Packaging and method for making the same

• US 7,758,484 B2
• Filed: 12/30/2005
• Issued: 07/20/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/30/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Solventum Intellectual Properties Company (Solventum Corp.)
• Original Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Inventors: Peterson, Donald G.
• Primary Examiner(s): HARMON, CHRISTOPHER R
• Application Number:
  US11/323,725
• Publication Number:
  US 20070160408A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,663 Days
• Field of Search: 493/210, 493/212, 493220-221, 493223-224, 493/227, 493/230, 493238-239, 493/264, 493/267
• US Class Current: 493/212
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 75/30 Articles or materials enclosed between two opposed sheets or blanks having their margins united, e.g. by pressure-sensitive adhesive, crimping, heat-sealing, or welding
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 75/44 Individual packages cut from webs or tubes
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 75/5827 Tear-lines provided in a wall portion B65D75/5805, B65D75/5816 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 75/5855 Peelable seals

Abstract

A method of manufacturing a package is provided, comprising a first and second layer attached by a sealing process to create a peelable seal. The package also includes perforation cuts at regular intervals. A traverse cut is provided through both the first and second layer that traverses the perforation cut in the first layer at least once. The traverse cut and perforation cut define a bonded section to form a tab.

Claims

1. A method of manufacturing a package, comprising

providing a first layer with perforation cuts through the first layer;

providing a second layer;

attaching the first layer to the second layer by a sealing process to create a bonded area comprising a peelable seal;

providing a traverse cut through both the first and second layer that traverses the perforation cut in the first layer at least once to form at least two bonded sections in the first layer, wherein each of the bonded sections comprise attached portions of the first layer and second layer;

wherein at least one bonded section created by the sealing process forms a tab defined by the perforation cut and traverse cut wherein the tab is retained by the second layer; and

wherein at least a portion of the first and second layer adjacent the perforation cut is unbonded.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing a separation cut through the first and second layer that forms multiple individual packages, wherein each package contains at least one perforation cut.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the traverse is a sinusoidal cut.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the traverse cut through the first and second layer forms multiple packages, wherein each package contains at least one perforation cut.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the perforation cut does not cross any bonded section of the bonded area.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the first layer and/or the second layer is selected from the group consisting of metallic foils;

polyolefins such as polyethylene and polypropylene;

poly(vinyl acetate);

poly(vinylalcohol-co-ethylene);

polyvinyl chloride;

polyester;

poly(ethyl acrylate);

ethylene/acrylic acid copolymer;

ethylene/methacrylic acid copolymer;

ethylene/vinyl acetate copolymer;

polychlorotrifluoro ethylene;

polycarbonate;

polytetrafluoro ethylene;

polystyrene;

polyacrylonitrile;

ionomers of ethylene/methacrylic acid copolymers;

polyamide;

poly(vinylidene chloride);

paper; and

laminates or composites thereof; and

combinations thereof.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the first layer and/or the second layer is high density polyethylene.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising a step of printing graphic indicia on at least one of the layers.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the peelable seal is a cold seal.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the sealing process is a cold seal process.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising steps of placing a medical product between the layers before sealing the package and sterilizing the medical product after sealing the package.