Reclosable containers

Abstract

The present invention relates to a re-closable package configured to provide a pouring mouth when the package is opened. The top of the package is sealed by a sealing strip that comprises two seal portions of different widths and a closure extending from one end side of the package up to the wider seal portion is secured to the outer surfaces of the package walls below the narrower seal portion such as to leave an unsealed strip between the closure and the seal.

1 . A re-closable container configured to provide a pouring mouth when the container is opened, the container comprising: 
 a package comprising two opposite walls and a bottom, each of said opposite walls is having an inner surface and an outer surface, the package is having two side ends and a top;    a step-shaped seal strip extending across the top of the package, the seal strip comprising a first seal portion of a first width extending to a first distance below the top of the package and a second seal portion of a second width extending to a second distance below the top of the package, said second distance is larger than said first distance; and    a closure comprising an elongated male unit and an elongated female unit configured to snap fit into each other, the male and female units are secured to the outer surfaces of the two opposite walls, wherein the closure is disposed below the first seal portion substantially parallel thereto so as leave an unsealed strip between the closure and the first seal portion, and wherein the closure extends between one side end of the package and the second seal portion.    
   
   
       2 . The container of  claim 1  wherein the two opposite walls are connected to each other by at least one foldable sidewall interposed therebetween and wherein said closure is disposed across said at least one foldable sidewall when the sidewall is folded inwardly.  
   
   
       3 . The container of  claim 1  wherein the two opposite walls are directly connected to each other at one end side of the package and by a foldable sidewall interposed between the two walls at the opposite end side of the package so as to form an asymmetric one-side gusseted package and wherein said closure is disposed across said foldable sidewall when the sidewall is folded inwardly  
   
   
       4 . The container of  claim 1  wherein the two opposite walls are connected to each other by two opposite foldable sidewalls interposed between the two opposite walls at the two opposite end sides of the package so as to form a symmetric two-side gusseted package and wherein the closure is disposed across one of said at least two foldable sidewall when the sidewall is folded inwardly  
   
   
       5 . The container of  claim 1  wherein the package is a non-gusseted package and wherein one top corner of the package is folded inwardly to form two triangular flaps interposed between the two opposite walls and the closure is disposed across said flaps.  
   
   
       6 . The package of  claim 1  wherein the first seal portion and the second seal portion are separated by a vertical sealing line.  
   
   
       7 . The package of  claim 1  wherein the closure is having a top edge and wherein the distance between the top of package and the top edge of the closure is smaller than said second distance.  
   
   
       8 . The package of  claim 7  further provided with a perforation line extending horizontally across the package at for facilitating tearing off a top portion of the package above the closure.  
   
   
       9 . The package of  claim 1  wherein the package is a flexible package fabricated from a single layer or a multiple layer sheet material.  
   
   
       10 . The package of  claim 1  wherein the closure is fabricated from rigid or semi-rigid material.  
   
   
       11 . The package of  claim 1  wherein the closure is made of plastic material.  
   
   
       12 . The package of  claim 1  wherein the closure is made of a metal, a metal alloy or a non-metal alloy.  
   
   
       13 . The package of  claim 1  wherein the male unit comprises two flat elongated wings and an elongated projection interposed there between and wherein the female unit comprises two flat elongated wings and an elongated recess portion interposed there between, said elongated projection and said elongated recess portion are having complementary profiles for allowing snap fitting said projection into said recess portion  
   
   
       14 . The package of  claim 13  wherein the male unit is secured to the outer surface of one wall of the package by a bonding layer covering at least partly the elongated flat wings of the male unit and wherein the female unit is secured to the outer surface of the other wall of the package by a bonding layer covering at least partly the elongated recess portion of the female member.  
   
   
       15 . The package of  claim 1  wherein the closure is provided with at least one pull tongue member connected to at least one of the male and female units for facilitating opening the closure.  
   
   
       16 . The package of  claim 10  wherein the tongue member is made of flexible material.  
   
   
       17 . The package of  claim 10  wherein the tongue member is made of the same material as the closure.