U.S. patent application number 17/676786 was filed with the patent office on 2022-06-02 for tamper-evident, tear-open resealable package.
The applicant listed for this patent is Sealstrip Corporation. Invention is credited to Rachel Conrad, Joseph Corcoran, Josephine Anne Forman, Jacob Greth, Paul Nedwick, Lisa Oberholtzer.
Application Number | 20220171761 17/676786 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 1000006153490 |
Filed Date | 2022-06-02 |
United States Patent
Application |
20220171761 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Forman; Josephine Anne ; et
al. |
June 2, 2022 |
Tamper-Evident, Tear-Open Resealable Package
Abstract
A tamper-evident package utilizes a transparent resealable
adhesive structure such as a tape or a label to cover the portal
opening. When the package is first opened, frangible portions of
the package between adjacent arcuate cuts and slits that define the
portal are torn and distorted so that re-registration of the
opposing laterally-extending edges of the portal upon reclosing is
not possible. This results in a package which is visually
tamper-evident. The tamper-evident condition can be enhanced by
graphics or other printing on the front of the package in the area
of the arcuate cuts and the center of the portal to make the
misalignment of a resealed portal viewed through the transparent
reseal structure more visually apparent. In one embodiment of the
invention, a series of arcuate cuts are centered laterally and are
flanked on the right and left sides by two continuous wavy slits,
which together form the portal.
Inventors: |
Forman; Josephine Anne;
(Gilbertsville, PA) ; Conrad; Rachel;
(Gilbertsville, PA) ; Corcoran; Joseph;
(Conshohocken, PA) ; Greth; Jacob; (West Lawn,
PA) ; Oberholtzer; Lisa; (East Greenville, PA)
; Nedwick; Paul; (Landsdale, PA) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Sealstrip Corporation |
Gilbertsville |
PA |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
1000006153490 |
Appl. No.: |
17/676786 |
Filed: |
February 21, 2022 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
16696492 |
Nov 26, 2019 |
11243940 |
|
|
17676786 |
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06F 16/2453 20190101;
G06F 16/24554 20190101; G06F 16/24544 20190101; G06F 16/2365
20190101 |
International
Class: |
G06F 16/23 20060101
G06F016/23; G06F 16/2453 20060101 G06F016/2453; G06F 16/2455
20060101 G06F016/2455 |
Claims
1. A tamper-evident, resealable package having a front and a back,
top and bottom edges, left and right edges, a lateral dimension
extending between the side edges, a longitudinal dimension
extending between the top and bottom edges, and a
laterally-extending, tear-open, reclosable portal moveable from an
open position to a closed position for providing access to contents
within the package through the portal when open, comprising: a) a
series of arcuate cuts through the front of the package comprising
laterally-extending, longitudinally-spaced rows of individual,
unconnected arcuate cuts, each cut defining a continuous arc with
an apex and two free ends; b) laterally-extending slits through the
front of the package on either lateral side of said series of
arcuate cuts; and, c) a transparent, adhesive reseal structure
applied over said portal for holding the portal in the closed
position; wherein the package becomes distorted in the area of said
arcuate cuts when the package is initially opened to provide
visually evidence of prior opening when the package is re-closed
with the reseal structure.
2. The package of claim 1, wherein the area above the portal
becomes distorted compared to the area below the portal so that
re-registration of the areas above and below the portal is not
possible upon resealing.
3. The package of claim 1 having manually frangible portions of the
package front located between adjacent arcuate cuts which rupture
and distort when the package is first opened.
4. The package of claim 1, wherein a facing direction of each of
said arcuate cuts is defined by the pointing direction of its apex
and wherein the cuts of one row all point in one longitudinal
direction opposite the pointing direction of all the arcuate cuts
of the other row, said rows being longitudinally staggered thereby
defining a series of laterally-extending, alternating
upward-pointing and then downward-pointing, unconnected cuts.
5. The package of claim 1, wherein the ends of longitudinally
adjacent cuts overlap.
6. The package of claim 1, wherein the ends of said arcuate cuts
intercept the lateral closure axis.
7. The package of claim 1, wherein the series of cuts are centered
between opposite sides of the package.
8. The package of claim 1, wherein a central,
longitudinally-extending tab portion of said reseal structure is
adhesively deadened to facilitate its manual grasping.
9. The package of claim 1, further including graphics printed on
the front of the package in the area of the series of arcuate cuts
to enhance the visual evidence of a prior opening of said
portal.
10. The package of claim 1, wherein said adhesive, reseal structure
is located across the package front, wraps around the sides of the
package, and is adhered to the backs side of the package.
11. The package of claim 1, wherein said arcuate cuts are
substantially identical except for their orientation.
12. The package of claim 1, wherein each of said arcuate cuts each
has a longitudinal axis, which are parallel to one another.
13. The package of claim 12, wherein each arcuate cut is
symmetrical about its longitudinal axis.
14. The package of claim 1, wherein said adhesive, reseal structure
comprises either a tape or label having a polymer backing and a
pressure-sensitive adhesive on either side of said polymeric
backing.
15. The package of claim 1, wherein the pressure-sensitive adhesive
is selected such that a greater force is required to remove the
reseal structure from the package than is required to tear the
package along the portal to create the opening to the package
contents.
16. The package of claim 14, wherein the adhesive structure is
adapted to function equally well with either moist or dry package
contents.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This is a continuation application of U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 15/696,492 entitled Tamper-Evident, tear-Open
Resealable Package, filed Sep. 6, 2017, which is incorporated
herein by reference in its entirety.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates to flexible packaging. More
specifically it relates to tear-open bags or pouches which have
tamper-evident resealable closures.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Most often consumer food packages are made in such a way
that for the consumer to access the product a tear strip at the top
of the pack above the usual zipper or slider has to be torn off and
thrown away. Because of the way these packages are made the bag
material often tears unreliably and not straight. Sometimes it only
tears part of the way and the leftover edges of film get in the way
of the zipper or slider reclosing easily. Furthermore, consumers
prefer not to be left holding a part of the package in their hands
that requires disposal. The construction of these packages requires
a heavier, thicker film material which adds to their cost.
[0004] While these packages have the advantage of being tamper
evident because access can only be made after part of the bag has
been permanently destroyed, the noted disadvantages are problems
that the packaging industry still faces. Tear-open packages provide
a solution because the torn material is visible, but when employed
with more desirable lighter weight material they are most
susceptible to tearing in unwanted directions. This is especially
true when the tear force is initiated from the center of the
package front downward which is the preferred opening location and
direction.
[0005] Resealable packages that are not the tear-open type are not
necessarily tamper evident because the parts of the package which
are separated upon opening can be repositioned in registration with
their original position so that a prior opening is not evident. An
example of this construction is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 9,090,383
and is presented here as FIGS. 1 and 2. As seen in these figures a
transparent tape 11 seals over a straight lateral opening slit 13.
As the tape is pulled away, a package opening 17 occurs along the
slit. A portion 15 of the tape 11 wraps around the sides of the
package. When resealed the opposing edges of the opening realign so
that tampering is not evident.
[0006] Other prior art packaging relevant to the present invention
includes the following US patent documents: U.S. Pat. Nos.
3,570,751; 4,787,517; 5,746,369; 3,708,108; 2014/0216969;
2008/0240628; 2015/0266626 and 6,659,644.
[0007] There is therefore a need in the packaging arts for a
resealable tamper-evident package of light weight film that has a
central closure which tears open in a controlled, predictable
manner and thus avoids the problems of the prior art cited above.
It is further desired to devise such a package which is less
expensive, easy to manufacture and which functions reliably.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] A package in accordance with preferred embodiments of the
invention is described in more detail below. The package solves
many of the problems in consumer packaging as discussed above. One
embodiment of the invention is a package having a front, a back,
and top and bottom edges defining upward and downward longitudinal
directions. The direction from one side edge to the other defines a
lateral direction.
[0009] A tear-open portal having open and closed positions is
located along a lateral portal axis "B" for providing access to
contents within the package through the portal when in the open
position. In a preferred embodiment, the portal comprises two
laterally-extending, longitudinally-spaced rows of individual
arcuate cuts and frangible portions located between adjacent cuts.
Each cut is defined by a continuous arc with an apex and two free
ends. A facing direction of each of the cuts is defined by the
pointing direction of its apex. The cuts of one row all face in one
vertical direction opposite the facing direction of all the cuts of
the other row. The rows are longitudinally staggered thereby
defining a series of laterally-extending, alternating
upward-pointing and then downward-pointing unconnected cuts. In one
embodiment, the free ends of the cuts in one row overlap laterally
with the free ends in the other row. The free ends of all the cuts
may intercept the lateral portal axis "B".
[0010] The package of the invention can be made resealable by using
a transparent pressure sensitive adhesive tape or label to cover
the portal when closed. When the package is first opened, frangible
portions of the package between the adjacent arcuate cuts are torn
and distorted so that re-registration of the opposed,
laterally-extending edges of the portal is not possible upon
resealing. This results in a package which is tamper-evident. The
tamper-evident condition can be enhanced by graphics or other
printing on the front of the package in the area of the arcuate
cuts to make the misalignment of a resealed portal viewed through
the tape or label more visually apparent. In one embodiment of the
invention, the series of cuts are centered laterally and are
flanked on the right and left sides by two continuous wavy slits,
which form side portions of the portal. In one preferred
embodiment, each of the wavy slits extends laterally to the package
side edges along the opening axis from the series of arcuate cuts
which occupy the central area of the portal.
[0011] The pressure sensitive adhesive tape or label is comprised
of a backing and an adhesive on one side of the backing. Tape
structures are commonly wound upon themselves placing the adhesive
in contact with the reverse or uncoated side of the tape backing or
silicone coated release paper and films to enable unwind and
dispensing. Tape structures that do not use release liners commonly
use differentials in surface energy and or chemical treatment to
enable unwind and dispensing into the application. Examples include
but are not limited to differentials in surface energy achieved
through either flame or corona energy surface treatment or the
application of release coatings such as the Escoat Product line of
Mayzo Incorporated (Swanee Georgia, USA) based on polyvinyl
octadecyl carbamate (PVODC) and polyvinyl stearyl carbamate (PVSC)
chemistries. Labels are typically comprised of a silicone release
liner which could be either filmic or paper, a working pressure
sensitive adhesive surface which as adhered to a backing substrate,
a backing film or paper and optionally a topcoat or surface
treatment is applied to the backing on the opposite side of the
pressure sensitive adhesive to enable printing and other similar
finishing steps.
[0012] The backing material used in accordance with the inventive
tamper evident reseal system comprises any known backing materials
that are capable of being blown or cast into a transparent or
semi-transparent continuous film. The backing material is
substantially a two-dimensional object having a first and second
side. By substantially two-dimensional, it is meant an object
having a significantly large size measurement in two dimensions
compared to a significantly small size measurement in the third
dimension. Some particularly suitable backing materials include
polymers, including, but not limited to polyethylene terephthalate,
polyethylene, polypropylene; copolymers such as poly
ethylene-propylene, polyethylene-octene, olefinic block copolymers
and poly styrene films. The thickness of the backing will vary
according to the particular application. The polymer backing may
have a matte or glossy finish as well as a smooth or irregular
(e.g., embossed) surface depending on the package it is being
applied to. The film backing materials may be prepared utilizing
either a single layer or multiple layer comprised of different
compositions of the above backing listed polymers. Examples of
multi-layer and compositional blends are disclosed in European
Patent Number 2 049 333 B1, US Patent 20120060997 A1 and U.S. Pat.
No. 5,585,193 A and are hereby incorporated as reference in their
entirety as additional suitable backing substrates. Highlighted in
U.S. Pat. No. 9,676,532 and in these reference patents are the
advantages imparted by Machine Direction Oriented films (MDO) which
can be utilized as the backing material for the reseal label
structure of this invention. Similarly, as described specifically
in the above-referenced patent (U.S. Pat. No. 9,676,532) MDO films
could be more advantageous over conventional films in this novel
reclose package as the opening feature described below is opened
directionally from the reseal label tab in the same machine
direction of the film making it less likely to propagate a film
tear upon opening and on repeated use in this novel tamper evident
resealable package.
[0013] The adhesive used in the pressure sensitive coating may
comprise any known adhesive. Preferred pressure-sensitive adhesives
include formulated hot melt block copolymer adhesives, aqueous
acrylic adhesives, solvent acrylic and rubber adhesives, and
silicone adhesives. The adhesive can be applied as a continuous
layer, or a discontinuous pattern on the backing. When the adhesive
is applied as a coating, the coating weight of the adhesive will
depend on such factors as the adhesive used, the backing material
used, and the end application. Those skilled in the art will
readily be able to determine a coating and coat weight.
[0014] In accordance with the present invention, the adhesive is
generally chosen such that after initial opening at the pull tab
location a greater force is required to remove the reseal structure
from the package than is required to tear the package along the
portal to create the opening to the package contents. In addition,
the adhesive must reseal onto the package surface multiple times
while not leaving any adhesive residues on the surface of the
package to which it is separated from and reapplied to the package.
Those skilled in the art will readily be able to determine a
suitable pressure sensitive adhesive based on the packaging film
and package contents in accordance with the end use application.
Suitable examples of pressure sensitive adhesives for use in this
novel reclose are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 9,676,532 and can be
used in both dry and moist package contents. The reseal adhesive
does not necessarily have to be resistant to alcohol, but can be
depending on the package content.
[0015] To best utilize the novel series of arcuate cuts of the
invention, a central pull-tab portion at the top of the resealable
tape or label is adhesively deadened to facilitate manual grasping
by the user so that the covering resealable pressure sensitive tape
or label can be pulled downward. Although this grasp point creates
radial lines of force on the package front away from the central
grasp point, the arcuate cuts transfer these forces more directly
to the frangible areas between the cuts so that uncontrollable
tearing of the package is avoided. This is not the case with a
simple series of linear dotted or dashed slits or perforations.
Those types of cuts are only useable when the opening force is
applied in the direction of the slits.
[0016] By the above package construction, even a light weight,
inexpensive, polypropylene material can be used which has been
treated with a pressure sensitive adhesive coating. The resealable
feature can even be supplied by a simple wrap-around covering
resealable transparent adhesive tape which makes the manufacture of
the package, usually a flexible pouch or bag, very easy and
inexpensive.
[0017] It is therefore an object of the invention to devise a
tamper-evident package of light weight material that has a central
tear-open portal, which tears controllably. Other objects and
advantages will be apparent from the following drawings and
description of one embodiment of the invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0018] FIGS. 1 and 2 are top right front isometric views of prior
art packaging;
[0019] FIG. 3 is a top right front view of a preconstruction layout
of one embodiment of the invention;
[0020] FIG. 4 is a close-up view of the tear-open cut pattern;
[0021] FIGS. 5 and 6 are top right front isometric views showing a
package of the invention before and after the first package
opening; and,
[0022] FIGS. 7 and 8 are right side sectional views of a package of
the invention in the closed and open positions, respectively.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0023] As defined herein the terms "upward", "downward" and
"longitudinal" define the direction between the top and bottom
edges of the package and the terms "lateral" and "laterally" define
the direction extending between the opposing sides of the package.
Referring now to FIG. 3, a pre-construction layout of the elements
of one embodiment of the invention is shown. The film 31 has a
piece of transparent, pressure-sensitive-adhesive reseal structure
33 affixed across it extending laterally. The adhesive structure
includes a pull tab 35 that projects upward from the main body of
the reseal structure 33. The adhesive on the backside of the pull
tab 35 is deadened so that it may be easily grasped by the user.
The reseal structure 33 extends laterally beyond fold lines 36
which define the sides of the package when constructed so that end
portions 34 of the reseal structure 33 wrap around the sides of the
package and the side of the structure which is coated with a
pressure sensitive adhesive attaches to the back when fully formed
for stronger attachment. The reseal structure 33 may be a label or
a tape composed of a polymeric backing and a pressure sensitive
adhesive on either side of the backing.
[0024] Beneath the adhesive reseal structure 33 in the center of
the film between the side fold lines 36 a series of slits 37 and
cuts 41 define a portal 32, which seals the package's contents when
the portal is closed as shown in FIG. 7, and provides access to the
package's contents when the portal is opened as shown in FIG. 8. As
described in greater detail below, the portal 32 is opened by
separating portions of the package front along the slits 37 and
cuts 41. The portal 32 comprises right and left side wavy slits 37
and a series of arcuate cuts 41 in the center. For reasons later
described, the film preferably has a printed-on graphic such as the
word "OPEN" in the area of the arcuate cuts as shown in FIGS. 3, 5
and 6.
[0025] FIG. 4 shows the pattern of the series of arcuate cuts 41
that lies in the center of the portal 32 and in the area of the
printed word "OPEN". In a preferred embodiment, the series of cuts
41 comprises two laterally-extending, longitudinally-spaced,
opposite facing rows of individual identical arcuate cuts 40, 42.
Here we see that each arcuate cut 40, 42 has a facing direction
defined by the pointing direction of its apex. The cuts are
longitudinally staggered and alternate in upward and then downward
pointing directions of their respective apexes. One exemplary
longitudinal axis of cut 42 is shown as A-A in FIG. 4. The cuts in
the series 41 are substantially identical and are geometrically
symmetrical about their axis. Frangible portions 44 of the package
front are located between adjacent cuts.
[0026] FIGS. 5 and 6 show a package constructed from the layout
shown in FIG. 3. FIG. 5 shows the package before the portal 32 has
ever been opened, while FIG. 6 shows the package after the portal
32 has been opened and then closed by re-applying the reseal
structure 33 over the portal 32. The package has top and bottom
edges 51, 52 and a front 75 and a back 76. To open the package for
the first time, the user pulls the tab 35 downwardly and away from
the package, thereby tearing the package material 44 that resides
between adjacent cuts of the centrally located series of arcuate
cuts 41. The attachment of the adhesive reseal structure 33 is
strengthened by portions 34 which wrap around to the back side of
the package 76 as more clearly seen in FIGS. 7 and 8. Other
portions of the package front are non-destructively separated along
the continuous wavy slits 37 on either side of the arcuate cut
series 41. Once opened, the package has the configuration shown in
FIG. 8, which provides access to its contents. As shown in FIG. 8,
the reseal structure 33 remains adhered to the front 75 of the
package along the lower boundary of the portal 32 and the lateral
axis B-B.
[0027] FIG. 6 shows the package reclosed and resealed. In this
configuration, the manually frangible portions 44 of the package
are torn apart around and through the printed word "OPEN". When the
reseal structure 33 is reapplied over the portal 32, the word
"OPEN" is distorted so that the act of prior package opening is
visibly evident through the transparent reseal structure 33.
Because only a small portion of the portal needs to be forcibly
torn, only a relatively small force is needed. Even without the
word "OPEN" or other graphics overlaying the portal, tearing of the
frangible portions 44 of the package creates distortion on the
front of the package that is visible once the package is resealed
by reapplying the reseal structure 33 over the portal 32. As best
seen in FIG. 8, distortion is evident at and above the portal 32
where the reseal structure 33 was peeled away from the front 75 of
the package. This, in combination with the novel shape of the cuts,
permits the desirable use of a lighter gage film material and a
package that is easier to open.
[0028] The opening process is further depicted in FIGS. 7 and 8. As
seen in FIG. 7, the constructed package forms front and back panels
75 and 76. Pull tab 35 has deadening material 71 applied to its
back surface to allow manual grasping. With the portal 32 in the
closed configuration, the main body of the adhesive structure 33
covers the various closure slits 37 and series of arcuate cuts 41,
shown here as cut 73. Side portions 34 of the reseal structure 33
wrap around and are adhered to the back 76 of the package 70. As
the tab is grasped and pulled downward the adhesive structure 33
starts to peel from the front panel 75. When the separation point
of the peel crosses the above described series of arcuate cuts, the
adherence of the reseal structure either a tape or pressure
sensitive label to the panel just below the cuts is sufficient to
tear the panel material between the cuts 44 to create a package
opening through which its contents can be removed. FIG. 8 shows the
package of FIGS. 3-7 in its open configuration with the portal
moved to the open position. Here we see the material of the package
front panel 75 destructively torn apart at the mouth of the opening
77 formed between separated parts of the front panel.
[0029] From the above description of the invention it can readily
be seen that the objects of the invention have been achieved. While
only one embodiment of the invention is depicted in the drawings
and described above there can be variations in dimension and
proportionality. Furthermore the means of production can be any
suitable means available to the art at that time.
[0030] Many modifications to the preferred embodiment may be
possible without departing from the scope and spirit of the
invention which shall be defined only by the following claims and
their legal equivalents.
* * * * *