EP2760756B1 - Easy opening packaging article - Google Patents
Easy opening packaging article Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- EP2760756B1 EP2760756B1 EP12778514.5A EP12778514A EP2760756B1 EP 2760756 B1 EP2760756 B1 EP 2760756B1 EP 12778514 A EP12778514 A EP 12778514A EP 2760756 B1 EP2760756 B1 EP 2760756B1
- Authority
- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- grip
- packaging article
- seal
- tear
- article
- 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.)
- Not-in-force
Links
- 238000004806 packaging method and process Methods 0.000 title claims description 38
- 239000003999 initiator Substances 0.000 claims description 64
- 239000002985 plastic film Substances 0.000 claims description 26
- 229920006255 plastic film Polymers 0.000 claims description 26
- 238000009459 flexible packaging Methods 0.000 claims description 16
- 230000000644 propagated effect Effects 0.000 claims description 7
- 230000000977 initiatory effect Effects 0.000 claims description 4
- 210000003811 finger Anatomy 0.000 description 15
- 238000004519 manufacturing process Methods 0.000 description 10
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 description 10
- 238000007789 sealing Methods 0.000 description 10
- 239000004033 plastic Substances 0.000 description 7
- 230000008569 process Effects 0.000 description 6
- 235000013372 meat Nutrition 0.000 description 4
- 238000005520 cutting process Methods 0.000 description 3
- 235000013305 food Nutrition 0.000 description 3
- 210000003813 thumb Anatomy 0.000 description 3
- 230000009471 action Effects 0.000 description 2
- 238000005304 joining Methods 0.000 description 2
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 description 2
- 238000012986 modification Methods 0.000 description 2
- 230000004048 modification Effects 0.000 description 2
- 230000005855 radiation Effects 0.000 description 2
- 238000010008 shearing Methods 0.000 description 2
- 229920006257 Heat-shrinkable film Polymers 0.000 description 1
- QVGXLLKOCUKJST-UHFFFAOYSA-N atomic oxygen Chemical compound [O] QVGXLLKOCUKJST-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 230000004888 barrier function Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000011324 bead Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000008901 benefit Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000015572 biosynthetic process Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000001419 dependent effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000010894 electron beam technology Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000001747 exhibiting effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 229910052760 oxygen Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 239000001301 oxygen Substances 0.000 description 1
- 235000021485 packed food Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 239000002245 particle Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000035515 penetration Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000001902 propagating effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000004044 response Effects 0.000 description 1
- 210000001138 tear Anatomy 0.000 description 1
Images
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
- 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
- B65D75/52—Details
- B65D75/58—Opening or contents-removing devices added or incorporated during package manufacture
- B65D75/5827—Tear-lines provided in a wall portion
- B65D75/5833—Tear-lines provided in a wall portion for tearing out a portion of the wall
-
- 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
- B65D75/52—Details
- B65D75/58—Opening or contents-removing devices added or incorporated during package manufacture
- B65D75/5827—Tear-lines provided in a wall portion
- B65D75/585—Tear-lines provided in a wall portion the tear-lines being broken by deformation or bending
Definitions
- Various embodiments of the present invention described herein generally relate to packaging articles, particularly heat-shrinkable, easy opening packaging articles for packaging food products.
- Flexible packaging articles made from plastic film are commonly used for the packaging of a variety of products.
- food products e.g., meat
- plastic packaging articles In order to keep packed food products fresh and enhance shelf life, it is important for these packaging articles to possess moisture and oxygen barrier properties, as well as high impact strength, high seal strength, and high puncture resistance.
- packaging articles having these properties are typically tough and difficult to open.
- a user opens a packaging article having grip-assisters of this type
- the user typically inserts an index finger through a grip-assist hole, pinches the index finger with a thumb, and pulls away from the tear initiator.
- the user may inadvertently pinch the grip-assister's hanging chad between the index finger and thumb and tear the hanging chad off of the packaging article during opening. Hanging chads inadvertently removed from the packaging article in this way may easily fall into the packaging article as the user is opening the article.
- the flexible packaging article comprises a plastic film formed into an enclosure for receiving a product and defining at least one openable portion, at least one seal closing the openable portion of the enclosure, at least one article skirt comprising a portion of plastic film extending outwardly from the seal and opposite the enclosure, at least one tear initiator defined on the skirt, the at least one tear initiator being configured for initiating one or more manually-propagated tears capable of being propagated through the seal to open at least the openable portion of the enclosure, and one or more grip assisters defined on the skirt and configured for assisting grip of the plastic film during manual tearing.
- the one or more grip assisters comprise at least one cut in the skirt defining: an opening, a first hanging chad on a first side of the cut, and a second hanging chad on a second side of the cut.
- the first hanging chad comprises at least a pair of projected portions and a recessed portion in between the pair of projected portions
- the second hanging chad comprises at least one projected portion aligned with the first hanging chad's recessed portion.
- said cut is further arranged such that the first hanging chad's pair of projected portions extend away from the at least one tear initiator and in a direction that is generally perpendicular to the tear initiator; and that the second hanging chad's projected portion extends toward the tear initiator and in a direction that is generally perpendicular to the tear initiator.
- Various embodiments of the present invention are generally directed to an easy opening packaging article, such as an end-seal bag or the like, having a tear initiator and one or more grip assisters.
- the tear initiator and grip assisters are configured to assist a user in opening the packaging article.
- the grip assisters are configured to reduce the likelihood that a loose piece of plastic is generated during the opening process, and to reduce the likelihood that undesired tears in the packaging article are generated during the opening process.
- Figures 1 and 2 illustrate a lay-flat end-seal bag 10 formed from seamless plastic film tubing according to one embodiment of the present invention.
- the end-seal bag's seamless plastic film forms a first lay-flat side 12, a second lay-flat side 14, a first folded side edge 16, a second folded side edge 18, a bottom edge 20, and a top edge 30.
- the bottom end of the end-seal bag 10 is unsealed and forms an bag opening 22 dimensioned for receiving a product to be packaged within the end-seal bag 10 (e.g., a large cut of meat).
- the top end of the end-seal bag 10 includes an end seal 31, which extends across the width of the of the end-seal bag 10.
- the end seal 31 is a heat seal sealing the bag's fist lay-flat side 12 to the bag's second lay-flat side 14.
- the end seal 31 can be generated by various methods, such as impulse sealing, melt-bead sealing, thermal sealing, ultrasonic sealing, hot air sealing, hot wire sealing, infrared radiation sealing, ultraviolet radiation sealing, electron beam sealing, or other methods known in the art.
- the end seal 31 extends along an arcuate path across the width of the bag 10 in the embodiment of Figure 1
- the end seal 31 may extend straight across the bag 10 or along a path having a different profile according to various other embodiments.
- the end seal 31 is made as part of the manufacturing process at a bag-making factory, rather than at the site where the bag 10 is used to package a product. As such, the end seal 31 may commonly be referred to as a "factory seal.”
- the interior volume of the end-seal bag 10 between the bag's end seal 31 and bottom edge 20 comprises an enclosure 19 for receiving a product to be packaged within the end-seal bag 10.
- a packers seal may be applied proximate the bag's bottom edge 20 and the bag 10 may be shrunk around the product to seal the product within the bag 10.
- the end-seal bag 10 also includes a skirt 32, which generally comprises the portion of the bag's plastic film outward of the end seal 31 (e.g., the excess film on the non-product side of the end seal 31, between the end seal 31 and top edge 30 ).
- the skirt 32 extends across the full width of the end-seal bag 10 and is contiguous with the end seal 31.
- the skirt 32 may comprise one or more portions of plastic film extending outwardly from the end seal 31, each portion extending along less than the full width of the end seal 31.
- the various features described herein as being defined on the skirt 32 may be defined on such skirt portions.
- the general shape and profile of the skirt 32 may be altered by changing the profile of the bag's end seal 31 and/or top edge 30.
- the portion of the bag's first lay-flat side 12 and second lay-flat side 14 defining the skirt 32 are sealed together with a pair of perimeter seals 34 positioned proximate the bag's top edge 30.
- the perimeter seals 34 are heat seals and may be generated using any of the methods referenced above in relation to the end seal 31. As shown in Figure 1 , the perimeter seals 34 are generally configured to keep the skirt portions of the bag's first lay-flat side 12 and second lay-flat side 14 laid substantially flat against one another.
- the skirt 32 also defines a tear initiator 50 and a pair of grip assisters 100.
- the tear initiator 50 and grip assisters 100 are, together, configured to enable a user to manually initiate and manually propagate a tear along the end-seal bag 10 in order to open the bag 10 and remove a product contained therein.
- Figure 3 shows a top plan view of the end-seal bag 10.
- the tear initiator 50 comprises a plurality of longitudinally aligned slits 52 cut through the skirt 32.
- the tear initiator 50 may comprise a single slit cut through the skirt 32.
- the term "cut” refers to penetration through the plastic film or shearing through the film (e.g., with a shearing or cutting instrument). Unless specified otherwise, a "cut” in a portion of the end-seal bag 10 refers to a cut through both lay-flat sides 12, 14 of the bag 10. Accordingly, the slits 52 comprising the tear initiator 50 are defined in both the first lay-flat side 12 of the skirt 32 and the second lay-flat side 14 of the skirt 32.
- the tear initiator 50 is oriented generally perpendicular to the nearest point on the end seal 31 and in a generally longitudinal direction with respect to the end-seal bag 10.
- the end-seal bag 10 is configured such that a tear initiated via the tear initiator 50 will tend to propagate in a longitudinal direction with respect to the end-seal bag 10.
- the tear initiator 50 may be oriented in other directions and the end-seal bag 10 may be configured such that a tear initiated via the tear initiator 50 will tend to propagate in other desired directions.
- the tear initiator 50 in Figure 3 is oriented in a machine direction.
- machine direction generally refers to the direction in which the plastic film emerged from its manufacturing die, which corresponds with the direction the plastic extrudate is forwarded during the film production process.
- machine direction includes not only the direction along the plastic film that corresponds with the direction the film traveled as it passed over idler rollers in the film production process, it also includes directions that deviate up to 44 degrees from the direction the film traveled as it passed over idler rollers in the production process.
- the phrase “transverse direction” refers to a direction perpendicular to the machine direction.
- the transverse direction also includes directions that deviate up to 44 degrees from the direction the film traveled as it passed over idler rollers in the production process.
- various embodiments of the tear initiator 50 may be oriented in the machine direction or the transverse direction with respect to a bag's plastic film depending on the bag's dimensions and the bag's type (e.g., end-seal, side-seal, pouch).
- preferred films to be used to make the packaging article of the invention include films in accordance with US 2009/0116768 A1 , entitled "Easy Opening Packaging Article Made from Heat-Shrinkable Film Exhibiting Directional Tear. Preferred methods of making such films are also disclosed in US 2009/0116768 A1 .
- each grip assister 100 is defined by a curvilinear cut in the skirt 32.
- Figures 4A and 4B provide a more detailed illustration of one of the grip assisters 100 according to one embodiment.
- the curvilinear cut 102 has a first end 104 and a second end 106. The cut 102 forms a curvilinear path between its ends 104, 106 that results in the formation of a first hanging chad 200 and a second hanging chad 300.
- the term "hanging chad” refers to a portion of material (e.g., plastic film) that is not completely separated from its respective article (e.g., the end-seal bag 10 ). Indeed, in the illustrated embodiment, no fully separated pieces of film are produced by the cut 102 and the hanging chads 200, 300 remain attached to the end-seal bag 10.
- the terms "width,” “length,” “outward,” “inward,” and other like terms are used to describe the chads 200, 300 in relation to the grip assister 100 itself and are not intended to indicate the orientation of the grip assister 100 with respect to other features of the end-seal bag 10. Indeed, a description of the grip assister's orientation and positioning with respect to features of the end-seal bag 10 is provided herein in relation to Figures 1 , 3 , and 5 .
- the first hanging chad 200 extends outwardly from a first base edge 202, which is defined between the ends 104, 106 of the curvilinear cut 102. As described in more detail herein, the first hanging chad's base edge 202 connects the first hanging chad to the skirt 32 from which it "hangs.”
- the first hanging chad 200 generally includes a pair of projected portions comprising a first outer lobe 204 and a second outer lobe 206. As shown in Figures 4A and 4B , the first outer lobe 204 includes a substantially convex rounded edge 208 and extends laterally to a widest point 212 and outwardly to an outermost point 216.
- the second outer lobe 206 includes a substantially convex rounded edge 210 and extends laterally to a widest point 214 and outwardly to an outermost point 218.
- the first hanging chad 200 includes a recessed portion 220 positioned between the outer lobes 204, 206 and defined by a substantially concave rounded edge 222.
- the rounded edge 222 has an innermost point 219 (e.g., the point along the rounded edge 222 nearest to the first hanging chad's base edge 202 ).
- Each of the rounded edges 208, 210, 222 is defined by a curved portion of the curvilinear cut 102.
- the second hanging chad 300 extends outwardly from a second base edge 302 in a direction opposite that of the first hanging chad 200.
- the second base edge 302 is defined between the outermost points 216, 218 of the first hanging chad 200.
- the second hanging chad's base edge 302 connects the second hanging chad 300 to the skirt 32 from which it "hangs.”
- the second hanging chad 300 generally includes a projected portion comprising a medial lobe 304.
- the second hanging chad's medial lobe 304 includes a substantially convex rounded edge 308 that corresponds to the concave rounded edge 222 of the first hanging chad 200.
- the second hanging chad's convex rounded edge 308 is defined opposite the first hanging chad's concave rounded edge 222 along the same portion of the curvilinear cut 102.
- the medial lobe's outermost point 319 corresponds to the innermost point 219 of the first hanging chad's rounded edge 222.
- Figure 4B also illustrates various dimensions of the grip assister 100.
- the first hanging chad 200 has a base width W1 generally defined by the lateral distance between the ends 104, 106 of the curvilinear cut 102.
- the base width W1 of the first hanging chad 200 corresponds to the length of the first hanging chad's base edge 202.
- the first hanging chad's base width W1 can be between 0.69 inches and 0.88 inches.
- the first hanging chad's base width W1 is 0.83 inches.
- the first hanging chad 200 has a full width W2 generally defined by the lateral distance between the widest points 212, 214 of the first hanging chad's outer lobes 204, 206.
- the first hanging chad's full width W2 can be between 19.1 mm and 35.4 mm (0.75 inches and 1.0 inches).
- first hanging chad's full width W2 is 25.4 mm (1.0 inches).
- the rounded edges 208, 210 of the outer lobes curve inwardly such that the ends 104, 106 of the curvilinear cut 102 are positioned inward from the outer lobe's widest points 212, 214.
- the first outer lobe's rounded edge 208 has a radius of curvature R1
- the second outer lobe's rounded edge 210 has a radius of curvature R2.
- the radii R1 and R2 can be between 3.6 mm and 5.1 mm (0.14 inches and 0.2 inches).
- the radii R1 and R2 are the same.
- the radii R1 and R2 are each 4.8 mm (0.19 inches).
- the inward curvature of the rounded edges 208, 210 results in the cut's first end 104 being positioned a lateral distance D1 inward from the widest point 212 of the first outer lobe 204, while the cut's second end 106 is positioned a lateral distance D2 inward from the widest point 214 of the second outer lobe 206.
- the distances D1 and D2 can be between 1.5 mm and 3.8 mm (0.06 inches and 0.15 inches).
- the distances D1 and D2 are the same.
- the distances D1 and D2 are each 2.3 mm (0.09 inches).
- the first hanging chad's base width W1 it is generally desirable for the first hanging chad's base width W1 to be nearly as wide as the first hanging chad's outer width W2, as increasing the chad's base width W1 can improve chad's resistance to being torn off of the skirt 32 by a user.
- the distances D1, D2 it is also desirable for the distances D1, D2 to not be too small, as positioning the ends 104, 106 of the cut 102 away from the chad's widest edges 212, 214 can improve the grip assister's resistance to generating an undesired tear in the skirt 32 when it is used to open the bag 10.
- the ratio of the first hanging chad's base width W1 to its full width W2 can be between 0.881:1 and 0.75:1.
- first outer lobe 204 has a length L1 defined by the distance between the first outer lobe's outermost point 216 and the base edge 202.
- second outer lobe 206 has a length L2 defined by the distance between the second outer lobe's outermost point 218 and the base edge 202.
- the greater of these two lengths L1, L2 defines the "length" of the first hanging chad 200.
- the lengths L1 and L2 can be between 7.6 mm and 9.7 mm (0.3 inches and 0.38 inches). In certain embodiments, the lengths L1 and L2 are the same.
- the first outer lobe's length L1 and the second outer lobe's length L2 are 8.6 mm (0.34 inches).
- the "length" of the first hanging chad 200 would be 8.6 mm (0.34 inches) as L1 and L2 are the same.
- the second hanging chad 300 has a width W3 generally defined by the lateral distance between the outermost points 216, 218 of the first hanging chad's lobes 204, 206.
- the second hanging chad's width W3 corresponds to the length of the second hanging chad's base edge 302.
- the second hanging chad's width W3 can be between 3.0 mm and 19.1 mm (0.12 inches to 0.75 inches).
- the second hanging chad's width W3 is 15.7 mm (0.62 inches).
- the second hanging chad 300 has a length L3 defined by the distance between the medial lobe's outermost point 319 and the base edge 302.
- the second hanging chad's length L3 can be between 3.0 mm and 5.1 mm (0.12 inches and 0.20 inches).
- the second hanging chad's length L3 is 4.8 mm (0.19 inches).
- the rounded edge 308 of the medial lobe 304 has a radius of curvature R3.
- the rounded edge 222 of the first hanging chad's recessed portion 220 will have the same radius of curvature R3 as it is defined by the same portion of the curvilinear cut 102.
- the radius R3 can be between 3.0 mm and 5.1 mm (0.12 inches and 0.20 inches).
- the radius R3 is 4.8 mm (0.19 inches).
- the second hanging chad's radius of curvature R3 may be equivalent to its length L3 and equivalent to the radii R1 and R2.
- the curvilinear cut 102 defining the grip assister 100 comprises a single, continuous cut through the skirt 32.
- the cut 102 may comprise a series of perforations aligned in the shape of the cut 102 shown in Figures 4A and 4B .
- the cut 102 extends through both lay-flat sides 12, 14 of the skirt 32.
- each grip assister 100 will be understood to comprise a first grip assister defined on the first lay-flat side 12 of the skirt 32, and a second grip assister defined on the second lay-flat side 14 of the skirt 32.
- these first and second grip assisters are aligned and, effectively, function together as a single grip assister 100.
- the grip assisters 100 are oriented on the skirt 32 such that each grip assister's first hanging chad 200 extends away from the tear initiator 50 in a direction generally perpendicular to the tear initiator 50, while each grip assister's second hanging chad 300 extends toward the tear initiator 50 in a direction generally perpendicular to the tear initiator 50.
- the base edge 202 of each grip assister 100 is generally parallel to the tear initiator 50. As described in greater detail below, this orientation ensures that when a user pulls the grip assisters 100 away from the tear initiator 50, the force of the user's finger is applied against the base edge 302 and towards the second hanging chad 300.
- each of the grip assisters 100 includes a curvilinear cut 102 in the skirt 32.
- Figure 5 shows one of the grip assisters 100 with its hanging chads 200, 300 pushed upward and extending away from the surface of the skirt 32.
- the curvilinear cut 102 defines an opening 110 in the skirt 32, which exists between the first hanging chad 200 and second hanging chad 300.
- Each grip assister 100 is configured such that its opening 110 is large enough for an adult finger to fit through.
- the hanging chads 200, 300 are generally moved to the position shown in Figure 5 .
- the first hanging chad 200 bends upward about its base edge 202
- the second hanging chad 300 bends upward about its base edge 302.
- each grip assister 100 comprises a first grip assister defined on the first lay-flat side 12 of the skirt 32, and a second grip assister defined on the second lay-flat side 14 of the skirt 32.
- both the first lay-flat side 12 and second lay-flat side 14 of the grip assister's chads 200, 300 are substantially aligned.
- the curvilinear shape of the grip assister's cut 102 results in a larger opening 110 than a straight, linear cut would provide. This makes it easier for a user to insert a finger through the grip assister 100.
- Figure 6 shows the end-seal bag 10 with a product 120 (e.g., a cut of meat) sealed therein.
- the product 120 has been disposed within the bag's enclosure 19 (e.g., via the opening 22 at the bag's bottom edge 20 shown in Figure 1 ).
- a packer's seal 122 e.g., a heat seal
- the bag 10 has been heat-shrunk around the product 120.
- a user may insert at least one finger through each of the grip assisters 100 and pull the grip assisters 100 away from one another (e.g., by pulling each grip assister 100 in a direction away from the tear initiator 50 and in a direction generally perpendicular to the tear initiator 50 ).
- This action applies a force to the tear initiator's longitudinally aligned slits 52 that initiates a tear in the direction of the longitudinally aligned slits 52.
- a user can continue pulling the grip assisters 100 away from one another. This causes the tear to propagate through the bag's end seal 31 and continue along the bag 10.
- a tear 130 has been initiated and propagated along a portion of the bag 10.
- the tear initiator's slits 52 are generally aligned in the bag's longitudinal direction in the illustrated embodiment.
- the tear 130 has propagated longitudinally along the length the bag 10. In the illustrated embodiment, this longitudinal direction is also the machine direction of the bag's plastic film.
- the tear initiator 50 and grip assisters 100 are defined on both lay-flat sides 12, 14 of the bag 10, the tear 130 has initiated and propagated along both lay-flat sides 12, 14.
- each of the user's fingers will apply a force to the skirt 32 proximate the base edge 302 of a respective grip assister 100 (shown in Fig. 5 ).
- the user's finger will pull the base edge 302 in a direction away from the first hanging chad 200.
- the force generated by this action can result in stress concentration points 61, 62 generated near the widest points of the curvilinear cut 102 on the skirt 32 (e.g., the points along the edge of the cut 102 on the skirt 32 corresponding to the widest points 212, 214 of the first and second outer lobes 204, 206 ).
- the skirt 32 In order for the grip assisters 100 to be most effective, it is important to prevent the skirt 32 from tearing in response to these stress concentrations as the bag is opened, as this can result in a stress gradient. If the stress gradient is such that the stress at the ends 104, 106 of the cut 102 is greater than the tear propagation limit of the material, then the skirt 32 will tear.
- the ends 104, 106 of the curvilinear cut 102 are positioned distances D1, D2 inward from the lobes' widest points 212, 214.
- the stress concentrations resulting from the force applied by a user's finger when opening the bag 10 are concentrated away from the ends of the cuts and, instead, on the cut's rounded edges (e.g., the edges of the cut corresponding to the rounded edges 208, 210 of the first hanging chad 200 ).
- these stress concentration points remain in this position at least until the tear propagated via the tear initiator extends through the seal.
- the second hanging chad's recessed portion 220 reduces the likelihood that the second hanging chad 200 will be inadvertently pinched between a user's fingers by reducing the length of the chad 200 in the area where that is most likely to occur. By reducing the likelihood that the chad 200 will be pinched between the user's fingers, the likelihood that the second hanging chad 200 will be inadvertently torn off is also reduced.
- the chad 200 is dimensioned to resist being torn off of the skirt 32.
- the second hanging chad's base width W1 is relatively wide and provides a greater contact area between the chad 200 and skirt 32 than a chad having a narrower base width.
- the grip assisters 100 are also capable of being used with a machine configured for opening packaging articles.
- certain machines may include components (e.g., rods) that are inserted through the grip assisters 100 and pulled away from one another in order to automatically open the end-seal bag 10.
- the tear initiator 50 and grip assisters 100 can be used by an automated machine to initiate and propagate a tear in the end-seal bag 10.
- the end-seal bag 10 shown and described in Figures 1-6 represents only one embodiment of the present invention.
- the tear initiator 50 and grip assisters 100 described in relation to the end-seal bag 10 may be provided on various types of bags and in various orientations.
- Figure 7A illustrates the tear initiator 50 and grip assisters 100 provided on a side-seal bag 710.
- the tear initiator 50 and grip assisters 100 are positioned on a skirt defined on the sides of the bag 710 and are configured to initiate a tear in the machine direction of the bag's plastic film.
- Figure 7B illustrates a U-seal bag 720 and Figure 7C illustrates an L-seal bag 730.
- the tear initiator 50 and grip assisters 100 may be defined on a skirt located on the side of the bags 720, 730 or on an end of the bags 720, 730.
- the tear initiator 50 and grip assisters 100 may be configured to initiate a tear in either the machine direction or the transverse direction of the plastic film.
- Figure 7D illustrates a back-seamed bag 740 having a fin seal.
- the tear initiator 50 and grip assisters 100 can be provided on a skirt proximate the bag's fin seal or bottom seal.
- Figure 7E illustrates a back-seamed bag 750 having a lap seal.
- the tear initiator 50 and grip assisters 100 can be provided on the skirt proximate the bag's lap seal or bottom seal.
- a tear generated from a tear initiator 50 positioned on a skirt extending outwardly from the back-seamed bag's 740 fin seal, or the back-seamed bag's 750 flap seal could propagate from the skirt, through the fin seal / lap seal, and thereafter propagate as two tears in opposite directions around the bag 740 or 750.
- a tear initiator 50 and pair of grip assisters 100 may be provided at more than one location on one or more skirts of a particular bag to enable a user to tear the bag open in more than direction.
- a grip assister 100 shown and described in Figures 1-6 represents only one embodiment of a grip assister suitable for use with the end-seal bag 10.
- a grip assister may define a single hanging chad which does not have a recessed portion and which is not covered by the claims, wherein Figure 8A shows a grip assister 500 according to suchconfiguration.
- the grip assister 500 is defined by a curvilinear cut 502 forming a single hanging chad 501.
- the curvilinear cut has ends 504, 506 forming a base edge 507 therebetween.
- the hanging chad 501 includes a pair of outer lobes 510, 512 and a substantially linear medial edge 520 joining the outer lobes 510, 512.
- the outer lobes 510, 512 each include a convex rounded edge 514, 516.
- the ends 504, 506 of the curvilinear cut 502 are positioned inward of the widest points of the outer lobes 510, 512.
- the hanging chad 501 can have the same base width, full width, and length dimensions described above in relation to the first hanging chad 200.
- the grip assister 500 retains many of the advantageous properties of the grip assister 100. For example, as the ends 504,506 of the curvilinear cut 502 defining the hanging chad 501 are positioned inward of the chad's widest edges, the curvilinear cut 502 will be resistant to generating a tear in the skirt 32.
- the chad 501 has a wide base edge 507 and relatively short length, the chad 501 will be less likely to be inadvertently pinched by a user and, even if it is, will be resistant to tearing off of the skirt 32.
- Figure 8B shows further a grip assister 600 not covered by the claims.
- the grip assister 600 is defined by a curvilinear cut 602 forming a single hanging chad 601.
- the curvilinear cut has ends 604, 606 forming a base edge 607 therebetween.
- the hanging chad 601 includes a pair of outer lobes 610, 612 and a convex, rounded medial edge 620 joining the outer lobes 610, 612.
- the outer lobes 610, 612 each include a convex rounded edge 614, 616.
- the dimensions of the hanging chad 601 are substantially similar to those of the hanging chad 501, with the exception of the chad 601's curved medial edge 620.
- the grip assister 600 would also retain many of the advantageous properties of the grip assister 100 for the reasons discussed in relation to the grip assister 500.
- the dimensions of the various grip assisters described herein represent certain embodiments of the present invention. As will be appreciated from the description herein, the grip assisters provided in other dimensions and configured to perform as described herein are within the scope of the present invention.
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- Packages (AREA)
Description
- Various embodiments of the present invention described herein generally relate to packaging articles, particularly heat-shrinkable, easy opening packaging articles for packaging food products.
- Flexible packaging articles made from plastic film are commonly used for the packaging of a variety of products. In particular, food products (e.g., meat) are often vacuum packed in heat-shrinkable, plastic packaging articles. In order to keep packed food products fresh and enhance shelf life, it is important for these packaging articles to possess moisture and oxygen barrier properties, as well as high impact strength, high seal strength, and high puncture resistance. However, packaging articles having these properties are typically tough and difficult to open.
- To make tough packaging articles of this type easier to open, recent art suggests providing one or more tear initiators near an edge of a packaging article for initiating a manual tear that can be propagated to open the packaging article and allow a product to be readily removed therefrom. In particular,
US 2009/0116768 A1 suggests providing grip-assist holes adjacent a tear initiator to assist a user with gripping the packaging article, initiating a tear at the tear initiator, and propagating the tear to open the packaging article. In some cases, these grip-assist holes may be formed by cutting a hole in the packaging article and removing the resulting piece of plastic film to form each grip-assist hole. However, as recognized inUS 2009/0116768 A1 this process produces small, loose pieces of film that may lodge inside the packaging article during manufacturing of the packaging article. To prevent production of these loose pieces of film, theUS 2009/0116768 A1 suggests cutting a partial hole in the packaging article's film that results in an opening and leaves a hanging chad connected to the packaging article. In this configuration, the aforementioned loose pieces of film are less likely to be produced during manufacturing of the packaging article. The preamble of claim 1 is based onUS 2009/0116768 A1 . - However, when a user opens a packaging article having grip-assisters of this type, the user typically inserts an index finger through a grip-assist hole, pinches the index finger with a thumb, and pulls away from the tear initiator. During this opening process, the user may inadvertently pinch the grip-assister's hanging chad between the index finger and thumb and tear the hanging chad off of the packaging article during opening. Hanging chads inadvertently removed from the packaging article in this way may easily fall into the packaging article as the user is opening the article.
- For sellers of products that must not be contaminated with loose plastic pieces, such as meats and other food products, it is important that loose pieces of plastic are not produced during manufacturing of the packaging article or during end use of the packaging particle (e.g., a user opening the article). Accordingly, there is a need in the art for a flexible, easy opening packaging article that can be manufactured and used without the risk of loose pieces of plastic becoming lodged within the packaging article.
- According to the invention as defined in claim 1, the flexible packaging article comprises a plastic film formed into an enclosure for receiving a product and defining at least one openable portion, at least one seal closing the openable portion of the enclosure, at least one article skirt comprising a portion of plastic film extending outwardly from the seal and opposite the enclosure, at least one tear initiator defined on the skirt, the at least one tear initiator being configured for initiating one or more manually-propagated tears capable of being propagated through the seal to open at least the openable portion of the enclosure, and one or more grip assisters defined on the skirt and configured for assisting grip of the plastic film during manual tearing. The one or more grip assisters comprise at least one cut in the skirt defining: an opening, a first hanging chad on a first side of the cut, and a second hanging chad on a second side of the cut. The first hanging chad comprises at least a pair of projected portions and a recessed portion in between the pair of projected portions, and the second hanging chad comprises at least one projected portion aligned with the first hanging chad's recessed portion. According to the present invention said cut is further arranged such that the first hanging chad's pair of projected portions extend away from the at least one tear initiator and in a direction that is generally perpendicular to the tear initiator; and that the second hanging chad's projected portion extends toward the tear initiator and in a direction that is generally perpendicular to the tear initiator.
- Preferred embodiments of the invention are set out in the dependent claims.
- Reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings, which are not necessarily drawn to scale, and wherein:
-
Figure 1 shows a front perspective view of an end-seal bag according to one embodiment of the present invention; -
Figure 2 shows a rear elevation view of the end-seal bag ofFigure 1 according to one embodiment of the present invention; -
Figure 3 shows a top plan view of the end-seal bag ofFigure 1 according to one embodiment of the present invention; -
Figures 4A and 4B show top plan views of a grip assister according to one embodiment of the present invention; -
Figure 5 shows a front perspective view of the grip assister ofFigures 4A and 4B according to one embodiment of the present invention; -
Figure 6 shows a top plan view of a partially opened end-seal bag with a product disposed therein according to one embodiment of the present invention; -
Figure 7A shows a side-seal bag according to one embodiment of the present invention; -
Figure 7B shows a U-seal bag according to one embodiment of the present invention; -
Figure 7C shows an L-seal bag according to one embodiment of the present invention; -
Figure 7D shows a back-seamed bag with a fin seal according to one embodiment of the present invention; -
Figure 7E shows a back-seamed bag with a lap seal according to one embodiment of the present invention; -
Figure 8A shows a top plan view of a grip assister according to a design not covered by the claims; and -
Figure 8B shows a top plan view of another grip assister according to a design not covered by the claims. - The present inventions will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which some, but not all embodiments of the inventions are shown. Indeed, these inventions may be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will satisfy applicable legal requirements. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout.
- Various embodiments of the present invention are generally directed to an easy opening packaging article, such as an end-seal bag or the like, having a tear initiator and one or more grip assisters. According to various embodiments, the tear initiator and grip assisters are configured to assist a user in opening the packaging article. In particular, the grip assisters are configured to reduce the likelihood that a loose piece of plastic is generated during the opening process, and to reduce the likelihood that undesired tears in the packaging article are generated during the opening process.
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Figures 1 and 2 illustrate a lay-flat end-seal bag 10 formed from seamless plastic film tubing according to one embodiment of the present invention. As shown inFigures 1 and 2 , the end-seal bag's seamless plastic film forms a first lay-flat side 12, a second lay-flat side 14, a first foldedside edge 16, a second foldedside edge 18, abottom edge 20, and atop edge 30. The bottom end of the end-seal bag 10 is unsealed and forms an bag opening 22 dimensioned for receiving a product to be packaged within the end-seal bag 10 (e.g., a large cut of meat). The top end of the end-seal bag 10 includes anend seal 31, which extends across the width of the of the end-seal bag 10. - In the illustrated embodiment, the
end seal 31 is a heat seal sealing the bag's fist lay-flat side 12 to the bag's second lay-flat side 14. Theend seal 31 can be generated by various methods, such as impulse sealing, melt-bead sealing, thermal sealing, ultrasonic sealing, hot air sealing, hot wire sealing, infrared radiation sealing, ultraviolet radiation sealing, electron beam sealing, or other methods known in the art. Although theend seal 31 extends along an arcuate path across the width of thebag 10 in the embodiment ofFigure 1 , theend seal 31 may extend straight across thebag 10 or along a path having a different profile according to various other embodiments. Typically, theend seal 31 is made as part of the manufacturing process at a bag-making factory, rather than at the site where thebag 10 is used to package a product. As such, theend seal 31 may commonly be referred to as a "factory seal." - The interior volume of the end-
seal bag 10 between the bag'send seal 31 andbottom edge 20 comprises anenclosure 19 for receiving a product to be packaged within the end-seal bag 10. As described in greater detail below, once a product is placed within the bag's enclosure 19 (e.g., via the bag opening 22), a packers seal may be applied proximate the bag'sbottom edge 20 and thebag 10 may be shrunk around the product to seal the product within thebag 10. - The end-
seal bag 10 also includes askirt 32, which generally comprises the portion of the bag's plastic film outward of the end seal 31 (e.g., the excess film on the non-product side of theend seal 31, between theend seal 31 and top edge 30). As shown inFigure 1 , theskirt 32 extends across the full width of the end-seal bag 10 and is contiguous with theend seal 31. However, in various other embodiments, theskirt 32 may comprise one or more portions of plastic film extending outwardly from theend seal 31, each portion extending along less than the full width of theend seal 31. The various features described herein as being defined on theskirt 32 may be defined on such skirt portions. In addition, the general shape and profile of theskirt 32 may be altered by changing the profile of the bag'send seal 31 and/ortop edge 30. - In the illustrated embodiment, the portion of the bag's first lay-
flat side 12 and second lay-flat side 14 defining theskirt 32 are sealed together with a pair of perimeter seals 34 positioned proximate the bag'stop edge 30. In the illustrated embodiment, the perimeter seals 34 are heat seals and may be generated using any of the methods referenced above in relation to theend seal 31. As shown inFigure 1 , the perimeter seals 34 are generally configured to keep the skirt portions of the bag's first lay-flat side 12 and second lay-flat side 14 laid substantially flat against one another. - The
skirt 32 also defines atear initiator 50 and a pair ofgrip assisters 100. As described in greater detail herein, thetear initiator 50 andgrip assisters 100 are, together, configured to enable a user to manually initiate and manually propagate a tear along the end-seal bag 10 in order to open thebag 10 and remove a product contained therein.Figure 3 shows a top plan view of the end-seal bag 10. As shown inFigure 3 , thetear initiator 50 comprises a plurality of longitudinally alignedslits 52 cut through theskirt 32. According to other embodiments, thetear initiator 50 may comprise a single slit cut through theskirt 32. As used herein, the term "cut" refers to penetration through the plastic film or shearing through the film (e.g., with a shearing or cutting instrument). Unless specified otherwise, a "cut" in a portion of the end-seal bag 10 refers to a cut through both lay-flat sides bag 10. Accordingly, theslits 52 comprising thetear initiator 50 are defined in both the first lay-flat side 12 of theskirt 32 and the second lay-flat side 14 of theskirt 32. - In the illustrated embodiment of
Figure 3 , thetear initiator 50 is oriented generally perpendicular to the nearest point on theend seal 31 and in a generally longitudinal direction with respect to the end-seal bag 10. In particular, the end-seal bag 10 is configured such that a tear initiated via thetear initiator 50 will tend to propagate in a longitudinal direction with respect to the end-seal bag 10. However, according to various embodiments, thetear initiator 50 may be oriented in other directions and the end-seal bag 10 may be configured such that a tear initiated via thetear initiator 50 will tend to propagate in other desired directions. - With respect to the bag's plastic film, the
tear initiator 50 inFigure 3 is oriented in a machine direction. As used herein, the phrase "machine direction" generally refers to the direction in which the plastic film emerged from its manufacturing die, which corresponds with the direction the plastic extrudate is forwarded during the film production process. However, as used herein, the phrase "machine direction" includes not only the direction along the plastic film that corresponds with the direction the film traveled as it passed over idler rollers in the film production process, it also includes directions that deviate up to 44 degrees from the direction the film traveled as it passed over idler rollers in the production process. In addition, as used herein, the phrase "transverse direction" refers to a direction perpendicular to the machine direction. The transverse direction also includes directions that deviate up to 44 degrees from the direction the film traveled as it passed over idler rollers in the production process. As described in greater detail below, various embodiments of thetear initiator 50 may be oriented in the machine direction or the transverse direction with respect to a bag's plastic film depending on the bag's dimensions and the bag's type (e.g., end-seal, side-seal, pouch). Furthermore, preferred films to be used to make the packaging article of the invention include films in accordance withUS 2009/0116768 A1 , entitled "Easy Opening Packaging Article Made from Heat-Shrinkable Film Exhibiting Directional Tear. Preferred methods of making such films are also disclosed inUS 2009/0116768 A1 . - Referring back to the illustrated embodiment of
Figure 3 , thegrip assisters 100 are defined on either side of thetear initiator 50 and are positioned just below the perimeter seals 34. According to various embodiments, eachgrip assister 100 is defined by a curvilinear cut in theskirt 32.Figures 4A and 4B provide a more detailed illustration of one of the grip assisters 100 according to one embodiment. As shown inFigure 4A , thecurvilinear cut 102 has afirst end 104 and asecond end 106. Thecut 102 forms a curvilinear path between itsends chad 200 and a second hangingchad 300. As used herein, the term "hanging chad" refers to a portion of material (e.g., plastic film) that is not completely separated from its respective article (e.g., the end-seal bag 10). Indeed, in the illustrated embodiment, no fully separated pieces of film are produced by thecut 102 and thehanging chads seal bag 10. In reference toFigures 4A and 4B , the terms "width," "length," "outward," "inward," and other like terms are used to describe thechads grip assister 100 itself and are not intended to indicate the orientation of thegrip assister 100 with respect to other features of the end-seal bag 10. Indeed, a description of the grip assister's orientation and positioning with respect to features of the end-seal bag 10 is provided herein in relation toFigures 1 ,3 , and5 . - In the illustrated embodiment, the first hanging
chad 200 extends outwardly from afirst base edge 202, which is defined between theends curvilinear cut 102. As described in more detail herein, the first hanging chad'sbase edge 202 connects the first hanging chad to theskirt 32 from which it "hangs." The first hangingchad 200 generally includes a pair of projected portions comprising a firstouter lobe 204 and a secondouter lobe 206. As shown inFigures 4A and 4B , the firstouter lobe 204 includes a substantially convexrounded edge 208 and extends laterally to awidest point 212 and outwardly to anoutermost point 216. Likewise, the secondouter lobe 206 includes a substantially convexrounded edge 210 and extends laterally to awidest point 214 and outwardly to anoutermost point 218. In addition, the first hangingchad 200 includes a recessedportion 220 positioned between theouter lobes Figure 4B , the rounded edge 222 has an innermost point 219 (e.g., the point along the rounded edge 222 nearest to the first hanging chad's base edge 202). Each of therounded edges curvilinear cut 102. - In the illustrated embodiment, the second hanging
chad 300 extends outwardly from asecond base edge 302 in a direction opposite that of the first hangingchad 200. As shown inFigure 4A , thesecond base edge 302 is defined between theoutermost points chad 200. As described in more detail herein, the second hanging chad'sbase edge 302 connects the second hangingchad 300 to theskirt 32 from which it "hangs." The second hangingchad 300 generally includes a projected portion comprising amedial lobe 304. As shown inFigure 4A , the second hanging chad'smedial lobe 304 includes a substantially convex rounded edge 308 that corresponds to the concave rounded edge 222 of the first hangingchad 200. In other words, the second hanging chad's convex rounded edge 308 is defined opposite the first hanging chad's concave rounded edge 222 along the same portion of thecurvilinear cut 102. Accordingly, as shown inFigure 4B , the medial lobe's outermost point 319 corresponds to the innermost point 219 of the first hanging chad's rounded edge 222. -
Figure 4B also illustrates various dimensions of thegrip assister 100. In the illustrated embodiment, the first hangingchad 200 has a base width W1 generally defined by the lateral distance between theends curvilinear cut 102. As will be appreciated fromFigures 4A and 4B , the base width W1 of the first hangingchad 200 corresponds to the length of the first hanging chad'sbase edge 202. According to various embodiments, the first hanging chad's base width W1 can be between 0.69 inches and 0.88 inches. For example, in one embodiment, the first hanging chad's base width W1 is 0.83 inches. In addition, the first hangingchad 200 has a full width W2 generally defined by the lateral distance between thewidest points outer lobes - As shown in
Figures 4A and 4B , therounded edges curvilinear cut 102 are positioned inward from the outer lobe'swidest points rounded edge 208 has a radius of curvature R1 and the second outer lobe'srounded edge 210 has a radius of curvature R2. According to various embodiments, the radii R1 and R2 can be between 3.6 mm and 5.1 mm (0.14 inches and 0.2 inches). In certain embodiments, the radii R1 and R2 are the same. For example, in one embodiment, the radii R1 and R2 are each 4.8 mm (0.19 inches). - As shown in
Figure 4B , the inward curvature of therounded edges first end 104 being positioned a lateral distance D1 inward from thewidest point 212 of the firstouter lobe 204, while the cut'ssecond end 106 is positioned a lateral distance D2 inward from thewidest point 214 of the secondouter lobe 206. According to various embodiments, the distances D1 and D2 can be between 1.5 mm and 3.8 mm (0.06 inches and 0.15 inches). In certain embodiments, the distances D1 and D2 are the same. For example, in one embodiment, the distances D1 and D2 are each 2.3 mm (0.09 inches). - As described in greater detail below, it is generally desirable for the first hanging chad's base width W1 to be nearly as wide as the first hanging chad's outer width W2, as increasing the chad's base width W1 can improve chad's resistance to being torn off of the
skirt 32 by a user. However, it is also desirable for the distances D1, D2 to not be too small, as positioning theends cut 102 away from the chad'swidest edges skirt 32 when it is used to open thebag 10. Accordingly, the ratio of the first hanging chad's base width W1 to its full width W2 can be between 0.881:1 and 0.75:1. - In addition, the first
outer lobe 204 has a length L1 defined by the distance between the first outer lobe'soutermost point 216 and thebase edge 202. Likewise, the secondouter lobe 206 has a length L2 defined by the distance between the second outer lobe'soutermost point 218 and thebase edge 202. According to various embodiments, the greater of these two lengths L1, L2 defines the "length" of the first hangingchad 200. According to various embodiments, the lengths L1 and L2 can be between 7.6 mm and 9.7 mm (0.3 inches and 0.38 inches). In certain embodiments, the lengths L1 and L2 are the same. For example, in one embodiment, the first outer lobe's length L1 and the second outer lobe's length L2 are 8.6 mm (0.34 inches). In such an embodiment, the "length" of the first hangingchad 200 would be 8.6 mm (0.34 inches) as L1 and L2 are the same. - As shown in
Figure 4B , the second hangingchad 300 has a width W3 generally defined by the lateral distance between theoutermost points lobes Figures 4A and 4B , the second hanging chad's width W3 corresponds to the length of the second hanging chad'sbase edge 302. According to various embodiments, the second hanging chad's width W3 can be between 3.0 mm and 19.1 mm (0.12 inches to 0.75 inches). For example, in one embodiment, the second hanging chad's width W3 is 15.7 mm (0.62 inches). - Furthermore, the second hanging
chad 300 has a length L3 defined by the distance between the medial lobe's outermost point 319 and thebase edge 302. According to various embodiments, the second hanging chad's length L3 can be between 3.0 mm and 5.1 mm (0.12 inches and 0.20 inches). For example, in one embodiment, the second hanging chad's length L3 is 4.8 mm (0.19 inches). - In addition, the rounded edge 308 of the
medial lobe 304 has a radius of curvature R3. As will be appreciated fromFigures 4A and 4B , the rounded edge 222 of the first hanging chad's recessedportion 220 will have the same radius of curvature R3 as it is defined by the same portion of thecurvilinear cut 102. According to various embodiments, the radius R3 can be between 3.0 mm and 5.1 mm (0.12 inches and 0.20 inches). For example, in one embodiment, the radius R3 is 4.8 mm (0.19 inches). In certain embodiments of thegrip assister 100, the second hanging chad's radius of curvature R3 may be equivalent to its length L3 and equivalent to the radii R1 and R2. - In the illustrated embodiment of
Figures 4A and 4B , thecurvilinear cut 102 defining thegrip assister 100 comprises a single, continuous cut through theskirt 32. However, in other embodiments, thecut 102 may comprise a series of perforations aligned in the shape of thecut 102 shown inFigures 4A and 4B . In addition, in the illustrated embodiment ofFigures 1-5 , thecut 102 extends through both lay-flat sides skirt 32. As such, eachgrip assister 100 will be understood to comprise a first grip assister defined on the first lay-flat side 12 of theskirt 32, and a second grip assister defined on the second lay-flat side 14 of theskirt 32. According to various embodiments, these first and second grip assisters are aligned and, effectively, function together as asingle grip assister 100. - As will be appreciated from
Figure 3 , thegrip assisters 100 are oriented on theskirt 32 such that each grip assister's first hangingchad 200 extends away from thetear initiator 50 in a direction generally perpendicular to thetear initiator 50, while each grip assister's second hangingchad 300 extends toward thetear initiator 50 in a direction generally perpendicular to thetear initiator 50. Likewise, thebase edge 202 of eachgrip assister 100 is generally parallel to thetear initiator 50. As described in greater detail below, this orientation ensures that when a user pulls the grip assisters 100 away from thetear initiator 50, the force of the user's finger is applied against thebase edge 302 and towards the second hangingchad 300. - According to various embodiments, the
tear initiator 50 andgrip assisters 100 are configured to enable a user to manually initiate and manually propagate a tear along the end-seal bag 10 in order to open thebag 10 and remove a product contained therein. As described above, each of thegrip assisters 100 includes acurvilinear cut 102 in theskirt 32.Figure 5 shows one of the grip assisters 100 with its hangingchads skirt 32. As shown inFigure 5 , thecurvilinear cut 102 defines anopening 110 in theskirt 32, which exists between the first hangingchad 200 and second hangingchad 300. - Each
grip assister 100 is configured such that itsopening 110 is large enough for an adult finger to fit through. When an adult finger is inserted through theopening 110, thehanging chads Figure 5 . As shown inFigure 5 , the first hangingchad 200 bends upward about itsbase edge 202, while the second hangingchad 300 bends upward about itsbase edge 302. As discussed earlier herein, in the illustrated embodiment, eachgrip assister 100 comprises a first grip assister defined on the first lay-flat side 12 of theskirt 32, and a second grip assister defined on the second lay-flat side 14 of theskirt 32. As shown inFigure 5 , both the first lay-flat side 12 and second lay-flat side 14 of the grip assister'schads Figure 5 , the curvilinear shape of the grip assister'scut 102 results in alarger opening 110 than a straight, linear cut would provide. This makes it easier for a user to insert a finger through thegrip assister 100. -
Figure 6 shows the end-seal bag 10 with a product 120 (e.g., a cut of meat) sealed therein. In particular, theproduct 120 has been disposed within the bag's enclosure 19 (e.g., via theopening 22 at the bag'sbottom edge 20 shown inFigure 1 ). In addition, a packer's seal 122 (e.g., a heat seal) has been applied proximate the bag'sbottom edge 20 to fully seal theproduct 120 within thebag 10. Furthermore, thebag 10 has been heat-shrunk around theproduct 120. To open the end-seal bag 10 shown inFigure 6 , a user may insert at least one finger through each of the grip assisters 100 and pull the grip assisters 100 away from one another (e.g., by pulling eachgrip assister 100 in a direction away from thetear initiator 50 and in a direction generally perpendicular to the tear initiator 50). This action applies a force to the tear initiator's longitudinally alignedslits 52 that initiates a tear in the direction of the longitudinally aligned slits 52. To propagate the tear along the end-seal bag 10, a user can continue pulling the grip assisters 100 away from one another. This causes the tear to propagate through the bag'send seal 31 and continue along thebag 10. - As shown in
Figure 6 , atear 130 has been initiated and propagated along a portion of thebag 10. Referring back toFigure 3 , the tear initiator'sslits 52 are generally aligned in the bag's longitudinal direction in the illustrated embodiment. As such, inFigure 6 , thetear 130 has propagated longitudinally along the length thebag 10. In the illustrated embodiment, this longitudinal direction is also the machine direction of the bag's plastic film. In addition, as thetear initiator 50 andgrip assisters 100 are defined on both lay-flat sides bag 10, thetear 130 has initiated and propagated along both lay-flat sides bag 10 is sufficiently opened or torn entirely in half, the user can easily remove theproduct 120 from thebag 10. - During the aforementioned opening process, each of the user's fingers will apply a force to the
skirt 32 proximate thebase edge 302 of a respective grip assister 100 (shown inFig. 5 ). In particular, the user's finger will pull thebase edge 302 in a direction away from the first hangingchad 200. Referring back toFigure 5 , the force generated by this action can result in stress concentration points 61, 62 generated near the widest points of thecurvilinear cut 102 on the skirt 32 (e.g., the points along the edge of thecut 102 on theskirt 32 corresponding to thewidest points outer lobes 204, 206). In order for the grip assisters 100 to be most effective, it is important to prevent theskirt 32 from tearing in response to these stress concentrations as the bag is opened, as this can result in a stress gradient. If the stress gradient is such that the stress at theends cut 102 is greater than the tear propagation limit of the material, then theskirt 32 will tear. - To prevent such tearing, as described above in relation to
Figures 4A and 4B , theends curvilinear cut 102 are positioned distances D1, D2 inward from the lobes'widest points bag 10 are concentrated away from the ends of the cuts and, instead, on the cut's rounded edges (e.g., the edges of the cut corresponding to therounded edges grip assister 100 in this way, the grip assister's resistance to tearing on theskirt 32 is improved and thegrip assisters 100 are prevented from being torn out of the end-seal bag 10. - In addition, during the aforementioned opening process, a user will typically insert an index finger through the grip assister's
opening 110 and pinch the index finger with a thumb in order to grip thegrip assister 100. In the illustrated embodiment ofFigures 1-6 , the second hanging chad's recessedportion 220 reduces the likelihood that the second hangingchad 200 will be inadvertently pinched between a user's fingers by reducing the length of thechad 200 in the area where that is most likely to occur. By reducing the likelihood that thechad 200 will be pinched between the user's fingers, the likelihood that the second hangingchad 200 will be inadvertently torn off is also reduced. - Furthermore, even where the second hanging
chad 200 is inadvertently pinched and pulled away from itsbase edge 202, thechad 200 is dimensioned to resist being torn off of theskirt 32. For example, the second hanging chad's base width W1 is relatively wide and provides a greater contact area between thechad 200 andskirt 32 than a chad having a narrower base width. By increasing the contact area between the second hangingchad 200 and theskirt 32, thechad 200 is made more resistant to being torn off of theskirt 32 when it is inadvertently pulled. As a result, the end-seal bag 10 having the grip assisters 100 can be opened without generating loose plastic pieces that may fall into thebag 10 and contaminate theproduct 120. - According to various embodiments, the
grip assisters 100 are also capable of being used with a machine configured for opening packaging articles. For example, certain machines may include components (e.g., rods) that are inserted through the grip assisters 100 and pulled away from one another in order to automatically open the end-seal bag 10. Accordingly, it will be understood that thetear initiator 50 andgrip assisters 100 can be used by an automated machine to initiate and propagate a tear in the end-seal bag 10. - As will be appreciated from the description herein, the end-
seal bag 10 shown and described inFigures 1-6 represents only one embodiment of the present invention. For example, thetear initiator 50 andgrip assisters 100 described in relation to the end-seal bag 10 may be provided on various types of bags and in various orientations. For example,Figure 7A illustrates thetear initiator 50 andgrip assisters 100 provided on a side-seal bag 710. In the illustrated embodiment ofFigure 7A , thetear initiator 50 andgrip assisters 100 are positioned on a skirt defined on the sides of thebag 710 and are configured to initiate a tear in the machine direction of the bag's plastic film. - As further examples,
Figure 7B illustrates aU-seal bag 720 andFigure 7C illustrates an L-seal bag 730. In bothbags tear initiator 50 andgrip assisters 100 may be defined on a skirt located on the side of thebags bags bags tear initiator 50 andgrip assisters 100 may be configured to initiate a tear in either the machine direction or the transverse direction of the plastic film. As yet another example,Figure 7D illustrates a back-seamedbag 740 having a fin seal. In the illustrated embodiment, thetear initiator 50 andgrip assisters 100 can be provided on a skirt proximate the bag's fin seal or bottom seal. As yet another example,Figure 7E illustrates a back-seamedbag 750 having a lap seal. In the illustrated embodiment, thetear initiator 50 andgrip assisters 100 can be provided on the skirt proximate the bag's lap seal or bottom seal. In particular, a tear generated from atear initiator 50 positioned on a skirt extending outwardly from the back-seamed bag's 740 fin seal, or the back-seamed bag's 750 flap seal, could propagate from the skirt, through the fin seal / lap seal, and thereafter propagate as two tears in opposite directions around thebag tear initiator 50 and pair ofgrip assisters 100 may be provided at more than one location on one or more skirts of a particular bag to enable a user to tear the bag open in more than direction. - Furthermore, as will be appreciated from the description herein, the
grip assister 100 shown and described inFigures 1-6 represents only one embodiment of a grip assister suitable for use with the end-seal bag 10. For example, in certainconfigurations, a grip assister may define a single hanging chad which does not have a recessed portion and which is not covered by the claims, whereinFigure 8A shows agrip assister 500 according to suchconfiguration. In the illustrateddesign, thegrip assister 500 is defined by acurvilinear cut 502 forming a single hangingchad 501. The curvilinear cut has ends 504, 506 forming abase edge 507 therebetween. The hangingchad 501 includes a pair ofouter lobes outer lobes outer lobes rounded edge Figure 8A , theends curvilinear cut 502 are positioned inward of the widest points of theouter lobes - In variousdesigns, the hanging
chad 501 can have the same base width, full width, and length dimensions described above in relation to the first hangingchad 200. As such, thegrip assister 500 retains many of the advantageous properties of thegrip assister 100. For example, as the ends 504,506 of thecurvilinear cut 502 defining thehanging chad 501 are positioned inward of the chad's widest edges, thecurvilinear cut 502 will be resistant to generating a tear in theskirt 32. Likewise, as thechad 501 has awide base edge 507 and relatively short length, thechad 501 will be less likely to be inadvertently pinched by a user and, even if it is, will be resistant to tearing off of theskirt 32. -
Figure 8B shows further agrip assister 600 not covered by the claims. In the illustrateddesign, thegrip assister 600 is defined by acurvilinear cut 602 forming a single hangingchad 601. The curvilinear cut has ends 604, 606 forming abase edge 607 therebetween. The hangingchad 601 includes a pair ofouter lobes medial edge 620 joining theouter lobes outer lobes rounded edge Figure 8B , the dimensions of thehanging chad 601 are substantially similar to those of thehanging chad 501, with the exception of thechad 601's curvedmedial edge 620. As such, thegrip assister 600 would also retain many of the advantageous properties of thegrip assister 100 for the reasons discussed in relation to thegrip assister 500. - The dimensions of the various grip assisters described herein (e.g., the grip assisters 100) represent certain embodiments of the present invention. As will be appreciated from the description herein, the grip assisters provided in other dimensions and configured to perform as described herein are within the scope of the present invention.
- Many modifications and other embodiments of the inventions set forth herein will come to mind to one skilled in the art to which these inventions pertain having the benefit of the teachings presented in the foregoing descriptions and the associated drawings. Therefore, it is to be understood that the inventions are not to be limited to the specific embodiments disclosed and that modifications and other embodiments are intended to be included within the scope of the appended claims. Although specific terms are employed herein, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation.
Claims (14)
- A flexible packaging article comprising:a plastic film (12, 14) formed into an enclosure for receiving a product and defining at least one openable portion;at least one seal (31) closing the openable portion of the enclosure;at least one article skirt (32) comprising a portion of plastic film extending outwardly from the seal and opposite the enclosure;at least one tear initiator (50) defined on the skirt, the at least one tear initiator being configured for initiating one or more manually-propagated tears capable of being propagated through the seal (31) to open at least the openable portion of the enclosure; andone or more grip assisters (100) defined on the skirt and configured for assisting grip of the plastic film during manual tearing, the one or more grip assisters comprising at least one cut (102) in the skirt (32) defining an opening and a first hanging chad (200) on a first side of the cut, wherein said cut (102) further defines:a second hanging chad (300) on a second side of the cut,characterized in thatwherein the first hanging chad (200) comprises at least a pair of projected portions (204, 206) and a recessed portion (220) in between the pair of projected portions, and wherein the second hanging chad (300) comprises at least one projected portion (304) aligned with the first hanging chad's (200) recessed portion (220),the first hanging chad's (200) pair of projected portions (204, 206) extend away from the at least one tear initiator (50) and in a direction that is generally perpendicular to the tear initiator (50), andthe second hanging chad's (300) projected portion (304) extends toward the tear initiator (50) and in a direction that is generally perpendicular to the tear initiator (50).
- The flexible packaging article of Claim 1, wherein each of the one or more grip assisters (100) is defined by a single cut (102) in the skirt.
- The flexible packaging article of Claim 1, wherein the first hanging chad's (200) pair of projected portions comprise a first outer lobe (204) having a substantially convex rounded edge and a second outer lobe (206) having a substantially convex rounded edge.
- The flexible packaging article of Claim 3, wherein the first hanging chad's (200) recessed portion (220) includes a substantially concave rounded edge; and
wherein the second hanging chad's (300) projected portion comprises a medial lobe(304) having a substantially convex rounded edge. - The flexible packaging article of Claim 4, wherein the first outer lobe (204) has a length of 8.6 mm (0.34 inch) and the second lobe (206) has a length of 8.6 mm (0.34 inch).
- The flexible packaging article of Claim 5, wherein the radius of curvature of the first outer lobe's (204) substantially convex rounded edge, the radius of curvature of the second outer lobe's (206) substantially convex outer edge, and the radius of curvature of the medial lobe's (304) substantially convex outer edge are between 3.0 mm and 5.1 mm (0.12 inches and 0.20 inches).
- The flexible packaging article of Claim 1, wherein the ratio of the first hanging chad's (200) base width (W1) to its full width (W2) is between 0.881:1 and 0.75:1.
- The flexible packaging article of Claim 1, wherein the length (L1, L2) of the first hanging chad (200) is between 7.6 mm and 9.6 mm (0.3 and 0.38 inches).
- The flexible packaging article of Claim 1, wherein the opening defined by the at least one cut (102) is sufficiently large to enable an adult human finger to extend through the opening.
- The flexible packaging article of Claim 1, wherein the at least one tear initiator (50) comprises one or more longitudinally aligned slits (52), the one or more slits (52) being configured for generating the manually-initiated, manually-propagated tear in a machine direction along the packaging article.
- The flexible packaging article of Claim 1, wherein the at least one tear initiator (50) comprises one or more longitudinally aligned slits (52), the one or more slits (52) being configured for generating the manually-initiated, manually-propagated tear in a transverse direction along the packaging article.
- The flexible packaging article of Claim 1, wherein the one or more grip assisters comprise a first grip assister (100) and a second grip assister (100), the first grip assister (100) being spaced from the tear initiator (50) and positioned on a first side of the tear initiator (50), and the second grip assister (100) being spaced from the tear initiator (50) and positioned on a second side, opposite to the first side, of the tear initiator (50).
- The flexible packaging article of Claim 1, wherein the packaging article has a first side (12) and a second side (14), the first side of the article being sealed to the second side of the article at the at least one seal (31);
wherein the at least one tear initiator (50) comprises a first-side tear initiator defined on the first side of the article and a second-side tear initiator defined on the second side of the article, the first-side and second-side tear initiators being aligned with one another; wherein each of the one or more grip assisters (100) comprises a pair of grip assisters aligned with one another, each grip assister pair comprising a first-side grip assister defined on the first side of the article and a second-side grip assister defined on the second side of the article,
wherein the at least one seal (31) comprises a heat seal, or
wherein the plastic film is a heat-shrinkable multilayer film. - The flexible packaging article of Claim 1, wherein the packaging article is a lay-flat, end-seal bag and the plastic film comprises seamless plastic film tubing, or
wherein the packaging article is a lay-flat, side-seal bag and the plastic film comprises seamless plastic film tubing.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US13/247,747 US20130077899A1 (en) | 2011-09-28 | 2011-09-28 | Easy opening packaging article |
PCT/US2012/057052 WO2013049023A1 (en) | 2011-09-28 | 2012-09-25 | Easy opening packaging article |
Publications (2)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
EP2760756A1 EP2760756A1 (en) | 2014-08-06 |
EP2760756B1 true EP2760756B1 (en) | 2018-01-24 |
Family
ID=47076386
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
EP12778514.5A Not-in-force EP2760756B1 (en) | 2011-09-28 | 2012-09-25 | Easy opening packaging article |
Country Status (7)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (1) | US20130077899A1 (en) |
EP (1) | EP2760756B1 (en) |
AU (2) | AU2012316281A1 (en) |
BR (1) | BR112014007281B1 (en) |
ES (1) | ES2667017T3 (en) |
MX (1) | MX2014003665A (en) |
WO (1) | WO2013049023A1 (en) |
Families Citing this family (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US20140231493A1 (en) * | 2013-02-15 | 2014-08-21 | Delkor Systems, Inc. | Package Assembly with Tear Away Film and Manufacturing System |
WO2015027072A1 (en) * | 2013-08-23 | 2015-02-26 | Winpak Films, Inc. | Easy tear packaging |
JP7156773B2 (en) | 2016-04-14 | 2022-10-19 | 東洋製罐株式会社 | flexible packaging bag |
Citations (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
JPS57202943U (en) * | 1981-06-22 | 1982-12-24 | ||
WO1994015847A1 (en) * | 1993-01-14 | 1994-07-21 | Dematteis Robert B | Plastic bags and handle construction for plastic bags |
US6065871A (en) * | 1999-03-04 | 2000-05-23 | Rex International Incorporated | Bag with tear-resistant handle |
Family Cites Families (14)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US3339820A (en) * | 1965-08-18 | 1967-09-05 | Milprint Inc | Closure for the outer carrier in a combination package |
US4846587A (en) * | 1988-09-30 | 1989-07-11 | The Proctor & Gamble Company | Flaccid bag having improved integrally formed carrying handle |
DE4028508C2 (en) * | 1990-09-07 | 1994-01-20 | Sengewald Karl H Gmbh | Pack, in particular for compressible packaged goods |
US5593229A (en) * | 1995-07-10 | 1997-01-14 | Rex-Rosenlew International Corporation | Heavy duty bag with easily-removable corner for pouring |
US5558438A (en) * | 1995-07-10 | 1996-09-24 | Rex-Rosenlew International Incorporated | Bag with reenforced handle and resealable pour spout opening |
JP3462879B2 (en) * | 1996-09-06 | 2003-11-05 | ローマン ゲーエムベーハー ウンド コー. カーゲー | Bag-like tear-open package for quick removal of packaged items |
US6402379B1 (en) * | 2001-05-16 | 2002-06-11 | Rex International Incorporated | Bag with arcuate-transition tear line |
US8104959B2 (en) * | 2003-09-09 | 2012-01-31 | Cargill, Incorporated | Multi-handled sealed bag |
US7716901B2 (en) * | 2004-05-27 | 2010-05-18 | Price Charles E | Packaging for particulate and granular materials |
DE202007002960U1 (en) * | 2007-02-28 | 2007-09-13 | Sca Hygiene Products Gmbh | Packaging for hygiene products |
US9561889B2 (en) * | 2007-05-21 | 2017-02-07 | Cryovac, Inc. | Easy opening packaging article made from heat-shrinkable film exhibiting directional tear |
US10202229B2 (en) | 2007-05-21 | 2019-02-12 | Cryovac, Inc. | Easy opening packaging article made from heat-shrinkable film exhibiting directional tear |
WO2010059887A1 (en) * | 2008-11-20 | 2010-05-27 | Cryovac, Inc. | Easy opening packaging article made from heat-shrinkable film exhibiting directional tear |
JP4891371B2 (en) * | 2009-07-22 | 2012-03-07 | 伊丹産業株式会社 | Rice bag |
-
2011
- 2011-09-28 US US13/247,747 patent/US20130077899A1/en not_active Abandoned
-
2012
- 2012-09-25 EP EP12778514.5A patent/EP2760756B1/en not_active Not-in-force
- 2012-09-25 WO PCT/US2012/057052 patent/WO2013049023A1/en active Application Filing
- 2012-09-25 AU AU2012316281A patent/AU2012316281A1/en not_active Abandoned
- 2012-09-25 BR BR112014007281-7A patent/BR112014007281B1/en not_active IP Right Cessation
- 2012-09-25 ES ES12778514.5T patent/ES2667017T3/en active Active
- 2012-09-25 MX MX2014003665A patent/MX2014003665A/en not_active Application Discontinuation
-
2017
- 2017-04-03 AU AU2017202193A patent/AU2017202193A1/en not_active Abandoned
Patent Citations (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
JPS57202943U (en) * | 1981-06-22 | 1982-12-24 | ||
WO1994015847A1 (en) * | 1993-01-14 | 1994-07-21 | Dematteis Robert B | Plastic bags and handle construction for plastic bags |
US6065871A (en) * | 1999-03-04 | 2000-05-23 | Rex International Incorporated | Bag with tear-resistant handle |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
EP2760756A1 (en) | 2014-08-06 |
US20130077899A1 (en) | 2013-03-28 |
WO2013049023A1 (en) | 2013-04-04 |
BR112014007281B1 (en) | 2020-09-29 |
AU2012316281A1 (en) | 2014-04-17 |
AU2017202193A1 (en) | 2017-04-20 |
BR112014007281A2 (en) | 2017-03-28 |
MX2014003665A (en) | 2014-05-14 |
NZ622262A (en) | 2016-07-29 |
ES2667017T3 (en) | 2018-05-09 |
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