Package Having Resealable Closure And Method Of Making Same

A package made from a flexible laminate material having inner and outer surfaces, the package having at least one heat sealed seam and defining an inner volume for retaining product therein, a re-sealable seal comprising:

• a heat-sealable material provided on at least a portion of an inner surface of the flexible laminate,
• a pressure-sensitive adhesive provided within flexible laminate and covered by the heat-sealable material within at least a portion of a first region of the at least one heat-sealed seam,
• a heat-sealable material provided on a second region of the at least one heat-sealed seam, the second region facing the first region,
• a separation line extending at least partially through the heat-sealable material covering the pressure-sensitive adhesive in the first region, the separation line spaced from and positioned inwardly of the at least one heat-sealed seam,
• the heat-sealable material of the first and second regions being heat sealed together to form the at least one heat-sealed seam,
• the separation line within the heat-seal material within the first region forming a separation line for the heat-sealable material upon application of an opening force transverse to the at least one heat sealed seam, the opening force causing release of the heat-sealable material from the pressure-sensitive adhesive along the separation line and within the first region, the heat-sealable material with in the first region remaining sealed to the heat-sealable material within the second region upon release of the heat-sealable material from the pressure-sensitive material, and
• the exposed pressure-sensitive adhesive forming a resealable seal.

A heat sealed structure comprising:

• a first layer having
• first and second surfaces, and
• at least one portion of the first layer having
• a heat-sealable material defining at least one portion of the first surface, and
• a pressure-sensitive adhesive disposed between the heat-sealable material of the first surface and the second surface within the at least one portion of the first layer, and
• a separation line within the heat-sealable material covering the pressure-sensitive adhesive in the at least one portion of the first surface, the die-cut line positioned contiguous with an edge heat-sealed seam;
• and
• a second layer having an engaging surface, at least one portion of the engaging surface having a heat-sealable material thereon,
• the heat-sealable material on the first surface of the first layer being heat-sealed to the heat-sealable material of the engaging surface of the second layer to form the heat-sealed seam,
• the separation line within the heat-sealable material of the first surface of the first layer forming a separation line for the heat-sealable material from the first layer upon application of an opening force to the heat-sealed seam, the opening force causing release of the heat-sealable material from the pressure-sensitive adhesive along the separation line, and the heat-sealable material of the first surface remaining sealed to the heat-sealable material within the engaging surface upon release of the heat-sealable material from the pressure-sensitive material, and the exposed pressure-sensitive adhesive forming a re-closable seal for the first and second layers.

A method for making a flexible package having a re-closable seal adjacent one end, the method comprising the steps of:

• providing a flexible pouch having
• an inner surface and an open filling end, the open filling end having a pressure-sensitive adhesive applied to a first region of the inner surface thereof, said first region adjoining a first edge of the open filling end,
• a heat-seal coating applied over the first region of the inner surface, including the pressure-sensitive adhesive, and
• a heat-seal coating provided over the inner surface adjoining an opposing second edge of the open end;
• providing a separation line within the heat-seal material of the first region spaced inwardly along the first edge;
• filling the flexible pouch with a material to be stored therein;
• heat sealing the heat-seal coating of the first region to the heat-seal coating of the second region along the first and second edges, the separation line positioned within the pouch and proximate the heat-seal coating of the first and second regions.