Patent ID: 8266873

Claim:
A method for packaging a product, comprising the steps of: (a) providing a product-support member having an elevated distal flange; (b) positioning the product on the product-support member; (c) providing a single flexible laminate comprising a first film being adhesively joined to a second film, and having an adhesive-free interfacial section between the first and second films, wherein the adhesive-free interfacial section comprises an unbound portion of the first film and an unbound portion of the second film, (d) heating the laminate; (e) evacuating the space between both the laminate and product-support member, and subsequently pressurizing the space between both the laminate and product-support member to separate the unbound portion of the first film from the unbound portion of the second film; (f) conforming a film-surface of the unbound portion of the second film around the exterior shape of the product; and (g) sealing at least two opposing perimeter edges of the laminate to the distal flange thereby providing a substantially horizontal film-surface disposed above the product.