Patent Document

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application is a divisional application of U.S. application Ser. No. 12/155,066 entitled OPENING DEVICE FOR OUTER WRAPPING AND METHOD FOR FORMING, filed May 29, 2008, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,266,868 which claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) to U.S. provisional Application No. 60/924,824, filed on Jun. 1, 2007, the entire content of each is incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     Generally, tamper proof outer wrappers are provided with a tear tape or perforated area that can be pulled to remove the plastic wrapper from the inner package or product. Often such opening methods tear the plastic wrap resulting in only a partially unwrapped package. 
     Thus, there is a need for a reinforced opening device for a tamper proof outer wrapper. 
     SUMMARY 
     As provided herein, a tamper proof outer wrapping for a product package includes a reinforced tear zone for easily opening the outer wrapping. 
     Preferably, the reinforced tear zone includes at least two layers of a wrapping material, and a tear tape affixed between the layers. Also preferably, the layers of wrapping material are sealed around the inner tear tape. 
     In an embodiment, the tear tape is affixed between a first edge and a second edge of a piece of wrapping material such that the piece of wrapping material forms a tube. In another embodiment, the tear tape is affixed between two separate pieces of wrapping material. 
     Preferably, positioning the tear tape between multiple layers of the wrapping material strengthens the reinforced tear zone so that the tear zone does not break when pulled to remove the wrapper from around the package or product. 
     In a preferred embodiment, at least one cut is made at an angle to the perforated portion at the top or bottom of the wrapping material so that a tab is created adjacent to the reinforced tear zone. The cut is made so that it angles down from the edge of the wrapping material to the perforated portion. 
     Preferably, the tab is pulled to engage the reinforced tear zone. In addition, the angled cuts reduce the amount of point created during the shrinking process when the reinforced tear zone is used on shrink wrap packaging. 
     In an embodiment, perforated portions extend along each side of and run substantially parallel to the reinforced tear tape portion. When the tear zone is pulled by the tab, the tear zone pulls away from the remaining wrapper material along the perforated portions. 
     Preferably, the wrapping material has indicia printed thereon. In an embodiment, the indicia include lettering or graphics. 
     In a preferred embodiment, the wrapping material is a plastic. Preferably, the plastic is a shrink wrap. However, in other embodiments, the wrapping material is paper or metal, such as metalized film, metal foil, or other metallic material. 
     Also provided is a method of forming a tamper proof outer wrapping having a reinforced tear zone. The method includes obtaining a wrapping material and printing indicia on the wrapping material. Preferably, two parallel perforated portions are formed in the film, one near each edge. In an embodiment, a tear tape is affixed to one edge of the wrapping material, running parallel to the perforated portions so that the tear tape is between the edge of the material and the nearest perforated portion. Preferably, the opposing edge is pulled around and sealed over the tear tape so that the tear tape runs between the two perforated portions to form a tube. In a preferred embodiment, angled cuts are made on either side of the reinforced tear zone in the tube. In an embodiment, the tube is cut, a package is positioned within the tube, and heat is applied to shrink the wrapping material around the package. 
    
    
     
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is an illustration of a package covered with a tamper proof outer wrapping having a reinforced tear zone. 
         FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of a reinforced tear zone. 
         FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view of another embodiment of a reinforced tear zone. 
         FIG. 4  is an illustration of the wrapping material prior to being installed on a package. 
         FIG. 5  is a side view of a package covered with a tamper proof outer wrapping having a reinforced tear zone. 
         FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view of another embodiment of a reinforced tear zone. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , provided is a tamper proof outer wrapping  10  for a product package  12 . The outer wrapping  10  includes a reinforced tear zone  14  for opening the outer wrapping  10 . Preferably, the reinforced tear zone  14  has a tab  50  that is grasped to pull the reinforced tear zone  14 . The reinforced tear zone  14  pulls away from the remaining portion of the outer wrapping  10  at the perforation portions  34 . In an embodiment, because the tear zone  14  is reinforced, the tear zone  14  does not break off as it is pulled, thereby providing easy access to the contents of the wrapper  10 . 
     In a preferred embodiment, the wrapping material  19  is a plastic. Preferably, the plastic is a shrink wrap. In an embodiment, the shrink wrap is selected from the group consisting of Pet-G, PVC, polypropylene, polyethylene, polyolefin, polylactide and combinations thereof. 
     In other embodiments, the wrapping material  19  may also be formed with paper or metal, such as metalized film, metal foil, or other metallic material. 
     In a preferred embodiment, the wrapping material  19  is clear. In another embodiment, the wrapping material  19  is opaque. In other embodiments, the wrapping material  19  is colored or scented. 
     Preferably, the outer wrapping  10  is used as an outer wrapping for pocket-sized containers that enclose tobacco or non-tobacco products such as cigarettes, pouched tobacco products, pouched non-tobacco products, and the like. 
     In other embodiments, the outer wrapping  10  is used to enclose containers for gums, mints, and other edible products that require tamper resistant features. Preferably, the outer wrapping  10  covers the opening device of the inner packaging so that the enclosed product cannot be accessed without first removing the outer wrapping  10 . 
     As seen in  FIG. 2 , preferably, the reinforced tear zone  14  includes at least two layers  16 ,  18  of a wrapping material  19 , and a tear tape  20  affixed between the layers  16 ,  18 . Also preferably, the layers  16 ,  18  of wrapping material  19  are sealed around the inner tear tape  20 . In an embodiment, the layers  16 ,  18  are glued together. In another embodiment, the layers  16 ,  18  are heat sealed together. 
     In an embodiment, as seen in  FIG. 3 , additional layers  22 ,  24  of wrapping material  19  may surround the tear tape  20  and the layers  16 ,  18  of wrapping material  19 . In an embodiment, an equal number of layers of the wrapping material  19  surround the tear tape  20 . 
     As seen in  FIG. 6 , in another embodiment, an unequal number of layers of wrapping material  19  surround the tear tape  20  in the reinforced tear zone  14 . 
     In a preferred embodiment, as seen in  FIG. 4 , the tear tape  20  is affixed to a first edge  32  of the outer wrapper  10 . A second edge  30  of the outer wrapper  10  is folded over the first edge  32  and the tear tape  20  to create a tube with a reinforced tear zone  14  that can be placed over a product package. 
     In another embodiment, the tear tape  20  is affixed between two separate pieces of wrapping material  19 . 
     Positioning the tear tape  20  between multiple layers of the wrapping material strengthens the reinforced tear zone so that the tear zone does not break when pulled to remove the wrapper from around the package or product. 
     As shown in  FIG. 5 , in an embodiment, perforated portions  38 ,  40  extend longitudinally along the wrapping material  19 , Also preferably, the perforated portions  38 ,  40  run along each side of and substantially parallel to the reinforced tear zone  14 . Preferably, the perforated portions  38 ,  40  are parallel to one another. Also preferably, the perforated portions  38 ,  40  are each a substantially straight line. 
     In an embodiment, the perforated portions  38 ,  40  are created prior to forming the reinforced tear zone  14 . Preferably, the perforated portions  38 ,  40  are formed at a distance from the edge of the wrapping material  19  to leave space for the reinforced tear zone  14  to be formed between the perforated portion  40  and the edge  32 . Preferably, when the reinforced tear zone  14  is formed, the edges  30 ,  32  can overlap and be sealed together so that the reinforced tear zone  14  lies between the perforated portions  38 ,  40 . 
     In a preferred embodiment, at least one angled cut  34 ,  36 , as seen in  FIG. 4 , is made adjacent to the at least one perforated portion  38 ,  40 . Preferably, the cuts  34 ,  36  are made at an angle of about 20° to about 160° with respect to the perforated portions  38 ,  40 . More preferably, the cuts are made at an angle of about 40° to about 140°. In a preferred embodiment, the cuts are made at an angle of about 45° with respect to the perforated portions  38 ,  40 . Preferably, the cuts  34 ,  36  angle down from the top  70  of the wrapping material  19  to the perforated portion  38 ,  40 . In an embodiment, the cuts are made at the bottom of the wrapping material. 
     The cuts  34 ,  36  form a tab  50 , as shown in  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 5 . Preferably, the tab  50  is created adjacent to the reinforced tear tape zone  14 . 
     Preferably, the tab  50  is pulled to engage the reinforced tear zone  14 . When the tear zone  14  is pulled by the tab  50 , the tear zone  14  pulls away from the remaining wrapper material  19  along the perforated portions  38 ,  40 . 
     In addition, the angled cuts  34 ,  36  reduce the amount of “point” created during the shrinking process when the reinforced tear zone is used on shrink wrap packaging. 
     Preferably, as shown in  FIG. 1 , the wrapping material  19  has indicia  60  printed thereon. The indicia  60  includes lettering, graphics, and the like. Preferably, the indicia  60  is printed on the wrapping material  19  prior to the formation of the outer wrapping  10 . In an embodiment, the indicia  60  is printed on the wrapping material  19  prior to the addition of the perforated portions  38 ,  40 . The indicia  60  can be printed on the front  100 , sides  101  or the back  102  of the wrapping material  19 . 
     Also provided is a method of forming a tamper proof outer wrapping having a reinforced tear zone. The method includes obtaining a wrapping material and printing indicia thereon. In an embodiment, at least two perforated portions are formed in the wrapping material near opposing edges. 
     In a preferred embodiment, a tear tape is affixed to a first layer of wrapping material so that the tear tape runs parallel to both the edge of the first layer and a perforated portion. 
     The method also includes sealing a second layer of wrapping material over the first portion having the tear tape affixed thereto to create a reinforced tear zone flanked by each of the perforated portions. 
     In an embodiment, the reinforced tear zone and wrapping material are formed with one piece of wrapping material so that once the reinforced tear zone is formed, the wrapping material is in the form of a tube. 
     In an embodiment, the tube is cut into portions sized to fit the product to be covered, and angled nick cuts are made adjacent to each perforated portion. The product is then inserted into the tube. If the wrapping material is a shrink wrap, then the wrapped product is placed in a heater to shrink the material around the product package. 
     In use, the consumer grabs the tab  50 , shown in  FIGS. 1 and 5 , and pulls. The tab  50  engages the reinforced tear zone  14 , so that when pulled the reinforced tear zone  14  tears away from the remaining wrapping material  19  at the perforated portions  38 ,  40 . 
     While the foregoing has been described in detail with reference to specific embodiments thereof, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made, and equivalents thereof employed, without departing from the scope of the claims.

Technology Category: b