Oriented, tubular film and heat-shrinkable, peelable bag for vacuum skin packaging

Abstract

A heat-shrinkable bag generally includes a multilayer, coextruded, oriented, tubular film, the film comprising an inner, gas-permeable portion and an outer, substantially gas-impermeable portion peelably adhered to the inner portion at a peel force ranging from about 0.001 to about 2.5 pounds/inch.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A heat-shrinkable bag comprising a multilayer, coextruded, oriented, tubular film, said film comprising an inner, gas-permeable portion and an outer, substantially gas-impermeable portion peelably adhered to said inner portion at a peel force ranging from about 0.001 to about 2.5 pounds/inch. 
     
     
       2. The bag of claim 1, wherein said inner and outer portions of said film define an interface therebetween, each of said inner and outer portions including a layer disposed at said interface, said layers being bonded to and peelably separable from one another when said bag is subjected to said peel force. 
     
     
       3. The bag of claim 2, wherein one of the layers at said interface comprises a polar material and the other layer comprises a non-polar material. 
     
     
       4. The bag of claim 2, wherein one of the layers at said interface comprises polyethylene homopolymer or copolymer and the other layer comprises polypropylene homopolymer or copolymer. 
     
     
       5. The bag of claim 1, wherein said inner and outer portions of said film are peelably adhered at a peel force ranging from about 0.01 to about 0.1 pounds/inch. 
     
     
       6. A package, comprising a product enclosed in a heat-shrunk bag, said bag formed from a multilayer, coextruded, oriented, tubular film, said film comprising an inner, gas-permeable portion and an outer, substantially gas-impermeable portion peelably adhered to said inner portion at a peel force ranging from about 0.001 to about 2.5 pounds/inch. 
     
     
       7. The package of claim 6, wherein said product is selected from the group consisting of fresh meat and fresh poultry. 
     
     
       8. The package of claim 6, wherein said inner and outer portions of said film define an interface therebetween, each of said inner and outer portions including a layer disposed at said interface, said layers being bonded to and peelably separable from one another when said bag is subjected to said peel force. 
     
     
       9. The package of claim 8, wherein one of the layers at said interface comprises a polar material and the other layer comprises a non-polar material. 
     
     
       10. The package of claim 8, wherein one of the layers at said interface comprises polyethylene homopolymer or copolymer and the other layer comprises polypropylene homopolymer or copolymer. 
     
     
       11. The package of claim 6, wherein said inner and outer portions of said film are peelably adhered at a peel force ranging from about 0.01 to about 0.1 pounds/inch. 
     
     
       12. A method for making a package, comprising: a. providing a multilayer, coextruded, oriented, tubular film having two open ends, said film comprising an inner, gas-permeable portion and an outer, substantially gas-impermeable portion peelably adhered to said inner portion at a peel force ranging from about 0.001 to about 2.5 pounds/inch;   b. sealing closed one of the two open ends of said tubular film to thereby form a bag;   c. placing a product into said bag; and   d. sealing closed the other open end of said tubular film to thereby enclose the product within said bag.   
     
     
       13. The method of claim 12, wherein said product is selected from the group consisting of fresh meat and fresh poultry. 
     
     
       14. The method of claim 12, further including, prior to enclosing the product with said bag, the step of at least partially evacuating air from said bag. 
     
     
       15. The method of claim 12, further including the step of heating said bag to thereby cause said bag to heat-shrink about said product. 
     
     
       16. The method of claim 12, further including the step of peelably removing said outer, gas-impermeable portion from said bag. 
     
     
       17. The method of claim 12, wherein said inner and outer portions of said film define an interface therebetween, each of said inner and outer portions including a layer disposed at said interface, said layers being bonded to and peelably separable from one another when said bag is subjected to said peel force. 
     
     
       18. The method of claim 17, wherein one of the layers at said interface comprises a polar material and the other layer comprises a non-polar material. 
     
     
       19. The method of claim 18, wherein one of the layers at said interface comprises polyethylene homopolymer or copolymer and the other layer comprises polypropylene homopolymer or copolymer. 
     
     
       20. The method of claim 12, wherein said inner and outer portions of said film are peelably adhered at a peel force ranging from about 0.01 to about 0.1 pounds/inch.