Resealable package with segmented opening

Abstract

A flexible film package having a resealable opening is provided. The package is comprised of a flexible film with at least a first film layer and a second film layer with a resealable adhesive disposed between portions of the first and second film layer. The flexible film defines at least a portion of an interior cavity where contents, such as discrete food articles, can be stored and a package opening provides access to the discrete food articles. Further, the package has a segmented opening with a plurality of opening windows separated by at least one cross tie that extends from one side of the opening to another side.

1 . A package comprising:
 a flexible film having at least first and second film layers and a resealable adhesive disposed between the first and second film layers, the flexible film defining a top of the package;   a tray having a bottom, at least one side, and an upper flange to which the second film layer is adhered to an upper surface thereof to seal a food product therein;   the flexible film having a plurality of second layer cuts formed into the second film layer to define a segmented package opening, the plurality of cuts include at least a first cut and a second cut;   the first film layer having a sealing panel that is releasable from the second film layer to expose the segmented package opening;   at least one cross tie extending across the segmented package opening from a first side of the segmented package opening to a second side and the cross tie comprised of portions of the second film layer defined by the second layer cuts such that the first end of the cross tie is integrally formed with the first side of the segmented package opening and the second end of the cross tie is integrally formed with the second side of the segmented package opening; and   wherein the first cut of the second layer cuts is disposed adjacent a pull tab that is lifted to open the package and the second cut of the second layer cuts is disposed adjacent an end of the sealing panel opposite the pull tab.   
     
     
         2 . (canceled) 
     
     
         3 . (canceled) 
     
     
         4 . (canceled) 
     
     
         5 . (canceled) 
     
     
         6 . The package of  claim 1 , wherein the cross tie has resealable adhesive disposed between the cross tie and the sealing panel when the package is in the closed configuration. 
     
     
         7 . (canceled) 
     
     
         8 . The package of  claim 1  wherein the upper flange provides a reseal surface against which a consumer may push to reseal the sealing panel to the second film layer. 
     
     
         9 . (canceled) 
     
     
         10 . (canceled) 
     
     
         11 . The package of  claim 1 , wherein the opening window is disposed adjacent a portion of discrete food articles such that a single serving of the of discrete food articles is visible and easily accessible through one of the opening windows. 
     
     
         12 . (canceled) 
     
     
         13 . The package of  claim 1 , wherein the sealing panel comprises a discrete sealing label that is at least one of: cut from the first film layer prior to forming package seals, cut from the first film layer prior to the first film layer being attached to the second film layer, or cut from the first film layer after the first film layer is attached to the second film layer. 
     
     
         14 . The package of  claim 1 , further comprising a first layer cut formed into the first film layer during package manufacturing after the first film layer and the second film layer are joined together. 
     
     
         15 . (canceled) 
     
     
         16 . (canceled) 
     
     
         17 . The package of  claim 1 , further comprising a package integrity feature providing an indication to the consumer when the package has been previously opened. 
     
     
         18 . (canceled) 
     
     
         19 . (canceled) 
     
     
         20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . (canceled) 
     
     
         22 . (canceled) 
     
     
         23 . A package comprising:
 a formed tray with at least a first and a second compartments adjacent one another, the first compartment having a first wall forming at least a portion of the first compartment and an upper end of the first wall with a flange connected thereto and the second compartment having a second wall forming at least a portion of the second compartment and having an upper end of the second wall with a flange connected thereto, the formed tray having at least one line of weakness disposed in between the flanges of adjacent compartments;   a sealing panel attached to at least portions of the flanges, the sealing panel having at least one line of weakness disposed therein, the sealing panel having a pull tab without adhesive disposed thereon; and   a resealable adhesive disposed between portions of the flanges and the sealing panel such that the sealing panel is releaseable and resealable to the flange by grasping the pull tab;   wherein one of the compartments and a portion of the sealing panel may be removed from a remainder of the package at the tray and panel lines of weakness.   
     
     
         24 . The package of  claim 23  wherein the sealing panel has at least two adhesive-free portions forming at least two pull tabs, wherein a first pull tab is disposed adjacent a first end of the package and a second pull tab is formed by the panel line of weakness disposed across the sealing panel. 
     
     
         25 . The package of  claim 24  wherein one or both of the panel line of weakness and the tray line of weakness includes one of an arcuate portion or a linear line. 
     
     
         26 . (canceled) 
     
     
         27 . (canceled) 
     
     
         28 . The package of  claim 1  wherein the first cut is a closed loop forming a flap that is lifted upward to expose a portion of the segmented opening and the second cut includes a pair of ends terminating in a tear-inhibiting feature. 
     
     
         29 . The package of  claim 1  wherein the resealable adhesive is disposed throughout the area between the first and second film layers outside of an area forming the pull tab. 
     
     
         30 . The package of  claim 1  further comprising a permanent adhesive pattern applied in between portions of the first and second film layer. 
     
     
         31 . The package of  claim 1  wherein the tray further comprises at least a first compartment and a second compartment adjacent one another, the first compartment having a first wall forming at least a portion of the first compartment and an upper end of the first wall with a first flange connected thereto and the second compartment having a second wall forming at least a portion of the second compartment and an upper end of the second wall with a second flange connected thereto.