Tear-Open, Reclosable Package

Abstract

A tamper-evident package utilizes a transparent resealable adhesive structure such as a tape or a label to cover the closure opening. Upon a first opening of the package frangible portions of the package front between adjacent disconnected arcuate cuts are torn. This results in a package which is visually tamper-evident after a first opening. A series of disconnected arcuate cuts comprising an apex and two free ends are arranged in laterally extending opposing top and bottom rows. In one case the cuts have portions of their distal free ends which overlap vertically and are parallel and aligned with the longitudinal axis of the package. The cuts are preferably centered laterally and are flanked on the right and left sides by two continuous wavy slits. One row of the cuts can comprise cup shaped cuts with a flat linear portion of each cut lying along its apex.

1 . A package, comprising;
 a package having a front, a back, and top and bottom edges defining upward and downward longitudinal directions, said package also having opposing left and right side edges defining a lateral direction; and   a tear-open closure having open and closed positions located along a lateral closure axis for providing access to contents within the package through an opening, said closure comprising two laterally extending longitudinally spaced top and bottom rows of individual disconnected arcuate cuts, each cut defining a continuous arc with an apex and two free ends.   
     
     
         2 . The package of  claim 1  wherein a facing direction of each of said cuts is defined by the pointing direction of its apex and wherein the cuts of one row all face in one vertical direction opposite the facing direction of all the cuts of the other row, said rows being laterally staggered thereby defining a series of laterally extending alternating upward pointing and then downward pointing disconnected cuts. 
     
     
         3 . The package of  claim 2  wherein the ends of laterally adjacent cuts overlap. 
     
     
         4 . The package of  claim 2  wherein the ends of the cuts intercept the lateral closure axis. 
     
     
         5 . The package of  claim 1  wherein the closure is covered by a resealable transparent adhesive structure that holds the closure in the closed position. 
     
     
         6 . The package of  claim 1  having manually frangible portions of the package front located between adjacent cuts which rupture when the package is first opened. 
     
     
         7 . The package of  claim 4  wherein a prior opening of the package closure is evident after it is closed and resealed by the adhesive structure. 
     
     
         8 . The package of  claim 6  wherein the series of cuts are centered between opposite sides of the package. 
     
     
         9 . The package of  claim 7  wherein a central longitudinally extending tab portion of the adhesive structure is adhesively deadened to facilitate its manual grasping by a user. 
     
     
         10 . The package of  claim 1  wherein the closure further includes wavy slits through the package front on either lateral side of the series of arcuate cuts. 
     
     
         11 . The package of  claim 9  wherein the adhesive structure is located across the package front, wraps around the sides of the package, and is adhered to a back side. 
     
     
         12 . The package of  claim 10  further having graphics printed on the package front in the area of the series of arcuate cuts to enhance the visual evidence of a prior closure opening. 
     
     
         13 . The package of  claim 1  wherein the bottom row of disconnected cuts is cup shaped, each cut having a flat linear portion lying along its apex. 
     
     
         14 . The package of  claim 12  wherein the free ends of the top row of disconnected cuts extends vertically below the free ends of the bottom row of disconnected cuts. 
     
     
         15 . The package of  claim 14  wherein the portions of the free ends of the top row of disconnected cuts are parallel to portions of the free ends of the bottom row of disconnected cuts. 
     
     
         16 . The package of  claim 15  wherein the two side-most ends of adjacent top row cuts are not free but bridged by interconnecting horizontal sections. 
     
     
         17 . The package of  claim 16  wherein the horizontal sections are substantially in line with the flat linear portions of the cup shaped cuts of the bottom row of disconnected cuts. 
     
     
         18 . The package of  claim 5  wherein the adhesive structure is either a tape or a label comprised of:
 a. a polymeric backing; and 
 b. a pressure sensitive adhesive on either side of the polymeric backing. 
 
     
     
         19 . The package of  claim 18  wherein the adhesive structure is adapted to function equally well with either moist or dry package contents. 
     
     
         20 . A package, comprising:
 a tear-open closure having open and closed positions for providing access to contents within the package through an opening, said closure comprising two laterally extending longitudinally spaced top and bottom rows of individual disconnected arcuate cuts, each cut defining a continuous arc with an apex and two free ends, wherein one of the rows of disconnected cuts comprises cup shaped cuts each with a flat linear portion lying along its apex.