Sealed package

Abstract

A sealed package ( 100 ) comprises a storage volume ( 110 ) for contents and at least one sealed region to be opened ( 120 ), the sealed region being bordered on at least one side by an outer edge ( 121 ) of the package and having first and second ends; wherein the sealed region to be opened comprises a first line of weakness ( 123 ) which extends from a first point on the sealed region inward of the first end to a second point on the sealed region inward from the second end; and wherein the sealed region to be opened comprises at least one additional line of weakness ( 125, 126 ).

1 . A sealed package comprising a storage volume for contents and at least one sealed region to be opened, the sealed region being bordered on at least one side by an edge of the package and having first and second ends; wherein the sealed region to be opened comprises a first line of weakness which extends from a first point on the sealed region inward of the first end to a second point on the sealed region inward from the second end; and wherein the sealed region to be opened comprises at least one additional line of weakness. 
     
     
         2 . The sealed package according to  claim 1  wherein the first line of weakness and the at least one additional line of weakness are entirely within the sealed region to be opened. 
     
     
         3 . The sealed package according to  claim 1  wherein the sealed region to be opened comprises a through-hole for hanging the package and wherein the first line of weakness extends across a portion of the sealed region to be opened which is between the through-hole and the storage volume. 
     
     
         4 . The sealed package according to  claim 3  wherein the through-hole is a hanging slot. 
     
     
         5 . The sealed package according to  claim 1 , wherein the first line of weakness and the at least one additional line of weakness are continuous lines. 
     
     
         6 . The sealed package according to  claim 1 , wherein the first line of weakness and the at least one additional line of weakness are discontinuous lines. 
     
     
         7 . The sealed package according to  claim 1 , wherein the first line of weakness and the at least one additional line of weakness comprise continuous and discontinuous lines. 
     
     
         8 . The sealed package according to  claim 1  wherein the first line of weakness extends from a first point on the outer edge of the sealed region to be opened to a second point on the outer edge of the sealed region to be opened. 
     
     
         9 . The sealed package according to  claim 1  wherein the first line of weakness is curved towards the inside edge of the sealed region to be opened. 
     
     
         10 . The sealed package according to  claim 1  wherein the first line of weakness is an arc. 
     
     
         11 . The sealed package according to  claim 1  wherein the first line of weakness is generally U-shaped. 
     
     
         12 . The sealed package according to  claim 1  wherein the first line of weakness is generally V-shaped. 
     
     
         13 . The sealed package according to  claim 1  wherein the at least one additional line of weakness has substantially the same shape and orientation on the sealed region to be opened as the first line of weakness and is spaced from the first line of weakness towards the inside edge of the sealed region to be opened. 
     
     
         14 . The sealed package according to  claim 1  wherein the at least one additional line of weakness intersects the first line of weakness. 
     
     
         15 . The sealed package according to  claim 1  wherein the at least one additional line of weakness has a shorter length than the first line of weakness. 
     
     
         16 . A method of packaging an article, the method comprising the steps of:
 (1) providing film of wrapping material;   (2) forming the film of wrapping material into a package able to receive the article, by forming at least one sealed region, the sealed region providing an edge of the package and having first and second ends;   (3) introducing the article into the package;   (4) sealing the package by forming at least one sealed region, the sealed region providing an edge of the package and having first and second ends;   (5) forming in at least one of the sealed regions a first line of weakness which extends from a first point on the sealed region inward of the first end to a second point on the sealed region inward of the second end; and forming at least one additional line of weakness; and   (6) optionally forming a through-hole in the sealed region to be opened.   
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 16  wherein steps (2) and (3) involve forming film of wrapping material into a package around the article. 
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 17  wherein the article or articles are placed in the storage volume through the opening. 
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 16  wherein the lines of weakness are formed in the sealed region which is formed in step (4), during step (4). 
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 16  wherein the film of wrapping material is provided as a continuous sheet of wrapping material. 
     
     
         21 . The method according to  claim 20  wherein step (5) or optional step (6) when carried out is followed by a step (7) of cutting the wrapping material to separate the package from a continuous sheet of wrapping material. 
     
     
         22 . The method according to  claim 16  wherein the method is carried out on a horizontal form fill and seal apparatus. 
     
     
         23 . The method according to  claim 16  wherein the method is carried out on a vertical form fill and seal apparatus. 
     
     
         24 . A method of opening the sealed package according to  claim 1 , the method comprising the steps of:
 (1) gripping two opposite portions of wrapping material which form walls of the storage volume and which are laminated together at the sealed region to be opened;   (2) pulling the portions of wrapping material apart with sufficient force to initiate delamination of the sealed region to be opened; and   (3) continuing to apply sufficient force to progressively delaminate the sealed region to be opened and to tear the wrapping material along one or more of the lines of weakness until the sealed package has been opened.   
     
     
         25 . A horizontal form fill and seal apparatus for forming and filling a the package according to  claim 1  and for carrying out the method according to  claim 16 . 
     
     
         26 . A vertical form fill and seal apparatus for forming and filling the package according to  claim 1  and for carrying out the method according to  claim 16 .