Many products are packaged in flexible film bags. In some applications, especially when containing perishable food items, the packages are designed to be opened and closed repeatedly. In this manner, once the package is opened, a portion of the contents can be removed by a consumer and then the package can be closed for storing the remainder of the contents. When containing food items, the package can include a reclosable device that can protect the food product during further storage.
Particular types of reclosable devices include, for instance, interlocking members such as a groove positioned opposite a ridge that fit together and close when pressed against each other. Such closure devices, in one embodiment, can include a traversing head or “slider” that helps bring the interlocking members together in a zipper-like way.
When reclosable devices are incorporated into packages as described above, the packages can be initially sealed to prevent against tampering and further protect the contents during shipping. For instance, the package may include a sealed margin area positioned above the reclosable device that can be opened by tugging, tearing or cutting. Recently, in order to facilitate opening of such packages, the packages have included perforation lines or have included a tab that runs through a margin area and is to be pulled by the consumer in order to open the package.
Although perforating the packaging or including a pull away tab can somewhat facilitate the opening of the package, problems still persist. For instance, the packages must still remain tamper proof and must be capable of withstanding normal pressures exerted on the packages during shipping and storage. Thus, significant effort is still required to initially open many packages. Sometimes, when consumers are exerting force on the package in order to open it, they obliterate or damage the reclosable device rendering it useless. In view of the above, a need exists for an opening device that makes it easier to open packages containing reclosable devices.
In general, the present disclosure is directed to a package made from a flexible polymer film or from a semi-rigid polymer film that includes a reclosable device in combination with a breachable bubble. The breachable bubble facilitates initial opening of the package. For example, applying pressure to the bubble causes a pair of opposing panels to separate. The separated panels can then be easily peeled apart in order to gain access to the contents of the package. Of particular advantage, the closure system of the present disclosure can be manufactured separately and then added to a package as the package is being produced and/or as the package is being filled with a product.
For instance, in one embodiment, the present disclosure is directed to a closure system for a package. The closure system includes first and second opposed strips that are adapted to be attached to opposing panels of a package. The first and second opposed strips include a reclosable device located along a first portion of the length of each strip. The reclosable device is configured to attach the first strip to the second strip and close the package, once the package has been opened.
In accordance with the present disclosure, the first and second strips further include a breachable bubble that is positioned along a second portion of the length of the strips. The breachable bubble is positioned adjacent to the top of the strips, i.e. between the reclosable device and an edge of the package. The strips are configured to be sealed together at least around the perimeter of the bubble. The breachable bubble is configured to breach in a direction opposite the reclosable device when sufficient pressure is applied causing the strips to separate. In this manner, a user can peel the strips apart for opening the package and gaining access to the contents.
The package can be made from a flexible film and can include a first panel facing an opposing second panel. The package can include a top and a bottom and the first and second opposed strips can be attached to the top of the package. Incorporating a breachable bubble as described above allows for the package to be easily opened by a consumer. Incorporating a bubble into the package also eliminates the need for including perforations along the top of the package or for incorporating some type of pull tab.
The reclosable device included with the strips can vary depending upon the particular application. In one embodiment, for instance, the reclosable device may comprise interlocking members. For instance, a first profiled portion may be located along the first strip opposite a second profiled portion located on the second strip. The first profiled portion may interlock with the second profiled portion when pressed together. In one embodiment, for instance, the first profiled portion may comprise a groove, while the second profiled portion may comprise a rib that fits within the groove.
In an alternative embodiment, the reclosable device may comprise a first portion located on the first strip opposite a second portion located on a second strip. The first portion may comprise a pressure sensitive adhesive while the second portion may comprise a release layer.
The closure system of the present disclosure can be incorporated into the package using various methods and techniques. In one embodiment, for instance, the first and second strips may be spirally wound on separate spools prior to being incorporated into the package. The first strip, for instance, can be cut from a first spool and attached to one side of the package while the second strip may be cut from a second spool and attached to a second side of the package. The breachable bubble can be formed in between the strips and inflated as the package is sealed. In another embodiment, the first and second strips may be spirally wound on the same spool prior to being incorporated into the package. For example, the breachable bubble can be formed in between the strips and pre-inflated. The first and second strips, with the breachable bubble formed therebetween, can be cut from the spool and attached to the first and second sides of the package as the package is sealed.
The size and shape of the breachable bubble can vary depending upon various factors. In one embodiment, for instance, the breachable bubble may have a round shape and can be positioned anywhere along an edge of the package. The breachable bubble can extend over only a portion of the width of the package or over the entire width. For instance, in one embodiment, the breachable bubble extends over less than 20% of the width of the package, while in an alternative embodiment, the breachable bubble may extend over at least about 70% of the width of the package. In still another embodiment, the package may include more than one breachable bubble positioned along an edge of the package.
Other features and aspects of the present disclosure are discussed in greater detail below.
A full and enabling disclosure of the present invention, including the best mode thereof to one skilled in the art, is set forth more particularly in the remainder of the specification, including reference to the accompanying figures, in which:
Repeat use of reference characters in the present specification and drawings is intended to represent the same or analogous features or elements of the present invention.
It is to be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art that the present discussion is a description of exemplary embodiments only, and is not intended as limiting the broader aspects of the present invention.
In general, the present disclosure is directed to a closure system for a package. The closure system is particularly well suited for use with packages made from flexible polymer films. The closure system generally comprises a reclosable device in combination with a breachable bubble for initially opening the package.
For example, packages of the present disclosure, after being filled with a product, are sealed for shipment prior to use. In accordance with the present disclosure, the package includes a breachable bubble that facilitates opening of the package. Breaching the bubble, for instance, can cause two layers of the package to separate. The separated film layers can then be peeled away from each other for gaining access to the contents of the package. Once the contents have been partially consumed or it is otherwise desired to store the package for further use, the reclosable device can then be used to close the package.
In the past, instead of including a breachable bubble, such packages typically included a perforated area or a pull tab for opening the package. Packages as described above containing perforations, however, are typically still very difficult to open. Pull tabs, on the other hand, have a tendency to malfunction or are otherwise difficult to operate. Use of the breachable bubble, however, renders the package much easier to open while still providing the package with sufficient resiliency to withstand shipping.
Referring to
In the embodiment illustrated in
The material used to form the package 10 can comprise a single layer of material or can include multiple layers. For instance, when the package is made from a polymer film, the film can include a core layer of polymeric material coated on one or both sides with other functional polymeric layers. The other functional polymeric layers may include, for instance, a heat sealing layer for thermally bonding the film together at desired locations, an oxygen barrier layer, an ultraviolet filter layer, an anti-blocking layer, a printed layer, or the like.
When made from a polymer film, the package 10 can be translucent or transparent. If translucent or transparent, for instance, the contents of the package can be viewed from the outside. In other embodiments, however, the package can be opaque. For instance, in one embodiment, the package can display various graphics that identify the brand and the description of the product inside.
Although a rectangular package is shown in
The package 10 shown in
As shown in
In the embodiment illustrated in
Although two breachable bubbles are illustrated in
The breachable bubbles 26 and 28 can be formed between the first panel 12 and the second panel 14 of the package using various different techniques and methods. The bubbles 26 and 28 can also be formed so as to project only upwards from the package, only downwards from the package, or both upwards and downwards. Breachable bubbles that may be used in association with the package 10, for instance, are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,726,364; 6,938,394; 7,306,371; and U.S. Patent Publication Numbers 2007/0284375; 2007/0235369; 2007/0286535; 2007/0237431; 2007/0295766; 2007/0241024; and 2007/0235357, which are all incorporated herein by reference.
As described above, the breachable bubbles 26 and 28 are for initially opening the package and are intended to produce peel away portions that allow a user access to the contents. In one embodiment, for instance, each breachable bubble may be surrounded and defined by a seal that is at least partially breachable. For instance, as shown in
The breachable bubbles 26 and 28 are expanded to open the package 10 by external pressure applied by a user. For smaller bubbles, the consumer may simply pinch a bubble or bubbles between his or her thumb and forefinger. Slightly larger bubbles may require thumb-to-thumb pressure. Pressure can also be applied to the bubble by placing the bubble against a flat surface and applying pressure with one's finger or palm.
Applying pressure to one of the bubbles 26 or 28 causes the bubble to spread into the bubble seal 32 and specifically through the breachable portion 34. Ultimately, the first panel 12 separates from the second panel 14 of the package until an edge breach occurs along the perimeter of the package. Once the first panel 12 is separated from the back panel 14 at an edge breach, each panel can form a peelable portion. A user can than grasp each peelable portion and peel the two panels apart until an access opening is formed for access to the contents of the package.
In the embodiment illustrated in
The reclosable device 30 used in conjunction with the breachable bubbles 26 and 28 can comprise any suitable device capable of closing the package after the package has been opened. For instance, in one embodiment, the reclosable device 30 may comprise opposing interlocking members. For instance, in one embodiment, the reclosable device 30 may include a groove or grooves attached to one of the panels of the package opposite a corresponding rib or ribs. The rib can be designed to interlock with the groove when the two components are pushed together. The interlocking members can be pressed into engagement by a user when it is desired to close the package, or the reclosable device 30 may include a traversing head or slider that runs along the interlocking members for causing them to engage much like a zipper.
In addition to interlocking members, the reclosable device 30 may comprise various other configurations. For instance, in an alternative embodiment, the reclosable device 30 may comprise a pressure sensitive adhesive layer positioned opposite a release liner.
Referring to
As described above, the bubble seal 32 may comprise a peel seal. In fact, the peel seal can attach the first panel 12 to the second panel 14 of the package along the entire top portion of the package. More particularly, the peel seal can be used not only to facilitate formation of the breachable bubble but also can be used to seal the package along a margin in between the reclosable device 30 and an outer edge of the package. Sealing the entire margin area of the package as shown in
Various different methods and techniques can be used to form peel seals. For example, in one embodiment, the peel seal may include a first portion that is adhesively secured to a second portion along the seal. The first portion, for instance, may be located on the first strip 50, while the second portion may be located on the second strip 52. The first portion may comprise a pressure sensitive adhesive. The adhesive may comprise, for instance, any suitable adhesive, such as an acrylate.
The second and opposing portion of the peel seal, on the other hand, may comprise a release layer. The release layer, for instance, may be coated or adhered to the second strip 52. In one embodiment, the release layer may comprise a silicone or a wax.
In an alternative embodiment, each opposing portion of the peel seal may comprise a multi-layered film. The major layers of the film may comprise a supporting layer, a pressure sensitive adhesive component, and a thin contact layer. In this embodiment, the two portions of the peel seal can be brought together and attached. For instance, the thin contact layer of one portion can be attached to the thin contact layer of the opposing portion using heat and/or pressure. When the strips and/or panels of the package are pulled apart, part of the sealed area of one of the contact layers tears away from its pressure sensitive adhesive component and remains adhered to the opposing contact layer.
In the above embodiment, the contact layer can comprise a film having a relatively low tensile strength and having a relatively low elongation at break. Examples of such materials include polyolefins, such as polyethylenes, copolymers of ethylene and ethylenically unsaturated comonomers, copolymers of an olefin and an ethylenically unsaturated monocarboxylic acid, and the like. The pressure sensitive adhesive contained with the layers, on the other hand, may be of the hot-melt variety or otherwise responsive to heat and/or pressure.
In still another embodiment, the peel seal may include a combination of heat sealing and adhesive sealing. For instance, the peel seal may comprise a first portion that is heat sealed to a second portion.
In order to form the breachable bubble 26 in between the peel seal layers 32 as shown in
In accordance with the present disclosure, the breachable bubble 26 is present in combination with a reclosable device 30. In one embodiment, the reclosable device includes a first interlocking member 36 opposite a second interlocking member 38. As shown, each interlocking member 36 and 38 includes ribs 40 that extend into corresponding grooves 42 for closing the package 10 after the package has been opened.
The closure system as shown in
In one embodiment illustrated in
In another embodiment illustrated in
As shown in
The second layer 56, on the other hand, may comprise any suitable tie layer capable of attaching the interlocking members to the base layer. In one embodiment, for instance, the second layer 56 can comprise an extrudable adhesive.
The outer layer 58, on the other hand, comprises any suitable material capable of forming the interlocking members.
Once the strips 50 and 52 are formed, the strips can be wound on a reel for later incorporation into the package. For instance, referring to
After the strips 50 and 52 are applied to the panels 12 and 14, the V-folded sheet of material is cut to form the package 10. During the cutting operation, the sides of the package can be sealed together. For instance, the sides of the package can be welded together. In addition, suitable equipment can be used to attach the peel seal layers together along the top edge of the package. During the sealing process, the breachable bubbles 26 and 28 can be formed between the strips 50 and 52 and inflated as desired.
In another embodiment as illustrated in
Referring to
The package 110 includes a single breachable bubble 126. The breachable bubble 126 is defined by a bubble seal 132 having a breachable portion 134. The breachable bubble 126 is generally in the shape of an oval and extends over a substantial portion of the width of the package. In this embodiment, for instance, the bubble extends over greater than 50% of the width of the package, such as greater than 70% of the width of the package. In one embodiment, for instance, the bubble may extend over greater than 90% of the width of the package. The strips 50 and 52 as shown in
During the processes of producing the package 10 as shown in
These and other modifications and variations to the present invention may be practiced by those of ordinary skill in the art, without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention, which is more particularly set forth in the appended claims. In addition, it should be understood that aspects of the various embodiments may be interchanged both in whole or in part. Furthermore, those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the foregoing description is by way of example only, and is not intended to limit the invention so further described in such appended claims.
The present application is a Divisional Application of U.S. application Ser. No. 12/704,914, filed Feb. 12, 2010.
Number | Date | Country | |
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Parent | 12704914 | Feb 2010 | US |
Child | 14182435 | US |