Two Side Cut Reseal With Pressure Sensitive Adhesive and the Method for Making Same

Abstract

Two side cut reseal with pressure sensitive adhesive. A flexible package having a reseal integrated within the opposite layers of its film is constructed using existing vertical form fill and seal packaging machines. The invention involves a single sheet of flexible packaging film web having at least three layers. In a preferred embodiment, the reseal is comprised of two offsetting score lines on interior and exterior sides of the film and spaced apart by 0.5 to 1 inch. The scoring creates lines of weakness, which define an opening in the package. Upon opening, a pressure sensitive adhesive layer, which is pattern applied in between the offsetting score lines, is exposed from an interior side of the film. The adhesive releasably adheres the inner and outer layers of the film back together once separated by a consumer.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0001]1. Technical Field[0002]The present invention relates to a flexible bag formed on a vertical form fill, and seal machine having a resealable opening near the top, and the method for making same. The invention allows for use of existing packaging technology to produce a flexible package with adhesive capable of resealing an opening in the bag without disturbing food products at a low cost.[0003]2. Description of Related Art[0004]Snack foods and other items are often packaged in bags formed from thin, flexible packaging films. These thin films are formed primarily of plastics, such as polypropylene and polyethylene, but can also contain metalized films, foil, paper, or oriented films. These packaging films can have numerous layers directed to achieving specific needs, but are generally formed at least in part by extrusion of a plastic layer, co-extrusion of multiple layers simultaneously, extrusion coating of another material (such as paper), and the l...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0014]The resulting flexible package may be opened, a part of the contents removed and the package closed (ie, resealed) to prevent premature deterioration of the quality of the contents because of exposure to moisture in the air. The reseal also prevents damage to the contents within the bag because of any pressure necessarily applied when attempting to reseal the bag. The bag formed as a consequence is a substantial improvement over prior art resealable bags.

Problems solved by technology

Use of interlocking strips, however, such as zippers or sliders is costly, and complicates the manufacture of packaging.

However, the prior art top flaps, such as those depicted in FIGS. 3 and 4, have a number of significant drawbacks.

For example, the flap is scored along a substantial portion of the top side of the bag to form a U-shape, exposing a significant amount of the food products within the bag to its surroundings and making the products more susceptible to damaging conditions.

This places pressure on a significant portion of the products behind the seal of the bag.

Placing pressure along the bag could cause the consumer to crush the contents remaining in the bag when it is resealed, resulting in a large amount of unwanted broken pieces or crumbs.

In addition, frequent opening of the package causes frequent exposure of the adhesive to the products behind the top seal.

Over time, this exposure causes the items such as unwanted crumbs to stick to the adhesive, diminishing its adhesive properties and rendering the seal inoperable.

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