Tabbed container seal and method of manufacture

Abstract

An improved container seal including at least one metal-free tab member is provided. The container seal comprises a flexible, metal-free cover sheet and a flexible sealant sheet. The cover sheet comprises at least one layer of a flexible sheet material and includes a body portion that is sized and shaped to at least cover a container finish and has at least one metal-free tab portion extending from the periphery of the body portion. The flexible sealant sheet comprises a thermoplastic sealing surface layer, an inner surface layer and a layer of metal foil. The flexible sealant sheet is of the same size and shape as the body portion of the cover sheet. The inner surface of the sealant sheet and the inner surface of the body portion of the cover sheet are bonded together in opposed, congruent contact with each other. A method of manufacturing the container seal is also provided.

1 . A tabbed container seal comprising:
 (a) a flexible, metal-free cover sheet having an outer surface and an inner surface and comprising at least one layer of a flexible sheet material, the cover sheet including a body portion and at least one metal-free tab portion extending from the periphery of the body portion, the body portion being sized and shaped to at least cover a container finish,; and   (b) a flexible sealant sheet having an inner surface and a sealing surface and comprising a thermoplastic sealing surface layer and a layer of metal foil, the flexible sealant sheet being of the same size and shape as the body portion of the cover sheet;   the inner surface of the sealant sheet and the inner surface of the body portion of the cover sheet being bonded together in opposed, congruent contact with each other.   
     
     
         2 . The container seal of  claim 1  wherein the sealant sheet includes a polymeric barrier layer at the inner surface thereof. 
     
     
         3 . The container seal of  claim 2  wherein the polymeric barrier layer is selected from the group consisting of an oxygen barrier film, a moisture barrier film, a solvent barrier film, and a combination thereof. 
     
     
         4 . The container seal of  claim 1  wherein the layer of metal foil is bonded between the thermoplastic sealing surface layer and a polymeric film. 
     
     
         5 . The container seal of  claim 1  wherein the inner surface of the sealant sheet is the layer of metal foil. 
     
     
         6 . The container seal of  claim 5  further comprising a polymeric barrier layer bonded between the layer of metal foil and the thermoplastic sealing surface layer. 
     
     
         7 . The container seal of  claim 6  wherein the polymeric barrier layer is selected from the group consisting of an oxygen barrier film, a moisture barrier film, a solvent barrier film, and a combination thereof. 
     
     
         8 . The container seal of  claim 1  wherein the cover sheet comprises a polymeric film, a polymeric foam, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         9 . The container seal of  claim 1  wherein the cover sheet is a multilayer laminate and the inner surface thereof comprises a layer of polymeric material. 
     
     
         10 . The container seal of  claim 9  wherein the outer surface of the cover sheet comprises layer of paper or synthetic fabric. 
     
     
         11 . The container seal of  claim 1  wherein the outer surface of the cover sheet comprises a layer of paper or synthetic fabric. 
     
     
         12 . The container seal of  claim 1  wherein the inner surface of the cover sheet is directly bonded to the inner surface of the sealant sheet. 
     
     
         13 . The container seal of  claim 1  wherein the inner surface of the cover sheet is bonded to the inner surface of the sealant sheet by a layer of adhesive. 
     
     
         14 . The container seal of  claim 1  wherein the cover sheet includes two opposed tab members extending from the periphery of the body portion. 
     
     
         15 . A method of manufacturing a tabbed container seal comprising:
 (a) bonding a first moving web of at least one band of a metal-containing sealant sheet material to a second moving web of metal-free cover sheet material to form a moving composite web, the at least one band of metal-containing sealant material being narrower than the second web of metal-free cover sheet material, and positioned relative to the second moving web so as to form a band of metal-containing sealing material comprising the sealant sheet material bonded to the cover sheet material, and at least one metal-free strip of cover sheet material adjacent thereto; and   (b) cutting a tabbed a container seal from the composite web in a manner such that a tab portion of the container seal is formed from the at least one metal-free strip of cover sheet material and the remainder of the container seal is formed from the band of metal-containing sealing material.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the at least one band of sealant sheet material is positioned relative to the second moving web of cover sheet material so as to form a metal-free strip of cover sheet material on both sides of the band of metal-containing sealing material. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16  wherein the tabbed container seal comprises two opposed tabs, each tab being formed from a metal-free strip of cover sheet material on opposite sides of the band of metal-containing sealing material. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the first moving web comprises at least two bands of metal containing sealing sheet material separated from one another a strip of uncovered cover sheet material. 
     
     
         19 . A composite web of container sealing material formed by the process of  claim 15 . 
     
     
         20 . A sealed container comprising:
 (a) a container portion including an access opening and a rim surrounding the access opening; and   (b) a container seal of  claim 1  sized and shaped to fit over the rim of the access opening, a peripheral portion of the sealing surface of the container seal being bound to the rim, and the metal-free tab portion of the container seal being freely graspable for removing the seal from the container.