Method for Making A Flexible Packaging Structure With A Built-In Opening and Reclose Feature

A package for products, comprising a flexible packaging structure initially shaped as a flat sheet and then manipulated into a tubular wrapper, opposite longitudinal edges of the wrapper being sealed together, opposing portions of the wrapper being sealed together along transverse seal lines adjacent opposite ends of the wrapper to enclose the products in the wrapper, the package having a major surface, wherein the flexible packaging structure that forms the wrapper comprises:

• a first structure comprising at least one layer of flexible material, a pressure-sensitive adhesive substantially entirely covering one surface of the first structure;
• and
• a second structure adhesively joined to the first structure via the pressure-sensitive adhesive so as to form a laminate having a width defined between opposite longitudinal edges thereof, the first structure and the second structure each having a width equal to the width of the laminate, respective longitudinal edges of the first and second structures being substantially coincident with each other and defining the longitudinal edges of the laminate, and the second structure comprising at least one layer of flexible material, wherein one of the first and second structures comprises an outer structure and the other comprises an inner structure;
• an outer score line formed through the thickness of the outer structure and an inner score line formed through the thickness of the inner structure, the outer score line delineating an outer opening portion of the outer structure that is separable from the outer structure along the outer score line, the inner score line delineating an inner opening portion of the inner structure that is affixed to the outer opening portion by the pressure-sensitive adhesive and is separable from the inner structure along the inner score line, wherein a region of the outer opening portion between the outer and inner score lines is attached to an underlying surface of the inner structure via the pressure-sensitive adhesive, the outer opening portion being peelable from the underlying surface of the inner structure so as to cause the inner opening portion to also be peeled back to create an opening in the laminate, and the outer opening portion being re-attachable to the underlying surface of the inner structure via the pressure-sensitive adhesive for reclosing the opening;
• wherein the outer score line is contained within the major surface of the wrapper.

A package configured as a stand-up pouch, the pouch having a major surface, the pouch being formed by a flexible packaging structure comprising:

• a first structure comprising at least one layer of flexible material, a pressure-sensitive adhesive substantially entirely covering one surface of the first structure;
• and
• a second structure adhesively joined to the first structure via the pressure-sensitive adhesive so as to form a laminate having a width defined between opposite longitudinal edges thereof, the first structure and the second structure each having a width equal to the width of the laminate, respective longitudinal edges of the first and second structures being substantially coincident with each other and defining the longitudinal edges of the laminate, and the second structure comprising at least one layer of flexible material, wherein one of the first and second structures comprises an outer structure and the other comprises an inner structure;
• an outer score line formed through the thickness of the outer structure and an inner score line formed through the thickness of the inner structure, the outer score line delineating an outer opening portion of the outer structure that is separable from the outer structure along the outer score line, the inner score line delineating an inner opening portion of the inner structure that is affixed to the outer opening portion by the pressure-sensitive adhesive and is separable from the inner structure along the inner score line, wherein a region of the outer opening portion between the outer and inner score lines is attached to an underlying surface of the inner structure via the pressure-sensitive adhesive, the outer opening portion being peelable from the underlying surface of the inner structure so as to cause the inner opening portion to also be peeled back to create an opening in the laminate, and the outer opening portion being re-attachable to the underlying surface of the inner structure via the pressure-sensitive adhesive for reclosing the opening;
• wherein the outer score line is contained within the major surface of the pouch.

A lid for a container, the lid comprising a flexible packaging structure, the flexible packaging structure comprising:

• a first structure comprising at least one layer of flexible material, a pressure-sensitive adhesive substantially entirely covering one surface of the first structure;
• and
• a second structure adhesively joined to the first structure via the pressure-sensitive adhesive so as to form a laminate having a width defined between opposite longitudinal edges thereof, the first structure and the second structure each having a width equal to the width of the laminate, respective longitudinal edges of the first and second structures being substantially coincident with each other and defining the longitudinal edges of the laminate, and the second structure comprising at least one layer of flexible material, wherein one of the first and second structures comprises an outer structure and the other comprises an inner structure;
• an outer score line formed through the thickness of the outer structure and an inner score line formed through the thickness of the inner structure, the outer score line delineating an outer opening portion of the outer structure that is separable from the outer structure along the outer score line, the inner score line delineating an inner opening portion of the inner structure that is affixed to the outer opening portion by the pressure-sensitive adhesive and is separable from the inner structure along the inner score line, wherein a region of the outer opening portion between the outer and inner score lines is attached to an underlying surface of the inner structure via the pressure-sensitive adhesive, the outer opening portion being peelable from the underlying surface of the inner structure so as to cause the inner opening portion to also be peeled back to create an opening in the laminate, and the outer opening portion being re-attachable to the underlying surface of the inner structure via the pressure-sensitive adhesive for reclosing the opening.