Easy-open packages formed from peelable thermoplastic laminates

An easy-open package comprising:

• a tubular member formed from a peelable thermoplastic laminate having a first side edge and an opposing second side edge;
• a longitudinal seam connecting said first side edge of said laminate to said opposing second side edge of said laminate and defining a tubular member having a first tubular member end and an opposing second tubular member end, and an inner surface and an outer surface;
• wherein said longitudinal seam comprises a heat sealed portion having a predetermined seal strength and a non-heat sealed portion adjacent to and parallel with said heat sealed portion;
• wherein said non-heat sealed portion comprises a plurality of tear notches;
• a top seal formed proximate to said first tubular member end;
• a bottom seal formed proximate to said second tubular member end;
• wherein said laminate comprises an oriented monolayer or multilayer first substrate having a heat shrinkage greater than 10% at 102° C. and comprising an outer layer of polyethylene;
• a non-oriented monolayer or multilayer second substrate having heat shrinkage value of between 0 and 10% at 102° C. and comprising a first layer of polyethylene;
• an adhesive layer of solvent-based polyurethane joining said first layer of said first substrate to said first layer of said second substrate;
• wherein said laminate includes a peelable system adapted to separate at the interface between said adhesive layer and said first layer of said first substrate by a force of between 60 and 2,500 gram-force/in;
• and
• a peelable removable strip formed by manually tearing said non-heat sealed portion between two tear notches to peel away from said package and expose a product enclosed therein;
• wherein said removable strip has a width defined by substantially parallel side edges extending perpendicular to said longitudinal seam and a length defined by at least a portion of the circumference of said package.

An easy-open package comprising:

• a tubular member formed from a peelable thermoplastic laminate having a first side edge and an opposing second side edge:
• a longitudinal seam connecting said first side edge of said laminate to said opposing second side edge of said laminate and defining a tubular member having a first tubular member end and an opposing second tubular member end, and an inner surface and an outer surface;
• wherein said longitudinal seam comprises a heat sealed portion having a predetermined seal strength and a non-heat sealed portion adjacent to and parallel with said heat sealed portion;
• wherein said non-heat sealed portion comprises a plurality of tear notches;
• a top seal formed proximate to said first tubular member end;
• a bottom seal formed proximate to said second tubular member end;
• wherein said laminate comprises a non-oriented multilayer first substrate having a heat shrinkage of between 0 and 10% at 102° C. and comprising a first layer of polyethylene and a second layer of a blend of ethylene/vinyl acetate copolymer and polybutene;
• wherein said first layer of said first substrate is an outer layer and is at least 25% by basis weight of said laminate;
• a non-oriented multilayer second substrate having heat shrinkage value of between 0 and 10% at 102° C. and comprising a first layer of polyethylene;
• an adhesive layer of polyethylene or solvent-based polyurethane joining said first layer of said first substrate to said first layer of said second substrate;
• wherein said laminate includes a peelable system adapted to separate within said second layer of said first substrate by a force of between 60 and 2,500 gram-force/in.;
• and
• a removable strip formed by manually tearing said non-heat sealed portion between two tear notches to peel away from said package and expose a product enclosed therein;
• wherein said removable strip has a width defined by substantially parallel side edges extending perpendicular to said longitudinal seam and a length defined by at least a portion of the circumference of said package.