Patent Application
20120006822
The present invention relates generally to recloseable film packaging configured to facilitate reclosing of a package after initial opening, and more particularly to a package having a recloseable access feature in a front package panel thereof, with a pull-tab member provided to facilitate access to an opening of the recloseable feature.
Recloseable film packaging has found widespread application in the marketplace for all manner of consumer goods, particularly food products where it can be desirable to initially open a package, reclose it, and then reopen it at a later time to further access the contents of the package. Various recloseable package constructions are known in the prior art, with U.S. Pat. No. 5,461,845, hereby incorporated by reference, illustrating such a recloseable package arrangement, including a profile strip fastener assembly to facilitate reclosing of the package after initial opening.
It is, of course, desirable to promote convenient use of such recloseable packages by consumers, and to this end, packages or bags with a pull-tab opening feature have become common as a result of the convenience that they offer to the consumer. In particular, packages having a so-called front panel fastener arrangement typically require some type of tab for accessing the fastener assembly. By way of example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,270,257, hereby incorporated by reference, discloses the provision of a pull-tab opening feature for gaining access to the recloseable fastener assembly of that package arrangement.
While the pull-tab arrangement disclosed in the above-referenced patent has proven to be quite useful for conveniently accessing the front panel fastener assembly, this particular pull-tab arrangement has been found to exhibit certain shortcomings. In particular, this pull-tab arrangement requires the provision of perforations or slits in the front panel of a package in order to allow the consumer to grasp the pull-tab that is formed in the front panel of the package. Since it is desirable to have such a pull-tab only partially slit open, in order to provide tamper-evidence, this tab arrangement requires that the consumer break open the package in order to “create” the tab, that is, separate the tab from the remaining portion of the front panel in order to permit the tab to be grasped for opening. The breaking of the film can be difficult, depending upon the chemical composition of the packaging film, and its orientation in the package.
An additional shortcoming associated with the above-described pull-tab arrangement relates to the compromise of the gas bearer properties of the package, which results from the need to provide perforations in the front package panel at which the pull-tab is formed. A line or region of weakness formed from a laser score can be used to access the fastener assembly on a front panel package, without comprising the gas barrier properties, if some type of pull-tab feature can be provided that does not require perforations or slits be formed in the film of the front package panel.
The present invention contemplates a recloseable package having a recloseable fastener assembly at the front package panel thereof, with a pull-tab opening feature that can be used for packages having contents that require that the gas barrier properties of the package not be compromised.
In accordance with the present invention, a recloseable package, typically formed from polymeric film materials, is disclosed, including a recloseable fastener assembly on the inside surface of a front package panel, which permits the package to be conveniently reclosed after it is initially opened. Notably, the present invention contemplates the provision of a pull-tab member having an articulable gripping portion, which can be readily articulated and manipulated by consumers and conveniently gripped for opening the package, including the recloseable fastener assembly thereof. Convenient use of a recloseable package is thus facilitated, including convenient opening of a package having a laser score, or like region of weakness, which maintains the gas barrier properties of the package.
In accordance with the illustrated embodiment, the recloseable package embodying the principles of the present invention includes a package body comprising a front package panel and a rear package panel joined to each other at respective side edges thereof. The package body is preferably formed in end-to-end relationship with associated packages from a web of suitable polymeric film material which is suitably folded and formed during formation to form the front and rear package panels. The edges of the film material can be joined at a back seam extending longitudinally of the package. While not illustrated, it is within the purview of the present invention that the package body can be formed with inwardly extending side gussets at opposite side edges thereof.
In order to promote convenient reclosing of the package, the package includes a recloseable fastener assembly positioned within the package body transversely of the longitudinal axis of the body. The fastener assembly includes first and second fastener elements each joined to an inside surface of the front package panel. The recloseable fastener assembly may comprise suitable inter-engaging profile elements, adhesive elements, so-called hook-and-loop fastener elements, or “unisex” fastening elements, such as comprising upstanding mushroom headed elements which are “self-engaging” with like elements of an associated fastener component.
The front package panel of the package defines a preferentially weakened region operatively associated with the fastener assembly, so that opening of the weakened region permits separation of the first and second fastener elements, to thereby permit the contents of the package to be accessed through the opened weakened region, and through the fastener assembly. This so-called front panel fastener assembly permits the contents of the package to be readily accessed through the front panel of the package after initial opening, and after reclosing, and reopening, of the recloseable fastener assembly.
In accordance with the present invention, a pull-tab member is secured to the exterior of the front package panel at the weaken region thereof. The pull-tab member includes an articulable gripping portion which can be hingedly manipulated generally out of the plane of the front package panel to facilitate opening of the weakened region of the front package panel. By the provision of the pull-tab member, opening of the weakened region of the front package panel is greatly facilitated, whether provided in the form of perforations or slits, or a laser score. Moreover, the pull-tab member facilitates convenient manipulation and opening of the recloseable fastener assembly positioned on the inside surface of the front package panel.
In accordance with the illustrated embodiments, the pull-tab member may comprise a substrate layer secured to the front package panel, and a gripping layer partially secured to the substrate layer so that an unsecured portion of the gripping layer defines the articulable gripping portion. In an alternate embodiment, the pull-tab member is provided in the form of a gripping layer partially secured directly to the front package panel, so that an unsecured portion of the gripping layer defines the articulable gripping portion.
Other features and advantages of the present invention will become readily apparent from the detailed description, the accompanying drawings, and the appended claims.
While the present invention is susceptible of embodiment in various forms, there is shown in the drawings and will hereinafter be described presently preferred embodiments, with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the invention, and is not intended to limit the invention to the specific embodiments illustrated.
With reference first to
The recloseable package 10 includes a package body comprising a front package panel 12, and a rear package panel 14 joined to each other at respective side edges thereof. The package body is ordinarily formed from polymeric film material, which is folded and manipulated during package formation so that the package body is formed from a single piece of film material. Thus, the front package panel 12 and the rear package panel 14 are joined to each other generally where the film material is folded, at side edges of the package 10. It is within the purview of the present invention that the recloseable package 10 be formed with inwardly-extending side gussets at opposite side margins thereof, thereby increasing the internal volume of the package, as can be desired for some applications.
The body of the recloseable package 10 is ordinarily formed in end-to-end relationship with associated packages from a web of film material, which is longitudinally folded, as described, to form the front and rear package panels. While packages embodying the present invention can be substantially completely preformed, and then filled with contents before sealing to complete packaging, packages of this nature can be efficiently used with so-called form, fill, and seal machines, which substantially simultaneously form each package 10 attendant to filling of the package with its contents. Thus, a completed package not only includes a longitudinally extending back seam 15 where opposite marginal portions of the film material are joined during package formation, but additionally includes transversely extending seals at a top header 16 and a bottom seal 18, which act to close the interior of the package after it is filled.
In accordance with the present invention, recloseable package 10 includes a recloseable fastener assembly 20 positioned within the package body transversely of the longitudinal axis of the body. The fastener assembly 20 includes first and second fastener elements 22 and 24 joined to an inside surface of the front package panel 12. As illustrated in
Initial opening of the recloseable package 10 is facilitated by the provision of preferentially weakened region 26 which extends generally transversely of the package on the front package panel 12 thereof, typically in closely spaced relationship to the top header 16. In this embodiment, the weakened region 26 is illustrated as comprising a scored region of the front package 12, which scored region can be efficiently formed by known laser scoring techniques. It is within the purview of the present invention that the weakened region 26 be alternately formed, such as by the provision of perforations, slits, or like weakening.
In accordance with the present invention, a pull-tab member 30 is secured to the exterior of the front package panel 12 at the weakened region 26 thereof. U.S. Pat. No. 5,975,304, hereby incorporated by reference, discloses pull-tab structures of the type that can be used for practice of the present invention.
In this illustrated embodiment, the pull-tab member 30 includes a substrate layer 32 which is secured to the exterior of front package panel 12 such as by adhesive or heat-sealing. In this embodiment, the pull-tab member 30 further includes a gripping layer 34 which defines an articulable gripping portion. The gripping portion can be hingedly manipulated, generally about hinge line 36, generally out of the plane of the front package panel 12 in order to facilitate opening of the weakened region 26 of the front package panel. In the preferred form, the gripping layer 34 is partially secured to the substrate layer 32 so that an unsecured portion of the gripping layer defines the articulable gripping portion. As will be observed, in this embodiment, the gripping portion is generally downwardly articulable about the generally horizontal hinge 36. This action is illustrated in
In this embodiment, the substrate layer 32 and gripping layer 34 are each illustrated as having a circular configuration, and being of the same diameter, with the resultant gripping portion having a “half-moon” configuration. However, it will be appreciated that the substrate and gripping layers need not be coextensive with each other, as illustrated, and that other shapes for the pull-tab member can be used while keeping with the principles disclosed herein.
A further embodiment of the present recloseable package is illustrated in
A pull-tab member 130 is provided on the exterior surface of the front package panel 12, and includes circular, co-extensive substrate and gripping layers 132, 134. In this embodiment, an unsecured portion of the gripping layer 134 can be articulated and manipulated to provide a ripping portion, with articulation about a generally vertical hinge 136 contemplated. Again, the gripping portion of the gripping layer 134 facilitates convenient grasping by consumers for tearing and opening the weakened region 26 in the front package panel, as well as for separation and opening of the first and second fastener elements 22, 24, including opening and separation of peel seal 25.
A further embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in
While the various embodiments of the present invention are disclosed as providing the pull-tab member on the exterior surface of front package panel 12, for some applications it can be desirable to provide an opening in the front panel so that the pull-tab member is directly secured to the fastener element 24 of the fastener assembly. This can be desirable to enhance transfer of the gripping and opening force exerted on the pull-tab member to the fastener assembly, to facilitate separation and opening of the fastener elements thereof.
From the foregoing, it will be observed that numerous modifications and variations can be effected without departing from the true spirit and scope of the novel concept of the present invention. It is to be understood that no limitation with respect to the specific embodiments disclosed herein is intended or should be inferred. The disclosure is intended to cover by the appended claims all such modifications as fall within the scope of the claims.
