EP2414256A1

EP2414256A1 - Polymeric packages

Info

Publication number: EP2414256A1
Application number: EP09789560A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Richard Alan Rehkugler; Stanley Abernathy; Scott Wilkins
Original assignee: ExxonMobil Oil Corp
Current assignee: Jindal Films Americas LLC
Priority date: 2009-04-01
Filing date: 2009-04-01
Publication date: 2012-02-08
Also published as: CA2753474A1; US20120000969A1; CN102369145A; WO2010114535A1

Abstract

This disclosure relates to a package (10) and a method of making the package (10). The package (10) comprises (a) a web material (12) to form an enclosed package (10) comprising a seal (18) having two seal ends (20,24) and a package side edge (28), and wherein the seal (18) is a fin seal or an overlap seal; (b) a first tear initiation point (32) located on the package side edge (28); and (c) a second tear initiation point (31), wherein the second tear initiation point (31) is located on the seal (18).

Description

POLYMERIC PACKAGES

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] This invention relates generally to packaging. More particularly this invention relates to a package with easy openability.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Various packaging methods and types are known in the art. Considerations for commercial packaging include protection of the package's contents and usability of the package by a consumer or user of the package's contents. In the case of packaged food items, for example, the items generally are sealed into a package to optimize shelf life. When a consumer purchases the product, the consumer must then open the package to access the items stored therein. Accessing the items through a sealed package, however, can require sometimes excessive effort to open the package, which may cause frustration and, occasionally, loss of the package content. [0003] In certain packages, such as stick-pack packages, it is also advantageous to easily, completely remove an end of the package to allow the contents to be fully poured out. For example, where the contents of a package are intended to be poured into a solution for mixing, such as in a flavored drink product, the package should be hermetically sealed to protect the contents from the outside moisture but also be easily opened by a consumer. Such packages are typically made in a vertical-form- fill-and-seal process wherein a web of material is folded over and sealed. This sealed material is cut and sealed on one end and then filled with the package contents. The second end is then also cut and sealed, thereby sealing the contents of the package therein. To open the package, a user must either pull apart the seal or otherwise cut or tear the package. [0004] Various features have been added to such packages to assist the consumer in opening the package. By one approach, the side of the package is notched, such as mechanical cuts, to provide the consumer with a starting point in tearing open the package. This approach, however, requires that the package be sealed around the notched portion which takes additional manufacturing resources and efforts. By another known approach, the side edge of the package is flawed by a physical micro-abrasion process that weakens the side of the package such that the package tears more easily on the edge when a user applies a tearing force to open the package. Under this approach and the above cutting approach, however, the package will merely tear along weak areas naturally present in the package material such that the tear may not propagate straight across the package. Moreover, the tear typically stops at the seal running the length of the package without undue additional force applied by the user. [0005] Another known method for assisting the opening of a package includes weakening the package material along a given line such that a tear will likely propagate along that line when opening the package. One such method includes ablating the package material with a laser. The laser damages the package material along a line across the material without cutting entirely through the package material. Thus, when a user tears at the package, the package is more likely to tear along the laser-damaged portion. When a package is scored by a laser all the way across the package, however, the package is too often so weakened that it cannot stay intact during its manufacturing process or during normal handling by a user before the package is intended to be opened.

[0006] U.S. Patent Application No. 20080273821A1 discloses a package formed via a vertical-form- fill-and-seal process includes a web material with edge portions sealed to create a vertical sleeve. The package also includes a first sealed end and a second sealed end at either end of the vertical sleeve to create a sealed package. The package includes a laser scribed ablation pattern extending across the web material with ablated portions having an about one to about three millimeter length separated by non-ablated portions of about 0.25 and about 0.75 millimeter length. The package has increased tensile strength to avoid breaking during the vertical-form-fill-and-seal process and provides a high likelihood that an outer edge and vertical seal of the package include ablated portions to provide an easy-to-start tear area to open the package. Also, the short spaces between ablated portions increase the likelihood of tear propagation along the ablation pattern, all the way across the package. [0007] Similarly, package with continuous ablation using laser scorching may provide easy-to-open functionality.

[0008] In a paper titled "Stick Packaging for Powdered and Granular Products: Typical Opening Challenges and Solutions" authored by Jeff Hopp of Curwood, Inc., the entirety of which is incorporated herein by reference, discloses that the key problem with many single- portion stick-packs on the market is their opening technology. Stick-packs used for powdered or granular products are cylindrical in shape with a single back seal, which can be either a fin or lap seal. It's especially important for the material used in stick packaging to tear easily, once the tear is initiated, to allow easy opening. The structure used for fin-sealed stick-packs is generally a reverse-printed oriented polyethylene terephthalate (OPET) on the outer layer with foil in the middle and a polyethylene sealant layer on the inside. Reverse-printed PET provides a crisp, glossy print surface for superior brand identity, and has good directional tear properties. Foil provides the moisture barrier needed to prevent product clumping and has virtually no tear resistance. PE sealant ensures a hermetic seal to prevent product leakage, and is specially formulated to have minimal tear resistance in the cross or transverse direction. Stick-packs with a lap seal often have heat-sealable polypropylene on the outer layer (versus PET) because both sides of the film need to be compatibly sealable.

[0009] Tear notches are typically machine-applied in the upper left corner of stick-packs to accommodate right-handed consumers, who tear from left to right. First the area to be notched is heat-sealed, and then the notch is made in the heat-sealed area to prevent product leakage or a compromised barrier. To follow are four types of problems often seen with tear- notched stick-packs, 1) packages that won't open; 2) packages that open erratically; 3) packages that only open part way; 4) product that leaks or is clumped and won't dispense. In addition to the quality headaches associated with tear notching, this added step can have a fairly serious impact on productivity, including: slower production speeds required to achieve quality heat seal and notch; worn punch dies are costly to replace and time-consuming to change out, resulting in lost production time; defective packages (that either won't open or leak) lead to reject rates that are often in excess of 5%. [0010] Packages designed with the ability to cleanly tear off the designated end generally depend on the use of aluminum foil because 1) aluminum foil tears with little resistance, and requires no tear initiation point to commence the tear which is not the case of metallized (MET) oriented polypropylene films; or 2) the aluminum foil buried within the lamination which reflects rather than absorbs the laser beam in laser scored technology that allows a naturally controlled penetration of the scoring (burn) to allow the required tear initiation without compromise to barrier properties. However, once the aluminum foil is replaced with metallized oriented polymers, such as, polyolefins, the existing technologies do not provide acceptable performance because the metal layer of a metallized polymer film does not reflect the laser beam like aluminum foil, hence the power setting of the laser must be controlled accurately to prevent catastrophic burn through and/or loss of metal barrier. Without properly laser scorching, the metallized polymer film will tear cleanly across the top of the package until it intersects the fin or overlap seal and at this point the tearing process completely stops, or in some cases the tear changes direction and proceeds down the length of the package.

[0011] Therefore, there is a need to develop a new technology which allows 1) the package top to be completely removed; 2) easy and cheap manufacturing procedure; 3) eliminating the need for paper or foil material by using stretched polymeric films, such as, uniaxially or biaxially oriented polypropylene (OPP) films.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0012] The following drawings illustrate some embodiments of this disclosure:

FIG. 1 comprises a plan view of a web material for use in creating a package as configured in accordance with various embodiments of the invention;

FIG. 2 comprises a bottom plan view of package as configured in accordance with various embodiments of the invention;

FIG. 3 comprises a top plan view of a portion of a package as configured in accordance with various embodiments of the invention; FIG. 4 comprises a top plan view of the portion of a package of FIG. 3 while a tearing force is applied by a user to an edge of the package;

FIG. 5 comprises a side view of a package as configured in accordance with various embodiments of the invention with an end completely removed such that the contents in the package can be fully emptied; FIG. 6 comprises a perspective view of a web material to be formed into a package having a fin-type seal as configured in accordance with various embodiments of the invention;

FIG. 7 comprises a perspective view of a package having a fin-type seal as configured in accordance with various embodiments of the invention;

FIG. 8 comprises a perspective view of a web material to be formed into a package having an overlap seal as configured in accordance with various embodiments of the invention;

FIG. 9 comprises a perspective view of a package having an overlap seal as configured in accordance with various embodiments of the invention;

FIG. 10 comprises a perspective view of elements of a vertical-form- fill-and-seal device.

FIG. 11 comprises a bottom plan view of package as configured in accordance with another embodiment of the invention; and FIG. 12 comprises a bottom plan view of package as configured in accordance with another embodiment of the invention.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0013] In some embodiments, this disclosure relates to a package comprising: a. a web material with a first edge portion and a second edge portion, the first edge portion and the second edge portion being sealed together to form a seal having two seal ends, the package having a first package end at one seal end and a second package end at the other seal end; wherein the first package end and the second package end define a first package side edge and a second package side edge, wherein the first package side edge and the second package side edge comprise folded web material, and wherein the seal is a fin seal or an overlap seal; b. a first tear initiation point located on the first package side edge; and c. a second tear initiation point, wherein the second tear initiation point is located on the fin seal, the fin seal being folded toward the first package side edge; or wherein the second tear initiation point is located on one of the edge portions, the one of the edge portions being folded toward the first packing side edge.

[0014] In some aspects of these above mentioned embodiments, the web material of this disclosure comprises polymer film, preferably polyolefinic film, more preferably oriented polyolefinic film, e.g., oriented polypropylene (OPP) film. In some preferred embodiments, the polymer film has a sealable outermost layer that allows the fin seal to seal down to the package sidewall to ensure alignment of the tear features or allows the formation of overlap seal. In other embodiments, the polymer film is multilayer polymer film comprising a core layer and at least one skin layer, and preferably at least one tie layer. In a preferred embodiment, at least one of the skin layers is a sealable layer.

[0015] In some preferred embodiments, the package of this disclosure is formed via a vertical-form-fill-and-seal process or a horizontal-form-fill-and-seal process.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS [0016] Various specific embodiments, versions, and examples are described herein, including exemplary embodiments and definitions that are adopted for purposes of understanding the claimed invention. While the following detailed description gives specific preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art will appreciate that these embodiments are exemplary only, and that the invention can be practiced in other ways. For purposes of determining infringement, the scope of the invention will refer to any one or more of the appended claims, including their equivalents, and elements or limitations that are equivalent to those that are recited. Any reference to the "invention" may refer to one or more, but not necessarily all, of the inventions defined by the claims.

[0017] As used herein, "polymer" may be used to refer to homopolymers, copolymers, interpolymers, terpolymers, etc.

[0018] As used herein, "package" may be used to refer to packet, sealed, wrapped, substantially sealed, or substantially wrapped web material.

[0019] A package, such as package formed via a vertical-form-fill-and-seal process or package formed via a horizontal-form-fill-and-seal process, includes a web material with edge portions sealed to create a sleeve. The web material also includes a first sealed end and a second sealed end at either end of the sleeve to create a sealed package. The package comprises at least two tear initiation points. One tear initiation point is located on the seal for a package with fin seal (or on one of the edge portions of the seal for a package with an overlap seal) and the other tear initiation point is located on one of the side edge of the package. For a package with an overlap seal, a first tear initiation point is located on the first package side edge and a second tear initiation point is located on one of the edge portions of the overlap seal which faces toward the first packing side edge. For a package with a fin seal, a first tear initiation point is located on the fin seal and a second tear initiation point is located on the package side edge that the fin seal is folded toward. In both cases, the first tear initiation point and the second tear initiation point are across the package, preferably aligned substantially perpendicular to the package side edges, such that the package substantially tears along the line linking both tear initiation points and across the seal when a separating force is applied by a user at the tear initiation point on the package side edge.

[0020] So configured, the package provides a sealed container that a user may open along a line linking both tear initiation points. The package may contain foodstuffs such as drink powders, dessert powders, snack nuts, condiments, and toppings that are poured into another container or directly into a consumer's mouth. The tear arrangement of this disclosure comprises two tear initiation points as described herein. The arrangement of this disclosure provides the web material with increased tensile strength so as to avoid breaking during the conventional vertical-form-fill-and-seal process or horizontal-form-fill-and-seal process, but also provides a user an easy-to-start tear area to open the package with wide opening for pouring. Similarly, the two tear initiation point arrangement of this disclosure provides for an easier tear propagation across the package seal. Also, the tear arrangement of this disclosure increases the likelihood that the tear will propagate in a line linking the two tear initiation points, all the way across the package, so that the end of the package is relatively easily and completely removed to allow unrestricted access to the package's contents.

[0021] These and other benefits may become clearer upon making a thorough review and study of the following detailed description. Referring now to the drawings, and in particular to FIGS. 1 and 2, an example package that is compatible with many of these teachings will now be presented. A package 10 includes a web material 12 with a first edge portion 14 and a second edge portion 16 opposite the first edge portion 14 that are sealed together in a seal 18. The package 10 includes a first sealed end 20 at a first end 22 of the seal 18 and a second sealed end 24 at a second end 26 of the seal 18. Any of the above described seals may be made by conventional methods, including, for example, the application of heat and pressure to create a laminate seal. With these seals, the contents of the package 10 are protected from outside elements such as moisture and/or oxygen that may affect the quality of the contents.

[0022] The first sealed end 20 and the second sealed end 24 define a first package side edge 28 and a second package side edge 30 wherein the first package side edge 28 and the second package side edge 30 are folded web material created by and between the edges of the sealed ends 20 and 24. The folded web material may be creased along fold lines 15 and 17 to better define the side edges for the user or may be rounded portions of the web material transitioning from the front of the package 10 to the back.

[0023] With continuing reference to FIGS. 1, 2, and 3, the package 10 also includes tear initiation points 31 and 32 located on one of the package side edges and the seal 18. Both tear initiation points are preferably aligned substantially perpendicular to the package side edges.

[0024] With such tear initiation point arrangement, the package 10 substantially tears along a line linking both tear initiation points and across the seal 18 without substantially varying from this line when a separating force is applied by a user at the tear initiation point on the package side edge as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. This arrangement greatly improves the ease at which the package 10 begins tearing and continues tearing through the seal 18 without a substantial increase in tearing force applied by the user. So configured, the user may more easily remove the entire package end to release the package contents 11 as illustrated in FIG. 5. Moreover, the web material 12 maintains sufficient tensile strength to withstand the vertical-form-fill-and-seal process or the horizontal-form-fill-and-seal process substantially without breaking.

[0025] Referring now to FIGS. 2 and 6 through 9, the seal 18 of the first edge portion 14 to the second edge portion 16 of the web material 12 may include any type of seal known in the art but will typically comprise a fin-type seal 52 or an overlap seal 62. Such seals are known in the art, but will be described briefly for clarity. With reference to FIGS. 6 and 7, a fin-type seal 52 is formed by folding the web material 12 such that the inner portions 46 of the first edge portion 14 and second edge portion 16 touch. These edge portions are sealed together and folded against the package 10, thereby creating a "fin." One tear initiating point 31 is located on the fin seal 52 and the other tear initiation point 32 is located at a position on the package side edge that the fin seal 52 is folded toward as shown in FIG. 7.

[0026] With reference to FIGS. 8 and 9, an overlap seal 62 is formed by folding the web material 12 such that one of either the first edge portion 14 and second edge portion 16 overlaps the other. FIG. 8, for example, shows the first edge portion 14 overlapping with the second edge portion 16. These edge portions are then sealed together, eliminating a need for a folded portion like the fin-type seal 52. The first tear initiation point 32 is located on any one of the package edges. The second tear initiation point 31 is located on one of the seal ends (14 as shown in FIG. 8) that is folded toward the package edge having the first tear initiation point. Optionally additional tear initiation point(s) may exist on the other seal ends. [0027] With reference to FIG. 10, a method for manufacturing a package 10 according to the teachings of this disclosure will be described. The method includes feeding the web material 12 into a vertical-form- fill-and-seal-process device 200 and creating tear initiation points on the seal. The web material 12 is sealed along a vertical direction to form at least one seal 18, and advanced within the vertical-form-fill-and-seal-process device 200. The web material 12 is sealed and cut horizontally across the at least one seal 18 at a first end 22 of the package 10. The web material 12 is then cut at a second end 26 of the package 10. Both tear initiation points 31 and 32 may be created on the web material by laser beam or mechanical cut during or after the vertical-form-fill-and-seal-process.

[0028] Although the vertical-form- fill-and-seal-process device 200 depicted in FIG. 10 is designed to create a fin-type seal, the above described method can be applied to any of the other package seals described herein, including, for example, an overlap seal package. [0029] Although the vertical-form- fill-and-seal-process device 200 depicted in FIG. 10 is illustrated. The package of this disclosure may also be formed by horizontal- form- fill-and- seal-process.

[0030] In another embodiment of this disclosure, the seal end 20 is an L shape seal as shown in FIG. 11, where the tear initiation point 32A is located on the sealing area to improve the integrity of the package. The L-shape seal where the tear initiation point 32A located preferably does not overlap with seal 18.

[0031] In another embodiment of this disclosure as shown in FIG. 12, the tear initiation point 32B is located on the seal end 20 to improve the integrity of the package. The package substantially tears along the line linking both tear initiation points and across the seal when a separating force is applied by a user at the tear initiation point 32B on the package side edge.

[0032] In some embodiments, the tear initiation points are created by mechanical cut, laser scoring, or any other methods know in the art.

[0033] In preferred embodiments, the web material comprises OPP films, preferably metallized OPP films, cavitated OPP films etc.

[0034] Both tear initiation points are aligned substantially perpendicular to the package side edge. The term "substantially perpendicular" as used herein means the angle between line linking both tear initiation points and the package side edge is 90±45 degree, preferably 90±30 degree, most preferably 90+15 degree. [0035] The web material useful for this disclosure comprises a polymeric film, preferably a polypropylene film having at least one layer, i.e., the core layer. The polymeric film may further comprise additional layer(s), such as skin layer, sealant layer, tie layer, metal deposit layer, and any combination thereof. The polymeric film may be oriented uniaxially or biaxially. [0036] In some embodiments, the web material may comprise a propylene polymer, ethylene polymer, isotactic polypropylene ("iPP"), high crystallinity polypropylene ("HCPP"), low crystallinity polypropylene, isotactic and syndiotactic polypropylene, ethylene-propylene ("EP") copolymers, and combinations thereof. [0037] In a preferred embodiment, the web material is an iPP homopolymer. Examples of suitable commercially available iPP include: PP4712E1 from ExxonMobil Chemical Company, and Total Polypropylene 3371 from Total Petrochemcials. An example of a useful HCPP is Total Polyproplene 3270 (commercially available from Total Petrochemicals). [0038] In some embodiments, an outer skin layer is provided as the sealant layer known to a person skilled in the art.

[0039] The web material may be uniaxially or biaxially oriented. Orientation in the direction of extrusion is known as machine direction ("MD") orientation. Orientation perpendicular to the direction of extrusion is known as transverse direction ("TD") orientation. Orientation may be accomplished by stretching or pulling a film first in the MD followed by the TD. Orientation may be sequential or simultaneous, depending upon the desired film features. Preferred orientation ratios are commonly from between about three to about six times the extruded width in the MD and between about four to about ten times the extruded width in the TD.

[0040] One or both of the outer exposed surfaces of the web material may be surface- treated to increase the surface energy of the film to render the film receptive to metallization, coatings, printing inks, and/or lamination. The surface treatment can be carried out according to one or the methods known in the art. Preferred methods include, but are not limited to, corona discharge, flame treatment, plasma treatment, chemical treatment, or treatment by means of a polarized flame.

[0041] One or both of the outer exterior surfaces of the web material may be metallized. Generally, the metallized layer is one of the outer skin and/or sealant layers. Such layers may be metallized using conventional methods, such as vacuum deposition of a metal layer such as aluminum, copper, silver, chromium, or mixtures thereof.

[0042] The web material useful for this disclosure comprises no metal foil, such as aluminum foil.

[0043] In other embodiments, this disclosure relates to a method of manufacturing a package comprising: a. forming a package comprising a web material with a first edge portion and a second edge portion, the first edge portion and the second edge portion being sealed together to form a seal having two seal ends, the package having a first package end at one seal end and a second package end at the other seal end; wherein the first package end and the second package end define a first package side edge and a second package side edge, wherein the first package side edge and the second package side edge comprise folded web material, and wherein the seal is a fin seal or an overlap seal; b. generating a first tear initiation point located on the first package side edge; and c. generating a second tear initiation point, wherein the second tear initiation point is located on the fin seal, the fin seal being folded toward the first package side edge; or wherein the second tear initiation point is located on one of the edge portions of the overlap seal, the one of the edge portions of the overlap seal being folded toward the first packing side edge.

[0044] In some aspects, the step (a) comprises vertical-form-fill-and-seal package or horizontal-form- fill-and-seal package.

[0045] In other aspects, the first tear initiation point and/or the second tear initiation point is generated by laser scoring the web material prior to form the package or the first tear initiation point is generated by mechanical cut inside the seal area of one of the seal end. [0046] In further other aspects, the second tear initiation point is generated by mechanical cut of the fin seal or one of the edge portions of the overlap seal.

Examples

[0047] The following table compares various package configurations to demonstrate the advantage of this invention. The web materials used in these examples are multilayer films having a metallized OPP (Met OPP) core layer, a propylene-ethylene copolymer (PE) sealant layer and an outside skin layer consisting of PET, paper or OPP. Examples 1 and 3 demonstrated the advantage of this disclosure. Examples 2 and 4 are comparative examples.

[0048] Those skilled in the art will recognize that a wide variety of modifications, alterations, and combinations can be made with respect to the above described embodiments without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. For example, many of the example embodiments discussed herein refer to generally rectangular shaped packages with specified, distinct edges. Other configurations such as oval or round packages are possible. Also, any variation of multiple scoring lines to provide multiple tear lines in a package can be provided. Such modifications, alterations, and combinations are to be viewed as being within the ambit of the inventive concept.

Claims

CLAIMSWhat Is Claimed Is:

1. A package comprising: a. a web material with a first edge portion and a second edge portion, said first edge portion and said second edge portion being sealed together to form a seal having two seal ends, said package having a first package end at one seal end and a second package end at the other seal end; wherein said first package end and said second package end define a first package side edge and a second package side edge, wherein said first package side edge and said second package side edge comprise folded web material, and wherein said seal is a fin seal or an overlap seal; b. a first tear initiation point located on said first package side edge; and c. a second tear initiation point, wherein said second tear initiation point is located on said fin seal, said fin seal being folded toward said first package side edge; or wherein said second tear initiation point is located on one of said edge portions of said overlap seal, said one of said edge portions of said overlap seal being folded toward said first packing side edge.

2. The package of claim 1 wherein said first tear initiation point and said second tear initiation point are aligned across said package.

3. The package of claim 1 or 2, wherein at least one of said pocket ends is sealed.

4. The package of any preceding claim, wherein said web material comprises oriented polypropylene film.

5. The package of any preceding claim, wherein said web material comprises metallized oriented polypropylene film.

6. The package of any preceding claim, wherein said first tear initiation point and/or said second initiation point is a structure weakness induced by laser scoring and/or mechanical cut.

7. The package of any preceding claim, wherein said web material is free of aluminum foil.

8. The package of any preceding claim, wherein said first tear initiation point and said second tear initiation point are aligned substantially perpendicular to said first package side edge.

9. The package of any preceding claim is a vertical-form-fill-and-seal package or a horizontal-form-fill-and-seal package.

10. A method of manufacturing a package comprising: a. forming a package comprising a web material with a first edge portion and a second edge portion, said first edge portion and said second edge portion being sealed together to form a seal having two seal ends, said package having a first package end at one seal end and a second package end at the other seal end; wherein said first package end and said second package end define a first package side edge and a second package side edge, wherein said first package side edge and said second package side edge comprise folded web material, and wherein said seal is a fin seal or an overlap seal; b. generating a first tear initiation point located on said first package side edge; and c. generating a second tear initiation point, wherein said second tear initiation point is located on said fin seal, said fin seal being folded toward said first package side edge; or wherein said second tear initiation point is located on one of said edge portions of said overlap seal, said one of said edge portions of said overlap seal being folded toward said first packing side edge.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein said step (a) comprises vertical-form-fill-and-seal package or horizontal-form-fill-and-seal package.

12. The method of claim 10 or 11, wherein said first tear initiation point is generated by laser scoring said web material prior to form said package.

13. The method of claim 10 or 11, wherein said first tear initiation point is generated by mechanical cut inside the seal area of one of the seal ends.

14. The method of any one of claims 10-13 wherein said second tear initiation point is generated by mechanical cut of said fin seal or said one of said edge portions of said overlap seal.

15. The method of any one of claims 10-13 wherein said second tear initiation point is generated by laser scoring said edge portions such that the laser scored portions of both edge portions are substantially overlapped with each other in said fin seal, or laser scoring said one of said edge portions of said overlap seal.

16. The method of any one of claims 10-15, wherein said web material comprises oriented polypropylene film.

17. The method of any one of claims 10-16, wherein said web material comprises metallized oriented polypropylene film.

18. The method of any one of claims 10-17, wherein said web material is free of aluminum foil.

19. The method of any one of claims 10-18, wherein said first tear initiation point and said second tear initiation point are aligned substantially perpendicular to said first package side edge.