Patent EA-004961-B1 (EA)
Title: Films, packaging and methods for making them
Inventor: HEWITT JONATHAN
IPC: B65D75/62
Filed: 2002-01-07
Abstract: 1 A flexible, optionally polymeric, film having at least one line(s) and/or pattern(s) thereon, characterised in that the film material within the line(s) and/or pattern(s) has a substantially different orientation to material in the rest of the film. 2 A film as claimed in claim 1, in which the line(s) and/or pattern(s) lines have substantially the same gauge as the rest of the film. 3. A flexible optionally polymeric film having at least one tear susceptible line(s) and/or tear pattern(s) thereon, characterised in that the line(s) and/or pattern(s) lines have substantially the same gauge as the rest of the film. 4. A film as claimed in claim 3, in which the film material within the tear susceptible line(s) and/or pattern(s) has a substantially different orientation to material in the rest of the film. 5. A film as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the material in the line(s) and/or pattern(s) has a substantially different orientation to material in the rest of the film and the line(s) and/or pattern(s) have substantially the same gauge as the rest of the film. 6. A film as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the film is substantially oriented in at least one direction. 7. A film as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the material in the line(s) and/or pattern(s) is substantially more oriented in extent and/or direction that the material in the rest of the film. 8. A film as claimed in any preceding claim, which comprises polymeric material. 9. A film according to any preceding claim, which comprises a thermoplastic polymer. 10. A film according to any preceding claim, which comprises a polyolefin and/or polyester. 11. A film according to any preceding claim, which comprises polypropylene. 12. A film as claimed in any preceding claim, which is biaxially oriented in substantially perpendicular directions. 13. A film as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the line(s) and/or pattern(s) thereon are formed by a directed chemical and/or radiation treatment which removes substantially no material from the film. 14. A film as claimed in any preceding claim, in which in which the line(s) and/or pattern(s) thereon are formed by a directed treatment selected from irradiation through patterned lithographic masks, positioning of a chemical along the line; and/or focussed electromagnetic radiation and/or particulate radiation. 15. A film according to any preceding claim, in which the line(s) and/or pattern(s) are formed by ink-jet printing a suitable material therealong. 16. A film according to any preceding claim in which the line(s) and/or pattern(s) are formed by laser treatment. 17. A film according to claim 16, in which the laser is a CO2 laser having a wavelength about 10.6 mkm. 18. A film according to any preceding claim, which has printing thereon. 19. A film according to claim 18, in which the printing indicates a position for initiating tearing of the film along at least one of the line(s) and/or pattern(s). 20. A film according to any preceding claim, in which at least one of the line(s) and/or pattern(s) extend to an edge of the film. 21. A film according to any preceding claim, having a cut extending from the edge of the film and/or a tab affixed thereto to assist in the initiation of a tear along at least one of the line(s) and/or pattern(s) on the film. 22. A film according to any preceding claim, in which at least one of the line(s) and/or pattern(s) on the film is sufficiently weaker than the rest of the film to enable tearing to be initiated therealong by hand pressure. 23. A method for creating, in a flexible optionally polymeric film, at least one line and/or pattern thereon so the film will tear substantially along the line(s)and/or pattern(s) when tearing is initiated therealong, characterised in that the method comprises the step of directing onto a web of film a means to make the line(s) and/or pattern(s) susceptible to being torn therealong without removing significant amounts of material therefrom so the line(s) and/or pattern(s) have substantially the same gauge as the rest of the film. 24. A method for creating, in a flexible optionally polymeric film, at least one line and/or pattern thereon so the film along the line(s) and/or pattern(s) is susceptible or resistant to further treatment, characterised in that the method comprises the step of directing onto a web of the film a means to differentially to orient material along the line(s) and/or pattern(s) so the material therealong has a substantially different orientation (optionally is more ordered) than material in the rest of the film and the line(s) and/or pattern(s) have substantially the same gauge as the rest of the film. 25. A method for creating, in a flexible optionally polymeric film, at least one line and/or pattern thereon so the film will tear substantially along the line(s) and/or pattern(s) when tearing is initiated therealong; characterised in that the method comprises the step(s) of: (a) directing onto a web of the film a means differentially to orient material along the line(s) and/or pattern(s) so the material therealong has a substantially different orientation (optionally is more ordered) than material in the rest of the film; and/or (b) directing onto a web of film a means to form thereon line(s) and/or pattern(s) susceptible to tearing therealong without removing significant amounts of material therefrom so the line or lines have substantially the same gauge as the rest of the film. 26. A method as claimed in claim 25, where steps (a) and (b) are simultaneous rather than sequential and optionally the differential orienting means of step (a) and the tear susceptibility means of step (b) and are the same means so that one method achieves both effects. 27. A method for creating a tearable film comprising the step of: directing onto at least one line and/or pattern selected on a web of a polymeric film oriented in at least one (preferably two) direction(s), a tear susceptibility means which selectively alters (preferably increases) film orientation along the line(s)and/or pattern(s) but not in the rest of the film; such that the tear susceptibility means does not remove significant amounts of film therefrom; to form in the resultant film a tear susceptible line(s) and/or pattern(s) thereon having substantially the same gauge therealong as the rest of the film. 28. A method for creating a tearable film comprising the steps of: (i) directing onto at least one line and/or pattern selected on a web of a flexible, substantially unoriented polymeric film, a tear susceptibility means which selectively inhibits or substantially prevents film orientation along the line(s) and/or pattern(s) but not in the rest of the film; such that the tear susceptibility means does not remove significant amounts of film therefrom; and (ii) subsequently orienting the rest of the film such that the film remains substantially non oriented or less oriented along the line(s) and/or pattern(s), to form in the resultant film a tear susceptible line(s) and/or pattern(s) thereon having substantially the same gauge therealong as the rest of the film. 29. A film obtained and/or obtainable by any of the methods claimed in any of claims 23 to 28. 30. A package comprising at least one article wrapped in a flexible polymeric film as claimed in any of claims 1 to 22 and/or 29. 31. A package as claimed in claim 30, which is capable of being opened by finger pressure substantially along the line(s) and/or pattern(s) when tearing is initiated therealong. 32. A package according to claim 30 or 31, in which the film has been sealed around the article and tearing occurs with peeling of the seal. 33. A package according to any of claims 30 to 32, in which the film has been heat sealed around the article. 34. A package according to any of claims 30 to 33, in which printing thereon indicates a position for initiating tearing of the film to open the package. 35. A package according to any of claims 30 to 34, in which at least one tear susceptible line and/or pattern extends to the edge of the film on the package. 36. A package according to any of claims 30 to 35, having a cut extending from the edge of the film to assist in the initiation of a tear along a tear susceptible line and/or pattern on the film. 37. A film, method and/or package substantially as described herein with reference to the figures and drawings herein describing embodiments of the present invention.