U.S. patent application number 14/356211 was filed with the patent office on 2014-09-25 for flow wrap packaging.
The applicant listed for this patent is NESTEC S.A.. Invention is credited to Sophie Marie Labrousse Molla, Pierre Henri Lebrand, Mikael Rota.
Application Number | 20140287106 14/356211 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 47046606 |
Filed Date | 2014-09-25 |
United States Patent
Application |
20140287106 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Labrousse Molla; Sophie Marie ;
et al. |
September 25, 2014 |
FLOW WRAP PACKAGING
Abstract
The invention is directed to a sealed packaging (1, 100, 110)
for food products (P), such as confectionery products like candy
bars or ice cream bars, preferably having a substantially cuboid
form and comprising a flow wrap (2), wherein the flow wrap (2) is
closed by end seals (3, 4) at two opposed ends (5, 6) and a fin
seal (7) extending in a longitudinal direction of the packaging (1,
100, 110) between the two end seals (3, 4), wherein the fin seal
(7) is provided at a lateral side (8) of the packaging (1, 100,
110), wherein an opening aid (9) is provided in the fin seal (7),
and wherein the opening aid (9) extends into a tear-line (11) which
diagonally traverses at least one of a front and rear wall (F, R)
of the packaging (1, 100, 110).
Inventors: |
Labrousse Molla; Sophie Marie;
(Amiens, FR) ; Rota; Mikael; (Beauvais, FR)
; Lebrand; Pierre Henri; (Bonlier, FR) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
NESTEC S.A. |
Vevey |
|
CH |
|
|
Family ID: |
47046606 |
Appl. No.: |
14/356211 |
Filed: |
October 18, 2012 |
PCT Filed: |
October 18, 2012 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/EP2012/070606 |
371 Date: |
May 5, 2014 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
426/122 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 75/5827 20130101;
B65D 75/5888 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
426/122 |
International
Class: |
B65D 75/58 20060101
B65D075/58 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Nov 4, 2011 |
EP |
11187803.9 |
Claims
1. A sealed packaging for food products comprising a flow wrap, the
flow wrap is closed by end seals at two opposed ends and a fin seal
extending in a longitudinal direction of the packaging between the
two end seals; the fin seal is provided at a lateral side of the
packaging, wherein an opening aid is provided in the fin seal; and
the opening aid extends into a tear-line which diagonally traverses
at least one of a front and rear wall of the packaging.
2. The packaging according to claim 1, comprising at least a
further tear-line, the additional tear-line extends from a region
of the lateral side close to where the previous tear-line ends, and
the additional tear-line diagonally traverses at least one of the
front and rear wall of the packaging in a direction so that all the
tear-lines approach the same end seal, and the tear-lines are
arranged such that they do not cross each other.
3. The packaging according to claim 1, wherein the tear-line
diagonally traverses both the front and rear wall of the packaging,
and the tear-lines on both sides of the packaging extend in
parallel to each other.
4. The packaging according to claim 1, wherein the opening aid is
provided in the fin seal so as to be closer to one of the end seals
being a first end seal.
5. The packaging according to claim 4, wherein tear-lines
diagonally traverse the packaging so as to approach the end seal
being opposite to the first end seal.
6. The packaging according to claim 1, wherein tear-lines
traversing respectively the front wall and the rear wall of the
packaging do not merge at a lateral side of the packaging being
opposite to the lateral side having the fin seal thus forming a
non-merging portion at a periphery of the packaging being able to
hold the packaging together in one piece when the tear-line is used
to open the packaging.
7. The packaging according to claim 6, wherein the additional
tear-lines traversing respectively the front wall and the rear wall
of the packaging merge at the lateral side next to the non-merging
portion of the previous tear-line, and do not merge at the opposite
lateral side thus forming a further non-merging portion at a
periphery of the packaging being able to hold the packaging
together in one single piece when the tear-lines are used to open
the packaging.
8. The packaging according to claim 6, wherein the non-merging
portion extends from the respective lateral side over less than 20%
of the total width of the packaging.
9. The packaging according to claim 2, wherein the entirety of the
tear-lines forms a zigzag pattern on the front and/or the rear wall
of the packaging.
10. The packaging according to claim 1, wherein the transverse axis
of the packaging being perpendicular to the lateral side having the
fin seal as well as the respective tear-lines enclose an angle of
less than 80.degree..
11. The packaging according to claim 1, wherein a portion of the
fin seal extending between the opening aid and one of the end seals
is a gripper member designed to initiate opening of the
packaging.
12. The packaging according to claim 1, wherein the width of the
fin seal is greater than or equal to the thickness of the
packaging, such that the fin seal can be folded back to wrap at
least the lateral side portion of the packaging having the fin
seal.
13. The packaging according to claim 1, wherein the opening aid is
a notch.
14. The packaging according to claim 1, wherein the extension of
the tear-line into the fin seal forms a first edge of the opening
aid, and wherein a second edge of the opening aid extends from the
tear-line so as to diverge from the first edge.
15. The packaging according to claim 1, wherein the tear-line is a
precut pattern.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The invention relates to sealed packaging for food products,
such as confectionery products like candy bars or ice cream bars,
comprising a flow wrap being closed by at least one end seal as
well as a fin seal.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] In the prior art, many packages are known such as candy bars
or the like, being made of a flow wrap. Several ways of opening the
packaging is also known wherein it can be either opened by using
the end seal pattern or the long fin seal pattern to initiate the
tear. Such opening is however neither controlled nor intuitive.
Further, such conventional packaging does not guarantee access to
the product via a full wide opening as the opening is not
controlled. Consequently, such packaging opens in a random fashion
often leading to contact between the fingers of the consumer and
the product.
[0003] Further, conventional packaging renders it difficult to
access the product without damaging the product, since the consumer
needs to press onto the outer surface of the packaging surrounding
the product in order to gain access. Therefore, the product may get
crushed and thus damaged by the pressure and/or starts to melt if
said product is heat-sensitive.
[0004] EP 0 957 743 A1, for instance, shows a package for candy
bars including a cut which extends into the seal and constitutes a
weak spot in the foil material, wherein the said weak spot forms
the starting point of a tear. To open the package the longitudinal
seal is gripped by two hands which are moved away from each other
so that the package tear starts from the cut which results in
separated parts of the package.
[0005] U.S. Pat. No. 4,290,526 shows a tubular wrapper-type
container. The package includes a section extending around the
package towards the seal seam thereof, which section is adapted to
break or tear to open the package and expose the contents thereof.
The section can extend at an acute angle to the longitudinal axis
of the seal seam being arranged at the rear side of the package, or
it can extend in a V-shaped outline on the front side. The section
of the seal seam between the ends of the section at the rear side
of the package can serve as a hinge that connects the two parts of
the package being torn apart.
[0006] JP 2002-193276 A2 shows an easy-to-open packaging bag
including an opening starting part provided in a thermally adhered
but-seam part. Furthermore, it also includes a cut line which
extends in a slanting direction from the opening starting part
towards both the side ends of the bag and crosses the folding
parts.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] The present invention aims to improve on the above-mentioned
drawbacks, and an object thereof is to provide a packaging which
allows a simple and intuitive opening as well as a "mess-free"
consumption of the product.
[0008] The object is to be accomplished by means of the independent
claims. The dependent claims advantageously study further the
central idea of the invention.
[0009] According to a first aspect of the invention, there is
provided a sealed packaging for food products, such as
confectionery products like candy bars or ice cream bars,
preferably having a substantially cuboid form and comprising a flow
wrap, wherein the flow wrap is closed by end seals at two opposed
ends and a fin seal extending in a longitudinal direction of the
packaging between the two end seals, wherein the fin seal is
provided at (i.e. extends along) a lateral side of the packaging,
wherein an opening aid is provided in the fin seal, and wherein the
opening aid extends into a tear-line which diagonally traverses at
least one of a front and rear wall of the packaging, i.e. in a
direction so as to approach one of the end seals.
[0010] By means of the packaging according to the invention, an
intuitive opening feature is provided as the consumer merely needs
to grasp the fin seal in a region close to the opening aid to open
the packaging in a simple and convenient manner. Therefore, the fin
seal is placed at one of the lateral sides of the packaging when
facing the product and thus enables an opening feature which can be
easily located and used in an intuitive way. Further, the packaging
as claimed allows for a "mess-free" application. This comes about
since said packaging is easy to open which avoids damage to the
product during opening since there is no need to press directly
onto the product via the packaging. Further, the tear-line provides
a feature for a controlled and thus clean opening of the
packaging.
[0011] The packaging may further comprise at least a further
tear-line, wherein the additional tear-line extends from a region
of the lateral side close to where the previous tear-line ends
(i.e. a lateral side being opposite to the lateral side having the
fin seal and opening aid), and the additional tear-line diagonally
traverses at least one of the front and rear wall of the packaging
in a direction so that all tear-lines approach the same end seal,
and wherein the tear-lines are arranged such that they do not cross
each other. It is thus possible to open the packaging step by step
according to the consumer's needs while there is no need to press
onto the product to force it towards the opening. Further, product
integrity is ensured until the end of the consumption as the
product is only uncovered to an extent complying with the
consumer's needs.
[0012] Preferably, the tear-line diagonally traverses both the
front and rear wall of the packaging, i.e. in a direction so as to
approach said one of the end seals, and the tear-lines on both
sides of the packaging preferably extend in parallel to each other.
It is thus possible to provide a full wide opening of the packaging
to allow a comfortable access to the product to be consumed.
[0013] The opening aid may be provided in the fin seal so as to be
closer to one of the end seals being a first end seal; in this
regard, the tear-lines preferably diagonally traverse the packaging
so as to approach the end seal being opposite to the first end
seal.
[0014] In this regard, the tear-lines traversing respectively the
front wall and the rear wall of the packaging preferably do not
merge at a lateral side of the packaging being opposite to the
lateral side having the fin seal thus forming a non-merging portion
at a periphery of the packaging being able to hold the packaging
together in one piece when the tear-line is used to open the
packaging. Similarly, the additional tear-lines traversing
respectively the front wall and the rear wall of the packaging
preferably merge at the lateral side next to the non-merging
portion of the previous tear-line. In addition, they preferably do
not merge at the opposite lateral side thus forming a further
non-merging portion at a periphery of the packaging being able to
hold the packaging in one single piece when the tear-lines are used
to open the packaging.
[0015] It is thus possible to open the packaging step by step in a
controlled manner during the whole consumption of the product. Due
to several opening steps, the invention provides an easy access to
the product via a wide opening wherein the opening steps may
correspond to the bite needs of the consumer; one bite may
correspond to one opening step. The number of transversal opening
sections (i.e. tear-lines) is thus not limited. The opening feature
is thus controlled and is also continuous so as to avoid remnant
material when consuming the product. The first opening is initiated
by the opening aid and further opening steps are initiated by
pulling the gripper member or remnant wrapping material. Throughout
consumption the packaging is not removed in one step due to the
non-merging portions at the end of each of the tear-lines. It is
thus possible to continuously open the product step by step and
according to the consumer's rate of consumption, thus giving an
easy and wide access to the product.
[0016] Further, the plurality of tear-lines avoids contamination of
both the product and the consumer's fingers through the controlled
opening steps until the end of the consumption. As the opening of
said packaging is directed toward the end of the product step by
step, there is no need to press onto the product via the packaging
to access the product.
[0017] When having more than one tear-line, the entirety of the
tear-lines forms a zigzag pattern on the front and/or the rear wall
of the packaging thus allowing the continuous and controlled
opening over parts of or the whole packaging.
[0018] Preferably, the transverse axis of the packaging being
perpendicular to the lateral side having the fin seal and the
respective tear-line enclose an (acute) angle of less than
80.degree., preferably less than 60.degree.. Due to the predefined
angle, a wide opening can be defined depending on the type of the
product to be consumed as well as its dimensions.
[0019] The non-merging portion preferably extends from the
respective lateral side over less than 20%, preferably less than
10%, more preferably less than 5% of the total width of the
packaging. It is thus possible to provide a non-merging portion
which is both big and strong enough to avoid the packaging being
torn apart in separate pieces while still providing a wide opening
of the packaging to easily access the product to be consumed.
[0020] The portion of the fin seal extending between the opening
aid and one of the end seals (preferably the end seal being closer
to the opening aid) preferably is a gripper member designed to
initiate opening of the packaging, thus enhancing an intuitive and
easy opening of packaging.
[0021] The width of the fin seal is preferably greater than or
equal to the thickness of the packaging. Hence, it is possible to
fold back the fin seal to wrap at least the (adjacent) lateral side
portion of the packaging having said fin seal. The side fin seal
can thus be easily hidden for aesthetic reasons while still being
easily accessible in an intuitive way. Further, the respective
lateral side of the package can be printed by printing the fin
seal. The imprint may, for instance, also comprise an opening
instruction.
[0022] The opening aid preferably is a notch being provided (e.g.
cut) in the fin seal. Preferably, the notch has a triangular shape
or form.
[0023] Further, the extension of the tear-line into the fin seal
may form a first edge of the opening aid. The other (second) edge
of the opening aid preferably extends from the tear-line so as to
diverge from the first edge of the opening aid; i.e. extends in a
direction so as to approach a transverse axis crossing the
geometrical center of the packaging. As the tear-line extends into
a side portion of the opening aid, the packaging can be easily
opened and the opening aid as well as the tear-line can be easily
provided into the flow wrap in one single step.
[0024] The tear-line preferably is a pre-cut pattern, more
preferably a laser score line. As the opening pattern is done
through a pre-cut, the opening location can be precisely
defined.
[0025] Further features, advantages and objects of the present
invention would come apparent for the skilled person when reading
the following detailed description of embodiments of the present
invention, when taking in conjunction with the figures of the
enclosed drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0026] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a packaging according to
the invention.
[0027] FIG. 2a shows a front view of a packaging according to a
first embodiment of the invention in a closed condition.
[0028] FIG. 2b shows a top view of the packaging according to FIG.
2a.
[0029] FIG. 3a shows a front view of the packaging according to
FIG. 2a having the fin seal being unfolded.
[0030] FIG. 3b shows a top view of the packaging according to FIG.
3a.
[0031] FIG. 4 shows a front view of the packaging according to FIG.
2a in an opened condition.
[0032] FIG. 5a shows a front view of a packaging according to a
second embodiment of the invention.
[0033] FIG. 5b shows a top view of the packaging according to FIG.
5a.
[0034] FIG. 6a shows a front view of the packaging according to
FIG. 5a having the fin seal being unfolded.
[0035] FIG. 6b shows a top view of the packaging according to FIG.
6a.
[0036] FIG. 7 shows a front view of the packaging according to FIG.
5a in an open condition after a first opening step.
[0037] FIG. 8 shows a front view of the packaging according to FIG.
5a in an open condition after a second opening step.
[0038] FIG. 9 shows a front view of a packaging according to a
third embodiment of the invention.
[0039] FIG. 10 shows a perspective view of the packaging according
to FIG. 6a including the initial gripping condition of the hands
for opening the packaging.
[0040] FIG. 11 shows a perspective view of the packaging according
to FIG. 7 including the gripping condition of the hands.
[0041] FIG. 12 shows a perspective view of the packaging according
to FIG. 8 showing the gripping condition of the hands.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0042] FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of the packaging 1 according to
the invention. The packaging 1 according to the embodiments has a
substantially cuboid form but the invention is not limited thereto
as is described herein.
[0043] The packaging 1 comprises a flow wrap 2 which preferably
consists of a flexible plastic material; a foil sheet or aluminum
sheet, or a metalized foil material, or the like materials commonly
used for consumable packaging. The flow wrap 2 is closed by end
seals 3, 4 at two opposed ends 5, (preferably at the narrow short
lateral sides) as well as a fin seal 7 extending in a longitudinal
direction of the packaging 1 between the two end seals 3, 4 to
completely seal the packaging 1, preferably in an air-tight manner,
thus forming a sealed packaging 1. The packaging 1 is adapted to be
used with food products like candy bars (e.g. chocolate bars or
chocolate-type bars or similar items) or other products which are
to be consumed piece by piece like ice-cream bars or other chilled
products and the like; the food products P are placed in the
packaging 1 according to the invention as can be seen in FIG. 4,
for instance, and are sealably wrapped by the flow wrap 2.
[0044] Also, with respect to FIGS. 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b and 4 (showing a
first embodiment of the invention), the fin seal 7 is provided at
one of the lateral sides 8, 12 (preferably the narrow long lateral
sides) of the packaging 1, said lateral side is in the following
also referred to as first lateral side 8. The lateral side 12 being
opposite to the first lateral side 8 is in the following also
referred to as second lateral side 12.
[0045] It is noted that the invention is not limited to a packaging
having two opposed end seals and the fin seal extending between
these two end seals. In case the packaging 1 has, for instance, a
triangular form, it can also be arranged in a different way as will
be described later on with respect to another embodiment of the
invention.
[0046] The width W of the fin seal 7 is preferably greater than or
equal to the thickness T of the packaging 1 such that the fin seal
7 can be folded back to wrap around at least said (first) lateral
side portion 8 of the packaging 1 having said fin seal 7 as can be
seen in FIG. 2b. Preferably, the ratio of the total width of the
packaging 1 to the width W of the fin seal 7 is about 1/20 to 1/1,
preferably 1/1.5.
[0047] As can be clearly seen in FIGS. 1, 2a and 3a, an opening aid
9 is provided in the fin seal 7. In a preferred embodiment, the
opening aid 9 is provided in the fin seal 7 so as to be closer to
one of the end seals; being the first end seal 3 in the depicted
embodiments. That is to say that in the latter case the opening aid
9 is provided in the fin seal 7 in a region being off-centered with
respect to a geometrical center C of the packaging 1 and in a
direction of a longitudinal axis A of the packaging 1. In other
words, the opening aid 9 can be provided in a region between one of
the end seals (first end seal 3) as well as a transverse axis (not
shown) crossing the geometrical center C of the packaging 1 and
being in parallel to the first end seal 3, the opening aid 9 thus
being closer to the first end seal 3 with respect to the
geometrical center C of the packaging 1.
[0048] The opening aid can be a notch 9 being provided (e.g. cut)
in the fin seal 7. Preferably, the notch 9 may have a triangular
form but can also have any other form for enhancing an initial
opening of the packaging 1 and providing an intuitively operable
opening means.
[0049] A portion of the fin seal 7 extending between the opening
aid 9 and one of the end seals 3, 4, preferably the end seal (the
first end seal 3 in the depicted embodiments) being closer to the
opening aid 9 than the other end seal (the second end seal 4 in the
depicted embodiments) can be used as a gripper member 10 to enable
a consumer to grip the gripper member 10 by his fingers (as also
shown in FIG. 10) and thus to initiate an easy and intuitive
opening of the packaging 1. As the fin seal 7 is provided at a side
of the packaging 1, the consumer, when facing the packaging 1, can
easily locate the opening feature and intuitively realizes to grasp
the gripper member 10 to open the packaging 1.
[0050] As can be seen in FIGS. 2a and 3a, the opening aid 9 passes
into, i.e. extends into a tear-line 11 which diagonally traverses
at least one of a front wall F and rear wall R of the packaging 1.
That is to say that the tear-line starting from the opening aid 9
transversely and diagonally extends across the packaging 1 on the
respective side (front or rear wall F, R) or on both the front wall
F and the rear wall R thereof. The tear-line thus diagonally
traverses at least one or both of the front and rear wall F, R of
the packaging 1, wherein in case tear-lines 11 traverse both the
front and rear wall F, R, the tear-lines 11 on both sides of the
packaging 1 preferably extend in parallel to each other (in front
view). In the latter case, the product to be consumed is exposed in
an identical way with respect to the front and rear wall F, R of
the packaging 1.
[0051] In a preferred embodiment, the tear-line 11 preferably
diagonally traverses the packaging 1 so as to approach the end seal
(second end seal 4) being opposite to the first end seal 3. How far
the tear-line 11 approaches the second end seal 4 depends on the
inclination angle of the tear-line 11 as is described herein.
[0052] The tear-line 11 preferably is a pre-cut pattern, most
preferably a laser-score line to allow a controlled opening of the
packaging 1 once the opening is initiated by grabbing and pulling
the packaging 1, particularly the gripper member 10.
[0053] A transverse axis V of the packaging 1 is shown in FIGS. 2a
and 3a, which transverse axis V is perpendicular to the lateral
sides 8, 12, preferably at least the lateral side 8 having the fin
seal 7. The transverse axis V as well as the respective tear-line
11 preferably enclose an angle .alpha. of less than 80.degree.,
more preferably less than 50.degree.. Hence, the tear-line 11 can
be adapted to the needs of the consumer in conjunction with the
product to be consumed. Dependent on the angle .alpha. being
chosen, the width or size of the opening O of the packaging 1 can
be defined as well as the amount of the product P to be exposed
after having opened the packaging 1 along the tear-line 11.
[0054] The extension of the tear-line 11 into the fin seal 7 can
form a side portion (first edge 91) of the opening aid 9. The other
side portion (second edge 92) of the opening aid 9 preferably
extends from the tear-line 11 so as to diverge from the first edge
91 of the opening aid 9; i.e. preferably extends in a direction so
as to approach a transverse axis crossing the geometrical center C
of the packaging 1, in case the opening aid 9 is provided closer to
one of the end seals 3, 4. As the tear-line 11 extends into the
precut opening aid 9, an easy opening can be guaranteed without any
undesired random opening. The first and second side portions or
edges 91, 92 of the opening aid 9 are further arranged such that
the opening aid 9 expands to an outside of the fin seal 7 being
opposite to the tear-line 11 to further enable an easy location of
the intuitively operable opening feature.
[0055] The tear-lines 11 traversing respectively the front wall F
and rear wall R of the packaging 1 preferably do not merge at a
lateral side (the second lateral side 12) of the packaging 1 being
opposite to the first lateral side 8 having the fin seal 7 thus
forming a non-merging portion N at a periphery of the packaging 1.
The non-merging portion N is thus preferably provided in a region
in extension of the tear-lines 11 and on an opposite side of a
region of the packaging 1 where the tear-lines 11 on both sides F,
R of the packaging 1 merge together (and extend into the opening
aid 9). The non-merging portion N is able to hold the packaging 1
together in one piece in case the tear-line 11 is used to open the
packaging 1. This is clearly depicted in FIG. 4 where the packaging
1 is not torn apart into separate pieces due to the non-merging
portion N such that the two parts 30, 31 of the packaging 1 are
still connected by means of the non-merging portion N.
[0056] In a preferred embodiment, the non-merging portion N extends
from the respective lateral side (the second lateral side 12 in
FIG. 2a) over less than 20%, preferably less than 10%, more
preferably less than 5% of the total width W.sub.total of the
packaging 1. In other words, the tear-line(s) 11 extend(s) from a
lateral side (the first long lateral side 8 in FIG. 2a), e.g. a
side where the tear-lines 11 traversing respectively the front and
rear wall F, R of the packaging 1 merge (at the respective side
portion), over at least 80%, preferably at least 90%, more
preferably at least 95% in a transversal direction with respect to
the packaging 1 towards the opposite lateral side (the second
lateral side 12 in FIG. 2a) such that the tear-lines 11 traversing
both the front and rear walls F, R of the packaging 1 do not merge
at this other opposite lateral side.
[0057] As can be seen in FIG. 4, the product P to be consumed is
thus exposed through a wide opening O of the packaging 1 while at
the same time the fin seal 7 being placed at one of the sides of
the packaging 1 when facing the packaging 1 constitutes an opening
feature which is easy to locate and easily and intuitively
operable. Due to the controlled and guided opening by means of the
tear-line 11 starting from the opening aid 9 of or in the fin seal
7 being arranged at a side (narrow long lateral side 8) of the
packaging 1, the package 1 must not be crushed or otherwise
squeezed to grip it for somehow opening the packaging 1 such that
the product P is not damaged. The diagonal extension of the
tear-line 11 allows a wide opening of the packaging 1 according to
the needs of the consumer in conjunction with the product P to be
consumed.
[0058] With respect to FIGS. 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7 and 8, another
embodiment of the packaging 100 according to the invention is
shown. The packaging 100 according to this embodiment preferably
further comprises at least one additional tear-line 20, wherein the
invention is not limited thereto. In fact, the number of additional
tear-lines is not limited by the invention. For example, FIG. 9
shows a third embodiment of the packaging 110 according to the
invention having a plurality of (three) additional tear-lines 20,
21, 22.
[0059] It is noted that identical features of the respective
embodiments are provided with the same reference numerals. What has
been described with respect to the first embodiment thus also
applies for the embodiments described in the following.
[0060] As can be clearly seen in FIGS. 5a and 6a or FIG. 9, the
additional tear-lines 20, 21, 22 extend from a region of the
lateral side 12 or 8 of the packaging 100, 110 close to where the
previous tear-line ends (e.g. where the non-merging portion N of
the previous tear-line 11, 20, 21 is provided), and the additional
tear-line 20, 21, 22 diagonally traverses at least one of the front
and rear wall F, R of the packaging in a direction so that all
tear-lines 11, 20, 21, 22 approach the same end seal (preferably
the second end seal 4). That is to say, that the additional
tear-lines 20, 21, 22 transversely and diagonally extends across
the packaging 1 on one or both the front and rear wall F, R thereof
and, in the latter case, preferably in parallel to each other, such
that the additional tear-line 20, 21, 22 is inclined to approach
one of the end seals 3, 4 (preferably the second end seal 4 being
opposite to the first end seal 3). In case there is present more
than one tear-line, the tear-lines 11, 20, 21, 22 are arranged such
that they do not cross each other (preferably in front view) so
that the packaging is not torn apart into separate pieces when the
tear-lines 11, 20, 21, 22 are successively used step by step to
open the packaging 100, 110 according to the consumer's needs.
[0061] In case the tear-lines 11, 20, 21, 22 extend on both sides
of the packaging 100, 110, the additional tear-lines 20, 21, 22
traversing respectively the front wall F and the rear wall R of the
packaging 100, 110 merge at the lateral side 12 or 8 of the
packaging 100, 110 next to the non-merging portion N of the
previous tear-line 11, 20, 21, and do not merge at the opposite
lateral side 8 or 12 of the packaging 100, 110 thus forming a
further non-merging portion N at a periphery of the packaging 100,
110 being able to hold the packaging 100, 110 together in one
single piece when the tear-lines 11, 20, 21, 22 are used to open
the packaging 100, 110.
[0062] In a preferred embodiment, each of the tear-lines 11, 20,
21, 22 extends diagonally from an upper portion of the packaging 1,
100, 110 to a lower portion thereof while a subsequent tear-line
20, 21, 22 having its upper portion close to the region of (i.e.
next to) the lower portion of the previous tear-line 11, 20, 21
extends diagonally downwards to distance/diverge from the previous
tear-line 11, 20, 21 while the respective upper portion of each of
the tear-lines 11, 20, 21, 22 merges, i.e. reaches into the
respective lateral side portions 8 or 12 while the respective lower
portions of the tear-lines 11, 20, 21, 22 do not merge in a region
of or close to the respective lateral side 12 or 8 of the packaging
1, 100, 110, thus forming the non-merging portions N.
[0063] With respect to FIGS. 5a, 6a and 9, the transverse axis V of
the packaging 100, 110 as well as each of the tear-lines 11, 20,
21, 22 preferably enclose an angle .alpha.,.beta.,.gamma.,.delta.
of less than 80.degree., more preferably less than 50.degree.. The
angles .alpha.,.beta.,.gamma.,.delta. of the respective tear-lines
11, 20, 21, 22 do not need to be identical, but in a preferred
embodiment, at least two or all of the angles
.alpha.,.beta.,.gamma.,.delta. are identical; i.e.
(.alpha.=.beta.=.gamma.=.delta.). For example, the angles
.alpha.,.beta. of the first tear-lines 11, 20 can be identical and
the angles .gamma.,.delta. of the following tear-lines 21, 22 can
be identical but smaller than the first two angles .alpha.,.beta.
to accommodate the consumer's needs who likes to consume big pieces
when first opening the packaging 100, 110 but wants to consume less
when the initial hunger is satisfied. Hence, the tear-lines 11, 20,
21, 22 can be adapted to the needs of the consumer in conjunction
with the product to be consumed. Dependent on the angles
.alpha.,.beta.,.gamma.,.delta. being chosen, the width or size of
the opening O of the packaging 100, 110 for each opening step as
well as the amount of the product P to be exposed after every
single opening step of the packaging 100, 110 along the respective
tear-lines 11, 20, 21, 22 can be individually pre-defined.
[0064] Hence, when intuitively gripping the packaging 1, 100, 110
at the gripper member 10 (see FIG. 10) and pulling said gripper
member 10 in a direction as indicated by arrow P1 in FIG. 11 to
initiate an opening of a package 1, 100, 110, the packaging 1, 100,
110 will first tear along the first tear-line 11 until it reaches
the first non-merging portion N at the end of the first tear-line
11. Then, the consumer can consume the product P which is now
exposed from the packaging 1, 100, 110 allowing an easy access to
the product P because of a controlled wide opening of the packaging
1. This first opening step may correspond to one or a predefined
number of bites as can be seen in FIG. 11.
[0065] To further expose the product P to be consumed, the consumer
may initiate the following opening steps by pulling the gripper
member 10 or the remnant wrapping material 31 in a direction as
indicated by arrow P2 in FIG. 12 while the whole packaging 100
remains connected. This is clearly depicted in FIG. 12 where the
packaging is not torn apart in separate pieces due to the
non-merging portion N such that the three (or more) parts 30, 31,
32 of the packaging 1 are still connected by each of the
non-merging portions N of the respective tear-lines 11, 20, 21, 22
which have been used (opened).
[0066] The opening feature according to the invention controls the
opening of the packaging 1, 100, 110 along one single path. The
invention thus offers the opportunity to continuously open the
packaging 1, 100, 110 and expose the product P according to the
consumer's needs while at the same time providing an easy access to
the product via a wide opening O. Further, the packaging 1, 100,
110 is a "mess-free" application as the packaging 1, 100, 110
renders superfluous the need to press onto the packaging in order
to guide the rest of the product P towards and through the opening
since the opening steps allow to successively expose the product P
step by step. It is thus possible by means of the packaging 1, 100,
110 according to the invention to expose the product P to be
consumed by simply pulling the remnant material 31, 32 or gripping
member 10 to open the packaging step by step and without applying a
pressure onto the product P itself.
[0067] The invention, however, is not limited to the size of the
packaging 1, 100, 110 and product as well as the number of
tear-lines 11, 20, 21, 22. For example, FIG. 9 shows the packaging
110 having four tear-lines 11, 20, 21, 22 (at each of the front and
rear wall F, R) but the packaging may also have less (at least one)
or more tear-lines. It is to be understood that the tear-lines 11,
20, 21, 22 must not cross each other to avoid the packaging 1, 100,
110 being torn into separate pieces.
[0068] The entirety of the tear-lines 11, 20, 21, 22 according to
the invention preferably forms a zigzag pattern on the front wall F
and/or rear wall R of the packaging 100, 110 (i.e. in side view) as
can be seen in FIGS. 5a, 6a and 9. When only having two tear-lines
11, 20, as shown in the second embodiment, these tear-lines 11, 20
are arranged in a V-shape. In other words, adjacent tear-lines 11,
20 or 20, 21 or 21, 22 and so on are always arranged in a V-shape,
wherein the "V" is alternately open to the lateral side (e.g. the
first and second lateral sides 8, 12 according to FIG. 9) of the
packaging 110.
[0069] It has already been described above that the packaging is
not limited to a rectangular shape. It is also possible that the
packaging may have a square, rectangular, triangular or any other
shape in side view while the packaging may also have a circular,
oval, square or rectangular or any other cross-section in a top
view.
[0070] In this case, the packaging (e.g. a rectangular packaging 1,
100, 110 as shown in the figures or a triangular shaped packaging
as not shown in the figures) also comprises the before-mentioned
flow wrap 2 which is closed by at least one end seal 3, 4 and a fin
seal 7, the latter extending at and along a lateral side (e.g. 8)
of the packaging 1. The opening aid (e.g. notch) 9 is provided in
the fin seal 7, preferably close to one of the ends of the fin seal
7 in its longitudinal direction. In case the opening aid 9 is
located close to one of the ends of the fin seal 7, the opening aid
9 preferably is at least partially situated outside a respective
end seal 3. The opening aid 9 also passes or extends into a
tear-line 11 which diagonally traverses at least one of a front and
rear wall F, R of the packaging 1, 100, 110 in a direction so as to
diverge from an axis V being orthogonal to the longitudinal
extension of the fin seal 7 and crossing the starting point S of
the tear-line 11. In other words, the tear-line 11 may transversely
extend in a slanting direction across the packaging on one or both
of the front and rear wall F, R thereof, such that the tear-line 11
is inclined to extend in the direction away from the end of the fin
seal 7 having the opening aid 9. The starting point S of the
tear-line 11 can be understood as the merging region of both the
tear-lines 11 traversing respectively the front and rear wall F, R,
as the portion being opposite to the non-merging portion N, or just
as the portion of the tear-line closest to the opening aid 9 or
being torn first when using the tear-line 11 to open the packaging
1, 100, 110.
[0071] The tear-line 11 may thus traverse one or both of the front
and rear wall F, R of the packaging 1, 100, 110. In the latter
case, the tear-lines traverse both the front and rear wall F, R in
a direction so as to diverge from the axis V being orthogonal to
the longitudinal extension of the fin seal 7 when the axis V passes
the starting point S of the tear-lines 11 (i.e. where the
tear-lines merge together or where the opening aid is located or
the like). The tear-lines extending on both sides of the packaging
1, 100, 110 preferably extend in parallel to each other.
[0072] The tear-lines 11 traversing respectively the front and rear
wall F, R of the packaging 1, 100, 110 do not merge at an end
thereof being most distanced from the opening aid 9 thus forming a
non-merging portion N at a periphery of the packaging 1, 100, 110
being able to hold the packaging 1, 100, 110 together in one single
piece when the tear-lines 11 are used for opening the packaging 1,
100, 110.
[0073] Further, the rectangular or non-rectangular shaped packages
1, 100, 110 may comprise at least one or more additional tear-lines
20, 21, 22, wherein said additional tear-lines 20, 21, 22 each
extend from a region of a lateral side 12, 8 of the packaging 1,
100, 110 close to where the previous tear-line 11, 20, 21 ends. The
additional tear-line 20, 21, 22 preferably diagonally traverses at
least one of the front and rear wall F, R of the packaging 1, 100,
110 such that the tear-line 20, 21, 22 is inclined to diverge from
the previous tear-line 11, 20, 21; i.e. the tear-lines 20, 21, 22
transversely extend in a slanting direction across the packaging 1,
100, 110 on one or both sides thereof such that the tear-line 20,
21, 22 is inclined to diverge from the previous tear-line 11, 20,
21, wherein the tear-lines 20, 21, 22 extending on both sides of
the packaging 1, 100, 110 preferably extend in parallel to each
other in side view. The tear-lines 11, 20, 21, 22 are arranged such
that they do not cross each other. Hence, two adjacent tear-lines
11, 20 or 20, 21 or 21, 22 on one of the front and rear wall F, R
are thus arranged in a V-shaped manner such that a plurality of
tear-lines 11, 20, 21, 22 forms a zigzag pattern on the front wall
F and/or rear wall R of the packaging 1, 100, 110.
[0074] The additional tear-lines 20, 21, 22 traversing respectively
the front and rear wall F, R of the packaging 1, 100, 110 can merge
at a lateral side 8, 12 of the packaging next to the non-merging
portion N of the previous tear-line 11, 20, 21. These portions
preferably do not merge at an end thereof being most distanced from
the non-merging portion N of the previous tear-line 11, 20, 21 thus
forming a further non-merging portion N at a periphery of the
packaging 1, 100, 110 being able to hold the packaging together in
one single piece when the tear-lines 11, 20, 21, 22 are used to
open the packaging 1, 100, 110. In case more than one tear-line is
provided on one of the front and rear wall F, R, these tear-lines
11, 20, 21, 22 are arranged such that they do not cross each other
as already mentioned above.
[0075] The invention thus provides a controlled and guided opening
of the packaging 1, 100, 110 to open the packaging 1, 100, 110 in
several predefined opening steps which can be defined due to the
angle and number of tear-lines 11, 20, 21, 22 in conjunction with
the size of the packaging 1, 100, 110. The number of transversal
opening sections (tear-lines 11, 20, 21, 22) is not limited by the
invention. Due to the non-merging portions N, the packaging 1, 100,
110 is not torn apart into separate pieces and thus the invention
offers the opportunity to continuously open the product P step by
step while the product P must not be pushed to guide the product
towards and through the opening and thus not be damaged. Further,
contamination of both the product and the consumer's finger can be
avoided.
[0076] The tear of the opening is initiated by the opening aid or
notch 9 placed in the fin seal area which is usually placed at the
back of the product P for aesthetic reasons. According to the
invention, the fin seal 7 is placed at one of the sides (lateral
side 8 in the depicted embodiments) of the packaging 1, 100, 110
when facing the product P thus enabling an easy and intuitively
operable opening feature.
[0077] In the following, a method for opening a packaging 100
according to the invention is described with reference to FIGS. 10
to 12.
[0078] In a first step, the consumer facing and holding the
packaging 100 unfolds the fin seal 7 (see FIG. 10). By gripping and
pulling the gripper member 10 in a direction as indicated by arrow
P1 of FIG. 11, the packaging 100 tears along the first tear-line 11
when the two parts 30, 31 of the packaging 100 are distanced from
each other. However, according to a preferred embodiment, as the
tear-line 11 does not extend over the whole periphery of the
packaging 100 but ends in or better leads into the non-merging
portion N close to the narrow long lateral side 12 being opposite
to the long lateral side 8 having the fin seal 7, the two parts 30,
31 of the packaging 100 are not separated.
[0079] The product P to be consumed is now exposed through the
opening O of the packaging 1. The size of the exposed product piece
corresponds to one or a predefined number of bites.
[0080] The consumer can now pack away the packaging 100 enclosing
the rest of the product P. At any time, the consumer can then, in a
second opening step, grasp and pull again at the gripper member 10
or any other part of the remnant material 31 in a direction as
indicated by arrow P2 of FIG. 12 to initiate a second opening step.
As the parts 30, 31 of the packaging 100 according to the depicted
embodiment are connected by means of the non-merging portion N, the
applied drag force is transmitted via the non-merging portion N so
as to tear the packaging 100 along the second tear-line 20 so as to
further open the packaging 100, preferably to allow a predefined
number of bites. The amount of uncovering of the product P after
each of the opening steps depends on the inclination angle of the
tear-line diagonally traversing the packaging wall(s). As the
second tear-line 20 also extends in a non-merging portion N, the
three parts 30, 31, 32 of the opened packaging 100 are still
connected via all the respective non-merging portions N, N. Hence,
the consumer can consume the product P in a "mess-free" way and
according to his needs without unnecessarily uncovering the product
when it is not needed and also avoids applying a force onto the
product (via the packaging) to push the product towards and out of
the opening.
[0081] There may also be provided more than the shown two
tear-lines 11, 20 such that the consumer can then, in further
opening steps, further open the packaging 100 by simply pulling at
the gripper member 10 or any of the remnant material parts 31, 32
of the packaging 100.
[0082] Although the present invention has been described with
reference to preferred embodiments thereof, many modifications and
alternations may be made by a person having ordinary skills in the
art without departing from the scope of this invention which is
defined by the appended claims. For example, the material of the
packaging, its dimensions as well as the relations between the
opening aid and the fin seal, the fin seal and the packaging, and
the like as well as the number of tear-lines as well as their
angles with respect to a transversal or longitudinal axis or to
each other as well as the extension of the tear-lines are not
limited by the invention.
[0083] In case the packaging has a square shaped body, all narrow
lateral sides (i.e. the narrow long and short lateral sides) have
the same length. The same applies for an equilateral triangular
shaped packaging or a rhomboidal packaging and the like.
[0084] It is also noted that the rectangular or cuboid shaped
packaging can have its end seals being provided at the narrow long
lateral sides while the fin seal extends between said end seals and
is provided at one of the narrow short lateral sides.
[0085] All features of the embodiments can be combined in any
possible way as long as being covered by the scope of the invention
as given by the appended claims. It is also to be understood that
the method may comprise any of the steps as also described with
respect to all of the embodiments, even if not explicitly mentioned
again in the description of the method steps.
* * * * *