Recloseable Flexible Packages

Abstract

Recloseable flexible packages are provided including a package body formed from a flexible film having a longitudinal seam along a back panel of the package body, a line of weakness extending around a portion of the package body to define a removable portion of the package body, and a flexible sealing label disposed over and extending beyond the removable potion of the package body. The tine of weakness extends substantially around the package body from the back panel between the longitudinal seam and a first longitudinal side and around to the back panel where it terminates between the second longitudinal side and the longitudinal seam. The recloseable flexible package is opened by pulling the flexible sealing label to form a transverse opening in the package body and then reclosed by wrapping the flexible sealing label back around the package body.

1 . A recloseable flexible package for containing a product therein, comprising:
 a package body formed from a flexible film having a longitudinal seam along a back panel of the package body;   a line of weakness extending around a portion of the package body to define a removable portion of the package body, the removable portion beginning on the back panel between the longitudinal seam and a first longitudinal side, extending around the first longitudinal side and across a front panel, and continuing around a second longitudinal side to the back panel where the removable portion terminates between the second longitudinal side and the longitudinal seam; and   a flexible sealing label disposed over and extending beyond the removable portion of the package body, wherein the flexible sealing label and removable portion are permanently adhered to one another such that pulling the flexible sealing label in a peeling direction separates the removable portion from the package body at the line of weakness and forms a transverse opening in the package body, the flexible sealing label further comprising a resealable adhesive extending beyond the removable portion of the package body for forming a resealable closure.   
     
     
         2 . The package of  claim 1 , wherein the longitudinal seam comprises a longitudinal fin seal. 
     
     
         3 . The package of  claim 1 , further comprising two transverse sealed seams at opposing ends of the package body. 
     
     
         4 . The package of  claim 3 , wherein the transverse sealed seams and longitudinal seam are heat sealed or cold sealed. 
     
     
         5 . The package of  claim 3 , wherein the transverse sealed seams are crimp sealed. 
     
     
         6 . The package of  claim 1 , wherein the line of weakness is selected from the group consisting of a die cut, a mechanical score line, a laser score line, and a perforated line. 
     
     
         7 . The package of  claim 1 , wherein the resealable adhesive is a cold seal adhesive. 
     
     
         8 . The package of  claim 1 , wherein the resealable adhesive is a pressure sensitive adhesive. 
     
     
         9 . The package of  claim 1 , wherein the product is a generally block-shaped product. 
     
     
         10 . The package of  claim 1 , wherein the product is a food product. 
     
     
         11 . The package of  claim 10 , wherein the food product is selected from the group consisting of confectionary products, cheese and dairy products, biscuits and crackers, tea, coffee, pet food, nut snacks, and shelf stable products. 
     
     
         12 . The package of  claim 10 , wherein the food product is a confectionary product. 
     
     
         13 . The package of  claim 12 , wherein the confectionary product is a chocolate bar. 
     
     
         14 . The package of  claim 1 , wherein the flexible sealing label includes a tab for grasping the flexible sealing label. 
     
     
         15 . The package of  claim 1 , wherein the package is a flow-wrap film package. 
     
     
         16 . The package of  claim 1 , further comprising a tamper evident means. 
     
     
         17 . The package of  claim 16 , wherein the tamper-evident means is disposed in the flexible sealing label extending beyond the removable portion of the package body. 
     
     
         18 . The package of  claim 16 , wherein the tamper-evident means is disposed in the package body in an area outside the removable portion of the package body that is in contact with the resealable adhesive of the flexible sealing label before the package is initially opened. 
     
     
         19 . The package of  claim 1 , wherein the package is configured to be reclosed after forming the transverse opening by folding an end of the package body towards the front panel, wrapping the flexible sealing label and removable portion of the package body around the package body, and securing the flexible sealing label to the package body with the resealable adhesive. 
     
     
         20 . A method of preparing a recloseable flexible package, the method comprising:
 providing a flexible film having a flexible sealing label applied over a line of weakness defining a removable portion in the flexible film;   folding the flexible film about a product and forming a longitudinal seam by joining opposite longitudinal edges of the flexible film; and   forming two transverse sealed seams;   wherein during the process the flexible film is positioned as it is folded about the product so that the flexible sealing label applied over the removable portion begins on a back panel between the longitudinal seam and a first longitudinal side, extends around the first longitudinal side and across a front panel, and continues around a second longitudinal side to the back panel where it terminates between the second longitudinal side and the longitudinal seam.   
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the flexible sealing label and removable portion are permanently adhered to one another such that pulling the flexible sealing label in a peeling direction separates the removable portion from the package at the line of weakness and forms a transverse opening in the package, the flexible sealing label further comprising a resealable adhesive extending beyond the removable portion of the flexible body for forming a resealable closure. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the package is produced using a flow-wrap process, the flexible film being provided as part of a roll of the flexible film having a plurality of flexible sealing labels applied over a plurality of respective lines of weakness spaced along its length, the flexible film being cut to separate the package from the remainder of the flexible film. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the product is a food product. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the food product is selected from the group consisting of confectionary products, cheese and dairy products, biscuits and crackers, tea, coffee, pet food, nut snacks, and shelf stable products. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the food product is a confectionary product. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the confectionary product is a chocolate bar.