Resealable package film

• US 8,746,490 B2
• Filed: 11/06/2012
• Issued: 06/10/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 11/06/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sonoco Development Inc (Sonoco Products Company)
• Original Assignee: Sonoco Development Inc (Sonoco Products Company)
• Inventors: Huffer, Scott William, Young, Donovan
• Primary Examiner(s): Hicks, Robert J
• Application Number:
  US13/670,135
• Publication Number:
  US 20140124507A1
• Time in Patent Office: 581 Days
• Field of Search: 220/359.4, 220/359.3, 220/359.1, 220/270, 220/266, 220/265, 220/260, 156/247, 534/78, 534/77
• US Class Current: 220/359.4
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2307/31 Heat sealable
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2307/748 Releasability
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 27/32 comprising polyolefins comprising vinyl (co)polymers or acrylic (co)polymers B32B27/30
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 27/36 comprising polyesters
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 3/06 for securing layers together; for attaching the product to another member, e.g. to a support , or to another product, e.g. groove/tongue, interlocking
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 3/10 characterised by a discontinuous layer, i.e. formed of separate pieces of material
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 7/2878 by heat-sealing
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 77/2024 the cover being welded or adhered to the container
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 77/2028 Means for opening the cover other than, or in addition to, a pull tab
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24843 with heat sealable or heat releasable adhesive layer

Abstract

A package film is provided for attaching to a base member to define a package. The package film construction includes a top layer having a top surface and a bottom surface. A removable adhesive is provided having a defined pattern applied below the bottom surface. A polyethylene (PE) emulsion layer is provide that covers at least a portion of the adhesive pattern, with the PE emulsion layer being heat sealable to the base member.

Claims

1. A film construction for attaching to a base member to define a package, the film construction comprising:

a top layer, the top layer having a top surface and a bottom surface,

a removable adhesive having a defined pattern applied below the bottom surface, and

a polyethylene (PE) emulsion layer, covering at least a portion of the adhesive pattern, wherein the PE emulsion layer is heat sealable.

2. A film construction as in claim 1, further comprising an ink layer.

3. A film construction as in claim 2, wherein the ink layer is applied to the bottom surface of the top layer.

4. A film construction as in claim 3, further comprising a bottom layer, the bottom layer secured to the ink layer, below the bottom surface of the top layer, and the adhesive pattern applied to a bottom surface of the bottom layer.

5. A film construction as in claim 4, wherein the bottom layer is secured by means of a permanent adhesive.

6. A film construction as in claim 1, wherein the PE emulsion layer is pattern applied to cover the adhesive pattern.

7. A film construction as in claim 1, wherein the PE emulsion layer is continuously applied below the bottom surface of the top layer and over the adhesive pattern.

8. A film construction as in claim 1, wherein the top layer is a polyethylene terephthalate (PET) material.

9. A film construction as in claim 1, wherein the PE emulsion layer is applied over the entire pattern of the removable adhesive.

10. A film construction as in claim 1, wherein the adhesive pattern conforms to a periphery of the top layer.

11. A resealable package comprising:

a package film having

a top layer, the top layer having a top surface and a bottom surface,

a removable adhesive applied in a pattern below the bottom surface, and

a polyethylene (PE) emulsion layer, covering at least a portion of the adhesive pattern, and

a base, the base having

a peripheral portion, the pattern of the removable adhesive on the film conforming to the peripheral portion of the base, and

a skin portion on the peripheral portion, the skin portion being heat-sealable to the PE emulsion layer,

wherein the PE emulsion layer is heat-sealed to the skin portion and the PE emulsion transforms to a film during heat-sealing, and

wherein the removable adhesive is separable from the transformed PE film for separating the top layer from the base, and the removable adhesive being resealable to the transformed PE film for closing the package.

12. A resealable package as in claim 11, wherein the base is formed as a tray having one or more upstanding side walls defining a package form, and wherein the peripheral portion is a flange that surrounds the package form.

13. A resealable package as in claim 12, wherein the tray is formed from a substantially rigid material.

14. A resealable package as in claim 13, wherein the skin portion is a PE layer adhered to the flange.

15. A resealable package as in claim 11, wherein the package film further comprises an ink layer.

16. A resealable package as in claim 15, wherein the ink layer is applied to the bottom surface of the top layer.

17. A resealable package as in claim 16, wherein the package film further comprises a bottom layer, the bottom layer secured to the ink layer and the bottom surface of the top layer, the adhesive pattern applied to a bottom surface of the bottom layer.

18. A resealable package as in claim 17, wherein the bottom layer is secured by means of a permanent adhesive.

19. A resealable package as in claim 11, wherein the PE emulsion layer is continuously applied across the bottom surface area of the top layer and the adhesive pattern.

20. A resealable package as in claim 11, wherein the PE emulsion layer is applied over the entire pattern of the removable adhesive.

21. A method of forming a resealable package, comprising the steps of:

providing a package film having a top layer, the top layer having a top surface and a bottom surface,

applying a removable adhesive in a defined pattern below the bottom surface of the package film,

applying a polyethylene (PE) emulsion layer in a pattern covering at least a portion of the removable adhesive pattern,

providing a base, the base having a peripheral portion,

placing the package film in contact with the base, wherein the pattern of the removable adhesive conforms to the peripheral portion of the base and wherein the PE emulsion is in contact with the peripheral portion of the base,

heat-sealing the package film to the peripheral portion of the base, with the applied heat transforming the PE emulsion to a film material,

separating the PE emulsion film and the base from the top layer and the removable adhesive to open the package, and

resealing the removable adhesive to the peripheral portion.

22. A method as in claim 21, further comprising the step of:

providing a skin portion on the peripheral portion of the base, the skin portion being heat-sealable to the PE emulsion layer.

23. A method as in claim 21, wherein the base is formed as a tray having one or more upstanding sidewalls and defines a package form, and wherein the peripheral portion is formed as a flange that surrounds the package form.

24. A method of forming a resealable package as in claim 23, wherein the tray is thermoformed.

25. A method as in claim 23, wherein the skin portion is a PE layer adhered to the flange.

26. A method as in claim 21, further comprising the step of providing an ink layer on the bottom surface of the package film.

27. A method as in claim 21, further comprising the step of securing a bottom layer, the bottom surface secured to the ink layer and the bottom surface of the top layer, and the adhesive pattern applied to a bottom surface of the bottom layer.

28. A method as in claim 21, wherein the step of securing of the bottom layer includes applying a permanent adhesive.

29. A method as in claim 21, wherein the PE emulsion layer is continuously applied over the bottom surface and the adhesive pattern.

30. A method as in claim 21, wherein the removable adhesive is pattern applied over the entire pattern of the removable adhesive.