Patent Abstract:
A reclosable package comprising interlocking closure strips positioned outside of a hermetic seal or seal area and the method for producing same. The hermetic seal is of the easy-open or peelaway type so as to not destroy the integrity of the package or closure strips upon opening of the package.

Full Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This invention relates to a reclosable package and to a method for producing the same. More specifically this invention relates to a reclosable package for food products where the package is evacuated and hermetically sealed within an interlocking strip. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     A substantial volume of the cheese, bacon frankfurters, sliced luncheon meat and other processed meats are sold in packages which are formed from flexible thermoplastic materials. The freshness of the product within the package is to a large measure dependent upon the fact that the thermoplastic package is hermetically sealed and has been evauated and, in some instances, gas flushed. However, in many instances, when an evacuated package of this type is purchased not all of its contents are used at once by the consumer. When the initial seal has been broken and part of the package removed it is difficult to reclose the package for satisfactory storage in a refrigerator; and, in order to preserve the contents in a fresh state without loss of flavor and texture, it is often necessary to completely repackage the product. To overcome this problem, there are many prior art package designs which offer means of opening and resealing but many of these have the disadvantage that wordly printed directions are needed and many times the thermoplastic packaging material is so stiff and so strong that even a carefully designed reclosure device can be destroyed. 
     Another problem which is encountered with prior art reclosable packages is the problem of manufacturing them at a commercially acceptable rate. Placing tear tabs, tear strips, or the like in combination with resealing means such as pressure sensitive adhesive strips calls for extreme care in registration and alignment of each of the packaging components and rather precise sealing must take place in order to achieve a satisfactory product. Accordingly, some manufacturers and methods for producing a reclosable package use what is commonly referred to as closure strips on each of the two inner surfaces of the packaging material. These closure strips consist of thermoplastic beads either extruded or attached to the packaging materials. These beads have an interlocking profile. Several patents in this area have been issued. However, the closure strip is always found within the confines of the hermetic seal of the package. Such a process means that the closure strip must be indented from the edge of the packaging material and after sealing the closure strip forms void and pockets within the package and product cavity itself. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,246,288 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,437,293 describe a reclosable package and a method and apparatus for making such a reclosable package. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 3,647,485 describes a package and a method for making the same which has an improved hermetic breakaway or peelable seal formed between an ethelene-polar monomer polymer film or coating and a thermoplastic film. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 3,740,237 describes a continuous method of enclosing the product between a pair of films so as to provide a package having a product enclosing portion and a peripheral flange. The pair of films are joined to form a hermetic dual seal by applying a continuous strip of peelable bond adhesive through a portion of the film destined to become a peripheral flange and extending partially into that portion of the film destined to become the product enclosing portion and providing the remainder of the peripheral flange with means for permanently bonding the pair of film. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,273,815 describes an improved laminated film having at least one lamina of polyvinylidene chloride film adhered to at least one lamina of chlorinated polyethylene, and the method of forming this improved lamina, and to packages produced therewith. Polyvinylidene chloride films, commonly as &#34;Saran&#34;, are used extensively in the packaging of food products and the like which are susceptible to deterioration by oxygen and other gases. This film is adequately flexible and effectively impermeable to air and oxygen. In addition, polyvinylidene chloride films exhibit very unique properties in a so-called &#34;supercooled&#34; or amorphous condition during which these films can be readily formed around a product to be packaged without incurring undesirable folds, pleats or the like. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The improved packages of the present invention exhibit significant advantages in that they are generally characterized by a seal which closely conforms to the shape of the packaged product. This product-conforming seal has a number of significant advantages and is possible due to the placement of the closure strip away from the product cavity and outside the hermetic seal. For example, the unsightly appearance produced by the free movement of water and the product juices loosely contained in many conventional reclosable packages with the closure strip contained in the package product compartment is avoided. Furthermore, these packages provide a maximum seal area for a given product particularly where such product is of irregular shape thereby providing the maximum seal area afforded by a package of given size and likewise minimizing the amount residual oxygen present in such package. For these reasons and others the improved packages of the prevent invention are particularly suitable for the packaging of the food products such as weiners, bacon, sliced luncheon meat, chops, cheese and the like. 
     It is, therefore, an important object of the present invention to provide an improved reclosable package characterized by closure strips capable of resealing the package and an inner hermetic, peelable, breakaway seal which can be readily and easily separated when access to the contents of said package is desirable. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a reclosable package which may be made on a single machine and straight through process rather than making a pouch on one machine and performing the filling, evacuating and sealing process on another machine. 
     Accordingly, another of the objects of the present invention is to provide a reclosable package which may be made rapidly and reliably. 
     Other and further objects of the present invention will be apparent from the following detailed description thereof taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a plan view illustrating a preferred film product package in accordance with this invention. 
     FIG. 2 is an elevational side view of the package illustrated in FIG. 1. 
     FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary cross-sectional elevational view taken approximately along the line 3--3 of FIG. 1. 
     FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary cross-sectional elevational view taken approximately along the line 4--4 of FIG. 1. 
     FIG. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view of a three ply laminate film embodied in the present invention. 
     FIG. 6 is a schematic plain view of a modified form of bacon package embodying principles of the present invention. 
     FIG. 6a is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of the package shown in FIG. 6 taken along the line 5--5 therein. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     In the detailed description of certain preferred embodiments of the present invention set out below, it will be noted that these packages generally include one or more lamina of a polyvinylidene chloride film. These polyvinylidene chloride films are not essential to the present invention in that suitable peelable or breakaway seals can be formed between ethylene-polar monomer copolymer films or coatings and other thermoplastic materials. There are, however, certain unique properties of polyvinylidene chloride films which, by reason of their own individual characteristics and cooperative characteristics exhibited with ethylene-polar monomer copolymer films and coatings, make these films particularly suitable for use in the improved packages of the present invention. 
     FIGS. 1-4 illustrate package 10 formed of top laminate 11 and bottom laminate 12 which cooperatively enclose therebetween a plurality of wieners or wiener shaped products 13. Laminates 11 and 12 are combined preferably about product 13 to form a continuous edge seal 24 and peripheral flange 22. The laminates are also drawn inwardly about the product to conform to the contour thereof to provide package 10 with improved rigidity for efficient handling. 
     As best shown in FIG. 3 bottom laminate 12 is formed out of outer lamina 15 of plasticized polyvinyl chloride which is combined in adhering relationship with middle lamina 16 of ethylene-vinyl acetate which is in turn combined in adhering relationship with inner lamina 17 of Saran copolymer (polyvinylidene chloride). Top laminate 11, as shown in FIG. 3 and 5 is similarly formed with outer plasticized polyvinyl chloride film 20 and middle &#34;Saran&#34; copolymer lamina 19 and inner ethylene vinyl acetate lamina 18. The Saran copolymer has generally crystalline structure with random crystal distribution throughout and provides suitable oxygen barrier properties. Typically a Saran copolymer film having a composition of approximately 85% vinylidene chloride and 15% vinyl chloride provides suitable oxygen barrier properties. 
     In accordance with the preferred aspect of the present invention hermetic seal barrier 22 between &#34;Saran&#34; copolymer lamina 17 and ethylene vinyl acetate lamina 18 generally designated by the numeral 22 can be readily separated by peeling back the top or bottom lamina 11 or 12 to gain access to the package. Thereafter the closure strips 14 may be interlocked to reseal the package. Separation of the laminates, however, does not result in destruction to either of laminates 11 or 12, or closure strips 14. To insure that the structural and functional integrity of the laminates, closure strips and remaining seals is maintained, it is critical that the opening forces of the easy-open or breakaway seal 22 be sufficient to withstand processing, handling and shipping yet low enough to allow access to the product. Therefore, it has been determined that the inner hermetic, easy-open seal 22 should have an opening force of from about 1.5 to about 6.0 pounds and preferably from about 2.5 to about 3.5 pounds. 
     FIGS. 6 and 7 illustrate a package embodying principles of the present invention which are particularly suited for packaging bacon strips and similar elongated meat products. In particular, package 23 provides a method by which the bacon product can be packaged. In particular, package 23 includes upper film lamination 26 composed of an outer oxygen barrier film lamina 27 and inner lamina 28 as well as interlocking closure stip 33. As is shown, film lamination 26 extents over bacon product 29 in conforming relationship therewith extending along the edges of the product and outwardly therefrom in adherent contact with bottom film lamination 30 formed from inner lamina 31 composed of a suitable thermoplastic film which will form a peelable or breakaway seal with film 28. Bottom lamina 32 of film lamination 30 is composed of a suitable oxygen barrier film of the type previously described. The attached closure stips 34 provided outside of the hermetic seal area 35 in addition to providing the reclosable means also facilitate the peeling of upper film lamination 26 when access to the product is desired. 
     In addition to the above disclosures, the closure strips or profiles of the present invention may be formed out of thermoplastic materials known to be suitable by those skilled in the art such as polyethylene, ethyl-vinyl acetate and polyester. It is also expected that the closure strip profiles may take any form or appearance, i.e. single or a plurality of interlocking rib or groove beads, and that any means of attachment to the laminates is permissible. 
     While various embodiments of packages and laminate films embodying the present invention have been described, it will be apparent that certain modifications and variations therefrom may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of this invention. Accordingly, only such limitations are to be imposed thereon as are indicated in the appended claims.

Technology Classification (CPC): 1