Package enclosure with fabric-line outer layer

Abstract

A package and a packaging material have a fabric-like appearance and/or texture. The packaging material is a layered structure that comprises an underlayer selected from paper, card stock, polymer films, and the like, and an outer layer including one or more of a woven fabric, a non-woven fabric, and fibers. The underlayer and the outer layer are adjacent and adhere to each other. At least one surface internal or external to the packaging material is printed or treated, or is rendered opaque by pigmentation, or has a pattern or other marking that is visible from outside the package.

1 . A packaging material comprising: 
 (a) an underlayer comprising paper, card stock or a polymer film, wherein the underlayer has an upper surface that is internal to the packaging material and a lower surface that is external to the packaging material; and, adjacent to the upper surface of the underlayer,    (b) an outer layer comprising a woven fabric, a nonwoven fabric, or fibers, wherein the outer layer has an upper surface that is external to the packaging material and a lower surface that is internal to the packaging material;    wherein the underlayer is firmly adhered to the outer layer, and wherein at least one surface internal or external to the packaging material is printed such that the printing is visible when the upper surface of the outer layer is viewed from the exterior of the packaging material.    
     
     
         2 . The packaging material of  claim 1 , wherein the lower surface of the outer layer adjoins the upper surface of the underlayer.  
     
     
         3 . The packaging material of  claim 1 , further comprising an intermediate layer, wherein the intermediate layer has at least an upper surface and a lower surface, and wherein the upper surface of the intermediate layer is adjacent to the outer layer and the lower surface of the intermediate layer is adjacent to the underlayer.  
     
     
         4 . The packaging material of  claim 3 , wherein the intermediate layer is an adhesive layer.  
     
     
         5 . The packaging material of  claim 4 , wherein the underlayer is paper or card stock, wherein a surface of the paper or card stock is printed surface, and wherein the intermediate layer is a single synthetic film adhering by its opposite faces to the underlayer and to the outer layer.  
     
     
         6 . The packaging material of  claim 3 , wherein the intermediate layer is a multilayered structure comprising two or more layers selected independently from the group consisting of one or more tie layers, one or more adhesive layers, one or more barrier layers, and one or more structural polymer layers.  
     
     
         7 . The packaging material of  claim 6 , wherein the one or more adhesive layers are selected from the group consisting of polyurethanes and copolymers of ethylene and at least one comonomer selected from the group consisting of vinyl acetate, alpha olefins containing between 3 and 8 carbon atoms, alkyl acrylates, and carboxylic acids that may optionally be neutralized to form ionomers; the one or more barrier layers are selected from the group consisting of polyethylene vinyl alcohol, liquid crystalline polymers, and polyamides; and the one or more structural polymer layers are selected from the group consisting of polyethylenes, polypropylenes, polystyrenes, and polyamides.  
     
     
         8 . The packaging material of  claim 1 , wherein the outer layer comprises a nonwoven fabric.  
     
     
         9 . The packaging material of  claim 8 , wherein a surface of the outer layer is printed.  
     
     
         10 . The packaging material of  claim 9 , wherein the exterior surface of the outer layer is printed.  
     
     
         11 . The packaging material of  claim 1 , wherein the underlayer comprises a polymer film, and wherein the polymer film comprises a copolymer of ethylene and at least one comonomer selected from the group consisting of vinyl acetate, alpha olefins containing between 3 and 8 carbon atoms, alkyl acrylates, and carboxylic acids that may optionally be neutralized to form ionomers  
     
     
         12 . The packaging material of  claim 11  wherein the outer layer comprises a spunlaced fabric or a fabric made of a combination of spunbonded and meltblown fibers.  
     
     
         13 . A package comprising the packaging material of  claim 1 .  
     
     
         14 . The package of  claim 13  being a box.  
     
     
         15 . The package of  claim 13  being a pouch or bag.  
     
     
         16 . The package of  claim 13  being a polygonal, prismatic, cylindrical, or rectangular overpack.  
     
     
         17 . The package of  claim 13  being a primary package.  
     
     
         18 . The package of  claim 13  being a secondary package.  
     
     
         19 . A method of fabricating the packaging material of  claim 3 , comprising extrusion laminating the outer layer to an adhesive layer and bonding the adhesive layer to the underlayer.  
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19  wherein the underlayer is paper or card stock.  
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 19  wherein the adhesive layer is bonded to the underlayer by heat lamination.  
     
     
         22 . A method of fabricating the packaging material of  claim 3 , comprising laminating the outer layer, the intermediate layer and the underlayer together by co-extrusion.  
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the outer layer comprises a nonwoven fabric.