Reclosable Container with Resealable Flexible Cover and Method for Manufacturing the Same

• US 20100172604A1
• Filed: 01/06/2009
• Published: 07/08/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 01/06/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Printpack Illinois, Inc. (Printpack Holdings Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Printpack Illinois, Inc. (Printpack Holdings Incorporated)
• Inventors: Alvarez, Anthony J., Komro, Ronald W., Cigallio, Edward J., Andersson, Thomas
• Application Number:
  US12/348,980
• Publication Number:
  US 20100172604A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 383/211
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2575/365 partially or totally releasing one sheet from the other
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2575/368 with reclosing means
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 75/366 and forming one compartment
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 75/5838 combined with separate fixed tearing means, e.g. tabs

Abstract

A reclosable container with a resealable, flexible cover portion that is easy to use and a method of manufacturing the same. The reclosable container comprises a container body having a storage space and an opening providing access to the storage space. The container body includes a base portion and a resealable cover portion having an inner layer, an outer layer, and a pressure-sensitive adhesive affixing the inner layer to the outer layer. The inner layer of the resealable cover portion is heat sealed to the base portion about the opening thereby forming a heat-sealed region where the inner layer contacts and is heat sealed to the base portion. The inner layer of the resealable cover portion has a cut inside the heat-sealed region such that when the resealable cover portion is pulled apart from the base portion, the inner layer, the outer layer, and the pressure-sensitive adhesive are together lifted away from the opening, but the inner layer remains attached to the base portion in and adjacent to the heat-sealed region such that the pressure-sensitive adhesive contacting the inner layer in and adjacent to the heat-sealed region is exposed.

Claims

1. A reclosable container comprising:

a container body having a storage space and an opening providing access to said storage space, the container body comprising a base portion and a resealable cover portion having an inner layer, an outer layer, and a pressure-sensitive adhesive affixing said inner layer to said outer layer;

wherein said inner layer of said resealable cover portion is heat sealed to said base portion about said opening thereby forming a heat-sealed region where said inner layer contacts and is heat sealed to said base portion, said inner layer of said resealable cover portion having a cut inside said heat-sealed region such that when said resealable cover portion is pulled apart from said base portion, said inner layer, said outer layer, and said pressure-sensitive adhesive are together lifted away from said opening, but said inner layer remains attached to said base portion in and adjacent to said heat-sealed region such that said pressure-sensitive adhesive contacting said inner layer in and adjacent to said heat-sealed region is exposed.

2. The reclosable container of claim 1, wherein said resealable cover portion is a flexible laminate in which said inner layer, said outer layer, and said pressure-sensitive adhesive are continuous across said resealable cover portion.

3. The reclosable container of claim 1, said resealable cover portion further comprising a pull tab, said pull tab formed by a second cut in said inner layer of said resealable cover portion, said second cut located outside of said heat sealed region.

4. The reclosable container of claim 1, said resealable cover portion further comprising a pull tab, said pull tab formed by a second cut in said inner layer of said resealable cover portion and said container body, said second cut passing through a portion of said heat sealed region

5. The reclosable container of claim 1, said inner layer comprising a thermoplastic material.

6. The reclosable container of claim 1, said outer layer comprising a thermoplastic material.

7. The reclosable container of claim 1, wherein said cut has an open geometry.

8. The reclosable container of claim 1, wherein said inner layer has a gas permeability of less than 0.1 cc/100 in²/24 hrs.

9. The reclosable container of claim 1, wherein the inner layer comprises ethylene vinyl alcohol.

10. The reclosable container of claim 1, wherein said base portion comprises a substantially rigid material and said resealable cover portion comprises a flexible material.

11. The reclosable container of claim 1, wherein said base portion and said resealable cover portion comprise a flexible material.

12. A reclosable container comprising:

a container body having a storage space and an opening providing access to said storage space, said container body comprising a base portion and a resealable cover portion having an inner layer, an outer layer, and a pressure-sensitive adhesive affixing said inner layer to said outer layer, said resealable cover portion being a flexible laminate in which said inner layer, said outer layer, and said pressure-sensitive adhesive are continuous across said resealable cover portion;

said inner layer being sealed to said base portion along a sealed region about said opening of said container body;

said resealable cover portion configured to separate, exposing said pressure-sensitive adhesive in and adjacent to said sealed region while covering said pressure-sensitive adhesive facing said opening with said inner layer when said resealable cover portion is lifted away from said base portion.

13. The reclosable container of claim 12, said inner layer of said resealable cover portion having a cut inside said heat-sealed region.

14. The reclosable container of claim 13, said resealable cover portion further comprising a pull tab, said pull tab formed by a second cut in said inner layer of said resealable cover portion, said second cut located outside of said heat sealed region.

15. The reclosable container of claim 13, said resealable cover portion further comprising a pull tab, said pull tab formed by a second cut in said inner layer of said resealable cover portion and said base portion, said second cut passing through a portion of said heat sealed region

16. The reclosable container of claim 12, said inner layer comprising a thermoplastic material.

17. The reclosable container of claim 12, said outer layer comprising a thermoplastic material.

18. The reclosable container of claim 12, wherein said inner layer is heat-sealed to said base portion along a sealed region about said opening of said container body.

19. The reclosable container of claim 13, wherein said cut has an open geometry.

20. A method of manufacturing a reclosable container comprising:

providing a container body having a storage space and an opening providing access to said storage space;

loading a product into said storage space;

providing a flexible laminate having an inner layer, an outer layer, and a pressure-sensitive adhesive affixing said inner layer to said outer layer;

cutting said inner layer of said flexible laminate to form a separating cut, said separating cut passing through said inner layer but not through said outer layer; and

sealing said flexible laminate to said container body about said opening along a sealed region such that at least a portion of said separating cut lies inside said sealed region after said product is loaded into said storage space and said separating cut is cut into said inner layer.

21. The method of claim 20, said inner layer comprising a thermoplastic material.

22. The method of claim 20, said outer layer comprising a thermoplastic material.

23. The method of claim 20, wherein said inner layer is sealed to said container body by a heat-sealing process.

24. The method of claim 20, further comprising cutting said inner layer of said flexible laminate to form a second separating cut to form a pull tab, said second separating cut passing through said inner layer but not through said outer layer.

25. The method of claim 20, wherein said separating cut has an open geometry.

26. The method of claim 20, wherein said separating cut faces said container body inside said sealed region.