Abstract: The present invention is directed to heat-seal condition indicating packages having a first sealing substrate comprising a leuco dye and a second sealing substrate comprising a leuco dye developer, and a leuco dye sensitizer which dissolves both the leuco dye and the leuco dye developer when melted which is disposed in or on the surface of either the first or second sealing substrata or disposed in or on the surface of both the first and second sealing substrates. The packages of the present invention further include a heat-seal produced between the first sealing substrate and the second sealing substrate which comprises a heat-seal defect-free state which produces a visible color change within the heat-seal after heat sealing, and/or a heat-seal defect state which produces no visible color change within the heat-seal after heat sealing.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a fracturable thermoformable packaging sheet comprising at least one thermoplastic layer having a thickness of between 10 mil and 50 mil which is composed of a polymer matrix of between 35% (wt.) to 77.5% (wt.) relative to the total weight of the thermoplastic layer of a substantially amorphous aromatic polyester. Incorporated into this polymer matrix of the at least one thermoplastic layer is an inorganic filler which is present in an amount of between 22% (wt.) to 50% (wt.) relative to the total weight of the thermoplastic layer. The inorganic filler is encased in a carrier resin which is present in an amount of between 0.5% (wt.) to 15% (wt.) relative to the total weight of the thermoplastic layer.

Abstract: A multilayer pouch with heat-shrinkable layer is described. The pouch comprises a first wall; a second wall; a perimeter comprising a first edge and a second edge opposing the first edge; and a product space positioned between the first wall, the second wall, and the perimeter. The pouch is configured to fully enclose the product space. The first wall comprises a first wall first layer having a machine direction shrinkage value of greater than 5% shrink at 90° C., a first wall second layer having a machine direction Gurley stiffness force of at least 800 mgf and a machine direction shrinkage value at 90° C. of less than the machine direction shrinkage value of the first wall first layer at 90° C., a first wall pattern connection, and a first wall air inlet. The first wall first layer is interior the first wall second layer. Various embodiments of the pouch are also described.

Abstract: A retail bag-in-box transparent package having a flovvable product contained in a bag which is contained in a polymeric box where the box has (i) a flat bottom panel, an opposing top panel, and a self-supporting, upstanding, at least partially transparent wail connecting the bottom and top panels, and (ii) an access port through the box adapted for providing communication means for removing product from the bag, which is a flexible thermoplastic bag (capacity ?1 liter (1000 ml)) attached to an interior surface of the box proximate the access port, where at least a portion of the bag has a transparent wall overlapping the transparent box portion to provide visual access to the product.

Abstract: The present invention provides multilayer absorbent laminates useful for absorbing undesired liquids released from packaged food products during storage, display, or heating, including microwave cooking. In one aspect, the present invention provides a multilayer absorbent laminate comprising a first layer comprising an absorbent material, a second layer comprising a polymeric bonding material, a third layer comprising a polymeric support film layer, and a fourth layer comprising an adhesive.

Abstract: A multilayered sheet is described. The sheet comprises a first layer comprising a polyolefin having a melting temperature, a storage modulus (G) greater than 100,000 psi (690 MPa) at ambient temperature, and a glass transition temperature less than ambient temperature; and a second layer comprising a polymer having a glass transition temperature greater than ambient temperature.

Abstract: A package for storing or preparing food or other products includes a flexible pouch within which the product can be sealed, and a box? or other container sized to hold the pouch. To seal the product in the pouch, the pouch includes a peelable seal that seals a portion of a first thermoplastic film to a portion of a second thermoplastic film, such films optionally forming walls of the pouch. The package, including the container and the pouch, is configured for beating the sealed product m ? a microwave oven, in a heated state, pressure inside the pouch increases to expand the pouch, and the container constrains or limits expansion of the pouch in some places but not at an expansion region of the container. A portion of the peelable seal is proximate such region, producing a separation in such peelable sea! portion such that the pouch self-vents through the separation.

Abstract: A package which may be opened and closed using only one hand, without the need for any tools or a second hand subsequent to initial opening, is provided as a hand-held sized, flexible thermoplastic bag having a self-closing, manually openable closure employing at least two resilient stays, each of which is covered at least in part by a cover film which may be a non-shrink film or a heat shrinkable film. The stays and cover films form in conjunction with the package body opposing rolled edges or package wall ridges that facilitate opening and create a close-fitting interior closure surface along the abutting cover films.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to flexible peelable/resealable packages having a first wall panel which includes an abuse layer forming an exterior surface of the package with a printed release lacquer coating positioned on the abuse layer and a pressure sensitive adhesive coating positioned on the release lacquer coating which may be in direct contact with the sealant substrate forming a portion of the interior surface of the package.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to packages having a flexible top sheet sealed to a flexible embossed bottom sheet The flexible bottom sheet comprises a plurality of embossed peaks and valleys wherein each valley has a defined perimeter with a valley base integrally connected to a valley wall which thereby defines an individual liquid containment cell. The packages according to the present invention are heat resistant to allow food packaged therein to be cooked in a microwave oven such that a substantial amount of water and/or grease released by the food during the cooking process is captured beneath a food contact surface in a plurality of embossed individual liquid containment cells, in preferred embodiments, the package of the present invention is a microwavable form-fill-seal package or microwavable vacuum package for storing and cooking a precooked or cured food product with substantial water and/or fat content.

Abstract: A multilayer pouch with heat-shrinkable layer is described. The pouch comprises a first wall; a second wall; a perimeter comprising a first edge and a second edge opposing the first edge; and a product space positioned between the first wall, the second wall, and the perimeter. The pouch is configured to fully enclose the product space. The first wall comprises a first wall first layer having a machine direction shrinkage value of greater than 5% shrink at 90° C., a first wall second layer having a machine direction Gurley stiffness force of at least 800 mgf and a machine direction shrinkage value at 90° C. of less than the machine direction shrinkage value of the first wall first layer at 90° C., a first wall pattern connection, and a first wall air inlet. The first wall first layer is interior the first wall second layer. Various embodiments of the pouch are also described.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to flexible peelable/reseatable packages uniquely well suited for packaging convenience foods such as processed meats, cheeses and the like. The packages include a peelable/resealable interface formed from a pressure sensitive adhesive (PSA) which permit the packages to be re-sealed after their initial opening. There is also an absorbent non-woven strip which is inserted between the first and second wall panels near the PSA interface. During the opening of the package when the wall panels are forced apart in opposite directions, the absorbent non-woven strip cohesively ruptures and at least a portion of the strip remains bonded to each wall panel after the package has been opened. The absorbent non-woven strip absorbs water and/or fats, grease and oils from the food products before these materials can contaminate the PSA interface.

Abstract: A package for the storage of food or other suitable products includes a tray and, optionally, a lidding film. The tray is thermoformed, molded, or otherwise shaped to provide a recessed portion and flange, the recessed portion defining a product-receiving cavity. The flange includes a frame portion surrounding the cavity and a margin portion disposed alongside the frame portion and, in some embodiments, extending substantially a full width of the tray. The optional lidding film attaches to both the frame and margin portions and typically seals the cavity. The margin portion and a side wall of the recessed portion may include locking features to allow the margin portion to snap close against the side wall. The package may then be made to stand on end with the margin portion acting as a base. The lidding film may include a peelable/sealable film to allow repeated access to the product while sealing the cavity between uses.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a thermoplastic package includes a tray and a lidding film both of which are suitable for recycling into a polyethylene terephthalate (PET) recycling stream. Packages according to the present invention comprise predominantly amorphous polyethylene terephthalate (APET) relative to the total weight of the package. Another object of the present invention is to provide a package especially for retail display for containing a food such as fresh produce, cheeses and meats, and/or non-food product. Still another object of the present invention is to provide a manually openable package which includes a tray peelable heat sealed to a lidding film laminate.

Abstract: A packaging sheet is described. The sheet comprises a first layer comprising a first copolyester having a glass transition temperature of from 70° C. to 90° C. and an intrinsic viscosity of from 0.70 dl/g to 0.90 dl/g. The first copolyester comprises from 50% to 85% by volume of the sheet. The sheet also comprises a second layer comprising a second copolyester having a glass transition temperature of equal to or greater than 112° C. The second copolyester comprises from 15% to 50% by volume of the sheet. The sheet is thermally stable after exposure to temperatures up to 112° C. Various embodiments of the sheet are also described.

Abstract: The present invention relates to improved manually openable self-venting ovenable packages which include a rigid or semi-rigid tray having a single thermoplastic overwrap comprising a polymeric laminate surrounding the tray and having a front panel and an opposing back panel. The inventive packages also include a continuous seal circumscribing a recessed cavity of the tray which comprises a heat seal formed by heat sealing a portion of the front panel to the peripheral flange of the tray. The packages of the present invention are self-venting whereby a venting region comprising a release coating applied between the inner surface of the front panel and the inner surface of the back panel permits the overwrap to rupture and release steam in response to heat and/or overpressure generated during heating of a food item in a microwave oven.

Abstract: The present invention relates to improved manually openable packages which include a rigid or semi-rigid tray having a single thermoplastic overwrap comprising a polymeric laminate surrounding the tray and having a front panel and an opposing back panel. The inventive packages also include a continuous seal circumscribing a recessed cavity of the tray which comprises a heat seal formed by heat sealing a portion of the front panel to the peripheral flange of the tray.

Abstract: A package that includes a housing portion, a handling portion and a separation feature. The separation feature facilitates separation of the handling and housing portions. The separation feature includes a first release layer and a second release layer adjacent to the first release layer provided between the first and second films at an overlapping portion of the housing portion and the handling portion.

Abstract: A resealable flexible package is provided comprising polymeric wall panels and a peel-reseal feature sealed therebetween. A peel-off portion is removed to transition the package from a closed position to an open position, removal of the peel-off portion both opening the package and exposing a pressure sensitive adhesive of the peel-reseal feature. The exposed pressure sensitive adhesive is coupled to one of the wall panels and moved into adhesive engagement with an exterior surface of another wall panel to transition the package to a reseated position.

Abstract: The present invention relates to thermoplastic cheese packaging films having an outer sealant layer having a three-dimensional food-contact surface topography formed by a roughening agent dispersed within the polymer matrix of the sealant layer. When the hot processed cheese contacts the surface of the sealant layer and cools, the cheese is embossed by inverse replication of the surface topography of the sealant layer. Such films are particularly useful when used with high speed hot packaging operations.