Autoclavable reclosable package

Abstract

A reclosable package that seals an enclosed product and allows the product to be subjected to a retort procedure to cook the product while the product is in the package. The reclosable package is formed from a polypropylene film and includes a zipper closure including a pair of mating closure profiles both formed from a polypropylene material. One of the male or female closure profiles includes a sealing flange having a layer of sealant such that the sealing flange provides a seal for the package below the interaction between the closure profiles. This seal prevents the product from migrating through the profile member during the retort procedure and prior to the package being opened for the first time.

1 . A flexible, reclosable package for containing a product and allowing the product to be subjected to a retort process while within the reclosable package, comprising: 
 a pair of side panels joined along a first side edge and a second side edge, the side panels defining a mouth providing access to a package interior, wherein the side panels are formed from polypropylene; and    a reclosable zipper positioned along the mouth of the package for selectively opening and closing the package mouth, the reclosable zipper including a first closure profile attached to the first side panel and a second closure profile attached to the second side panel, wherein the first and second closure profiles are each constructed and arranged to interlock each other to hold the mouth in a closed position, wherein the reclosable zipper is formed from polypropylene,    wherein the first closure profile includes a sealing flange having a sealant, wherein the sealant of the sealing flange is attached to the second side panel opposite the first closure profile during the retort process to provide a hermetic seal between the sealing flange and the second side panel.    
   
   
       2 . The reclosable package of  claim 1  further comprising a line of weakness positioned between the sealing flange and an attachment flange of the first closure profile, wherein the sealing flange separates from the attachment flange along the line of weakness and remains attached to the second side panel of the reclosable package upon initial opening of the reclosable package.  
   
   
       3 . The reclosable package of  claim 2  wherein the sealant is a polypropylene-based sealant.  
   
   
       4 . The reclosable package of  claim 1  wherein the sealant is a releasable sealant such that the sealant separates from the second side panel to permit the sealing flange to separate from the second side panel upon initial opening of the product package.  
   
   
       5 . The reclosable package of  claim 2  wherein the sealing flange includes a plurality of lines of weakness positioned between the attachment flange and an outer end of the sealing flange.  
   
   
       6 . The reclosable package of  claim 1  wherein the sealant is applied to a first face surface of the sealing flange and a second sealant is applied to an opposite, second face surface of the sealing flange, wherein the second sealant engages the first side panel.  
   
   
       7 . The reclosable package of  claim 6  wherein the second sealant is a permanent sealant and the first sealant is a releasable sealant such that the sealing flange separates from the second side panel and remains attached to the first side panel upon initial opening of the product package.  
   
   
       8 . The reclosable package of  claim 1  wherein the second closure profile includes a second sealing flange, the second sealing flange having a second sealant, wherein the first sealing flange and the second sealing flange engage each other to provide a hermetic seal across the package interior.  
   
   
       9 . The reclosable package of  claim 8  wherein the first sealant and the second sealant are each a releasable sealant.  
   
   
       10 . The reclosable package of  claim 8  wherein the first and second sealing flanges are movable relative to the first and second side panels.