Easy Tear Packaging

Abstract

Provided is a packaging bag constructed from shrink film material and defining a content receiving space. The packaging bag comprises seal areas in the front and rear faces for affixing the front face to the rear face to seal the content receiving space after bag contents have been received. The packaging bag further comprises a first skirt section and a second skirt section, which extend, respectively, beyond the first and second seal areas. The packaging bag further comprises a first hole and a second hole defined in each of the skirt sections and positioned between an outer edge of the skirt sections and the seal areas. The packaging bag further comprises a tear initiating feature. An opening can be formed in the packaging bag to extract the bag contents by initiating a tear at one of the holes using the tear initiating feature associated with the hole.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

The present application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/869,255, filed on Aug. 23, 2013, entitled “Easy Tear Package,” which is hereby incorporated into the present application by reference.

BACKGROUND

The technology described in this patent document relates generally to shrink film packaging and more specifically to opening aids for shrink film packaging.

Shrink film packaging is used to package many products. For example, bags made from shrink film are widely used in the food industry to package a variety of items, including large meat and cheese items.

Although shrink bag packaging can provide a good presentation of the product at the point of sale, the typical shrink bag package can be difficult to open. Often it is unclear to the consumer how to open the shrink bag package. Also, the shrink bag package can easily slip when a consumer attempts to open the package due the irregular shape of food products that might be contained within the package. Opening a package with a sharp object such as a knife may be difficult and potentially hazardous for a consumer. Potential hazards with using a sharp object to open the package may include injury to the consumer due to slippage and cutting the product in an undesired location, which may damage the product or diminish the visual presentation of the product.

SUMMARY

In one example, provided is a packaging bag constructed from shrink film material with a front face joined to a rear face at packaging bag boundary edges that define a content receiving space is between non-joined portions of the front face and the rear face. The content receiving space for receiving bag contents. The packaging bag comprises a seal area of the bag boundary edge, a skirt section extending beyond the seal area away from the content receiving space and having an outer edge, and a first hole and a second hole defined in the skirt section. Each hole is positioned between the outer edge of the skirt section and the seal area. The packaging bag further comprises a first tear initiating feature and a second tear initiating feature. The first tear initiating feature is positioned adjacent to the first hole and extends from the first hole directly to the seal area. The second tear initiating feature is positioned adjacent to the second hole and extends from the second hole directly to the seal area. An opening can be formed in the packaging bag to extract the bag contents by initiating a tear at one of the holes and extending the tear across the length of the tear initiating feature adjacent the one hole into the content receiving space.

These aspects and other embodiments may include one or more of the following features. The first and second tear initiating features may comprise a slit or perforation in the skirt section. The packaging bag may further comprise a first half section of the skirt section defined on one side of an axis running from a midpoint of the outer edge to a midpoint of the seal area and a second half section defined on the other side of the axis, wherein the first hole is in the first half section and second hole is in the second half section. The first hole may be in a middle portion of the first half section and the second hole may be in a middle portion of the second half section. The tear initiating features may extend through half of the width of the sealing section. The tear initiating features may extend through the entire width of the sealing section. The tear initiating features may extend beyond the entire width of the sealing section onto portions of the front or rear face that defines the content receiving area. The packaging bag may further comprise a stabilizing seal positioned between the outer edge of the skirt section and the first and second hole.

In another example, provided is a packaging bag constructed from shrink film material and defining a content receiving space between non-joined portions of a front face and a rear face. The content receiving space is for receiving bag contents. The packaging bag comprises a first seal area on the front face and a second seal area on the rear face opposite the front face. The front seal area and rear seal area are configured to affix the front face to the rear face at the first and second seal areas to seal the content receiving space after bag contents have been received. The packaging bag further comprises a first skirt section in the front face and a second skirt section in the rear face. The first and second skirt sections extend beyond the first and second seal areas away from the content receiving space. Each of the skirt sections has an outer edge. The packaging bag further comprises a first hole and a second hole defined in each of the skirt sections. Each hole is positioned in both the front and rear faces between the outer edge of the skirt sections and the seal areas. The packaging bag further comprises a first tear initiating feature and a second tear initiating feature. The first tear initiating feature is positioned adjacent to the first hole and extends in both the front and rear faces from the first hole directly to the seal areas. The second tear initiating feature is positioned adjacent to the second hole and extends in both the front and rear faces from the second hole directly to the seal areas. An opening can be formed in the packaging bag to extract the bag contents by initiating a tear at one of the holes and extending the tear across the length of the tear initiating feature adjacent the one hole into the content receiving space.

These aspects and other embodiments may include one or more of the following features. Each of the first and second tear initiating features may comprise a slit or perforation in the skirt section. The packaging bag may further comprise a first half section of the first and second skirt sections defined on one side of an axis running from a midpoint of the outer edge to a midpoint of the seal areas and a second half section of the first and second skirt sections defined on the other side of the axis, wherein the first hole is in the first half section and second hole is in the second half section. The first hole may be in a middle portion of the first half section and the second hole may be in a middle portion of the second half section. The seal areas may extend through half of the width of the seal areas. The tear initiating features may extend through the entire width of the seal areas. The tear initiating features may extend beyond the entire width of the seal areas onto portions of the front or rear face that defines the content receiving area. The packaging bag may further comprise a stabilizing seal positioned between the outer edge of the skirt section and the first and second hole.

In yet another example, provided is a method for a packaging bag constructed from shrink film material and that defines a content receiving space between non-joined portions of a front face and a rear face. The content receiving space is for receiving bag contents. The method comprises providing a first seal area on the front face and a second seal area on the rear face opposite the front face. The front seal area and rear seal area are configured to affix the front face to the rear face at the first and second seal areas to seal the content receiving space after bag contents have been received. The method further comprises providing a first skirt section in the front face and a second skirt section in the rear face. The first and second skirt sections extend beyond the first and second seal areas away from the content receiving space. Each of the skirt sections has an outer edge. The method further comprises providing a first hole and a second hole defined in each of the skirt sections. Each hole is positioned in both the front and rear faces between the outer edge of the skirt sections and the seal areas. The method further comprises providing a first tear initiating feature and a second tear initiating feature. The first tear initiating feature is positioned adjacent to the first hole and extends in both the front and rear faces from the first hole directly to the seal areas. The second tear initiating feature is positioned adjacent to the second hole and extends in both the front and rear faces from the second hole directly to the seal areas. An opening can be formed in the packaging bag to extract the bag contents by initiating a tear at one of the holes and extending the tear across the length of the tear initiating feature adjacent the one hole into the content receiving space.

These aspects and other embodiments may include one or more of the following features. The method may further comprise providing the first and second holes as die-cast holes. The method may further comprise providing the first hole in a first half section of the first and second skirt sections and the second hole in a second half section of the first and second skirt sections, wherein the first half section of the first and second skirt sections is defined on one side of an axis running from a midpoint of the outer edge to a midpoint of the seal areas and the second half section of the first and second skirt sections is defined on the other side of the axis. The method may further comprise extending the tear initiating features through half of the width of the seal areas. The method may further comprise extending the tear initiating features through the entire width of the seal areas. The method may further comprise extending the tear initiating features beyond the entire width of the seal areas onto portions of the front or rear face that define the content receiving area. The method may further comprise providing a stabilizing seal positioned between the outer edge of the skirt section and the first and second hole.

In another example, provided is a packaging bag constructed from shrink film material with a front face joined to a rear face at packaging bag boundary edges that define a content receiving space between non-joined portions of the front face and the rear face, the content receiving space for receiving bag contents. The packaging bag comprises a seal area of the bag boundary edge, a skirt section extending beyond the seal area away from the content receiving space and having an outer edge, a grip element defined in the skirt section and positioned between the outer edge of the skirt section and the seal area, and a tear initiation element defined in the skirt section and positioned between the outer edge of the skirt section and the seal area, wherein an opening can be formed in the packaging bag to extract the bag contents by initiating a tear at the tear initiating element and into the content receiving space.

These aspects and other embodiments may include one or more of the following features. The tear initiating element may comprise a slit or perforation in the skirt section. The tear initiating element may comprise a tear initiation hole and a tear initiation feature comprising a slit or perforation in the skirt section. The tear initiating element may comprise a tear initiation hole, a first tear initiation feature comprising a slit or perforation in the skirt section extending between the tear initiation hole and the outer edge, and a second tear initiation feature comprising a slit or perforation in the skirt section extending between the tear initiation hole and the seal area. The tear initiating element may comprise a semicircle shaped slit and a linear shaped slit coupled together in a question mark like shape in the skirt section. The packaging seal area may comprise a curved seal area. The grip element may comprise a circular hole. The grip element may be cut in both a front and a rear face of the skirt section and wherein the front and rear faces are heat sealed together at the edges of the circular hole. The packaging bag may further comprise a stabilizing seal positioned between the outer edge of the skirt section and the grip element and tear initiation element.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Aspects of the present disclosure are best understood from the following detailed description when read with the accompanying figures. It is noted that, in accordance with the standard practice in the industry, various features are not drawn to scale. In fact, the dimensions of the various features may be arbitrarily increased or reduced for clarity of discussion.

FIG. 1 depicts an example flexible packaging bag having a curve seal area and made from shrink film material that is formed into an enclosure to hold a product.

FIG. 2 depicts an example flexible packaging bag with a tear begun on one side of the packaging bag.

FIG. 3 depicts an example flexible packaging bag having a straight seal area and made from shrink film material that is formed into an enclosure to hold a product.

FIG. 4A depicts a packaging bag with a curved seal area.

FIG. 4B depicts a packaging bag with a tear begun on one side of the packaging bag.

FIG. 4C depicts a packaging bag with a tear begun on the other side of the packaging bag.

FIG. 5A depicts a packaging bag with a straight seal area.

FIG. 5B depicts a packaging bag with a tear begun on one side of the packaging bag.

FIG. 5C depicts a packaging bag with a tear begun on the other side of the packaging bag.

FIG. 6 depicts an example flexible packaging bag made from shrink film material that is formed into an enclosure to hold a product.

FIG. 7 depicts a portion of another example flexible packaging bag made from shrink film material that is formed into an enclosure to hold a product.

FIG. 8 depicts another example flexible packaging bag with a tear begun on one side of the packaging bag.

FIG. 9 depicts another example flexible packaging bag made from shrink film material that is formed into an enclosure to hold a product

FIG. 10A depicts a packaging bag with a curved seal area, skirt area, a grip hole, a tear initiation hole with an associated tear initiation feature, an outer edge, and a stabilizing seal positioned between the outer edge and the grip hole and the tear initiation hole.

FIG. 10B depicts a packaging bag with a curved seal area, skirt area, a grip hole, a tear initiation feature, an outer edge, and a stabilizing seal positioned between the outer edge and the grip hole and the tear initiation feature.

FIG. 10C depicts a packaging bag with a curved seal area, skirt area, a grip hole, a tear initiation hole with an associated first tear initiation feature and second tear initiation feature, an outer edge, and a stabilizing seal positioned between the outer edge and the grip hole and the second tear initiation feature.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following disclosure provides many different embodiments, or examples, for implementing different features of the provided subject matter. Specific examples of components and arrangements are described below to simplify the present disclosure. These are, of course, merely examples and are not intended to be limiting. For example, the formation of a first feature over or on a second feature in the description that follows may include embodiments in which the first and second features are formed in direct contact, and may also include embodiments in which additional features may be formed between the first and second features, such that the first and second features may not be in direct contact. In addition, the present disclosure may repeat reference numerals and/or letters in the various examples. This repetition is for the purpose of simplicity and clarity and does not in itself dictate a relationship between the various embodiments and/or configurations discussed.

Further, spatially relative terms, such as “beneath,” “below,” “lower,” “above,” “upper” and the like, may be used herein for ease of description to describe one element or feature's relationship to another element(s) or feature(s) as illustrated in the figures. The spatially relative terms are intended to encompass different orientations of the device in use or operation in addition to the orientation depicted in the figures. The apparatus may be otherwise oriented (rotated 90 degrees or at other orientations) and the spatially relative descriptors used herein may likewise be interpreted accordingly.

Depicted in FIG. 1 is an example flexible packaging bag 10 made from shrink film material that is formed into an enclosure to hold a product. The bag may be manufactured from a tubular shrinkable multilayered film. This film may be produced from processes such as those disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,985,188 and 4,863,768.

A packaging bag 10 may be formed from the film using an end seal bag machine. A straight or curved seal bar may be used to heat and seal the film material to produce various bag sizes. The pressure, temperature, and time at the seal bar contact point create the sealed bag boundaries 12. The seal bar temperature set point in some implementations may be between 150 Celsius and 300 Celsius and the dwell or residence time may be between 0.1 and 0.5 seconds. A perforation and snap or cut is performed by the machine to separate bags.

The packaging bag 10 has a front face 11 joined to a rear face (not shown but in this example has a matching shape to that of the front face) at packaging bag boundary edges 12 and that together cooperate to define a content receiving space between non-joined portions of the front face and the rear face. Items desired to be sealed may be received in the content receiving space.

Packaging bags 10 are manufactured with a seal area 14 unsealed. Desired bag contents may be placed inside the content receiving space of a packaging bag, and the seal area 14 may then be sealed by a packager. Following sealing, the entire packaging bag 10 may be briefly heated with radiant heat, hot air, or hot water. This can cause the packaging bag 10 to shrink and conform to the shape of the bag contents.

The seal area 14 comprises a first seal area on the front face and a second seal area on the rear face opposite the front face. The front seal area and the rear seal area are configured to be joined so that the front face can be affixed to the rear face at the first and second seal areas to seal the content receiving space after bag contents have been received.

Adjacent to the seal area 14 and opposite to the content receiving space, the packaging bag 10 includes a skirt section 16 comprising film material extending outwardly from the seal area 14. The skirt section 16 extends beyond the seal area away from the content receiving space and has an outer edge 17. The skirt section 16 comprises a first skirt section in the front face and a second skirt section in the rear face, with each of the first and second skirt sections having an outer edge 17.

The skirt section 16 includes two holes 18 in the material, a first hole and a second hole, with each hole positioned between the outer edge 17 of the skirt section 16 and the seal area 14. In this example, the holes 18 are die-cut holes. The two holes 18 extend through both the first skirt section and the second skirt section.

The skirt section 16 also includes tear initiating features 20, such as slits, perforations, or others, adjacent to the die-cut holes 18. The tear initiating features include a first tear initiating feature and a second tear initiating feature. The first tear initiating feature is positioned adjacent to the first hole and extends from the first hole directly to the seal area 14. The second tear initiating feature is similarly positioned adjacent to the second hole and extends from the second hole directly to the seal area 14. The first tear initiating feature extends in both the front and rear faces from the first hole directly to the seal area 14, and the second tear initiating feature extends in both the front and rear faces from the second hole directly to the seal area 14.

In some embodiments the first hole is in a first half section 19 of the first and second skirt sections and the second hole in a second half section 21 of the first and second skirt sections. In this example, the first half section 19 of the first and second skirt sections is defined on one side of an axis A running from a midpoint of the outer edge 17 to a midpoint of the seal area 14, and the second half section 21 of the first and second skirt sections is defined on the other side of the axis A. In this example, the first hole is provided in a middle portion (i.e., area midway between axis A and end edge 25) of the first half section 19 and the second hole is in a middle portion (i.e., area midway between axis A and end edge 27) of the second half section 21.

The die-cut holes 18 provide a gripping area for a user when opening a sealed package. The die-cut holes 18 are configured such that a user can insert a finger of either hand into one of the holes and pull, while gripping the product with the opposite hand. As illustrated in FIG. 2, an opening 30 can be formed in the packaging bag to extract the bag contents by initiating a tear at one of the holes 18 and extending the tear across the length of the tear initiating feature 20 adjacent the one hole 18 into the content receiving space 32.

This configuration can be equally advantageous for right or left handed users since there are holes 18 on both sides (e.g., first half section 19 and second half section 21 as illustrated in FIG. 1) of the skirt area 16. Die-cut holes 18 can provide an improved grip in which a user may not be required to pinch plastic between the holes, wherein pinching may lead to slipping and unsatisfactory opening of the packaging bag 10.

Each tear initiator 20 can facilitate the opening of the packaging bag 10 by providing a tear beginning point for the packaging bag 10. A tear initiator 20 is adjacent to each die-cut hole 18 to provide easy tear initiation and to ensure that the consumer opens the package in a more advantageous direction for easy removal of the product. The tear initiators 20 in this example extend from the die-cut holes 18 to an edge of the seal area. In some embodiments, the tear initiators 20 may extend partially, half-way, or nearly completely through the width W of the seal area 14 or may traverse from one edge to the other edge of the seal area 14. In some embodiments the tear initiators 20 may extend through the seal area to the front and rear face portions that define the content receiving area.

Depicted in FIG. 3 is a packaging bag 40 that has a front face 41 configured to join a rear face (not shown but in this example has a matching shape to that of the front face) at packaging bag boundary edges 42 that together cooperate to define a content receiving space between non-joined portions of the front face and the rear face. The packaging bag 40 includes a straight seal area 44 for use in sealing the packaging bag 40 after contents have been received into the packaging bag 40. Adjacent to the seal area 44 and opposite to the content receiving space, the packaging bag 40 includes a skirt section 46 comprising film material extending outwardly from the seal area 44. The skirt section 46 extends beyond the seal area 44 away from the content receiving space and has an outer edge 47. The skirt section 46 includes two holes 48 in the material and tear initiating features 50, such as slits, perforations, or others, adjacent to the holes 48. Easier opening of a flexible package may be achieved through the addition of die-cut holes 48 with tear initiators 50 in the skirt section 46.

FIGS. 4-5 depict a number of possible configurations and states of a packaging bag. FIG. 4A depicts a packaging bag with a curved seal area 52, holes 54, and tear initiation features 56. FIG. 4B depicts a packaging bag with a tear begun on one side of the packaging bag using one of the holes 54 and associated tear initiation feature 56. FIG. 4C depicts a packaging bag with a tear begun on the other side of the packaging bag using the other of the holes 54 and associated tear initiation feature 56.

FIG. 5A depicts a packaging bag with a straight seal area 62, holes 64, and tear initiation features 66. FIG. 5B depicts a packaging bag with a tear begun on one side of the packaging bag using one of the holes 64 and associated tear initiation feature 66. FIG. 5C depicts a packaging bag with a tear begun on the other side of the packaging bag using the other of the holes 64 and associated tear initiation feature 66.

Depicted in FIG. 6 is an example flexible packaging bag 100 made from shrink film material that is formed into an enclosure to hold a product. The packaging bag 100 has a front face 102 joined to a rear face (not shown but in this example has a matching shape to that of the front face) at packaging bag boundary edges 104 and that together cooperate to define a content receiving space between non-joined portions of the front face and the rear face. Items desired to be sealed may be received in the content receiving space. The packaging bag 100 has an unsealed curved seal area 106.

The seal area 106 comprises a first seal area on the front face and a second seal area on the rear face opposite the front face. The front seal area and the rear seal area are configured to be joined so that the front face can be affixed to the rear face at the first and second seal areas to seal the content receiving space after bag contents have been received.

Adjacent to the seal area 106 and opposite to the content receiving space, the packaging bag 100 includes a skirt section 108 comprising film material extending outwardly from the seal area 106. The skirt section 108 extends beyond the seal area away from the content receiving space and has an outer edge 120. The skirt section 108 comprises a first skirt section in the front face and a second skirt section in the rear face, with each of the first and second skirt sections having an outer edge 120.

The skirt section 108 includes two holes in the material, a grip hole 110 and a tear initiation hole 112, with each hole positioned between the outer edge 120 of the skirt section 108 and the seal area 106. In this example, the grip hole 110 is shown on the left side and the tear initiation hole 112 is shown on the right side. In other examples, the positioning of the holes 110, 112 may be reversed. The two holes 110, 112 extend through both the first skirt section and the second skirt section.

The skirt section 108 also includes tear initiating features 114, 116, such as slits, perforations, or others, adjacent to the tear initiation hole 112. The tear initiating features include a first tear initiating feature 114 and a second tear initiating feature 116. The first tear initiating feature 114 is positioned adjacent to the tear initiation hole 112 and extends from the tear initiation hole 112 toward the outer edge 120. The second tear initiating feature 116 is similarly positioned adjacent to the tear initiation hole 112 and extends from the tear initiation hole 112 toward the seal area 106. The first tear initiating feature 114 extends in both the front and rear faces, and the second tear initiating feature 116 extends in both the front and rear faces.

The grip hole 110 is cut in both the front and rear faces and the front and rear faces are heat sealed together at the edge of the hole 110 to provide a firm finger grip in the hole 110. Heat sealing also provides preshrinking of the film and helps prevent the hole 110 from becoming too small after the entire package is shrunk.

Depicted in FIG. 7 is a view of a portion of another example flexible packaging bag 140 made from shrink film material that is formed into an enclosure to hold a product. The packaging bag 140 includes a seal area 142, skirt section 144 comprising film material extending outwardly from the seal area 142, and an outer edge 146.

The skirt section 144 includes a grip hole 148 and a tear initiation hole 150, with each hole positioned between the outer edge 146 of the skirt section 144 and the seal area 142. The skirt section 144 also includes a first tear initiating feature 152 positioned adjacent to the tear initiation hole 150 that extends from the tear initiation hole 150 toward the outer edge 146. The skirt section 144 further includes a second tear initiating feature 154 positioned adjacent to the tear initiation hole 150 that extends from the tear initiation hole 150 toward the seal area 142.

In this example, the skirt section 144 has a width of 3 inches, the center of the grip hole 148 is positioned 1.5 inches from the seal area 142, outer edge 146, and a first end edge 145, and the center of the tear initiation hole 150 is positioned 1.5 inches from the seal area 142, outer edge 146, and a second end edge 147. The first tear initiating feature 152 has a length of 1 inch, and the second tear initiating feature 154 has a length of 0.75 inches.

As illustrated in FIG. 8, an opening 160 can be formed in the packaging bag to extract the bag contents by initiating a tear at a tear initiation hole and extending the tear across the length of the tear initiating features adjacent to the tear initiation hole into the content receiving space 162.

Depicted in FIG. 9 is an example flexible packaging bag 200 made from shrink film material that is formed into an enclosure to hold a product. The packaging bag 200 has a front face 202 joined to a rear face (not shown but in this example has a matching shape to that of the front face) at packaging bag boundary edges 204 and that together cooperate to define a content receiving space between non-joined portions of the front face and the rear face. Items desired to be sealed may be received in the content receiving space. The packaging bag 200 has an unsealed curved seal area 206.

The seal area 206 comprises a first seal area on the front face and a second seal area on the rear face opposite the front face. The front seal area and the rear seal area are configured to be joined so that the front face can be affixed to the rear face at the first and second seal areas to seal the content receiving space after bag contents have been received.

Adjacent to the seal area 206 and opposite to the content receiving space, the packaging bag 200 includes a skirt section 208 comprising film material extending outwardly from the seal area 206. The skirt section 208 extends beyond the seal area away from the content receiving space and has an outer edge 220. The skirt section 208 comprises a first skirt section in the front face and a second skirt section in the rear face, with each of the first and second skirt sections having an outer edge 220.

The skirt section 208 includes a grip hole 210 and a tear initiation feature 212, with each positioned between the outer edge 220 of the skirt section 208 and the seal area 206. In this example, the grip hole 210 is shown on the left side and the tear initiation feature 212 is shown on the right side. In other examples, the positioning of the grip hole 210 the tear initiation feature 212 may be reversed. The grip hole 210 and the tear initiation feature 212 extend through both the first skirt section and the second skirt section.

The tear initiation feature 212 in this example comprises a cut slit 212 shaped somewhat like a question mark, instead of a complete hole, as shown in other examples. The slit 212, in this example, comprises a semicircle shaped slit and a linear shaped slit coupled together in a question mark like shape. The slit 212 produces a flap in the material that allows the fingers to pass through the package and grip it, while tearing the package open.

The skirt section 208, in this example, further includes a stabilizing seal 222 positioned between the outer edge 220 and the grip hole 210 and the tear initiation feature 212. The stabilizing seal 222 helps prevent excess distortion of the skirt section 208 during the shrinking process.

FIG. 10A depicts a packaging bag with a curved seal area 302, skirt area 304, a grip hole 306, a tear initiation hole 308 with an associated tear initiation feature 310, an outer edge 312, and a stabilizing seal 314 positioned between the outer edge 312 and the grip hole 306 and the tear initiation hole 308.

FIG. 10B depicts a packaging bag with a curved seal area 322, skirt area 324, a grip hole 326, a tear initiation feature 328, an outer edge 332, and a stabilizing seal 324 positioned between the outer edge 322 and the grip hole 326 and the tear initiation feature 328.

FIG. 10C depicts a packaging bag with a curved seal area 342, skirt area 344, a grip hole 346, a tear initiation hole 348 with an associated first tear initiation feature 350 and second tear initiation feature 352, an outer edge 354, and a stabilizing seal 356 positioned between the outer edge 354 and the grip hole 346 and the second tear initiation feature 352.

The use of the methods described herein may provide a simple and easy way for a user to open a packaging bag without having to use a knife or other sharp object and may reduce the likelihood of hand slippage during package opening. The use of the methods described herein may also provide an easy tear package with tear initiators that offer an improved grip for a user.

The foregoing outlines features of several embodiments so that those skilled in the art may better understand the aspects of the present disclosure. Those skilled in the art should appreciate that they may readily use the present disclosure as a basis for designing or modifying other processes and structures for carrying out the same purposes and/or achieving the same advantages of the embodiments introduced herein. Those skilled in the art should also realize that such equivalent constructions do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure, and that they may make various changes, substitutions, and alterations herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure.

Claims

1. A packaging bag constructed from shrink film material with a front face joined to a rear face at packaging bag boundary edges that define a content receiving space between non-joined portions of the front face and the rear face, the content receiving space for receiving bag contents, the packaging bag comprising:

a seal area of the bag boundary edge;

a skirt section extending beyond the seal area away from the content receiving space and having an outer edge;

a first hole and a second hole defined in the skirt section, each hole positioned between the outer edge of the skirt section and the seal area; and

a first tear initiating feature and a second tear initiating feature, the first tear initiating feature positioned adjacent to the first hole and extending from the first hole directly to the seal area, the second tear initiating feature positioned adjacent to the second hole and extending from the second hole directly to the seal area;

wherein an opening can be formed in the packaging bag to extract the bag contents by initiating a tear at one of the holes and extending the tear across the length of the tear initiating feature adjacent the one hole into the content receiving space.

2. The packaging bag according to claim 1, wherein each of the first and second tear initiating features comprise a slit or perforation in the skirt section.

3. The packaging bag according to claim 1, further comprising:

a first half section of the skirt section defined on one side of an axis running from a midpoint of the outer edge to a midpoint of the seal area; and

a second half section defined on the other side of the axis; and

wherein the first hole is in the first half section and second hole is in the second half section.

4. The packaging bag according to claim 3, wherein:

the first hole is in a middle portion of the first half section and the second hole is in a middle portion of the second half section.

5. The packaging bag according to claim 1, wherein the seal area has a width and the tear initiating features extend through half of the width of the sealing section.

6. The packaging bag according to claim 1, wherein the seal area has a width and the tear initiating features extend through the entire width of the sealing section.

7. The packaging bag according to claim 1, wherein the seal area has a width and the tear initiating features extend beyond the entire width of the sealing section onto portions of the front or rear face that define the content receiving area.

8. A packaging bag constructed from shrink film material and defining a content receiving space between non-joined portions of a front face and a rear face, the content receiving space for receiving bag contents, the packaging bag comprising:

a first seal area on the front face and a second seal area on the rear face opposite the front face, the front seal area and rear seal area configured to affix the front face to the rear face at the first and second seal areas to seal the content receiving space after bag contents have been received;

a first skirt section in the front face and a second skirt section in the rear face, the first and second skirt sections extending beyond the first and second seal areas away from the content receiving space, each of the skirt sections having an outer edge;

a first hole and a second hole defined in each of the skirt sections, each hole positioned in both the front and rear faces between the outer edge of the skirt sections and the seal areas; and

a first tear initiating feature and a second tear initiating feature, the first tear initiating feature positioned adjacent to the first hole and extending in both the front and rear faces from the first hole directly to the seal areas, the second tear initiating feature positioned adjacent to the second hole and extending in both the front and rear faces from the second hole directly to the seal areas;

wherein an opening can be formed in the packaging bag to extract the bag contents by initiating a tear at one of the holes and extending the tear across the length of the tear initiating feature adjacent the one hole into the content receiving space.

9. The packaging bag according to claim 8, wherein each of the first and second tear initiating features comprise a slit or perforation in the skirt section.

10. The packaging bag according to claim 8, further comprising:

a first half section of the first and second skirt sections defined on one side of an axis running from a midpoint of the outer edge to a midpoint of the seal areas; and

a second half section of the first and second skirt sections defined on the other side of the axis; and

wherein the first hole is in the first half section and second hole is in the second half section.

11. The packaging bag according to claim 10, wherein:

the first hole is in a middle portion of the first half section and the second hole is in a middle portion of the second half section.

12. A packaging bag constructed from shrink film material with a front face joined to a rear face at packaging bag boundary edges that define a content receiving space between non-joined portions of the front face and the rear face, the content receiving space for receiving bag contents, the packaging bag comprising:

a seal area of the bag boundary edge;

a skirt section extending beyond the seal area away from the content receiving space and having an outer edge;

a grip element defined in the skirt section and positioned between the outer edge of the skirt section and the seal area; and

a tear initiation element defined in the skirt section and positioned between the outer edge of the skirt section and the seal area;

wherein an opening can be formed in the packaging bag to extract the bag contents by initiating a tear at the tear initiating element and into the content receiving space.

13. The packaging bag according to claim 12, wherein the tear initiating element comprises a slit or perforation in the skirt section.

14. The packaging bag according to claim 12, wherein the tear initiating element comprises a tear initiation hole and a tear initiation feature comprising a slit or perforation in the skirt section.

15. The packaging bag according to claim 12, wherein the tear initiating element comprises a tear initiation hole, a first tear initiation feature comprising a slit or perforation in the skirt section extending between the tear initiation hole and the outer edge, and a second tear initiation feature comprising a slit or perforation in the skirt section extending between the tear initiation hole and the seal area.

16. The packaging bag according to claim 12, wherein the tear initiating element comprises a semicircle shaped slit and a linear shaped slit coupled together in a question mark like shape in the skirt section.

17. The packaging bag according to claim 12, wherein the seal area comprises a curved seal area.

18. The packaging bag according to claim 12, wherein the grip element comprises a circular hole.

19. The packaging bag according to claim 18, wherein the grip element is cut in both a front and a rear face of the skirt section and the front and rear faces are heat sealed together at the edges of the circular hole.

20. The packaging bag according to claim 12, further comprising a stabilizing seal positioned between the outer edge of the skirt section and the grip element and tear initiation element.