ES2632453T3 - Resealable container with segmented opening - Google Patents

Abstract

A package (5, 25) comprising: a flexible film (10, 210) having at least a first and second layer (12, 14, 212, 214) of film and a resealable adhesive (16) disposed between the first and second layer (12, 14, 212, 214) of film, the flexible film (10, 210) defining an upper part of the container (5, 25); a tray (246) having a lower part, at least one side, and an upper flange (237) in which the second layer (14, 214) of film adheres to an upper surface thereof to seal a food product (6, 206) within it; characterized in that the flexible film (10, 210) has a plurality of second incisions (44a, 44b, 244a, 244b) of layer formed in the second layer (14, 214) of film to define an opening (38, 238) of segmented container, the plurality of incisions includes at least a first incision (44a, 244a) and a second incision (44b, 244b), the first incision (44a, 244a) being a closed loop that forms a flap that rises upwards to exposing a part of the segmented opening and the second incision (44b, 244b) having a pair of ends that end in a tear inhibition feature; the first film layer (12, 212) having a sealing panel (40, 240) that is releasable from the second layer (14, 214) of film to expose the segmented container opening (38, 238); at least one transverse link (34, 234) that extends along the segmented container opening (38, 238) from a first side of the segmented container opening (38, 238) to a second side and arranged between said first incision (44a, 244a) and second incision (44b, 244b), wherein said transverse link (34, 234) is composed of parts of the second layer (14, 214) of film defined by the second incisions ( 12, 14, 212, 214) of the layer such that the first end of the transverse link (34, 234) is formed integrally with the first side of the segmented container opening (38, 238) and the second end of the transverse link (34, 234) is fully formed with the second side of the segmented container opening (38, 238); and wherein the first incision (44a, 244a) of the second layer incisions is arranged adjacent to a tongue (8, 208) for pulling up to open the container (5, 25) and the second incision (44b, 244b ) of the second layer incisions is disposed adjacent to one end of the sealing panel (40, 240) opposite the tongue (8, 208) for pulling.

Description

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description

Resealable container with segmented opening Campo teonioo

This description refers, in general, to a flexible package and, in particular, to flexible packages having resealable openings.

Anteoedentes

Flexible film containers are known in the art for storage and transport of products. These flexible film containers can provide a lightweight container with airtight closure. A partially or substantially airtight closure makes such flexible film containers particularly useful for storing a variety of food products, including, for example, crackers, chewing gum, chocolate, cookies, cheese sandwiches, biscuits, candies, meat products and dried fruits and vegetables. In addition, such flexible film packages can be used for non-food applications such as industrial, medical or pharmaceutical packaging applications. Depending on the product, some of these flexible film containers may also contain structural supports, such as a frame or tray, while others only contain the product to be packaged.

A type of flexible film container is formed from a single network of material that is formed or wrapped around the product. These types of packages can be formed by wrapping or wrapping the product with the material network and forming a longitudinal closure, such as a flap, bottom or flap closure with two edge portions of the material network. A pair of end closures can then be formed in the net to form the containers. In other embodiments, the packages can be formed from more than a single network of material and with at least one side closure. Because these types of containers can provide hermetically sealed enclosures, they are suitable for packaging food products.

Flexible film containers have many advantages over other containers. For example, flexible film packages can be manufactured at substantially lower costs than many completely rigid containers and can be substantially lighter in weight, resulting in reduced transport costs. Furthermore, since they are mainly formed by flexible film, such containers do not need the same amount of storage space that rigid containers mainly need.

Although packaging is highly recommended for packaging and transportation, consumers sometimes have difficulty resealing the openings of the packaging, especially if the package has a large opening, if the film is not wrapped tightly around the contents or other structural support, or if the structural support or the content is not oriented to provide a resealing surface of support under the sealing area.

US-2009/178945 describes a food container with a stratified operculum that can be sealed to a tray, and the opercle has layers adhered with a pressure sensitive adhesive, a pull tab and a tamper-proof mechanism placed in a stratified opercle end.

Summary

Flexible film packages are provided having a resealable opening as defined in claim 1. The package is formed by a flexible film with at least a first film layer and a second film layer with a resealable adhesive disposed between at least parts of the first and second layer of film. The flexible film defines at least a part of an interior cavity in which the contents, such as specific food items, can be stored and a container opening that gives access to the specific food items. The opening of the container is a segmented opening with a plurality of opening windows separated by transverse links extending between opposite sides of the opening to improve the reseability of the container.

As used herein, a segmented container opening has at least two adjacent opening windows. These are separated by a part of the second film layer, such as a transverse link. In such a configuration, a single sealing panel can selectively cover at least two opening windows that give the user access to the interior of the flexible film container. Flexible film containers with such configuration show an improved resealing capacity. In addition, the transverse links help to maintain the size of the opening so that it does not widen too much or bends outwardly at its sides, especially during the resealing of the container. If the package has an aligned reinforcement structure, the resealing feature can be further improved by having a support surface against which the user can press to reseal the sealing panel with a remainder of the package.

In addition to improving the resealing capacity of the container, the segmented opening can help consumers with portion control. More particularly, the sealing panel and the segmented container opening allows

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that the contents are exposed sequentially as the sealing panel is raised to expose the opening windows sequentially. As further detailed below, a reinforcing structure within the package can also help with sequential exposure or access to the contents of the package.

According to one approach, the flexible film has a first pair of edge parts that form a first end closure, a second pair of edge parts that form a second end closure and a third pair of edge parts that form a longitudinal closure. which extends from the first end closure to the second end closure. As used herein, a longitudinal closure may include a flap closure with edges in the film superimposing one on top of the other or a flap closure with the inner parts of the third pair of edge portions sealed together. In other approaches, the flexible film may have a number of side closures. Be it end closures, side closures or longitudinal closures, the closures formed in the flexible film container can have at least a partial initial seal to provide at least a partial barrier against the ambient atmosphere. More particularly, to extend the shelf life of the products contained within the flexible film container, the closures that form the package may be airtight or at least partially or substantially airtight. For this, the package may include closures formed by a variety of processes such as, for example, a heat sealing process, a cold sealing process, a low adhesion closure process (which includes those that employ an adhesive or fixative low adhesion), a process of sound waves, and combinations thereof.

To provide the user or consumer with sufficient access to the articles of the flexible film container, a segmented opening is provided. According to one approach, the opening is large enough to provide access to each of the specific food items within the flexible film container once the sealing panel, which covers the segmented opening, is removed and lifted upwards from a rest of the flexible film container. The configuration of the opening may depend, in part, on the configuration of the flexible package and the items therein. In this way, an elongated container can have an elongated opening so that in this way, it offers sufficient access to each of the items within the package.

In one configuration, specific food items are configured so that they are accessed and removed individually through the segmented container opening. According to an approach, a second incision or a series of incisions formed in the second film layer defines the segmented container opening. The segmented container opening may have transverse links that extend along the opening of the container. In one example, the transverse link is formed by parts of the second film layer defined by the series of second incisions. In addition, a first end of the transverse link may have been integrally formed with a first side of the segmented container opening and a second end of the transverse link may have been integrally formed with a second side of the segmented container opening. According to one approach, the resealable adhesive is disposed between the transverse link and the sealing panel when the flexible film container is in the closed configuration. In one configuration, the transverse link has a width in the range of about 1 mm to about 20 mm. In another configuration, the transverse link has a width in the range of about 2 mm to about 5 mm.

In addition, in an illustrative embodiment, the package has a transverse link that forms two opening windows through which the specific food items of the package can be accessed and removed. In another illustrative embodiment, the package has two transverse links arranged along the segmented opening to form three opening windows through which specific food items can be accessed and removed from the package. It is anticipated that numerous transverse links and associated opening windows can be formed in the package.

According to one approach, a first incision in the first film layer forms a sealing panel that is resealable from the second film layer to expose the segmented container opening. As further detailed below, the flexible film container can be shaped in a variety of ways. For example, the sealing label may be a specific label that is applied to the second film layer. In such a configuration, the first incision of the sealing panel creates a specific sealing label that is provided as the sealing panel. In such embodiments, the first and second film layers that make up the flexible film are not coextensive with each other. In other configurations, the flexible film container may be formed by coextensive flexible film layers such that the sealing panel and the segmented container opening are integrated into the container. For example, the first incision may be formed during the manufacture of the package after the first film layer and the second film layer have joined. However, in another approach, the flexible film container has a first film layer with a length or width that is less than the length or width of the second associated film layer, and the other of the length or width is substantially coextensive with the second layer of film.

To allow the user to have easy access to the contents, such as specific food items, within the flexible film package, the sealing panel may have a gripping part such as a pull tab. Also, to prevent unauthorized opening of the package, the package may also include a feature of integrity of the package that provides the consumer or user with an indication of when the package has been previously opened.

As discussed herein, a resealable adhesive may include any adhesive or cohesive that provides the resealing or re-adhesion of the first and second film layers to each other after the package

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It has been opened. According to one approach, the resealable adhesive can be disposed throughout the area between the first and second film layers. In other configurations, the resealable adhesive is disposed only in some areas between the first and second film layers such that the resealable adhesive can be coated with pulsation or patterned. Depending on the shaped container, the pattern application process may only have resealable adhesive, or it may have permanent adhesive in addition to the resealable adhesive.

In one approach, the pressure sensitive or resealable adhesive is neutral and not reactive with the product to be packaged. For example, the pressure sensitive or resealable adhesive may include a cold formed adhesive, a hot melt adhesive, a cold seal adhesive, a natural or synthetic latex adhesive, a low adhesion adhesive, vinyl ethylene acetate (EVA), an acrylic adhesive (such as a solvent-based or water-based acrylic adhesive), a styrene block copolymer adhesive, a butyl rubber adhesive, a silicone rubber adhesive, a natural rubber adhesive, a nitrile adhesive, an acrylic emulsion adhesive, a water based acrylic adhesive and combinations thereof. In addition, the pressure sensitive or resealable adhesive can be extruded, coextruded, printed or a combination thereof.

As described herein, the incisions can be mechanical or laser marked incisions shaped in a variety of ways or processes.

According to one approach, a laminate for the production of flexible film packages includes a flexible film network having a network thickness, a network width and a longitudinal axis, where the network has at least a first and second film layer. with a resealable adhesive disposed between at least the parts of the first and second film layers. In one aspect, the flexible film network is configured to be formed in a series of packages or parts of a series of packages in which each package includes a first incision in the first film layer to form a sealing panel that is resealable from the second film layer to expose a segmented container opening and a series of series of second incisions in the second film layer to form the segmented container opening. In this way, a repetitive pattern is arranged in the first and second layer of the network movie. In another aspect, the flexible film network is configured to be formed in a series of packages or parts thereof in which each package includes a second film layer with incisions therein defining a segmented container opening and a panel of sealed arranged on the part of the second layer that has the incisions formed in it.

In an illustrative embodiment, the package includes a container opening tab created in the laminate. According to one approach, a first film layer has a width that is less than the width of the second film layer. However, according to another approach, the first and second film layers have the same width such that the film layers are substantially coextensive with each other.

Flexible film packages can have a variety of configurations, including, for example, a bag, a sack, a rectilinear shape, a cylindrical shape similar to a wrapper and a column shape, among others. According to one approach, the configuration and shape of the package are mainly influenced by the products contained within the package, in part, due to the flexibility of the flexible film laminate. However, according to another approach, the configuration of the package is mainly influenced by the structure within the package such as an internal reinforcement structure or a structure that forms an external part of the package.

In some configurations, such a reinforcing structure may include a semi-rigid frame or tray, a rigid frame or tray, a cardboard frame or tray or any other support structure contained within the package in addition to the product or food item. In an illustrative embodiment, the reinforcing structure includes an upper flange that provides a resealing surface on which the consumer can push to reseal the sealing panel against the second film layer. However, in another embodiment, the reinforcing structure does not provide such a resealing surface. In addition, in some configurations, the configuration and shape of the package will be influenced by both the food product contained within the package and the internal reinforcement structure.

Flexible film containers can be produced in a number of ways. For example, flexible film packages can be formed around the food product or they can be totally or partially shaped and then filled with the food products. In addition, it is anticipated that flexible film packages can be formed in line just before the food product is packaged or conformed around the food product. In some applications, it may be desirable to form the flexible film laminate or even the flexible film container completely offline long before the products are packaged.

According to the invention, the flexible film container has a tray with an upper surface or a flange on which the flexible film adheres directly to form the interior of the container. The flexible film has a series of incisions that make up the segmented container opening and a sealing panel disposed on the segmented container opening. The segmented container opening also has transverse links that extend along the opening. It is anticipated that such various flexible film containers may be formed together and such containers may have a line of weakness, such as a perforation line or a grooved line, which can be used to separate the packages. In this way, the weakness line allows the trays and the flexible film of the adjacent containers to be easily separated from each other. In configurations in

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that the flexible film is adhered to an upper surface of a tray, the first film layer of the flexible film may include a specific label, may be coextensive with the second film layer, or may have a length or width less than the length or width of the second layer of associated film.

According to another approach, the tray can form separate container compartments for the food content. A line of weakness, such as a perforation line or a grooved line, can be extended through the tray, so that a consumer or user can remove one of the individual compartments from the rest of the package. In such a configuration, the entire sealing panel can remain attached to the rest of the package such that the sealing panel can be wrapped around at least a portion of the remaining compartments. In this way, a consumer can remove the empty compartments from the rest of the package before storing the container.

In another configuration, the flexible film package may include a tray with a single layer or film attached to the flange. In such a configuration, the sealing panel may have at least one line of weakness disposed therein and multiple tabs to pull. In addition, the tray can have at least two compartments with a wall and a flange attached to the upper end of the wall. The compartments can be attached to their flanges where a line of weakness can be arranged in the tray. The line of weakness of the panel and the line of weakness of the tray can be arranged adjacent to each other and also can be linear or can include an arcuate part.

Brief desoripoion of the drawings

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a flexible package according to a first illustrative embodiment;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the flexible container of Fig. 1 in a partially open configuration;

a Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the flexible container of Fig. 2 in an additional open configuration;

Fig. 4 is a schematic top view of a segment of a configurable laminate to form the container of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the flexible container of Fig. 1 taken along line 5-5.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a flexible package according to a second illustrative embodiment;

Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the flexible container of Fig. 6 taken along line 7-7;

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of an alternative flexible package according to a third illustrative embodiment;

Fig. 9 is a perspective view of the flexible container of Fig. 8 in a partially open configuration;

Fig. 10 is a schematic top view of a segment of a configurable laminate to form the container of Fig. 8;

Fig. 11 is a perspective view of a flexible package according to a fourth illustrative embodiment;

Fig. 12 is a perspective view of the flexible container of Fig. 11 in a partially open configuration;

Fig. 13 is a schematic top view of a segment of a configurable laminate to form the container of Fig. 11;

Fig. 14 is a perspective view of a flexible package according to a fifth illustrative embodiment;

Fig. 15 is a perspective view of the flexible container of Fig. 14 with additional flexible film containers arranged adjacent thereto;

Fig. 16 is a perspective view of a flexible package according to a sixth illustrative embodiment;

Fig. 17 is a perspective view of the flexible container of Fig. 16 in a partially open configuration;

Fig. 18 is a perspective view of a flexible package according to a seventh illustrative embodiment;

Fig. 19 is a perspective view of the flexible container of Fig. 18 in an additional open configuration;

Fig. 20 is a bottom view of a part of the flexible film container of Fig. 19;

Fig. 21 is a perspective view of a flexible package according to an eighth illustrative embodiment;

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Fig. 22 is a perspective view of the container of Fig. 20 in a further open configuration; Fig. 23 is a perspective view of a flexible package according to a ninth illustrative embodiment.

Detailed desoripoion

Referring now to the illustrations, and in particular to Fig. 1, an illustrative flexible film container 5 is described. The flexible film container 5 is formed from a flexible film laminate 10 (see, eg, Fig. 4) and includes a first film layer 12 and a second film layer 14. A pressure sensitive adhesive or resealable adhesive 16 (see, eg, Fig. 2) is disposed between portions of the first film layer 12 and the second film layer 14. In the configuration of Figs. 1-4, the resealable adhesive 16 is continuously disposed between the first and second film layers 12, 14, except for the part that becomes the opening feature or tongue 8 for pulling.

The flexible film laminate 10 can be formed into a series of flexible film containers 5 having interior cavities 18 and a set of container closures. As indicated above, a variety of different container configurations can be formed. In the illustrative embodiment of Fig. 1 the container has a cylindrical shape or a wrapper configuration. For example, the flexible film package 5 includes a first pair of edge portions 20 that are formed in a first end closure 22, a second pair of edge portions 24 that become a second end closure 26 and a third pair of edge portions 28 that are formed in a longitudinal closure 30 (Fig. 5). The flexible film laminate is wrapped around the product or content (possibly next to a reinforcing structure) or can be configured to form an inner cavity to subsequently receive the product. The third edge parts 28 are joined and sealed together to thereby form a part of an inner cavity that is completely sealed once the end closures 22 and 26 are formed in the laminate 10 of flexible film. The inner cavity may contain a food product 6, such as specific food items, or other consumer products. As shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the food products 6 disposed within the flexible film container 5 are accessible through a segmented container opening 38 which is arranged in the front part of the container between the end closures 22, 26.

A sealing panel 40 is disposed on the segmented container opening 38. In one configuration, the sealing panel 40 is defined by a first incision 42 in the first film layer 12. The illustrative example of the package 5 has a specific label 41 that provides the sealing panel 40, which has been shaped by the first incision 42 before the application of the specific label 41 to the second film layer 14. More particularly, the sealing panel 40 may be a specific label 41 cut from a part of the first film layer 12 and this may occur before the closure of the container is created. In one approach, the specific tag 41 can be provided on a substrate that is removed before or after the application of the specific tag 41 on the second layer 14 of the film.

Segmented container opening 38 includes a plurality of opening windows 32 with a transverse link 34 disposed therebetween. The opening windows 32a, 32b, 32c are defined by a second incision 44 arranged in the second film layer 14. As shown in Fig. 1, the second incision 44 may comprise a plurality of different incisions 44a, 44b, 44c, formed in the second film layer 14 to create a plurality of opening windows 32a, 32b, 32c. The second incisions 44 may form flaps 48 in the second film layer 14 which are lifted from the rest of the second film layer 14 when the sealing panel 40 is raised to expose the opening windows 32 of the segmented container opening 40 .

The segmented container opening 38 has a plurality of flaps 48a, 48b, 48c that are raised, at least partially, from the second film layer 14 to expose the opening windows 32a, 32b, 32c. In one configuration, two of these flaps 48a, 48b are formed from second incisions 44a, 44b which are closed loops to form specific panels that can be lifted completely from the rest of the second film layer 14. In Fig. 1, one of the second incisions 44c is not a closed loop, but instead has ends where each forms a hook, which inhibits the tear propagation and helps keep the sealing panel 40 attached to the rest of the package 5. In addition, this creates a flap 48c that cannot be completely disconnected from the rest of the second film layer 14.

In a second configuration, illustrated in Fig. 6, a container 35 similar to container 5 is shown. While Fig. 1 includes a second incision 44c having a first and second ends with a hook, the second incision 344c in the Fig. 6 has no end and forms a closed loop. In this way, the flap 348c formed by the second incision 344c can be easily disconnected from the rest of the second film layer 314. In this configuration, if a user or consumer has to consume all the food product inside the container 35, so that the consumer is not interested in easily resealing the container, the consumer may want to completely remove the sealing panel 340 (composed of the specific label 341) of the rest of the container 35. Thus, in such configuration each of the flaps 348a, 348b, 348c, formed by the second incisions 344a, 344b, 344c respectively, can easily be removed from the rest of the the second film layer 314 so that the sealing panel 340 is easy to remove from the container 35. Fig. 7 shows a cross section of the container of Fig. 6 with the

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second layer 314 of the flexible film wrapped around the food product 36 and the sealing panel 340 disposed on the flap 348b formed by the second incisions 344b.

Returning to Fig. 1, the second incisions 44a, 44b, 44c formed in the second film layer 14 also define the transverse links 34. The transverse links 34 are narrow portions of the second film layer 14 that extend along of segmented container opening 38. The transverse links 34 are relatively narrow and do not interfere with the ability of the consumer to remove any of the food products 6 disposed within the container 5. However, the transverse links 34 are substantially sufficient to withstand the forces associated with the opening and closing of the container 5 and do not tear, break or break during normal and regular opening and closing of the container. The transverse link 34 may extend along the container opening 38 in any direction, including, for example, the machine direction or perpendicular to the machine. In the illustrative embodiment of Fig. 1, a first width of the transverse link is determined by the terrestrial space of the second film layer 14 between the second incisions 44a and 44b and the second width of the transverse link is determined by the terrestrial space of the second film layer 14 between the second incisions 44b and 44c.

In one configuration, the transverse link 34 has a width in the range of about 1 mm to about 20 mm. In another configuration, the transverse link 34 has a width in the range of about 2 mm to about 5 mm.

A first end of the transverse link 34 may have been integrally formed with a first side of the segmented container opening 38 and a second end of the transverse link may have been integrally formed with a second side of the segmented container opening 38. According to one approach, the resealable adhesive 16 is disposed between the transverse link 34 and the sealing panel 40 when the flexible film container 5 is in the closed configuration. The transverse links 34 improve the resealing capacity of the container 5 in a number of ways. First, the transverse links 34 keep the sides of the container opening 38 segmented in a spaced apart relationship, for example, preventing the sides from bending outwardly from each other greatly. Secondly, the resealable adhesive 16 disposed between the transverse links 34 and the sealing label 40 helps to reseal the container opening when the container 5 is in the closed configuration.

To access the content or food product 6 within the flexible film container 6, a user or consumer only needs to expose a portion of the segmented container opening 38. For example, as shown in Fig. 2, in a partially open configuration, a first opening window 32a is open. Such opening stage of the container 5, can be particularly useful for a consumer who needs some help with portion control. In an illustrative embodiment, a portion of specific food items, such as an individual ration, is visible and accessible through each opening window. In this way, the consumer has the satisfaction of eating all the specific food items that can be seen through the opening window. The portion control feature can be further promoted by a reinforcing structure that blocks the visibility of other food products arranged in the rest of the flexible film container 5.

As suggested, one of the opening windows 32 may be arranged adjacent to a portion of the specific food items such that an individual ration of the specific food items is visible and easily accessible through one of the opening windows. These separate opening windows easily indicate to the consumer the amount of specific food items that correspond to a single individual ration. In this way, the package helps consumers with portion control over the food product.

To further assist consumers with portion control, the sealing panel 40 may require a jump or increase in the opening force when the sealing panel 40 is rising beyond each of the flaps 48. As the Sealing panel 40 is lifted from the container, once the separation point has reached the flap 48a, the sealing panel 40 generally becomes easier to lift. This occurs because before this position, the sealing panel 40 is separating from a larger part of the second film layer 14 (along the width of the sealing panel 40), which needs to separate the resealable adhesive 16 of the second film layer 14 along its entire width. Once the location of the flap 48a has been reached, the sealing panel 40 becomes easier to lift because the flap 48a continues with the sealing panel 40, and thus, the area or part of the sealing panel 40 which is separated from the second film layer 14 (along the sides of the flap 48a) is smaller. When the sealing panel 40 has been raised in such a way that the flap 48a is completely separated from the second film layer 14, the sealing panel 40 must be separated from the formed transverse link 34 of the second film layer 14. This separation requires more strength. Thus, at this point, the force necessary to open the container additionally becomes greater due to the resealable adhesive 16 disposed between the transverse link 34 and the sealing panel 40. The increased force necessary to additionally open the container 5 may indicate that the consumer is opening another compartment or opening window and therefore accessing another ration of food items.

In an illustrative example, the package will have a number of opening windows that correspond to the number of portions within the package. In such a configuration, window openings 32 may have the same size. In other configurations, window openings 32 may be of different sizes.

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The flexible film container 5 also includes a reinforcing structure 46. The reinforcing structure 46 may include a semi-rigid frame or tray, a rigid frame or tray, a cardboard frame or tray or any other support structure contained within the package in addition to the food products or items. According to one approach, the reinforcing structure 46 may include a surface such as an upper flange that provides a resealable surface. In one example, the reinforcement structure 46 includes a bottom portion 46a, laterals 46b and one or more reinforcement ribs 46c extending from one side of the reinforcement structure 46 to another side of the reinforcement structure 46. In one configuration, the reinforcement ribs 46c extend along the flexible film container 5 and are arranged below the transverse links 34.

According to one approach, the reinforcing ribs 46c extend sufficiently upwardly from the lower part 46a such that the reinforcing rib 46c can block or prevent access, including visual access, to the food items from the windows 32 of adjacent opening. In such a configuration, the reinforcement structure 46 may have separate compartments in which the food contents 6 are arranged. According to one approach, the reinforcement rib 46c extends from the bottom 46a to more than half the height of the container. In another configuration, the reinforcement rib 46c extends from the lower part 46a towards almost or to the upper part of the flexible film container 5. For example, if the flexible film container 5 is in the partially open configuration such that the sealing panel 40 has been pulled up to expose only an opening window 32a, the user can access and remove the food items 6 specific below the opening window 32a. In addition, in a configuration with raised reinforcing ribs 46c, the consumer can access and view only the specific food items 6 below the opening window 32a and not those arranged below the opening window 32b.

As suggested above, the sealing panel 40 may have a gripping part or a tongue 8 to pull that a user or a consumer can grab to lift the sealing panel 40 and open the flexible film container 5. The pull tab 8 may be shaped in a variety of ways. According to one approach, the pull tab 8 is arranged in an area where the resealable adhesive 16 is not applied (see, eg, Fig. 13). However, in another approach, the pull tab 8 can be formed by applying a damping agent to any resealable adhesive 16 disposed in the area designated as the pull tab 8. In another configuration, a substrate or coating part, such as a cut part of film, paper or other material, is used to cover the resealable adhesive 16 to create a pull tab 8.

To prevent unauthorized access to the food product within the flexible film container 5, an integrity characteristic of the package can be incorporated into the package. A number of different integrity characteristics of the package can be incorporated therein. For example, as shown in Fig. 4, the second incision 44a may include a part that extends inwardly from an edge of the flap 48a such that a strip 52 of material is formed from the second layer 14 of film. Thus, during the opening of the package, the strip 52 of material is stretched and finally cracked or broken to indicate that the package has been previously opened. According to one approach, each of the opening windows of the segmented opening has a feature of integrity of the package incorporated therein.

In a third embodiment, the flexible film container 15 has a first film layer that extends over the entire length of the container, but does not extend over the entire width of the container. The flexible film container 15 is similar to the container 5 described above and the reference characters illustrated in Figs. 8-10 are similar to those used to describe the flexible film container 5 with the addition of a '1' preceding the rest of the numeric references. While the flexible film container 5 provides a specific label 41 as the sealing panel 40, the flexible film container 15 includes a sealing panel 140 from a continuous film layer 43 that is disposed along the entire width of the length of the flexible film container 15. Thus, the flexible film container 15 will have a first film layer 112 that extends less than the full width of the second film layer 114.

According to one approach, the continuous film layer 43 is disposed from the first end closure 122 to the second end closure 126. In addition, the first incision 142, which forms the sealing panel 140, is typically formed after the first film layer 112 and the second film layer 114 are joined together. In an illustrative example, the web of material, or matrix, outside the sealing panel 140 can be pulled up from the container 15 after applying the first film layer 112 to the second film layer 114 and forming the sealing panel 140. Thus, while the embodiment of Fig. 1 has a specific sealing panel 40, the flexible film container 15 of Figs. 8-10 includes a sealing panel 140 formed from a layer or film continuously disposed end-to-end of the flexible film container 15. In other configurations, the continuously disposed layer may extend from one side to one side of the flexible film container. The container 15 has a segmented container opening 138 similar to that described above. In addition, the second incisions 144a, 144b, 114c form flaps 148a, 148b, 148c that rise from the rest of the second film layer 114 to expose the segmented container opening 138.

In a fourth embodiment, the flexible film container 115 has a first and second film layer that are coextensive with each other. The flexible film container 115 is similar to the container 5, 15 described above and the reference characters illustrated in Figs. 11-13 are similar to those described above with the addition of

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a '11' preceding the rest of the numeric references. Coextensive film layers 1112, 1114 have first and second incisions 1142, 1144 formed therein such that the segmented container opening 1138 is incorporated in the flexible film container 115. For example, the first and second incisions 1142, 1144 are typically formed after the first and second film layers 1112, 1114 have joined together. Thus, while the previous embodiments had a second film layer 14, 114 that was disposed on a portion of the first film layer 12, 112, the fourth embodiment illustrated in Figs. 11-13 shows a container 115 with first and second layers 1112, 1114 of coextensive film. Similar to the packages described above, the container 115 has a segmented container opening 1138 that is formed by the second incisions 1144 in the second film layer 1114. In addition, the sealing panel 1140 is formed by a first incision 1142 formed in the first film layer 1112.

In a fifth embodiment, shown in Fig. 14, the container 25 has a tray 246 with a flange or an upper surface 237 to which the flexible film 210 adheres. The container 25 is similar to those previously described and Similar reference characters are preceded with a '2'. According to one approach, the second film layer 214 adheres to the upper surface 237 to seal the food contents 206 inside the container 205. In such a configuration, the second film layer 214 has second incisions 244a, 244b arranged thereto to create flaps 248a, 248b that can be lifted from the rest of the second film layer 214 to expose the opening windows 32a, 32b through which food contents 206 can be accessed and removed. To open the container 25, the user can grasp the tongue 208 to pull and lift the sealing panel 240 upwards from a rest of the container.

The container 25 provides a segmented container opening 238 that can improve the resealability of the container and help with portion control, but does not require a new wrap. The opening 238 has a transverse link 234 formed by the series of second incisions 244a, 244b formed in the second film layer 214. Second additional layer incisions 244 can also be incorporated into the package, depending on the amount of opening windows desired. Also, depending on the desired configuration, the tray 246 may have reinforcing ribs or other elements that separate the interior 18 of the container 25 into compartments similar to those mentioned above. According to one approach, the reinforcement ribs may be disposed below the transverse links 234 to provide a surface against which the consumer can push the sealing panel 240 to re-adhere the sealing panel 240 to a remainder of the container 25 and reseal the container 25. The second layer incisions 244a, 244b can be shaped similarly to incisions 44 in Fig. 1 or incisions 344 in Fig. 6. If the second layer incisions 244a, 244b are similarly shaped to those illustrated in Fig. 1, the second layer incision 244a arranged closer to the pull tab forms a closed loop such that a detachable flap (which can be completely separated from the rest of the second film layer 214) is lifted up to expose a part of the segmented opening. In addition, the second layer incision 244b may have a pair of terminal ends that provide a characteristic of tear inhibition and may not form a closed loop to prevent the flap 248b from completely separating from the rest of the second film layer 214. Regardless of the amount of second layer incisions 244 and the corresponding window openings formed in the second layer 214, the second layer incision 244b having the terminal ends that inhibit tearing, remains disposed adjacent to one end of the panel. sealed opposite to the tongue to pull.

Fig. 15 shows the flexible film container 25 disposed adjacent to similar and unopened flexible film containers 25. The flexible film containers 25 may have edges that are connected to each other and may have a weakness line (such as a perforation line or a grooved line) arranged therein to make the flexible film containers 25 easy to separate. each. In addition, each of the packages 25 can include the segmented container opening 238 that is easy to reseal. Although the embodiments of Figs. 14 and 15 are manufactured with containers formed adjacent to them, the container 25 can also be manufactured as a separate container without adjacent containers connected thereto.

In a sixth embodiment, shown in Figs. 16 and 17, the container 45, like the container 25, has a tray 446 with a flange or an upper surface 437 to which the flexible film 410 adheres. The container 45 is similar to those previously described and the characters of Similar references are preceded with a '4'. While the container 25 had a tray with a main compartment that can be separated by reinforcement ribs, tray 446 has separate compartments 447 that have separate side walls. In one embodiment, the flexible film 410 has a second layer 414 of film that is adhered to the upper surface 437 of the tray 446 and the second incisions 444 arranged in the second layer 414 of the film create the opening windows 432 through the which can be accessed to the food items 46. To expose the opening windows 432 and access the food contents 46, a sealing panel 440 is lifted upwards from a rest of the container 45. The series of second incisions 444 make up the transverse links 434 in the second film layer 414 extending along the segmented container opening 438 and between the opening windows 432.

In an illustrative embodiment, the different compartments 447 are separable from each other. These compartments 447 can be separated before or after the contents within the different compartments 447 have been consumed. In one approach, the tray 446 and the flexible film 410 include a weakness line 449, such as a perforation line or a line grooved, arranged between the compartments 447. According to one approach, the weakness line 449 is arranged in tray 449 and the second film layer 12 in the position of the links

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transverse 443. In this way, a consumer can tear a compartment from the tray (such as compartment 447a) and the part of the second layer 414 of film adheres to that part of the tray. In addition, the full sealing panel 440 can remain attached to the rest of the container 45 so that the sealing panel 440 can be wrapped around the remaining parts of the tray 446 (such as compartments 447b, 447c). In this configuration, the consumer does not have to store the entire tray, but instead can discard the empty compartments of the tray before storing the food container 45.

In a seventh embodiment, shown in Figs. 18-20, the container 55 has a tray 556 with a flange or an upper surface 537 to which the flexible film 510 adheres. The container 55 is similar to those previously described and the similar reference characters are preceded with a '5 '. While the container 45 had a two-layer film 410, the container 55 has a single film layer 510. More particularly, there is no equivalent to the second film layer 414 in the container 55. In contrast, the flexible film 510 it forms the sealing panel 540 and adheres directly to the upper surface 537 of the tray 556. In such a configuration, the second film layer cannot form the transverse links. In contrast, the upper surface 537 of the tray 556 functions as a transverse link 534 that improves the resealing capacity of the sealing panel 540. In addition, the container 55 has a resealable adhesive 516 disposed between the sealing panel 540 and the transverse link 534 formed by the upper surface 537 of the tray 556, when the sealing panel 540 is in the closed configuration. Furthermore, without the second film layer, the opening windows 532 are no longer formed by the series of second incisions in the second film layer, but instead are formed by the upper surface 537 of the tray 556.

In one approach, tray 556 includes at least two compartments 547. As shown in Figs. 18 and 19, the flexible film container 55 includes three compartments 547a, 547b, 547c. Each of the compartments has a wall that forms at least a part of the compartment and a flange at the upper end of the wall. The compartments 547 are connected by means of the flange or upper surfaces 537. The tray 556 can also include at least one weakness line 549b that allows the compartments 547 to easily separate from each other, similar to the weakness lines 449 discussed above.

The container 55 includes a flexible film 510 that forms a sealing panel 540 on an upper surface of the container 55. The sealing panel 540 covers the opening windows 532 created in the upper part of the compartments 547. The resealable adhesive 516 is disposed between the parts of the upper surface 537 of the tray 556 and the sealing panel 540. The resealable adhesive 516 may not be disposed on the parts of the sealing panel 540 forming a pull tab 58 and those parts of the film 510 directly above the contents or opening windows 532. Fig. 20 shows a bottom view of the sealing panel 540. The sealing panel 540 includes a resealable adhesive 516 applied with a pattern, although the resealable adhesive 516 can also be applied to the upper surface 537 of the tray, opposite the sealing panel 540.

The sealing panel 540 may additionally include at least one line of weakness 549a. In one configuration, the weakness lines 549a of the panel are arranged adjacent to the weakness lines 549b of the tray arranged in the tray. With the lines of weakness 549a, 549b arranged adjacent to each other, a consumer can separate a compartment 547 and a part 511 of the sealing panel 540 from a remainder of the container 55.

To help open the container 55 once a part (such as the compartment 547a and a part 511 of the sealing panel 540) has been removed from the container 55, a second pull tab 58b can be formed by the weakness line 549a. In addition, the adhesive 516 can be applied with pattern so that no adhesive is discarded in this part of the sealing panel 540. Tabs 58a, 58b, 58c for pulling can take a variety of configurations. In one configuration, the tongues 58a, 58b, 58c for pulling have an arcuate portion. In another configuration the tongues 58a, 58b, 58c for pulling are linear. In one example, a first edge of the sealing panel 540 with the pull tab 58a disposed therein has an arched configuration, as well as the corresponding edge of the tray 547. In another example, however, one of the first edge of the panel 540 sealing or the corresponding edge of tray 547 is linear while the other edge has an arcuate portion. Accordingly, in an illustrative configuration, the pull tab 58a, 58b, 58c has an arcuate portion and the corresponding edge of the tray 547 is linear.

Similar to the containers described above, the container 55 can help consumers with portion control requiring a jump or increase in the opening force when the sealing panel 540 is rising beyond the opening window 532. As the sealing panel 540 rises from the container 55, the necessary opening force is greater than that of the opening window 532 because the resealable adhesive 516 is disposed along a larger area prior to the window 532 opening In addition, once the location of the opening window 532 is reached, the sealing panel 540 becomes easier to lift because it has less resealable adhesive 516 by adhering the sealing panel 540 to the tray 556 along the width of the container . Also, when the sealing panel 540 has been raised beyond the window 532, the sealing panel 540 must be separated from the transverse link 534, and this separation requires more force. Thus, at this point, the force necessary to open the container additionally becomes greater due to the resealable adhesive 516 disposed between the transverse link 534 and the sealing panel 540. The increased force necessary to additionally open the container 55 may indicate to the consumer that another compartment or opening window is being accessed and therefore the consumer is accessing another ration of food items. In another approach, the resealable adhesive 516 near the weakness line 549 may be stronger than the rest of the resealable adhesive 516. For example, the resealable adhesive 516

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it can be arranged or treated in such a way that the opening force necessary to lift the seal panel 540 from the container at the location of the weakness line 549 is greater.

Despite the addition of weakness lines 449, 549 and adjacent compartments 447, 547, packages 45, 55 work similarly to those previously described since the force necessary to separate compartments 447, 547 works in a different direction. that the force necessary to open the container 45, 55 by lifting the sealing panel 440, 540 from the trays 446, 546.

In another configuration, the container 65 (Figs. 21 and 22) has a segmented opening 638 in a different orientation. The container 65 is similar to those previously described and the similar reference characters are preceded with a '6'. The segmented container opening 638 has a transverse link 634 that extends along the container 65 and can be formed in the machine direction or in the direction perpendicular to the machine, if desired. The transverse link 634 is shaped similarly to those described above by forming a series of second incisions 644 in the second film layer 614. Although the transverse link 634 is longer than those described above, it can still have a width in the range of about 1 mm to about 20 mm and, in some configurations, between about 2 mm to about 5 mm.

Another alternative configuration is shown in Fig. 23. Container 75 is similar to those packages previously described, but with similar reference characters preceded by a '7'. The segmented container opening 738 of the container 75 has transverse links 734 extending in two directions. According to one approach, transverse links 734 extend both in the direction of the machine and perpendicularly to the machine. In this way, the sealing panel 740 can have additional parts of the second film layer 714 to which it can be resealed. A package with a larger or unusual shaped opening may be particularly a good candidate for cross links 734 extending in multiple directions.

As used herein, the flexible film laminate can be formed from a variety of materials and can be arranged as a web of material in a roll or as individual primordia. For example, the flexible film laminate can be laminated, extruded, melted, blown or a combination thereof. According to one approach, the flexible film laminate can include various thin layers of material, such as thin layers of a polymer material. More specifically, the structure of the flexible film laminate may include a layer of polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyethylene, an oriented polypropylene layer (OPP), a layer of polylactic acid (PLA), a single layer of polymer (mono- net), a sealant layer (such as vinyl ethylene acetate (EVA), ionomer plastic, metallocene, organic clay, and the like), an ink or printing layer, nylon, a metallized layer, such as a metallized oriented polypropylene layer ( MET OPP), paper, aluminum foil, an adhesive and / or a non-woven material, among others. These various layers can be included in the flexible film laminate and can have a variety of thicknesses and densities.

In an illustrative approach, the flexible film laminate can be a combination of the various film materials or structures mentioned above. For example, a flexible film laminate structure may include a PET layer, an ink layer, an adhesive layer and a bi-axially oriented polypropylene layer (BOPP). In another example, the structure may include a BOPP layer, an ink layer, a low density polyethylene layer and a metallized OPP. However, in another configuration, the structure may include a lacquer surface layer, an ink layer and a cavity OPP. In addition, the components of the flexible film laminate can be joined, for example, by adhesives or by extrusion processes. Although the flexible film laminate can be described herein as having a first film layer, a second film layer and / or an adhesive layer, the laminate may include additional layers beyond these three layers, and A person skilled in the art would be able to adopt the teachings herein to accommodate additional layers of the flexible film laminate.

As indicated above, the pressure sensitive adhesive or resealable adhesive may include a cold formed adhesive, a hot melt adhesive, a cold seal adhesive, a natural or synthetic latex adhesive, a low adhesion adhesive. , vinyl ethylene acetate (EVA), an acrylic adhesive (such as a solvent-based or water-based acrylic adhesive), a styrene block copolymer adhesive, a butyl rubber adhesive, a silicone rubber adhesive, an adhesive of natural rubber, a nitrile adhesive, an acrylic emulsion adhesive, a water-based acrylic adhesive and combinations thereof. In an illustrative embodiment, the pressure sensitive adhesive may include a magnetic substrate that reseals or reseals the container. For example, a magnetic or magnetizable material can be incorporated into the film network to help close the container again. Similar resealable closures are shown in PCT international applications No. PCT / US2011 / 054119, filed on September 30, 2011, PCT / US2011 / 057982, filed on October 27, 2011 and PCT / US2011 / 058063, filed on October 27, 2011.

Those skilled in the art will recognize that a wide variety of modifications, alterations and combinations can be carried out with respect to the embodiments described above within the scope of the appended claims.

Claims (8)

claims one. 5 10 fifteen twenty 25 30 2. 35 3. 40 Four. Four. Five 5. fifty 6. 55 7. 8. 60 A package (5, 25) comprising: a flexible film (10, 210) having at least a first and second layer (12, 14, 212, 214) of film and a resealable adhesive (16) disposed between the first and second layer (12, 14, 212, 214 ) of film, the flexible film (10, 210) defining an upper part of the container (5, 25); a tray (246) having a lower part, at least one side, and an upper flange (237) in which the second layer (14, 214) of film adheres to an upper surface thereof to seal a food product (6, 206) within it; characterized in that the flexible film (10, 210) has a plurality of second incisions (44a, 44b, 244a, 244b) of layer formed in the second layer (14, 214) of film to define an opening (38, 238) of segmented container, the plurality of incisions includes at least a first incision (44a, 244a) and a second incision (44b, 244b), the first incision (44a, 244a) being a closed loop that forms a flap that rises upwards to exposing a part of the segmented opening and the second incision (44b, 244b) having a pair of ends that end in a tear inhibition feature; the first film layer (12, 212) having a sealing panel (40, 240) that is releasable from the second film layer (14, 214) to expose the segmented container opening (38, 238); at least one transverse link (34, 234) that extends along the segmented container opening (38, 238) from a first side of the segmented container opening (38, 238) to a second side and arranged between said first incision (44a, 244a) and second incision (44b, 244b), wherein said transverse link (34, 234) is composed of parts of the second layer (14, 214) of film defined by the second incisions ( 12, 14, 212, 214) of the layer in such a way that the first end of the transverse link (34, 234) is fully formed with the first side of the segmented container opening (38, 238) and the second end of the transverse link (34, 234) is fully formed with the second side of the segmented container opening (38, 238); and wherein the first incision (44a, 244a) of the second layer incisions is disposed adjacent to a tab (8, 208) for pulling up to open the container (5, 25) and the second incision (44b, 244b ) of the second layer incisions is disposed adjacent to one end of the sealing panel (40, 240) opposite the tongue (8, 208) for pulling. The package (5, 25) of claim 1 wherein the cross link (34, 234) has a resealable adhesive disposed between the cross link (34, 234) and the sealing panel (40, 240) when the package (5 , 25) is in the closed configuration. The package (5, 25) of claim 1 wherein the upper flange (237) provides a resealing surface against which a consumer can push to reseal the sealing panel (40, 240) to the second layer (14, 214 ) of film. The package (5, 25) of claim 1 wherein the opening window (32) is disposed adjacent to a portion of specific food items (6, 206) such that an individual ration of the items (6, 206) Specific food is visible and easily accessible through one of the opening windows (32). The package (5, 25) of claim 1 wherein the sealing panel (40, 240) comprises a specific sealing label that is at least one of: incision of the first layer (12, 212) of film before forming container closures, incision of the first layer (12, 212) of film before the first layer (12, 212) of film joins the second layer (14, 214) of film, or incision of the first layer (12, 212) of film after the first layer (12, 212) of film joins the second layer (14, 214) of film. The package (5, 25) of claim 1 which further comprises a first incision (42) of the layer formed in the first layer (12, 212) of film during the manufacture of the package after the first layer (12, 212) of film and the second layer (14, 214) of film are joined. The package (5, 25) of claim 1 which further comprises a feature of integrity of the package that provides an indication to the consumer when the package (5, 25) has been previously opened. The package (5, 25) of claim 1 wherein the resealable adhesive is disposed throughout the area between the first and second layer (12, 14, 212, 214) of film outside an area that forms the tongue (8, 208) to throw. The package (5, 25) of claim 1 which further comprises a permanent adhesive applied with a pattern between parts of the first and second layers (12, 14, 212, 214) of film. 5 The package (5, 25) of claim 1 wherein the tray (246, 446) also comprises at least a first compartment (447a) and a second compartment (447b) adjacent to each other, the first compartment (447a) having a first wall that forms at least a part of the first compartment (447a) and an upper end of the first wall with a first flange connected thereto and the second compartment (447b) having a second wall that forms at least a part of the second compartment ( 447b) and an upper end of the second wall with a second flange connected thereto.