Foldover condiment package film

Abstract

Foldover squeeze packages for containing flowable material generally have a first sidewall and a second sidewall that are sealed to each other around their respective perimeters. The second sidewall has an outlet that permits the flowable material to exit the package. A portion or flap of the package is folded over and sealed directly to itself around the outlet. Films for forming such foldover squeeze packages include a first film and a second film. The second film has at least first and second layers, wherein the second layer is adapted for use as an interior surface of a second sidewall a squeeze package and the second layer is adapted to seal to itself without disrupting the seal between the sidewalls of the package.

1 . Films for forming a foldover squeeze package used to contain flowable materials such as condiments, wherein the package has a first sidewall and a second sidewall that are sealed to each other around their respective perimeters, wherein the second sidewall has an outlet that permits the flowable material to exit the package and wherein a portion of the package is folded over so that the second sidewall is sealed to itself around the outlet; the films comprising: 
 a first film for forming a first sidewall of a squeeze package, the first film having at least an inner skin layer providing an inner facing surface adapted for use as an interior surface of a first sidewall of a squeeze package,    a second film for forming a second sidewall of a squeeze package, the second film having at least two layers, including an inner skin layer that is adapted for use as an interior surface of a second sidewall of a squeeze package and an exterior skin layer that is adapted for use as an exterior surface of a second sidewall of a squeeze package, 
 wherein the exterior skin layer contains a heat activated resin,  
 wherein the inner skin layer of the second film is capable of sealing at its surface to the inner skin layer of the first film at a first sealing temperature to form a perimeter of a squeeze package,  
 wherein the exterior skin layer of the second film, when sealed directly to itself, is capable of forming a peelable seal at a second sealing temperature below the first sealing temperature without affecting the integrity of the seal between the first and second sidewalls,  
 wherein the exterior skin layer layer, when sealed to itself at a second temperature, forms a peelable seal that is sufficiently weak to be peeled apart manually and that is sufficiently strong to remain sealed during storage and until ready for use.  
   
     
     
         2 . The films as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the heat activated resin comprises at least one polymer selected from the group consisting of polypropylene, ethylene/alpha olefin, ethylene vinyl acetate, ethylene methylacrylate copolymer, polyethylene, ethylene methyl acrylic acid and blends thereof.  
     
     
         3 . The films as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the heat activated resin comprises ionomer.  
     
     
         4 . The films as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the exterior skin layer of the second film contains a weakening agent.  
     
     
         5 . The films as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein the weakening agent is selected from the group consisting of ionomer blended with polyethylene; ionomer with ethylene vinyl acetate; ionomer blended with ethylene methylacrylate; polypropylene blended with polyethylene; talc; mica; and silica.  
     
     
         6 . The films as claimed in  claim 4  wherein the weakening agent is polybutene.  
     
     
         7 . The films as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the exterior skin layer contains polybutene in amount ranging from about 3% to about 30% by weight of the exterior skin layer.  
     
     
         8 . The films as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the inner skin layer of the first film comprises the same composition as the inner skin layer of the second film.  
     
     
         9 . The film as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the inner skin layer comprise linear low density polyethylene.  
     
     
         10 . The films as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the inner skin layers comprise at least one polymer selected from the group consisting of ionomer, low density polyethylene, linear low density polyethylene, linear medium density polyethylene, metallocene catalyzed polyethylene and copolymer polyester.  
     
     
         11 . The films as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the second sealing temperature is at least about 8° F. below the first sealing temperature.  
     
     
         12 . The films as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the second sealing temperature is at least about 20° F. below the first sealing temperature.  
     
     
         13 . The films as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the second sealing temperature is at least about 30° F. below the first sealing temperature.  
     
     
         14 . The films as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the second sealing temperature is at least about 50° F. below the first sealing temperature.  
     
     
         15 . The films as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the first sealing temperature ranges from about 200° F. to about 280° F. and the second sealing temperature ranges from about 150° F. to about 260° F., wherein the second temperature is at least about 20° F. below the first sealing temperature.  
     
     
         16 . The films as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the inner skin layers comprise linear low density polyethylene and wherein the exterior skin layer comprises a polymer blend selected from the group consisting of: a blend of ethylene vinyl acetate and polybutene; and a blend ethylene vinyl acetate and polybutene.  
     
     
         17 . The films as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the inner skin layers comprise linear low density polyethylene and wherein the exterior skin layer comprises ionomer.  
     
     
         18 . The films as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the inner skin layer comprise linear low density polyethylene and wherein the exterior skin layer comprises a blend of ionomer and polybutene.  
     
     
         19 . The films as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the inner skin layers comprise ionomer and wherein the exterior skin layer comprises a polymer or polymer blend selected from the group consisting of: ionomer; and a blend of ethylene vinyl acetate and metallocene catalyzed polyethylene.  
     
     
         20 . The films as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the inner skin layers comprise a blend metallocene catalyzed polyethylene and polypropylene and the exterior skin layer comprises a blend of EVA, polybutene and polypropylene.  
     
     
         21 . The films as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the inner skin layers comprise a blend of LLDPE and LDPE and the exterior skin comprises layer a blend of ionomer and ethylene vinyl acetate.  
     
     
         22 . The films as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the inner skin layers comprise low density polyethylene and wherein the exterior skin layer comprises a polymer or polymer blend selected from the group consisting of: ionomer and a blend of ethylene vinyl acetate and metallocene catalyzed polyethylene.  
     
     
         23 . The films as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the inner skin layers comprise a blend of linear low density polyethylene and low density polyethylene  
     
     
         24 . The films as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the films further comprise at least one core layer.  
     
     
         25 . The films as claimed in  claim 20 , wherein the core layer comprises a polymer selected from the group consisting of: ethylene vinyl alcohol copolymer; polypropylene homopolymer; polypropylene copolymer; high density polyethylene; medium density polyethylene; polyamide; polyester; polyvinylidene chloride; and liquid crystalline polymer.  
     
     
         26 . The films as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the peelable seal can be pulled apart with the application of force of less than about three pounds per linear inch.  
     
     
         27 . A foldover squeeze package used to contain flowable materials such as condiments, comprising: 
 a first film sidewall with at least one film layer, including an inner skin layer that forms an interior surface of the package,    a second film sidewall with at least two layers, including an inner skin layer that forms an interior surface of the squeeze package and an exterior skin layer that forms an exterior surface of the squeeze package, 
 wherein the inner skin layer of the second film sidewall is capable of sealing at its surface to the inner skin layer of the first film sidewall at a first sealing temperature to form a perimeter of a squeeze package,  
 wherein the exterior skin layer of the second film sidewall contains a heat activated resin and is capable of sealing to itself in a peelable seal at a second sealing temperature below the first sealing temperature without affecting the integrity of the seal between the first and second film sidewalls,  
 wherein the exterior skin layer, when sealed to itself at a second temperature, forms a peelable seal that is sufficiently weak to be peeled apart manually and that is sufficiently strong to remain sealed during storage and until ready for use,  
 wherein the inner skin layers of first and second film sidewalls are adhered to each other along the perimeter of the package, and  
 wherein the second sidewall defines an outlet adapted to permit flowable material to exit the package in a controlled fashion;  
 wherein a flap of the package is folded over and sealed to itself in a peelable seal around the outlet, wherein the peelable seal is located between the exterior skin layer of the second sidewall and itself.  
   
     
     
         28 . The foldover squeeze package as recited in  claim 27 , wherein the outlet comprises a tab defined by a score line that is adapted to be torn away from the second sidewall to open the package when the flap is pulled open.  
     
     
         29 . The foldover squeeze package as recited in  claim 27  wherein the outlet is an opening cut in the second sidewall.  
     
     
         30 . The foldover squeeze package as recited in  claim 27 , wherein the heat activated resin comprises at least one polymer selected from the group consisting of: ionomer; polypropylene; ethylene/alpha olefin; ethylene vinyl acetate; ethylene methylacrylate copolymer; polyethylene; ethylene methyl acrylic acid and blends thereof.  
     
     
         31 . The foldover squeeze package as recited in  claim 27  wherein the exterior skin layer of the second film contains a weakening agent.  
     
     
         32 . The foldover squeeze package as recited in  claim 31 , wherein the weakening agent is selected from the group consisting of ionomer blended with polyethylene; ionomer with ethylene vinyl acetate; ionomer blended with ethylene methylacrylate; polypropylene blended with polyethylene; talc; mica; and silica.  
     
     
         33 . The foldover squeeze package as recited in  claim 31 , wherein the weakening agent is polybutene.  
     
     
         34 . The foldover squeeze package as recited in  claim 27 , wherein the second sealing temperature is at least about 20° F. below the first sealing temperature.  
     
     
         35 . The foldover squeeze package as recited in  claim 27 , wherein the peelable seal can be pulled apart with the application of force of less than about three pounds per linear inch.  
     
     
         36 . The foldover squeeze package as recited in  claim 27 , wherein the inner skin layer the first film sidewall has same composition as the inner skin layer of the second film sidewall.  
     
     
         37 . A method of forming a foldover squeeze package used to contain flowable materials such as condiments, the method comprising: 
 providing a first film with a first surface adapted for use as an interior surface of a first sidewall of a squeeze package,    providing a second film with a first surface adapted for use as an interior surface of a second sidewall of a squeeze package, the second film having at least two layers, wherein the first layer is adapted for use an interior surface of a second sidewall of a squeeze package and the second layer is adapted for use as an exterior surface of a second sidewall of a squeeze package,    forming an outlet in the second film, wherein the outlet is adapted to allow the flowable material to exit the squeeze package,    sealing the first surfaces of the first and second films together to define the perimeter of the package at a first sealing temperature,    forming a peelable seal between opposing portions of the second film around the outlet by folding a flap of the package over the outlet and sealing the flap of the package over the outlet and applying heat at a second sealing temperature below the first temperature,    wherein the peelable seal is sufficiently weak to be peeled apart manually to expose the outlet and is sufficiently strong to remain sealed during storage and until ready for use.    
     
     
         38 . The method as recited in  claim 37 , wherein the second sealing temperature is at least about 20° F. below the first sealing temperature.  
     
     
         39 . The method as recited in  claim 37 , wherein the peelable seal can be pulled apart with the application of force of less than about three pounds per linear inch.