Films for envelopment of packages and methods of making thereof

Abstract

Films for enveloping packages include tear-tapes that define tear-away strips of the films. The tear-tapes help to maintain the shape of the tear-away strips when removed from the films.

1 . A method of enveloping packages in films, comprising: 
 providing packages;    providing a plurality of individual film sections, the film sections comprising: 
 a first tear-tape extending along a length of the film; and  
 a second tear-tape extending along a length of the film, wherein the first tear-tape is spaced from the second tear-tape; and  
   wrapping the individual film sections around the packages.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second tear-tapes are spaced at least ½ inch apart.  
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein wrapping the film sections comprises: 
 forming a plurality of heat seals from the film sections.    
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein providing a plurality of individual film sections comprises: 
 providing a bobbin of film material; and    separating the film material from the bobbin into the individual sections.    
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein providing a plurality of individual film sections comprises: 
 providing a hopper of the individual film sections.    
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1 , comprising: 
 forming perforations in the individual film sections at a location between the tear-tapes.    
   
   
       7 . A roll of stock material for forming films for enveloping packages, the roll of stock material comprising: 
 a continuous strip of film material;    a first tear-tape strip extending along a length of the film material; and    a second tear-tape strip extending along a length of the film material, wherein the first tear-tape strip is spaced from the second tear-tape strip.    
   
   
       8 . The roll of stock material of  claim 7 , wherein the first and second tear-tapes are spaced at least ½ inch apart.  
   
   
       9 . In combination, a package enveloped within a film, the film comprising: 
 a first tear-tape extending along a length of the film and at least partially around the package; and    a second tear-tape extending along a length of the film and at least partially around the package, wherein the first tear-tape is spaced from the second tear-tape.    
   
   
       10 . The combination of  claim 9 , wherein: 
 the package has a base portion and a lid; and    the first and second tear-tapes extend around the base portion along a width of the package.    
   
   
       11 . The combination of  claim 9 , wherein the first and second tear-tapes are spaced at least ½ inch apart.  
   
   
       12 . The combination of  claim 9 , wherein a tear-tab extends from the film at an edge of the package.  
   
   
       13 . A method of enveloping packages in films, comprising: 
 providing packages, wherein the packages are substantially paralellepipedal and have a base and a lid;    providing a plurality of individual film sections, the film sections each comprising a tear tape extending along a portion of the film;    wrapping the film sections around the packages, wherein when a film is wrapped around a package, a long dimension of the tear-tape extends along a height of the package.    
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the long dimension of the tear-tapes is at least ½ inch long.  
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein wrapping the film sections comprises: 
 forming a plurality of heat seals from the film sections.    
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein providing a plurality of individual film sections comprises: 
 providing a bobbin of film material; and    separating the film material from the bobbin into the individual film sections.    
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein providing a plurality of individual film sections comprises: 
 providing a hopper of the individual film sections.    
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 13 , comprising: 
 forming perforations in the individual film sections.    
   
   
       19 . A roll of stock material for forming films for enveloping packages, the roll of stock material comprising: 
 a continuous strip of film material;    a plurality of tear-tapes spaced at a predetermined spacing along the length of the film, a long dimension of the tear-tapes being aligned substantially transversely to a length dimension of the continuous strip of film material.    
   
   
       20 . The roll of stock material of  claim 19 , wherein the long dimension of the tear-tapes is at least ½ inch long.  
   
   
       21 . In combination, a package having a base and a lid enveloped within a film, the film comprising: 
 a tear-tape having a long dimension extending along the film material and along a vertical extent of the package.    
   
   
       22 . The combination of  claim 21 , wherein: 
 the tear-tape is at least ½ inch long; and    the tear-tape extends along the base portion.    
   
   
       23 . The combination of  claim 21 , wherein the film comprises: 
 a tear-tab extending from the film at an edge of the package.    
   
   
       24 . A method of enveloping packages in films, comprising: 
 providing packages;    providing a plurality of individual film sections, the film sections comprising: 
 a tear-tape extending along the film, the tear-tape being at least ½ inch wide; and  
   wrapping the individual film sections around the packages.    
   
   
       25 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein wrapping the film sections comprises: 
 forming a plurality of heat seals from the film sections.    
   
   
       26 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein providing a plurality of individual film sections comprises: 
 providing a bobbin of film material; and    separating the film material from the bobbin into the individual film sections.    
   
   
       27 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein providing a plurality of individual film sections comprises: 
 providing a hopper of the individual film sections.    
   
   
       28 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein each tear-tape extends at least partially around a corresponding package when wrapped around the package, and wherein a width dimension of each tear-tape extends along a height of the corresponding package.  
   
   
       29 . The method of  claim 24 , comprising: 
 forming perforations in the individual film sections.    
   
   
       30 . A roll of stock material for forming films for enveloping packages, the roll of stock material comprising: 
 a continuous strip of film material;    a strip of tear-tape material extending along a long dimension of the strip of film material, the strip of tear-tape material being at least ½ inch wide.    
   
   
       31 . The roll of stock material of  claim 30 , wherein the strip of tear-tape material is at least ¾ inch wide.  
   
   
       32 . In combination, a package having a base and a lid enveloped within a film, the film comprising: 
 a tear-tape, the tear-tape being at least ½ inch wide and extending at least partially around the package.    
   
   
       33 . The combination of  claim 30 , wherein: 
 a width dimension of the tear-tape extends along a height of the package.    
   
   
       34 . The combination of  claim 30 , wherein the tear-tape is at least ¾ inch wide.