Flow wrap packaging

Abstract

The invention is directed to a sealed packaging ( 1, 100, 110 ) for food products (P), such as confectionery products like candy bars or ice cream bars, preferably having a substantially cuboid form and comprising a flow wrap ( 2 ), wherein the flow wrap ( 2 ) is closed by end seals ( 3, 4 ) at two opposed ends ( 5, 6 ) and a fin seal ( 7 ) extending in a longitudinal direction of the packaging ( 1, 100, 110 ) between the two end seals ( 3, 4 ), wherein the fin seal ( 7 ) is provided at a lateral side ( 8 ) of the packaging ( 1, 100, 110 ), wherein an opening aid ( 9 ) is provided in the fin seal ( 7 ), and wherein the opening aid ( 9 ) extends into a tear-line ( 11 ) which diagonally traverses at least one of a front and rear wall (F, R) of the packaging ( 1, 100, 110 ).

1 . A sealed packaging for food products comprising a flow wrap, the flow wrap is closed by end seals at two opposed ends and a fin seal extending in a longitudinal direction of the packaging between the two end seals;
 the fin seal is provided at a lateral side of the packaging,   wherein an opening aid is provided in the fin seal; and   the opening aid extends into a tear-line which diagonally traverses at least one of a front and rear wall of the packaging.   
     
     
         2 . The packaging according to  claim 1 , comprising at least a further tear-line,
 the additional tear-line extends from a region of the lateral side close to where the previous tear-line ends, and the additional tear-line diagonally traverses at least one of the front and rear wall of the packaging in a direction so that all the tear-lines approach the same end seal, and   the tear-lines are arranged such that they do not cross each other.   
     
     
         3 . The packaging according to  claim 1 , wherein the tear-line diagonally traverses both the front and rear wall of the packaging, and the tear-lines on both sides of the packaging extend in parallel to each other. 
     
     
         4 . The packaging according to  claim 1 , wherein the opening aid is provided in the fin seal so as to be closer to one of the end seals being a first end seal. 
     
     
         5 . The packaging according to  claim 4 , wherein tear-lines diagonally traverse the packaging so as to approach the end seal being opposite to the first end seal. 
     
     
         6 . The packaging according to  claim 1 , wherein tear-lines traversing respectively the front wall and the rear wall of the packaging do not merge at a lateral side of the packaging being opposite to the lateral side having the fin seal thus forming a non-merging portion at a periphery of the packaging being able to hold the packaging together in one piece when the tear-line is used to open the packaging. 
     
     
         7 . The packaging according to  claim 6 , wherein the additional tear-lines traversing respectively the front wall and the rear wall of the packaging merge at the lateral side next to the non-merging portion of the previous tear-line, and do not merge at the opposite lateral side thus forming a further non-merging portion at a periphery of the packaging being able to hold the packaging together in one single piece when the tear-lines are used to open the packaging. 
     
     
         8 . The packaging according to  claim 6 , wherein the non-merging portion extends from the respective lateral side over less than 20% of the total width of the packaging. 
     
     
         9 . The packaging according to  claim 2 , wherein the entirety of the tear-lines forms a zigzag pattern on the front and/or the rear wall of the packaging. 
     
     
         10 . The packaging according to  claim 1 , wherein the transverse axis of the packaging being perpendicular to the lateral side having the fin seal as well as the respective tear-lines enclose an angle of less than 80°. 
     
     
         11 . The packaging according to  claim 1 , wherein a portion of the fin seal extending between the opening aid and one of the end seals is a gripper member designed to initiate opening of the packaging. 
     
     
         12 . The packaging according to  claim 1 , wherein the width of the fin seal is greater than or equal to the thickness of the packaging, such that the fin seal can be folded back to wrap at least the lateral side portion of the packaging having the fin seal. 
     
     
         13 . The packaging according to  claim 1 , wherein the opening aid is a notch. 
     
     
         14 . The packaging according to  claim 1 , wherein the extension of the tear-line into the fin seal forms a first edge of the opening aid, and wherein a second edge of the opening aid extends from the tear-line so as to diverge from the first edge. 
     
     
         15 . The packaging according to  claim 1 , wherein the tear-line is a precut pattern.