Reclosable package having internal seal made of double-sided adhesive tape

Abstract

Reclosable packages having a slider-actuated string zipper and a tamper-evident feature. In one aspect, the reclosable package comprises: a receptacle having a mouth and an interior volume; a string zipper installed in the mouth; a slider mounted to the string zipper; and a tamper-evident feature that blocks access to all or a portion of the interior volume. The tamper-evident feature is in the form of a strip of double-sided adhesive tape adhered to opposing walls of the receptacle to form a hermetic seal that partitions the interior volume of the receptacle. During manufacture of one embodiment, the adhesive tape with a release paper on one side is unwound from a reciprocating spool; the exposed side is pressed against a web of film; the release paper is removed; the web of film is folded; and then the folded-over portion of the web is pressed against the other side of the adhesive tape. A pair of zipper strips are also joined to the web in parallel with the adhesive tape.

1 . A reclosable package comprising: a receptacle having a mouth and an interior volume; a string zipper installed in said mouth; a slider mounted to said string zipper; and a tamper-evident feature that blocks access to at least a portion of said interior volume, wherein said tamper-evident feature comprises double-sided adhesive tape located within said interior volume and adhered to said receptacle, said adhesive tape comprising a substrate having respective continuous layers of adhesive material on both sides thereof.  
   
   
       2 . The package as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said substrate comprises a polymeric film coated on both sides with adhesive material.  
   
   
       3 . The package as recited in  claim 2 , wherein said adhesive material is a low-tack pressure-sensitive adhesive.  
   
   
       4 . The package as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said adhesive tape extends the full width of said receptacle and generally parallel to said string zipper.  
   
   
       5 . The package as recited in  claim 4 , wherein said receptacle comprises first and second panels, and said adhesive tape is adhered to said first and second panels.  
   
   
       6 . The package as recited in  claim 5 , wherein said first and second panels have their respective opposing side edges sealed together to form first and second side seals on respective sides of said receptacle, and said adhesive tape has first and second ends that are respectively captured between said side edges of said first and second panels at said first and second side seals respectively.  
   
   
       7 . A reclosable package comprising: first and second panels joined together along first and second side edges to form first and second side seals and sealed or connected at a bottom to form a receptacle having a mouth and an interior volume; a zipper installed in said mouth; and a strip of material having low-tack adhesive on both sides, the low-tack adhesive on one side of said strip being adhered to said first panel and the low-tack adhesive on other side of said strip being adhered to said second panel from said first side seal to said second seal at an elevation below said zipper, wherein said adhesive tape blocks access to at least a portion of said interior volume.  
   
   
       8 . The package as recited in  claim 7 , wherein said zipper comprises a first flangeless zipper strip sealed to said first panel and a second zipper strip sealed to said second panel.  
   
   
       9 . The package as recited in  claim 8 , further comprising a slider mounted to said zipper with respective marginal portions of said first and second panels being disposed between the side walls of said slider and the backs of said first and second zipper strips respectively.  
   
   
       10 . The package as recited in  claim 7 , wherein said strip is made of polymeric material.  
   
   
       11 . The package as recited in  claim 7 , wherein said adhesive tape has first and second ends that are respectively captured between said side edges of said first and second panels at said first and second side seals respectively.  
   
   
       12 . A method of making reclosable packages, comprising the following steps: 
 (a) placing one side of a length of a double-sided adhesive tape in contact with a length of a web of packaging film along a first line of adhesion generally parallel to mutually parallel first and second edges of the length of web, said first line of adhesion being closer to the first edge than to the second edge;    (b) joining the back of a length of a first zipper strip to the length of web along a first line of joinder generally parallel to the first and second edges of the length of web and closer to the first edge than to the second edge;    (c) joining the back of a length of a second zipper strip to the length of web along a second line of joinder generally parallel to the first and second edges of the length of web and closer to the second edge than to the first edge;    (d) placing product on a first area of the length of web located on one side of a centerline of the length of web generally parallel to the first and second edges;    (e) folding the length of web along the centerline so that a second area of the length of web located on the other side of the centerline overlies the product;    (f) placing the other side of the length of double-sided adhesive tape in contact with the confronting portion of the folded-over length of web along a second line of adhesion; and    (g) respectively joining first and second portions of the length of web on one side of said fold line to third and fourth portions of the length of web on the other side of said fold line along first and second transverse lines of joinder that are generally parallel to each other and generally perpendicular to the first and second edges,    whereby a receptacle is formed having a sealed interior volume with said product therein, said sealed interior volume being bounded by said fold line, said first and second transverse lines of joinder, and said adhesive tape.    
   
   
       13 . The method as recited in  claim 12 , wherein step (b) is performed prior to step (e) and step (c) is performed subsequent to step (e).  
   
   
       14 . The method as recited in  claim 12 , wherein steps (b) and (c) are performed prior to step (e).  
   
   
       15 . The method as recited in  claim 14 , further comprising the step of interlocking the closure profiles of said lengths of said first and second zipper strips.  
   
   
       16 . The method as recited in  claim 15 , wherein said interlocking step is performed prior to steps (b) and (c).  
   
   
       17 . The method as recited in  claim 15 , wherein said interlocking step is performed subsequent to steps (b), (c) and (e).  
   
   
       18 . The method as recited in  claim 15 , further comprising the step of mounting a slider to said lengths of said first and second zipper strips.  
   
   
       19 . The method as recited in  claim 12 , further comprising the step of removing a length of a strip of release material that is adhered to one side of the length of adhesive tape.  
   
   
       20 . The method as recited in  claim 12 , wherein step (a) comprises the step of pressing the adhesive tape against the web.  
   
   
       21 . The method as recited in  claim 12 , further comprising the steps of cutting said lengths of web and first and second zipper strips along said first and second transverse lines of joinder to form an individual package.  
   
   
       22 . A method of making reclosable packages, comprising the following steps: 
 (a) adhering first and second sides of a strip of double-sided adhesive tape to first and second portions, respectively, of web material along first and second lines of adhesion that are generally parallel to each other;    (b) joining first and second zipper strips to third and fourth portions, respectively, of said web material along first and second lines of joinder that are generally parallel to said first and second lines of adhesion, a distance between said first line of joinder and said first line of adhesion being generally equal to a distance between said second line of joinder and said second line of adhesion;    (c) manipulating said web material so that said first and second portions of said web material confront each other and said third and fourth portions of said web material confront each other;    (d) joining fifth and sixth confronting portions of said web material along a first transverse line of joinder generally perpendicular to said first line of joinder; and    (e) joining seventh and eighth confronting portions of said web material along a second transverse line of joinder generally parallel to said first transverse line of joinder.    
   
   
       23 . The method as recited in  claim 22 , wherein product is placed on a portion of said web material prior to step (c).  
   
   
       24 . The method as recited in  claim 22 , wherein said web material comprises a length of a web having first and second mutually parallel edges, and said manipulating step comprises folding said length of web along a centerline halfway between said first and second edges.  
   
   
       25 . The method as recited in  claim 22 , wherein said first side of said strip of double-sided adhesive tape is adhered to said first portion of said web material before step (c) is performed, and said second side of said strip of double-sided adhesive tape is adhered to said second portion of said web material after step (c) is performed.  
   
   
       26 . The method as recited in  claim 22 , wherein said first zipper strip is joined to said third portion of said web material before step (c) is performed, and said second zipper strip is joined to said fourth portion of said web material after step (c) is performed.  
   
   
       27 . The method as recited in  claim 22 , further comprising the step of interlocking the closure profiles of said first and second zipper strips.  
   
   
       28 . The method as recited in  claim 27 , further comprising the step of mounting a slider to said interlocked first and second zipper strips.  
   
   
       29 . The method as recited in  claim 22 , further comprising the step of removing a strip of release material that is adhered to one side of said adhesive tape.  
   
   
       30 . The method as recited in  claim 22 , further comprising the steps of cutting said web material and first and second zipper strips along said first and second transverse lines of joinder to form an individual package.  
   
   
       31 . The method as recited in  claim 22 , wherein said web material comprises first and second webs, said first side of said adhesive tape being adhered to said first web, said second side of said adhesive tape being adhered to said second web, said first zipper strip being joined to said first web, and said second zipper strip being joined to said second web, and wherein said manipulating step comprises positioning said first and second webs in overlapping relationship, further comprising the step of joining confronting portions of said first and second webs along a line of joinder generally parallel to said first line of joinder.