IMPROVED RECLOSEABLE PACKAGE FOR PINCH-GRIP OPENING

Abstract

A recloseable package including a recloseable fastener assembly is configured to facilitate pinch-grip opening of the package by gripping and separation of front and rear panels of the package. In order to facilitate opening in this manner, the recloseable fastener assembly is configured to open and separate during pinch-grip opening, without separation of the fastener assembly from the body of the package and/or delamination of the package body. To this end, elements of the recloseable fastener assembly are partially separated from each other, intermediate the ends thereof, to facilitate opening of the fastener assembly without separation of the assembly from the body. Alternatively, the fastener assembly can be configured such that one of the elements has a pair of flange portions for attachment to the package body, while the other fastener element has a single flange portion. The fastener elements are configured to preferentially separate in a direction generally away from that direction in which the single flange portion extends. The present recloseable package can be configured for efficient formation on a vertical form, fill, and seal filling apparatus.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to packages that can be pinch-grip opened, that is, the end seal of the package can be broken open by pulling the front and rear panels of the package apart. More particularly the present invention relates to recloseable packages that each include a recloseable fastener assembly that can be pinch-grip opened in conjunction with the breaking open of the package end seal.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Packages that can be pinch-grip opened are commonly used when packaging snack foods. Film substrates utilized to make packages for snack foods, such as potato chips, corn chips, or the like have been designed so that the end seal of the package preferably breaks open prior to the tearing of the film.

Recloseable packages have come into increasingly widespread use in view of the convenience they provide to consumers and other users to permit a portion of a package's contents to be used, and the package effectively reclosed. To this end, packages have been provided with recloseable elements including profile fastener strips, cooperating adhesive strips, hook-and-loop fastener elements, and the like, to permit a package to be conveniently reclosed after its initial opening. U.S. Pat. No. 5,782,733, U.S. Pat. No. 4,655,862, U.S. Pat. No. 4,844,759, and U.S. Pat. No. 4,909,017, all hereby incorporated by reference, disclose various recloseable package constructions, and methods for effecting their formation.

Packages that can be pinch-grip opened that include some type of recloseable fastener means have become desirable, whereby both conveniences can be offered to the consumer. The method of opening packages which have been provided with interlocking profile strip recloseable fasteners that can be pinch-grip opened has been previously described by the prior art. U.S. Pat. No. 5,972,396, hereby incorporated by reference, teaches a method of opening such packages.

Pinch-grip opening recloseable packages provides several benefits over other types of recloseable packaging. Aside from the fact that most consumers have a tendency to open snack food packaging this way, other technical benefits exist as well. One important benefit is that packages which can be opened in this fashion allow the package to be formed with the recloseable fastener disposed totally within the confines of the package, and therefore not interfere with the barrier properties of the package. Unlike most other packages with recloseable fastener arrangements there is no need to provide a separate, dedicated means for accessing the recloseable fastener. Such access means often require perforations that compromise the gas barrier properties of the package.

The gas barrier properties, of snack food packaging, are of critical importance to the freshness of the product being packaged. Often snack food packages are filled with nitrogen to displace other unwanted gases such as oxygen from the confines of the package. Perforations allow the nitrogen to escape rapidly, drastically shortening the shelf life of the packaged product. A package that can be pinch-grip opened provides a barrier proof opening means without the need to use a cutting instrument, such as scissors. U.S. Pat. No. 6,481,891 and U.S. Pat. No. 6,224,262 disclose packages that require perforations for accessing the reclosable fastener.

Packages formed in accordance with U.S. Pat. No. 5,972,396 use various interlocking profile strip recloseable fastener types, but this patent fails to recognize the mechanics involved in pinch-grip opened package with certain types of recloseable fastener assemblies. The problem results from the lack of leverage on the locking members of the recloseable fastener assembly when pulling the front and rear panels of the packages apart. Typical recloseable packages with recloseable fasteners arranged on opposing walls of the package have their recloseable fasteners formed into the package very close to the end seal to maximize the product carrying capacity of the package. When utilizing such opposing wall recloseable fastener arrangements, the recloseable fastener must be opened before the end seal of the package is broken open when pinch-grip opening the package. This requires that the recloseable fastener assembly have the right mechanical elements to allow it to open from the opposite direction than is typical, that is, from the bottom up (i.e., the “product side”), instead of the top down.

The opening of the recloseable fastener from the opposite direction creates some mechanical problems for many typical fastener assemblies due to the lack of leverage on the interlocking profile strips. This problem results primarily when packages are formed with the recloseable fastener being transversely positioned to the forming axis of the package.

This is commonly the case with snack food packaging which is predominantly formed using vertical form, fill, and seal packaging machinery. Such methods of forming packages with transversely positioned recloseable fasteners are taught in U.S. Pat. No. 5,782,733, No. 6,177,172, and No. 5,601,368. Recloseable fastener means used with this method of forming packages requires that the recloseable fastener have flanges for attaching it to the panels of the package which have relatively wide and thin dimensions. The typical flanges are relatively thin to allow for efficient sealing of the flange to even thinner packaging films at fairly high rates of operation. The flanges also provide a means for gripping the recloseable fastener when opening the locking members. Since these recloseable fasteners are normally only opened from one direction they typically only contain two flanges on the side that is meant to be opened, such as from the top of the package. Flanges must be of sufficient dimensions for gripping but also to allow the recloseable fastener to be sealed to the package. When attempting to open a package by pinch-grip opening it below the fastener assembly, typical fastener assemblies with typical sealing arrangements fail to unlock before the seal attaching the flange of the assembly to the back wall of the package fails. When using laminated film structures as is used with typical snack food packaging the film often delaminates before the seal fails. Therefore, it is recognized by the present invention that the force required to unlock the interlocking profile strips must be less than the strength between the layers of the laminated film structure. The lack of leverage resulting from the hinged effect of the flange when pinch-grip opening the package below the locking members must also be taken into account.

When using packaging with an opposing wall fastener arrangement (i.e., the two components of the fastener assembly are respectively joined to the front and rear panels of the package), which is a requirement for making recloseable packages that can be pinch-grip opened, one of the recloseable strips must be sealed to the back panel of the package. It is required that this sealing step be done on the form, fill, and seal machine after the packaged has been filled. This process requires that the form, fill, and seal machine be equipped with a means for sealing the flange to the back wall of the package which typically requires that an additional set of sealing jaws be utilized. These additional sealing jaws must be synchronized with the operation of the form fill and seal machine to allow for the final recloseable fastener flange seal to be made. Due to the tolerance associated with a typical form, fill, and seal machine the overall width of the flanges must be relatively wide to allow for successful sealing of the flange to the back panel of the package. Typical flange widths are from 0.50″ to 0.75″; even wider flanges are required with some form, fill, and seal machines.

Although it is desirable to form packages that can be pinch-grip opened, it is also desirable to provide a package that can be opened from the top down after the package has been initially pinch-grip opened. Therefore, it is desirable to have a recloseable fastener that can be opened from both directions. As a result of this bi-directional opening requirement, the only packages known to be reliably produced that could be pinch-grip opened, utilized recloseable fasteners having flanges on both sides of each of the locking members. These bi-directional recloseable fasteners required flanges above and below the locking member of the recloseable fastener that is attached to the back panel of the package.

This has resulted in the recloseable fastener assembly having four flanges. The overall width dimension is almost double that of a typical recloseable fastener. This has resulted in the recloseable fastener being more expensive and it has required that the amount of packaging film be increased to accommodate the wider fastener assembly which results in additional packaging cost. The sealing jaw arrangement on the form, fill, and seal machine needed to attach such a four flange fastener assembly is more complex and expensive, as well.

The present invention overcomes the shortcomings of the prior art by providing a recloseable fastener with interlocking profile strips that can be used with packages utilizing-grip opening without the need for the typical leverage required of the recloseable fasteners used in conjunction with form, fill, and seal machinery when transversely applying recloseable fasteners.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to a package that can be pinch-grip opened without the fastener strips tearing away from the panels of the package. One solution is to utilize a fastener assembly that is designed to unlock when lateral forces are applied to its members.

Another advantage of the present invention is that when using conventional locking members, a method is taught whereby the locking members can be left unlocked in a center portion where the forces are the greatest.

An improved recloseable package embodying the principles of the present invention comprises a package body including a front wall or panel, and a rear wall or panel joined to each other. A recloseable fastener assembly is joined to the package body for gaining access to the interior of the package body, with the fastener assembly including first and second fastener elements which can be releasably secured to each other for closing the package body after the fastener elements have been separated from each other.

In order to facilitate pinch-grip opening of the package, by grasping and separating the front and rear panels of the package, the first and second fastener elements are at least partially separated from each other, intermediate the ends of the fastener assembly, to facilitate initial separation of the first and second fastener elements. In the preferred form, the first and second fastener elements respectively define at least one groove, and at least one projection, or vice versa, which cooperate with each other to releaseably secure the fastener elements to each other. Flange portions of the fastener assembly facilitate its securement to the inside surface of the film material or the like from which the package is formed, and facilitates releasable opening of the package. Specifically, the first fastener element has a pair of first flange portions respectively extending in generally opposite directions thereof to facilitate joining of the fastener assembly to the package body, such as to the inside of the front panel of the package. In contrast, the second fastener element has a single, second flange portion extending from only one side thereof, to facilitate joining of the second fastener element to the interior of the package body after the package body is formed generally about the fastener assembly. Thus, in accordance with the present invention, the fastener assembly is provided with three flange portions which are secured to the inside of the package body.

As noted, the fastener assembly of the present invention is preferably configured to facilitate pinch-grip opening of the package by gripping and separating the front and rear panels thereof. In particular, the present package is configured so as to facilitate pinch-grip opening, without separation of the second fastener element, having a single flange portion, from the interior of the package body or without permanently deforming the package body, such as by delamination thereof.

In one form of the invention, the fastener assembly is configured to facilitate pinch-grip opening by the first and second fastener elements being partially separated from each other, intermediate the ends of the fastener assembly. Pinch-grip opening of the package by separation of the fastener elements and subsequent opening of the generally adjacent end seal, is thus facilitated.

In another aspect of the invention, the fastener assembly itself can be configured to facilitate separation of the fastener element in a preferential fashion, that is, providing fastener elements which provide the desired releasable securement when separated normally, generally away from each other, but which can be more easily separated from each other when manipulated in a different fashion. In particular, this aspect of the present invention contemplates the fastener elements can be configured to facilitate separation from each other by movement of the first fastener assembly in a direction, relative to the second fastener assembly, which is generally away from the direction in which the flange portion of the second fastener element extends from the second fastener element. In presently preferred embodiments, the single flange of the second fastener element extends in a direction generally toward an end seal of the package generally adjacent to which the fastener assembly is positioned in closely spaced relationship. This arrangement facilitates pinch-grip opening of the package, in that separation of the front and rear panels away from each other acts to pull the first fastener element in a direction generally away from the direction in which the flange portion of the second fastener element extends.

Other features and advantages of the present invention will become readily apparent from the following detailed description, the accompanying drawings, and the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a recloseable package embodying the principles of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1, illustrating the application of forces to front and rear panels of the package for effecting pinch-grip opening;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken generally along lines 3-3 of FIG. 1 illustrating the present recloseable package, and its contents, prior to opening;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view similar to FIG. 3, illustrating application of forces to the front and rear panels of the package for effecting pinch-grip opening;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a recloseable fastener assembly configured in accordance with the present invention to facilitate pinch-grip opening of a package having the assembly;

FIG. 6 is a diagrammatic, cross-sectional view illustrating the recloseable fastener assembly of a recloseable package embodying the prior art;

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view similar to FIG. 6, illustrating a recloseable package, with a recloseable fastener assembly embodying the principles of the present invention to facilitate pinch-grip opening;

FIG. 8 is a diagrammatic view similar to FIG. 6, illustrating forces applied to a package, configured in accordance with the prior art, attendant to pinch-grip opening; and

FIG. 9 is a diagrammatic view illustrating a recloseable package having a recloseable fastener assembly configured in accordance with FIG. 7, and embodying the present invention, showing forces applied thereto attendant to pinch-grip opening.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

While the present invention is susceptible of embodiment in various forms, there is shown in the drawings and will hereinafter be described a presently preferred embodiment of the invention, with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the invention, and is not intended to limit the invention to the specific embodiments illustrated.

With reference now to the drawings, therein is illustrated a package in the form of a recloseable bag 10 embodying the principles of the present invention. It is contemplated that the bag 10 be formed from suitable plastic film materials or the like, but it is within the purview of the present invention to form the bag from paper or paper-like materials. As will hereinafter be described, bag 10 is specifically configured in a manner which facilitates formation of the bag from a substantially continuous web of film material, to which fastener assemblies have been previously applied, for use in a so-called form, fill, and seal apparatus for packaging of food products, or non-food products. For example, the present package can be configured for packaging of non-food items such as hardware articles or the like, wherein repeated opening and closing of the package is desired.

The recloseable bag 10 is formed from a generally rectangular sheet of film material, and includes a top end generally designated 12, a bottom end generally designated 14, and front and back walls 16 and 18. The front and back walls are joined to each other by upper and lower seams 20, 22, respectively provided at top and bottom ends 12 and 14 of the bag. Lateral edges of the rectangular sheet of film material from which the bag body is formed are joined to each other along a back seam 24 extending vertically along back wall 18. The seams 20, 22, and 24 can be formed adhesively, or by heat-sealing as is known in the art.

Recloseable bag 10 includes profile strip fastener assembly 26 which is sealingly mounted on the inside surface of front wall 16, transversely of and perpendicular to back seam 24, and the forming axis of the bag 10. In order to permit use of the present bag with conventional packaging equipment, fastener assembly 26 has a length no more than one-half the width of the rectangular sheet of film material from which the bag body is formed. In practice, a substantially continuous sheet of film material is provided with a plurality of the fastener assemblies 26 mounted thereon at spaced locations, which spacing corresponds to the length dimension of the bags ultimately to be formed. For use, this web of film material (with the fastener assemblies mounted thereon) is supplied to a form, fill, and seal apparatus which operates to form a series of the bags 10, in end-to-end relationship, by formation of back seam 24, bottom seam 22, and top seam 20, as food product is supplied to the individual bags being formed. After formation and filling, the individual bags are ordinarily separated from each other for packaging and shipment, as may be required.

The package of the present invention is specifically configured to facilitate pinch-grip opening thereof, that is, initial opening of the package by gripping the front and rear panels of the package, and separating them from each other. In this fashion, the first and second recloseable fastener elements of the fastener assembly are separated from each other, generally within the interior of the package, and the end seal of the package, such as the upper end seal generally adjacent the fastener assembly, then opened generally by delamination or other deformation of the end seal.

In the preferred embodiment, the fastener assembly of the present invention includes three flange portions, which arrangement facilitates securement of the fastener assembly within the package body, generally as the package body is formed about the fastener assembly. After the package body is formed about the fastener assembly, one of the panels of the package, typically the rear panel, is joined to the single flange of the second fastener element, with the fastener assembly thus joined to, and generally extending between, the front and rear panels of the package. FIG. 3 generally illustrates the package after its formation and sealing, with the contents therein, and the three-flange fastener assembly 26 extending generally between the front and rear panels 16 and 18 thereof.

FIG. 4 illustrates forces being exerted on the package to effect pinch-grip opening thereof. As will be noted, the forces exerted on the package tend to orient the fastener assembly such that the fastener elements thereof are generally subjected to shear forces. However, as will be recognized by those familiar with the art, typical fastener assemblies are ordinarily configured to not release or separate when subjected to shear forces. It was thus recognized that configuring the fastener assembly to facilitate opening in this fashion, without separation of the single flange portion of the second fastener element from the package, or by delamination or other deformation of the rear panel of the package, is necessary.

FIG. 5 illustrates one form of the present fastener assembly, wherein the first and second fastener elements 28, 30 of the assembly 26 are partially separated from each other, intermediate the ends of the fastener assembly as illustrated at 32, to facilitate initial separation of the first and second fastener elements attendant to pinch-grip opening of the package. As will be appreciated, this partial separation acts to relatively reduce the relative holding force of the fastener elements, while permitting the elements to otherwise function in a normal fashion to provide the desired recloseable feature for the package. In this embodiment, fastener assembly 26 is illustrated as including fastener elements in the form of profile strips, but it will be appreciated that the assembly 26 may be otherwise configured, such as comprising adhesive fastener elements, hook-and-loop fastener elements, or the like.

Alternatively, the fastener elements themselves can be specifically configured to separate from each other in a preferential fashion. FIGS. 6 and 8 generally illustrate the action of fastener elements, F₁ and F₂, having a generally typical configuration, shown in package P, wherein the fastener elements can be separated by pulling them away from each other. In contrast, FIGS. 7 and 9 illustrate a fastener assembly 26′ having fastener elements 28′, 30′ in accordance with the present invention, wherein the fastener elements have been configured to preferentially separate to facilitate separation by movement of the first fastener element in a direction, relative to the second fastener element, which is generally away from the direction in which the single second flange portion of the second fastener element extends. As will be appreciated from FIG. 9, this configuration facilitates separation of the first and second fastener elements, without undesired separation of the single flange of the second fastener element from the associated panel of the package, or delamination of the package body.

From the foregoing, it will be observed that numerous modifications and variations can be effected without departing from the true spirit and scope of the novel concept of the present invention. It is to be understood that no limitation with respect to the specific embodiment illustrated herein is intended or should be inferred. The disclosure is intended to cover, by the appended claims, all such modifications as fall within the scope of the claims.

Claims

1. An improved recloseable package, comprising:

a package body including a front panel and a rear panel joined to each other, and

a recloseable fastener assembly joined to the front and rear panels of said package body for gaining access to the interior of the package body, said fastener assembly including first and second fastener elements which can releasably secured to each other for closing the package body after said fastener elements have been separated from each other,

said first and second fastener elements being partially separated from each other, intermediate the ends of said fastener assembly, to facilitate initial separation of said first and second fastener elements.

2. An improved recloseable package in accordance with claim 1, wherein:

said first and second fastener elements each respectively define at least one of a groove and a projection which cooperate with each other to releasable secure said fastener elements to each other.

3. An improved recloseable package in accordance with claim 1, wherein:

said first fastener element has a pair of first flange portions respectively extending in generally opposite directions thereof to facilitate joining of said fastener assembly to said package body,

said second fastener element having a single second flange portion extending from only one side thereof to facilitate joining of said second fastener element to the interior of the package body after said package body is formed generally about said fastener assembly.

4. An improved recloseable package, comprising:

a package body including a front panel and a rear panel joined to each other, and

a recloseable fastener assembly joined to the front and rear panels of said package body for gaining access to the interior of the package body, said fastened assembly including first and second fastener elements which can releasably secured to each other for closing the package body after said fastener elements have been separated from each other,

said fastener first element having a pair of first flange portions respectively extending in generally opposite directions thereof to facilitate joining of said fastener assembly to said package body,

said second fastener element having a single second flange portion extending from only one side thereof to facilitate joining of said second fastener element to the interior of the package body after said package body is formed generally about said fastener assembly,

said fastener assembly being configured to facilitate pinch-grip opening of said package by gripping and separating said front and rear panels, without separation of said second fastener element from the interior of said package body, or delamination of said package body.

5. An improved recloseable package in accordance with claim 4, wherein:

said first and second fastener elements are partially separated from each other, intermediate the ends of said fastener assembly, to facilitate separation of said first and second fastener elements without separation of said second fastener element from the interior of said package body, or delamination of said package body.

6. An improved recloseable package in accordance with claim 4, wherein:

said first and second fastener elements are configured to be separated from each other with less force than is required to separate said second fastener element from said package body, or to permanently deform said package body, including by delamination thereof.

7. An improved recloseable package in accordance with claim 6, wherein:

said fastener elements are configured to facilitate separation from each other by movement of said first fastener element in a direction, relative to said second fastener element, which is generally away from the direction in which said second flange portion extends from said second fastener element.