Packaging

Abstract

A package 10 is disclosed which is adapted to receive and protect goods, such as for example electronic components 16. The package has a body which includes a translucent window 14 formed from a flexible laminated sheet material. A first layer 40 of said laminated sheet material comprises an environmental protection ply 30 including an inorganic oxide (SiO 2 ) deposited onto a first carrier ply and a second layer 42 of said flexible sheet material comprises an electrical protection ply 32 including an electrically conductive material Al deposited onto a second carrier ply. The first and second carrier plies are laminated together in a back-to-back relationship and at least one and preferably both said protection plies 40, 42 has a heat-sealable outer ply 20 laminated thereto. In this manner, a package 10 according to the present invention provides at least a portion thereof comprising a translucent flexible sheet which is adapted for use as a window 14; 140 through which items such as goods or associated labeling can be inspected whilst in the package, e.g. in order to monitor the state of the items and/or to monitor conditions present or past to which items therein have been subjected.

1 . A package adapted to receive and protect goods, such as for example electronic components, said package having a body comprising a flexible laminated sheet material which forms a translucent window, a first layer of said laminated sheet material comprising an environmental protection ply including an inorganic oxide deposited onto a first carrier ply, a second layer of said flexible sheet material comprising an electrical protection ply including an electrically conductive material deposited onto a second carrier ply, said first and second carrier plies being laminated together in a back-to-back relationship and at least one said layer having a heat-sealable outer ply laminated thereto.  
   
   
       2 . A package according to  claim 1  wherein both said layers having a heat-sealable outer ply laminated thereto.  
   
   
       3 . A package according to  claim 1  wherein the a body comprises a front and a back panel, said back panel comprising a metal film laminate and said front panel comprising in at least part a metal film laminate and in another part the flexible laminated sheet material which forms the translucent window.  
   
   
       4 . A package according to  claim 1 , wherein said carrier plies are laminated together using therebetween at least one of an adhesive and a heat-sealable ply.  
   
   
       5 . A package adapted to receive and protect goods, such as for example electronic components, said package having a body which includes a translucent window formed from a flexible laminated sheet material, a layer of said laminated sheet material comprising an environmental protection ply including an inorganic oxide deposited onto a carrier ply and an electrical protection ply including an electrically conductive material deposited onto an opposite side of said carrier ply, at least one and preferably both said protection plies having a heat-sealable outer ply laminated thereto.  
   
   
       6 . A package according to  claim 1 , wherein said electrically conductive material includes a metal, such as aluminum applied for example by at least one of a sputter or vapor deposition technique.  
   
   
       7 . A package according to  claim 1 , wherein said window completely covers an opening defined in said body and is fixed in place by one or more heat seals.  
   
   
       8 . A package according to  claim 7 , wherein the size of said opening is within a predetermined maximum size, said maximum size being limited by the maximum allowable rate at which contamination may pass into said body through said window.  
   
   
       9 . A package according to  claim 1 , wherein said window is positioned substantially on one side of said body.  
   
   
       10 . A package according to  claim 1 , wherein said window extends substantially all the way over at least one side of said package, for example from side-to-side or top-to-bottom.  
   
   
       11 . A package according to  claim 1 , said body being including one or more sheets of flexible metal film laminate, said metal film laminate preferably having at least one side comprising a heat-sealable outer ply.  
   
   
       12 . A package according to  claim 1 , wherein said environmental protection layer includes an organically modified ceramic (ORMOCER) or an organically modified silicate (ORMOSIL).  
   
   
       13 . A method of manufacturing a package adapted to receive and protect goods, such as for example electronic components, the method including: 
 a) providing a body for said package, said body defining an opening and preferably comprising a metal film laminate;    b) providing first and second translucent layers of flexible laminated sheet material, said first layer having an environmental protection ply including an inorganic oxide and said second layer having an electrical protection ply including a conductive material;    c) laminating said first and second layers together to form a window sheet; and    d) sealing said window sheet onto said body across said opening, so as to integrate said window sheet into said body as a window thereof, whereby said window is useable for viewing items inside said package, for example goods or labeling.    
   
   
       14 . A package adapted to receive and protect goods, such as for example electronic components, comprising: 
 a body for said package comprising a front and a back panel, said back panel comprising a metal film laminate and said front panel comprising in at least part a metal film laminate and in another part a flexible laminated sheet material which forms a translucent window, a first layer of said laminated sheet material comprising an environmental protection ply including an inorganic oxide deposited onto a first carrier ply, a second layer of said flexible sheet material comprising an electrical protection ply including an electrically conductive material deposited onto a second carrier ply, said first and second carrier plies being laminated together in a back-to-back relationship and at least one said layer having a heat-sealable outer ply laminated thereto.    
   
   
       15 . A package according to  claim 14 , wherein the front panel is heat sealed to the back panel.  
   
   
       16 . A method of manufacturing a package adapted to receive and protect goods, such as for example electronic components, the method including: 
 a) providing a body for said package comprising a front and a back panel, said back panel comprising a metal film laminate and said front panel comprising in at least part a metal film laminate and in another part a flexible laminated sheet material which forms a translucent window, a first layer of said laminated sheet material comprising an environmental protection ply including an inorganic oxide deposited onto a first carrier ply, a second layer of said flexible sheet material comprising an electrical protection ply including an electrically conductive material deposited onto a second carrier ply, said first and second carrier plies being laminated together in a back-to-back relationship and at least one said layer having a heat-sealable outer ply laminated thereto,    b) heat sealing the front panel to the back panel.    
   
   
       17 . A flexible laminated sheet material suitable for use as a translucent window in a package wherein said sheet material comprises an environmental protection ply including an inorganic oxide deposited onto a first carrier ply and having a heat-sealable ply laminated onto said deposited inorganic oxide, an electrical protection ply including an electrically conductive material deposited onto a second carrier ply and having a heat-sealable ply laminated onto said deposited conductive material, said first and second carrier plies being laminated together in a back-to-back relationship.  
   
   
       18 . A flexible laminated sheet material suitable for use as a translucent window in a package wherein said sheet material comprises an environmental protection ply including an inorganic oxide deposited onto a carrier ply and an electrical protection ply including an electrically conductive material deposited onto said carrier ply, at least one side and preferably both sides of said sheet material comprising a heat-sealable outer ply laminated thereto.  
   
   
       19 . A flexible sheet material according to  claim 17 , wherein said inorganic oxide comprises an oxide of silicon, preferably silicon dioxide (SiO 2 ), and is deposited by for example a vapor deposition technique.  
   
   
       20 . A flexible sheet material according to  claim 17 , wherein said electrically conductive material comprises a metal, said metal comprising for example aluminum and being applied for example by a sputter or vapor deposition technique.  
   
   
       21 . A flexible sheet material according to  claim 17 , wherein the or each said carrier ply comprises a polyethylene terephalate (PET).  
   
   
       22 . A flexible sheet material according to  claim 17 , wherein said environmental protection ply includes an organically modified ceramic (ORMOCER) or an organically modified silicate (ORMOSIL).  
   
   
       23 . A flexible sheet material according to  claim 18 , wherein said inorganic oxide comprises an oxide of silicon, preferably silicon dioxide (SiO 2 ), and is deposited by for example a vapor deposition technique.  
   
   
       24 . A flexible sheet material according to  claim 18 , wherein said electrically conductive material comprises a metal, said metal comprising for example aluminum and being applied for example by a sputter or vapor deposition technique.  
   
   
       25 . A flexible sheet material according to  claim 18 , wherein the or each said carrier ply comprises a polyethylene terephalate (PET).  
   
   
       26 . A flexible sheet material according to  claim 18 , wherein said environmental protection ply includes an organically modified ceramic (ORMOCER) or an organically modified silicate (ORMOSIL).  
   
   
       27 . A package according to  claim 5 , wherein said electrically conductive material includes a metal, such as aluminum applied for example by at least one of a sputter or vapor deposition technique.  
   
   
       28 . A package according to  claim 5 , wherein said window completely covers an opening defined in said body and is fixed in place by one or more heat seals.  
   
   
       29 . A package according to  claim 28 , wherein the size of said opening is within a predetermined maximum, said maximum size being limited by the maximum allowable rate at which contamination may pass into said body through said window.  
   
   
       30 . A package according to  claim 5 , wherein said window is positioned substantially on one side of said body.  
   
   
       31 . A package according to  claim 5 , wherein said window extends substantially all the way over at least one side of said package, for example from side-to-side or top-to-bottom.  
   
   
       32 . A package according to  claim 5 , said body being including one or more sheets of flexible metal film laminate, said metal film laminate preferably having at least one side comprising a heat-sealable outer ply.  
   
   
       33 . A package according to  claim 5 , wherein said environmental protection layer includes an organically modified ceramic (ORMOCER) or an organically modified silicate (ORMOSIL).