초록 ▼

A flexible packaging laminate has built-in opening/reclose and tamper-evidence features by forming the laminate from an outer structure joined in face-to-face relation to an inner structure. Score lines are formed in both structures to enable an opening to be formed through the laminate by lifting a

A flexible packaging laminate has built-in opening/reclose and tamper-evidence features by forming the laminate from an outer structure joined in face-to-face relation to an inner structure. Score lines are formed in both structures to enable an opening to be formed through the laminate by lifting a flap or the like out of the plane of the laminate. The score line through the outer structure defines a larger opening than the score line through the inner structure, such that a marginal region of the outer structure extends beyond the edge of the opening portion of the inner structure. A pressure-sensitive adhesive is used to re-adhere the marginal region to an underlying surface of the inner structure adjacent the opening through the laminate. The outer score line includes at least one tear portion that is torn through upon initial opening, thus indicating the package has been at least partially opened.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A flexible packaging structure having built-in opening/reclose and tamper-evidence features, comprising: an outer structure adhesively joined in face-to-face relation to an inner structure, the outer structure comprising a first flexible material and the inner structure comprising a second flexib

1. A flexible packaging structure having built-in opening/reclose and tamper-evidence features, comprising: an outer structure adhesively joined in face-to-face relation to an inner structure, the outer structure comprising a first flexible material and the inner structure comprising a second flexible material;a U-shaped outer line of weakness formed in the outer structure, the outer line of weakness defining an outer opening portion that is separable from the outer structure along the outer line of weakness and having two opposite longitudinally extending legs, each leg having a free end and an opposite end that connects to a transversely extending portion at a curved transition area;an inner line of weakness formed in the inner structure, the inner line of weakness defining an inner opening portion that is separable from the inner structure along the inner line of weakness;wherein the inner opening portion is joined to the outer opening portion such that lifting the outer opening portion out of the plane of the flexible packaging structure causes the inner opening portion to be lifted along with the outer opening portion so as to create an opening through the flexible packaging structure;wherein a marginal region of the outer opening portion is defined between the inner and outer lines of weakness, the marginal region overlying an underlying surface of the inner structure;wherein a pressure-sensitive adhesive is disposed on one of an overlying surface of the outer opening portion and the underlying surface of the inner structure for re-adhering the overlying surface to the underlying surface after opening;wherein an adhesive-free region forming a grasping portion is located in the outer structure; anda tear portion of the outer structure that is initially in an untorn condition prior to initial creation of the opening, and whose untorn condition is apparent from a visual inspection of the outer structure, wherein the tear portion comprises an interrupted area located away from the grasping portion and at the curved transition area along the outer line of weakness in which the outer structure is uncut, the interrupted area being torn through upon initial creation of the opening through the flexible packaging structure, and wherein the interrupted area is bounded on one side by a transverse line of weakness connected to the outer line of weakness and extending transverse thereto. 2. The flexible packaging structure of claim 1, wherein the transverse line of weakness is generally U- or V-shaped. 3. The flexible packaging structure of claim 1, wherein the outer structure is coextensive with the inner structure. 4. The flexible packaging structure of claim 1, wherein the outer structure is substantially non-transparent. 5. The flexible packaging structure of claim 1, wherein the outer structure includes a transparent layer that is reverse-printed on a surface of the layer facing the inner structure. 6. The flexible packaging structure of claim 1, wherein the inner structure includes a layer of heat-sealable material forming an inner surface of the flexible packaging structure. 7. The flexible packaging structure of claim 1, wherein the inner structure includes a barrier layer providing a barrier against passage of at least one of moisture and oxygen. 8. The flexible packaging structure of claim 6, wherein the barrier layer comprises a polymer film having a coating of vapor-deposited metal. 9. The flexible packaging structure of claim 1, wherein the outer structure comprises a layer of polyethylene terephthalate, and the inner structure comprises a multi-layer web comprising a metallized film and a sealant layer. 10. The flexible packaging structure of claim 9, wherein the metallized film comprises metallized oriented polypropylene. 11. The flexible packaging structure of claim 1 in combination with a container body having a side wall and a flange extending from an upper edge of the side wall, wherein the flexible packaging structure comprises a lid, the lid being attached to the flange to seal closed the package. 12. A flexible packaging structure, comprising: a flexible packaging laminate comprising an outer structure adhesively laminated to an inner structure;an opening and reclose feature formed in the laminate, and comprising an outer flap portion formed by scoring through the outer structure along an outer score line, and an inner flap portion formed by scoring through the inner structure along an inner score line, the inner score line creating an opening into the container when the flap portions are peeled back in a first direction, a marginal region of the outer flap portion extending beyond an edge of the inner flap portion and overlying an underlying surface of the inner structure, both portions being peeled back as a unit upon opening of the container;an adhesive-free region forming a grasping portion located in the outer structure; anda U-shaped tear portion of the outer structure that is initially in an untorn condition prior to initial creation of the opening, and whose untorn condition is apparent from a visual inspection of the outer structure, the tear portion comprising two opposite longitudinally extending legs, each leg having a free end and an opposite end that connects to a transversely extending portion at a curved transition area, wherein the tear portion comprises an interrupted area located away from the grasping portion and at the curved transition area along the outer score line in which the outer structure is uncut, the interrupted area being torn through upon initial creation of the opening through the flexible packaging structure, and wherein the interrupted area is bounded on one side by a transverse line of weakness connected to the outer score line and extending transverse thereto. 13. The flexible packaging structure of claim 12, wherein a side of the interrupted area is located along the first direction such that the interrupted area must tear in order to begin to lift the inner flap portion. 14. The flexible packaging structure of claim 12, further comprising a pressure-sensitive adhesive disposed between the marginal region of the outer flap portion and the underlying surface of the inner structure for attaching and re-attaching the outer flap portion to the underlying surface. 15. A flexible package, comprising: a flexible wrapper for enclosing products, the wrapper comprising an outer structure attached to an inner structure, the wrapper being manipulated into a tubular shape and longitudinal edges of the wrapper being sealed together to form a longitudinal seal adjacent a bottom surface of the package, opposing portions of the wrapper being sealed together along transverse seal lines at opposite ends of the tubular wrapper, the wrapper having a top surface opposite from the bottom surface, the top surface having two opposite longitudinal edges;an adhesive-free region forming a grasping portion located in the outer structure;a U-shaped score line in the top surface of the wrapper, the score line having two opposite longitudinally extending legs respectively adjacent the two longitudinal edges of the top surface, each leg of the score line having a free end and an opposite end that connects to a transversely extending portion of the score line at a curved transition area, the score line creating an openable flap that remains attached to the remainder of the wrapper along a hinge line defined between the free ends of the two legs of the U-shaped score line; anda tamper-evidence feature defined in the top surface of the wrapper, the tamper-evidence feature comprising an interrupted area located away from the grasping portion and at the curved transition area along the score line in which the wrapper is uncut, the interrupted area being torn through upon initial lifting of the flap, wherein the interrupted area is bounded on one side by a transverse line of weakness connected to the score line and extending transverse thereto. 16. The flexible package of claim 15, wherein the transverse line of weakness is generally U- or V-shaped.