Flexible package with tamper evident reclosable opening

Abstract

The present invention describes a flexible package ( 100 ). The flexible package ( 100 ) includes a pair of opposite panels ( 102, 103 ). The flexible package ( 100 ) further includes at least one pair of side gussets ( 104, 106 ) configured with the pair of panels to form a receptacle ( 108 ) having at least three closed sides. The flexible package ( 100 ) also includes a first and a second tamper evident reclosable opening ( 116, 118 ) provided on the at least one pair of side gussets ( 104, 106 ), the opening ( 116, 118 ) configured to provide access to contents of the flexible package, wherein the first reclosable opening ( 116 ) is smaller than the second reclosable opening ( 118 ).

I claim: 
     
         1 . A flexible package ( 100 ) comprising:
 a pair of opposite panels ( 102 ,  103 );   at least one pair of side gussets ( 104 ,  106 ) configured with the pair of panels to form a receptacle ( 108 ), having at least three closed sides; and   a first and a second tamper evident reclosable opening ( 116 ,  118 ) provided on the at least one of the side gussets ( 104 ,  106 ), the opening ( 116 ,  118 ) configured to provide access to contents of the flexible package ( 100 ), wherein the first reclosable opening ( 116 ) is smaller than the second reclosable opening ( 118 ).   
     
     
         2 . The flexible package ( 100 ) as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein each of the first and the second reclosable openings ( 116 ,  118 ) include perforated tearable/openable areas ( 124 ,  126 ). 
     
     
         3 . The flexible package ( 100 ) as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the flexible package ( 100 ) further includes a closure patch ( 112 ,  114 ) configured to cover the openable areas ( 124 ,  126 ) associated with each of the first and the second reclosable openings ( 116 ,  118 ). 
     
     
         4 . The flexible package ( 100 ) as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein each of the closure patch ( 112 ,  114 ) associated with the first and the second reclosable openings ( 116 ,  118 ) includes a pull tab ( 120 ,  122 ) for pulling the closure patch ( 112 ,  114 ). 
     
     
         5 . The flexible package as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein each of the closure patch ( 112 ,  114 ) includes a high peel strength adhesive in the areas ( 124 ,  126 ) and a low peel strength adhesive in second areas ( 128 ,  130 ), such that a peel strength of the high peel strength adhesive is greater than a peel strength of the low peel strength adhesive. 
     
     
         6 . The flexible package as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein the high peel strength adhesive and the low peel strength adhesive include different thicknesses to provide different peel strengths in the areas ( 124 ,  126 ) and the second areas ( 128 ,  130 ). 
     
     
         7 . The flexible package as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein the high peel strength adhesive in the areas ( 124 ,  126 ) is a permanent adhesive and the low peel strength adhesive in the second areas ( 128 ,  130 ) is a reusable adhesive. 
     
     
         8 . The flexible package ( 100 ) as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the first and the second reclosable openings ( 116 ,  118 ) are provided on any one of the side gussets ( 104 ,  106 ), and the panels ( 102 ,  103 ), or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         9 . A flexible package ( 200 ) comprising:
 a pair of opposite panels ( 206 ,  207 );   at least one pair of side gussets ( 210 ) configured with the two panels ( 206 ,  207 ) to form a receptacle, having at least three closed sides; and   a tamper evident reclosable opening ( 204 ) provided on at least one edge ( 208 ) of the flexible package ( 200 ) and configured to provide access to the contents of the flexible package ( 200 ).   
     
     
         10 . The flexible package ( 200 ) as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein the reclosable opening ( 204 ) is at least one of a rectangular opening, V-shaped opening, inverted V-shaped opening, circular opening, elliptical opening, geometrical opening, an unsealed portion on the edge ( 208 ), or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         11 . The flexible package ( 200 ) as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein the reclosable opening ( 204 ) includes an openable area ( 214 ). 
     
     
         12 . The flexible package ( 200 ) as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein the flexible package ( 200 ) further includes a closure patch ( 202 ) configured to cover the openable area ( 214 ) associated with the reclosable opening ( 204 ). 
     
     
         13 . The flexible package ( 200 ) as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein the closure patch ( 202 ) associated with the reclosable opening ( 204 ) includes a pull tab ( 212 ) for pulling the closure patch ( 202 ). 
     
     
         14 . The flexible package ( 200 ) as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein the closure patch ( 202 ) includes a high peel strength adhesive in the openable area ( 214 ), and a low peel strength adhesive in second area ( 216 ), such that a peel strength of the high peel strength adhesive is greater than a peel strength of the low peel strength adhesive. 
     
     
         15 . The flexible package ( 200 ) as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein the high peel strength adhesive and the low peel strength adhesive include different thicknesses to provide different peel strengths in the openable area ( 214 ) and the second area ( 216 ). 
     
     
         16 . The flexible package ( 200 ) as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein the high peel strength adhesive in the openable area ( 214 ) is a permanent adhesive and the low peel strength adhesive in the second area ( 216 ) is a reusable adhesive. 
     
     
         17 . The flexible package ( 200 ) as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein a second reclosable opening different from the reclosable opening ( 204 ) is provided on at least one of the panels ( 206 ,  207 ), or the gussets ( 210 ). 
     
     
         18 . A flexible package ( 300 ) comprising:
 a pair of opposite panels ( 311 ,  312 );   at least one pair of side gussets ( 313 ) configured with the pair of panels ( 311 ,  312 ) to form a receptacle having at least three closed sides; and   a first tamper evident reclosable opening ( 306 ) provided on at least one edge ( 310 ) and a second tamper evident reclosable opening ( 308 ) provided on at least one of the panels ( 311 ,  312 ), the openings ( 306 ,  308 ) configured to provide access to contents of the flexible package ( 300 ), wherein the first reclosable opening ( 306 ) is smaller than the second reclosable opening ( 308 ).   
     
     
         19 . The flexible package ( 300 ) as claimed in  claim 18 , wherein the flexible package ( 300 ) further includes a closure patch ( 302 ,  304 ) configured to cover the first and the second reclosable openings ( 306 ,  308 ). 
     
     
         20 . A flexible package ( 400 ) comprising:
 a pair of opposite panels ( 405 ,  406 );   at least one pair of side gussets ( 407 ,  409 ) configured to attach the two panels ( 405 ,  406 ) to form a receptacle having at least three closed sides;   a reclosable opening ( 402 ) provided on at least one of the panels ( 405 ,  406 ) of the flexible package ( 400 ) and configured to provide access to contents of the flexible package ( 400 ); and   a rigid lockable closure ( 404 ) configured to cover the reclosable opening ( 402 ).   
     
     
         21 . The flexible package ( 400 ) as claimed in  claim 20 , wherein the rigid lockable closure ( 404 ) includes a base frame ( 408 ) attached to an outer surface of the flexible package ( 400 ), the base frame ( 408 ) is configured to define an outline of the reclosable opening ( 402 ) to provide access to the contents of the flexible package ( 400 ). 
     
     
         22 . The flexible package ( 400 ) as claimed in  claim 21 , wherein the rigid lockable closure ( 404 ) includes a lockable cover ( 410 ) and a lockable portion ( 412 ) attached to a closure patch ( 414 ) configured to cover the base frame ( 408 ) of the rigid lockable closure ( 404 ) and the reclosable opening ( 402 ). 
     
     
         23 . The flexible package ( 400 ) as claimed in  claim 20 , wherein the rigid lockable closure ( 404 ) is made from at least one polymer, or a combination of polymers, or a wooden material, or a metal. 
     
     
         24 . The flexible package ( 400 ) as claimed in  claim 22 , wherein the lockable portion ( 412 ) is configured to snap lock within the base frame ( 408 ) to reclose the reclosable opening ( 402 ). 
     
     
         25 . The flexible package ( 400 ) as claimed in  claim 22 , wherein the lockable cover ( 410 ) along with the lockable portion ( 412 ) is attached to the closure patch ( 414 ) by using a permanent adhesive. 
     
     
         26 . The flexible package ( 400 ) as claimed in  claim 22 , wherein the lockable portion ( 412 ) and the lockable cover ( 410 ) are attached to each other by using a permanent adhesive. 
     
     
         27 . The flexible package ( 400 ) as claimed in  claim 22 , wherein the closure patch ( 414 ) includes a pull tab ( 416 ) for pulling the closure patch ( 414 ).