Easy-open flexible package

Abstract

An easy open package is provided including a package body formed from a flexible film having a pair of transverse end seals and a longitudinal seal generally therebetween. The longitudinal seal includes a sealed region between a first longitudinal edge portion of the flexible film sealed to a second longitudinal edge portion of the flexible film. A tear strip and pull tab formed in the package body are configured such that initiation of a tear by pulling the pull tab in one direction causes controlled tearing of the flexible film along the line of weakness defining the tear strip. Flexible films and methods for fabrication of the flexible films and packages also are provided.

We claim: 
     
         1 . An easy open package comprising:
 a package body formed of a flexible film having a pair of transverse end seals and a longitudinal seal generally therebetween, the longitudinal seal comprising a sealed region between a first longitudinal edge portion of the flexible film sealed to a second longitudinal edge portion of the flexible film;   a tear strip defined by a line of weakness disposed partially through the flexible film; and   a pull tab positioned in the longitudinal seal and defined by a cut through both the first longitudinal edge portion and second longitudinal edge portion of the flexible film in the longitudinal seal, wherein the cut is positioned within the sealed region and interior to a terminal edge of the longitudinal seal,   wherein the line of weakness defining the tear strip comprises one or more lines extending about the package body, the line of weakness extending from proximate the pull tab and the longitudinal seal and about at least a portion of the package body,   wherein the pull tab and tear strip are configured such that initiation of a tear by pulling the pull tab in one direction causes controlled tearing of the flexible film along the line of weakness defining the tear strip.   
     
     
         2 . The package of  claim 1 , wherein the line of weakness extends from an initiating line of weakness and about the at least a portion of the package body, wherein the pull tab, initiating line of weakness, and tear strip are configured such that initiation of the tear by pulling the pull tab in the one direction causes controlled tearing of the flexible film from the initiating line of weakness along the line of weakness defining the tear strip. 
     
     
         3 . The package of  claim 1 , wherein one or more of the pair of transverse end seals and longitudinal seal comprise a heat seal. 
     
     
         4 . The package of  claim 1 , wherein one or more of the pair of transverse end seals and longitudinal seal comprise a cold seal. 
     
     
         5 . The package of  claim 1 , wherein the longitudinal seal lies in a direction opposite the one direction for pulling the pull tab. 
     
     
         6 . The package of  claim 1 , wherein the flexible film comprises at least two layers comprising an outer layer and an inner layer. 
     
     
         7 . The package of  claim 6 , wherein the line of weakness extends at least partially through the outer layer. 
     
     
         8 . The package of  claim 6 , wherein the line of weakness extends at least partially through the inner layer. 
     
     
         9 . The package of  claim 6 , wherein the line of weakness extends at least partially and only through the outer layer. 
     
     
         10 . The package of  claim 1 , wherein the line of weakness extends only partially through the flexible film. 
     
     
         11 . The package of  claim 1 , wherein the tear strip is continuous with the tab. 
     
     
         12 . The package of  claim 6 , wherein the flexible film further comprises a print layer and a permanent adhesive disposed between the outer layer and the inner layer. 
     
     
         13 . The package of  claim 12 , wherein the print layer includes a graphic providing instructions for opening the package. 
     
     
         14 . The package of  claim 1 , wherein the line of weakness comprises two substantially parallel lines of weakness. 
     
     
         15 . The package of  claim 14 , wherein the two substantially parallel lines are spaced apart by a distance of from about ⅛ inch to about 2 inches. 
     
     
         16 . The package of  claim 14 , wherein the two substantially parallel lines are spaced apart by a distance of from about ¼ inch to about 1 inch. 
     
     
         17 . The package of  claim 14 , wherein the two substantially parallel lines are spaced apart by a distance of from about ¼ inch to about ½ inch. 
     
     
         18 . The package of  claim 14 , wherein the cut extends from one of the two substantially parallel lines of weakness to another of the two substantially parallel lines of weakness. 
     
     
         19 . The package of  claim 14 , wherein the pull tab is positioned from about 1/10 inch to about ½ inch from the terminal edge of the longitudinal seal. 
     
     
         20 . The package of  claim 1 , wherein the pull tab is positioned from about ⅛ inch to about ¼ inch from the terminal edge of the longitudinal seal. 
     
     
         21 . The package of  claim 1 , wherein the pull tab comprises a curved shape. 
     
     
         22 . The package of  claim 1 , wherein the pull tab comprises an angular shape. 
     
     
         23 . The package of  claim 22 , wherein the angular shape comprises a trapezoid. 
     
     
         24 . The package of  claim 1 , wherein the line of weakness extends from proximate one of the first and second longitudinal edge portions about the at least a portion of the package body without substantially extending into another of the first and second longitudinal edge portions. 
     
     
         25 . The package of  claim 1  wherein the package defines a storage space and further comprises a seal between the tab and the storage space. 
     
     
         26 . The package of  claim 1  wherein the one or more lines of weakness and the cut are laser scored. 
     
     
         27 . The package of  claim 1  wherein the longitudinal seal further comprises an un-adhered exterior margin. 
     
     
         28 . The package of  claim 1  wherein the tear strip extends about the package closer to one of the pair of transverse seals than to another of the transverse seals. 
     
     
         29 . A flexible film for forming an easy open package, the flexible film comprising:
 a pair of transverse end seal areas;   a pair of longitudinal edge portions generally between the transverse end seal areas;   a storage area extending generally between the transverse end seal areas and generally between the pair of longitudinal edge portions;   a tear strip defined by a line of weakness disposed partially through the flexible film, the line of weakness defining the tear strip comprises one or more lines extending at least partially along the storage area; and   a first cut through one of the pair of longitudinal edge seal areas and a second cut through another of the pair of longitudinal edge areas,   wherein the pair of transverse end seal areas, the pair of longitudinal edge seal areas, the storage area, the tear strip and the first and second cuts are configured such that the flexible film can be folded to form a package by adhering the pair of transverse end seal areas to themselves to form a pair of transverse end seals, adhering the pair of longitudinal edge portions to one another to form a longitudinal seal including a sealed region between the longitudinal edge portions, and aligning the first and second cuts to define a pull tab positioned in the longitudinal seal and positioned within the longitudinal seal and interior to a terminal edge of the longitudinal seal,   wherein, when the package is formed, the line of weakness extends from proximate the pull tab and the longitudinal seal and about at least a portion of the package body, and   wherein the pull tab and tear strip are configured such that, when the package is formed, initiation of a tear by pulling the pull tab in one direction causes controlled tearing of the flexible film along the line of weakness defining the tear strip.   
     
     
         30 . A roll of the flexible film of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         31 . An easy open package comprising:
 a package body formed of a flexible film having a pair of transverse end seals and a longitudinal seal generally therebetween, the longitudinal seal comprising a sealed region between a first longitudinal edge portion of the flexible film sealed to a second longitudinal edge portion of the flexible film;   a tear strip defined by a line of weakness disposed partially through the flexible film; and   a pull tab positioned in the longitudinal seal and defined by a cut through the first longitudinal edge portion of the flexible film in the longitudinal lap seal, wherein the cut is positioned within the sealed region and interior to a terminal edge of the longitudinal seal,   wherein the line of weakness defining the tear strip comprises one or more lines extending about the package body, the line of weakness extending from proximate the pull tab and the first longitudinal edge portion of the flexible film forming the longitudinal seal,   wherein the pull tab and tear strip are configured such that initiation of a tear by pulling the pull tab in one direction causes controlled tearing of the flexible film along the line of weakness defining the tear strip.   
     
     
         32 . The package of  claim 31 , wherein the line of weakness extends from an initiating line of weakness and about the at least a portion of the package body, the initiating line of weakness being positioned in the second longitudinal edge portion of the flexible film forming the longitudinal lap seal, wherein the pull tab, initiating line of weakness, and tear strip are configured such that initiation of the tear by pulling the pull tab in one direction causes controlled tearing of the flexible film from the initiating line of weakness along the line of weakness defining the tear strip. 
     
     
         33 . The package of  claim 31 , wherein the initiating line of weakness is positioned in the second longitudinal edge portion of the flexible film in an area adjacent to the pull tab in the first longitudinal edge portion. 
     
     
         34 . The package of  claim 31 , wherein one or more of the pair of transverse end seals and longitudinal lap seal comprise a heat seal. 
     
     
         35 . The package of  claim 31 , wherein one or more of the pair of transverse end seals and longitudinal lap seal comprise a cold seal. 
     
     
         36 . The package of  claim 31 , wherein the flexible film comprises at least two layers comprising an outer layer and an inner layer. 
     
     
         37 . The package of  claim 36 , wherein the line of weakness extends at least partially through the outer layer. 
     
     
         38 . The package of  claim 36 , wherein the line of weakness extends at least partially through the inner layer. 
     
     
         39 . The package of  claim 36 , wherein the line of weakness extends at least partially and only through the outer layer. 
     
     
         40 . The package of  claim 31 , wherein the line of weakness extends only partially through the flexible film. 
     
     
         41 . The package of  claim 31 , wherein the tear strip is continuous with the tab. 
     
     
         42 . The package of  claim 36 , wherein the flexible film further comprises a print layer and a permanent adhesive disposed between the outer layer and the inner layer. 
     
     
         43 . The package of  claim 42 , wherein the print layer includes a graphic providing instructions for opening the package. 
     
     
         44 . The package of  claim 31 , wherein the line of weakness comprises two substantially parallel lines of weakness. 
     
     
         45 . The package of  claim 44 , wherein the two substantially parallel lines are spaced apart by a distance of from about ⅛ inch to about 2 inches. 
     
     
         46 . The package of  claim 44 , wherein the two substantially parallel lines are spaced apart by a distance of from about ¼ inch to about 1 inch. 
     
     
         47 . The package of  claim 44 , wherein the two substantially parallel lines are spaced apart by a distance of from about ¼ inch to about ½ inch. 
     
     
         48 . The package of  claim 44 , wherein the cut extends from one of the two substantially parallel lines of weakness to another of the two substantially parallel lines of weakness. 
     
     
         49 . The package of  claim 31 , wherein the pull tab is positioned from about 1/10 inch to about ½ inch from the terminal edge of the first longitudinal edge portion of the longitudinal lap seal. 
     
     
         50 . The package of  claim 31 , wherein the pull tab is positioned from about ⅛ inch to about ¼ inch from the terminal edge of the first longitudinal edge portion of the longitudinal lap seal. 
     
     
         51 . The package of  claim 31 , wherein the pull tab comprises a curved shape. 
     
     
         52 . The package of  claim 31 , wherein the pull tab comprises an angular shape. 
     
     
         53 . The package of  claim 52 , wherein the angular shape comprises a trapezoid. 
     
     
         54 . The package of  claim 31 , wherein the longitudinal lap seal surrounding the cut further comprises an area substantially void of adhesive. 
     
     
         55 . The package of  claim 31 , wherein the line of weakness extends from proximate the first longitudinal edge portion about the at least a portion of the package body without substantially extending into the second longitudinal edge portion. 
     
     
         56 . The package of  claim 31 , wherein the package body, transverse end seals, and longitudinal lap seal define a storage space and the longitudinal lap seal further comprises a sealed portion between the tab and the storage space 
     
     
         57 . The package of  claim 31  wherein the one or more lines of weakness and the cut are laser scored. 
     
     
         58 . The package of  claim 31  wherein the longitudinal seal further comprises an un-adhered exterior margin. 
     
     
         59 . The package of  claim 31  wherein the tear strip extends about the package closer to one of the pair of transverse seals than to another of the transverse seals. 
     
     
         60 . The package of  claim 31  wherein the longitudinal seal is a lap seal. 
     
     
         61 . A flexible film for forming an easy open package, the flexible film comprising:
 a pair of transverse end seal areas;   a pair of longitudinal edge portions generally between the transverse end seal areas;   a storage area extending generally between the transverse end seal areas and generally between the pair of longitudinal edge portions;   a tear strip defined by a line of weakness disposed partially through the flexible film, the line of weakness defining the tear strip comprises one or more lines extending at least partially along the storage area; and   a cut through one of the pair of longitudinal edge portions,   wherein the pair of transverse end seal areas, the pair of longitudinal area portions, the storage area, the tear strip and the first and second cuts are configured such that the flexible film can be folded to form a package by adhering the pair of transverse end seal areas to themselves to form a pair of transverse end seals, adhering the pair of longitudinal edge portions to one another to form a longitudinal seal including a sealed region between the longitudinal edge portions, and aligning the cut to define a pull tab positioned in the longitudinal seal and positioned within the one of the longitudinal edge portions and interior to a terminal edge of the longitudinal seal,   wherein, when the package is formed, the line of weakness extends from proximate the pull tab and the longitudinal seal and about at least a portion of the package body, and   wherein the pull tab and tear strip are configured such that, when the package is formed, initiation of a tear by pulling the pull tab in one direction causes controlled tearing of the flexible film along the line of weakness defining the tear strip.   
     
     
         62 . The flexible film of  claim 61  wherein the longitudinal seal is a lap seal. 
     
     
         63 . A roll of the flexible film of  claim 61 .