Reclosable stand-up package and method of manufacturing same

Abstract

A method of manufacturing is provided for a reclosable, free standing package adapted to be self-supporting in an upright position when resting on a horizontal support surface. The method includes the steps of providing a bottom panel in the form of a stand-up web having a planar base and a pair of legs depending from opposite sides of the base; inserting the stand-up web between a first film panel and a second film panel; and creating spaced apart bottom edges of the package by sealing a lower end of the first film panel to one of the legs, and a lower end of the second film panel to the other of the legs such that an entire surface of the base lies substantially parallel to a plane containing the bottom edges.

1 . A method of manufacturing a reclosable, free standing package adapted to be self-supporting in an upright position when resting on a horizontal support surface, the method comprising the steps of: 
 a) providing a bottom panel in the form of a stand-up web having a planar base and a pair of legs depending from opposite ends of the base;    b) inserting the stand-up web between a first film panel and a second film panel; and    c) creating spaced apart bottom edges of the package by sealing a lower end of the first film panel to one of the legs, and a lower end of the second film panel to the other of the legs such that an entire surface of the base lies substantially parallel to a plane containing the bottom edges.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of sealing the first and second film panels to the legs includes only horizontal sealing.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , including the step of creating side seams by providing seals across the first film panel and the second film panel.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , including the steps of 
 a) providing a combined zipper closure and slider device between the first film panel and the second film panel; and    b) sealing a first closure profile of the zipper closure to the first film panel and sealing a second closure profile of the zipper closure to the second film panel.    
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein prior to the step of providing a combined zipper closure and slider device between the first film panel and the second film panel, the method comprises the step of: 
 a) slitting a film web to provide the first film panel and the second film panel.    
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of providing a stand-up web includes unwinding and folding a film.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 4 , including the step of providing a tamper-evident header over the slider device to indicate whether access has been gained to the slider device.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 4 , including the step of providing a tamper-evident membrane between the first closure profile and the second closure profile.  
     
     
         9 . A reclosable free standing package made by the method according to  claim 1 .  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the step of slitting the film web is preceded by the step of passing the film web over a V-board.  
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the step of providing a combined zipper closure and slider device between the first film panel and the second film panel includes the step of feeding the combined zipper closure and slider device through a bottom end of the V-board.  
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the step of providing a combined zipper closure and slider device between the first film panel and the second film panel includes a step of feeding the combined zipper closure and slider device in front of the V-board.  
     
     
         13 - 16 . (canceled)