Sonoco Development Incorporated

John A Prizzi

Barry Roland Reese

Scott William Huffer

Robert Charles Hebert

Lea Wayne

Barry R Reese

A flexible packaging laminate is formed to have a built-in opening and reclose feature by forming the laminate as a two-part structure having an outer structure joined in face-to-face relation with an inner structure. Score lines are formed in both structures to enable an opening to be formed through the laminate by lifting an opening portion (e.g., a flap or the like) of the two structures out of the plane of the laminate. The score line through the outer structure defines a larger opening than the score line through the inner structure, such that a marginal region of the outer structure extends beyond the edge of the opening portion of the inner structure. A pressure-sensitive adhesive is used to re-adhere the marginal region to an underlying surface of the inner structure adjacent the opening through the laminate.

Flexible packaging structure with a built-in opening and reclose feature

The invention comprises, in an embodiment, a resealable packaging structure comprising a container having a bottom and at least one sidewall extending upwardly therefrom, wherein the sidewall terminates in a flange. A flexible resealable lid is sealed to the flange. The lid comprises a polyethylene terephthalate layer disposed adjacent the flange, a pressure sensitive adhesive layer disposed adjacent the polyethylene terephthalate layer, and an oriented polypropylene layer disposed adjacent the pressure sensitive adhesive layer. The polyethylene terephthalate layer comprises a laser scored line which penetrates through the thickness of the inner layer but not through the outer layer and defines an opening portion that can be lifted out of the plane of the inner layer, thereby creating an opening through the lid defined by the laser score line.

Method for making a flexible packaging structure with a built-in opening and reclose feature

A flexible packaging structure has built-in opening features in a laminate with a first structure adhesively joined to a second structure. A tear area is formed by laser ablation of the laminate along a junction between the first and second portions preferably prior to assembling the laminate into the package. Laser ablation begins at the center of the tear area and progressively moves the laser in a direction radially outward from the center of the tear area. During assembly of the package, a seal is formed between end portions of the first and second portions of the laminate. A score line and a sealant reduction area are also introduced to the package to facilitate opening. The package is opened by pulling the seal near the tear area in a direction along the score line until the contents of the package are accessible.

Growing community of inventors

Southbury, CT, United States of America

John A Prizzi