Plastic film packaging with tearable tape strip

Abstract

Plastic film packaging for containing an article. The packaging includes a continuous, tear-resistant film and a tearable tape strip. The film is formable to define an enclosed region for containing an article. The tearable tape strip is secured to the film. In this regard, the tearable tape strip is configured to controllably tear an opening through the film for accessing the enclosed region upon tearing of the tearable tape strip. By providing a continuous, tear-resistant film, the packaging is available to safely contain a wide variety of different articles, while withstanding the rigors of most shipping and handling environments. Further, the tearable tape strip allows an end user to easily open the packaging. In one preferred embodiment, a single tearable tape strip is provided and is formed as an internally tearable, reinforced strapping tape adhered to an inner surface of the film.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . Packaging for containing an article, the packaging comprising: 
 a continuous, tear-resistant film formable to define an enclosed region for containing an article; and    a tearable tape strip secured to the film;    wherein the tearable tape strip is configured to tear an opening through the film for accessing the enclosed region upon tearing of the tearable tape strip.    
     
     
         2 . The packaging of    claim 1   , wherein the film is not otherwise cleanly tearable.  
     
     
         3 . The packaging of    claim 1   , wherein the film is characterized by a puncture-propagation tear resistant greater than 20 N/ply.  
     
     
         4 . The packaging of    claim 1   , wherein the film is tough and exhibits stretching before tearing in response to a tearing force imparted at a nick formed in the film.  
     
     
         5 . The packaging of    claim 1   , wherein the film includes a material selected from the group consisting of polyethylene, linear low-density polyethylene, low-density polyethylene, Surlyn® ionomer film, Kraton/polypropylene blends, copolymers of propylene and ethylene, blends of polypropylene and polyethylene, nylon, polyvinyl chloride, and polyvinylidene chloride.  
     
     
         6 . The packaging of    claim 1   , wherein the film includes multiple layers.  
     
     
         7 . The packaging of    claim 6   , wherein the film includes a first layer of polyethylene and a second layer of polypropylene.  
     
     
         8 . The packaging of    claim 1   , wherein the film defines an inner surface and an outer surface, and further wherein the tearable tape strip is secured to the inner surface.  
     
     
         9 . The packaging of    claim 8   , wherein the film further includes indicia disposed on the outer surface opposite the tearable tape strip, the tearable tape strip being located so as to not obstruct viewing of the indicia.  
     
     
         10 . The packaging of    claim 1   , wherein the tearable tape strip is selected from the group consisting of reinforced strapping tape, tensilized polypropylene, and filament reinforced tape.  
     
     
         11 . The packaging of    claim 1   , wherein the tearable tape strip is reinforced strapping tape having a width of at least 8 mm.  
     
     
         12 . The packaging of    claim 1   , wherein the tearable tape strip is defined by a opposing, longitudinal edges and a central section, the central section being tearable relative to the opposing, longitudinal edges such that the tearable tape strip is internally tearable.  
     
     
         13 . The packaging of    claim 1   , wherein the tearable tape strip is defined by a body and a tab, and further wherein the film is unweakened in the area of interface with the body.  
     
     
         14 . The packaging of    claim 1   , wherein only a single tearable tape strip is provided.  
     
     
         15 . The packaging of    claim 1   , wherein the tearable tape strip is a first tearable tape strip configured to be internally tearable and is secured to an inner surface of the film, the packaging further comprising: 
 a second, internally tearable tape strip secured to an outer surface of the film substantially opposite the first tearable tape strip;    wherein at least a portion of a width of the first tearable tape strip overlaps at least a portion of a width of the second tearable tape strip such that a single band of material can be unitarily torn from both of the tearable tape strips.    
     
     
         16 . The packaging of    claim 1   , further comprising: 
 a cover tape secured to a surface of the film opposite the tearable tape strip.    
     
     
         17 . A packaged good article comprising: 
 an article; and    a package comprising: 
 a continuous, tear-resistant film forming an enclosed region within which the article is contained,  
 a tearable tape strip secured the film;  
   wherein the tearable tape strip is configured to tear an opening through the film for accessing the article upon tearing of the tearable tape strip.    
     
     
         18 . The packaged good article of    claim 17   , wherein the film is not otherwise cleanly tearable.  
     
     
         19 . The packaged good article of    claim 17   , wherein the film is characterized by a puncture-propagation tear resistance greater than 20 N/ply.  
     
     
         20 . The packaged good article of    claim 17   , wherein the film is tough and exhibits stretching before tearing in response to a tearing force imparted at a nick formed in the film.  
     
     
         21 . The packaged good article of    claim 17   , wherein the film includes a material selected from the group consisting of polyethylene, linear low-density polyethylene, low-density polyethylene, Surlyn® ionomer film, Kraton/polypropylene blends, copolymers of propylene and ethylene, blends of polypropylene and polyethylene, nylon, polyvinyl chloride, and polyvinylidene chloride.  
     
     
         22 . The packaged good article of    claim 17   , wherein the film includes multiple layers.  
     
     
         23 . The packaged good article of    claim 22   , wherein the film includes a first layer of polyethylene and a second layer of polypropylene.  
     
     
         24 . The packaged good article of    claim 17   , wherein the film defines an inner surface and an outer surface, and further wherein the tearable tape strip is secured to the inner surface.  
     
     
         25 . The packaged good article of    claim 24   , wherein the film further includes indicia disposed on the outer surface opposite the tearable tape strip, the tearable tape strip being located so as to not obstruct viewing of the indicia.  
     
     
         26 . The packaged good article of    claim 17   , wherein the tearable tape strip is selected from the group consisting of reinforced strapping tape, tensilized polypropylene, and filament reinforced tape.  
     
     
         27 . The packaged good article of    claim 17   , wherein the tearable tape strip is reinforced strapping tape having a width of at least 8 mm.  
     
     
         28 . The packaged good article of    claim 17   , wherein the tearable tape strip is defined by a opposing, longitudinal edges and a central section, the central section being tearable relative to the opposing, longitudinal edges such that the tearable tape strip is internally tearable.  
     
     
         29 . The packaged good article of    claim 17   , wherein the tearable tape strip is defined by a body and a tab, and further wherein the film is unweakened in the area of interface with the body.  
     
     
         30 . The packaged good article of    claim 17   , wherein only a single tearable tape strip is provided.  
     
     
         31 . The packaged good article of    claim 17   , wherein the tearable tape strip is a first tearable tape strip configured to be internally tearable and is secured to an inner surface of the film, the packaging further comprising: 
 a second, internally tearable tape strip secured to an outer surface of the film substantially opposite the first tearable tape strip;    wherein at least a portion of a width of the first tearable tape strip overlaps at least a portion of a width of the second tearable tape strip such that a single band of material can be unitarily torn from both of the tearable tape strips.    
     
     
         32 . The packaged good article of    claim 17   , further comprising: 
 a cover tape secured to a surface of the film opposite the tearable tape strip.    
     
     
         33 . The packaged good article of    claim 17   , wherein the article includes a food product.  
     
     
         34 . The packaged good article of    claim 17   , wherein the article includes a plurality of products.  
     
     
         35 . The packaged good article of    claim 17   , wherein the tear-resistant film is wrapped about the article.  
     
     
         36 . The packaged good article of    claim 17   , wherein the package substantially conforms to a shape of the article.  
     
     
         37 . The packaged good article of    claim 17   , wherein the article includes a base supporting at least one product, at least a portion of the package conforming to a shape of the base.  
     
     
         38 . A method of packaging an article, the method comprising: 
 providing an article;    providing a continuous, tear-resistant film;    securing a tearable tape strip to a surface of the film; and    forming the film to define an enclosed region containing the article;    wherein the tearable tape strip is configured to tear an opening through the film for accessing the article upon tearing of the tearable tape strip.    
     
     
         39 . The method of    claim 38   , wherein providing an article includes providing a food product.  
     
     
         40 . The method of    claim 38   , wherein providing an article includes providing an article having an irregular shape.  
     
     
         41 . The method of    claim 38   , wherein providing an article includes providing a base supporting at least one product.  
     
     
         42 . The method of    claim 38   , wherein providing a tear-resistant film includes providing a film that is not otherwise cleanly tearable.  
     
     
         43 . The method of    claim 38   , wherein providing a tear-resistant film includes providing a film that is characterized by a puncture-propagation tear resistance greater than 20 N/ply.  
     
     
         44 . The method of    claim 38   , wherein providing a tear-resistant film includes providing a tough film that exhibits stretching before tearing in response to a tearing force imparted at a nick formed in the film.  
     
     
         45 . The method of    claim 38   , wherein providing a tear-resistant film includes providing a film that includes a material selected from the group consisting of polyethylene, linear low-density polyethylene, low-density polyethylene, Surlyn® ionomer film, Kraton/polypropylene blends, copolymers of propylene and ethylene, blends of polypropylene and polyethylene, nylon, polyvinyl chloride, and polyvinylidene chloride.  
     
     
         46 . The method of    claim 38   , wherein providing a tear-resistant film includes providing a multi-layer film including a first layer of polyethylene and a second layer of polypropylene.  
     
     
         47 . The method of    claim 38   , wherein a single, tearable tape strip is secured to a surface of the film.  
     
     
         48 . The method of    claim 38   , wherein the film defines an inner surface and an outer surface, and further wherein the tearable tape strip is secured to an inner surface of the film.  
     
     
         49 . The method of    claim 38   , wherein forming the film to define an enclosed region includes shrink-wrapping the film about the article.  
     
     
         50 . The method of    claim 38   , wherein forming the film to define an enclosed region includes skin packaging the film about the article.  
     
     
         51 . The method of    claim 38   , wherein forming the film to define an enclosed region includes wrapping the film about the article such that the film conforms with a shape of the article.  
     
     
         52 . The method of    claim 38   , wherein the tearable tape strip is defined by a body and a tab, and further wherein securing a tearable tape strip to a surface of the film includes locating the body along an unweakened area of the film.  
     
     
         53 . A method of opening a packaged good article comprising: 
 providing a packaged good article including an article contained within an enclosed region formed by a continuous, tear-resistant film having a tearable tape strip secured to a surface thereof; and    controllably tearing an opening through the film by tearing the tearable tape strip.    
     
     
         54 . The method of    claim 53   , wherein providing a packaged good article includes providing a continuous, tear-resistant film wrapped about an article such that the film substantially corresponds to a shape of the article.  
     
     
         55 . The method of    claim 53   , wherein controllably tearing an opening through the film includes internally tearing a single tearable tape strip.