Resealable closure with package integrity feature

A package integrity indicating closure, the closure comprising:

• a film layer forming the top of a container and having a flap defining an access opening to gain access to the contents of the container;
• a sealing panel completely covering the flap of the film layer, the sealing panel and the flap being permanently adhered to one another to thereby form the access opening, a margin of the sealing panel includes a portion of the sealing panel extending beyond the access opening;
• releasable adhesive provided on either the margin of the sealing panel facing the film layer or on the film layer facing the margin the releasable adhesive configured to adhere the sealing panel to the film layer, the sealing panel being releasable from the film layer by pulling the sealing panel back in a peeling direction and reclosable against the top to seal the access opening when the sealing panel is moved back against the top;
• a coating of transferable material on either the margin of the sealing panel on a first surface thereof facing the film layer or on the film layer on a second surface thereof facing the margin of the sealing panel, the coating being adhered near a perimeter of the first or second surfaces so that an inner area has the releasable adhesive and an outer area concentric with the inner area has at least the coating;
• and
• wherein the coating is transferable from the sealing panel to the film layer or the film layer to the sealing panel to thereby provide a visual indication that the closure has been previously opened, the visual indication being at least a portion of the coating that is visually exposed beyond the sealing panel upon misalignment in reclosing the sealing panel on the film layer.

A package integrity indicating closure, the closure comprising:

• an at least two-ply material comprising a first film layer adhesively joined to a second film layer;
• a first tear line formed into the first film layer, defining a first panel for providing an access opening through the first film layer when separated from the first film layer along the first tear line;
• the second film layer having a second layer tear line defining a sealing panel which completely covers the first panel, the first panel and the sealing panel being permanently joined to each other to form the access opening;
• the sealing panel releasably adhered to the first film layer such that the sealing panel is separable from the first film layer to expose the access opening;
• a margin of the sealing panel extends beyond the first tear line formed into the first film that forms the first panel that provides the access opening, a resealable adhesive is disposed on the margin of the sealing panel or on the first film layer facing the margin;
• a perimeter portion of the margin or the first film layer facing the perimeter portion of the margin has a coating of transferable material applied thereto such that the margin of the sealing panel or the first film layer facing the margin has inner and outer concentric areas wherein the inner concentric area has the resealable adhesive disposed thereon and the outer concentric area has at least the coating disposed thereon, the coating providing a tamper evident feature so that upon opening the closure a portion of the coating is transferred between the sealing panel and the first film layer to provide a visual indication that the closure has been opened after the sealing panel has been peeled back from the first film layer for a first time and the sealing panel releasably separates from the first film layer to expose the access opening;
• and
• wherein at least a portion of the coating of transferable material is visually exposed beyond the perimeter of the sealing panel after reclosure of the sealing panel, upon misalignment of the sealing panel in reclosing.

A package integrity indicating food container comprising:

• a tray;
• an at least two-ply material comprising an inner layer adhesively joined to an outer layer to form a top over the tray, the top formed to provide an access opening for access to food items disposed in the tray;
• the inner layer having a first panel, the outer layer having a sealing panel formed therein which completely covers the first panel, the first panel and the sealing panel being permanently joined to each other to form the access opening into the container;
• a margin of the sealing panel extends beyond the first panel of the inner laver, a resealable adhesive is disposed on the margin of the sealing panel or on the inner layer facing the margin for adhering the sealing panel to the inner layer, the sealing panel being releasable from the inner layer and by pulling the sealing layer back in a peeling direction and reclosable against the top to seal the opening when the sealing panel is moved back against the top;
• a perimeter portion of the margin or a portion of the inner film layer facing the perimeter portion of the margin having a coating of transferable material disposed thereto such that the margin of the sealing panel or the inner film layer facing the margin has inner and outer concentric areas wherein the inner concentric area has the resealable adhesive disposed thereon and the outer concentric area has at least the coating disposed thereon, the coating providing a tamper evident feature;
• whereby, upon opening the closure for a first time, at least a portion of the coating is transferred between the outer layer and the inner layer to provide a visual indication that the closure has been opened, the visual indication being at least a portion of the coating that is visually exposed beyond the perimeter of the sealing panel upon misalignment in reclosing.