Re-closable flexible dispensing package providing a seal

Abstract

A flexible and resealable package for dispensing viscous material is provided. The package has front and back sides with a malleable, inelastic, member fixed to at least one of the sides to enable the package to be folded into a sealed position to close off the opening and reseal the package. The malleable member does not extend the full length of the package so that package may be opened in an unobstructed manner.

1 . A re-closable flexible dispensing package comprising: 
 a plurality of sheets of flexible material which form walls on opposite sides of a cavity for containing a product; and    at least one malleable inelastic member, each said malleable inelastic member attached to or within at least one of the walls such that said malleable inelastic member does not extend a full length of the package and does not cross a tear line extending across the cavity so that the tear line has an unobstructed path.    
   
   
       2 . The re-closable flexible dispensing package of  claim 1 , which includes a leash connecting a portion of the walls on one side of the tear line and a portion of the walls on an opposite side of the tear line.  
   
   
       3 . The re-closable flexible dispensing package of  claim 1 , where the malleable member includes a metal sheet.  
   
   
       4 . The re-closable flexible dispensing package of  claim 1 , where the malleable member includes a plastic material.  
   
   
       5 . The re-closable flexible dispensing package of  claim 1 , where the malleable inelastic member is affixed to an inside surface of one of the walls.  
   
   
       6 . The re-closable flexible dispensing package as in  claim 1 , where the malleable inelastic member is affixed to an outside surface of one of the walls.  
   
   
       7 . The re-closable flexible dispensing package of  claim 1 , where the malleable inelastic member is affixed between two plies of the sheets of flexible material.  
   
   
       8 . A re-closable flexible dispensing package comprising: 
 at least a pair of flexible sheets joined together along a perimeter edge to form a compartment for containing a product to be dispensed from the package, said flexible sheets having a top portion and a bottom portion;    a tear notch located adjacent to the top portion of the flexible sheets, said tear notch providing a tear line extending across the compartment to enable a person to open the flexible sheets to access the compartment;    a malleable member having a top edge, said malleable member associated with at least one of the flexible sheets such that when the flexible sheets are folded into a closed position, the flexible sheets are held in that position by the malleable member; and    said tear notch positioned above the top edge of the malleable member so that the tear line is formed along an unobstructed path to open the flexible sheets and dispense the product from the compartment.    
   
   
       9 . The re-closable flexible dispensing package of  claim 8 , which includes a leash connecting the top portion on one side of the tear line and a portion on an opposite side of the tear line.  
   
   
       10 . The re-closable flexible dispensing package of  claim 8 , where the malleable member includes a metal.  
   
   
       11 . The re-closable flexible dispensing package of  claim 8 , where the malleable member includes a plastic material.  
   
   
       12 . The re-closable flexible dispensing package of  claim 8 , where the malleable member is affixed to an inside surface of one of the flexible sheets.  
   
   
       13 . The re-closable flexible dispensing package as in  claim 8 , where the malleable member is affixed to an outside surface of one of the flexible sheets.  
   
   
       14 . The re-closable flexible dispensing package of  claim 8 , where the malleable member is affixed between two plies of the flexible sheets.  
   
   
       15 . A re-closable flexible dispensing package comprising: 
 a body member having an interior region for containing a product to be dispensed, a top end and a bottom end; and    a tear notch or score line adjacent the top end to provide a tear line extending across the body member interior region when the body is opened;    an inelastic or substantially inelastic malleable member, said malleable member operatively associated with the body member to enable the body to be selectively folded into a fixed position to maintain the body member in a closed position after the body member is opened; and    said tear notch or score line positioned above a top edge of the malleable member so that the tear line is formed along an unobstructed path in the package.    
   
   
       16 . The re-closable flexible dispensing package of  claim 15 , where the malleable inelastic member includes a metal sheet.  
   
   
       17 . The re-closable flexible dispensing package of  claim 15 , where the malleable member includes a plastic material.  
   
   
       18 . The re-closable flexible dispensing package of  claim 15 , where the malleable member is affixed to an inside surface of the body member.  
   
   
       19 . The re-closable flexible dispensing package as in  claim 15 , where the malleable member is affixed to an outside structure of the body members.