Pouch Opening Feature and Method for Making the Same

Abstract

A flexible packaging structure has built-in opening features in a laminate with a first structure adhesively joined to a second structure. A tear area is formed by laser ablation of the laminate along a junction between the first and second portions preferably prior to assembling the laminate into the package. Laser ablation begins at the center of the tear area and progressively moves the laser in a direction radially outward from the center of the tear area. During assembly of the package, a seal is formed between end portions of the first and second portions of the laminate. A score line and a sealant reduction area are also introduced to the package to facilitate opening. The package is opened by pulling the seal near the tear area in a direction along the score line until the contents of the package are accessible.

1 . A flexible package having built-in opening features comprising:
 a laminate having a first structure comprising one or more layers of flexible material laminated to a second structure comprising at least a sealant layer, the laminate having a substantially circular tear area in a top seal area of the laminate, the tear area being formed by using a laser beam to penetrate through at least a portion of a thickness of the laminate, wherein the laser beam initially starts acting on the laminate at a center of the tear area, and the laser beam is progressively moved along a path extending around and radially outwardly from the center and finishes by defining an outer perimeter of the tear area;   the laminate, having the tear area, being formed into a tube and opposite longitudinal edge portions of the laminate being joined together, a top end of the tube being closed by sealing the laminate in the top seal area, and a bottom end of the tube being closed by sealing the laminate in a bottom seal area, thus forming a package having a front panel and a rear panel, with a first juncture between the front and rear panels forming a first longitudinal edge of the package and a second juncture between the front and rear panels forming an opposite second longitudinal edge of the package, and with the tear area forming a tear feature at the first longitudinal edge of the package where tearing of the laminate can be initiated to open the package.   
     
     
         2 . The flexible package of  claim 1 , wherein the tear area penetrates completely through the thickness of the laminate forming a hole through the laminate. 
     
     
         3 . The flexible package of  claim 1 , comprising a region of the sealant layer in the top seal area ablated by a laser beam so as to form a sealant reduction area, the sealant reduction area being positioned along a path along which the laminate will be torn during opening of the package. 
     
     
         4 . The flexible package of  claim 3 , further comprising a longitudinal fin seal sealing together an inside fin panel and an outside/visible fin panel, and wherein the sealant layer on a portion of the inside fin panel is laser-ablated, said portion of the inside fin panel being located along said path along which the laminate will be torn during opening of the package. 
     
     
         5 . The flexible package of  claim 1 , further comprising a score line in the laminate adjacent to the tear area. 
     
     
         6 . The flexible package of  claim 5 , wherein the score line is a laser-formed score line.