Packaging with monoaxially oriented film

Abstract

A flexible package ( 14 ) comprises one or more lengths of flexible material ( 16 ) arranged to define an internal cavity closed by means of seals ( 18, 22, 24 ) in which opposed regions of the material are bonded together. At least one seal ( 22 ) has a tab portions ( 30 ) in which the material is not bonded to an opposing region of material. The material ( 16 ) has directional tear characteristics and is oriented so as to tear preferentially in a direction orthogonal to the direction of said seal. The package is opened by pulling the tab portions ( 30 ) so that the material tears along either side of the tab portions in the manner of a tear strip. The material ( 16 ) may consist exclusively of a single layer of monoaxially oriented polypropylene film. The tab portions ( 30 ) may be formed in an end seal ( 22 ) so that material tears in a longitudinal direction of the package. The package may be a flow wrapped package.

1 . A flexible package comprising one or more lengths of flexible material arranged to define an internal cavity closed by means of one or more seals in which opposed regions of the material are bonded together, the package having one or more tab portions in which the material is not bonded to an opposing region of material associated with one seal, the material having directional tear characteristics and being orientated so as to tear preferentially in a direction substantially orthogonal to the direction of said seal. 
     
     
         2 . A flexible package as claimed in  claim 1 , in which the material comprises a plastics film having directional tear characteristics. 
     
     
         3 . A flexible package as claimed in  claim 2 , in which the material comprises a monoaxially orientated polypropylene film. 
     
     
         4 . A flexible package as claimed in  claim 1 , in which the material consists exclusively of a single layer of monoaxially orientated polypropylene film. 
     
     
         5 . A flexible package as claimed in  claim 1 , in which the material is a lamination comprising a layer of polyethylene terephthalate (PET), a layer of aluminium foil, and a layer of oriented polypropylene film. 
     
     
         6 . A flexible package as claimed in  claim 1 , in which, at least the outer end of the, or each, tab portion projects beyond an outer end of the remainder of said seal. 
     
     
         7 . A flexible package as claimed in  claim 6 , in which the whole of the, or each, tab portion projects beyond the outer end of the remainder of said seal. 
     
     
         8 . A flexible package as claimed in  claim 1 , in which a tab region is defined within said seal, the opposed regions of material within the tab region being bonded together only over an inner extent of the seal, the opposed regions of material within the tab region but outside the inner extent are not bonded together to form opposed tab portions. 
     
     
         9 . A flexible package as claimed in  claim 1 , in which the one or more tab portions extend in a direction substantially orthogonal to the direction of said seal. 
     
     
         10 . A flexible package as claimed in  claim 1 , in which the seal is a transverse seal closing one end of the package and the material is oriented to tear preferentially in a longitudinal direction. 
     
     
         11 . A flexible package as claimed in  claim 1 , in which the package is formed from a single length of flexible material. 
     
     
         12 . A flexible package as claimed in  claim 11 , in which opposed side edge regions of the material are bonded together to form a longitudinal seal and opposed end regions of the material are bonded together to form transverse seals at either end of the package, the one or more tab portions being associated with one of the end seals and the material being orientated to as to tear preferentially in a longitudinal direction of the package. 
     
     
         13 . A flexible package as claimed in  claim 12 , in which the longitudinal seal is a fin seal. 
     
     
         14 . A flexible package as claimed in  claim 1 , in which the package is in the form of a bag or pouch closed at an upper end by means of a sealed header, the one or more tab portions being associated with the header. 
     
     
         15 . (canceled) 
     
     
         16 . A package assembly comprising a flexible package as claimed in  claim 1  enclosing one or more products. 
     
     
         17 . A package assembly as claimed in  claim 16 , in which the one or more products comprises at least one generally block shaped product. 
     
     
         18 . A package assembly as claimed in  claim 17 . in which the at least one generally block shaped product is frangible and comprises two or more separable portions divided from one another by regions of reduced thickness along which the product can be broken, the one or more tab portions being aligned with a region of reduced thickness. 
     
     
         19 . A package assembly as claimed in  claim 16 , in which the product is a chocolate bar. 
     
     
         20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A method of manufacturing a flexible package from one or more lengths of flexible material, the method comprising arranging the one or more lengths of material to define an internal cavity and bonding together opposed regions of the material to form one or more seals closing the cavity, the method includes forming one or more tab portions in which the material is not bonded to an opposing region of material associated with one seal, the material having directional tear characteristics and the method comprising orienting the material such that it is orientated so as to tear preferentially in a direction substantially orthogonal to the direction of the said one seal. 
     
     
         22 . A method as claimed in  claim 21 , in which the one or more tab portions are aligned in a direction substantially orthogonal to the direction of the seal. 
     
     
         23 . A method as claimed in  claim 21 , in which the method comprises applying adhesive to a region of the material for producing said one seal when the package is formed, no adhesive being applied in two areas within said region, which areas overlie one another when the material is formed into the package. 
     
     
         24 . (canceled)