Patent ID: 6913808

Claim:
In a packaged article, an inner package formed of a packaging material which is susceptible to oxygen and water vapor penetration, a packaging film wrapped about and enclosing said inner package, said outer packaging film having low water vapor and oxygen transmission rates, said packaging film being monolithic and being comprised of a single layer of flexible plastic material serving as a substrate and having first and second surfaces, a barrier coating selected from the group consisting of aluminum oxide, yttrium oxide and mixed alloy consisting of 65% silica and 35% magnesia having a thickness between 50 and less than 200 Angstroms, wherein the barrier coating is carried by the first surface and, a heat seal layer carried by at least portions of the second surface, said packaging film being wrapped onto the inner package so that the barrier coating faces the inner package, at least a portion of the heat seal layer facing another portion of the outer packaging film so that said portions overlap and are in contact and bonded with each other to form an overlap so that the packaging film provides an air-tight enclosure for the inner package.