Packaging With Improved Reclosable Opening
A packaging with improved reclosable opening is disclosed having a packaging body. The packaging body has an upper front main packaging sheet; a lower front main packaging sheet and a back main packaging sheet which are sealed together to form an edge-to-edge sealing. A reclosable opening is provided for inserting objects into the packaging. A diverting is means predisposed in such a manner and has a dimension sufficient to cover the reclosable opening to direct airflow away from the reclosable opening when there is an increase in internal air pressure. A weakened sealing is formed at a part of the edge-to-edge sealing wherein the weakened sealing ruptures when the increase in internal air pressure has build up to a critical point. When increased internal air pressure has build up to a critical point, the weakened sealing ruptures to allow air to vent through. The critical point is reached when the internal pressure is greater than external pressure to a sufficient extent to rupture the weakened sealing. The weakened sealing can be created by using a heat sealing temperature which is lower than the sealing temperature used for forming the rest of the edge-to-edge sealing, having a designated sealing area smaller than the sealing area of the rest of the edge-to-edge sealing, forming a notch on part of the edge-to-edge sealing, or disposing a film between the front and back main packaging sheets on part of the edge-to-edge sealing, wherein the film is made of a second material.
The present application is based on International Application No. PCT/SG2005/000381, filed on Nov. 9, 2005, which in turn corresponds to Malaysian Patent Application No. PI20054012. filed on Aug. 26, 2005 and priority is hereby claimed under 35 USC § 119 based on these applications. Each of these applications are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety into the present application.
FIELD OF INVENTIONThis invention relates generally to the field of packaging and more particularly to a packaging with improved reclosable opening which is suitable for household usage, especially for use as packaging for foodstuff in microwave oven.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONFrozen or shelf stable prepared foods that are intended to be reheated using microwave oven are becoming increasingly popular. Excess food or food being prepared in advance can be packaged and stored. Consumers only need to heat up those packaged food in the microwave oven prior to consuming.
During the heating of the food in a microwave oven, the moisture content of the food is rapidly heated and transformed into steam. As the temperature of the packaging increases during heating, the pressure within the packaging increases. Consumers usually puncture holes or cut a corner or pierce holes on the packaging to allow the steam to vent from the packaging during heating.
Thus, a packaging having a weakened sealing or a valve which allow the steam to vent during the process of heating would provide an improved method for heating food in microwave oven. In the prior technology, packaging with weakened sealing or valve which allow the steam to escape from the packaging are disclosed. However, these packaging are only suitable for the food manufacturer as it is not practical for a household user to have a thermal sealing machine or a heat sealer to seal it after putting the foodstuff into the packaging.
In the present invention, the packaging is modified to cater for the need of household users, who do not have access to a thermal sealing device, by having a reclosable opening, a diverting means and weakened sealing on the packaging. A reclosable opening functions as an opening for inserting the object, especially foodstuff into the packaging. The packaging can be closed up by reclosable opening to store, without using heat sealing or other adhesive. On the other hand, a diverting means is predisposed in such a manner and having a dimension sufficient to cover the reclosable opening. The diverting means is joined with main packaging sheets at the upper portion to direct airflow away from the reclosable opening. When the increased internal air pressure builds up to a critical point, the weakened sealing ruptures to allow air to vent through.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe primary object of the invention is to provide a packaging with a reclosable opening, a diverting means and a weakened sealing which is suitable for the convenience of user who do not have a thermal sealing device, especially household user for use in microwave oven for reheating purpose.
Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following descriptions, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein, by way of illustration and example, an embodiment of the present invention is disclosed.
For the purpose of this patent application, the term “packaging” used throughout the specification includes all kind of pouches within the scope of the claims. It is to be understood that the use of the term is not limiting the scope of the claims to certain designs and/or embodiments of the packaging according to the invention.
Accordingly, the current invention relates to a packaging with improved reclosable opening includes a diverting means which is predisposed in such a manner and having a dimension sufficient to cover the reclosable opening, preferably a zipper, to direct airflow away from the zipper when there is an increase in internal air pressure and a weakened sealing. When the internal pressure has reached a critical point, the packaging will thus rupture at the weakened sealing where the air vents through.
The current invention can be used for heating food in a microwave oven. The reclosable opening enable consumers to insert objects, especially foodstuff into the packaging. The packaging can be closed up by using the reclosable opening without the need of a heat sealing or other thermal sealing machine. The weakened sealing on the other hand provides a method without the need of puncturing the packaging prior to heating in microwave oven.
In accordance with the present invention, there is disclosed a packaging includes an upper front packaging sheet, a lower front packaging sheet and a back packaging sheet which are sealed together to form an edge-to-edge sealing. The term “edge-to-edge sealing” is used in this specification to refer to the all-round sealing along the marginal edge of a packaging sheet as it is folded to enclose an object. One or more portion of the sealable edge may be made frangible or more specifically a weakened sealing, to vent increased internal pressure. The weakened sealing can be created by:
a) using a heat sealing temperature which is lower than the sealing temperature used for forming the rest of the edge-to-edge sealing.
b) having a designated sealing area smaller than the sealing area of the rest of the edge- to-edge sealing.
c) forming a notch on part of the edge-to-edge sealing. d) disposing a film between the front and back main packaging sheets on part of the edge-to-edge sealing, wherein the film is made of second material.
In the preferred embodiment, the weakened sealing is created by disposing a film made of second material between front and back main packaging sheets. The film includes all physical shapes, such as narrow tips, triangular or tapering shapes.
In one preferred embodiment, the material of the packaging sheet and film is selected from any one or in combination of polyethylene and its derivatives, polyester and its derivatives, polypropylene and its derivatives, nylon and its derivatives or any suitable polymer. The upper front main packaging sheet, lower front main packaging sheet and back main packaging sheet are made of a first material, while the film, which creates a weakened sealing, is made of a second material. Any one of main packaging sheet can be made of a third material, provided the sealing among the main packaging sheets are stronger than the weakened sealing.
The packaging includes any one of a flexible three-side sealed pouch, standing pouch and flexible six-side sealed pouch.
Embodiments of the invention will appear more clearly in the following description with reference to the accompanying drawings.
The drawings constitute a part of this specification and include exemplary embodiments to the invention, which may be embodied in various forms. It is to be understood that in some instances various aspects of the invention may be shown exaggerated or enlarged to facilitate an understanding of the invention.
Detailed descriptions of the preferred embodiment are provided herein. It is to be understood, however, that the present invention may be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but rather as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to employ the present invention in virtually any appropriately detailed system, structure or manner.
In the practice of current invention, the diverting means (103) is an extended part from the upper front main packaging sheet (102). The diverting means (103) can also be another film, which sealed between the upper front main packaging sheet (102) and back main packaging sheet form a flange or flap. According to the current invention, the front main packaging sheet (102) and its extended part, the diverting means (103) is made of a first material. In another preferred embodiment, front main packaging sheet (102) and its extended part, the diverting means (103), may be made of second material as shown in
To accomplish an important function of the invention, there is shown in
The weakened sealing (104) can also be a seal with a width smaller than the sealing width of the rest of the edge-to-edge sealing as shown in
Another embodiment of weakened sealing (104) is shown in
In
In accordance with an important feature of the present invention, there is shown in
In another embodiment, the upper front-main packaging sheet (102) and its extended part, the diverting means (103) can be made of a second material as illustrated in
The packaging is not only limited to three-side-sealed flexible pouch. Other forms of packaging can also be used with the current invention such as standing pouch (400) as illustrated in
In
While the invention has been described in connection with a preferred embodiment, it is not intended to limit the scope of the invention to the particular form set forth, but on the contrary, it is intended to cover such alternatives, modifications, and equivalents as may be included within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.
Claims
1. A packaging with a reclosable opening comprising:
- a packaging body comprising an upper front main packaging sheet, a lower front main packaging sheet and a back main packaging sheet which are sealed together to form an edge-to-edge sealing;
- a reclosable opening on said packaging for inserting objects into said packaging;
- a diverting means covering said reclosable opening which is predisposed to direct airflow away from said reclosable opening when there is an increase in internal air pressure; and
- a weakened sealing formed at part of said edge-to-edge sealing wherein said weakened sealing ruptures when said increase in internal air pressure has build up to a critical point.
2. The packaging with improved reclosable opening according to claim 1 wherein said weakened sealing is created by using a heat sealing temperature which is lower than the sealing temperature used for forming the rest of said edge-to-edge sealing.
3. The packaging with improved reclosable opening according to claim 1 wherein said weakened sealing is a designated sealing area smaller than the sealing area of the rest of said edge-to-edge sealing.
4. The packaging with improved reclosable opening according to claim 1 wherein said weakened sealing is created by forming a notch on part of said edge-to-edge sealing.
5. The packaging with improved reclosable opening according to claim 1 wherein said weakened sealing is created by disposing a film between said front and back main packaging sheets on part of said edge-to-edge sealing, wherein said film is made of material different from either said front or back main packaging sheets.
6. The packaging with improved reclosable opening according to claim 2 wherein said weakened sealing is at the top part of said edge-to-edge sealing.
7. The packaging with improved reclosable opening according to claim 1 wherein said critical point is reached when the internal air pressure is greater than external air pressure to a sufficient extent to rupture said weakened sealing.
8. The packaging with improved reclosable opening according to claim 1 wherein said reclosable opening is a zipper.
9. The packaging with improved reclosable opening according to claim 1 wherein said diverting means is an extended part of said upper front main packaging sheet.
10. A packaging with reclosable opening comprising:
- a reclosable opening on said packaging for inserting objects into the packaging;
- a diverting means covering said reclosable opening which is predisposed to direct airflow away from said reclosable opening and part of said diverting means detaches from the rest of the packaging when an increase in internal air pressure has build up to a critical point;
- a packaging body comprising an upper front main packaging sheet, a lower front main packaging sheet and a back main packaging sheet which are sealed together to form an edge-to-edge sealing; and
- a weakened sealing formed at said edge-to-edge sealing of said upper front main packaging sheet and said back main packaging sheet, said upper front main packaging sheet is made of material different from said back main packaging sheet, wherein said weakened sealing ruptures when said increase in internal air pressure has build up to a critical point.
11. The packaging with improved reclosable opening according to claim 10 wherein said lower front main packaging sheet is made of a second material and said back main packaging sheet is made of third material, wherein said edge-to-edge sealing formed by said lower front main packaging sheet and said back main packaging sheet is stronger than said weakened sealing.
12. The packaging with improved reclosable opening according to claim 10 wherein said diverting means is an extended part of said upper front main packaging sheet.
13. The packaging with improved reclosable opening according to claim 10 wherein said critical point is reached when the internal air pressure is greater than external air pressure to a sufficient extent to rupture said weakened sealing.
14. The packaging with improved reclosable opening according to claim 10 wherein said reclosable opening is a zipper.
15. The packaging with improved reclosable opening according to claim 3, wherein said weakened sealing is at the top part of said edge-to-edge sealing.
16. The packaging with improved reclosable opening according to claim 4, wherein said weakened sealing is at the top part of said edge-to-edge sealing.
17. The packaging with improved reclosable opening according to claim 5, wherein said weakened sealing is at the top part of said edge-to-edge sealing.
Type: Application
Filed: Nov 9, 2005
Publication Date: Oct 9, 2008
Applicant: Sin Sheng Kuang (M) SDN BHD (Penang)
Inventors: Boon Eow Phee (Penang), Boon Chee Phee (Penang)
Application Number: 12/064,733
International Classification: B65D 33/00 (20060101); B65D 30/24 (20060101); B65D 33/01 (20060101);