Abstract: A thermoplastic flexible package includes a first non-shrinkable panel, an opposing second non-shrinkable panel, a first shrinkable panel and an opposing a second shrinkable panel. The panels are connected longitudinally with panel seals. The first non-shrinkable panel and the second non-shrinkable panel each forms a gusset. A first seal connects the first shrinkable panel and the second shrinkable panel in the transverse direction at or near the upper edges. A second seal that opposes the first seal connects the first and second non-shrinkable panels and the first and shrinkable panels in the transverse direction at or near the lower edges.

Abstract: A package includes a first adjacent edge, a second adjacent edge, and a fitment seal including a fitment. The fitment seal is inclined at a fitment seal angle relative to the first adjacent seal, and connects to the first adjacent seal and the second adjacent seal. The package further includes at least one supplemental seal extending towards the first adjacent seal. The at least one supplemental seal is inclined at an angle from 90° to 180° relative to the first adjacent seal.

Abstract: A thermoplastic flexible package includes a first non-shrinkable panel, an opposing second non-shrinkable panel, a first shrinkable panel and an opposing a second shrinkable panel. The panels are connected longitudinally with panel seals. The first non-shrinkable panel and the second non-shrinkable panel each forms a gusset. A first seal connects the first shrinkable panel and the second shrinkable panel in the transverse direction at or near the upper edges. A second seal that opposes the first seal connects the first and second non-shrinkable panels and the first and shrinkable panels in the transverse direction at or near the lower edges.

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: 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: A pouch for dispensing a substance and a method of using the pouch is disclosed. The pouch is formed from first and second walls of flexible material having mating peripheral edges which form an enclosure. The pouch has a width, a first end which is initially open, a second end, and first and second side seals which extend from the first end to the second end. A frangible seal is spaced apart from the second end. The frangible seal extends across a major portion of the width. The pouch also has a gusset formed between the second end and the frangible seal. The gusset bas a discharge opening formed therein through which a substance, which is retained in the enclosure after the first end is sealed, can be discharged.

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: 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: 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: The present invention is directed to a bag-in-box package having a flowable product contained in a thermoplastic bag which is inserted in or encased within an outer relatively rigid box or carton is provided. The box or carton may be constructed from a rigid or semi-rigid plastic or paperboard and has (i) a flat bottom panel, an opposing top panel, and a self-supporting, upstanding wall connecting the bottom and top panels, and (ii) an access port through the box for inserting a rigid implement, such as a drinking straw or other spout/tap therethrough to puncture the bag and withdraw the flowable product from inside the bag. The flowable product occupies less than 100% of the available volume of the bag and the remaining available head-space volume above the product is evacuated or collapsed in order to prevent spillage or leakage of product from the straw or spout when the bag is punctured.

Abstract: A scored package is described. The first panel of the package comprises a multilayer film with an exterior layer having a nonlinear first score Sine and an interior layer having a linear second score line. The first score line and the second score fine are positioned non-parallel in a plane of the package such that the first score line intersects the second score line to form an opening in the package at the second score line when the exterior layer and the interior layer are separated. Separation of the exterior layer and the interior layer also forms an adhesive-free pour spout in the separated exterior layer. Various embodiments of various package configurations, score line configurations, multilayer film structures and methods of manufacturing are also described.

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 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 wall 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: A scored package is described. The first panel of the package comprises a multilayer film with an exterior layer having a nonlinear first score Sine and an interior layer having a linear second score line. The first score line and the second score fine are positioned non-parallel in a plane of the package such that the first score line intersects the second score line to form an opening in the package at the second score line when the exterior layer and the interior layer are separated. Separation of the exterior layer and the interior layer also forms an adhesive-free pour spout in the separated exterior layer. Various embodiments of various package configurations, score line configurations, multilayer film structures and methods of manufacturing are also described.

Abstract: Multilayer laminates useful in packaging of respiring food products and packages made therefrom. The laminates have a CO2 permeability rate of at least about 10 cm3/100 in2/24 hours and an O2 permeability rate of less than about 5.3 cm3/100 in2/24 hours.

Abstract: Multilayer laminates useful in packaging of respiring food products and packages made therefrom. The laminates have a CO2 permeability rate of at least about 10 cm3/100 in2/24 hours and an O2 permeability rate of less than about 5.3 cm3/100 in2/24 hours.

Abstract: A multilayer laminate useful in the packaging of respiring food products such as swiss-type cheeses which generate or release carbon dioxide gas during storage and wherein said multilayer laminate allows for the egress of said gas while minimizing the ingress of oxygen. The multilayer laminate comprises at least one layer of a low gauge polyamide such as poly (-caprolactam).