# US 10,308,412 B2 · Packaging film and method of manufacturing same > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,308,412 B2 - Document ID: US10308412B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/506,120 - Filed: 2015-08-26 - Published: 2017-10-05 - Granted: 2019-06-04 - Earliest claimed: 2014-08-26 - Assignees: JT International SA - Applicants: JT International S.A. - Inventors: Michael Polikeit; Juergen Kuempel; Olaf Janson - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10308412B2 ## CPC - B65D 75/5844: {the portion of the wall being a narrow strip, e.g. between lines of weakness (B65D75/5838 takes precedence)} - B65B 61/182: {by applying tear-strips or tear-tapes} - B65D 65/02: Wrappers or flexible covers - B65D 75/04: Articles or materials wholly enclosed in single sheets or wrapper blanks - B65D 75/5805: {for tearing a side strip parallel and next to the edge, e.g. by means of a line of weakness} - B65D 85/10: for cigarettes - B65D 85/1027: {Opening devices} - B65D 2203/12: Audible, olfactory or visual signalling means (B65D51/248, B65D55/028, B65D79/02 and B65D81/24 take precedence) - B65D: CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES - B65B: MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING (bundling and pressing devices for cigars A24C1/44; devices for tensioning and securing binders adapted to be supported by the article or articles to be bound B25B25/00; applying closure members to bottles, jars or similar containers B67B1/00-B67B6/00; concurrent cleaning, filling and closing of bottles B67C7/00; emptying bottles, jars, cans, casks, barrels or similar containers B67C9/00) ## Abstract The present invention provides a packaging film (1) for use in packaging a consumer product, especially a pack of smoking articles, comprising: an area or expanse (2) of film material configured to cover the consumer product; and opening means (3) formed in the area or expanse (2) of the film material to assist or promote opening or removal of the film when it covers the product in order to access the product, the opening means (3) including at least two frangible seams (5) which extends across at least a portion of the area or expanse (2) of the film material, wherein the at least one frangible seam (5) comprises at least two lines of weakness (7) that extend generally parallel and together define a single, desirably substantially linear, tear path (P). ## Claims ### Claim 1 A packaging film for packaging a consumer product, such as a pack of smoking articles, comprising: an area or expanse of a film material for covering the consumer product; and opening means formed in the area or expanse of the film material to promote opening or removal of the packaging film when it covers the consumer product to access the consumer product; wherein the opening means comprises a pair of frangible seams spaced apart and defining a tear strip there-between, and wherein each frangible seam extends across at least a portion of the area or expanse of the film material and comprises two lines of weakness that extend substantially parallel and together define a single tear path, and wherein each of the lines of weakness comprises a line of perforations formed in the film, wherein the perforations in the respective lines of weakness are at least partially offset from one another along the tear path they define. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) A packaging film according to claim 1, wherein the single tear path defined by the two lines of weakness is substantially linear. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) A packaging film according to claim 1, wherein the lines of weakness of the frangible seams are adjacent one another and spaced in the range of 0 mm to 5 mm apart. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) A packaging film according to claim 3, wherein the lines of weakness of the frangible seams are spaced in the range of 1 mm to 2 mm apart. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) A packaging film according to claim 3, wherein the lines of weakness of the frangible seams are spaced in the range of 0.5 mm to 1 mm apart. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) A packaging film according claim 1, wherein the tear strip has a width of between about 5 mm and 15 mm. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) A packaging film according claim 6, wherein the width of the tear strip is about 10 mm. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) A packaging film according claim 1, wherein the frangible seams extend on opposite sides of the tear strip substantially parallel to one another. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) A packaging film according claim 8, wherein the tear strip includes a tear tape bonded thereto. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) A packaging film according to claim 1, wherein the opening means includes a tab or flap to be gripped and drawn by a user for activating the at least two frangible seams. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) A packaging film according to claim 10, wherein the tab or flap is provided in or connects to a sheet of the packaging film at a position between the lines of weakness of the two frangible seams. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) A packaging film according to claim 10, wherein the tab or flap is provided in or connects to a sheet of the packaging film at a position between two lines of weakness. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) A packaging film according to claim 1, wherein the film comprises a flexible, transparent sheet formed of cellophane, polypropylene, or another polymer or synthetic material, the area or expanse thereof being generally rectangular. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) A packaged consumer product, such as a pack of smoking articles, comprising the packaging film according to claim 1 as an outer wrapping. ### Claim 15 A method of manufacturing a packaging film for use packaging a consumer product, such as a pack of smoking articles, the method comprising: providing a sheet of film material; defining at least one area or expanse of the film material for wrapping around a product to be packaged; and forming an opening means in the at least one area or expanse of the film material to promote opening or removal of the film material from the product, the opening means comprising two frangible seams defining a tear strip there-between, such that the two frangible seams extend on opposite sides of the tear strip, wherein the step of forming each of the frangible seams comprises forming two lines of weakness that extend generally parallel and together define a single tear path, wherein the step of forming the lines of weakness comprises perforating the line of weakness across the area or expanse of the film material, wherein the perforations in the respective lines of weakness are at least partially offset from one another along the tear path they define. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) A method according to claim 15, wherein the two lines of weakness of the two frangible seams are formed adjacent one another and spaced in the range of 0 mm to 5 mm apart. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) A method according to claim 15, comprising forming the tear strip having a width of between about 5 mm and 15 mm between the two frangible seams. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) A method according to claim 15, further comprising the step of forming a tab or flap to be gripped and drawn by a user for operating the tear strip. ### Claim 19 (depends on 15) A packaged consumer product, such as a pack of smoking articles, comprising the packaging film according to claim 15 as an outer wrapping.