Abstract:
The present invention relates to improved easy-open packages for packaging beverages and wet food products for use with form-fill-seal machines, especially vertical form-fill-seal machines, and/or under hot fill or retort sterilization conditions. The packages comprise a frangible first seal connecting the first side of the web to the second side of the web and defining a tube member having an inner surface, an outer surface, a first package wall, a second package wall, opposing first and second package edges, a first package end and an opposing second package end; wherein the frangible first seal exposes a cross-sectional edge of the multilayer film inside the product receiving chamber. The packages further include a protective strip having a frangible fourth seal provided through the strip and the inner surface of the tube member; wherein the protective strip covers the exposed cross-sectional edge of the multilayer film

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to food packages and particularly to vertical form fill seal and horizontal form fill seal pouches suitable for use in applications where the food product must undergo a retort or aseptic process while remaining inside the package. 
         [0002]    It is common practice in packaging many goods, including food items, to use what is generally known as form-fill-seal equipment. In the vertical form-fill-seal arrangement, flexible packaging material is fed from a rollstock to a tube former where a tube is fashioned from the web material into a vertically dependent, upwardly open tube having overlapping longitudinal edges. These overlapping edges are subsequently sealed together longitudinally and the end of the tube is sealed together by a pair of transverse heat seals which are vertically spaced apart. At this point the tube is filled with a measured quantity of the product to be packaged. Often, the packaging material may be squeezed in some cases so that the air in the headspace of the pouch is eliminated. Shortly thereafter, a second heat sealing operation, typically performed after the filled tube has been downwardly advanced, completes enclosure of the product. Simultaneously with or shortly after the transverse heat sealing step the tube is completely transversely severed by cutting in a space between the vertically spaced apart pair of transverse heat seals. Finally, the tube is downwardly advanced and the cycle is successively repeated so as to form a multiplicity of individually packaged products. 
         [0003]    In recent years, continuous vertical form-fill-seal packaging machines with constant motion of the packaging web through the packaging machine have become available to the packaging industry. The packaging operation is performed on a continuously moving web without interrupting moving packaging web. Continuous vertical form-fill-seal packaging machines provide a significant higher output compared to intermittent operation machines because the packaging web does not need to stop when the forming, filling and sealing operations are performed. Typically, a lap-type or butt-type seal is used to form the longitudinal back-seam of the package in order to minimize the total amount packaging web that must be sealed through and because of the relatively short dwell times associated with the sealing operation. These seals must have sufficient seal strength in order to resist the physical and mechanical abuse imposed by the form-fill-seal process. 
         [0004]    In order to store food without refrigeration, a food product may be sterilized by a hot fill operation during packaging, aseptic processing or a retort operation after packaging the product. Sterilization by hot filling or retorting imposes several restrictions on the choice of materials for the package. The heat seals of the package must survive sterilization temperatures of over 71° C. (160° F.) or typical retort conditions of steam or water at 121° C. (250° F.) or more under pressure for one half hour or more. The seals of package need to have sufficient seal strength to resist the shearing and/or compression forces resulting from the relatively high temperatures and pressures during the sterilization process. Furthermore, the packaging materials must not delaminate, shrink, or wrinkle as a result of the sterilization. Oxygen and water barrier properties of the packaging material must not be adversely affected by the conditions of sterilization or by the contents of the package. Conventional hot fill or retort pouches are not vertical form-fill-seal pouches, but rather stand-up pouches or three or four-sided sealed formed with fin-type seals. It is generally recognized by those skilled in the art that hot fill or retort pouches formed with lap-type or butt-type seals will expose a cross-section of the packaging web to the contents of the package. This exposed cross-section of the packaging film is unprotected and liquids from within the package can leach into the film structure through the exposed cross-section. The barrier properties of these packages may easily deteriorate when acidic beverages or foodstuffs, such as tomato paste and other tomato products interact with the various materials used to construct the packaging web. Pinholes in a foil or metal oxide layer can be created by oxidation in connection with these undesirable interactions. Delamination between the laminate layers can also occur because the acid in some beverages or foodstuffs chemically degrades the adhesive bond holding these layers together. Furthermore, ink layers may also delaminate from the surface of a film after chemically interacting with acidic liquids of the package contents. 
         [0005]    Opening of the finished package can create a safety issue when tools such as scissors or knives are used to gain access to the packaged contents. Notwithstanding the risk of being injured by these tools by accidentally cutting or puncturing oneself or others, these tools may also introduce the risk of contamination from one package to another when multiply packages are opened at the same time. Thus, to mitigate these risks, it would be desirable fabricate packages that do not require the use of scissors or knives to open package. 
         [0006]    Thus, there is a need in the art for improved packages that address at least some of the above concerns, and which are simple in construction, can be made easily and inexpensively manufactured, 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    The present invention is concerned with easy-open packages for packaging beverages and wet food products for use with form-fill-seal machines, especially vertical form-fill-seal machines, and/or under hot fill or retort sterilization conditions. The inventive packages are formed from a web of a film comprising an oxygen barrier. The package includes a frangible first seal connecting the first side of the web to the second side of the web which defines a tube member having an inner surface, an outer surface, a first package wall, a second package wall, opposing first and second package edges, a first package end and an opposing second package end. The package further comprises a second seal provided through the first and second package walls and extending laterally across the width of both the first and second package walls at a position proximate the first package end, and a third seal provided through the first and second package walls and extending laterally across the width of both the first and second package walls at a position proximate the second package end, whereby defining a product receiving chamber by the first package wall, the second package wall, the second seal and the third seal. The frangible first seal exposes a cross-sectional edge of the multilayer film inside the product receiving chamber which is protected by a protective strip frangibly sealed to the inner surface of the tube member and covering the exposed cross-sectional edge of the multilayer film. 
         [0008]    One particularly useful feature of the packages of the present invention is its usefulness in packaging food products currently packaged in No. 10 metal cans. These cans are expensive and bulky, and present significant inbound freight costs due to the weight of the cans, significant warehouse space issues for can inventory, and a disposal problem after use of the contained food product. Utilizing the material&#39;s of the present invention, many food products now packaged in the No. 10 can may be conveniently and quickly packaged, stored for an extended period of time, shipped, marketed, and sold to the end user such as a commercial or institutional user or a consumer. After use, the emptied package of the present invention provides a much less bulky and expensive package for disposal. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0009]      FIG. 1  illustrates a schematic view of a film suitable for making the packages according to the present invention. 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  illustrates a schematic view of a preferred embodiment of a package according to the present invention, in an “opened state” and substantially lay-flat position. 
           [0011]      FIG. 3  illustrates a transverse cross-sectional view of the package illustrated in  FIG. 2 , taken through section A-A of  FIG. 2 . 
           [0012]      FIG. 4  illustrates a schematic view of a preferred embodiment of a package illustrated in  FIG. 2 , in a “closed state” and substantially lay-flat position. 
           [0013]      FIG. 5  illustrates a fragmentary cross-sectional view taken along lines A-A of  FIG. 2  depicting an enlarged, not to scale, lap seal area of a preferred film for use in fabricating the package illustrated in  FIGS. 2, 3 and 4 . 
           [0014]      FIG. 6  illustrates a fragmentary cross-sectional view taken along lines A-A of  FIG. 2  depicting an enlarged, not to scale, lap seal area of another preferred film for use in fabricating the package illustrated in  FIGS. 2, 3 and 4 . 
           [0015]    FIG,  7  illustrates a fragmentary cross-sectional view taken along lines A-A of  FIG. 2  depicting an enlarged, not to scale, lap seal area of a preferred film for use in fabricating the protective strip as illustrated in  FIGS. 2, 3 and 4 . 
           [0016]      FIG. 8  illustrates a fragmentary cross-sectional view taken along lines A-A of  FIG. 2  depicting an enlarged, not to scale, lap seal area of another preferred film for use in fabricating the protective strip as illustrated in  FIGS. 2, 3 and 4 . 
           [0017]      FIG. 9  illustrates a schematic view of another preferred embodiment of a package according to the present invention having a pull flap, in an “open state” and substantially lay-flat position. 
           [0018]      FIG. 10  illustrates a transverse cross-sectional view of the package illustrated in  FIG. 9 , taken through section C-C of  FIG. 9 . 
           [0019]      FIG. 11  illustrates a schematic view of another preferred embodiment of a package according to the present invention having a butt-seal tape backseam, in an “open state” and substantially lay-flat position. 
           [0020]      FIG. 12  illustrates a transverse cross-sectional view of the package illustrated in  FIG. 11 , taken through section D-D of  FIG. 11   
           [0021]      FIG. 13  illustrates a fragmentary cross-sectional of a preferred embodiment of a film suitable for use in fabricating the packages of the present invention. 
           [0022]      FIG. 14  illustrates a fragmentary cross-sectional of a preferred embodiment of a film suitable for use in fabricating the protective strip of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0023]    The present inventions now will be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which some, but not all embodiments of the inventions are shown indeed, these inventions may be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will satisfy applicable legal requirements. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout. 
         [0024]    A preferred embodiment of the package of the present invention is made from a web  10  of a film  11  having a first side edge  12   a  and opposing, second side edge  12   b  connected by a third side edge  12   c  and a fourth side edge  12   d . First side edges  12   a  and second  12   b  are preferably parallel to each other when film  11  is in a long flat planar state. Third side edge  12   c  and fourth side  12   d  are preferably parallel to each other when film  11  is in a lay flat planar state. First and second side edges  12   a ,  12   b  are also preferably perpendicular to third and fourth side edges  12   c ,  12   d  when film  11  is in a lay flat planar state. Film  11  has four corners at the intersections of the four sides with first corner  12   ac  defined by the junction of first side edge  12   a  with third side edge  12   c ; second corner  12   b  defined by the junction of first side edge  12   a  with third side edge  12   c ; second corner  12   bc  defined by the junction of second side edge  12   b  with third side edge  12   c ; third corner  12   ad  defined by the junction of first side edge  12   a  with fourth side edge  12   d ; and fourth corner  12   bd  defined by the junction of second side edge  12   b  with fourth side edge  12   d . Film  11  has a top surface  13   a  circumscribed by a perimeter  14  formed by sides  12   a ,  12   c ,  12   b  and  12   d  with an opposing bottom surface  13   b  also circumscribed by said perimeter  14 .  FIG. 1  depicts corner  12   ad  of film  11  turned upward to reveal said bottom surface  13   b.    
         [0025]    Referring now to  FIGS. 2 and 4 , a preferred embodiment of the present invention is depicted generally as a pouch  15  made from film  11  in an “opened state” and “closed state,” respectively. While  FIG. 3  illustrates a cross-sectional view of the pouch  15  illustrated in  FIG. 2 , taken through section A-A. The pouch  15  is formed by overlapping the first side edge  12   a  with the second side edge  12   b  and sealing preferably by heat to produce a frangible fusion bond lap seal  16  defined by parallel spaced apart dotted lines  17   a  and  17   b,  and third side edge  12   c  and fourth side edge  12   d . It should be noted that while said frangible lap seal  16  is depicted as a continuous elongated rectangle extending from side  12   c  to side  12   d , the invention further contemplates that the seal shape may vary and could, for example, form a wavy line or zigzag shape or other shapes as desired. Also, the width of the seal may be varied to be thicker or thinner as desired. Also the seal may optionally be made by alternatives or additional means including, e.g., by applications of suitable glue or adhesive material known in the art for sealing together films. It is further contemplated that said frangible lap seal  16 , while depicted as a continuous lap seal  16  suitable for forming a hermetic package, it is also contemplated that for some applications, e.g., for certain industrial or non-perishable items, a noncontinuous seal having, e.g., the appearance of a dotted or dashed line, may be employed. Optionally, the strength of the seal may be varied by one skilled in the art in view of the teachings of the present application by selection of aforesaid parameters such as seal shape, thickness, continuous or intermittent nature material selection type of and known parameter for varying the strength of different types of seals, e.g., by adjusting dwell time or temperature for producing heat seals. Such variations and adjustments may be made by those skilled in the art without undue experimentation. 
         [0026]    Frangible lap seal  16  is preferably a heat seal forming a peelable fusion bond between surface  13   a  and surface  13   b  of film  11 . The overlapped sealed film  11  defines a tube member  18  having an inner film surface  19  of said tube member  18 . Connecting first package edge  22  and second package edge  23  defines a first package wall  30  and connected opposing package wall  31 . A second seal  20  extends laterally across said tube member  18  adjacent the third side edge  12   c  of film  11  thereby forming a closed package end  21 . A variety of seals may be used. Preferably second seal  20  will be a heat seal which fusion bonds the pouch film inner surface  19  to itself The second seal  20  by closing package end  21  both forms a first package edge  22  and opposing second package edge  23 , and the second seal extends across the tube member  18  from the first package edge  22  to the second package edge  23 . The second seal may also employ a variety of shapes, thicknesses, structures, etc, as for the previously described lap seal  16 . The frangible lap seal does not need to be centered between edges  22  and  23  but preferably is positioned anywhere therebetween. 
         [0027]    As noted above,  FIGS. 2 and 3  illustrate package  15  in the “opened state” having an opening formed by lap sealed film under fourth side edge  12   d  through which a product (not depicted) may be placed into a product receiving chamber  25  defined by tube member  18 , closed package end  21  and package opening  24 . Tube member  18  has an inner surface  19  and an outer surface  33 . The first package wall  30  has first package wall side  30   a  proximate second side edge  12   b  and extending to second package edge  23 . The first package wall  30  also has an opposing first package wall seamed side  30   b  proximate first side edge  12   a  and extending to first bag edge  22 . Preferably, the second seal  20  is positioned within one of the first and second package walls  30  and  31 , thereby forming an “end seal” of the package. Additionally, the second seal  20  may take any shape, whether straight or curved, so long as the second seal  20  operates to close the end  21 . 
         [0028]    As also noted above,  FIG. 4  illustrates package  15  in the “closed state” having a third seal  35  which extends laterally across said tube member  18  adjacent to the fourth side edge  12   d  of film ii thereby forming an “end seal” or closed package end  34 . Preferably third seal  35  will be a heat seal which fusion bonds the pouch film inner surface  19  to itself. Additionally, the third seal  35  may take any shape, whether straight or curved, so long as the third seal  35  operates to close the end  25 . The third seal may also employ a variety of shapes, thicknesses, structures, etc. 
         [0029]    A protective strip SO is tangibly sealed to the inner surface  19  of the tube member  18  extending along the entire length of lap seal  16  such that the exposed first side edge  12   a  of film  11  is entirely covered by said strip. The frangible seal  51  of strip  50  is preferably formed by heat to produce a peelable fusion seal between an outer surface  52  of the strip and the inner surface  19  defined by parallel spaced apart dotted lines  17   c  and  17   d.  Also, the width of the strip may be varied to be thicker or thinner as desired. Strip  50  may optionally be frangibly sealed to inner surface  19  by alternatives or additional means, including. e.g., by applications of suitable glue or adhesive material known in the art far sealing together films. Preferably, strip  50  is formed from multilayer film  11   a  and includes an inner surface  53  which is adapted to form a non-peelable heat seal to inner surface  19  of tube member  18 . 
         [0030]    At least the first seal  16  of package  15  and seal  51  protective strip  50  each comprise a frangible seal. “Frangible seal” and like terminology is used herein to refer to a seal, and especially heat seals, which are engineered to be readily peelable without uncontrolled or random tearing or rupturing the packaging materials which may result in premature destruction of the package and/or inadvertent contamination or spillage of the contents of the package. A frangible seal is one that can be manually peeled and/or fractured apart to open the package at the seal without resort to a knife or other implement to open the package. In the present invention, the frangible seal must have a seal strength sufficient to prevent failure of the seal during the normal hot fill and/or retort process and further normal handling and transport of the packaged article. The seal strength must also be low enough to permit manual opening of the seal. Preferably seal parameters such as choice of materials and sealing conditions will be used to adjust the seal strength to the desired level for the particular package and application. The frangible seals of the present invention may have peelable seal strengths of between 100 grams and 2000 grams, or between 200 grams and 1500 grams, or between 200 grams and 1200 grams. In contrast, non-peelable seals have seal strengths greater than 2000 grams, or greater than 2500 grams, or greater than 3000 grams. Typically, the end seals of the present invention are non-peelable. 
         [0031]    Many varieties of peelable seals are known in the art and are suitable for use with the present invention. Peelable seals are generally made from thermoplastic films having a peelable system designed therein. Suitable peelable films and/or peelable systems are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,944,409 (Busche et al.); U.S. Pat. No. 4.875, 587 (Lulham et al.); U.S. Pat. No. 3,655,503 (Stanley et al.); U.S. Pat. No. 4,058,632 (Evans et al.); U.S. Pat. No. 4,252,846 (Romesberg et al.); U.S. Pat. No. 4,615.926 (Hsu et al.) U.S. Pat. No. 4,666,778 (Hwo); U.S. Pat. No. 4,784,885 (Carespodi); U.S. Pat. No. 4,882,229 (Hwo); U.S. Pat. No. 6,476,137 (Longo); U.S. Pat. No. 5,997,968 (Dries, et al.); U.S. Pat. No. 4,189,519 (Ticknor); U.S. Pat. No. 5,547,752 (Yanidis): U.S. Pat. No. 5,128,414 (Hwo); U.S. Pat. No. 5,023,121 (Pockat, et al.); U.S. Pat. No. 4,937,139 (Genske,et al.); U.S. Pat. No. 4,916,190 (Hwo); U.S. Pat. No. 4,550,141 (Hoh); U.S. Pat. No. 7,314,669 B2 (Galloway) and U.S. Pat. No. 8,147,934 B2 (Berbert), the disclosures of which are incorporated herein in their entirety by reference thereto, Preferred films for use in fabricating packages according to the invention may be selected from multilayer, shrinkable or non-shrinkable films capable of forming a peelable seal. In one preferred embodiment, at least one heat-sealing layer is peelable and/or fracturable and comprises a blend of at least two resins selected from the group consisting of polyethylene, polypropylene, polybutene, ethylene butene copolymer, ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer, propylene ethylene copolymer, ethylene acrylic acid copolymer, ethylene n-butyl acrylate, ethylene methyl acrylic acid copolymer, and ethylene methylacrylate copolymer. In another preferred embodiment, a layer adjacent to and in contact with one of the heat-sealing layers is peelable and/or fracturable and comprises a blend of at least two resins selected from the group consisting of polyethylene, polypropylene, polybutene, ethylene butene copolymer, ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer, propylene ethylene copolymer, ethylene acrylic acid copolymer, ethylene n-butyl acrylate, ethylene methyl acrylic acid copolymer, and ethylene methylacrylate copolymer. It is also contemplated that at least one heat sealing layer and the layer adjacent to and in contact with said heat sealing layer are each peelable and/or fracturable and comprises a blend of at least two resins selected from the group consisting of polyethylene, polypropylene, polybutene, ethylene butene copolymer, ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer. propylene ethylene copolymer, ethylene acrylic acid copolymer, ethylene n-butyl acrylate, ethylene methyl acrylic acid copolymer, and ethylene methylacrylate copolymer. 
         [0032]    Preferred films may also provide a beneficial combination of one or more or all of the below noted properties including high puncture resistance (e.g.. as measured by the ram and/or hot water puncture tests), low shrinkage values, low haze, high gloss, high seal strengths and printability. Since the inventive packages may advantageously be used to hold oxygen or moisture sensitive articles, it is preferred to use a thermoplastic film which includes an oxygen and/or moisture barrier layer. The terms “barrier” or “barrier layer” as used herein means a layer of a multilayer film which acts as a physical barrier to moisture or oxygen molecules. 
         [0033]    It is particularly preferred to include an oxygen barrier material in the film used in the present invention. Oxygen barrier materials which may include, but are not limited to, ethylene vinyl alcohol copolymers (EVOH), polyacrylonitriles, polyamides and vinylidene chloride copolymers (PVDC). For some applications, the oxygen barrier material may also include metal foils, such as aluminum foil and barrier coatings deposited onto a polymer layer such as silica, alumina and the like. The phrase “barrier coating” refers to a coating that may be applied to one or both surfaces of a film by any known method such as sputtering, vacuum deposition or electroplating (all of which involve some act or method of “depositing” a continuous inorganic material, metal, metal oxide, metal alloy, silicon or silicon oxide layer onto the surface of a polymer substrate). The metal used can vary, though aluminum, zinc, gold, silver or appropriate alloys of such are preferred, with aluminum or aluminum-containing alloys being particularly preferred. As will be recognized by those skilled in the art, while the metal coating predominantly consists of the identified metal (such as aluminum), amounts of other additives may be present to improve assorted physical and optical properties of the deposited metal layer. In some occasions, pure aluminum (or the metal of choice) may be used. Other additives maybe used in minor amounts such that aluminum (or the metal of choice) is the major component. Vacuum deposition is a preferred method of metallization in terms of processing and cost. Preferred values for the average thickness of the metal coating layer are within the range of about 1.0 to 100 nanometers, with the preferred average thickness being within the range of about 3 to 25 nanometers. ( 1  micron equals 10-7 meters, and 1 nanometer equals 10-8 meters.) Regardless, the metal coating preferably has a thickness less than the polymer substrate on which it is deposited, preferably substantially less than said substrate. In contrast. typical metal foils used in packaging film application have a thickness of between 4.3 to 150 microns, as noted in “Foil, Aluminum” in The Wiley Encyclopedia of Packaging Technology, 2nd. Ed., by Foil Division of the Aluminum Association, Inc., pp. 458-463, which is incorporated herein by reference. For an aluminized coating layer, the key conditions are optical density (metal deposition) of approximately 0.75 to 4, preferably 1.0-3.0. 
         [0034]    In accordance with the present invention, the oxygen barrier material in the film provides the package with an oxygen transmission rate of less than about 1.0 cm 3 /100 in 2 /24 h at 73° F., 0% RH and 1 atm (or about 15.5 cm 3 /m 2 /24 h at 23° C., 0% RH and 1 atm), preferably, less than about 0.5 cm 3 /100 in 2 /24 h at 73° F. 0% RH and 1 atm (or about 7.75 cm/m 2 /24 h at 23° C., 0% RH and 1 atm), and most preferably, about 0.2 cm 3 /100 in 2 /24 h at 73° F. 0% RH and 1 atm (or about 3.1 cm 3 /m 2 /24 h at 23° C., 0% RH and 1 atm). 
         [0035]    In accordance with the present invention, the multilayer, barrier film for use in forming packages may be either heat shrinkable or non-heat shrinkable. In this application, the term “heat shrinkable” means that a film has an unrestrained shrinkage of at least 10% in each of the transverse direction (TD) and machine direction (MD) measured at 90° C. (194° F.), Preferably, a heat shrinkable film has an unrestrained shrinkage of at least 20% in each direction and most preferably the shrink is at least 40% or more in both directions. Measuring the unrestrained shrink value of a thermoplastic film is accomplished by a procedure described below, which is derived from ASTM D2732. In contrast, the term “non-heat shrinkable” means that a film has an unrestrained shrinkage of less than 20% in each of the transverse direction (TD) and machine direction (MD) measured at 90° C. (194° F.). Preferably, a non-heat shrinkable film has an unrestrained shrinkage of less than 15% in each direction and most preferably is less than 10% or more in both directions. 
         [0036]    A preferred multilayer, barrier film for use in forming packages according to the present invention is illustrated in  FIG. 5 , which depicts an enlarged, cross-sectional view of the frangible first seal  16  of  FIG. 2  made from film  11  and protective strip  50 . In this illustration, a preferred film  11  is shown having a five-layer structure configured as a lap-type seal such that the inner surface  19   a  overlaps with an opposing outer surface  33   b  of tube member  18  (see  FIG. 2 ). Protective strip  50  is shown formed form a generic film  11   a  having an outer surface  53  sealed to inner surfaces  19   a  and  19   b  and covering the exposed first side edge  12   a  of film  11 . While this cross-sectional view of frangible first seal  16  is depicted as having a void at the interface between inner surface  19   a  and outer surface  53 , it is possible that no void exists at said interface when the frangible first seal  16  is made. In this preferred embodiment, film  11  has the following structure:
         11 ( i )—an outer surface peelable and/or fracturable heat sealing layer;     11 ( ii )—an adhesive layer     11 ( iii )—an oxygen barrier layer,     11 ( iv )—an adhesive layer; and     11 ( v )—an inner surface heat sealing layer.       
 
         [0042]    Another preferred multilayer, barrier film for use in forming packages according to the present invention is illustrated in  FIG. 6 , which depicts an enlarged, cross-sectional view of the frangible first seal  16  of  FIG. 2  made from film  11  sealed to protective strip  50 . In this illustration, a preferred film  11  is shown having a six-layer structure configured as a lap-type seal such that the inner surface  19   a  overlaps with an opposing outer surface  33   b  of tube member  18  (see  FIG. 2 ). Protective strip  50  is shown formed form a generic film  11   a  having an outer surface  53  sealed to inner surfaces  19   a  and  19   b  and covering the exposed first side edge  12   a  of film  11 . While this cross-sectional view of frangible first seal  16  is depicted as having a void at the interface between inner surface  19   a  and outer surface  53 , it is possible that no void exists at said interface when the frangible first seal  16  is made. In this preferred embodiment, film  11  has the following structure:
         11 ( vi )—an outer surface heat sealing layer;     11 ( vii )—a peelable and/or fracturable layer;     11 ( viii )—an adhesive layer;     11 ( ix )—an oxygen barrier layer;     11 ( x )—an adhesive layer; and     11 ( xi )—an inner heat sealing layer,       
 
         [0049]    In the above-illustrated structure, it is also contemplated that film  11  may include both an outer surface peelable and/or fracturable heat sealing layer, and a peelable and/or fracturable layer in contact with said heat sealing layer. 
         [0050]    A preferred multilayer film for use in forming protective strip  50  according to the present invention is illustrated in  FIG. 7 , which depicts an enlarged, cross-sectional view of the frangible first seal  16  of  FIG. 2  made from a generic film  11  sealed to protective strip  50  made from film  11 a. In this illustration, a preferred film  11 a is shown having a two-layer structure covering the exposed first side edge  12   a  of film  11 . As shown, a lap seal  16  is formed by overlapping inner surface  19   a  with an opposing outer surface  33   b  of tube member  18  (see  FIG. 2 ). While this cross-sectional view of seal  16  is depicted as having a void at the interface between inner surface  19   a  and outer surface  53 , it is possible that no void exists at said interface when the frangible first seal  16  is made. In this preferred embodiment, film  11   a  has the following structure:
         11   a ( i )—an outer surface peelable and/or fracturable heat sealing layer; and     11   a ( ii )—an inner heat sealing layer.       
 
         [0053]    Another preferred multilayer film for use in forming protective strip  50  according to the present invention is illustrated in  FIG. 8 , which depicts an enlarged, cross-sectional view of the frangible first seal  16  of  FIG. 2  made from a generic film  11  sealed to protective strip  50  made from film  11   a.  In this illustration, a preferred film  11   a  is shown having a three-layer structure covering the exposed first side edge  12   a  of film  11 . As shown, a lap seal  16  is formed by overlapping inner surface  19   a  with an opposing outer surface  33   b  of tube member  18  (see  FIG. 2 ). While this cross-sectional view of seal  16  is depicted as having a void at the interface between inner surface  19   a  and outer surface  53 , it is possible that no void exists at said interface when the frangible first seal  16  is made. In this preferred embodiment, film  11   a  has the following structure:
         11   a ( ii )—an outer surface heat sealing layer,     11   a ( iv )—peelable and/or fracturable layer; and     11   a ( v )—an inner heat sealing layer.       
 
         [0057]    In the above-illustrated structure, it is also contemplated that film  11   a  may include both an outer surface peelable and/or fracturable heat sealing, and a peelable and/or fracturable layer in contact with said heat sealing layer. 
         [0058]    Turning now to  FIGS. 9 and 10 , another embodiment of the present invention is illustrated generally as package  15   a  in the “opened state.” Identical reference numerals have been used with respect to elements of package  15   a,  which are also found in package  15 . In this embodiment, package  15   a  further includes a pull flap  40 . The pull flap  40  is formed by providing additional overlap by moving the first and second sides edge  12   a  and  12   b  further apart and positioning the first lap seal  16  such that a portion of the first package wall, first side  30   a , that overlaps the first package wall second side  30   b  outside of the product receiving chamber  25  is not sealed to the second side  30   b . The pull flap  40  may be readily grasped by the end user and pulled to easily open the package, without resort to a cutting instrument, as is often required when opening packages without a peelable system. Although shown as extending the entire length of the bag  15   a,  a skilled artisan will appreciate that the pull flap  40  may be cut to a desired shape or that any other known device known to aid initiation of peeling may be incorporated. It should be appreciated that package  15   a  may further include a third seal  35  as described above for package  15 . 
         [0059]    Another embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in  FIGS. 11 and 12  generally as package  15   b.  Again, like elements include like reference numerals. Package  15   b  includes a frangible first seal  116  comprising a butt-seal tape  141  comprising a butt-seal film  111  having a first border  107 , a second border  109 , a sealing surface  115  and an exterior surface  114 . The first seal  116  includes a first heat seal  118  longitudinally joining the first side  30   a  of package wall  30  to the first border  107  of the butt-seal tape  141 , and a second heat seal  119  longitudinally joining the second side  30   b  of package wall  30  to the second border  109  of the butt-seal tape  141 . Thus, first and second sides  30   a  and  30   b  are joined in an abutting edge-to-edge relationship thereby forming package wall  30  without a heat seal directly there between. Preferably, the butt-seal film  111  may comprise the same film as described in reference to bags  15  and  15   a  described above, comprising the inner surface  115 . Thus, package  15   b  may be manufactured from a film that includes a peelable system included in the butt-seal tape  141  used to form the first seal  116 . Alternatively, package  15   b  may be manufactured from a film that includes a peelable system while the butt-seal tape  141  does not. The butt-seal film  111  is preferably non-heat shrinkable. In one embodiment, a portion of butt-seal tape  141  between first border  107  and second border  109  is sealed to protective strip  50 . In another embodiment, butt-seal tape  141  is not sealed to protective strip  50 . In yet another embodiment, a pull flap  40  may be provided in the butt-seal tape  141  to provide an area for the consumer to manually grasp and pull to easily open the bag  15   b.    
       WORKING EXAMPLES 
       [0060]    The following examples illustrate certain particular embodiments of films suitable for use in forming packages and protective strips and are not to be interpreted as limiting. In the following example, resin composition percentages are based on the total weight of each film layer. 
       Example 1 
       [0061]    A package according to the present invention, as generally illustrated in  FIG. 2 , is produced from a film $ 00  comprising a laminated structure as illustrated in  FIG. 13 . The package also includes a protective strip as generally illustrated in  FIG. 2 , which is produced from a film  600  comprising a peelable/fracturable heat sealing layer  601 , a peelable/fracturable second layer  602 , and a third heat sealing layer  603 , as illustrated in  FIG. 14 . In this example, film  500  includes a 2.0 mil thick, seven-layer blown coextruded film comprising a first peelable/fracturable heat sealing layer  501 , a peelable/fracturable second layer  502 , a third layer  503 , a fourth layer  604 , a fifth layer  505 , a sixth layer  506 , and a seventh layer  507 . The seven-layer blown film was adhesively laminated via adhesive layer  508  to a  35 -gauge thick, aluminum foil layer  509 . A second adhesive layer  510  adhesively laminated a 60-gauge thick, biaxially oriented cast film of polyamide  511  to the foil layer  509 . A third adhesive layer  512  then adhesively laminated a 3 mil thick, monolayer cast film  513  of polypropylene to the polyamide film  511 . Film  600  was heat sealed to film  500  such that peelable/fracturable heat sealing layer  601  is in direct contact with polypropylene film layer  513 . Film  500  had the following structure and layer compositions:
       Layer  501  (Peelable Sealant): 75 wt.-% polypropylene copolymer (PP)-Pro-fax SA861 (LyondellBasell Industries Holdings, B.V., The Netherlands)+25 wt.-% low-density polyethylene (PE)-Dow™ 608A (Dow Chemical Company, Midland, Mich., USA)   Layer  502  (Peelable): 75 wt.-% polypropylene copolymer (PP)-Pro-fax SA861 (LyondellBasell Industries Holdings, B.V., The Netherlands)+25 wt.-% low-density polyethylene (PE)-Dow™ 608A (Dow Chemical Company, Midland, Mich., USA)   Layer  503 : 82% wt.-% Impact polypropylene copolymer (PP)-Total 4170 copolymer (Total Petrochemical Company, Houston, Tex., USA)+18 wt.-% very low-density polyethylene (VLDPE)-ATTANE™ NG 4701G (Dow Chemical Company, Midland, Mich., USA)   Layer  504 : 82% wt.-% Impact polypropylene copolymer (PP)-Total 4170 copolymer (Total Petrochemical Company, Houston, Tex., USA)+18 wt-% very low-density polyethylene (VLDPE)-ATTANE™ NG 4701G (Dow Chemical Company, Midland, Mich., USA)   Layer  505 : 82% wt.-% Impact polypropylene copolymer (PP)-Total 4170 copolymer (Total Petrochemical Company, Houston, Tex., USA)+18 wt.-% very low-density polyethylene (VLDPE)-ATTANE™ NG 47010 (Dow Chemical Company, Midland, Mich., USA)   Layer  506 : 82% wt.-% Impact polypropylene copolymer (PP)-Total 4170 copolymer (Total Petrochemical Company, Houston, Tex., USA)+18 wt.-% very low-density polyethylene (VLDPE)-ATTANE™ NG 4701G (Dow Chemical Company, Midland, Mich., USA)   Layer  507 : 100 wt.-% Impact polypropylene copolymer (PP)-Total 4170 copolymer (Total Petrochemical Company, Houston, Tex., USA)   Layer  608 : 100 wt.-% two-component polyurethane adhesive-Liofol® UR2790-22/UR5026-21 (Henkel Corporation, Düsseldorf, Germany)   Layer  509 : 100 wt.-% aluminum foil   Layer  510 : 100 wt-% two-component polyurethane adhesive-Liofol® UR2790-22/UR5026-21 (Henkel Corporation, Düsseldorf, Germany)   Layer  511 : 100-% 60 gauge thick biaxially oriented nylon 6 film   Layer  512 : 100 wt.-% two-component polyurethane adhesive-Liofol® UR2790-22/UR5026-21 (Henkel Corporation, Düsseldorf, Germany)   Layer  513 : 100 wt-% 3.0 mil thick cast polypropylene       
 
         [0075]    The total thickness of film  500  was about 5.95 mils. 
         [0076]    Film  600  had the folio ng structure and layer compositions.
       Layer  601  (Peelable Sealant): 75 wt-% polypropylene copolymer (PP)-Pro-fax SA861 (Lyondel 1 Basell Industries Holdings, B.V., The Netherlands)+25 wt-% low-density polyethylene (PE)-Dow™ 608A (Dow Chemical Company, Midland, Mich., USA)   Layer  602  (Peelable): 75 wt.-% polypropylene copolymer (PP)-Pro-fax SA861 (LyondellBasell Industries Holdings. B.V., The Netherlands)+25 wt.-% low-density polyethylene (PE)-Dow™ 608A (Dow Chemical Company, Midland, Mich., USA)   Layer  603 : 100 wt.-% polypropylene copolymer (PP)-Pro-fax SA861 (LyondellBasell Industries Holdings, B.V., The Netherlands)       
 
       Example 2 
       [0080]    A package according to the present invention was made, as generally described above for Example  1  with films  500  and  600 , except for film layers  501  and  502  of film  500  had the following structure and layer compositions: 
         [0081]    Layer  501  (Sealant): 99 wt.-% polypropylene copolymer (PP)-Pro-fax SA861 (LyondellBasell Industries Holdings, B.V., The Netherlands)+1.0 wt.-% processing additives 
         [0082]    Layer  502  (Peelable): 81 wt.-% ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer (EVA)-DuPont™ Elvax® 3135X (E.I. du Pont de Nemours and Company, Inc., Wilmington, Del., USA)+19 wt.-% polybutene-1 (PB)-PB 8640M (LyondellBasell Industries Holdings, B.V , The Netherlands) 
         [0083]    The packages according to the invention are preferably fabricated continuously from a continuous web or roll stock. The roll stock is slit to a desired width and fed into a bag making equipment, wherein the first and second sides of the packaging film are brought together to form a tube member in a lap-type or butt-type tape seal configuration. Simultaneously, a tape of protective strip film is fed to the inside surface of the tube member so that the first, second sides and protective strip film are sealed together longitudinally by a set of hot sealing jaws, to form a continuous single-seamed tube, or tube member having the protective strip covering the inside surface of the lap-type or butt-type tape seal. Alternatively, the first and second sides of the film may be sealed together longitudinally first followed by sealing of the protective strip of the seal over the lap-type or butt-type tape seal on the interior surface of the tube member. In yet another alternative method, the protective strip may first be pre-tacked to the edge of one side of the film prior to forming the tube member. The first and second sides of the packaging film are then brought together to form a tube member in a lap-type or butt-type tape seal configuration, followed by simultaneously sealing the first side, the second side and protective strip film together as a single-seam. In either case, an additional overlap portion is provided when the first and second sides of the film are brought together that will act as a pull flap. One or more tear notches or cuts on the outer edges of the pull flag may be added to assist with opening of the package. A second seal is provided transversely across the entire width of the tube member at a desired location spaced from the open mouth of the tube which defines a first “end seal” of the package. A food product is then introduced into the open mouth of the tube member to a desired volume. Stripper jaws then engage the film effectively stripping any food product from the area above the food product. The stripping process ensures that there is substantially zero head space inside the package between the contents of the package and the final seal. Following this process, a third seal is formed thereby hermetically closing the package. The third seal defines the second “end seal” of the package. A parallel, spaced apart, transverse cut is made within the area of the third seal to separate the package product. The length of the package can easily be varied by changing the distance between transverse seals and cuts. The width of the packages can also by easily varied by changing the width of the film by slitting the standard rollstock.