WO2014142886A1

WO2014142886A1 - Recloseable flexible packages

Info

Publication number: WO2014142886A1
Application number: PCT/US2013/031411
Authority: WO
Inventors: Ronald W. Komro; Christopher Paul DEMAIN
Original assignee: Printpack Illinois, Inc.
Priority date: 2013-03-14
Filing date: 2013-03-14
Publication date: 2014-09-18
Also published as: US20160251135A1

Abstract

Recloseable flexible packages are provided including a package body formed from a flexible film having a longitudinal seam along a back panel of the package body, a line of weakness extending around a portion of the package body to define a removable portion of the package body, and a flexible sealing label disposed over and extending beyond the removable potion of the package body. The tine of weakness extends substantially around the package body from the back panel between the longitudinal seam and a first longitudinal side and around to the back panel where it terminates between the second longitudinal side and the longitudinal seam. The recloseable flexible package is opened by pulling the flexible sealing label to form a transverse opening in the package body and then reclosed by wrapping the flexible sealing label back around the package body.

Description

RECLOSEABLE FLEXIBLE PACKAGES

Background

The present, application .relates generally to packages for containing various products. More particularly, the present application relates to a package for containing food products, particularly confectionary products, which lias a recloseable structure- thai can be repeatedly opened and closed.

A variety of different types of flexi ble packaging are known in the art for containing and dispensing products, particularly food products. Often, consumers may desire to use only a portion of the product contained in the package, resulting in a problem with, storing the remaining prodnct in the package. This problem is particularly evident in packages having two sealed ends which initially contain and protect the product. When one of the two sealed ends is opened to dispense a portion of the product, ii can be difficult to obtain an effective closure t reseal the opened end. Moreover, it often can be necessary to repeatedly open and close the package to obtain access to the product therein. Although various solutions have been offered to address these problems, many of these solutions are undesirable because they can impair a consumer's ability to access the product within, the container or fail to effectively limit propagation of tears when the package is opened.

Thus, there exists a need to provide a simple, cost effective and useful solution for reclosing and reseal ing the end of a previously sealed, package in a manner which will allow for repeated opening and closing of the package to access the products contained therein.

Summary of the Description

Embodiments of the present description address the above -described needs by providing a recloseable flexible package for containing a product therein, methods for their manufacture, and use. Generally, the package includes a package body formed from a flexible film having a. longitudinal seam along a back panel of the package body. A line of weakness extends around a portion of the package body to define a removable portion of the package body, the removable portion beginning on the back panel between the longitudinal seam and a first longitudinal side, extending around the first longitudinal side and acmss a front panel and continuing around a second longitudinal side to the back panel where the removable portion terminates between the second longitudinal side and the longitudinal seam. A flexible sealing label may be disposed over and extend beyond the removable portion of the package body.

The flexible sealing label and removable portion are permanently adhered to one another such that pulling the flexible scaling label in a peeling direction separates the removable port ion from the package body at the line of weakness and forms a transverse opening in the package body. The flexible sealing label may also include a reseaiable adhesive extending beyond the removable portion of the package body for forming a reseaiable closure.

Also provided i a method of preparing a recloseable flexible package. The method may include providing a flexible film having a flexible sealing label applied over a line of weakness defining a removable portion in the flexible film; folding the flexible film about a product and forming a longitudinal seam by joining opposite longitudinal edges of the flexible film; and forming two transverse sealed seams. During the process, the flexi le film may be positioned as it is folded about the product so that the flexible sealing label applied over the removable portion begins on a back panel between the longitudinal seam and a first longitudinal side, extends around the first longitudinal side and across a front panel, and continues around a second longitudinal side to the hack panel where it terminates ^'between the second longitudinal side and the longitudinal seam.

Brief Description of the Drawings

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the front side (1A) and the back side (IB) of a recloseable flexible package according to an embodiment.

FIG_* 2A is a plan view of the removable portion and flexible adhesive strip of a recloseable flexible package. FIG. 2B is a perspective view of the removable portion and flexible adhesive strip illustrated in FIG. 2A.

FIGS. 3.4 and 3B are plan views of the back pane! (3A) and front panel (3B) of the recloseable flexible package of FIG. 1 as the removable portion and flexible adhesive strip are partially open (3 A) and fully open (3B). FIG. 3C is a perspective view of the fully open package having the open end folded backwards. FIG. 4 is a schematic illustration of the use of a recioseabie flexible package, including opening the recioseabie flexible package (A), accessing a product contained therein (B), and closing (C) and repealing (D) the recioseabie flexible package.

Detailed Description

Embodiments of the present description include a recioseabie flexible package that allows for a portion of the product t be removed and a remaining portion of the product to be contained in die resealed package. Also provided herein are methods for

manufacturing the recioseabie flexible packages and methods for using the recioseabie flexible packages.

Generally described, the recioseabie flexible package includes a package body formed from a flexible film which is folded around the product and sealed to fully enclose the product. Overlapping longitudinal edges of the flexible film are bonded together to form a longitudinal seam (e.g., a fin sea!) which extends along a back panel of the package. Opposing ends of the package are bonded together to form transverse sealed seams at the ends of the product. Thus, the recioseabie flexible package includes a front panel, a back panel, a longitudinal seam on the back panel and two transverse sealed seams at opposing ends.

The package body also includes one or more lines of weakness in the flexible film. ^"The line of weakness extends around a portion of the package body to define a removable portion of the flexible material. The line of weakness may be formed from a die cut, score Sine, or perforated line formed in the flexible film. The line of weakness desirably begins on the back pane! between the fin seal and one longitudinal side, continues around to and across the front panel and then continues around to the back panel where it terminates on the opposite side of the fin seal between the second longitudinal side and the fin seal. Thus, the line of weakness defining the removable portion extends substantially, but not entirely, around the package body.

The line of weakness and removable portion are covered by flexible sealing label The flexible sealing label may be adhered to the removable portion using a permanent adhesive, such that pulling the flexible sealing label in a peeling direction separates the remo vab le portion from the package body at the line of weakness forms a transverse opening in the package body. Advantageously, the transverse opening extends across the entire width of the package body, providing access to and enabling ease of removal of the product therein.

After the initial opening, the removable portion of the package body remains adhered to the flexible sealing label and may be either partially or fully separated from the main package body. For example, in embodiments, the removable portion, may remain partially attached to the flexible film of the package body at one of the terminal ends of the removable portion. In such embodiments the line of weakness may be an open shape, such as an open oval thai is open at a first end and closed at the opposing second end. Thus, the removable portio remains attached, to the package body at the first end.

Alternatively, the removable portion may be fully separated, from the flexible film of the package body after the initial opening and the line of weakness may be a closed shape, such as a closed oval.

The flexible sealing label desirably extends beyond the line of weakness defining the removable portion into an overlapping region of the main package body. For example, the flexible sealing label may extend beyond ail or a portion of the removable portion. A peelable and resealable adhesive may be applied to the portion of the flexible sealing label extendin over the overlapping region. In embodiments, a permanent adhesive also may be applied to a. portion of the flexible sealing label, for example, at a first end of the flexible sealing label so that it is suitable attached to the main package body. The flexible seali ng label also may include a poll tab at one of the terminal ends of the flexible sealing label, for example, the opposing second end.

A fter the package has been opened, the consumer may advantageously reciose the package using the flexible sealing label For example, the flexible sealing label may be wrapped back around the package body in substantially its ori.gi.oai. position.

Alternatively, if product has been removed from the package, the package may be reclosed by folding over the transverse sealed seam at the end of the package body nearest the opening towards the front panel, wrapping the flexible sealing label across the folded portion, and around to the back panel of the package body, and securing the resealable portion of the terminal end of the flexible sealing label to the back panel of the package body or another portion of the package body.

An exemplary embodiment of a recloseable flexible package is illustrated in FIGS. IA and IB. The package 1.0 includes a front panel 12, a back panel 14, two end seals 16, 1 at opposing ends of the package, and a back fin seal 20. A removable portion 22 of the package is defined by a die cut m the package body and is substantially parallel, to the two end seals 16, 18 of the package. The removable portion 22 begins on a first side of the fin seal 18 on the back panel 14 of the package 10 near the top end seal 18 { the "starting end"), continues around to the front panel 12 of the package 10, and then continues around to the back -panel 1 where it terminates on the opposing second side of the fin seal 20 (the "terminal end"). The removable portion 22 is covered by flexible sealing label 24 adhered to the removable portion 22 with a permanent adhesive, the permanent adhesive extending to the starting end of the flexible sealing label 24. The flexible sealing label 24 is adhered to the overlapping region 23 of the package body .10 with a pressure sensitive adhesive. The package 10 may be opened by pulling the pull tab 26 at the terminal end of the flexible sealing label 24 to separate the removable portion 22 from the main package body at the line of weakness, the removable portion 22 of the package 10 remaking adhered to the flexible adhesi ve strip 24.

The operation of the removable portion 22 and flexible sealing label 24 may be better understood by reference to FIGS. 2A and 2B and FIGS, 3A-3C The removable portion 22 may be, for example, defined by a die cut 28 in the film forming the package 10. Desirably, the die cut 28 is shaped to stop propagation of the film opening 30 and prevent tearing of the package 10 during its opening. For example, as illustrated in FIGS. 2A and 28, the die cut 8 defining the removable portion 22 may be ",Γ-sfoaped at the starting end of the die cut 28. The pull tab 26 can be used to pull the flexible sealing label 24 away from the package 10 in the peeling direction, forming an opening 30 in the package. The open end 18 of the package 10 can then be folded towards the hack panel 14 of the package 10 to provide access to the contents through the opening 30. After a desired portion of the contents are removed, the package 10 can be reseated by folding the open end 18 of the package 10 downward towards the front panel 12, wrapping the flexible sealing label 24 around the back panel .14, and securing the flexible sealing label 24 to the back panel 14 with the resealable adhesive on. the flexible sealing label. 24. A. schematic illustration of opening and reclostng an exemplary package is illustrated in FIG, 4, including the opening of the package (A), removing a product (B), folding the open end downward and wrapping the flexible sealing label around the package (C), and reseahng the flexible sealing label (D) are illustrated in FIG. 4. The flexible film forming the packag body may be made of any foldable materia} suitable for packagin the product concerned. Where the product is a food product, the material may be substantially moisture and gas impervious so that when it is fully sealed, the packaging provides a hermetically sealed container for the food product.

Alternatively, the package may be vented so as to enable the food product to be stored for longer periods. Examples of typical materials that can be used include: paper ^'based materials, one or more polymeric materials, and metallic foils. The flexible film also may be a lamination comprising layers of the same or different materials, which may include any of those mentioned above in any suitable combination. In one embodiment, the material comprises a laminate of a metal foil, which may be an aluminum fbii, on one side and a plastics material on the other side. When the material is formed into the package, the metallic foil cart be positioned on the inside facing the product and the plastics material can be positioned on the outside. The plastics material may be printed on or otherwise marked with information tor the consumer.

The peelable and resealabie adhesi ve disposed on a portion of the flexible sealing label may be of any suitable adhesive. For example, the peelable and resealabie adhesive may be a pressure sensiti ve adhesive or a cold seal adhesive, and may be applied to the free edges of the flexible sealing label or to the overlapping region of the package body, or both.. Although the flexible sealing label is referred to as being re-sealab!e, in practice the peelable seal will not usually be expected to form a hermetic seal when the package is reclosed. However, when the package is re-closed it will hold the remaining contents securely in the package and will provide -some protection for the product from the environment, ^"References to the flexible sealing label being "resealed" or "resealabie" should be construed accordingly. However, where the package i used to package a food product, such as chocolate bar, it is expected that the package will, be fully sealed when. the package is formed prior to the first opening, so that the package initially forms a hermetically sealed package. Thus, the peelable and resealabie adhesive may not be applied to the whole surface are of the free edges of the- flexible sealing label.

The recloseable flexible packages provided herein may be used for containing a variety of products, particularly food products. Non-limiting examples of such products include chocolate and sugar confectionary products; cheese and dairy products; biscuits and crackers; tea, ground coffee, and coffee beans; pet food; nut snacks; and shelf stable products, including dried foods (e.g., rice or beam). The packages are particularly suited for use with generally block-shaped products. For example, the package may be used for containing one or more chocolate bars. In packages containing more than one chocolate bar, the bars can be arranged in-line or side-by-side. In any case, the package permits the consumer to sl de out and break off portions of the chocolate bar when desired.

The reeioseable flexible packages can be produced using any suitable

manufacturing method. For example, the packaging can be produced using a flow-wrap method in which a flexible film having a plurality of appropriately positioned flexible sealing labels applied over a respective plurality of lines of weakness and removable portions along its length is supplied in a roll to package products in a substantially continuous process. The material is fed through a machine which folds it about each product in turn so that opposing longitudinal edge regions are brought into contact and banded together to form the longitudinal seam. The material is crimped or bonded at opposing ends of the product to form the transverse end seams and the material i cut to separate each package from the remainder of the material. The longitudinal seam and transverse end seams may be bonded together by a hot seal or cold se l

Although the foregoing embodiments describe packaging including a longitudinal seam or which is formed, using a flow-wrap process, the descriptio should not be construed as limiting the packages to such structures. For example, the packages could be formed with seals along the longitudinal sides of the package instead of or in addition to the longitudinal back seam.

Moreover, while the present invention has been described in detail with respect to specific embodiments thereof, it will be appreciated that those skilled in the art, upon attaining an understanding of the foregoin may readily conceive of alterations to, variations of, and equivalents to those embodiments. Accordingly, the scope of the present invention should be assessed as thai of the appended claims and any equivalents thereof.

Claims

We claim:

1 . A recloseable flexible package for containing a product therein, comprising;

a package body formed from a flexible film having a longitudinal seam along a back panel of the package body;

a Sine of weakness extending around a portion of the package body to define a removable portion of^" the package body, the removable portion beginning on the back, panel between the longitudinal seam and a first longitudinal side, extending around the first longitudinal side and across a front panel, and continuing around a second longitudinal side to the back pane! where the

removable portion terminates between the second longitudinal, side and the longitudinal seam; and

a flexible sealing label disposed over and extending beyond the removable portion of the package body, wherein the flexible sealing label and removable portion are permanently adhered to one another such that pulling the flexible sealing label in a peeling direction separates the removable portion from the package body at the line of weakness and forms a transverse opening in. the package body, the flexible sealing label further comprising a resealable adhesive extending beyond the removable portion of the package body for forming a resealable closure.

2. The package of claim 1 , wherein, the longitudinal seam comprises a longitudinal fin seal,

3. The package of claim 1 or 2, further comprising two transverse sealed seams at opposing ends of the package body.

4. The package of claim 3, wherein, the transverse sealed seams and longitudinal seam are heat sealed or cold sealed.

5. The package of claim 3, wherein the transverse sealed seams are crimp sealed.

6. The package of claim I or 2, wherein the line of weakness is selected from the grou consisting of tt die cut, a mechanical score line, a laser score line, and a perforated line.

7. The package of claim 1 or 2, wherein the resealabie adhesive is a cold seal

adhesive,

8. The package of claim 1 or 2, wherein the reseaiable adhesive is a pressure sensitiv adhesive. 9. The package of claim 1 or 2, wherein the product is a generally block-shaped

product.

10. The package of claim i or 2, wherein the product is a food product. i 1. The package of claim 10, wherein the food product is selected from the group

consisting of confectionary products, cheese and dairy products, biscui ts and crackers, tea, coffee, pet food, nut snacks, and shelf stable products.

12. The package of claim 10, wherein the food product is a confectionary product

13. The package of claim 1.2, wherein the confectionary product is a chocolate bar.

14. The package of claim 1 or 2, wherein the flexible sealing label includes a tab for grasping the flexible sealing label .

15. The package of claim 1 or 2, wherein the package is a flow-wrap film package,

16. The package of claim I or 2, further comprising a tamper-evident means. 17. The package of claim 1 , wherein the tamper-evident means is disposed in the flexible sealing label extending beyond the removable portion of the package body. The package of claim 1 , wherein the tamper-evident .means is disposed in the package body in an area outside the removable portion of the package body that is in contact with the resealabie adhesi ve of the Oexible sealing label before the package is initially opened.

The package of claim i or 2, wherein the package is configured to be reclosed after forming the transverse opening b folding an. end of the package body towards the front panel, wrapping the flex ible sealing label and removable port ion of the package body around the package body, and securing the flexible sealing label to the package body with the resealabie adhesive.

A method of preparing a recloseable flexible package, the method comprising: providing a flexible film having flexible sealing label applied over a line of weakness defining a removable portion in the .flexible film;

folding the flexible film about a product and forming a longitudinal seam by joining opposite longitudinal edges of the flexible film; and

forming two transverse sealed seams;

wherein during the process the flexible film is positioned as it is folded about the product so that the flexible sealing label applied over the removable portion begins o a back panel between the longitudinal seam and a. first

longitudinal side, extends around the first longitudinal side and across a front panel, and continues around second longitudinal side to the back panel where it terminates between the second longitudinal side and the lon^gitudinal seam.

The method of claim 20, wherein the flexible sealing label and removable portion are permanently adhered to one another such that pulling the flexible sealin label in a peeling direction separates the removable portion from, the package at the line of weakness and forms a trans verse opening in the package, the Oexible sealing label further comprising a resealabie adhesive extending beyond the removable portion of the flexible body for forming a resealabie closure. The method of claim 20 or 21, wherei n the package is produced using a flow-wrap process, the fiexibie film being provided as part of a roll of the flexible fiim having a plurality of flexible sealing labels applied over a plurality of respective ikies of weakness spaced along its length, the flexible film being cut to separate the package from the remainder of the fiexibie film.

The method of claim 20 or 21 , wherein, the product is a food product.

The method of claim 23, wherein the food product is Selected from the group consisting of confectionary products, cheese and dairy products, biscuits and crackers, tea, coffee, pet food, nui snacks, and shelf stable products.

The method of claim 23, wherein the food product is a confectionary product.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein the confectionary product is a chocolate bar.