Packaging and method of packaging

Abstract

Packaging ( 10 ) comprising a wrapper of flexible material ( 14 ) folded about a product ( 12 ) into a sleeve with opposed longitudinal side edge regions overlapping and sealed together to form a longitudinal seal, the ends of the sleeve being closed by transverse end seals ( 24, 26 ). An opening arrangement comprises an aperture in a main body ( 28 ) of the wrapper adjacent one of the end seals ( 24 ). The wrapper has a flap portion ( 32 ) integrally formed with the main body for closing the aperture. The flap portion includes an opening tab portion ( 62 ) located at least partially within or on said one end seal ( 24 ) that can be grasped by a user to initiate opening of the package. The flap portion ( 32 ) may be bonded to the main body ( 28 ) by means of a peelable and re-sealable adhesive.

1 . Packaging comprising a wrapper of flexible material, the wrapper being folded into a sleeve with opposed longitudinal side edge regions overlapping and sealed together to form a longitudinal seal, the ends of the sleeve being closed by transverse end seals in which opposed end regions of the wrapper are bonded together, the wrapper having an opening arrangement adjacent to one of the end seals, the opening arrangement comprising an aperture in a main body of the wrapper, the wrapper having a flap portion integrally formed with the main body for closing the aperture, the flap portion including an opening tab portion that can be grasped by a user to initiate opening of the package, the flap portion being located at least partially within or on said one end seal. 
     
     
         2 . The packaging as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the opening arrangement comprises a pair of spaced lines of weakness that extend into said one of the end seal regions to define an opening tab portion between them. 
     
     
         3 . The packaging as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein, in said one end seal, the opposed end regions of the wrapper within the tab portion are bonded together only over an inner extent, outer portions of the opposed end regions being un-bonded. 
     
     
         4 . The packaging as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the flap portion is connected to the main body of the wrapper for movement between open and closed configurations about a transverse fold line on the opposite side of the aperture from said one end seal. 
     
     
         5 . The packaging as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the flap is defined in the wrapper by means of one or more cuts through the wrapper, the cut(s) having a profile configured such that marginal free edge regions of the flap portion overlap marginal edge regions of the main body, the overlapping marginal edge regions of the flap portion and the main body being bonded together by means of a peelable adhesive. 
     
     
         6 . The packaging as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the wrapper comprises a laminated material having inner structure and outer structure bonded together, each of the inner and outer structures comprising at least one layer of flexible material, the flap portion being defined by means at least one outer line of weakness in the outer structure and at least one inner line of weakness in the inner structure, the inner and outer lines of weakness being off-set from one another, a marginal region of the outer structure between adjacent inner and outer lines of weakness being bonded to the underlying inner structure by means of a peelable adhesive. 
     
     
         7 . The packaging as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein the peelable adhesive is a re-sealable or reclosable adhesive. 
     
     
         8 . The packaging as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein at least one of the inner and outer lines of weakness extend into said one end seal. 
     
     
         9 . The packaging as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein the opening tab portion is defined by a section of the marginal region of the outer structure within said one end seal. 
     
     
         10 . The packaging as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein at least part of the section of the marginal region within said one end seal that defines the opening tab portion is not bonded to the underlying inner structure. 
     
     
         11 . The packaging as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein at least one of the lines of weakness define a curved opening tab portion within said one end seal. 
     
     
         12 . The packaging as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein the lines of weakness define a generally semi-circular opening tab portion in part of said one end seal. 
     
     
         13 . The packaging as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein inner surfaces of the opposed end regions of the wrapper are bonded together to form the transverse end seals, the opening tab portion being defined by a section within said one end seal in which the opposed end regions are bonded together only over an inner extent, the opposed end regions within the section but outside of said inner extent being un-bonded. 
     
     
         14 . The packaging as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein within said one end seal, the inner surfaces of the opposed end regions of the wrapper are bonded together only over an inner extent of the opposed end regions, one of the opposed regions having a cut-out formed outwardly of said inner extent such that the portion of the other of the opposed regions opposite the cut-out is exposed on both sides. 
     
     
         15 . The packaging as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the overlapping opposed longitudinal side edge regions are bonded together inner face to inner face to from a longitudinal fin seal. 
     
     
         16 . (canceled) 
     
     
         17 . A method of packaging comprising, providing a wrapper of flexible material having a main body defining an aperture and having an integral flap portion for closing the aperture, the flap portion including an opening tab portion; folding the wrapper into a sleeve about a product and bonding together overlapping opposed longitudinal side edge regions to form a longitudinal seal, bonding opposed end regions of the wrapper together to form transverse end seals at either end of the product; wherein the method also comprises positioning the wrapper so that the flap portion is located proximal to one of the transverse end seals and such that the opening tab is at least partially located in or on one of the end seals of the finished packaging. 
     
     
         18 . The method as claimed in  claim 17 , wherein the packaging is produced using a flow-wrap method, the wrapper being provided a part of a film of material in a roll to package a number of products in a substantially continuous process, a plurality of flap portions being defined in the film of material at appropriately spaced locations. 
     
     
         19 . (canceled) 
     
     
         20 . The packaging as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein the peelable adhesive is a re-sealable or reclosable adhesive.