Cryovac, Inc.

Kimberly Ann Mudar

Patrick N Kocher

Walter B Mueller

George Dean Wofford

H Walker Stockley

Ram Kumar Ramesh

W Scott Lambert

A packaged product has a food product having an added liquid thereon, and a packaging article at least partially surrounding the food product. The packaging article having a seal layer comprising a member selected from the group consisting of a slip agent and a surfactant. The slip agent or surfactant causes contamination from the added liquid to bead up or wet out, respectively, thereby permitting heat sealing through the contamination with a lower leaker rate than would otherwise be the case.

Packaging product, process for making same, and product made therefrom

Meat package with reduced leaker rates

A patch bag has a heat-shrinkable patch adhered to a heat-shrinkable bag. The patch comprises an ethylene/alpha-olefin copolymer having a density greater than about 0.915 g/cm, this copolymer being present in the patch in an amount of at least about 5 percent, based on a total patch weight. The patch also comprises a heterogeneous ethylene/alpha-olefin copolymer having a density of less than about 0.915 g/cm, which is also present in the patch in an amount of at least about 5 percent, based on total patch weight. In addition, the two ethylene/alpha-olefin copolymers make up at least 70 percent of the total patch weight. VLDPE is a preferred heterogeneous ethylene/alpha-olefin less than 0.915 g/cc, and LLDPE is a preferred ethylene/alpha-olefin greater than 0.915 g/cc. The patch film can be selected to exhibit a total free shrink and/or bone-puncture resistance which is higher than either VLDPE or LLDPE alone. The patch film can be selected to exhibit Standard Rib Drop Test results (i.e., puncture-resistance in actual use) superior to other patch bags.

Patch bag with patch containing high and low crystallinity ethylene copolymers

A package with improved clarity and a thinner lidstock includes a product support member having a cavity formed therein; a product disposed in the cavity; and an oriented, heat shrinkable lidstock film disposed over the product, and sealed to the product support member. A method of packaging a product includes the steps of providing a product support member having a cavity formed therein, and a flange around the perimeter of the member; placing the product in the cavity formed by the product support member; placing an oriented, heat shrinkable film over the product; sealing the oriented, heat shrinkable film to the flange of the product support member; and cutting at least some of the oriented heat shrinkable film extending beyond the perimeter of the product support member. The lidstock film optionally can be peeled apart after the package has been made, for example to peel an oxygen impermeable portion from a permeable substrate.

Package with shrink film lidstock

A film includes at least one layer comprising a blend of a first polymer having a crystalline melting point of at least 260.degree. F., and a density of at least 0.925 grams per cubic centimeter, and a second olefinic polymer comprising an ethylene/alpha-olefin copolymer with a density of less than 0.916 grams per cubic centimeter, wherein the film heat seals at a temperature of at least 180.degree. F. The film can include a core layer including an oxygen barrier; and two outer layers each including a blend of a first polymer having a crystalline melting point of at least 260.degree. F., and a density of at least 0.925 grams per cubic centimeter, and a second olefinic polymer comprising an ethylene/alpha-olefin copolymer with a density of less than 0.916 grams per cubic centimeter, wherein the film heat seals at a temperature of at least 180.degree. F. The film can also include one or more intermediate layers disposed between the core layer and respective outer layers, and one or more adhesive layers disposed between respective intermediate and outer layers. Good heat sealability is obtained.

Heat sealable film

A laminate comprising two or more films, at least one of the films being a coextruded, multilayer film, wherein the laminate delaminates within the coextruded, multilayer film when the laminate is subjected to a peel force ranging from 0.001 to 2.5 pounds per inch. The laminate advantageously provides the lid for a package and delaminates into a substantially gas-impermeable portion and a gas-permeable portion, with the gas-permeable portion being bonded directly to a product support member of the package. In this manner, the gas-impermeable portion may be peelably removed from the package to allow atmospheric oxygen to enter the interior of the package. The gas-permeable portion may be provided by perforating the delaminatable, coextruded film and bonding such film to the support member so that, when the laminate is caused to be delaminated within the perforated, coextruded film, the perforations are exposed to the ambient atmosphere and thereby allow for rapid ingress of oxygen into the interior of the package.

Growing community of inventors

Greer, SC, United States of America

Kimberly Ann Mudar