Self-Venting Adhesive Patch for Microwavable Food Packaging Bags

Abstract

A self-venting adhesive patch and method of manufacture for frozen food product packages is provided. The patch is made from a film material having a permanent adhesive zone applied to a surface of the film material. A releasable adhesive zone adjacent to the permanent adhesive zone is defined on the surface of the film material and is also provided to allow for venting while cooking. A non-adhesive zone within the permanent adhesive zone on the surface of the film covers a vent formed in a microwavable packaging material covered by the self-venting adhesive patch. The non-adhesive zone directs steam pressure towards the releasable adhesive zone. A package formed from the microwavable packaging material vents steam to the self-venting adhesive generated during cooking of contents of the package. The steam expands the non-adhesive zone and vents into the releasable adhesive zone, allowing steam to be vented from the self-venting patch.

1 . A self-venting adhesive patch made from a film material, the self-venting patch comprising:
 a permanent stronger bond adhesive zone applied to a surface of the film material;   a releasable lesser bond adhesive zone adjacent to the permanent adhesive zone on the surface of the film material; and   a non-adhesive zone within the permanent adhesive zone on the surface of the film for covering a vent formed in a microwavable packaging material covered by the self-venting adhesive patch, the non-adhesive zone directing steam pressure towards the releasable adhesive zone;   wherein a package, formed from the microwavable packaging material, vents steam pressure to the self-venting adhesive generated during cooking of contents of the package, the steam pressure expands the non-adhesive zone and vents into the releasable adhesive zone, allowing steam to be vented from the vent, through the releasable lesser bond adhesive zone.   
     
     
         2 . The self-venting adhesive patch of  claim 1  wherein the permanent adhesive is a stronger bond adhesive and the releasable adhesive zone is a lesser bond adhesive. 
     
     
         3 . The self-venting adhesive patch of  claim 1  further comprising a separation zone between the permanent adhesive zone and the releasable adhesive zone. 
     
     
         4 . The self-venting adhesive patch of  claim 3  wherein at least a portion of the separation zone may be formed by the permanent stronger bond adhesive zone. 
     
     
         5 . The self-venting adhesive patch of  claim 1  wherein the non-adhesive zone is formed by application of a second film material over a portion of the permanent adhesive zone. 
     
     
         6 . The self-venting adhesive patch of  claim 1  wherein the adhesives are food grade adhesives or adhesives suitable for indirect food contact. 
     
     
         7 . The self-venting adhesive patch of  claim 1  wherein the vent within the packaging material the perforations are selected from a group comprising: slits, round holes, semicircular cuts, cross shaped cuts, v-shaped cuts, needle punches, and laser perforations. 
     
     
         8 . The self-venting adhesive patch of  claim 1  wherein the adhesive patch is applied to packaging material roll-stock prior to forming a package from the flexible packaging material. 
     
     
         9 . The self-venting adhesive patch of  claim 1  wherein the adhesive patch is applied to a formed package aligned with a perforation in a wall of the formed package. 
     
     
         10 . The self-venting adhesive patch of  claim 1  wherein the releasable adhesive can partially re-seal to the microwavable packaging material when cooled after being heated. 
     
     
         11 . The self-venting adhesive patch of  claim 1  wherein the shape of the non-adhesive zone provides proportionally larger perimeter length with the permanent adhesive zone than a perimeter length of the releasable adhesive zone. 
     
     
         12 . The self-venting adhesive patch of  claim 1  wherein a separation zone is between the permanent adhesive zone and the releasable adhesive zone. 
     
     
         13 . The self-venting adhesive patch of  claim 1  wherein the releasable lesser bond adhesive zone is formed by a plurality of sub-zones. 
     
     
         14 . The self-venting adhesive patch of  claim 11  wherein the vent is formed by a semi-circular cut. 
     
     
         15 . The self-venting adhesive patch of  claim 11  wherein the patch is circular shaped. 
     
     
         16 . The self-venting adhesive patch of  claim 11  wherein the shape of the non-adhesive zone is triangular shaped. 
     
     
         17 . The self-venting adhesive patch of  claim 11  wherein the shape of the non-adhesive zone is bulb shaped. 
     
     
         18 . A method of manufacturing a flexible package with an adhesive patch, the method comprising:
 receiving a rollstock material;   perforating the rollstock material to form a vent opening;   applying a self-venting adhesive patch of  claim 1  to a side of the rollstock over the perforation in the rollstock material.   
     
     
         19 . A method of manufacturing an adhesive patch for application to a microwaveable package, the method comprising:
 applying a permanent adhesive to a film material in a permanent adhesive zone;   applying a releasable adhesive to the film material adjacent to the permanent adhesive in a releasable adhesive zone;   wherein a non-adhesive zone is formed within the permanent adhesive zone which allows the releasable adhesive zone to release from microwavable package when steam pressure is released from moisture in food contents within the microwavable package.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19  wherein the adhesive patch is applied to roll-stock material for forming the flexible packaging material.