Packaging and method for packaging

Abstract

A package ( 11 ) for a generally block-shaped food product comprises a sheet ( 10 ) of foldable material. The sheet has an inner portion ( 16 ) for enclosing the product and a frame-shaped sealing portion ( 18 ) surrounding the inner portion for sealing the package. Two side portions ( 24, 26 ) of the sealing portion abut one another to form a longitudinal seal and opposing end portions ( 20, 22 ) of the sealing portion abut each other to form seals along respective ends. A flap ( 28 ) is provided along one side of the sheet adjacent an outer edge of the respective side portion, and an outer edge region ( 32 ) of the other side of the sheet is folded inwardly to form a tab ( 36 ), the inner and outer surfaces of the flap portion and the tab are accessible.

1 . A package for packaging a generally block-shaped food product, the package comprising a sheet of foldable packing material having an inner surface and an outer surface, the sheet having an inner portion for enclosing the top, bottom, side and end surfaces of the product, a frame-shaped sealing portion enclosing the inner portion for sealing the package and comprising opposing end portions and opposing side portions, the sheet being folded around the product such that the inner portion encloses the block-shaped product with the inner surface of the sheet directed towards the product, the inner surfaces of the two side portions of the frame-shaped sealing portion abutting one another to form a longitudinal seal, and opposing inner surface regions of the ends portions of the framed-shaped sealing portion abutting each other to form seals along respective ends, in which, a flap portion is provided along one side of the sheet adjacent an outer edge of the respective side portion, and an outer edge region of the other side of the sheet is folded inwardly to form a tab, the inner and outer surfaces of the flap portion and the tab being accessible. 
     
     
         2 . A package as claimed in  claim 1 , in which the outer edge region of the other side of the sheet is sealed to an opposing region of the sheet, inner face to inner face, to hold the tab in position. 
     
     
         3 . A package as claimed in  claim 1 , in which the seals are formed by means of a sealing composition applied to the inner surface of the sheet within the sealing portion. 
     
     
         4 . A package as claimed in  claim 3 , in which the sealing composition is also applied to the inner surface of the outer edge region of the other side of the sheet. 
     
     
         5 . A package as claim in  claim 4 , in which the sealing composition is applied to the inner surface of the sheet on the other side, from the side portion substantially up to the side edge of the sheet. 
     
     
         6 . A package as claimed in  claim 1 , in which no sealing composition is applied to the inner surface of the flap portion. 
     
     
         7 . A package as claimed in  claim 1 , in which no sealing composition is applied to the inner surface of the inner portion. 
     
     
         8 . A package as claimed in  claim 1 , in which the tab is adjacent an outer edge of the respective side portion. 
     
     
         9 . A package as claimed in  claim 1 , in which the tab is spaced from an outer edge of the respective side portion by a flap region. 
     
     
         10 . (canceled) 
     
     
         11 . A method of packaging a generally block-shaped food product by means of a package as claimed in  claim 1 , the method comprising:
 a. positioning the food product on the inner surface of the sheet in the inner portion;   b. folding the sheet around the product so that the product is enclosed by the inner portion of the sheet and the inner surfaces of the side portions of the seal portion are brought into abutment;   c. forming the longitudinal seal along the abutting area;   d. bringing opposing inner surfaces to the end portions of the sealing portion into abutment;   e. forming end seals in the abutting areas.   
     
     
         12 . A method as claimed in  claim 11 , the method comprising folding the longitudinal seal, the tab and the flap portion around a fold line at a border of the inner portion and one of the side portions. 
     
     
         13 . (canceled)