 and 28 may be provided in a variety of shapes including curves or sinusoidal and may also be provided either continuously or intermittently across exterior surface 12b of front flexible panel 11 and across exterior surface 14b of rear flexible panel 13 from first peripheral side edge 16 to second peripheral side edge 17. While at least one line of structural weaknesses 27 may be provided having a depth of the entire thickness of front flexible panel 11 and at least one line of structural weaknesses 28 may be provided having a depth of the entire thickness of rear flexible panel 13 rear flexible panel 13, e.g. by intermittent perforations or slits, it is preferred that each of the at least one line of structural weaknesses has a depth of less than the entire thickness of the panel that it is formed on.
  • one or both of the at least one line of structural weakness 27 and 28 may be provided in any length across each panel between from first peripheral side edge 16 to second peripheral side edge 17. It will be understood that each of the at least one line of structural weakness 27 and 28 may positioned in anywhere between top peripheral edge 18 and opposing bottom peripheral edge 19 with the proviso that each of the at least one line of structural weakness is positioned below the reclosable fastener means 25.
  • Package 10 has a tamper-evident structure 29 which is further described below with respect to FIG. 2.
  • FIG. 2 illustrates a cross-sectional view of one embodiment of package 10 taken along line 2-2 of FIG. 1.
  • package 10 has a tamper-evident structure 29 having a first portion 30 comprising front flexible panel 11 which extends from the at least one line of structural weakness 27 to the top seal 22 and a second portion 31 comprising rear flexible panel 13 which extends from the structural weakness 28 to the top seal 22.
  • tamper-evident structure 29 provides an envelope within which reclosable fastener means 25 (and, if included, slider device 26) reside.
  • the tamper-evident structure 29 is positioned over reclosable fastener means 25 (and, if included, slider device 26) as a barrier to the reclosable fastener means 25 and slider device 26. It will be also appreciated that to gain access to the receptacle cavity 15 (See FIG. 2), the tamper-evident structure 29 needs to be either partially or entirely removed, thereby further giving a visual indication that the integrity of the package has been compromised. It will be further appreciated that both of the at least one line of structural weaknesses 27 and 28 serve to facilitate the removal of the tamper-evident structure 29.
  • the reclosable fastener means 25 is shown comprising a first interlocking member 32 with an attachment flange 33 and a second interlocking member 34 with an attachment flange 35.
  • first and second interlocking members 32 and 34 may each include an attachment flange which may be integral to the first and second interlocking members.
  • the first interlocking member 32 is adhered to the interior surface 12a of the front flexible panel 11 via attachment flange 33 and the second interlocking member 34 is adhered to the interior surface 14a of rear flexible panel 13 via attachment flange 35.
  • a receptacle cavity 15 of package 10 is provided between the interior surface 12a of front flexible panel 11 and the interior surface 14a of rear flexible panel 13 being delimited by first seal 20 (See FIG. 1), opposing second side seal 21 (See FIG. 1), and top seal 22, opposing bottom seal 23.
  • FIG. 3 is a partially schematic, front plan view of another embodiment of a thermoformed flexible package 10' according to the present invention with a turned up corner and includes a second example of the reclosable fastener means.
  • Package 10' is depicted having interior surface 12'a of front flexible panel 11' joined to interior surface 14'a of rear flexible panel 13' by a contiguous seal 36.
  • Contiguous seal 36 includes a first seal portion 37, an opposing second side seal portion 38, and a top seal portion 39 , an opposing bottom seal portion 40.
  • the seal portions are connected to form a seal perimeter 24' between front flexible panel 11' and rear flexible panel 13' thereby forming receptacle cavity 15'.
  • Reclosable fastener means 25' is depicted without a slider device.
  • Reclosable fastener means 25' may further comprise, if desired, a first interlocking member 32' (not shown) and a second interlocking member 34' (not shown) and attachment flanges 33' and 35' (both not shown). Reclosable fastener means 25' is provided across the top portion of package 10' extending from first peripheral side edge 16' to second peripheral side edge 17'. Suitable reclosable fastener means of this type, in general, are known to those skilled in the art and have been described in detail in U.S. Patent Nos. 4,782,951; 4,786,190; 4,823,961; 4,925,316; 5,014,856; and 5,050,736, the disclosures of which are hereby incorporated by reference.
  • the reclosable fastener means may comprise either an adhesive or a peelable resealing strip, both of which are suitable for use in the present invention.
  • reclosable fastener means may comprise either an adhesive or a peelable resealing strip, both of which are suitable for use in the present invention.
  • Package 10' is also depicted as having an optional frangible seal 41.
  • Frangible seal 41 joins the interior surface 12'a of front flexible panel 11' to the interior surface 14'a of rear flexible panel 13' and is provided transversely across from first side seal 20' to opposing second side seal 21' disposed adjacent to and below the structural weaknesses 27' and 28'.
  • Frangible seal 41 may be used to provide an additional tamper-evident feature to packages according to the present invention.
  • FIG. 4 is a schematic view of one embodiment of a preferred process of manufacturing thermoformable flexible packages according to the present invention.
  • the process line progresses from left to right so that the final filled package, such as, for example, package 10 as illustrated in FIG. 1, is at the right side of the figure.
  • rear flexible panel 13 having an interior surface 14a, an exterior surface 14b and at least one line of structural weakness 28 (See FIG. 1) in exterior surface 14b, is dispensed from roll 42.
  • a reclosable fastener means 25 having first interlocking member (See FIG. 2) with attachment flange (See FIG. 2), and second interlocking member (See FIG. 2) with attachment flange (See FIG.
  • FIG. 2 2) is provided from roll 43 and then tacked to the interior surface 14a of rear flexible panel 13 at point 44.
  • a heating device 45 may be used to soften exterior surface 14b (underside) of rear flexible panel 13 so that rear flexible panel 13 may be thermoformed at point 46.
  • an article such as a food or non-food item is placed onto rear flexible panel 13 at point 47.
  • the next step of the inventive process is dispensing front flexible panel 11 having interior surface 12a, exterior surface 12b and at least one line of structural weakness 27 in exterior surface 12b from roll 48 to cover the article at point 49.
  • front flexible panel 11 is disposed such that the at least one line of structural weakness 27 in exterior surface 12b is parallel with and, preferably, superimposed over the at least one line of structural weakness 28 in exterior surface 14b of rear flexible panel 13 as depicted in FIG. 2.
  • Reclosable fastener means 25 is then joined to both interior surface 12a of front flexible panel 11 and interior surface 14a rear flexible panel 13 at point 50.
  • interlocking members 32 and 34 are present as part of the reclosable fastener means 25, then interlocking member 32 is joined to interior surface 12a of front flexible panel 11 and interlocking member 34 is joined to interior surface 14a of rear flexible panel 13.
  • attachment flanges 33 and 35 are present as part of interlocking members 32 and 34, respectively, then reclosable fastener means 24 is secured to package 10 by joining attachment flange 33 to interior surface 12a and attachment flange 35 to interior surface 14a as depicted in FIG. 2.
  • seal perimeter 24 is formed such that an aperture 52 (not shown) is formed which is adapted to allow receptacle cavity 15 to communicate with the outside of package 10
  • the atmosphere within receptacle cavity 15 is modified through the aperture 52. Modifying the atmosphere within receptacle cavity 15 may include, for example, but is not limited to, withdrawing the air inside the receptacle cavity and/or flushing the receptacle cavity with nitrogen or argon gas.
  • aperture 52 is sealed at point 54 which may be performed under vacuum and/or modified-atmosphere conditions.
  • thermoforming the rear flexible panel may be performed either after the step of dispensing a rear flexible panel and before the step of providing a reclosable fastener means or after the step of tacking the reclosable fastener means to the interior surface of the rear flexible panel.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Composite Materials (AREA)
  • Packages (AREA)
  • Containers And Plastic Fillers For Packaging (AREA)
  • Bag Frames (AREA)
EP05251325A 2004-03-08 2005-03-04 Wiederverschliessbare flexible Verpackung sowie Verfahren zu deren Herstellung Withdrawn EP1584570A1 (de)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US795476 2004-03-08
US10/795,476 US20050194282A1 (en) 2004-03-08 2004-03-08 Reclosable thermoformed flexible packages and method of making same

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP1584570A1 true EP1584570A1 (de) 2005-10-12

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EP05251325A Withdrawn EP1584570A1 (de) 2004-03-08 2005-03-04 Wiederverschliessbare flexible Verpackung sowie Verfahren zu deren Herstellung

Country Status (4)

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US (1) US20050194282A1 (de)
EP (1) EP1584570A1 (de)
BR (1) BRPI0500782A (de)
MX (1) MXPA05002606A (de)

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MXPA05002606A (es) 2006-01-31

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