Flexible package having integrated slit member

Abstract

A flexible package having front, back, and bottom panel portions (preferably gusseted). The front and back panel portions each preferably include longitudinal edges that can be joined together to create respective side seals. Each of the respective side seals can include a slit portion having a slit member. The slit member preferably includes a detachment portion and an anchor portion. The detachment portion of the slit member is detachable from a portion of the side seal to provide a tie or a looped handle for use in tying and/or handling the flexible package. The anchor portion provides support and reinforcement to prevent complete detachment of the slit member.

1 . A flexible package comprising: 
 a plurality of generally flexible panel portions defining an inner cavity capable of holding material contents, the plurality of flexible panels comprising:    a front panel portion having first and second generally parallel longitudinal edge portions;    a back panel portion having first and second generally parallel longitudinal edge portions, the first and second generally parallel longitudinal edge portions of the front and back panel portions being joinable to define the inner cavity; and    at least one slit member being provided to at least a portion of one of the generally parallel longitudinal edge portions, the slit member having an anchor portion and at least one land portion such that a portion of the at least one slit member remains attached to the flexible package at the anchor portion and a portion of the at least one slit member proximate the at least one land portion is detachable from the flexible package.    
   
   
       2 . The flexible package of  claim 1 , further including a bottom panel portion extending between the front and back panel portions.  
   
   
       3 . The flexible package of  claim 2 , wherein the bottom panel portion is gusseted to facilitate generally upright standing of the front and back panel portions.  
   
   
       4 . The flexible package of  claim 1 , further including at least one re-closeable device disposed to at least the front panel portion to provide re-closeable access to the cavity.  
   
   
       5 . The flexible package of  claim 4 , wherein the re-closeable device is a re-closeable zipper device.  
   
   
       6 . The flexible package of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one land is a perforated region in the flexible package.  
   
   
       7 . The flexible package of  claim 1 , wherein the generally parallel longitudinal edges portions are joinable to define at least one side seal, the at least one slit member being partially provided with the at least one side seal.  
   
   
       8 . The flexible package of  claim 4 , wherein at least one of the anchor portions is shaped to facilitate reinforcement of the slit member with the at least one of the longitudinal edge portions.  
   
   
       9 . The flexible package of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one slit member includes at least one aperture extending therethrough to facilitate handling of the flexible package.  
   
   
       10 . The flexible package of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one slit member is provided along at least a portion of the longitudinal edge portions and a bottom edge portion of at least one of the front and back panel portions to form a generally looped handle portion.  
   
   
       11 . The flexible package of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one slit member is provided on at least a portion of the longitudinal edge portions and a top edge portion of at least one of the front and back panel portions to form a generally looped handle portion.  
   
   
       12 . A flexible package comprising: 
 at least one web material formable to define an inner cavity capable of holding material contents, wherein the at least one web material comprises:    a front panel portion;    a back panel portion, wherein the front and the back panel portions are joined together to define at least two generally parallel longitudinal side seals, wherein at least the front panel portion has an access opening to facilitate access to the cavity; and    at least one slit portion being formed along at least a portion of one of the side seals to provide at least one slit member, the slit member having an anchor portion and at least one land portion such that a portion of the at least one slit member remains attached to the flexible package at the anchor portion and a portion of the at least one slit member proximate the at least one land portion is detachable from the flexible package.    
   
   
       13 . The flexible package of  claim 12 , further including a bottom panel portion extending between the front and back panel portions.  
   
   
       14 . The flexible package of claim,  13 , wherein the bottom panel portion is gusseted to facilitate generally upright standing of the front and back panel portions.  
   
   
       15 . The flexible package of  claim 13 , wherein the bottom panel portion and at least one of the front and back panel portions form a bottom edge portion, wherein the at least one slit member is provided with the at least two side seals and the bottom seal to define a looped handle portion.  
   
   
       16 . The flexible package of  claim 12 , further including at least one re-closeable device disposed about the access opening to provide re-closeable access to the cavity.  
   
   
       17 . The flexible package of  claim 16 , wherein the re-closeable device is a re-closeable zipper device.  
   
   
       18 . The flexible package of  claim 12 , wherein the at least one land is a perforated region in the flexible package.  
   
   
       19 . The flexible package of  claim 12 , wherein the at least one land is one member in communication with the at least one slit member and at least one of the side seals to facilitates detachment of a portion of the at least one slit member from the flexible package.  
   
   
       20 . The flexible package of  claim 12 , wherein the at least one anchor portion is shaped to facilitate reinforcement of the at least one slit member to at least one of the side seals.  
   
   
       21 . The flexible package of  claim 12 , further including a reinforcement member provided with the at least one anchor portion to facilitate reinforcement of the at least one slit member to at least one of the side seals.  
   
   
       22 . The flexible package of  claim 12 , wherein the at least one slit member includes at least one aperture extending therethrough to facilitate handling of the flexible package.  
   
   
       23 . The flexible package of  claim 12 , wherein the at least one slit member is provided on at least a portion of the two side seals and a top edge portion of at least one of the front and back panel portions to form a generally looped handle portion.  
   
   
       24 . The flexible package of  claim 12 , further including at least two generally parallel side panel portions extending between the front and back panel portions.  
   
   
       25 . The flexible package of  claim 24 , wherein the at least two side panel portions are gusseted.  
   
   
       26 . A method of forming a flexible package with at least one integrated slit member member, the method comprising the steps of: 
 providing a roll of flexible front panel web material to a package forming machine, wherein the front panel web material includes at least two generally parallel longitudinal edges, and at least one bottom edge disposed generally transverse to the at least two generally parallel longitudinal edges, wherein the at least two generally parallel longitudinal edges include a sealant surface portion;    providing a roll of flexible back panel web material to a package forming machine, wherein the back panel web material includes at least two generally parallel longitudinal edge portions, and at least one bottom edge portion disposed generally transverse to the at least two generally parallel longitudinal edge portions, wherein the at least two generally parallel longitudinal edge portions include a sealant surface portion;    feeding the flexible front and back panel web material into and through the package forming machine along a machining path into an alignment station of the package forming machine for alignment such that the sealant surface portions of the generally parallel longitudinal edge portions of the front and back panel web material are generally confronting;    joining the at least one bottom edge portion of the front and back panel web material by feeding the front and back panel web material through at least one first seal station of the package forming machine, wherein the joined bottom edge portions defines at least one bottom seal;    joining the generally parallel longitudinal edge portions of the front and back panel web material by feeding the front and back panel web material through at least one side seal station, wherein the joined generally parallel longitudinal edge portions define at least two side seals; and    forming at least one slit member by feeding the front and back panel web material into a die-cut station, wherein the die-cut station perforates at least a portion of at least one of the two side seals to define the at least one slit member member, and wherein at least one anchor portion secures the at least one slit member to at least one of the front and back panels.    
   
   
       27 . The method of  claim 26 , further including the steps of: 
 feeding a roll of flexible bottom back panel web material into the package forming machine;    feeding the bottom panel web material into an aligning station, wherein the bottom panel web material is aligned at an end portion of the front and back panel web material; and    joining the bottom panel web material to the end portions of the front and back panel web material.    
   
   
       28 . The method of  claim 27 , further including the step of gusseting the bottom panel web material.  
   
   
       29 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the step of providing a roll of flexible front panel web material includes providing a roll of flexible front panel web material with a generally integral re-closeable device to facilitate access to an inner cavity of the formed package.  
   
   
       30 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the step of forming at least one slit member includes perforating a portion of the two side seals to define at least two slit members.  
   
   
       31 . The method of  claim 26 , further including the step of joining corresponding top edges of the front and back panel web material to define a top seal and perforating at least a portion of the top seal and at least a portion of the two side seals to define a handle portion having a general loop shape.  
   
   
       32 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the step of forming the at least one slit member further includes the step of forming at least one land region extending between the at least one slit member and the corresponding side seal.  
   
   
       33 . The method of  claim 31 , further including the step of removing at least a portion of the top seal to gain access into an inner cavity of the formed package.  
   
   
       34 . The method of  claim 26 , further including the step of forming an aperture in the at least one slit member to facilitate handling of the formed flexible package.  
   
   
       35 . A flexible package capable of holding material contents, the flexible package comprising: 
 a plurality of flexible web material portions including at least a front panel portion and a back panel portion defining an inner cavity, wherein each of the front and the back panel portions include generally parallel longitudinal edge portions; and    at least one slit member provided along at least a portion of at least one of the generally parallel longitudinal edge portions and a top edge portion of at least one of the front and back panel portion, the at least one slit member defined by at least a portion of a perforated region, wherein the perforated region is removable to define a handle for the flexible package.    
   
   
       36 . The flexible package of  claim 35 , further including a re-closable device being disposed to one of the plurality of web material portions to provide re-closeable access to the inner cavity.