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 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 manually openable heat-resistant packages for containing a product that include a thermoformed tray having a product receiving area and a sealing flange endowed with sufficient heat resistance to withstand the cooking and/or pasteurization/sterilization conditions required to produce a ready-to-eat packaged meal. The tray comprises a bulk layer, and a heat sealing layer in direct contact with the bulk layer. The inventive packages also include a flexible transparent lidding film covering the thermoformed product receiving area comprising a heat sealing layer. The package includes a hermetic seal comprising a perimeter heat seal which circumvents the thermoformed tray formed by heat sealing a portion of the heat sealing layer of the lidding film to the sealing flange of the tray. Only the heat sealing layer of the tray is readily frangible and renders the heat seal manually peelable.