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A reclosable package and method having an integral reclosable door adjacent one end that permits article removal from the end of the package. The package is comprised of a thermoformed blister body joined to a thermoformed backing body. The blister body has sidewalls, endwalls and a peripheral flang

A reclosable package and method having an integral reclosable door adjacent one end that permits article removal from the end of the package. The package is comprised of a thermoformed blister body joined to a thermoformed backing body. The blister body has sidewalls, endwalls and a peripheral flange broken into a first section adjacent the door where the height of the sidewalls decrease and a second section opposite the door with the first section angled relative to the second section. The backing body carries the door and has an integral peripheral rib inboard of a peripheral flange with the flange having a first section about the door and a second section disposed away from the door. The rib has a pair of longitudinally-extending sections divided by a notch that preferably is a transverse rib that causes the door to bend about a desired fold line that runs generally through or adjacent the ribs or notches when urged away from a closed position. In a preferred method, after performing a multilevel trim operation to trim the multiplanar flanges of one or both the blister body and the backing body, the two bodies are joined at the flange sections about a portion of the periphery to adjacent the fold line using an energy welding process, preferably RF welding, that produces a narrow tear seam that enables finished package flange width to be minimized to thereby also minimize package width.

대표청구항 ▼

[ What is claimed is:] [1.] A reclosable package comprising:a pair of spaced apart surfaces that overlie each other and define an enclosure;an article received in the enclosure;wherein one of the surfaces has a door that has a closed position and an open position disposed away from the closed positi

[ What is claimed is:] [1.] A reclosable package comprising:a pair of spaced apart surfaces that overlie each other and define an enclosure;an article received in the enclosure;wherein one of the surfaces has a door that has a closed position and an open position disposed away from the closed position;wherein one of the surfaces comprises a) a first pair of substantially coplanar, spaced apart, outer peripheral flanges that are each disposed generally longitudinally relative to the reclosable package and which are disposed substantially parallel to a first plane, and b) a second pair of substantially coplanar, spaced apart outer peripheral flanges that are each disposed generally longitudinally relative to the reclosable package and which are disposed substantially parallel to a second plane;wherein the other of the surfaces comprises a) a third pair of substantially coplanar, spaced apart, outer peripheral flanges that are each disposed generally longitudinally relative to the reclosable package and which are disposed substantially parallel to the first plane, and b) a fourth pair of substantially coplanar, spaced apart outer peripheral flanges that are each disposed generally longitudinally relative to the reclosable package and which are disposed substantially parallel to the second plane when the door is disposed in the closed position;wherein the first plane is disposed at an angle relative to the second plane;at least one seal joins at least a portion of each one of the flanges of the first pair of flanges to one of the flanges of the third pair of flanges;wherein each one of the flanges of the second pair of flanges overlies one of the flanges of the fourth pair of flanges; andwherein the flanges of the second pair of flanges are not attached to the flanges of the fourth pair of flanges 1) permitting the door to be moved between the closed position and an open position, and 2) enabling an article to be dispensed out one end of the enclosure when the door is disposed in an open position. [21.] A reclosable display package comprising:a bubble body formed of a flexible thermoformed material having an outer wall, pair of spaced apart sidewalls extending from the outer wall, a pair of spaced apart endwalls extending from the outer wall, all of which define an article-receiving cavity, and a peripheral flange for sealing to a backing body;a backing body formed of a thin flexible thermoformed material having a pair of spaced apart sides, a pair of spaced apart ends, a recessed rib about its periphery, a flange section about a portion of each side and one of the ends that is sealed to the peripheral flange of the bubble body, a door at an opposite end, and a hinge rib formed generally transversely in the recessed rib that generally defines a fold line about which the door bends when being moved between a closed position where the door engages one of the endwalls and a position disposed from the closed position where the door is disengaged from the one of the endwalls. [51.] A reclosable package comprising a pair of spaced apart surfaces that define an enclosure with one of the surfaces having a door that has a closed position where the door overlies an access opening and an open position disposed away from the closed position such that the access opening is exposed such that an article in the package can be removed from the package; and (a) a pair of spaced apart sidewalls between the surfaces defining a package having a generally rectangular cross section, and (b) a rib about the periphery of the surface having the door wherein the rib has two longitudinally-extending rib sections with each of the longitudinally-extending rib sections having a notch that creates a region of weakness in each of the longitudinally-extending rib sections along which the door bends when moved away from the closed position. [55.] A reclosable package comprising:(a) a pair of surfaces that overlie each other and that are spaced apart, defining an enclosure, with a door formed in one of the surfaces, the door being disposed adjacent one end of the enclosure and 1) having a closed position, 2) having an open position disposed away from the closed position, and 3) bending along a fold line when being moved away from the closed position;(b) wherein the one of the surfaces carrying the door further comprises a longitudinally-extending rib that (i) extends across the fold line, and (ii) has a notch in the longitudinally-extending rib that is disposed along the fold line;(c) wherein the one of the surfaces is joined to the other of the surfaces along a first plane;(d) wherein the door releasably mates with the other of the surfaces along a second plane when the door is closed; and(e) wherein the first plane is disposed at an angle relative to the second plane. [57.] A reclosable package comprising:(a) a pair of spaced apart surfaces that define an enclosure with one of the surfaces having a door that has a closed position and an open position disposed away from the closed position;(b) a recessed rib disposed around but inboard of the periphery of the surface having the door wherein the recessed rib has two longitudinally-extending recessed rib sections with each of the longitudinally-extending recessed rib sections having a notch defining a fold line along which the door bends when being moved away from the closed position;(c) wherein the one of the surfaces is joined to the other of the surfaces along a first plane;(d) wherein the door releasably mates with the other of the surfaces along a second plane when the door is disposed in the closed position; and(e) wherein the first plane is disposed at an angle relative to the second plane.