Reclosable Flexible Film Packaging Products and Methods of Manufacture

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a reclosable flexible film package with a flexible film having a fold forming a folded edge, at least two opposing free edges, and at least a front panel and a back panel, where the opposing free edges are sealed together to form at least one sealed edge such that front and back panels define an interior space. The flexible film package also may have a score in the flexible film of the front panel forming a flap that defines an opening when the flap is moved upward, toward the folded edge and a label extending uninterrupted from edge to edge, the label being attached on the film by pressure sensitive adhesive, and extending beyond the score on the front panel to reseal the package opening defined by the flap.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A laminate for forming a closable flexible package, comprising:
 a continuous web of flexible film having a longitudinal axis;   a continuous label applied to the flexible film along the longitudinal axis with pressure sensitive adhesive; and   the web and label forming a continuous series of similar package forming blanks, the flexible film of each blank having a line of weakness forming a flap in the film along the label to define an opening.   
     
     
         22 . The laminate of  claim 21 , wherein the score line is continuous in the longitudinal direction along the web. 
     
     
         23 . The laminate of  claim 21 , wherein the score line is arcuate. 
     
     
         24 . The laminate of  claim 21 , wherein the score line is sinusoidal. 
     
     
         25 . The laminate of  claim 21 , wherein a portion of the label is tack free to define a pull tab. 
     
     
         26 - 29 . (canceled) 
     
     
         30 . A method for forming a reclosable flexible package laminate comprising the steps of:
 providing a continuous web of flexible film having a longitudinal axis;   applying a continuous label to the flexible film along the longitudinal axis with pressure sensitive adhesive; and   scoring the web forming a continuous series of similar package forming blanks and forming a flap in the film along the label to define an opening.   
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 30 , further comprising the step of applying a deadening label to the pressure sensitive adhesive forming a pull tab prior to the step of applying the continuous label to the flexible film. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 30 , further comprising the step of removing a liner from the label to expose the pressure sensitive adhesive prior to the step of applying the continuous label to the flexible film. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 30 , further comprising the steps of scoring the label after the step of applying the continuous label to the flexible film; and removing the label score matrix. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 30 , further comprising the steps of:
 folding the web over a product to create a folded edge; and   forming a seal on the folded edge opposing free edges of the web to form front and back panels define an interior space to contain product.   
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 34 , further comprising the step of cutting a seal to define an individual package. 
     
     
         36 . An apparatus to form a reclosable flexible film package, comprising:
 a lamination roller to laminate a continuous web of flexible film having a longitudinal axis to a continuous label along the longitudinal axis with pressure sensitive adhesive;   a first device to produce a line of weakness formed in the web after laminating the flexible film to the label, forming a continuous series of similar package forming blanks and forming a flap in the film along the label to define an opening;   a folding device to create a folded edge over a product; and   a sealing device to form a seal on the opposing free edges of the web folded edge to form front and back panels define an interior space to contain product.   
     
     
         37 . The apparatus of  claim 36 , further comprising a second scoring device to score the label after lamination to the web. 
     
     
         38 . The apparatus of  claim 36 , further comprising a cutting device to cut the seal to form an individual package. 
     
     
         39 . A package being formed by a process comprising:
 providing a film web;   continuously applying a label web to the film web with adhesive;   cutting the label web to form labels;   removing the label web that does not form the labels from the film web; and   forming lines of weakness in the film web corresponding to the labels to define package openings.   
     
     
         40 . The package of  claim 39  further comprising separating the film web having the labels into package blanks. 
     
     
         41 . The package of  claim 39  further comprising wrapping the film web having the labels around a food product and forming individual flexible film packages. 
     
     
         42 . The package of  claim 41  further comprising separating the film packages from one another. 
     
     
         43 . The package of any of  claim 39  wherein the labels each have a first portion including a pull tab, the first portion being disposed beyond the lines of weakness toward the pull tab. 
     
     
         44 . The package of  claim 43  wherein the first portion of the shaped package labels further comprises a reseal portion with pressure sensitive adhesive. 
     
     
         45 . The package of  claim 43  wherein the labels further comprise a second portion disposed beyond the lines of weakness away from the pull tab. 
     
     
         46 . The package of  claim 45  wherein the second portion of the labels includes a pair of tabs. 
     
     
         47 . The package of  claim 46  further comprising folding the film web around a food product wherein the package includes a package fold and the pair of tabs of the second portion of the labels extend around the package fold. 
     
     
         48 . A method of forming a series of reclosable film packages:
 providing a film web;   continuously applying a label web to the flexible film web with adhesive;   cutting the label web to form package labels;   removing the label web that does not form the labels; and   forming lines of weakness in the film web corresponding to the labels to define package openings.