Abstract:
A recloseable, peggable package wherein the enclosed product is packaged between first and second package panels includes two package extensions and a recloseable seal strip interior of the package extensions. The package panels are hermetically sealed around their periphery and further sealed to the recloseable seal strip exterior of the hermetic seal. The first and second package panel extensions are sealed exterior of the recloseable seal strip and the extensions contain at least one opening extending therethrough which enables the package to be vertically displayed on a display member.

Description:
BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to recloseable packages for hermetically sealing consumable products between generally opposing package side panels, and more particularly to recloseable packages for food products and the like in which the package has an exterior extension to which a recloseable seal is attached and which extension contains one or more pegboard hook openings to accommodate a hook member for display of the package. 
     Certain processed meats and/or food products sold to consumers are sold in packages in which the processed meats or food products are mounted on a backing board. The freshness of these food products such as bacon, sliced luncheon meats, cheeses and the like contained within these packages depends upon the extent to which the package is vacuum packed or gas flushed and subsequently hermetically sealed. Often, the purchaser does not use the food products contained within such packages at once, but rather uses them over an extended period of time. When the initial hermetic seal of the package has been breached during opening of the package, a portion or portions of the package are often removed. In such instances, the package cannot be effectively resealed in a manner to preserve the freshness of the food products stored within. The purchaser must often repack the food products in a different suitably recloseable container. Additionally, many packages have the package seal located close to the edge(s) of the package. From a product marketing standpoint, such packages cannot be displayed on a vertical product display, but rather, must be displayed horizontally. Accordingly, a need exists for an improved food product package of the type having a recloseable seal and which can be easily displayed in a vertical setting. 
     The improved packages of the present invention provide significant advantages in that a hermetic seal extends around the entire periphery of the product interior of the recloseable seal so that the package is liquid tight and suitably retains within the package, fluids of the products contained therein, including water, juices, oils and the like, while the package recloseable seal is adhered to extensions of the package panels so that the package can be opened and closed repeatedly to remove portions of the package contents without destroying the integrity of the package. Pegboard holes extending through the recloseable seal elements allow the package to be displayed vertically. A &#34;zipper&#34; seal consisting of interengaging components such as rib and groove fastener elements is the preferred recloseable seal means. 
     The hermetic seal disposed on the package panels around the periphery of the product has an easy open or &#34;peel&#34; seal portion located adjacent to the product and interior of the recloseable seal. The recloseable seal is opened with digital pull-apart forces which are also used to open the peel seal. The peripheral hermetic seal can maintain a vacuum, pressurized and/or gas-flushed environment within the package. The peel seal area of the hermetic seal will by formed by effecting a face-to-face seal between a plastic film and the product backing board around the periphery of the product with the strength of the seal permitting separation without destruction or tearing of the plastic film. 
     The recloseable seal of the packages of this invention are attached to confronting faces of extensions of the packaging film. The interengaging recloseable seal fastener elements are adhered directly to the opposing package film panels. The two interengaging fastener elements are firmly anchored to the opposing package panels and are permanently sealed at the opposite ends thereof, which decreases the possibility that the package panels may tear or separate when the hermetic seal is opened. 
     The interengaging fastener elements may also have vertical extensions which extend at least partially with the package panel extensions. The fastener elements and the package panels adhered thereto may have openings in them to accommodate pegboard hooks or other display hardware so that the package can be vertically displayed. A permanent seal disposed exterior of the recloseable seal elements may provide the package with a tamper-proof feature. 
     Accordingly, it is a general object of the present invention to provide an improved recloseable package for use with products which has a first recloseable seal disposed proximate to an access edge of the package, and a second hermetic peel seal peripherally adjacent to the product and interior of the recloseable seal. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a recloseable package for food products and the like having a recloseable seal disposed near an opening of the package and attached to a vertical extension of the package, a hermetic seal having a peelable seal area adjacent to and interior of the recloseable seal, and a permanent seal at the opening of the package, exterior of the recloseable seal. 
     Yet another object of the present invention is to provide an improved product package having a peel seal and a recloseable seal, wherein the recloseable seal elements are attached to extensions of the opposing package panels, the package extensions having means for supporting the package on a vertical display. 
     Still another object of the present invention is to provide an improved food product package having a peelable hermetic seal disposed around the periphery of the food product and interior adjacent to a recloseable seal, a recloseable seal exterior of the peelable seal, a portion of the recloseable seal having means to accommodate pegboard display hooks and a permanent seal exterior of the recloseable seal and pegboard mounting means having tamper evident means thereon. 
     These and other objects of the present invention will become more readily apparent from a reading of the following detailed description. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is an exploded view of a package incorporating the principles of the present invention. For purposes of illustration only, the package is shown as containing vacuum-packed luncheon meats: 
     FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the upper portion of the package of FIG. 1, taken in an assembled state; 
     FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing an alternate construction of a package incorporating the principles of the present invention; 
     FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment of a package incorporating the principles of the present invention. For purposes of illustration only, the package is shown as containing vacuum-packed luncheon meats; and 
     FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 5--5 of FIG. 4. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     FIG. 1 illustrates a recloseable package 10 constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention. The packages 10 of the present invention are particularly suitable for sealing a perishable food product, shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 as luncheon meat slices 12, between a first package panel 14 and a second package panel 16. The first and second package panels 14 and 16 which form the two sidewalls of the package 10 can be made from a variety of materials including plastic films, plastic films with heat sealable coatings, multi-layered laminates and/or co-extrusions, thermoformable materials and the like. A preferred plastic film for assembly of the packages of the present invention is one which is substantially impervious to air, oxygen and/or moisture. 
     When one or more of the package panels 14, 16 is formed from a multi-layered construction, it is desirable to use a thin, inner layer which is substantially impervious to air, oxygen and/or moisture in combination with an outer layer having sufficient flexibility and desirable structural characteristics so that the laminate can function as a package sidewall film. For purposes of illustration and discussion, the package panels depicted as flexible sheets will be shown as a single, heat-sealable lamina. In actual practice, each flexible package panel will likely be a co-extrusion and/or laminate of two or more layers which will provide sufficient protection to the product (e.g., oxygen and moisture barriers) and which can form a hermetic, and if desired, peelable seal at the inner surfaces. As is known in the art, multi-layered films comprised of copolyester films or sheets, vinylidene chloride polymers or sheets such as &#34;Saran&#34;, ethylene vinyl acetate, a Surlyn ionomer or polyethylene plastic films or sheets are suitable. 
     FIG. 1 illustrates a package 10 in which one package panel 14, in the form of a generally rectangular and substantially rigid, thermoformed plastic product tray or backing board 18, sometimes referred to as &#34;bacon&#34; board, which supports a plurality of luncheon meat slices 12 which are enclosed on the backing board by an opposing package panel 16, illustrated as a flexible film sheet 17. Much like the laminated film described above, the backing board 18 is also preferably constructed from a material which is substantially impervious to air, oxygen and/or moisture. In this regard, a somewhat rigid thermoplastic sheet is used to provide a support surface 20 for the luncheon meat 12. Backing boards formed from polyvinyl chloride or Barex® with or without heat sealable coatings have been found to exhibit the preferred desired rigidity and film sealing capabilities. Paperboard may also be used as the product backing board provided that it has been previously rendered impervious to oxygen, air and/or moisture, such as by lamination to a film with the desired properties. 
     The luncheon meat slices 12 or the like are desirably positioned on the backing board 18 within a means for retaining the luncheon meat 12 in a packaged product area 19, illustrated as a raised portion or wall 21 of the backing board 18. Not only does the raised portion 21 retains the luncheon meat 12 within the packaged product area 19, but also it serves as a first barrier to any juices, oils, or fluids from the luncheon meat 12 within the product area 19. The raised portion 21 can be formed integrally within the backing board 18 (most easily accomplished when the backing board 18 is made of a thermoplastic material) or alternately, can be formed by attaching a separate member to the backing board 18. 
     As used in this invention and description thereof, the top 11 of the package is meant to refer to that segment of the package perimeter which contains the package mouth 59 or access opening. The film sheet 17 and the backing board 18 are combined by contacting each other around the luncheon meat 12 to form a peripheral margin 42 extending around the periphery of the product as positioned on the backing board 18. When a vacuum is applied to the space between the film sheet 17 and luncheon meat 12, the film sheet 17 is drawn inwardly about the luncheon meat 12 or the like to conform to the contour thereof to provide the package 10 with improved rigidity for withstanding rigorous handling during transport and retail display and the like. 
     When a multi-layered flexible film is used wherein the surface of the film sheet 17 which contacts the plastic backing board 18 is formed from a layer of ethylene vinyl acetate, the inherent qualities of the ethylene vinyl acetate layer provide a secure, yet peelable hermetic continuous edge seal 22 outside the board raised portion 20, which maintains a secure seal during handling and storage that can be peeled back upon the application of digital forces applied through an outer recloseable seal 26 or the like. 
     Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the package has a first, outer recloseable seal 26 illustrated as a conventional interengaging fastener assembly 27 such as a rib and groove fastener assembly. Although the interengaging fastener assembly 27 is illustrated as one that is particularly secure for the illustrated type of package 10, namely, having a length of a formed single rib element strip 28 and a similar length of a formed single groove strip 29, it will be noted that the interengaging fastener elements 28 and 29 of the recloseable seal 26 are not limited to any particular number of interengaging fastener elements. The rib 30 projects outwardly from the rib element strip 28 a sufficient distance to be securely interengaged with and held by its confronting and complementary counterparts in the groove element strip 29. The groove element strip 29 shown includes two outwardly extending walls 32 which define a channel or groove 34 therebetween. The groove 34 is of sufficient width to firmly engage the rib 30 when the confronting interengaging fastener elements 28, 29 are pressed together. Both the recloseable seal 26 and the interengaging fastener assembly 27 can take any number of various characteristics and configurations in addition to those described herein. Although the two confronting interengaging fastener elements 28, 29 are shown as separate members, the fastener elements can be extruded with the package panels. 
     The rear surfaces of the interengaging fastener elements 28, 29 may include attachment means in the form of flanges 36a, 36b which extend transversely to the fastener elements 28, 29. As best illustrated in FIG. 2 these flanges 36a, 36b are of a sufficient width to provide appropriate surfaces to adhere and seal both the film sheet 17 and the backing board 18 to the recloseable seal fastener elements 28, 29. When the flanges 36a, 36b are sufficiently wide, it is desirable to locate the interengaging fastener elements 28, 29 toward the bottom of the flanges so that after any tear-off strip 50 of the package 10 is removed, the uppermost portions 60 of the flanges 36a, 36b will serve as pull flanges 61 which easily enable the user to obtain easy access to the recloseable seal 26. 
     The flanges 36a, 36b can either be separate members as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 which are formed apart from the rib and groove elements and subsequently attached thereto by any suitable means such as heat sealing or adhesive sealing. The flanges 36a, 36b can also be integrally formed with their respective fastener elements 28, 29 as shown in FIG. 2. Alternatively, and as shown in FIG. 3, the flanges 36a&#39;, 36b&#39; can be part of a separately recloseable seal flange web assembly 60, in which the respective fastener elements 28&#39;, 29&#39; are integrally joined to an interior web 62. Where such a construction is used, the central portion of the web assembly 60, will cooperate with the free ends 56&#39;, 57&#39; of the package to form a package tear strip 50&#39; proximate to the line of weakening 64&#39; as described more fully below. 
     One flange 36b of the interengaging fastener elements 28, 29 is disposed so that a longitudinal surface 40b of the flange 36b is opposite and adjacent to the backing board 18. Whether the product containing package panel is a rigid thermoformed backing board 18 or a semi-rigid film 84, the interengaging fastener assembly 27 may be attached to the same by adhering the fastener element flange longitudinal surface 40b to its access edge 38. This may be accomplished by any appropriate means such as a suitable adhesive or, in instances where the product containing package panel 14 is a rigid thermoplastic material, the fastener assembly 27 may be adhered to the backing board 18 by heat sealing, ultrasonic welding or the like. The interengaging fastener assembly 27 is preferably of the same length as the backing board 18 and the interengaging fastener elements 28, 29 are attached together at their opposite ends 48 so that the fastener material is not wasted in the trimming of the package 10 and so that it does not interfere with the peripheral hermetic seal 44 of the package. 
     The interengaging fastener assembly 27 may be fitted onto the product carrying package panel 14 and the ends30 thereof are attached together, the product 12 is positioned thereon within the upraised portion 21 thereof to form a product-panel assembly. The opposing film sheet 17 is brought into contact with the product panel 16, and a vacuum is applied therebetween. A second, hermetic seal 44 is formed around the periphery of the product and interior of the first, outer recloseable seal 26. The opposing film sheet 17 is then permanently adhered to the recloseable seal 26 along the longitudinal surface 40a of the fastener element sealing flanges 36a, by heat sealing, ultrasonic welding, by adhesive or by any other suitable means. Any air present between the two panels 14, 16 when the product is inserted, can be evacuated and/or product 12 gas-flushed if desired. 
     Significantly, the package panels 14 and 16 each include an integral, vertical package extension 51, 52 which extends exterior of the recloseable seal 26 near the top of the package and has a sufficient extent to accommodate a means for supporting the package 10 on a vertical display, shown as openings 54. The openings 54 are configured to receive a pegboard display element and are preferably positioned within the recloseable seal fastener element flange portions 36a, 36b of the extensions 51, 52. The permanent seals 41a, 41b which attach the flanges 36a, 36b to their respective package panels 16 and 17 preferably circumferentially extends around the perimeter 55 of the openings 54 to ensure the integrity of the package extensions 51, 52. 
     The free ends 56, 57 of the extensions 51, 52 are secured by suitable generally permanent bonding means shown as a permanent package mouth seal 58 disposal exterior of the recloseable seal 26 and the package mouth 59. A tamper evident component of the package is further defined by a line of weakening 64, shown as perforations, extending longitudinally within the extensions 51, 52 generally adjacent to the recloseable seal 26. The line of weakening 64 can be administered in any suitable manner such as by perforations or scoring. The free ends 56, 57 of the extensions 51, 52 thereby serve as a package tear strip 50 which will indicate prior opening of the package 10. If desired, an additional line of weakening may be provided in order to facilitate opening of the package by grasping the tear off strip 50 in one hand and the package body in the other hand. By this structure, access which permits opening of the recloseable seal fastener elements 28, 29 is possible only upon severance or ripping of the tamper-evident strip. 
     The embodiments illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 4 are advantageous because they are especially suitable to being formed, filled and sealed on existing machinery, requiring minimal modifications to the packaging machery and/or material used in forming packages having reclosure strips. In addition, these embodiments provide easily understood tampering indicators while requiring no other, separate tamper-evident component, inasmuch as the package extensions perform the tamper-evident feature. 
     As best seen in FIG. 1, it is desirable to make a portion of the hermetic seal 44 which is interior of and adjacent to the recloseable seal 26 a peelable seal 46 to allow the purchaser simple and easy access to the product 12. The hermetic seal 44 may be entirely of a peelable nature with the hermetic seal portion thereof having a stronger bond effected between the film and the backing board peripheral margin 42 than in the peelable seal portion 46 interior of the recloseable seal 26 so that the hermetic seal 44 is, for all intents and purposes, non-peelable. The hermetic seal 44 provides a second barrier to product liquids and cooperates with the product containment means 21 to substantially prevent the dispersion of product liquids into the recloseable seal. In any event, because the hermetic seal 44 is positioned interior of the recloseable seal 26, the likelihood of &#34;leakers&#34;, i.e., packages wherein air enters and the product juices or oils escape from the product area 16 and enter the recloseable seal area, is greatly diminished 
     Another embodiment of a recloseable food product package 80 incorporating the principles of the present invention is shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. The basic structure of this alternate embodiment, such as the package panel extensions 94, 95, the recloseable seal interengaging fastener elements 88, 90 and the inner peripheral peel seal 92 is the same as that described for the first embodiment. However, in this illustrated embodiment, the package 80 utilizes two flexible sheets of package film 82, 84 as the package components rather than a thermoformed backing board and a covering film. In this embodiment, the package panel 84 shown overlying the luncheon meat can be a semi-rigid film which is capable of being formed to provide a product containing cavity 96 to accommodate a preselected amount of luncheon meat 98. In this alternate construction, the second or opposing package panel 82 is contacted and bonded to the package panel 84 to form the package 80. 
     After the luncheon meat 98 is deposited in the second panel product cavity 96, the first package panel 82 is then contacted to the second package panel 84 around the perimeter 100 of the product cavity 96 to form a hermetic seal 92 with a peelable seal area 104 interior of the recloseable seal interengaging fastener elements 88, 90. 
     During production of packages of the present invention, a continuous strip of the recloseable seal interengaged fastener elements 28, 29 may be fed and applied to the access edge 38 of a continuous length of the product carrying package panel 14 and sealed thereto to adhere the recloseable seal continuous strip to the package panel 14. The continuous strip of interengaged fastener elements 28, 29 are preferably trimmed even with the edges of the package panel 14 and are attached together at their ends 30 to form the package mouth. Accordingly, there is no wasting of the recloseable seal material. An individual product carrying package panel 14 may then be dimensioned and cut from the continuous length and transferred to a product application area. A preselected amount of luncheon meat 12 is then deposited thereon within the previously formed upraised portion 21 to form a product-panel assembly, which is subsequently transferred to a packaging station where the opposing film sheet 17 may be fed from supply rolls into a position opposite the product support surface 20 of the product-backing board assembly and into contact therewith at a peripheral margin 42 extending around the product-backing board assembly. The film sheet 17 is adhered to the recloseable seal fastener element flanges 36a, 36b and is further bonded to the product-panel assembly at the peripheral margin 42 thereof to form the package hermetic seal 44. 
     Subsequently, the permanent mouth seal 58 and the line of weakening 64 may be applied and the package display openings 54 formed in the package extensions 51, 52. Either before or after forming the package openings 54, a package label 106 (shown in phantom) or other package graphics may be applied to the package panels in a conventional manner. 
     When it is desired to open a finished package, the user grips the package extension permanent mouth seal 58 and tears it off along the line of weakening 64 to gain access to the recloseable seal 26. The two pull flanges 61a, 61b of the package extensions 51, 52 are gripped and the user applies digital pull apart forces to open the recloseable seal 26 and the peel seal portion 46 of the hermetic seal 44 The recloseable seal 26 will separate and open, thereby allowing access to the inner peelable seal 46. The recloseable seal fastener elements 28, 29 will open to form a package mouth and because the recloseable seal 26 is adhered to the package panels 14 and 16 and attached at its ends 30, the likelihood of destruction of the integrity of the package 10 is greatly diminished. 
     It will be seen that while certain embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the true spirit of the scope of the invention.