Reclosable package and method of making reclosable package
AssigneeOscar Mayer Foods Corporation
InventorsRay H. Griesbach, Gerald O. Hustad
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A reclosable package comprising interlocking closure strips positioned outside of a hermetic seal or seal area and the method for producing same. The hermetic seal is of the easy-open or peelaway type so as to not destroy the integrity of the package or closure strips upon opening of the package.
Claims16
A method of enclosing a product between first and second sheets of packaging material, said method comprising the steps of:
- inserting a product between said first and second sheets of packaging material;
- attaching interlocking closure strips or profiles on said first and second sheets adjacent and peripheral to the areas of said first and second sheets destined to become a hermetic seal and extending substantially the length of one side of the package;
- contacting said first and second sheets with each other at a hermetic seal area adjacent to the product and around the periphery of the product, said first and second sheets having respective opposed first and second adhering surfaces at the hermetic seal area whereby there is formed immediately adjacent to the product, a hermetic seal which completely encloses said product between said first and second sheets of packaging material wherein said hermetic seal comprises at least one peelable bond area adjacent to the interlocking closure strips.
A continuous method of enclosing a product between a pair of films to provide a film-package having a product-enclosing portion and a peripheral flange, a first inner portion of said films being readily separated when access to the product is desired and a second outer portion of said films being reclosable, the method comprising the steps of:
- moving said pair of films spaced apart and face to face along a line, said films including means for bonding opposing faces thereof to each other;
- applying near a marginal edge of each of said pair of films reciprocally interlocking closure strips, said closure strips extending through that portion of the films destined to become a peripheral flange of said package;
- moving a product between said pair of films;
- drawing the films around the product to bring the films into contact with each other around the periphery of the product;
- bonding the films together around the periphery of the product, whereby a peelable bond is provided around a portion of the peripheral flange immediately adjacent to said product and peripherally located adjacent to said closure strips;
- and bonding together in intimate engagement the opposing interlocking end portions of said closure strips on each of said pair of films.
A reclosable package comprising:
- two films which form an easy-open peel seal upon intimate contact of said films;
- a peripheral flange;
- product cavity;
- hermetic, each-open, vacuum peel seal of sufficient opening force to withstand processing, handling and shipping but not greater than about 6.0 pounds opening force adjacent to said product;
- and reclosable, flexible, thermoplastic, interlocking closure strips, said strips being located adjacent, parallel and peripheral to the hermetic seal, said closure strips extending substantially the length of one edge of each of said films.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.